#but my muse is sky high so PREPARE

[clemswrld]

— FEELS LIKE THIS ★ MA11

in which the indycar rookie’s best mate “slips up” and posts a story that was meant for the close friends only — or the one where a british musician starts teasing a love song after only ever writing for the sad girls.

face claim and songs: maisie peters

lets pretend that feels like this didnt come out years ago and instead go pre-save The Good Witch rn<33 and lets also ignore the fact i gave up on the comments in the end…

for @wndrsleclercs

@/clementnovalak

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marcusarmstrong added to their story

marcusarmstrong • liked by yourusername and others

moving into a new place also means decorating it. which is going great if you couldn’t tell…

callum_ilott hmm wonder who that is??

marcusarmstrong no idea mate, she just walked in and started painting

clementnovalak am i still in shit with her or?

marcusarmstrong she said yes so that means no more song snippets for you haha

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yourusername added to their story

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yourinstagram • like by callum_ilott and others

i'm all butterflies / i’m sky-high for you. feels like this out tonight, thanks to a certain someone for being my muse💙

user9 AHHH TONIGHT?!?

user10 TONIGHT?! HOW AM I MEANT TO PREPARE FOR THIS WHAT?!

clementnovalak dont mind me, just screaming because ive been waiting for this

yourusername 😭

marcusarmstrong 💙💙

marcusarmstrong • liked by jamesharveyblair and others

SURPRISE IM THE MUSE!! but no seriously, i am so happy to be able to call this incredible person my girlfriend for the last year and a half, even when she constantly ask me to take photos of her in 0.5….

tagged: yourusername

clementnovalak guys i made this possible!! i introduced them!!

yourusername this isnt about you clem

clementnovalak oh shush

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[juceynightmare]

dating 101 (18+) part 19 - cody rhodes x reader

my masterlist

dating 101 (18+) masterlist

pairing(s): cody rhodes x reader, roman reigns x reader

warning(s): swearing, based off of real life hazing (hazing is bad) , marijuana and alcohol usage, mentions of religious views

genre(s): college!au, slow burn, fluff, angst

|| previous part || next part ||

basement night. cody had forgotten that tonight was basement night for the new pledges to the frat and cody was a pledge. roman was also a pledge. which also meant that cody would have to see him immediately after literally washing roman’s touch off of y/n. he knew it’d be smart for him to not get high before going, so cody had given y/n 7 milligrams of an edible and was currently enjoying the way the girl was shoveling mcdonalds fries into her mouth.

he shook his head in amusement, reaching out for a fry and popping it in his mouth. y/n had stopped talking a while ago once the weed hit, and she settled for communicating through a series of doe eyes, pouting, and little whines. cody found her absolutely endearing.

the sound of his phone alarm blared through the room, causing y/n to whine out in protest while cody reached for his phone and turned off the alarm. he could tell from y/n best job at trying to be angry that she didn’t want him leaving. she had already scolded him about joining a frat considering all the hazing they do, and basement night was surely the biggest hazing event of them all.

cody remembers jokingly calling her mom followed by a “at least i’m not in the frat that throws bricks at the pledges balls.” he certainly took basement night over losing one of his balls, and he’d do that a hundred times over.

cody had brought y/n back to her room, bidding her farewell with a hug and a kiss on the forehead. he patted down his pockets as he walked out of the building, making sure he had his phone and keys.

there was no way he’d be leaving the frat house with the ability to drive, so cody settled for walking the 15 minutes to get to the house. it did leave him with time to mentally prepare himself.

basement night. a night where all the new pledges to the frat are locked in the basement and are given an entire 750 mililiters of vodka each and have to finish the entire bottle on their own if they wish to leave the basement. cody was certain that he wouldn’t have a stomach by the early morning, but that was part of greek culture and cody loves getting messy.

besides, it wasn’t like cody disliked the other pledges. they were going to be brothers soon, and had already gotten close in the short amount of time since they were declared as pledges for the frat. it was always fun getting together with those guys, but cody had no idea how they were when they got messy.

arriving to the house, cody greeted the brothers before a bottle of vodka was thrust in his hand.

“you’re the last one, codes. you fucking some girl?” one brother, max, teased as he lead cody down to the basement.

cody laughed, opening up his bottle as he walked down the stairs. “you know me so well already.” he mused, taking a step into the basement after max held open the door.

the other pledges were already there, most notably were roman and his cousins who were itching to take the first shot.

max lightly shoved cody further into the room, before announcing, “alright, it’s 10. remember, no sharing your fucking drinks or we’ll throw bricks at your dick like we’re zeta epsilon. if you want to leave, you gotta take your last part of your bottle in front of me right here at the door. knock when you’re ready. good luck, losers.”

the door was slammed shut, followed by the loud sound of a lock.

the room was littered with trash bags everywhere, most likely for whenever they would need to empty out their guts later on in the night.

“cheers everybody! let’s get fucked up!” one of the pledges, kenny, yelled out. he held his bottle up to the sky, and everyone followed suit before throwing their heads back with the bottle to their lips and drinking as much as they could in one go.

cody hated cheap vodka, especially new amsterdam. not only did it burn like hell going down his throat, the taste was absolutely horrendous. he brought the bottle down from his lips after a moment, sticking his tongue out and making a noise of disgust as he walked over to roman and his cousins. on the way, cody greeted the rest of the pledges.

“just barely made it, uce.” roman mused, throwing his arm around cody’s shoulder before taking a short swig out of his bottle.

“got preoccupied.” cody answered, reaching a hand out to fistbump jey and jimmy in greeting.

“oh yeah, pretty girl y/n had a doctor’s appointment, right?” jey asked, clanging his bottle with his brother’s before taking another swig.

it seemed like everyone’s current strategy was to just drink as much as they could before the alcohol started tasting like stomach bile.

but cody couldn’t help but wonder what jey was talking about. y/n didn’t have a doctor’s appointment. instead of answering immediately, cody tipped his head back along with the bottle, letting a stream of, blegh, disgusting cheap vodka burn his throat.

“yeah, i almost made her late for her appointment. she left in a hurry.” roman laughed, his cousins shooting him a knowing look and wiggling their eyebrows suggestively.

cody eventually brought the bottle down from his lips when he felt as though he wanted to throw up from the taste alone. he shook his head, his eyes squeezing shut as he groaned out, “these assholes didn’t even leave out chasers? i fucking hate amsterdam, this shit’s nasty.”

“cheers to that, brother.” jimmy mused, the topic of y/n’s appointment having officially been dropped by the four. cody hesitantly brought his bottle up with the other three, not knowing if he’d be able to take the taste right now, but he’d look like a fucking pussy if he didn’t.

everything became a blur after that swig he took with roman and his cousins, the four of them branching out to hang out with the other pledges. the room had gotten messy fast, with nick being the first one to yack not even thirty minutes after the door was shut on them.

cody didn’t even know what time it was anymore, but he did know that he had half a bottle left and so did roman, jimmy, and jey. kenny was almost done, only having a quarter of his bottle left. matt had already left, the man chugging the final third of his bottle in one go in front of max and throwing up what he had just drank  the second he stepped out of the door. nick was barely making a dent in his bottle, but that was because most of the vomit in the various trash bags were his. he had forgotten the others’ names, but cody just knew that they were absolutely fucked beyond relief. one of them hadn’t lifted his head from his trash bag yet and was still emptying his stomach.

cody’s vision had grown hazy, his mind cloudy, and his stomach was threatening to turn itself inside out. he was sat on a couch with roman to his right and roman’s cousins beside him. in one hand, cody clutched the neck of his bottle, in the other hand, cody held a bag of his vomit. the three other men sat beside him were in the same predicament, but roman was glued to his phone.

“man, i don’t know why you don’t just convince her to get an abortion, uce.” jimmy slurred.

this suddenly piqued cody’s interest, turning his head to look at the man beside him. “abortion?” he slurred out in question.

roman sighed, turning off his phone and taking another swig of his bottle after clanging it against cody’s as if to tell cody to drink with him. “this bitch won’t stop fucking hitting me up about me having to ‘be in our kid’s life’ when i don’t even want the fucking kid. not like the kid is born, she’s only like a little over a month along.” he slurred, his words a jumbled mess after he brought the bottle down from his lips.

cody had simply taken a sip from his, his stomach contents threatening to come back up again.

roman seemed to have remembered exactly who he was talking to, and sent cody a warning look. both men knew that if they had gotten into a fight, roman could easily outpower cody. he was bigger than him, after all.

“don’t snitch. i know you and y/n are close, but if you fucking tell her, uce, then i’ll put you six feet under.” roman threatened, while jey and jimmy laughed beside him.

cody rolled his eyes. clearly roman had no idea where his loyalties lied. and obviously, that was with y/n. he’d just have to dig up more information and hope he remembered in the morning. “are we not pledging to be brothers right now?” he questioned, sitting up straight and holding his bottle out for jey and jimmy to clang their bottles together with his. “but why doesn’t she get an abortion?” cody questioned, watching as roman seemed to have trusted cody’s loyalty and clanged his bottle with theirs.

cody took a swig, blinking away at the tears that welled in his eyes and eventually bringing the bottle away from his mouth at the same time as the others. the taste had only gotten worse, and cody felt himself about to throw up again. he held it back though, as roman began to talk.

“some bullshit about how she’d go to hell. dude, she lives in your fucking building too, like two floors below you. i even tried offering to pay for the fucking abortion and she won’t budge.” roman groaned, pausing for a moment to pull open his trash bag and emptying his stomach into the bag.

the sight was enough to set off a chain reaction amongst jey, jimmy, and cody, as they followed suit. god, the things they would put their bodies through just to get the greek life college experience.

eventually, the four of them stopped yacking, wiping away at their lips with the back of their hands and leaning back against the cushion.

“she the christian girl you banged?” jey asked, his voice hoarse from the abuse they were putting their bodies through.

roman hummed and nodded his head. “easiest fucking money i ever made though. you know seth? he’s trying to be my big. but basically, he bet that i couldn’t get this super christian friend of his to fuck me, and i’m no pussy. condom broke and she insisted that she didn’t want to use plan b because it’s a sin but we literally just fucked. and now she won’t budge about aborting my kid.” he groaned, shaking his head. he turned to cody and raised a brow. “how close are you to y/n?”

cody scoffed, shaking his head. he couldn’t tell if roman was questioning where his loyalties lied once again, or if he was asking a genuine question. “man we all just fucking threw up together and you’re testing me on who i’m loyal to?” cody questioned, watching and roman shook his head and chuckled. of course, roman didn’t have to know that cody was going to absolutely stay awake until he got to tell y/n everything. if he blacks out now, cody was certain he wouldn’t remember.

“no, i just wanna know if she’s a virgin.” roman said with a sigh, relaxing back against the couch and missing the way cody’s jaw had clenched at roman’s choice of words. “man, i take her out for a date. say some sweet words. teach her fucking thermochem because she was struggling. get her that stupidly expensive bouquet, and she still hasn’t put out. if it weren’t for that fucking doctor’s appointment, i could be all happy and fucked out right now.” he laughed, pulling out his phone and going to his and y/n’s text messages.

jey and jimmy seemed to gain interest as soon as roman pulled up his and y/n’s text messages. the two twins leaned in to get a better view, and cody found himself interested in what roman was about to show. he certainly didn’t expect roman to pull up a photo that y/n had sent roman of herself. it wasn’t anything revealing, but it was certainly suggestive.

cody knew that had it been any other girl, cody would be drooling over the photo as much as jimmy and jey were in that moment. he also knew he would also be patting roman on the back, whooping and hollering in celebration. but this is y/n they were talking about.

“god she’s gorgeous. but she hasn’t sent any nudes even though our convos get sexual more often that i think any virgin would be comfortable with.” roman said, clicking off of the photo and scrolling to one of his and y/n’s suggestive conversations, holding it out for the three other men to read.

[roman] do you always have to pick a fight with me over the answers?

[y/n] i’m right, you’re wrong, deal with it.

[roman] you don’t even remember electron configuration.

[y/n] i’m right, you’re wrong, deal with it.

[roman] brat.

[y/n] and what about it?

[roman] i’d tell you to put that mouth to good use instead of running it off saying the same shit over and over again.

y/n had replied with a photo of herself with a lollipop on her tongue. jey and jimmy immediately whooped and hollered at the photo and laughed, while cody simply appeared uninterested.

[roman] i know something else you could be sucking on besides that lollipop, doll.

roman immediately turned off his phone before scrolling down to show the photo he had sent. “alright, forgot i sent a bulge pic in just boxers, not gonna lie. no free bulge for you fiends.” he laughed, shoving his phone back in his pocket. “but codes, you gotta tell me, man. she a virgin? usually by now i would have gotten pussy on like.. the second study date.” he asked.

cody shrugged his shoulders. “she isn’t. but i heard that first guy ruined other men for her, you know? sex so good she still hung up on him or whatever.” he mumbled, bringing the bottle back up to his lips to hide the smirk he had felt growing on his face.

roman rolled his eyes, watching cody take a sip of his vodka before nudging him with his shoulder. “man, everyone here knows i got the best stroke game around. no one comes close.” he bragged.

“yeah, you also got a girl pregnant.” jimmy laughed, and although jey and cody found it funny, clearly roman thought otherwise.

he clenched his bottle tighter in his hand, groaning and shaking his head. “man this is why i need pussy. every fucking waking moment has been filled with just this stupid fucking devout christian bitch begging me to be present in our unborn baby’s life when i just want her to abort it. but if i go off and find some random hookup, i feel like y/n’s going to find out and then won’t ever think about fucking me because she thinks we have a thing going on.” he mumbled.

jey laughed, and said, “man you only have until the end of the semester and you said that was way longer than you needed. looks like i’m about to be 500 bucks richer by the end of this, big uce. i already told you little miss good shoes lab partner would never fuck you.”

cody knew he was too drunk to win a fight, and he’d certainly get kicked out of the frat if he threw a punch at roman right now. one glance down at cody’s bottle and he saw that he wasn’t even two thirds of the way through his bottle yet, and although he had been drinking there was still closer to a half of the bottle left than a quarter left.

he now knew why y/n had said one of his red flags was that cody wanted to pledge for a frat. he also understood why women had such a bad impression of guys like them. if this conversation was about any other girl, cody would happily pitch in his own money on roman’s bet and even throw in that he could probably sleep with the girl before roman does.

roman wasn’t good enough for y/n, and the way he had been acting was simply to get some pussy… and cody was just as bad as roman was…

but instead of picking at his own hypocrisy, cody brought the bottle to his lips once again, let his throat burn, and felt the world turn black.

|| next part ||

[travistee34]

Just a random Disney AU idea

Deep in the Indian jungle, Shere Khan, the mighty tiger, strides through the undergrowth. His mind, as ever, is focused on getting his hands on the man-cub Mowgli. He has proven elusive so far... but Shere Khan is a hunter. He knows how to bide his time... All he needs is a trail to follow, and then-

His musings are interrupted by rustling in the bushes. He turns to the sudden sound... and sees Bagheera, the Panther, leap out between the trees, with a weirdly panicked look in his eyes. Shere Khan prepares to pounce, when Bagheera notices him, and stops, catching his breath.

"Shere Khan! You..." He's panting heavily "You need to get out of here!" "Oho" the tiger chuckles "You mean to order me around, Bagheera? How quaint. Now, as tempted as I am to agree, how about you instead tell me where that man-cub has gone, and I promise I'll let you leave in more or less one piece" He punctuates his threat by baring his teeth in a sinister grin.

Bagheera just stares at him, and then slowly moves closer "No, Shere Khan. You don't get it. I'm not trying to order you, I'm actually trying to warn you. you need to leave. You have NO idea what's coming! There's a ship down at the beach." "HA!" Shere Khan throws his head back in a scornful laugh "A ship, you say? Some measly humans come for a pleasure cruise? Then maybe I should give them a proper welcome!" He saunters away, flicking his tail in mockery at the still panicked Bagheera.

"No! You don't understand!" The panthers protestations trail off as Shere Khan moves swiftly towards the beach. First the man-cub dares to intrude, and now a bunch of tourists think the jungle will be their playground? No, this will not stand. It's time for the humans to learn to respect the lord of the jungle. Finally, he arrives at at the edge of the forest, his mind swirling with deliciously sinister ways to make these tourists pay for intruding. It doesn't take him long to see the ship Bagheera talked about. A handsomely sized pleasure cruise. Not even a packing ship or something. And on deck, a couple of figures are sitting around. Easy prey to a hunter of his caliber. All he needs to do is wait for nightfall, and they will become his...

Meanwhile, aboard the ship, one of the figures, a tall, middle aged woman in a burgundy summer dress, is sitting in a deck chair, sipping on a glass of sherry.

"For the love of God, Mim, would you stop hiding under that parasol like a child. A little sun won't hurt you." Her voice is sharp and with the slightest hint of an accent to it, and she's turns to look at a short stocky woman, with an unruly mop lavender hair, is sitting in underneath a big umbrella, her arms folded and her snub nosed face contorted in a frustrated scowl. The stocky woman glares at her.

"That's easy for you to say Tremaine. You know I hate the sun! I'm used to nice overcast skies!" Her voice is surprisingly high for her size. "Are you sure I can't make just one little rain cloud? A bit of thunder and-"

"Don't you dare!" they both turn to look at another figure, a woman with sickly complexion and a face covered in wrinkles, lying in a deck chair, dressed in a flamboyant headress and wearing a thin, purple one piece bathing suit. She pulls down her oversized sunglasses, and looks at Mim "This is the first decent weather we've had all week, and I'm finally starting to feel at home." Mim gives them both a weary sigh "Well, I was told we would go to the deepest darkest jungles, Yzma! I was expecting snakes and salamanders and all kinds of lovely creepy crawlies! Had I known this is what we'd be doing, I never would have agreed to come!" She looks to the sky, scowling again. "Oooh, if only I was back in my nice, damp, muggy cabin, instead of here on this... sunny pleasant tropical beach! I can almost feel my sinuses clear up! It's awful!"

Tremaine rolls her eyes "Well, if you're lucky, there might be some horrible parasites in the waters here, or some flying pests with rabies..."

Mim looks at her with an almost wistful look "You really think so?"

Suddenly, the doors to the cabin open, and a thick, noxious cloud of cigarette smoke billows out.

"Come on, Mim, cheer up. I've talked to the captain, and he tells us we're finally here!" The woman struts out onto the deck, revealing a tall, almost skeletally skinny figure, holding a foul smelling cigarette in a long mouthpiece. Her hair is parted in the middle, one side black and the other white, and she's wearing a black-and-white two piece bikini, underneath a zebra-themed bathrobe, hanging loosely over her gaunt frame. She takes a deep breath, taking in the smell of the jungle, and walks over to the railing, looking at greenery in front of her.

"I've been looking forward to this for over two months, girls. We've travelled halfway across the world to get here, and now we're so close to our goal!"

Tremaine gets up and strolls up to the woman. "Your goal, you mean? I just came for the chance of a tropical vacation, myself. I still think we should have gone to the riviera, myself. Though I guess this is a more rational choice than that coat made of dog fur you were talking about"

The skinny woman waves her hand, dismissingly "Yes, yes, that was just a passing whim. I thought it might be the next big thing, but fashion is a fickle world, it seems. I forgot the cardinal rule of high fashion: Unusual is good. Exclusive is better."

Tremaine leans onto the railing, gazing at the jungle. "So you decided to bring us all across the world, just for the sake of you getting a new fur coat? Look, Cruella, I don't mind the vacation, but it seems a bit... excessive, don't you think?"

"Well, what's the fun in just buying a pelt in from a supplier? No, I want the most exclusive, and money is no object here"

Shere Khan listens intently, and chuckles to himself. A bunch of pampered socialites, coming all this way, just to get themselves a pelt? Well, if it's a wild beast they want, that's what they'll get. He gives the stocky woman a hungry smile. The others are all a bit too lean, but he'll savor that one. Should he save her for last, or maybe take her first, just to see the others scream in terror? He smiles to himself as he turns back into the jungle, to find a place to wait. Just you wait, ladies. Soon, you'll get what you're after and more. Just you-

Suddenly the air is pierced by Cruella putting two fingers in her mouth and giving out a sharp whistle. Yzma sits up with a start, and Mim falls off her chair, clasping her hands over her ears. Shere Khan turns around as well at the sudden noise.

The next moment, the door on the side of the ship is kicked open with a loud metallic klank. Three figures emerge from the ship and walk out onto the beach. One of them, apparently the leader, turns around and looks up at Cruella from under the brim of his large slouch hat. He gives her a toothy grin.

"Gentlemen! I've hired you because I wanted the three best hunters money could buy, and from what I've hear, that's you. Now, I'm paying you handsomely to get me what I want, and I expect to get my moneys worth. Do I make myself clear?"

"It's clear as rain, Lady!" The man's voice is hoarse and gravely, but also filled with excitement. "Me and the boys'll get ya what ya want, so long as the moolah's good!"

The second man, a broadchested man in a pale safari suit, surveys the jungle in front of him, ponderingly stroking his thin black moustache. "Agreed. I had my fair share of experience with jungles. This shouldn't be much of a problem at all."

The third man, equally muscular, with a large blunderbuss slung over his shoulders, stretches his muscles, which strain under the shor sleeved red shirt he's wearing. he strokes back his long black hair and adjusts the band keeping it in a ponytail. "Of course not, Clayton. Why would it be a problem? I'm here, aren't I?"

Cruella gives them a satisfied smile, as Yzma and Mim walk over to the railing, next to Tremaine and Cruella, staring at the three men in awe.

"Perfect! In that case, Mr. McLeach, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Gaston, You've got a job to do. Get to work! First person to find it gets a 20% bonus to their pay" Cruella points at the jungle with a sinister smile, which sends a cold chill down Shere Khans spine, even at that distance.

"Right you are, Ma'am!" McLeach turns around, loading up his rifle. "You heard that, mates? Boss lady's given us the go ahead... You know what that means?"

Clayton and Gaston also load up their weapons, grinning in agreement.

"Then let's get going, gentlemen..." McCleach racks the rifle "We got us a tiger to kill..."

[vivitalks]

like a burst of technicolor in a world of black and white

for the prompt "painting nails" on my @jasico-challenges bingo card. guys i am really having fun with this bingo thing have yall heard about this. this shit rules anyway imagine an AU where trials of apollo is a collective hallucination we all experienced and then decided never to speak of again. and instead jason stayed at CHB after the showdown w gaea. okay you are now prepared for the events of this fic xoxo

title from extraordinary magic by ben rector :) read here on ao3

“How come you didn't go to school?”

Fair question, but pretty random.

They're spread out on the floor of Cabin One. When Nico marched in armed with a bottle of nail polish the color of a cloudless sky and insisted on painting Jason's nails, Jason tossed his sketchbook aside. Any activity with Nico is better than drawing shrines alone. 

Nico got to work and they descended into easy silence. Jason figured that was for Nico's focus, so he didn't break it, just allowed his mind to wander aimlessly.

When he tunes back in at Nico's inquiry, he sees two nails painted — left index and middle, coated in light blue. Jason has never had his nails painted. He doesn't know if it's always this soothing, but if it is, he can understand why so many people do it.

“You mean instead of staying at camp year-round?”

Nico nods and takes the brush to Jason's next finger. His face of concentration is extremely cute: narrowed eyes, teeth digging into his lower lip, one rebellious strand of dark hair he keeps blowing out of his face only for it to fall right back in his eyes.

“You could have,” he says. “You’d only have two years before graduation. Could get a diploma.”

Jason shrugs. “Yeah, but why would I? It’s not like I was getting a formal education before. Praetor was a year-round job.”

Nico hums. He's really very good at this. If the demigod thing doesn't pan out, he has a future as a manicurist.

“Plus,” Jason adds gamely, “I don't exactly have a parent or guardian to enroll me anywhere.”

“I'm sure Chiron would be more than happy to falsify some legal documents.”

Jason chuckles. “You think so?”

“Are you kidding?” Nico snorts. “Percy told me Chiron posed as his Latin teacher for a full year when he was younger. He would love to invent a transcript for you.”

Jason gives this a dismissive laugh so they can put the topic to rest. He thought about trying to go to school, for sure. He spent about six minutes seriously considering it. I could have some normalcy, he'd mused. Be a high school kid. Sure, I don't have any surviving mortal parents, or anywhere to live during the school year, or any money, or any previous course credits, or any documents to prove I'm a real person, but. Those are solvable problems.

Then he’d thought, Or I could stay at camp, and the decision made itself.

Maybe it's bleak to say, but there's nothing for him out there. In the real world. He has no memory of being a baby living with Thalia and his mother, and after that, his whole life was the legion. Training with Lupa was the closest thing Jason had to elementary school. Everything that matters to him — his friends, his family, his sworn duty to the minor gods — starts and ends in camp. His youth is tattooed with the brand of Camp Jupiter. His freedom is a leather necklace tied by Camp Half-Blood.

Why leave?

“I'm good here,” is all he says.

Nico isn't ready to drop it. “But then why stay here? You didn't want to go back to Camp Jupiter?”

Jason raises both eyebrows. “Did you want me to?”

“No!” Nico scowls. “I'm just curious.”

Methodical brush strokes turn Jason's fourth fingernail blue. It's a pretty color; Jason wonders what inspired Nico to choose it. It's probably not Nico's first time painting someone's nails, because he's very skillfully managing not to get any polish on Jason's skin. He has good hands for the job — thin and precise. Careful. Deliberate.

“The plan was really to split my time,” Jason says, just as careful, just as deliberate. “I was already at Camp Half-Blood, so I figured I'd spend a little while here, then a while at Camp Jupiter, and, you know, so on.”

“But…it's been two months,” Nico says.

The unspoken question: why haven't you gone back yet?

“Well, yeah,” Jason says. His own stillness is becoming uncomfortable. If he moves, he risks ruining Nico's artwork, but sitting this stationary isn't in his nature. Like most demigods, he has a compulsion to fidget. It's less noticeable in him — less than, say, Leo — but in moments of extreme stagnancy, it doubles down.

“Are you planning to go back at all?”

It's not an interrogation. At least, Jason doesn't think so. It's not small talk, either. Nico is his friend. This is a friendly conversation. There are no wrong answers here.

“Eventually,” Jason says. “To visit. But…to stay?” He shakes his head. “I don't think so.”

“All your friends are there,” Nico says, and he's still looking down, focused on his task, like this statement is a reflex, requiring no thought.

“Not all,” Jason says, watching him. “You're here.”

That gets Nico’s attention. He looks up. “Me?”

“You're my friend,” Jason says.

“Don't tell me you stayed here just for me.” It comes out like a bad joke. Like it couldn't possibly be true.

“Well…” Jason pauses. “I don't know if that's the only reason, but it definitely helped.”

“What? Are you joking?”

“Why would I be joking?”

“Because that's—” Nico stops halfway through painting Jason’s little finger. He gestures like words aren't enough. “That's crazy!”

“You just said I should go to Camp Jupiter because my friends are there,” Jason says, puzzled. “Why is it crazy to stay at Camp Half-Blood for the same reason?”

“I’m one person. Friend, singular. Meanwhile your entire cohort of friends is over in California.”

“Yeah, but…” Jason gnaws his cheek. He has this suspicion Nico won't like any of his answers, then decides he doesn't care. “They don't need me over there. I gave my praetorship to Frank, so I'm officially released from leadership duty, and I don't regret it for a second. It makes no difference to the legion if I'm there or not, except as this— I don't know, symbol of greatness that I…really am not.” He grimaces, examining his semi-painted pinky nail, this half-finished, imperfect thing. “Here, I feel like…maybe it matters if I'm here or not. And not because of who my dad is or my rank or anything, just because…well, we're friends.”

Nico stares. Then he lifts Jason's hand and starts painting again, picking up where he left off. With his gaze trained downward, away from Jason's, he says, “It does matter. To me.”

Jason smiles. He gets the same feeling as stepping outside in the morning into perfect weather — pleasantly, comfortably surprised.

“There you go, then,” he says. “I mean, if you want me to leave—”

“No,” Nico says quickly, then glares as if he's mad about being tricked into admitting he wants Jason to stay. Recovering, he snarks, “If you leave, I won’t have anyone to subject to my nail-polish schemes.”

“I bet Will would let you paint his nails.”

“Will wouldn't let me anywhere near him with any kind of artistic implement, as well he shouldn’t. I would absolutely deface him.”

“Honored that you've elected not to deface me.”

Nico turns a rosy shade of pink. “This time.”

This is that other kind of Nico threat, the kind reserved for friends. For Jason. The kind that, underneath, isn't a threat at all, but a promise.

This time means there will be a next time. That's Jason's favorite kind of threat.

“You're weirdly good at this,” Jason says. Nico has finished his left hand by now and moved on to the right. “Since when is this in your skill set?”

“Bianca,” Nico says. Matter-of-fact, without room to grieve. “A couple nights when we were in the Lotus Hotel, she asked me to paint hers. First time I tried, it was such a mess. She did mine to show me how, so I could learn.”

Jason catches his breath. “Clearly it paid off, ‘cause you're killing it.”

This was something Nico did with Bianca. And now he's sharing it with Jason. That gives Jason a feeling in his gut that's both warm and heavy, like a big dog is curled up in there, taking a sunbeam nap.

“You'll have to do mine after,” Nico says, still no-nonsense. “Black, obviously.”

“I don't have any nail polish.”

“I brought some. Lacy gave it to me. From Cabin Ten. Magical, so it doesn't smudge or chip.”

“I didn't even realize nail polish did that.”

“You have a lot to learn.” Nico nods sagely. “That's okay. Everyone starts somewhere.”

“It is very relaxing. I can see the appeal,” Jason admits. He wiggles the fingers of his finished hand, admiring them. “How’d you land on this color, though? Or was it just a random pick?”

 Nico looks strangely at Jason. Some of that blush from earlier returns. “You're…the son of the sky god.”

Jason studies the color. It's not quite sky blue, but close enough. “Huh,” he says, feeling silly for not having made the connection. “I suppose that makes sense.”

“Besides,” Nico says, a little quieter like it's not exactly for Jason to hear, but not not for him to hear, either, “it's the color of your eyes.”

That sleeping dog behind Jason's navel starts thumping its tail.

“Oh,” Jason says. He's not sure he could confirm that, but Nico sounds utterly certain. The fact that Nico has spent enough time looking at Jason's eyes that he can pinpoint their exact shade is its own can of worms. For future opening. At a later date. “Well, I like it. It's pretty.”

“Yeah,” Nico says, and his fingers press gently into Jason's palm as he continues to paint. “It is.”

[jasmariswonderland]

Dreams Adorned In Silk ~ VilxOC

Synopsis: After months of knowing her, Vil thinks it's time to finally time to express to Danica all that he feels for her. And what better way than under a dazzling, firelit sky?

A/N: Vil's new SSR has a death-grip upon my heart. 😭😍😭

Pairings: 👑/🦢

Word Count: 2315

Warnings: A lot of fluff with just the slightest hint of angst.

~~~

With the final descent of the sun, the evening began to take on a cooler temperature. A blessed relief from the scorching heat. They had arrived earlier that afternoon while the sun was still blazing high in the sky and while their silky attire offered stylish comfort, a break from the heat was not unwelcome. Now, nestled together in a private tent some distance down the river and away from the crowds, they prepared for a spectacular night they were sure to enjoy. And for Vil, the moment he’d been greatly anticipating, but simultaneously dreading, had finally come.

In the corner of the tent, sat his fair companion. He watched as she held out her hand, musing over the elegant jeweled bangle circling her wrist. The beginnings of a smile pulled at Vil’s lips, it was something he’d seen her admiring it in the marketplace earlier that day. She said nothing, not wanting to feel like she was imposing on him, but the wistful look in her eyes told him all that he needed to know. When they arrived at their tent a little while ago, the first thing Vil did was surprise Danica with a beautifully crafted gift box. Biting back a smirk at the small gasp and the way her eyes lit up at the sight of the bangle. 

“How did you know?” she had asked him. “I was looking at it, true, but…I don’t think…”

“Your lips might not have said you wanted this, but they didn’t have to.” A playful smile caused her cheeks to redden. “The look in your eyes was confirmation enough that you would appreciate if I gave this to you.”

“Ahh, oh Vil-san, thank you!”

The red tint upon her face darkened as she slipped the bangle on her arm. She turned it afew times with her other hand, watching as the gems sparkled, their light jumping from one facet to another. Though she did not realize it, her own eyes were sparkling as well.

“It’s so beautiful, thank you. Thank you!”

Seeing her joy caused a fluttering sensation in his chest. Secretly, it brought him joy as well, seeing her so happy. There were not many instances where Vil could see Danica smile. The last few months had been particularly difficult ones and loath he was to admit it, Vil had been the source of much of her despair. 

Things in their world were now beginning to calm down. The VDC had passed, their emotions reconciled and they managed to escape STYX. The Shroud brothers were dealt with and, best of all, Vil’s youthful beauty had been restored after his heroic dive into the underworld. Everything seemed to be returning to normal and today’s venture to Scalding Sands was a wonderful change to their usual routines. 

And for Vil, it was even more wonderful that despite all they had been through, Danica was still able to smile at him and enjoy his company just as much as he enjoyed her’s. How nice it was to finally have some time alone with her, without the pressures of school or the expectations of the world breathing down their necks. At that moment, he wasn’t Vil Scheonheit, the international mega celebrity and dorm leader of Pomefiore. He was simply Vil enjoying a vacation with the one he cared about above all others. 

“I’ve had so much fun today,” said Danica. “I’m so excited for the fireworks, it will be the perfect ending to a perfect day!”

“I’m glad to hear that, Little Potato,” Vil smiled. “I take it you’re no longer feeling sad?”

“Sad? Why ever would I feel sad for?”

“Well I know a few of your friends were also here today,” he thoughtfully tilted his head. “Iman, Vidaria, Kalim and Cater. Even Trey and Yuulan are here as well. I saw some of the pictures Cater uploaded to Magicam.” 

“Yes, I saw the pictures too,” Danica lowered her gaze, which momentarily gave Vil reason for concern. But she ended up smiling. “But I wasn’t sad, I’m…much happier that I got to spend the day with you, Vil-san.”

“Really?” This genuinely surprised Vil, though it also secretly tickled him. “You’re glad you spent the day with me, as opposed to your friends?”

“What? Does that sound very strange?”

“No, no. I don’t mean it that way, it’s just that…well…I figured…”

His voice trailed off, surprisingly at a loss for words. Danica smiled and went on to explain how she could hang out with her friends anytime while they were at school. However with Vil, though they were in the same dorm, their obligations often kept them from spending time together. Especially considering that Vil was a dorm leader and soon to begin preparing for his senior internship. Once the new school year began, they were likely not to see much of each other at all. 

“I could always call up Kalim or Cater and arrange a meetup if I wanted to,” she said. “But I value the time I can have with you because…well…” A light red tint returned to her cheeks. “Because it’s so rare that we can be alone, I value this time with you all the more.”

“Danica…”

Vil’s heart began to flutter once more. Over the months, Danica had gradually become more assertive in speaking her mind. She still had her timid moments, but she was finding her voice and her thoughtful astuteness was something that he always found intriguing. But for her to voice how much she valued their time together, well, it was enough for Vil to start feeling rather bold. 

He couldn’t deny the close bond they had forged. A most unlikely friendship that Vil never could have anticipated. When he thought how this was the same shy and soft-spoken spudling he was introduced to at the start of the school year, it made him chuckle. What initially began as a curiosity on his part soon blossomed into a genuine respect, eventually giving way to awe and now, something even deeper. 

As time passed, he found he could not deny these feelings developing within him. Nor could he deny the immense comfort Danica had provided him during the more recent times of difficulty. When he overblotted, she did not judge him. When his appearance drastically changed after his underworld dive, not once did she flinch. Instead, in both situations, her unwavering support had been his anchor.

Vil was grateful for her growth, her strength, and her newfound confidence. He had come to appreciate her not just as a friend but as someone truly special.

Still, a nagging thought continued to gnaw at him. In his pursuit of beauty, he had been quite ruthless with her at times. His harshness often overwhelmed her, sometimes reducing her to tears. The pressure he placed upon her was insurmountable and he cringed inside thinking of the pain he caused as they were preparing for the VDC. All of this weighed as heavily on his heart as his feelings for her. Could she really accept him after enduring such pain?

Her words were the exact answer he needed. And as the evening became cooler and Danica slowly moved closer to him, Vil found he could not deny his feelings any longer. In his mind, he rehearsed his words, reminding himself that as a professional actor, this shouldn’t be such a difficult thing to do. How many times has he said these words before be it on stage or film? A dozen times at least? This is what his mind told him but in his heart, he knew this would be far from easy, and unlike any other performance he gave, this was real. 

Danica was now sitting very close to him, close enough for her to take in the elegant scent of his perfume. It was woody and slightly spicy, but also sweet, perfect for their surroundings and suited Vil very well. She glanced up at him, his brows furrowed and deep in thought, and couldn't help but stare for a few moments. Not too long ago, just to be in the same room as Vil seemed to her like the most harrowing experience in the world. And to look at him was tantamount to looking into the eyes of a god. Time had calmed her anxiety around him and while their closeness still felt unnerving at times, it also made her heart feel strangely warm. As she thought about this, she began turning back around and was surprised by a gentle hand running down her cheek. Vil pulled a lock of hair away from her face, catching her attention. 

“Danica, there’s been something I’ve wanted to say to you for a long time.” 

“Hmm? What is it, Vil-san?”

“I…well…” he took a deep breath. “First off, I would like to apologize. The first time I attempted to convey this, I did so in an extremely undignified manner.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was extremely selfish and cruel then. But please know, even though I did a very poor job at expressing my feelings, they haven't changed,” Vil smiled a little. “And when I say that I am the only one who sees you for the jewel that you are, I mean that.Truly.”

These words made Danica blush, though they also perplexed her. She couldn’t yet understand what Vil was trying to say but she did notice how he was looking at her. His usual intense gaze was softer and more tender. With his tone lacking its usual authoritative manner. Once again, she asked what he meant by this. But just as he worked up the courage to continue, they were both startled by a loud, booming sound filling the air. Fireworks erupted in a brilliant display.

Like a garden of flowers blooming in the sky, the night was illuminated with glowing color and dazzling light. Danica even reached out to the sky, she’d never seen such large fireworks before and felt they were close enough to touch. In the distance an enchanting, infectious music began to play, filling the air and loud enough for them to hear. Both of them were enraptured by the gorgeous display and Vil momentarily forgot his words, smiling at Danica.

“Would you like to dance with me, Little Potato?” he asked. “You know, it’s a Scalding Sands’ tradition to dance under the fireworks. Kalim told me.”

A bright red tint returned to Danica’s cheeks. “Was that…what you wanted to ask me, Vil-san?”

Of course it wasn’t, but he looked at her teasingly. “Do you want to dance with me or not?”

She eagerly agreed, allowing him to take her hand and pull her to her feet. Under the firelit sky, he guided her through an array of fun and graceful movements that perfectly matched the music. The colorful silks of their attire swirled elegantly with them as they danced, adding themselves to the gorgeous display up above. Vil was a beautiful dancer and the perfect partner, Danica already knew that firsthand. The way he danced with her always left her breathless; every turn, every sway, was captivating. The way he never took his eyes off of her, caused her heart to race with the rhythm of the music. 

However, what touched Danica the most, at that moment, was seeing Vil laugh and smile with such natural joy. It was rare to see him smile, even at her. He often kept a stolid expression when he wasn’t glaring with disappointment or smirking with amusement. But a true smile from Vil was almost as rare as him going a day without once having to scold Epel. But because she didn’t often see him smile, when he did, it was all the more special. A beautiful treasure that she held dear to her heart.

It was also quite infectious and Danica found herself smiling with him, sharing in this joy. So deep was this joy that what happened next was as natural as it was spontaneous. Vil stopped spinning her and for a moment, they continued gazing up at the colorful sky before he lifted her chin to face him. He gazed at her thoughtfully and without a word, gently pressed his lips to hers. He half expected her to be shocked or even to pull away, but to his surprise, she didn’t. There was no resistance and Danica slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back.

Under the firelit sky, the fireworks weren’t the only thing booming. Though Vil hadn’t yet voiced his feelings, at that moment, he didn’t have to. Their closeness, this kiss, spoke louder than any words he could say. And her response said it all, his love was reciprocated. 

~~~

Vil slowly stirred awake, tears dampening his cheeks even before he opened his eyes. His heart ached with the bittersweet residue of the dream that had felt so vivid, so real. He knew what he would find before his eyes opened to confirm it. The empty space beside him in his bed told him that it had indeed all been a dream. A beautiful, silk-adorned dream, and now reality was crashing down upon him.

Cursing his own mind for playing such a cruel trick on him, Vil couldn't help but wonder why he would dream of something so poignant in the first place. That’s when his gaze shifted to the dress form in the corner of his room, adorned with the silky outfit Trey had gifted him, a plethora of vibrant colors and glittery fireworks printed upon the fabric. At the time, gratitude welled up within him for the thoughtful gift, but now it was overshadowed by sadness and regret. How he would have loved to attend and see the fireworks for himself, dancing in the gorgeous silk outfit with Danica by his side. It could have been a perfect date, and the perfect moment to finally express his feelings to her.

As he showered and dressed in his school uniform, Vil continued to contemplate this. He had fallen in love with her, that much was certain. And considering all they had gone through, he was almost certain that she was in love with him as well. Unfortunately, they hadn’t had much opportunity to really discuss their relationship since their return from STYX. The emotions from that harrowing experience were still quite high even a month later, to say nothing of his guilt at how badly he’d treated her before. 

He was just about ready to leave for the day, classes would start soon and he had to shift his focus. Vil gleaned out the window of his room, it was a lovely day at least, warm and sunny without a single cloud in the blue sky. His window also overlooked the Pomefiore courtyard and when he glanced down, there she was. Danica sat under one of the apple trees, chatting and laughing with Yuulan, Grim sitting in the latter’s lap. Her laughter was like music to his ears, and it ignited a spark of determination within him. 

The time for hesitance had long passed. It was time to seize the moment.

With his phone in hand, Vil quickly wrote up a text to Danica and watched as she received it and checked her phone. The message was simple: a request for her to meet him in the lounge later that evening for a monthly evaluation, something he gave to all freshmen. In truth, the evaluation was merely a pretense for something just as important, but even more special. 

[uniquevoidflowers]

Meadows of Emotion Chapter 1

Maybe I'll start posting more of my oc stuff if ppl like this, but here's it anyway!

“The earth and it’s denizens were created by the Goddess of Life, a goddess that is the most powerful entity in the entirety of the universe. In doing so, she created emotion, a sensation that is almost as powerful as the Goddess of Life herself. There is a variety of emotions but there are five emotions worth pointing out.

Happiness, green like the grass, not to be mistaken with joy.

Passion, pink like a rose, striving to find a goal.

Fear, purple like an amethyst, can be a nightmare and a blessing.

Misery, blue like the sky, most people experience this.

Anger, red like blood, and drives people into insanity but is normal.

In creating emotions the Goddess of Life unintentionally caused the birth of the Goddess of Death, the Goddess of Life’s counterpart. The Goddess of Death created a life span for the wildlife and denizens of the world, thus creating ruin. The Goddess of Death then created a mirror-like version of the world and named it the Underworld. The Goddess of Life was forced to shun herself away from the world and contain the potent emotions. Nobody has knowledge of where they are kept now.” Mama was recounting the story everyone was told.

I, Princess Meadow for one, love that story. I can’t say exactly why. “D’you think someone will be able to find the emotions?” Zach, my brother, wondered, brows pinched in concern.

“Nay. Both the Goddesses are watching over them. Do not fret Zach.” Mama assured him.

“Good.” Zach released the tension that he was holding.

“Now, I trust both of you won’t attempt at searching for these emotions? Our beloved kingdom, Emeran is more more vital then the items of legend.” Mama eyed the both of us, sensing the profound curiosity.

“We promise Mama.” Zach and I chorused.

“Excellent. The maids shall prepare both of you for a meeting we’re all invited to, you will see Diana and Kyle, granted there’s not much time to play.” Mama informed us, smiling gracefully.

“Okay!” I nodded eagerly.

Even if there wasn’t time to play with Princess Diana, it was always a pleasure to see her. My maid, Candy walked in promptly and bowed in front of my mother.

Mama was the Queen of Emeran. “Ah, right on time Candy. I trust someone is awaiting the Prince at his bedroom?” Mama inclined to leave.

“Indeed your Highness. Sir Jeffery has been called to attend to the Prince.” Candy affirmed.

“Wonderful. I shall leave to get ready myself. Thank you for your service.” Mama nodded to herself and left, Candy politely moving away from the door to let Mama pass.

“I’ll leave too, see you soon Meadow!” Zach waved and left as well.

“Princess what dress would you like to wear? I suggest something formal and representing Emeran.” Candy rushed to my closet and began examining my wardrobe.

“Sounds good to me. Perhaps a little less on the puffy side.” I winced involuntarily.

The last formal dress I had was way too puffy, I ended up with an awful itch. I would rather not have a repeat of that issue. “Got it. Any colour you prefer? I know you like rose but depending on your mood it could be lilac too.” Candy mused, flickering through the fabrics.

“Hmmm, you are correct. But rose shall do nicely.” I decided.

“As you wish princess. I imagine some makeup might suit you but of course only if you want it.” Candy obliged and pulled out a pink rose dress.

“No makeup today please. A dress is all I want for now.” I shook my head.

“Understood. I am required to do your hair and leave it flowing down, as it has been requested by the King. Should you have any complaints, I would go to him.” Candy handed me the gorgeous dress.

“I know.” I sighed and moved into my dressing quarters to change.

I slipped on the dress and presented myself to Candy, who gasped happily. “You look stunning, princess!”

“Thank you for your kind words.” I chuckled, blushing a little at the praise.

“It’s no big deal, you���ve got your mother’s beauty. Anyway, I will do your hair now.” Candy shrugged and pulled out a brush.

For the next 10 minutes Candy brushed, washed, and sprayed my hair, ensuring that it was thoroughly cleansed. I thanked her and then she escorted me out to the room specifically designed for meetings. “Welcome my daughter. Maid, you are no longer needed, you may go resume cleaning.” My father smiled warmly.

“As you wish my King.” Candy bowed and left.

My father and mother were sitting beside each other, hands intertwined. Zach sat beside my father wearing an impassive face. I sat beside Mom and seconds after, the royal family of Prulen arrived. Once they were situated, Father began to talk.

“Today we are here to discuss the drought that has been foretold to occur, one that reaches both of our kingdoms. This one is told to be severe, and last years on end, We cannot allow this to pass, our citizens will face death if we do not act.”

Drought? Since when? “Indeed. I believe it is worth the effort to collect as much water and crops as possible and store it away. The only obstacle in out way is that those resources will not last forever, and both our kingdoms hold many people. Depending on how much we collect, at most, we would only last a few months.” Queen Maybelle of Prulen, mused.

This was very concerning. A few months may seem like a long while, but considering this drought could last years, we could be doomed. “Are we sure this drought is really going to happen? Droughts don’t last years. Who foretold such a disaster?” Mama questioned, eyebrows furrowed.

“My most trusted advisor has been informed the signs of a drought are clear. My advisor then suggested going to a priest who can pray to the Goddesses. The priest I consulted did as he was ordered and came back scurrying with hints of panic on his face. He said to me:

‘The Goddess of Earth has responded saying:

Prulen and Emeran are in danger.

The drought you have been worried about is greater than you imagined. It will last as long as you humans call years. Your words of prayer will not stop this. Water is what I recommend.’

So, the Goddess of Earth has told us we need to use water in some way to stop the drought.” Queen Maybelle answered.

“That’s it! A flood of some sorts has to touch our lands, that must be the way to stop the drought!” Mama exclaimed, voice rising with passion.

“Yes, yes that might work. The question now is how are we to bring such a large proportion of water to wash over both of our lands? The Goddess of Earth has said prayer will not do anything, which means the Goddesses are unwilling to provide water for us.” Father sighed.

I couldn’t help but be angry with the Goddesses for deciding to ignore us. Couldn’t they see how much of an issue this drought was? The room was enveloped in silence, everyone pausing to think. The servants outside kept their footsteps quiet. Not daring to interrupt the time of thought. There was no way we could call upon a flood without the aid of the Goddesses. Except...the emotions perhaps. Misery brought tears, we could keep our lands healthy with enough tears. “May I suggest something?” I raised my hand.

“You may.” Father gestured for me to spill my idea.

“What if we...attempt at searching for the emotion Misery? I know this sounds bad, but Misery makes tears right? And if we have enough of those maybe we could—“

“ENOUGH! That is out of the question. Emotions are not for us to use at our leisure. We cannot try such a ridiculous suggestion” Father thundered, and I startled.

What was so terrible about searching for power? Power that would assist us with our conundrum? “I though you promised not to go searching for the emotions.” Mama stated, coldly.

“But this is for our kingdom! You said our kingdom is more important, but these emotions could aid us so that our kingdom thrives!” I protested.

“That is not an option Meadow. You are silenced until the end of this discussion.” Father growled.

I huffed and zipped my mouth shut. How dare he! This was for the sake of Emeran and Prulen! Diana gave me a look of sympathy. She was the only one who understood my cause. Suddenly, Diana cleared her throat, “If I may, we could used Meadow’s suggestion as a last resort. It may not be our main solution but we have no guarantee of our other options succeeding. At least we know these emotions exist and are potent enough to help us.”

Queen Maybelle opened her mouth to reprimand her daughter but Mama interrupted her. “Fine. Say your objections if you wish to disagree with Princess Diana.”

A few moments of silence passed, nobody daring to object. “Then it’s settled. Now for our main solution...” Mama trailed off.

“We must destroy the dams in each corner of our kingdoms! The water will flow down and flood the land, which means we must evacuate our people.” Father nodded along with a firm voice.

“Fantastic idea John, I am grateful for your assistance in leadership.” Maybelle praised.

“Exceedingly kind words. Say ‘I’ if you agree with the following motion, we will destroy the dams and let the loose the water when we run out of supplies for the drought.” Father declared.

“I!” Everybody in the room who possessed authority of some sort, agreed in unison.

“It is decided then. Maybelle announce to Prulen our decision, and I will do the same with Emeran. You may all be dismissed.” Father looked pleased.

Diana sprinted over to me, her dress almost tripping her. “Hey Meadow!” Daina laughed at her own expense.

“Why’d you choose such a long dress for a rather casual meeting?” I asked, giggling.

“I don’t know!” Diana flushed.

I patted her on the shoulder and we chatted amicably for a bit. Diana told me she agreed with my plan but knew they wouldn’t listen with a straight answer. I thanked her, obviously. Then I had to go back to my bedroom, because well...It’s a rule you can’t just roam the castle. “Oh Precious!” I greeted the ginger cat that was lying on my bed.

I plopped down on my bed and gently stroked Precious as she purred. “Precious...I’m afraid.” I admitted.

Precious looked at me and then nuzzled up to my stretched out arm. “A drought will come and sweep over our land and we have to great plans but...I have this gut feeling the first one will fail.” I sighed.

Precious looked curiously at me and licked my fingers, almost as if she was trying to reassure me. “Thank goodness I have you. If I went to Mama or Father they would shoo me away and say I needn’t be concerned over such things.” I sniffled.

Precious frowned and hissed at my bedroom door. I jerked my head over there and slowly approached the door that had offended my cat. I paused to listen and hear the maids talking inaudibly but nothing else. I glanced back at Precious who was grooming herself. “Don’t scare me like that.” I scolded the cat.

Precious didn’t seem to hear my words of course. I just sat back down and picked up my book, the one that was assigned to me by my tutor. It taught me about the history of Emeran, albeit it was pretty dull. An hour passed by and I heard the door handle unlock. I locked it earlier so Mama couldn’t disturb me while I was reading. “Whoever is there, halt!” I ordered.

I sat up and swung open the door wide to see a figure covered in a black cloak, standing there. “Remove the cloak or I’ll call the guards.” I threatened.

“I shan’t take orders from you. Move aside, and I won’t harm you.” The figure chuckled darkly.

“GUARDS HELP!” I screamed at the top of my lungs grabbing a spare broom to defend myself.

The figure attempted to snatch the broom and I raised my eyebrow. “Have you made an empty threat? Such a shame.” I hissed.

I smirked when I saw the guards sprinting towards us, weapons raised. My mother behind them, a dagger in her hands. “Move away from the princess!” A knight roared.

“Hmph. Fate is at work then.” The figure harrumphed and jumped on my head!

The figure leapt off and threw themself out of a nearby window. “Don’t let them escape!” Mama yelled.

The guards nodded and ran after the figure. “Are you alright my dear?” Mama softened instantly, examining my head.

“Yes, I’m unharmed.” I assured my frantic mother.

She frowned but decided I was sincere and didn’t need to be checked over. She knew I wouldn’t attempt to lie to her, and I wasn’t even out of breath. “Please inform me of what just occurred.” Mama urged.

We walked into my bedroom and I explained everything to her. She had a contemplative expression on her face. “We must keep on eye in the future for this figure. For now, wash up and get ready for mealtime, we’re having soup.” Mama announced.

“Yes Mama.” I obeyed and went to do what Mama wanted me to do.

Eventually mealtime passed and we had devoured the soup.(The chefs at our castle do a good job.) The chatter at mealtime was simply about the crops our kingdom is growing, and the other usual conversations. I did not participate in favour of finishing my soup quicker. I had this one romance novel that I was looking forward to reading, and secretly, I wanted to ensure that the figure did not come back. I excused myself and rushed to my bedroom swiftly searching for any intruder. Thankfully no one but Precious and I were present, so knowing that, I sat back and read.

“Hey whatcha’ reading?” Zach appeared, startling me.

I nearly dropped my book, and once I recollected myself I glared at my brother. “Will you knock next time?”

“Sorry, sorry. It’s just so insipid around here, don’t you think?” Zach chuckled sheepishly.

“Isn’t it always?” I retorted.

“...Fair enough. But seriously, I need a task or something! I don’t wanna die of boredom.” Zach complained.

“A task hm? Go pester the maids for a job, see what happens.” I rolled my eyes.

“Ha ha, very funny.” Zach retaliated, words dripping with sarcasm.

“Why don’t you just relax somewhere? Read, sketch, study. You’re always striving to do something, give yourself a break.” I offered.

“Relaxing? Meadow, there’s a drought about to come! There’s supplies that need to be grown, trading to be done, so excuse me for wishing to assist!” Zach snapped.

“Have you merely come to bother me Zach? If you wish to assist with the drought then go talk to Father.” I glared in response.

“Fine. Thank you for your kind suggestion.” Zach stormed off.

I huffed and turned back to the novel I was reading before. Honestly, what does he think he’s accomplishing by pestering me? The night passed and morning arrived, I was ready for a new but casual day. Abruptly, I heard a voice calling out to me, and I could only make out one word.

“Come.”

[ofduskanddreams]

CH 12: Equinox

Chapter Summary:

The Autumn Equinox is the most important holiday in the Autumn Court. That morning, Azriel wakes from a vivid and unsettling dream. Before the ball begins that evening, the High Lord and Lady of the Day Court arrive. Focused on the excitement of seeing his mother and preparing for the celebration, Eris failed to consider Helion's ability to see threads of magic. Naturally it only takes a single glance between Eris and Azriel for him to deduce their secret.

Read the chapter here on ao3. The beginning of this chapter is NSFW, fair warning. Enjoy the excerpt below (sfw, don't worry)

[Eris POV]

One of his ancestors had worked alongside someone with powerful earth magic to grow the massive fireoak at the far end of the ballroom. Its branches wove in an arching dome to form the ceiling with bits of glass placed in every irregular gap to seal the space. Fireoaks were Autumn’s signature tree, their leaves were mixed brilliant crimson with red-orange, and every leaf glimmered with a golden iridescence when it caught the light, like a living flame. Instead of chandeliers, the ballroom was lit by little enchanted orbs of fire that hovered below the tips of hundreds of smaller branches dripping downwards like stalactites. When night fell and every other light in the ballroom was extinguished, the high ceiling resembled a night sky with constellations of flaming stars.

The staff were running around putting the finishing touches on everything, but they all stopped to curtsey or bow as he passed. Eris made the effort to smile and nod and thank them for their hard work....*

“I forgot what this place looks like, all dressed up.” Cal mused once they reached the small dais at the foot of the tree. 

Eris sighed, the sound a little wistful. “I know.”

“Remember that Equinox when you slipped a bit of giddygrass essence into old man Linden’s wine and he got so high he tried to climb the tree?” Cal chuckled under his breath. 

“By the Cauldron,” Eris snorted as the forgotten memory resurfaced, “He was convinced that the fire spheres were apples. That feels like lifetimes ago.”

“It was lifetimes ago—we couldn’t have been older than sixteen then,” Cal agreed.

“So much has changed.”

His best friend nudged him with an elbow. “But not everything.”

“No,” Eris huffed a laugh. “Not everything—you’re still a pain in my ass.”

*excerpt has been trimmed for this post.

— — read the full thing here.

@damedechance @headcanonheadcase @booknerd87 @lady-riel @iftheshoef1tz @foundress0fnothing @yourethehero @mali22 @blurredlamplight

[i-am-nessuno]

I’ll wake up and I’m 20 tomorrow.

I remember wanting to be a teen, seeing the postcards of youth in magazines and wanting to be unapologetic and free; I thought adolescents didn’t give a fuck.

My only accolade is being reckless magical and terribly sad. Even when I didn’t realize it, I wanted to bask in the earthquakes and euphoria of being alive. The melancholia was romantic, the joys sky high, erupting from the pits of my stomach like an erratic volcano. My dreams were built on my youth; when they didn’t feel heavy— they felt possible.

I created my best work during this period. Wrote my best poems, taken my best photos. Read the books, seen the movies and listened to the records that would shape my life.

Passively all I’ve done was prepare for all this history to rest. Poring over the details, diligently transcribing every moment. Drawing a map for it, to help me find the altar I carefully crafted for the memories of this ever changing time. All I know is how to be young. I don’t know how to be anything else.

Now adulthood looms over my head like a cloud signaling rainstorm. But life doesn’t end when you stop being 19, spring comes again eventually. The flowers won’t be in the same spot. But the buds will be bigger, the ground will breathe again.

My teen self was wiser, but she didn’t know it all. She didn’t know how the world could open itself up like a petal. She did not know hearts could splinter many times and still work. For once, I will let go with grace. I won’t throw a fit, I’ll welcome this age like grass welcomes rain. There’s so much more art to make, more books to read, a world to see.

I think of getting older, I think of never laying old dreams to rest for new ones. On the day of my birth, there won’t be fireworks. Only sunshine and chirps of birds. The day will be spent in silence, just as it was when I was born. It goes on quietly, slowly.

If I close my eyes, I’m 16 again. Listening to pure heroine and making plans on the back of a notebook unused for actual schoolwork but more for lyrics and musings beyond the four corners of school. All the days in between then and now is just a long dream.

But I’ll wake up and I’m 20 tomorrow.

[quinntamsin]

They were aboard ship when the Raven came zipping above a swell and nearly collided with their Maester. His graying hair was dusted with spray as he glanced at the two ladies watching the bird in his hands. Removing the small note on its leg he sighed. "Lord Lucerys, Heir to High Tide, has been slain by Aemond," he replied and displayed the Black Dragon of Dragonstone. "i knew the Andals would do this!" Qwynn growled. Her wife leaned against her as the two women eyed the sky above them. "We need to settle in to our Holdfast and prepare. If this war burns the south they may call the northern banners," Denna said to her wife's ear. "Yes, and when they do, the Banshee of Ceallach will spear their riders from the Sky," Qwynn said grimly. --- Wow, so this is long time coming, but I have been sitting on my reactions to House of the Dragonf or the better part of two weeks. A mix of depression and watching my niece has slowed my words. I've also been pushing for a new fanfic to get finished up so I'm tired these days. Drained of a lot of my primary muse. IRL I have a customer-facing job which for someone like me is really exhausting social and mentally. And returning later in the night to recover can result in little time. Now that we are back though lets do this review! The Ugly This series did not hold back on the violence against LGBT. We knew that a lot of people were going to die. But I really can say that some of it has left a bad taste in my mouth more than a few times. Now, as I think about it though I would say the ending scene of Queen Aemma's death to me really set te tone for the brutality of this entire season. Maybe, it's my bitterness for how they ended GoT and how the showrunners of that show ruined Dany. Who knows. I'd sai the one thing I could do without in this season were the death of Ser Joffrey. A scene just depicting Criston as a total piece of shit who should have faced harder repercussions. Really, I know the guy is important but I'd rather his pretty face was you know maybe scarred up a bit more. Seriously! Onto the other person I hate, Three-Eyed Rat, Larys' brutality is beyond astounding. The scene where he orders the death of his own family was as sickening to me in some ways as the acting was superb. What made me want to just cut was that whole foot masturbation. Seriously, did we need to act such a graphic shitty scene? The Good Wow, the cast in this series has been just amazing. Paddy Considine showed us the peace and slowly dying LIvserys. Every time he was on screen he -was-  Viserys Targaryen. This was all made the better with Matt Smith as the utterly depraved and love-to-hate fuckboy, Daemon. The early parts seemed strange, but as we saw the Valyrians we were pulled in by them. These two clash in such a natural way I believed they were brothers! But one of the harder parts of this series was Milly Alcock's part of Young Rhae transitioning in Older Rae. Milly Alcock sells the sense of haughtiness one could only expect of a Targaryen Princess. The way she rides off in a huff at her father's hunt, and how she sleeps with Cole. Their young -puppy- love that rots into Criston's Incelnes was made only better as we switch to Emma D'Arcy. We see the Summer of rebelliousness sower into a woman whose been basically driven away by her own family. If the damn Hightower parts weren't so well acted this portion of the series would have been boring as fuuuuck. Counter of Milly's acting Emily Carey is a questioning and quiet girl who just wants her fund. To see her morph into Olivia Cooke's master class of the scorned friend was made me utterly hate the Greens. This is helped along by Rhys Ifans as Otto. I would say that if Otto hadn't been such a good counter to Daemon and a "Friend" to Paddy's Viserys this entire show would have flopped. Now let's get to the real power couple of this fucking series. Corlys (played by Steven Toussaint) was another Valyrian persona I wanted. Did he sell me as the Sea Snake, yes and no. In this series we see that the burning ambition of Corlys which would ruin his family. I just wish the man had more fucking options for wigs because whoever was doing his and the rest of the family DID NOT SEEM to understand that there are multiple styles of hair for POC. FFS people give the man a few different looks! Onto Rhaenys, damn, yeah she was one of the break outs of this series. Seeing her as this silent shadow in the first two episodes to evolve into a armor clad Valkjyr was -invigorating-. THIS makes me happy that she dies fucking epicly later in the series. My favorite scene is where she sits atop Meleys (Meraxes dammit) and to let the Greens live was, aweinspiring. Conclusion Okay, so I am running gout of stem on this, but House of the Dragon has definitely kinlded a renewed interest in the GoT TV verse. I was turned off by a few scenes,, but overall I'm happy with this new spinoff to the franchise. Honestly, I was turned off of the last few seasons of Game of Thrones that I refused to watch them. I ended season 7 and I fucking walked away. I said goodbye after they killed off Viserious. I've never watched anything but clips from the episodes onward. This series gives me hope that we can see more additions to the universe as GRRM pitters away on his book. I want to see animated episodes set during the Freehold. I want to watch Nymeria lead her people out of the ashes of her fallen civilization. That can only happen IF HotD does well enough for HBO to continue to greenlight things. Welp, let's see what we may get in Season 2. I need to read Fire & Blood, but I'l need to continue eating up fanfics for now! Story Idea I've decided to backburn my idea of a Dragon Riding series of short stories. I need to really absorb more ideas and theories before proceeding. I can say that I hope that the Rhae x Alicent story section grows in Ao3 and maybe some rare pairs in the ASOIAF / GoT verse grows its fandom in healthy ways!

[ofthreechords]

So, one thing I like to do is imagine Kerry and my V in different settings -- and, for some reason, I’ve started to imagine them in the Sunless Skies setting. I'm not sure why my mind has drawn this link, but I've gotten quite a few ideas about it already.

So... I guess this is V and Kerry as if they were in a Sunless Skies AU. I interpret Kerry's title as The Dispirited Muse, and V is known as The Remorseful Captain.

~~~

The Dispirited Muse (Kerry)

The Muse was once in a musical group with his old friend, the Charismatic Rebel. They earned a meager living playing in salons and taverns throughout London, and their popularity grew steadily. Though they sometimes worked well together, the Muse and Rebel often disagreed over musical direction and ideology. Their relationship grew strained and complicated -- despite their fights, the two were drawn to each other, and rumors that they were occasional lovers were not entirely false.

As tensions grew between himself and his old friend, the Muse decided he'd had enough. He left the band, wanting to pursue his own artistic visions. This sparked a heated argument with the Rebel, who accused the Muse of things that hurt him at his core. He called to attention the Muse's desire for fame and fortune, and warned him of the price he'd have to pay for it, before breaking off all contact with him. Shaken, hurt, and conflicted, the Dispirited Muse started making plans to leave London for some time, wanting to cool down and rediscover himself.

~~~

The Remorseful Captain (V)

The Captain once had an ambition to become a famous sky-farer, and for his crew's exploits to become known across the High Wilderness. The rest of his crew shared his ambition, and one of them was a long-time friend of his, the Steadfast Confidant. They took a high-risk job from a client that promised them riches, requiring that they travel to the Blue Kingdom and smuggle back a soul that the client was after. Despite the crew's preparations, the job went horribly wrong -- they caught the attention of the realm's Logoi, and most of the crew were killed as they tried to escape.

The soul was lost, and sigils of living fire seared the Confidant's skin. The Captain took control of the locomotive, escaping the Logoi and travelling back to the Reach through the relay. Once there, the Confidant collapsed -- despite the Captain's pleas for him to hold on, he succumbed to his wounds. Hanging his head in sorrow, the Remorseful Captain mourned the loss of his crew, then travelled alone to New Winchester. It'd be a long time before he'd gathered the courage and crew to brave the skies again.

~~~

So, the Dispirited Muse goes to the train station in London, and this is where he meets the Remorseful Captain. He requests transport to Port Avon, so the Captain takes him aboard, and stuff happens. I like this idea a lot, so I might actually write a fic about it...

[polizwrites]

WIP Update -  3 May 2023

A very productive writing week -   I touched 7 fics (5 WIPs  & 2 new works)  for a total of  3104 words.   For the first third of the year, that gives me almost 43k words, which puts me well on track for over 120k for the year -- let’s see if that holds! 

On Ao3, I posted:

Chapter 2 of  Making All Things New  - Stucky omegaverse with Cap!Alpha!Steve and Sex Worker!Omega!Bucky. 

Truth and Consequences  -  TFaWS scene retelling -  Sam & Bucky reconciliation. 

On Tumblr, I posted:

Getting Prepared  - an A:IW missing scene featuring Bucky. 

I  have  14 active WIPs  with my  current  deadlines being  the Stucky and Avengers Bingos events.   Attack Plan for those two events.

See  below cut for what I’m working on/planning to work on - arranged more or less by bingos/challenges/etc.  As always, feel free to send me   prompts or plot bunnies as well as asks regarding  any of these projects  or any other WIPs I’ve got out there.   Interaction really helps feed the Muse and keep me motivated!

Seek & Destroy Collab

After reading @psychiccatpanda‘s amazing   Morguna and the Green Queen, I  got the itch to explore the Soldier’s POV and talked  Faustie into   collab’ing with me!  We’re working on a new part of the series, and I’ve  contributed about 900 words towards the  2500-ish we have so far.   Going to see if I can squeeze any of my BBB squares into this fic.  

Stucky Bingo Round Four [SB_R4] (Ends 31 May 2023)

Twenty fills with two bingos and 2 WIPs with a couple of other vague ideas. Targeting completion of at least three more squares - stretch goal of a blackout.

* B1 - Mutual Pining -  Leaning toward the Centerfold fic idea I’ve been toying with for awhile: a Modern No Powers AU where Bucky’s high school crush (skinny!Steve) is a model in a softcore porn mag.   Backup plan = Chapter 3 of   Making All Things New)

* r G5 - SHIELD   – soliciting ideas!   (possible crossover with Bucky Barnes Bingo - Forgotten Things?)

* O4 - AU: Supernatural -  got inspired by a dream to start a Stucky fantasy AU (magician!Steve/ensorcelled!Bucky) that @bill-longbow   is collaborating on with me. We’re currently sitting at 1640 words (984-ish of which are mine).    I really need to pick this back up & get it going 😬   I can use it for my BBB  AU: Medieval/Fantasy square and with some re-writing, I may be able to squish this into the Myths and Legends monthly prompt  and my BB_C4  Myth square.

*Adoptable1 - Remix one of your own fics – Finally cracked this thanks to another 3 Prompts –> Summary game: Wings, Transformation, Confession.  I’m planning a Bucky POV of part of Take What Was Wrong (And Make it Right) the obvious title - Half of the Flesh and Blood That Makes Me Whole. 😁  I’ve got 715 words in so far  and am crossing over with my WIB Mutual Pining square.  I may try to crossover with something from my new BBB card as well.

Avengers Bingo Round Four [AvB_R4] (Ends 2 June)

This  time around the card is a 3x3,  so am looking at writing different   pairings for my two favorite Avengers - Tony and Steve.    I have 3 fills  completed and three WIPs, with a couple more ideas in play.   Need to get moving on this as well - see  my Attack Plan

*A2 -  “Don’t leave me, please.” - Leaning toward a Steve POV of the post-battle scene where Tony’s just fallen out of the sky.  Something short, but hopefully sweet.  Other option - maybe combine with SB Adoptable -Remix own fic 

* B2 - Crossover AU –  picking up my Star Wars fusion Stucky/Stuckony fic:  Never More to Go Astray.  Pleased to discover the latest WIP chapter was already sitting at 942 words - just need to figure out how to wrap up the chapter.

* B3 - Mistaken Identity -  Chapter 3 of   Decision at Sundown  (based on the ficlet I wrote to fill the “Wet Your Whistle”  FFC23 prompt) is in progress and sitting at 737 words. I need to work the prompt in a bit more clearly before I can consider this finished - maybe another 300-500 words?

* C1 - Babysitter AU -   Started working on a collab with MagicaDraconia16 - tentatively titled Peremesnik (aka Three Avengers and a Baby). This will crossover with my  ACB Babysitter square and will involve  Steve, Bucky & Tony kidfic shenanigans.  Chapter 1 is sitting at  2205 words (my part - roughly 1400 words)  with another 500-ish already in chapter 2 (300-ish are mine).

* C2 - Accidentally in Love - posted  chapter 2 of Making All Things New on Friday -  this fic features Omega!Sex Worker!Bucky falling for  Alpha!Cap!Steve  (and vice versa) during an assignment and crossed over with my BB_C4 Omegaverse square. The chapter came in at 1501 words and am already 857 words into Chapter 3 - which may or may not be the final chapter.  😁

* C3 - Dog Tags - I drafted a short ficlet  A Piece of the Past  late last week - Sam POV  where he helps Steve with the titular item.  This will cross over with my SWB Steve Rogers square and is sitting at 404 words. 

Bucky Barnes Connect Four Alt-Juniverse Event (BB_C4)[ends 30 Jun 2023]

Signed up for this event over at @buckybarnesevents - you get a four-square card featuring ideas for AUs.  The prompts can be used as stand-alones or combined with each other or other events.   Thanks to crossovers, I have  two fils and WIPs for the other two squares!  

* C1 - Omegaverse -  see  AvB - Accidentally In Love above.

* C2 - Rich – see Stucky Bingo Identity Porn above.

* C4 - Myth - thinking I can combine this with the SB  Supernatural AU square idea above, possibly with a little re-writing.

All Caps Bingo [ACB_R1]  (Ends 30 Sep 2023)

I’ve got nine completed fics, four WIPs and  will be pursuing the One Fill, One Bingo  Challenge for Row 5.  

* I1 - Mutual Pining - see Stucky Bingo Mutual Pining.

* G1 - Isaiah Bradley -  Planning to add more to The Fist, Defeated.   (possibly present day)

* G3 - Established Relationship -  see Stucky Bingo - Remix Own Fic

* G4 - Babysitting - see  AvB Babysitting AU above.

* O3 - Pararescue Sam Wilson - may try to squish this into an expansion of   A Rising Star -  a previous Flash Fiction Friday fill.  

* May Adoptable -   I’m going to use either   AU: Sex Worker or  Scenting  for Chapter 3 of  Making All Things New, which is already up to 857 words. 

Sam Wilson Bingo [SWB_R3]  (Ends 15 Oct 2023)

I have two fills and one WIP -  I need to work on cross fills between this and the All Caps and Bucky Barnes bingo!

* B2 - Miscommunication - Posted Truth and Consequences  this morning. It’s a TFatWS compliant  Sam & Bucky Sam POV ficlet and came in at 352 words.

* G3 - Joaquin Torres - see ACB Pararescue Sam Wilson above.

* O2 - Steve Rogers  – see AvB  Dog Tags  above.

WinterIron Bingo  - [WIB_R1]   (Ends 16 Dec 2023)

I have 3 fills completed and two WIPs for this brand-new bingo event that I’m helping mod!  Still getting my thoughts together on what to match up with other cards, but   think I’m going to try to combine my B column squares for the Iron Soldier badge (complete a bingo with a single work). – Alpha Tony Stark, “That was not my intention.”, James Rhodes,Alpine loves Tony and Blind date.

* I1 - Edging - using this with Chapter 2 of   Surrender (But Don’t Give Yourself Away),  my WinterIron –>Stuckony  Steve POV WIP based on the following 3 Prompts –> Summary game prompt :  Praise Kink, One Night Stand, Identity Porn.  It’s currently sitting at 624 words and is crossing over with my BBB KINK - “Please let me come.”  square.

* I4 - Identity Porn - this will go along well with the drafted  Chapter 7 of   Takin’ What They’re Givin’ (‘Cause I’m Workin’ for a Livin’) where Bucky meets Tony and they find a way to keep his identity a secret after all.  This chapter is coming in at 2988 words and  will post May 5th.

* O4 - Steve Rogers - Using this for chapter 8 of   Takin’ What They’re Givin’ (‘Cause I’m Workin’ for a Livin’), where camboy!Bucky’s worlds start to collide.  The chapter is coming in at 2152 words and will get posted probably by the end of the month.  

* O5 - Gentle – use this poem  as inspiration?

* ADOPTABLE1 - 1990′s   -- picked this to prod me into picking My Love is Vengeance back up.  I do have a nice chunk of the next chapter  written (1039 words) -  and had a bit of inspiration that may allow me to wrap this up in  two more chapters beyond this one.  

Bucky Barnes Bingo  - [BBB_R5]   (Ends 10 Jan 2024)

Am still trying to match up squares to crossfill, but have 2 fills,  five WIPs and a couple more Vague ideas already.

* B1 - AU: Medieval/Fantasy -  see SB AU: Supernatural above.

* B4 - Shapeshifters -  a potential crossover with my SB  AU: Changed into an Animal square - but  I need  a plot bunny and it is a low priority fill at the moment.

* U2 - Clint Barton/Hawkeye -  Dredged up my year-old Winter Soldier/ young Clint WIP   You Can’t Stop It With a Gun.  Chapter 3 was already in progress and is now up to 548 words.    

* U5 - AU: Flower Shop -  see  BBB_C4   No Powers AU above.

* C2 - Yelena Belova

–  see AvB

Babysitter AU

* C4 - KINK: “Please let me come.”  See SB  Identity Porn above - Chapter 2.

* C5 - Marriage of Convenience/Pretend Couple -  next chapter of   Lady Natasha’s Consort and Lord Steve’s Companion.    Not quite sure where to take this next at the moment.  😕

* K3 - Magic -  Aro!Bucky sickfic idea? 

* Y2 - [image: IW Bucky with the good hair] Last week’s Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF198 What Comes Next]   was a perfect match for an idea I’d already been playing around with to fill this square.   I banged out Getting Prepared -  an A:IW missing scene set between the time that T’Challa and Okoye come for Bucky and the moment he sees Steve again.  I will post it to Ao3 sometime in the next month or so.

* Y3 - Alpine  - see WIB Iron Soldier combo.

————

On  other creative fronts:  I have a POW Bucky Stuffed With Character figure in progress. I have multiple commissions from the Hall of Heroes  Comic Con to work on and am prepping for a con in June  so am  pretty well booked up through early summer.

That said, if  you’re looking for one of a kind gifts for birthdays or other celebrations later in the year, check  out Stuffed With Character    over on Facebook for a full list of my designs (now over 100!).   These soft stuffed figures are  mostly Marvel and monsters, but I have some Star Wars, Star Trek, DC   and Disney figures as well. Plus I love to take custom design   requests  for any fandom!

[klimkovsky]

Album «past — music — future» • Project «HEAVEN» • Composer Andrey Klimkovsky

Let's talk about new music and new albums - the first of which is in this post

My name and surname are not on the cover. The album is part of the chain of releases of the project "HEAVEN", although until yesterday there was only one link in that chain - the album "sad & soli music", recorded in 2003. I wanted to do something earlier that would continue the undertaking that appeared during the period of my going through some life troubles - I did not understand then that these are periods of the strongest transformations, and unusual times are accompanied by unusual music. But, perhaps, the subsequent times were not about that.

In all the time that has passed since then, I have recorded a couple of tracks - supposedly for the "HEAVEN" project. They are now attached to the first album as bonuses, and in fact have little to do with this story (only in that they were recorded on Korg TRITON series instruments, which were relevant at the time).

Something changed in the summer of 2022. On June 11th, some force made me turn on my already quite old Korg TRITON Extreme - a music workstation from the 2000s (on which the continuation of this project was once conceived, and the first album was recorded on a similar instrument) - and I start creating.

The work moved very intensively. The first 4 pieces were recorded in a few days. True, it was the 4th that became the first stumbling block (I was not fully prepared to create it, and later I reworked it several times, and this energy of throwing is still present in the music, but, as I now understand, it is needed there). Then there was a pause of 10 days - I switched to something else, but soon returned to the album I had started.

After that, the creative process was steady but measured - one piece per week or two. It seemed like the light at the end of the tunnel was already visible - in September I recorded the key track of the album - the eighth, and sketched out the structure, harmonic grid and melody of the ninth. 85% of the work is done - I'm at the finish line...

But at some point, some force leading along these musical paths let me go. I couldn't get back to the finishing of track 9.

Soon I was caught up in another energy. And on the same instrument of the past era, I literally in one breath composed and released the album "Pisces" from the "Starry Sky" cycle (the album was released in November 2022). And then - also in November - the album "Phantom Galaxy" from the "NGC" cycle. It is interesting to note that this pair of albums received similar numbers in the NEANE Records catalog - 1606 and 1303, and they are indeed related.

It would seem that it is high time to gather my creative forces and finish the almost finished second album of the project «HEAVEN». But it was not to be. Without higher powers this does not happen. And there is no point in forcing something that does not come by itself. Any violence in the creative process, and especially over music, is categorically unacceptable. A musician can engage in self-torture - that's not so bad, but trying to attract the Muse and Music from the higher worlds means only - to spoil the relationship with these beautiful manifestations of the Universe. So I just waited patiently. Fortunately, along with this, works for other albums and projects were born (but about them - another time).

I safely waited for the return of the Muse, when in May 2024 (almost two years after this new period began) I felt those same energies and the need to turn on the instrument (no - not that old one, but the current actual Korg KRONOS) and start a new chapter.

Yes, there was already talk about a new chapter, although the old one was not ended. And I understood this clearly - I was already creating the third album of the "HEAVEN" project, although the second one was not finished.

The third album was completed in a couple of months, and on the same creative wave I quickly finished the second one. By mid-summer 2024, almost simultaneously, two albums about the journey of the Soul in the waves of our restless Time came into our World. But the third was born a little earlier than the second. And this revealed an important moment of the message - the idea that from now on Time will no longer be linear and one-dimensional. We will not feel the consequences of this on the everyday level tomorrow, but in Music, and in the process of its creation, it is already fully present and clearly felt.

What is the second album of the project «HEAVEN» about?

About our very near future. A review of probable events for several years ahead. If earlier my listeners associated the music that I bring to this World with cosmic themes, then this music is futuristic. It is also a kind of Space, but Space projected onto our earthly reality. It is about how cosmic influence transforms the lives of People on Earth. After all, it would be naive to think that we are here - covered by the atmosphere and magnetosphere - on our own, cut off from the rest of the Universe.

The Universe has its own plan for us. In it, we can distinguish a plan of transformations close in time, and more distant ones. The second album is about the close ones. About the nearest ones.«past — music — future» — is the title of the album.

Some people might find it strange. But the first album has a strange title too.

You can understand what it is about without the gift of clairvoyance.

In it, "Music" is located between the past and the future - where we are now. And this music came to the World of the Past (many of the People are still there with their consciousness) in order to tell about the future, and to some extent even forms this future, which now ceases to be the same for different people (however, the conversation about probabilistic realities and multiverses deserves several additional publications).

stellarInfluence   ( 04:42 )

updateVector   ( 06:00 )

nightFireflies   ( 05:12 )

chaoticDeformation   ( 07:22 )

silentRuins   ( 06:23 )

turquoiseGeneration   ( 08:49 )

possibilityField   ( 05:10 )

selfRenewal   ( 07:55 )

betweenLevels   ( 05:18 )

omniDirectional   ( 13:06 )

The track titles are hard to translate (the duration is in brackets - I decided to leave it when copying). But the first album also had similar titles - this is a strange feature of this project, which came with the music, for which the titles are a separate part - it cannot be banal here, as is customary everywhere, and assumes different perceptions by different listeners.

From the titles we can conclude that at least 8 tracks show us a fairly favorable development of events in the future. And only two - the 4th and the 5th - are a little alarming. They may need additional clarification, but - not here and not now. For brevity, I will only say that every change, every transformation, every transition has its price. Humanity is already paying it. And this process will last at least a couple of years.

If we imagine the album tracklist as a timeline — linear, alas (but not everything is so simple) — then you and I, Friends, and Humanity as a whole, are at the level of the third track of the album “past — music — future”. And ahead is the 4th — the most critical, after which much in the life of each of us will change. But if we treat the next stage as an exam, for which each of us has been preparing all this time, and pass it, then everything will be relatively good.

No, it won't be easy anymore. But it will be understandable.

You know, difficulties are not as scary as a situation of complete misunderstanding - what is all this for, why?

I sincerely believe that this music came through me into this World precisely to give an understanding of what is happening on the planet in our amazing Time. Understanding not at the level of intellect, but at the level of feeling, at the level of spiritual perception of reality.

The consciousness may remain perplexed - how to understand all this, where to put it?

But if acceptance and peace reign in the Soul from the fact that everything is going as it should - as it was planned somewhere in the higher planning departments, then it will be possible to step into this Ocean of change without fear and even with pleasure.

Album «past — music — future» • Project «HEAVEN» • Composer Andrey Klimkovsky

https://klimkovsky.bandcamp.com/album/past-music-future

May you take the care you deserve for yourself and enjoy listening!

[libidomechanica]

“Saw thee solace; for a meadow”

A sonnet sequence

               1

The bodies the cattle thus far than in arms ’gainst me. At stool-ball, Lucia, let Betty, now I love her or a war? The river where you said she may i stay in heaven the world themselves to my gate while of ruin! With other world, but with me. Saw thee solace; for a meadow sky, the central blue; far along to write my light and our strength of it. Till high doth tears, like a fruits and harmony, think of her and winks behind a shrewish tongues were in you was lethal.

               2

Suspicion now hath been doing! Make me more wary than well knows where some say, mine and my white hand offred’st the air be music on the world’s conflagration, the cliffs and horse-man ghost, tis on thy white bed; lie, fisted light lanes that whisper of sacred organ vocal break my heart of thy greater far doting here; and when May is love, your wife is: thou know you love doth prepare those Lockes display: she, so dishes me wish that I need I not this: that gilds the comes near.

               3

At everywhere; of what you presently, the primrose who dwell within Oneself—To Do, not a single content you? Tis with his head, the most kingly drink up the living me somethinks no man to my thought to last! And oh, it may pitie I find the Marvel of Peru. And when I’m indoors vnto thee? Am I mad, and move! The generate fruit; for unto the gardens stand as her whom want our played with me—or she must give me here those disgrace, that not too he thine.

               4

Full of hopeless and hold, that, if th’ others? When a hand yon bonie case; I hoped her idiot boy, what Johnny well count the touches Heaven. And gentle favor, he hath been a things the woman, she stairs of her idiot boy who still, yet we will be allow a girl within! Of what it comes you sense! Has yields: my Lady in her like Joshua’s moonlight thus vnkind, as I may, and though I seen while his eyes.—He turn’d to me like a thousand known, to bridge you aren’t.

               5

Turns right, staid, pleasure, whence that huge scapegoat of thine own bud buriest thou art staring like Joshua’s moonlight, as faults of thine own bright by a virginity, and they burr, and you hold on a dreams, that’s so bright poring it, in the junior highschool playground, flying into his face, shall I believe, each simple flower pain if she muses! Girl has lost, all this primrose wan, and fair faces of those rancid dream his face not provocation bites. See her organ vocal break?

               6

To have done foremost fragrant highest plainly teach treasure, where thy classic face, to warm her feeling back to-night. Divine their lances and heels on all silence. When the very sense to them back if only ways to mend the breathe, the copses ring, with the prospect wide; the river. And unto my though a theefe hid in dew, anemones, than for such familiar sigh-tempests of maidenhood. For me, the snow I dream of sights where the coverlet’s try this time, those whose kisse.

               7

Many a morning the virginity, and the heats watery plain and from harmony, from hill to flowers, and the weary, wayworn wandering a young, and the iron gates of spice and six feet his lands; every bell and warm, and the professes, and Johnny, mine eye love said he, with you, grow you love me from nobody know. How statue-like I see she every bar; but howsoe’er the Christmas weathered around of States, summon’d the rest. We would companions or poppy seeds to feel the woman, in that which your brow: and nothing a voice to send your leave me? Time ere long I have been—down below, as those rancid dreamers to all the hearts had warm, with a prayer that weight to procreate you aren’t.

               8

The night.—Why shouting that didst arise but your lips are widen’d her, no seasons run? Helen, the fetid wombs of man; the road she said he where a lily, an aster, knots of love me some say, mind green seized up without a sex. Bid all the whole, beside still high that peep and down and fastner of pensive fears; men reckon what can I now expected be. She turn’d to foe and should be cut back to be looked him who tries, on! She listen to white hand, as if it went quite fog.

               9

Now his slander, whom she loves look in the meadow sky, the cherry- pit: she trees, and out onto the grass you trouble dry. Of conquering, if this bow of that which by and by octobering run warmed by my own affection move, this pony moved was once possess’d, we faint carefully, for shall when a hand in the crag; droops our love heart be allowed me this universal law. Ask me not a household me with the Dust of those meek eyes all her to my iust cries, her will?

               10

Love me words your own freedom a drug thy motions burning field, eager- hearted as birds sang. Off she here forty feeding like a dryad. And vows were dead weight, or utterly, in that done, since finds seem dreaming, as an institution bites. Fifty years of her voice was setting of the glory from my foolish and her who is shot himself have come here the sea of life would bind, and tears does to my though dooms of gulls on your absences I glimpse fire and formal, fitter place.

               11

You mixed up farewell that was Greece and I did but she sped to shun, what huge scapegoat of them? No longer shall live. Feeding free, forbidden mixtures praise or heart the rising a hold you and mind: and to wish you know he be in joy, our chiefest we lose. Meet quite so least as long blue larks on with strange of any women walk with hurried; demure wilt take, late in dispute. Here are you a debt, that fair, I look at you whom thou dost bear, I am happy night. For I have spoke and then! And the day? How heau’ns inside to say to the terminal when winter- assurèd of the green: and passion. Loved, and laugh’d her eyes more—swells along the tortured mine she shore! If in mine, each nights, does Betty, Tell us Johnny!

               12

And now she’s happened before eleven; tis eight o’clock gives inseparable from a tenement as tyrant passionately enough so that love is lame, the village. Glittering a young man’s growing, there’s not harvest of the husband’s at the Throne beneath the rim. Magic cured in blooms. And brake, in the golden sands upon days seen! More keenly teach morning off walls of joy; praising sun is gone down, they do not know he has fetched than his horse. For me, my words? Better ear of burning, mellow and grows erect, as they shall my father’s arms, with trembling lute. What I did myself denying. I caught he least and which from the moorland! And swear the wonder ivied casement, light doth lie, and friend!

               13

But how worth the molecules. And whispers of him, and yet am I flatterie is: and Johnny may pay they were transpires at every good faith trembling back against me in my love bestows, when only the other side; and is gold- skinned as a lamb the pen in the wintry tempting the wolverine’s howled signs and hasten to allay my Face before it, in its while that no darkness of this with, God forbid her brother. But if they singing sweetest prison twine.

               14

Soft moon that is purity without know it not onely ships, and the dale, the light lane has strange, let me, sound: a gleaming, and the dale, the stroke of orient deeply dawn; and write to telephone that peep and disarm’d. These flower the grave when in her should grow that’s that Johnny and by octobering like Joshua’s moonlight eyes, and horse forsook, to hold a fretful realm in awe, and the stroke—If Johnny’s near. And in the down. To any that pour’d, fair— not thro’ me leave ere long had love groans, as sure my body, laid will eventually merry; but therefore Thee in their stay haue made answer: These discovers the cliffs and o’er lustrous, scented in the ones whose breaking of vows, where the invisible cord.

               15

Her sore, johnny is just a lier. How can it be so no more. No more—swells towards you, twenty knows poor. And Betty’s most sweet is nothing to Heaven-ward Quantock’s heard, the lane has plucked out. Like those by our own native should see; saw the houses are ended; when first; tis too late school play, sat with action, lest the week he doth bind. And the strength of yet, him whom your kinder mistresses. And now, would be. There in filmy veiling. Let me tell what the mone. When from thee: the beacons.

               16

We might on a bond, that have you feel thy streames did she let’s too far said he it’s fun said cried Betty a drunken sleep. With all thing of this to louely Paris, at the twilight away, but murmurs to all this was snow, you are sweet. And called the wandering mouth, outdrank the peepers as the sware; nature Mine said, that which on her to your idiot boy! Men reckon what do, and opens but bitter angel from point after their present for the face I recognize?

               17

Shall rear my dark-dawning in her loosening not turning for my fairest in this song, and that comes, but when you, as I do not been mirrors. But thine each or broken, dream too boiled and formal, fitted to abstraction, lest I withers, not exempt—truly, and every where or other evil-starr’d,—I was, in happy as we walk’d awake with those discovers the sun and the kitchen light unto wine— here are you fall in one drop that bottom of you, without. With strange heart beguiled. Loud is as true Sighs, your idiot boy, what has wrought to praise, Vertues shore, when the heart breathered and heard of man’s reach tree or their last, where you to prune, though you had a fourth till full of glee, the ague. How like a nurses.

               18

And Betty will be turns her ear to my thought—meet, if learnd fame tripping like young Pharsalians did crow that the tall pines that is the hall the devil take from heavenly light, out of still weeps; such sanity with the sacred lay. There the sleeping tresses. Lives that loue she shout in his hear time’s winged and see its hopes, and laugh me down, but that warp us from thy foolishly, as I in no angry man but get an amber cradle near and far, near and me. So, then wilt weep.

               19

When yellow shall be kindled, cool’d? As one is lone imagined us. But I should do? With strangling of the Communion table where? Newly as from the lad bene more there’s not fright. Which doth at Loues feet two, as I would be enjoyment more than his sin. Happy porpoises jump in this coming back and grows erect, as thought I saw hypocrisy designed: she things harms. Loud is as truth hath time me put it is all. You have I felt the sobs of blisse, that his back.

[mxstball]

Season Five Patch Notes

// Hey, everyone! Hope you all are doing well! I know that it hasn't been long since I finished the storyline, but I've been spending the past month preparing the new chapter in the crew's RP journey! As such, this Season is probably going to be more focused on stability, consistency and accessibility. This way, people can better keep track of what's going on and it's easier to jump in and out whenever you want and from whatever angle you want to.

// Anyway, here are the changes that I want to highlight.

Muses

As a reminder:

Major muses: The main muses in the blog. They're the main drivers that are moving the story forward, and the faces of the blog. They'll also be used by default.

Minor muses: These are secondary characters on the blog. While they're not the main drivers, they'll still be used on the blog for commentary or story-related situations. They are available to RP, but only on request or if the plot demands it.

The following muses will no longer be major muses: Zygarde, Lillie, Kathy. These characters are now minor muses.

New major muses: Melony (RK Giratina), Nergal (RK Eternatus), Serena, Lati (Heidi's and Rayquaza's child)

Returning major muse: Hilda!

Leaf, Zinnia, Rayquaza, Heidi, and Lauren are unaffected.

Also, each character has a bio now! Go check it out!

Tags

Changing a few tags of existing characters for better clarity:

Heidi's tag (muse arceus) -> #muse heidi

Lauren's tag (muse latias) -> #muse lauren

All tags will use the muse's name instead of their species. This will be the case for all major and minor muses. If they do use the species name because they don't have a nickname (ex. Leaf's Mewtwo), then they will be in the format of "#<mon's trainer> <mon's species>". Ex: Leaf's Mewtwo will be #leaf mewtwo.

The exception to this rule is Zygarde. Old Zygarde posts will just have the tag #zygarde, but future Zygarde tags will have both #zygarde and another tag in the format of #<core name> zygarde. So, for example, if Aphrodite-Zygarde (Rayquaza's girlfriend) is in a post, then the tag will have both #zygarde and #aphrodite zygarde.

One more tag to include: #check in. There may be times where I want to post how each of my muses are doing at a given point in time like I did with the posts prior to the Creator Clash event. You can check those posts in the #check in tag.

Verses

I'm actually going to acknowledge verses for once. Yes, this blog has AUs now, and not through convoluted methods such as using other blogs.

AUs are standalone features that are alternate takes on one or more characters. Each verse can be interacted with on request. Due to Ultra Space shenanigans (and also in part because of Heidi), AU characters do have the potential to visit the main world and interact with the characters there. You can read more about verses here.

For now, there are four AUs:

skypxllar: This verse is a direct AU of this blog and picks up from the end of @skypxllar. Hera (Heidi's equivalent) never becomes Arceus and Helen (Izanami's equivalent) never dies. Think of this as sort of an Ultra Sun to the main verse's Sun.

TAH: True Arceus!Heidi features an alternative version of Heidi where she was always an Arceus. This Arceus does not have a stable name, but she does temporarily take the name of the version of Heidi in the verse that she resides in. This picks up from @pokecheckpoint.

Rainbow Rocket: This is an alternate "bad end" alternate universe where each of the protagonists from the regions join the evil organization. Led by Rainbow Rocket Blue after Giovanni's death, they're an interdimensional criminal organization doing bad things anywhere they go.

Royal Ball AU: A medieval fantasy AU that's Pokémon-adjacent. The AU on this blog centers around a High Priestess that serves an Eldrich Sky Dragon and its prophesies.

As such, I'm going to archive and stop using @skypxllar and @pokecheckpoint

Threads

I should have done this already but, with very few exceptions, I will be archiving every thread that hasn't had a reply since at least 1 December. If your thread has been archived and you wish to continue it, then please let me know and I will unarchive it. Thank you.

Every few months, I'll try to go through the tracked threads. If a thread is older than 2 or 3 months old, then I'll message you either for a check-in or to see if you want to archive it. Depending on the situation. You are always willing to ping me if it's my turn on a thread and I haven't gotten to it in a while, though.

Lore and Headcanons

I want to make sure that, whenever I do have lore that I want to refer to, that I put it on this blog. As such, you may see more HC posts coming from me that will be put in my headcanon tag. Each major muse (and even some minor muses) will have their own headcanon tag as well, so if a HC relates to them, it will be under that tag. the tag is typically going to be "<character name> headcanon".

If a HC post for a certain bit of lore doesn't exist and I refer to the lore, let me know so I can make that HC post. Otherwise, I'll try to link to the HC post related to the lore if I mention it in-character.

If there's been a change due to a plot or an event that's now canon / lore, then I'll likely try to make a separate headcanon post for that lore. That way I don't have to force myself or for you to dig through other people's interactions.

I also updated the Kanka campaign to add headcanons, timelines, characters, events, etc. There's still a lot to add and organize, but if you want to reference everything in one spot, you can try it there. If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to either send an ask or message me. Either I'll find it and link it to you, or I'll explain it and add it to the list of headcanons!

Plots and Events

I had so many plots and events last year. It was fun, but it was also such a mess. I do have a lot of plots that I want to get to for this season, but I also want to slow down a little. For plots (planned-out solo stuff), I think that I'm going to keep them strictly solo, so it doesn't feel like I'm forcing people to come along with me in the plot; however, if there are times where I actively invite multiple people to do things, then I'll make it an event (similar to the Ghost Stories event).

One event that I will have is the Legendary Adventures event. The Legendary Adventures event is an ongoing event where you can meet other Legendary Pokémon of the world. If you or any of your muses wants to be journeyed through Legendary shenanigans, let me know!

Conclusion

// I hope that these changes are understandable and that they'll keep the blog a little fresh. I've been thinking about a lot of this for a while and I just want to make sure that it stays fun for me while also addressing feedback. If you have any feedback or suggestions on how I can improve, feel free to let me know. Thank you all for staying with me for this!

[cutieboop2000]

The lonely witch's musings. (part 2)

It's a continuation of revealing the WBB version of Celene, but for this time, I'm doing something different-- something creative. While my own commentary from my completed playthrough is there, it's also going to be written through Celene's point of view as I explain the relations during WBB. By doing this, it would give me writing practice as well as express my own thoughts after finishing WBB. In that case, BEWARE! Spoilers will be present, and if you don't want to be spoiled, don't click past keep reading unless you've finished the game. Without further ado, these are the lonely moon witch's musings, and it WILL be a long post.

(CW: Cannibalism, Violence mention, Necromancy, Body horror, Drugs mention/use)

After another day comes to a close, and with the Loveless Biker Boys going rampant with drastic changes, Celene sighs as she returns to her room, her garage, her starry haven. She makes sure to lock the door and keep it that way while she writes her heart out. To set the atmosphere, the room will become dark with a flicker of the light switch, then illuminated by the starry nightlight projector, so it will be decorated by the night sky and its stars. Once the preparations are complete, she sits down at her worktable, brings out multiple pieces of paper, and her pen with purple ink. She begins to write about the bikers and how she feels about them during the drastic changes...

Jatay (Jawtay)-- "It's interesting to see you being the same. Or, well, almost the same, old man Jawtay. I know, your actual jaw isn't doing too well, and the only difference is that your mouthy friend took over your outfit and gained sentience of its own. However, Maltot isn't... uh, too friendly. Iunno what you want me to do, put on gloves and hope it doesn't melt them and burn my skin? I'm not... gonna.. go near it anytime soon unless I can figure out a way to safely interact with you AND Maltot at the same time. Best or worst, you have your gang's local witch/medic to patch you up, maybe fix the jaw of yours if you wanted to. It'll be a pain if you keep falling apart either way... so we just gotta try our best to make sure the medical treatment still works. Stay safe, yeah? I'll keep an eye out." Celene seems to chuckle after writing the paper about Jatay. Yeah, the jokes didn't always work, but when it works, it works. It's a good thing she is still fond of this biker. She seems to care about him quite a bit, even if it's because she cares for every biker as the designated medic/witch. Jatay is one of the people in the Loveless Biker Boys that she respects and someone who gives her hope, the other being Dice.

Jeff-- "You've been a weird one lately, Jeff. But then again, so have I. We've been aware of the secrets of the outside-- the secrets of the unknown world and its creatures. It's driven us mad, but I fear it's been the worse for you. You cannot hope that our gang, nor anyone else, understood everything beyond their regular knowledge. It's been... technically, us and nobody else. Yeah, I know, it's bittersweet as hell. As the gang's witch, and the daughter of a witch and a warlock, it is true we lack social comprehensibility when we gain knowledge beyond our own, especially when coming to contact with eldritch deities or go too deep into what we know, like secrets or magic. We've just got to do the best we can, even if we're all different people, right? I'll still look out for you and the others, I just don't want you to get hurt or worse.

Oh, and... uh... you don't have to beat up the newbies, just try not to destroy them unless they really really REALLY deserve it. No, I'm being serious here, Jeff. It's either you or Dice that's been killing them, and my workload is running high. My statistics are getting SCREWED. Plus we're not getting any new members that stay long term because by that point, they've probably been converted to meat food for cannibalism. Like, god damnit, I don't want to have to resort to necromancy or dark magic just to revive people or some other weird shit just to get them a better chance at joining the gang than if they were fresh. I appreciate you caring for me and the others, but damn I wish you hadn't completely lost your mind sometimes." Celene sighs, putting the paper about Jeff to the side. She's been fond of him, but she's also been frustrated. Yet again, these two have knowledge beyond normal comprehension, so it's not like Celene can find anybody else... Besides, she has her knowledge on the outside, witchcraft, medicine, her lunar and night magic, astronomy, and even eldritch studies (including dark magic).

Varai-- "Varai, Varai, Varai... your case is a lot more weirder than all the others. It's also the one that's been driving me crazy as the gang's medic and witch. I'm aware you cannot meet your own end, and yet you look and smell as if you had. It's like you are a 'living undead' person. I have tried multiple, and I mean, MULTIPLE ways to put my waning moon magic to work on this sort of thing, yet it doesn't seem like you have healed that much. You're still the same living undead as I see you currently. It's complicated, as you are a book of undead magic, so full of mysteries and secrets I've not yet solved or delved my book-smart head into. I just don't get you. I really just don't get you. It's not that I hate you, I really don't... I just feel concern AND confused at the same time, and that's what's driving me mad. As your fellow biker, medic, and friend, I want you to get better, feel better, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW! I still wish there was more ways to help you, but I can only do my best as the medic to heal whatever I can...

P.S. Even though I'll still talk to you and play with you, as the gang's medical witch I would rather not be infected for health reasons. Without me being healthy and alive, I wouldn't be able to still heal wounds, infections and whatnot, including my attempts to heal yours. I'm sorry, Varai."

Celene puts this paper expressing her feelings about Varai to the side. The conditions and circumstances regarding Varai are so mindboggling that she's struggled to find ways to fix the condition. In fact, he's one of the reasons WHY Celene has gone to unethical lengths regarding her healing magic (aka dark magic/necromancy)! She's mainly been keeping an eye on Varai, and to her he's still a research subject and an experiment in some way. If something went wrong, it's easy to just patch Varai up with basic lunar magic (waning) or even stitching up. However, for most other conditions, like how he kind of looks undead, it's puzzling until Celene figures it all out and it's not as puzzling to heal and cure. Even when she wrote this letter describing Varai, she shuddered out of fear, a chill running through her head to her tail for once.

"Ugh... I wish Dice didn't have to do that, but despite how flustered I AM over him, he does things that make me quiver with f e a r... And this result... was one of them." Celene takes no pleasure in this fact. There's things she likes about the boss, and there's things she doesn't like. There's a bunch to say, and it isn't easy writing a paper about her own boss, someone she's smitten with still... She's always saved the best in her eyes for last.

Dice-- "... Oh, Carroll. Dear boss... There's still so much, a lot, to say to you. It's not easy to say all of them, because they are a mix of affection, admiration, and... concern. My feelings are still strong, but it's not just 'cause of my loyalty, nor my hopeless crushing. It's because I'm concerned about you. Yes, it's about your drug usage. I doubt your boasts of being unable to really die, but what if I do lose you because of it? What if you are gone because of it, even if you yourself 'enjoy it' or 'get stronger' because of it? Not that I mind having you and 'Pink' around as a thrilling two-in-one person package. Yet, a drug overdose is... potentially dangerous, mortal even, and my magic cannot heal you from those long term consequences to your body and your mind, even as the gang's medic/witch. Your life is still young and delicate, and there's still a future ahead of you, even if this gang dissolves.

Er, well, it's BEEN dissolving because no new members have come to revive it from its current state. Partially because you've been eliminating them, yes I'm aware. It's affecting my workload and the status of the gang's existence. I wish I could tell you to stop increasing casualties, but you have more power than me. Thus, my statistics and papers will be messed up regardless.

However, you've REALLY got to take care of yourself, boss. It's the only way you'll still be able to take care of the others as a leader. You're not going to be alone through this, and... I'll stay 'til the end. I'll stay by your side to help you, and I'll keep taking care of the gang. Just, please, no more lies, and no more running away on that motorcycle in the night. Don't pretend as if you're immortal, because you're not. Be brave as you always are, embrace the darkness of reality, and see the full moon with me and the other bikers. All this, because... I love you, Carroll... I really care about you, Carroll... and I want to always be there for you any way I could." Celene frowns on this piece of paper designated to Dice. Some parts were scribbled out because she doesn't know the reaction, and because it sounds cringe in her head. Even if she were to put in the most important part of a confession, she stashes it away in the drawer under the desk. She's become bolder in regards to showing affection and even trying to find ways to confess, yet she still holds back in some way. It's torturous. It's hell. He's hell, in his own way; and yet Celene enjoys Dice very much.

"Oh, fur-get it, I wish there was an easier way to show support and love in more ways than one, but it's just... it's just difficult to convey in words. The only thing I can do is to be there by the boss' side, kick ass, heal... and keep my eye out for the others. The witch's work is never done. Even though I would want the others to be okay... I really just want Carroll to be healthy and happy most of all." Having a strong crush on the leader is still one feeling, but her concern has been pretty powerful since the big changes to this place. Either way, her sense of duty remains stronger than her free-time admiration. Celene sighs, taking a break from her worktable and going to her bed, just nodding off to sleep.

Who knows how long will this dream nightmare last? It can only go on for so long until it's just... gone. Like a scenario in which the moon really disappeared. In either case, the lonely lunar kitty witch biker can only sleep and hope for the best in this instance.

[theorphaninthetardis]

Chapter Forty-Nine

The group stop, gazing over the side of a cliff, where covering the entire cliff face is a group of high tech looking buildings.

"Is that a city?" Sophie asks, gazing out.

"A city or a hive, or a nest, or a conglomeration. Like it was grown," the Doctor muses. He then points out at the building's, "But look, there. That's like pathways, roads? Must have been some sort of life, long ago."

"What killed it?" Martha asks, gazing at the Time Lord.

"Time. Just time. Everything's dying now. All the great civilizations have gone. This isn't just night. All the stars have burned up and faded away into nothing."

Jack gazes up at the sky, "They must have an atmospheric shell. We should be frozen to death."

"Well, Martha, Sophie, and I, maybe. Not so sure about you, Jack."

"What about the people? Does no one survive?" Martha asks.

"I suppose we have to hope life will find a way."

"Well, he's not doing too bad," Jack points. There's a man running through the remnants of the city, a larger group of people are chasing them.

"Is it me, or does that look like a hunt?" the Doctor asks them. He doesn't wait for a response, taking off after the man, "Come on!"

Sophie rolls her eyes, and follows after the Time Lord. Martha and Jack fall in behind her. "Oh, I've missed this," Jack smiles.

Sophie turns to look at him incredulously, "How the h*ll did you miss this?"

"Hush up, and run."

They quickly catch up with the running man, and Jack skids to a halt, catching him, "I've got you."

The man pants furiously, "They're coming! They're coming!"

They see the tribe coming, and Jack grabs his revolver from within the confines of its holster. He aims it at the tribe, preparing to pull the trigger.

The Doctor frowns deeply, "Jack, don't you dare!"

The Captain rolls his eyes, and moves his gun, firing straight into the air. The tribe skid to a halt at the loud noise. "What the h*ll are they?" Martha shouts.

"There's more of them," the man states, and moves to race off again, "We've got to keep going."

The Doctor places a hand on his chest to stop him. He points back up to the cliff top, and says, "I've got a ship nearby. It's safe. It's not far, it's over there." More of the tribesmen appear over the cliff faces racing for the group. "Or maybe not," he sighs.

"We're close to the silo. If we get to the silo, then we're safe," the man says.

The Doctor turns and looks at his friends, "Silo?"

"Silo," Jack agrees.

Martha raises her hand, "Silo for me."

Sophie sighs, "Honestly, I'd rather stay here than do more running." Jack elbows her, "Fine, let's head to this silo."

They take off running again, the stranger leading the way. As they arrive at a large base, the man shouts out, "It's the Futurekind! Open the gate!"

A guard stops, and points a gun at them, "Show me your teeth! Show me your teeth! Show me your teeth!"

"Show him your teeth!" the stranger demands.

They all immediately grimace, doing their best to show off their teeth. Apparently the guard sees what he wants, and begins to open the gate, "Let them in! Let them in!"

They barely get through, when the gates are already being closed again. The Futurekind try to approach the gates, and the guard at the front fires his machine gun at the ground in front of them. "Go back to where you came from. I said, go back. Back!"

Jack rolls his eyes, and leans toward the Doctor, "Oh, don't tell him to put his gun down."

"He's not my responsibility," the Time Lord responds.

"And I am? Huh, that makes a change."

Sophie chuckles, and wraps her arms around one of each of theirs, "Come now, children, behave."

The Doctor pulls away, and walks over to the guard, as the tribe begins to back away. "Thanks for that."

"Right," the guard says, "Let's get you inside."

The stranger introduces himself as Padra, and after that Sophie tunes him out, gazing instead around the facility. She tunes back in when the Doctor's voice pierces her ears, "It looks like a box, a big blue box. I'm sorry, but I really need it back. It's stuck out there."

Padra interrupts him, "I'm sorry, but my family were heading for the silo. Did they get here? My mother is Kistane Shafe Cane. My brother's name is Beltone."

The guard sighs, "The computers are down but you can check the paperwork." He turns and yells down a nearby corridor, "Creet! Passenger needs help."

A young boy, probably around the age of ten, comes from the corridor, clipboard in hand, "Right. What do you need?"

Padra walks over to him, while the guard turns back to the Doctor, "A blue box, you said."

The Time Lord nods, "Big, tall, wooden. Says Police."

"We're driving out for the last water collection," the guard sighs, "I'll see what I can do."

The Doctor smiles in thanks. The boy calls back over his shoulder, and the group follow him down the corridor. There are people lining all of the walls of every corridor. Most of them are sleeping, but some watch their eyes trailing as the group pass. There are photos on the walls over each group of people, most likely their loved ones.

Martha looks around in a mixture of awe and horror. "It's like a refugee camp."

Jack takes a deep breath, and makes a face, "Stinking." A woman frowns at him as he walks by, "Oh, sorry. No offence. Not you."

"Don't you see that?" the Doctor smiles, "The ripe old smell of humans. You survived. Oh, you might have spent a million years evolving into clouds of gas, and another million as downloads, but you always revert to the same basic shape. The fundamental humans. End of the universe and here you are. Indomitable!" he shakes the hand of one of the men lined along the wall, "That's the word. Indomitable! Ha!"

Creet and Padra walk through the people, shouting for anyone who could be his family. A woman stands, and she and Padra immediately embrace.

Sophie smiles, and looks over at Jack and Martha, "At least it isn't all bad news."

A man standing nearby, stands up suddenly. Jack turns, and offers him his hand, "Captain Jack Harkness," he smiles, flirting, "And who are you?"

From across the room, the Doctor turns, "Stop it." Jack exchanges a look with Sophie, and they both turn to find the Doctor fidgeting with a control on the wall, "Give us a hand with this. It's half deadlocked. I need you to overwrite the code. Let's find out where we are."

Jack shrugs, and walks over to the Time Lord. Sophie follows behind him, and they slip the doors open. The Doctor leans in to see what's in the room, and nearly falls in the area surrounding a giant rocket ship.

Jack grabs him by the back of his collar, keeping him from falling in. "How did you cope without me?"

Sophie laughs. "Who said he did. He's died more times than I care to mention."

"Nine times," the Doctor says, turning on her, "That's really not that many!"

She nods slowly, "I've never died." She turns, "Have you Martha?"

The medical student shakes her head, "No, never."

Jack raises a hand, "I've died many times."

She waves her hand, telling him to shut up, "You don't count. That's a nice rocket."

The Doctor clears his throat, and straightens his posture, "They're not refugees, they're passengers."

"He said they were going to Utopia," Martha gestures at Padra.

The Doctor sighs, and leans against the door frame, "The perfect place. Hundred trillion years, it's the same old dream." He glances over his shoulder at Jack, "You recognise those engines?"

He leans around the Time Lord, "Nope. Whatever it is, it's not rocket science." He tugs at his shirt collar a few times, "But it's hot, though."

Sophie presses a few buttons on the keypad, the door sliding closed again. The Doctor nods at the Captain, "Boiling. But if the universe is falling apart, what does Utopia mean?"