#her finally learning that she has to be great in order to take control of her life

[ancientgoddessofegypt]

Neptune Placements and Subconscious Manifestation

Neptunians have a calling in their souls path that utilizes the subconscious prowells of the underworld and higher realms of reality.

Everything is subconscious before it is materialized, so neptunians have a great understanding of this at birth. The beauty of this is that once they learn how to stay afloat in a reality that tries to force them to be grounded, they will be able to use their brain to conquer the reality they wish to receive in this lifetime.

With that being said, let me explain how everyone with neptune placements can utilize their gifts in order to receive the reality they want for themselves, as well as knowing how to appreciate the things their subconscious mind is able to do and magnetize to them.

I will say that nothing is impossible, because with the mind all can be possible if you just believe. Neptune rules the higher heart, it allows us to see the beyond of something we believe as impossible to be possible. With the use of our pineal glands (neptune/uranus) we can see more of anything in the horizon even if its not able to be seen first hand, with effort and practice.the world can be ours.

Sun/Neptune - When it comes to your subconscious mind, it has much to do with the way you express yourself into the world. If you want a dancer, a lawyer, a scientist, etc. Before it materializes you must act it out BEFORE it can arrive to you. Think of the law of attraction (which neptune rules over) and think about how you'd be if you were these things already. Your brain doesn't know the difference between you having this thing or not, it responds to the nature of doing something and receive information on how to expand the consciousness on that desire. Being your true self helps you get into alignment with the thing that you want.

Pay attention to how you act when you are around others because this is reflective of your imagination, not theirs. With neptunians it is easy for people to take in people’s projections of them and it can mess with your imagination, however, we still have control on we’re our subconscious reality goes.

Moon/Neptune is reflective on your emotional state. For example, you want to feel joy, right? What happens if you never felt joy ever? You would have to force yourself into that roll. It might sound goofy at first but with practice you will realize that energy doesn’t lie, and our emotions are connecting to energy.. good bad and neutral.

The beauty with this placement is how well these individuals can alchemize their emotions and transform it into something that they want in the material/physical reality. So if I want more joy and I never felt it before but I know it’s a form of happiness, Im going to “pretend” to be joyous and when I keep doing this it’ll begin to reflect into my reality therefore REAL joy can come into fruition. It just takes time n effort. And with said effort of mastering the alchemy of my own emotions, I could then create a reality out of this energy (our emotions are = energy) thus moving me into a vibration of more joy where I can attract what I want into the form of whatever it is I desire. I just have to seek out joy.

With this placement though, a lot of times what you want to create doesn’t have a actual look, mostly a vibe. So sometimes you have to reflect on the feeling of it and not just the look. “Follow the energy” would be my final word to you all.

Neptune/ASC has a lot to do with shapeshifting yourself into the reality that you want. It also has a lot to do with being consciously aware of the choices that you are making, and making moves toward the direction of your desire. I’m going to use miss Marilyn Monroe as an example. Monroe, a neptune/asc in leo had a vision that she would be a star. Before we knew her as Marilyn, she was norma jean with brunette hair and a pretty smile. Once she transformed her look, hair, and character it was at this moment she would be the world famous superstar of our time. She talked about how she used her mind and pretended she was already the star she wanted to be and with time it moved her into the direction she wanted for herself. Another example would be you want a house or a car, but it’s not just any car or house it’s a luxury! Your subconscious doesn’t know the difference so you would have to consciously make yourself act as if you have it because the external reality responds to the vibration of your internal self (conscious and unconscious) first, external after.

Neptune/Mercury the power is in the voice! One of the few placements that can will what they want for themselves with the power of the tongue. The truth of the matter is that you must pretend and then focus on the energy that is being presented when willing it into your reality. These are the type of people who can be prophets in their life and utilize this ability with any talents in writing/singing/rapping/visuals etc. The use of the hands here is a gift as well. Scripting and creating stories of their own life before it happens is something they could be pretty good at if they listen to their intuition. The mind responds to what you believe is real , like for example you say "Im ugly" a hundred times, the universe will attach that feeling to your reality. If you say "im pretty" eventually your mind will believe this as true, so then you end up being in situations that show your true nature. YOU control the mind and what comes out of it. Just be you!

Neptune/Venus the power is in your sensuality and the way you express your love for yourself and all around you. Beautiful placement, how you will what you want within reality is by going with the flow. Dreams can come true but with venusian energy we have to relinquish our control! These two planets together deal with the heart, so what we believe wholeheartedly can come true we just have to embrace it with our minds and the way we feel life with our sensual nature. Beautiful placement, i'll say it again.

The love you have for yourself will reflect back in your manifestations. Deservingness is a theme for people with this placement.

Neptune/Mars - Your drive. Your endurance levels and what you believe is possible is how strongly this placement will be. If youre not confident in whatever it is you want than mars energy here will be a pretty low since its dependant on the subconscious. I see people with this placement having to embark on a lot of psychological transformations as mars/aries rules the head so the mind will always be something worth having to overcome. Building up confidence and working up a sweat is actually a good way to help your manifestations come through quicker! Neptune/mars can rely on getting into the root of something to heal the wounds of the subconscious so that their conscious reality can mirror the internal feelings of what they desire in the process.

Neptune/Pluto - Okay so at this point i want to start of by saying that any planet that isn't a luminary (Uranus/Neptune/Jupiter/Saturn/Pluto) does not have much of a affect in the physical, but mostly internal and spiritual. Neptune and pluto together are a powerhouse baby! Because its dealing with the unconscious and the subconscious and its usually something that lays hidden. With the luminaries, we can consciously see what are reality is like versus our imagination. With this placement its tricky because if pluto wants to stay a secret, thats what itll be. The goal here is to see and feel what your imagination is trying to say to you. You may be dealing with blocked manifestation abilities with this placement so it'll take some sort of 'shadow work' to get the bottom of any issues as to why manifesting something isnt as easy.

Now here is the part on how it can be easier. Since pluto rules the unconscious, you must be aware of your dream state especially since neptune is the ruler of dreams. Sometimes what you want may not come thru you but through others, as pluto is a magnet of getting other people to do what it wants. So with that being said, connecting to your inner self via meditation and thru dreams would help you see the best manifestation method for you. Neptune/Pluto together shows me that their are a lot unlocked gifts that you may have to work to get a chance to use them. Pay attention to how you feel and what you say when manifesting. Start with a sentence on what you desire, pay attention to your imagination, what comes up? does it feel good or bad? if it feels good feel the vibration of it and thats when you'll know how to receive it because its thru a certain emotion (and emotions bring power WHEN used correctly). If it feels bad, why? go deeper on the subject, because it could either be blocking you or protecting you. A lot of times the unconscious like to hide because maybe when you were younger something 'forced' it to lock away certain gifts. Your subconscious/unconscious self holds great awards, and the more you go inside to see the more you will become the magician of your own reality!

Neptune/Saturn - Grounded. Material. Discipline. Staying Focused. 4 things to note with this placement is that saturn will reward you with the effort you take to move into it! The original law of attraction placement. It focuses on bring our dreams into material reality. With you guys, meditating on what you want and then creating a blueprint for it is the best way to see thru an idea and allowing the universe to present it to you the way it sees fit. We may not know all the answers but thats the point, we're not suppose to know everything we're just suppose to do it.

Now with you guys focusing on the task and putting all your energy on that goal is how saturn will push you forward to that thing you want to manifest. I need yall to dream big here because saturn whats you to create something with a long lasting foundation so theirs no playing small here. We start off with some baby steps and we move on to the bigger picture but saturns energy deals with the dark stuff nobody ever talks about. Hardwork pays off but the amount of effort you put into changing your mindset and going in with the challenge is the kicker.

Creating the vision is easy with neptune but putting in the work is sometimes the hardest. How bad do you want it? That's a saturn proverb here. We gotta get use to things not being as 'easy' as we may like, and thats the lesson saturn brings with this placement.

Neptune/Jupiter - This placement counts on your belief system so the higher your beliefs the stronger the outcome of the manifestation. This placement has no room for small, shorthanded beliefs because you'll eventually will have to learn how to expand your horizons. Jupiter rules luck, so a risk will be necessary on receiving what you desire. Do you wish to travel? Then you must believe that you can fly. New look? You must believe that you will look great in whatever you put on? Don't trust yourself to swim ? Gotta change that narrative, just say you're a mermaid without gills ;) jk. This placement can not be still and you will go through many journeys in life whether it's through the mind or across the world. Believe in MORE and you will receive it.

Seriously though, this placement is built on your belief system and it can get stronger immediately once you go towards more optimism in your life.

Neptune/Uranus. Think think think! The power is strictly in your consciousness. With manifesting what you want, it may be more unconventional than you'd think. As a person with this placement (this is a generational placement from like 1993 to 1999) I've noticed that this placement requires you to look beyond what you see in front of you. This generation so far is creating a new era of dreams no one never seen coming. Ive seen people manifest their dreams as being a rapper and even if their not super famous or in hollywood they've built a lifestyle for themselves that we've otherwise never seen possible. I'd say their more on the independant side which I've seen a lot of so far. But the reason I used that as an example is because you have to let go and let the unexpected happen. Our dreams are possible to achieve we just have to know that it may be different and most likely ahead of its time!

I hope you all loved my observation list on neptune and the other placements! Stay tuned for more to come. Maybe you can manifest what i do next ;) hehe, bye!

[petday]

whats little magic?

It is a puzzle game for the Super Famicom and Game Boy Color video game systems. I like the Game Boy Color game much more for its art direction, and it's also just more fun for me to play with the 'bubble magic' mechanic in that version. I wrote more about my enjoyment below, in case anyone is curious.

The game’s box art is very beautiful, right? It caught my eye right away. The in-game 'cutscene' artwork appears to be carefully-made pixel art versions of the same artist's illustrations and they are similarly beautiful. (Sorry in advance if my photograph quality is not great.)

But the actual levels themselves look very haphazard. Clashing colors and tiles. It's easy enough to guess that a blue tile next to a white tile represents water and snow, respectively, but what does the yellow cluster-of-boxes tile represent? Yellow bricks of a tower…? How about the spike-y objects in the snow-water levels? I guessed they were underwater mines, but then there's the same tile in a later level too, just palette-swapped to be red… The two monochrome tiles in the third picture above teleports your character, but it has a two-frame animation that made me think of an ‘industrial grinder’ and ‘static noise’, so I assumed it was dangerous at first. Was it intended to be nondescript ‘sparkly magic’? Where are all of these levels taking place, anyway? No other humans are in these areas, just various animals and vague environmental indicators. There are cute snakes in some ‘yellow brick’ levels that end your life upon touching them. Seems irresponsible for a teacher to allow her student into perilous areas, no matter how eager she is to pass her final exam at magic school and become a magician.

Oh, I should explain the story. (None of the above photos are in sequence, just wanted to show more of the game.) The story is about a girl who attends magic school, and aims to pass a series of tests to become a full-fledged magician. Her teacher encourages her. The lack of explanation in the story is another fun point for me. Her magic teacher doesn't explain why 'learning magic' consists of pushing a heart into a heart-shaped hole that triggers a staircase to appear, which is what you need to do to complete each level. (It’s a beating heart – is it alive?) No explanation as to why snakes end your life instantly upon touching them. The context of 'because you want to pass your exams, a teacher is putting you through trials to help you become a master of magic’ isn’t an adequate explanation, because the teacher also tells you that she has not passed the final exam - why is a teacher putting a student through something that is too difficult even for herself? Who is in control of all of the strange areas you need to ‘complete’ in order to become a real magician, then? (After you complete the game with the student, you can play a different set of levels as the teacher, but even the usual sparse context-giving ‘cutscenes’ are not there… Mysterious…)

So, all of that is why my drawing about ‘Little Magic’ is about ‘confusion’, ‘going along with something that makes sense at first, but quickly unravels to not make sense any longer’, ‘growing distrust of authoritative figures’, and ‘frustration from stagnation.’ https://petday.tumblr.com/post/730315736066768896

Maybe the instruction booklet explains everything; I did not have access to that while playing, and I like that feeling. ‘Renting a game from a video game rental store that did not come with an instruction booklet, and being perplexed by it, forced to create your own context because you have nothing else’ feeling. Randomly selecting games to play that do not have much documentation online is enjoyable to me, because of that feeling.

A fan translation group translated the Game Boy Color game from Japanese to English in 2018. There wasn't a lot of dialogue in the first place, though. I like games where there is little to no dialogue because one can imagine a story/context besides what is shown. Up until 2022, I could not find a solution for the teacher’s final puzzle, so I interpreted the ending of the game’s story as, ‘The magic teacher thought she could harness a type of magic far stronger than what she could handle, accidentally designed an impossible puzzle for herself and is trapped for eternity.’ Of course, the puzzle has a solution, but I wanted to honour my strange interpretation regardless. When I play games and have weird interpretations of them, I am definitely not saying, 'I bet this is what the people who worked on this game were thinking!' I dislike that attitude. It's just imaginative interpretation, and working with the odd way I interact with things in order to maximize fun for myself…

A part about old games that I also love, is that they can never be updated; they had one chance to release a finished game, and maybe another chance to fix glitches in a re-release if they sold very many copies the first time. I greatly enjoyed the ‘imperfect’ tilesets and abrupt feeling of this game, which might have been ‘improved’ in a patch if it had been released in recent years instead of 1999.

(I wasn’t sure where to include this point, but I must also say, my favourite YouTube comments are about someone’s unusual interpretations of a game, when they did not have access to a guide at the time. I read one recently – the comment author and their brother rented ‘Final Fantasy IV’ from a rental store, and they did not know about the ‘Poison’ status effect that depletes the characters health. There is a strange pixelation effect and a ringing sound when you walk around the overworld while poisoned. Because the save file they were playing from was during a point of the game where you visit the moon, and because of the unfamiliar visual and sound effect, they interpreted the ‘Poison’ status effect as, “The moon must be running out of air.” Things like that are beautiful to me.)

(I also wasn’t sure where to put this point, but the main character, May, from ‘Little Magic’, is stylized differently in some ‘cutscenes’. She resembles a dragon to me. It’s cute.)

[reverieparacosm]

hi! could you please write yandere!sauron x fem reader hcs? maybe sauron had a dream of this woman who fulfills a prophecy he read that would make him more powerful so he sends his minions to bring her to him and when he meets her there is a magical bond between them and he is obsessed with her

Prophecy: Yandere!Sauron x F!Reader

Warnings: Yandere, possessive behaviors, manipulation, gaslighting, kidnapping, slavery, (Sauron is already a red flag -)

Note: Your wish is my command! I am weak for Yandere Sauron.

Remember kids - please do not enslave people just because you saw them in dreams

Sauron's thirst for power is unending

As the Dark Lord of Mordor, he is always on the lookout for ways to increase his influence and rule over Middle-Earth

One night, he is visited by a vision of a woman who would help him fulfill a prophecy that would grant him even more power. This vision ignites a fiery determination within him, and he sets his minions on the task of finding her and bringing her to him

His servants search far and wide, but the woman is elusive and hard to find. Months pass without success, but finally, one of his minions stumbles upon her during a routine scouting mission

He brings Sauron the news, and the Dark Lord is overjoyed. He immediately orders his minions to keep a close eye on her and bring him regular reports

But Sauron's desire for this mysterious woman grows stronger with each passing day. He wants her for himself, and orders his minions to bring her to him

She is everything he has hoped she would be - powerful and capable of fulfilling the prophecy. The moment they meet, Sauron feels a magical bond between them that he has never experienced before. He is immediately obsessed with her, unable to tear his eyes away from her

With a single glimpse, he is captivated by her beauty. So much so that he takes her face in his hand before she has even noticed his presence. His ice-cold mental glove caresses her cheeks and he absorbs every delicate detail, leaving her with an unsettling sensation

When she turns her head to the side, Sauron becomes more aggressive. He grabbs her chin with one hand and held her neck with the other, forcing her to look into his eye

Despite being an evil, dark lord with a reputation for cruelty, he develops a soft spot for her

He tells his minions not to harm her and threatens those who do with severe punishment. He does not want to lose her or drive her away, for he knows that she is the key to fulfilling his ultimate goal - becoming the most powerful being in Middle-Earth

"I would rather burn the world than see it harm you."

Sauron spends every waking hour with her, pouring his heart and soul into their relationship. He is desperate to learn everything he could about her, her abilities, and her place in the grand scheme of things. He is certain that she is the one he has been seeking for so long, the one who would help him achieve true greatness

As the days pass, the bond between them only grows stronger, and Sauron's obsession with her only deepens. He knows that the prophecy is within his grasp, and he would do whatever it takes to fulfill it with her by his side

The woman is initially reluctant to trust Sauron. But as he charms her with his words and gifts, she begins to fall under his spell

Sauron soon begins to see the woman as his property and becomes increasingly possessive and demanding. He expects her to devote all of her time and energy to him, and becomes violent when she tries to resist

"Your heart beats in harmony with mine, the two inextricably linked in a bond so strong that no other force can break it. You are mine, and I am yours, our destinies intertwined forevermore."

Sauron is constantly monitoring the woman, using magic to invade her thoughts and dreams. He knows her every move and thought, and he uses this knowledge to control her

Sauron revels in her obedience, especially when she sits at his feet as he holds court with his many war generals. It is a constant reminder of his power over her, and he loves having her as his symbol. Even when he is deep in conversation, he still takes a moment to stroke her hair, relishing in her submission. He senses the tension in her body, and it only increases his satisfaction

"There is no one like you, my beautiful darling. The way you bend to my will pleases me greatly. You are a constant reminder of the power I have over you, and it thrills me to no end. Even in the midst of battle, I cannot help but take a moment to stroke your hair, relishing in your submission. Your body trembles with tension, and it only increases my satisfaction. Never forget who you belong to. I am your master, and you will forever be my symbol."

The woman is conflicted about Sauron's behavior, but she is unable to resist the powerful bond between them. She tries to convince herself that she can change him, but as time goes on, she realizes that he is too deeply engrained in his dark ways to change

If she tries to escape, Sauron would likely use his powerful magic to track her down and capture her

He would stop at nothing to keep her under his control. If the woman manages to escape his grasp, Sauron would likely become more obsessed than ever, and he would use all of his resources to find her and bring her back to him. He would stop at nothing to keep her by his side, even if it meant using his most dark and nefarious tactics to do so

"You are my most prized treasure, my greatest possession. No one on this earth or beyond it will ever take you away from me. Our love is eternal, a bond that cannot be broken or tarnished by any force in existence."

[thecuriousquest]

Oooh! I just loved your recent platonic yandere katsuki work! Would you consider making a sort of part 2? To how they'd be treated there after and what would happen when they have to return? Thank you!❤️

Have no Fear, Nii-Chan’s Here Part Two

Tag List: @issamomma

Part One here.

Warnings: Yandere themes, SFW, platonic Yandere big brother, mentions of punishment spanking, over protective big brother Katsuki, possessive/controlling tendencies

Checkout my Master List here.

—————————————————————————

Bakugou adores you in his own way. He’s gruff and rough around the edges, but there is a spot for you in his heart. You’ve spent almost a year with him now, and ever since you gave in that day at the pool and started calling him “Nii-chan”, things have been a lot easier between the two of you.

He watches over you and protects you from bad things or bad people. You have learned to live with this aspect of your host. Keeping the peace is what’s most important to you because you don’t want to relive the pool incident again. Never again.

You still rub your knee when you get in trouble with your Nii-chan. For the majority, you’re very well-behaved, but you’re still a growing teenager. You can’t be perfect 100 percent of the time. Katsuki always begins with a lecture. How you respond depends on if he needs to up your punishment. Usually, you’re in tears well before he finishes screaming your ear off. Only on the rare occasions of your defiance does he feel the need to take things a step further and secure your obedience. This is usually done with a very early bedtime or a spanking. Nii-chan has only had to spank you twice because his hand is so powerful in making you submit to his will.

Big Brother Katsuki is a major part of your life now, but with only one week left of your stay at the Bakugou household, you find him in a rather irritated and solemn mood. His hugs are longer as if he can’t stand letting you go.

“I’m gonna FaceTime you, and you better answer if you know what’s good for you.” The threat is a mask, but you can still hear the hurt behind the warning.

“Yes, Nii-chan.”

You don’t plan on answering. What will he do all the way in Japan?

———

You’re so happy to be home in America that you cry with relief in your mother’s arms.

“I missed you too, honey, but there’s no need to cry,” she says as she strokes your hair. “Come on, I made you some lunch. Your father’s on his way home from work. He got off early to come see you.”

———

It’s precisely nine o’clock at night on the east coast when your phone starts ringing. You know instantly who it is as dread fills the pit of your stomach. Reaching over to pick up your phone, you shake your head and decline.

What could Katsuki do? You can’t let him control you anymore.

You set your phone down and go back to reading your book, getting lost in the fantasy plot.

As you keep ignoring his texts and calls, Katsuki grows angrier. How dare you ignore your Nii-chan after everything he’s done for you?! No, this simply won’t do. He can’t have you thinking you can just ignore him. If he has to raise hell in order to get back to his little sister, then he’ll fucking burn the world to ashes.

———

With school about to start, you feel like things are beginning to become normal again. That is until there’s an unexpected knock at the door. Your mother opens it and yells for you in a happy tone for you to come to her.

The blood colored orbs greet you to your horror. You look at your mother with worry.

“What’s going on?” you finally manage to ask.

“Katsuki wanted me to keep it a surprise, but he missed you so much that he wanted to be a part of the foreign exchange student program as well. I didn’t know that there was an extended version of the program, so he’s going to be staying with us for the next three years. Isn’t that great?!”

All you can do is nod. Your mother thinks you’re about to start crying because you missed the ash blonde so much, but she couldn’t be any more wrong.

“Why don’t you go and show your…oh, what was it that she always called you, Katsuki? Nii-cho?”

“Nii-chan,” he answers her while keeping his eyes glued on you.

“Right, sorry, dear. Y/N, go show your Nii-chan the guest room that he’ll be staying in.”

You nod and go up the stairs first, leading him to the right and down the hall until you hit the end of it. Opening the door, you reveal a nice bedroom that Katsuki will be staying in. He puts his bags down and turns to you.

Pulling you into a strong hug, you stifle a whimper as you wrap your arms around him so as not to anger him.

“You never answered one of my calls or texts,” he reprimands.

“I know,” is all you have to say.

“You know I’ll have to punish you for that, right?”

And just like before, your knee begins to throb as if the old wound is still there and Katsuki is pressing down on it.

Finally, the pent up whimper emerges from your lips, and your tears coating your lashes cascade down your cheeks.

“Yes, Nii-chan…”

The truth of your situation finally crashes down on you. No matter where you go, no matter how much you try to ignore him, no matter how far you try to run, your Nii-chan is inescapable.

[sydsaint]

A little taste of what's to come with our fav GM Reader and her boys. <3

Summary: GM reader flexes her hard-earned experience and the benefits that come with it to Ava at a draft meeting. But offering Ava some wisdom isn't the only thing that she's got on the agenda.

"Your boys lost the match fair and square, Pearce." You smile across the table at your fellow general manager. "Which means that Smackdown gets first dibs at the NXT roster, courtesy of Ava, of course." You turn in your chair to face Ava sitting a few seats away from you.

Ava flashes a friendly smile at you. This is her first WWE draft meeting, so she's still in the feeling-out process of everything. "I'm just happy to be here." She admits.

"And we're happy to have you here." Pearce nods. "But back to business. YN, do you have a pick from the NXT roster to kick the night off?" He turns back to you.

"I do, yes." You grin and twirl your pen in your hand before pulling open the vanilla folder in front of you. "Smackdown will be taking Carmelo Hayes as our first pick from NXT." You inform the room.

A knowing scoff escapes Pearce's lips. He taps his pen against his palm and nods at you. "Excellent choice, YN." He compliments you. "Your eye for talent never ceases to amaze me." He adds knowingly.

"What can I say, Adam? I can't help but have good taste." You laugh and wink at him playfully.

The meeting drags on for a few more hours while you and Pearce go back and forth on draft picks. Ava chimes in when one of you has a question about the NXT roster, but otherwise stays silent and soaks in all the information she can get. Ava especially keeps a keen eye on you. She aspires to be like you one day. A strong woman that commands authority and understands the inner-workings of the company like the back of your hand.

After the meeting finally comes to an end, both you and Pearce are feeling satisfied with your respective picks. The two of you shake hands and part ways until the next executive meeting or PLE show. You are just about shoot the boys a text that you're finished up with your meeting when Ava approaches.

"YN! Hey, again." Ava cracks a friendly and eager smile as she walks over to you.

"Hmm?" You glance up from your phone. "Oh, Ava! What's up, girl?" You greet her.

Ava bounces on her heels nervously and smiles at you. "Sorry to bother you." She bites the inside of her cheek. "But I was hoping that we could talk for a minute?"

"Yeah, sure." You nod and pocket your phone. "I've got some time before my date gets here."

Ava nods and the two of you move to a more comfortable spot to chat for a bit. You both take a seat out in the outdoor lounge and take advantage of the warm sun still hanging in the sky.

"You were great earlier." Ava starts the conversation. "I mean. It's so cool how you manage to control the narative when you're negotiating with Pearce." She gushes. "That's what I want."

"Thanks, Ava." You giggle at her awe of you. "You did good for your first draft meeting too." You offer her an encouraging smile. "I know you haven't been in charge of the NXT roster for long. But you seem to have a good handle on it. Your knoledge of everyone really helped Pearce and I out with our picks." You assure her.

The smile on Ava's face grows wider at your encouraging words. "Thanks, YN. That really means a lot." She blushes.

"Of course!" You nod. "You've got a bright future kid." You knock into her shoulder playfully.

You and Ava chat for a while about work. You offer her some tips about things that you had to learn the hard way in order to move up in the business. Ava soaks up the information and doesn't hesitate to ask questions, which you like.

"Hey, I actually have another question for you." Ava prepares to drop another ask on you. Not that you mind. "If you don't mind, that is." She adds.

"Ask away." You smile at her.

Ava picks at her nails for a second before nervously meeting your gaze. "Are the rumors true about you, LA Knight, Grayson Waller, and Austin Theory?" She asks you sheepishly.

A laugh falls from your lips upon hearing Ava's question. "Well it's no secret that Knight and I have a special relationship." You half-answer her. "But when it comes to Theory and Waller? Well, some things are better left to the imagination, don't you think, Ava?" You tease her and your phone buzzes in your pocket.

You take out your phone and quickly read the new message. Ava watches you curiously as you rise to your feet and pocket your phone before pulling down your sunglasses.

"You're doing great as the GM of NXT." You praise Ava one last time. "But don't ever forget that being the GM comes with it's own special perks." You grin at her as a fast-sounding car whips into the parking lot.

Ava watches you gesture for her to follow you as the luxury car sounds closer and closer. She follows you out to the front of the building where she spots the luxury car she heard now sitting still. LA Knight leans against the drivers-side door and nods to Ava when he sees her.

"You out here picking up strays now, darlin?" Knight peers at you over the rim of his aviators.

"Just giving a newbie some tips from a pro." You grin back at him. "You ready to go? The boys are starting the party without us from the text I just got from the pretty boy." You add.

Knight chuckles and walks around the car to get the door for you. "The party don't really start until you get there, sweetheart. You know that."

"Take care Ava!" You offer Ava one last wave. "Shoot me a message if you ever need anything, alright, girl?" You add.

"Yeah! Okay!" Ava nods, her eyes sparkling with awe as you dissapear into the car.

Knight walks back around the car and pulls his glasses down to get a good look at Ava. "You have a nice rest of your day, sweetheart." He shoots a wink at her before pushing his glasses back up and disapearing into the car as well.

Ava watches the car speed out of the parking lot and shakes her head. Oh yeah. She's definetly got a new role model to look up to.

In the car you laugh with Knight regarding your little display. "Oh her face was so cute." You giggle.

"She did looked pretty shocked, yeah." Knight agrees. "How'd the meeting go with Pearce?" He asks you.

You smile to yourself and look at Knight knowingly. "It went great. Smackdown is about to become the A-show again. Trust me on that, babe." You laugh to yourself. "Because I've got Carmelo Hayes in my office on Friday night. And he's all mine to work with."

"Hayes, huh?" Knight glances over at you for a brief second. "You ain't looking to add another boytoy to the roster, are you?" He asks you.

"We'll see." You shrug, plans for new rivalries and storylines already forming in your head.

[holdmytesseract]

Request from @anukulee to @holdmytesseract

Title: Getting Her Out Of My Head

Plot: Magnus can’t stand her, she reminds him too much of what he has seen at work, time after time. As he watches his work tear people apart. Yet still she fights him even when he knows far better. Despite this he finds himself more and more drawn to her, and what happened when he may finally have to put his big boy pants on.

Magnus age range; 30 - 42 (at most)

Reader age range; 25 (fresh out of the academy), - 29 (oldest)

POV: Magnus

Concepts: Enemies to lovers, male falls hard, male pov, grumpy x sharp tongue sunshine, and angst with happy ending.

The Quarrel of Lovers Is The Renewel of Love

Magnus Martinsson x fem!Reader

Summary: You are Magnus Martinsson's reckless protégée; acting headless and not listening to a word he says - what gets you in a dangerous situation in the end... And the policeman to confess his feelings...

Warnings: Magnus PoV?, police things, mentions of guns, knives and drugs, fluff, angst, dangerous situation, mutual pining? age gap

Word Count: 2,7k

a/n: I'm so sorry this took me so long, friend! I changed the title - what I hope is okay! Also, I really hope that you like what my brain came up with! :)

Hiddles Tags: @lady-rose-moon @muddyorbsblr @smolvenger @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @jennyggggrrr @stupidthoughtsinwriting @asgards-princess-of-mischief @vanilla-daydreaming @loz-3 @fictive-sl0th @lovingchoices14 @lokidbadguy @icytrickster17 @lulubelle814 @mandywholock1980 @november-rayne @chantsdemarins @simping-for-marvel @lou12346789 @lokiforever @multifandom-worlds @hisredheadedgoddess28 @vbecker10 @jaidenhawke @km-ffluv @crimson25 @cakesandtom @buttercupcookies-blog @salvinaa @javagirl328 @dustychinchilla74 @frzntrx @coldnique @eleniblue @huntedmusicgardenn

Masterlist

"Hey, Martinsson!" One of the other detectives inside the big office at the police station in Ystad called out to the curly haired man, who was currently standing in front of the printer; trying to get the stubborn device to work again.

He lifted his gaze at the call of his name; eyes searching the room for the source of the voice. It was Clas Anderson - one of the rare colleagues Magnus didn't get along with. He was just way too arrogant and smart-aleck for his liking. The blond haired man took a deep breath and called out: "What is it, Clas?" His colleague responded with a spiteful smirk. "When do you finally learn to get your chaotic apprentice under control, huh?" Magnus rolled his eyes with a big sigh, "What did she do this time?" and abandoned the printer, in order to walk over to his colleague.

"Acting headless - as always. Even on observation. I won't take her with me again." Clas stepped closer, almost in a threatening way. "Y/L/N is your responsibility. Talk sense into her, damnit." Anderson pressed his pointer finger into the hard muscle of Magnus' chest. "Or I'm paying the executive floor a visit and tell them you're not fitting this role." The detective sighed. "I know that. I'm already doing everything I can, but she just won't listen. She's stubborn." "I don't care, Martinsson. That's your problem. Fucking fix it." With a snarl and a last threatening look, Clas brushed past Magnus.

It's been already almost six months since Y/N Y/L/N had joined the team in Ystad - but it passed for Magnus with almost no progression. He was chosen to be the young, aspiring detective's mentor. He had the duty to teach her; show her how a police officer should work. Take her under his wing. It sounded great in the beginning. Magnus' chest filled with pride, knowing that he was trusted with such a task. Over the years, he had definitely become one of the most important officers for the team. He got older; more mature - and it showed. Magnus knew exactly what he was doing. Kurt had taught him well.

But the excitement about this new chapter in his work life subsided soon... As soon as he met the quirky, young and talkative woman he should guide through her first years as a police officer - just like Kurt had guided him. Well, sometimes more, sometimes less, but that wasn't the point. From the first meeting between him and Y/N, he immediately felt that this wasn't going to work. Their perspectives were just too different. Y/N was reckless, stubborn and acted often headless. She didn't follow his instructions, which often put her in danger. Luckily no real danger, but it was enough to infuriate the curly haired man.

He did his best to not let her get under his skin, but Magnus couldn't help himself. At the end of the day, she was his 'apprentice' and 'responsibility'. It annoyed him to the core. She annoyed him to the core and yet he wasn't able to just turn his back on her. He couldn't. He didn't want to - and every night, he asked himself why. It could be so easy for him. One word was enough.

Magnus shook his head; ripping himself out of his deep thoughts. He ran a hand through his meanwhile dark blond mane. His curls had become visibly darker with the years.

He had grown. Not just mentally.

"Let's get this over with..." He sighed and made his way out of the room and down the hall to his office. Yes, he had a very own office by now. Walking through the glass door, he already saw her seated there; innocently playing with the slighty too long sleeves of your light blue blouse. Magnus swallowed. He didn't actually really want to do this, but he had to.

Rather loudly, he closed the door behind himself; causing her to jump slightly. "Y/L/N..." The detective addressed her sternly with her surname. "What happened during observation with Anderson?" His deep blue eyes settled on her smaller frame; watching her scrunch her nose and shrugging her shoulders. "I just did what I thought was right." Y/N answered nonchalantly. Magnus frowned; not quite believing her. "Clas said you acted headless. Again." The woman with the Y/H/C scoffed. "I didn't act headless! I just wanted to interfere, before-" The older detective gritted his teeth; tired of her constant excuses and her not owning up to her obvious mistakes.

Clas may be an arsehole - but he was an experienced detective and certainly not stupid.

Magnus had a long thread of patience, but it came how it had to come someday... He lost it. "You know what, Y/L/N? I don't want to hear it! Don't waste your breath! This is going to lead nowhere - like all our serious conversations do! It's pointless, until you finally stop being so utterly stubborn and headless and listen to me - or other experienced detectives!" Y/N stood up from her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not a newbie anymore, Magnus! I know what I'm doing!" Magnus shook his head. "No, you don't! You don't have the experience! I never said that you're a newbie! Sure, you know your job, but sometimes you just should listen to me! It'll get you in serious trouble sometime! I can assure you that!"

The woman groaned in frustration and rounded the desk; stepped closer to her mentor. So close, that she was almost chest to chest with him. "I don't think I'm the problem. You are. You didn't like me from the first day. Don't pretend it isn't true! You just don't trust in my skills enough is all!"

The curly haired man felt the blood boil within his veins. Why was she so annoying and unreasonable? "No, that is not true! I just don't want you getting yourself hurt or even killed! We're not dealing with kid stuff like neighbour fights or drunkards behind a steering wheel, no..." He sighed; pinching the bridge of his nose. "Y/N, we are dealing with the heavy stuff. Raids, drug businesses and murder! I've seen what this job can do to people! I know what can happen, so please... Please let me talk some sense into you right now!" His apprentice stepped even closer. So close, that he could feel her warm breath on his face. "I know what we are doing, Magnus. I'm neither stupid, nor blind. Learn to trust me more. Have some confidence in me and stop treating me like I'm made of glass."

She held his hard gaze for a few seconds, then walked past him; "My shift it over. I'll see you tomorrow." and left him behind in his office.

Magnus wanted to scream and throw something against the wall. Why does she had to make things so difficult? It could be so easy! After taking a few deep breaths, he sat down at his desk; closing his eyes for a short moment. "This woman is going to break my nerves..." The curly haired man muttered to himself; opening a file he had to work on.

Only a mere week later happened exactly that what Magnus always tried to prevent from happen. Y/N's recklessness got her into a dangerous situation...

The pair was on observation duty today; for a case involving a drug business. Their suspect was a young man; living in the poorer district of Ystad. Together, Magnus and Y/N walked to the detectives car. "Remember, Y/N... We are just on observation, okay?" She opened the passenger door; giving him a smile. "Sure, Mags! I got it. Loosen up a little." Eyeing her for another moment, he sat inside the car; slamming the door shut.

The older police officer drove them to their destination - a very old, bedraggled building at the edge of the town. It has been reported that this was a 'famous' drug business destination, so... And besides was their suspect spotted here before. Magnus parked the car a bit offsides; not to attract any attention. And with that, the observation started. It took a long few hours until something was happening in front of the building... A car stopped right in front of it. Somebody was getting out of the vehicle.

The curly haired man grabbed his binocular. "It's him. It's Bergman." The young police officer reached for her binoculars as well. "Looks like he's waiting for someone." Magnus agreed. "Yes..."

"Let's get closer."

The curly haired man shook his head. "No, Y/N. We are just observing, remember?" "Yes, but-" "No buts. We are staying in this car." The young woman inhaled deeply. "Yes, boss."

"Stop calling me that." "Why?" "Because I don't like it and you know it." She giggled. "Alright... Boss."

Magnus rolled his eyes; feeling his nerves stressed out again. "Y/N, I swear, if you don't-" "Oh my gosh, this is a drug deal! We are witnessing one of Bergman's drug deals!" She suddenly interrupted her mentor; gazing through the binoculars again, "Look!" and reached over to slap the elder man's shoulder. Martinsson did what Y/N asked him to do and watched the scenes unfold through his binoculars.

He swallowed. "It seems like it, yes." "We have to intervene, Magnus! We have to do something!" For the nth time, the curly haired detective shook his head. "No, we won't," he hissed. "If we do that now, just intervene and something gets wrong, we- Y/N, stop!"

He shouldn't have averted his eyes from his protégée. A mistake with consequences.

The last thing he saw of her, was how she stormed out of the car; weapon drawn. "Damnit!" Magnus cursed; slamming his hands down on the steering wheel, before running them through his thick curls. Quickly reaching for the binoculars again, he watched her every step; his fingers curling tightly around it.

Don't act with precipitation, don't act with precipitation, Magnus repeated the words like a prayer inside his head. Keep a cool head.

He watched how Y/N sneaked up towards the building and the two men; clearly with the intention to corner them - and that's what the young police officer did, but without success.

One of the two men (not the main suspect) broke out in panic and fled. Magnus swallowed; still watching. She went to approach Bergman; wanted to arrest him, but it didn't go how she planned this. Exactly that happened, what Magnus always had been afraid of... Y/N's headlessness got her into a dangerous, life threatening situation...

Everything happened so fast. One moment she was about to put handcuffs around Bergman's wrists and the next she found herself in the clutches of another man - probably their suspect's friend or henchman, with her gun on the ground and a knife pressed snugly against her neck. That was the moment Magnus lost it. He had to intervene. He needed to save this reckless woman and protect her. At all costs. He knew that he should call for backup and get this done the right and proper way, but he couldn't. Seeing Y/N with a knife pressed against her neck, caused the attentive policeman to lose it.

Magnus' heart dropped into his gut. It made him act headless, too.

He stormed out of the car; slamming the door shut behind himself. As fast as possible, he sneaked his way over. Magnus' heart was thumping against his ribcage; adrenaline, fear and nervosity flooded his system. Gritting his teeth and taking a few deep breaths, he left his hideout - gun drawn and loaded. "Ystad polisen! Släpp kniven!" The man's eyes who held Y/N widened, while Bergman wanted to reach for his own weapon. Something Magnus halted. "Tänk inte ens tanken! Händerna bakom huvudet, nu!" Then he turned to face the other young man. "Och du ska släppa kniven och låta henne gå!"

The man with black hair scoffed. "Varför ska vi låta henne gå?" The curly haired detective gritted his teeth. He saw only two ways out of this... Actually one. Shooting them was definitely not an option.

He looked over at Y/N. He saw how the young woman trembled in the bulkier man's arms; trying to hold back the tears.

Magnus swallowed hard. "Låt henne gå så låter jag dig gå." As a sign that he really meant it, the detective engaged the safety of his gun and threw it away, before he lifted his hand in surrender. Y/N's eyes widened at the foolish behaviour of Magnus. She had never seen him acting like this before.

"Låt henne nu gå."

The two men looked at each other and nodded. The black haired one threw Y/N aside and both started to run; quickly vanishing out of their sight.

Magnus didn't hesitate; was quick to rush immediately at Y/N's side. "Are you alright?" He asked; concerned eyes scanning her body as he crouched down beside her; wrapping his arms around her body. The young police officer nodded; still a bit trembling. Magnus didn't hesitate; lifted her up and carried her back towards the car, bridal style.

After sitting her in the passenger seat and getting a blanket from the trunk to wrap around her; he started the engine and pulled the car back on the road.

No one said a single word on the entire ride. Magnus was still trying to process what happened and Y/N was still way too shocked and shaken. Instead of driving back to the police station, took Magnus Y/N to his home, where he guided her up the stairs and sat her gently down on the sofa; blanket still wrapped around her. Minutes later, she had a steaming cup of tea in her hands.

"Thank you," the young woman mumbled quietly. "Of course," Magnus reassured her and sat down beside her. "Do you feel better?" She nodded; taking a small sip from the tea. Once more they sat in silence, until Y/N finally had the bravery to ask the question which was ghosting through her head already the whole car ride. "Why did you do that?"

The curly haired man's eyes snapped up to meet Y/N's. He swallowed hard; nervously rubbing his palms together.

"Because I had to."

She shook her head. "No... You didn't. You were acting headless. Something you never did before..."

He wanted to scream. Again. The realisation which had dawned on him after he went to save her was like a punch into the guts. Deep down he knew it, but nevertheless didn't see it coming.

"Well... Perhaps this is just what people do when they're in love."

"W-What?" Y/N blinked; visibly didn't see that coming. "I-In love? A-Are you trying to say that-"

"I've fallen in love with you, yes."

Silence.

"I-I don't know what to say, I..." Magnus gave her a gentle smile, despite that he felt like dying inside. "You don't have to say anything, Y/N." He knew that his feelings weren't reciprocated. Why should they? What would Y/N want with a man who was almost ten years older than her? "You wanted an honest explanation. I gave you one and that was it. This is an issue I have to deal with, not y-" The detective got interrupted and literally overwhelmed that her lips were suddenly on his; massaging them gently and encouraging him to kiss back.

It felt surreal. Like a dream - but he couldn't help himself but to give in and melt into the kiss.

"So... Does that mean my feelings are reciprocated?" He panted against her lips; smiling. Y/N scoffed playfully. "Didn't I make that very clear?" Magnus shook his head. "No, no, I think you need to give me a few more evidences." She smirked.

"Gladly."

Translation:

Släpp kniven! - Drop the knife!

Tänk inte ens tanken! Händerna bakom huvudet, nu! - Don't even think about it! Hands behind your head, now!

Och du ska släppa kniven och låta henne gå! - And you are going to drop that knife and let her go!

Varför ska vi låta henne gå? - Why should we let her go, huh?

Låt henne gå så låter jag dig gå. - Let her go and I'll let you go.

Låt henne nu gå. - Now let her go.

[may-lutlone]

So, while I was playing Reload (great game 10/10), I was brainstorming about using the android that kills Shadows in P5. So, I came up with an AU where Akechi is an Anti-Shadow weapon. Well he is inspired by one.

Of course, there are fanarts (better than mine) or fics where he is that Anti-Shadow weapon, but I have never really seen anything dwelling into lore that much? I just saw the concept being thrown around or Phantom Thieves just being a part of Shadow Ops (feel free to correct me, I haven't been everywhere in Persona fandom ehsjskks) So here's my take, which contains spoilers for Persona 5 (obvs) and some angsty themes:

Spoilers obvs!!!!!!!!

-Wakaba killed Akechi during one of Metaverse's experiments (oops),

-she felt so guilty about it that she secretly retrieved his consciousness from there,

-using plans for an Anti-Shadow weapon

by the Kirijo Group that she somehow got hold of (maybe she stole it, maybe she just got it idc), she rebuilt him as an android and put his consciousness there (although it exists with the programming, because she wasn't that knowledgeable about robotics - she was a cognitive psicentist at heart, after all),

-was it a good decision? idk but Wakaba kinda strike me as a scientist who would think that was an excellent idea,

-Akechi disagrees, he hates her for that because now he is forever stuck as a thing that is forced to listen to orders (being forever stuck in one body also doesn't feel right I suppose),

-but they have a neutral and professional relationship that revolves around exploring the Metaverse (Akechi can still use Loki, just like Aigis can use Palladion),

-Conspiracy, learning about this, hacks Akechi-android to use him as a weapon in the Metaverse (so he still is a Black Mask, although everything is done completely without his input),

-Akechi then kills Wakaba, which she anticipated and before that she had given Futaba a copy of her research and Akechi’s plans - although she said to never use them without a really serious reasoning,

-yada, yada, yada we're in original game timeline,

-Akechi as a Detective Prince doesn't exist,

-but he does exist like a obstacle in Palaces/Mementos that hunts down the Thieves,

-let’s just say they would be able to fight him back around the time their lvl in Okumura's Palace,

-Morgana doesn't know wtf Akechi is,

-Joker has some suspicion that Akechi isn't just a machine, but he doesn't really voice it at that point,

-when they are in Futaba's palace, on one of the wall arts (the one where Wakaba works on something and Futaba is begging for her attention) they notice that Wakaba was working on one of Akechi's parts (probably his arm idk),

-so they ask Futaba (post-change of heart) what’s going on, but she has to do research,

-when Futaba joins the team, Akechi always targets her (due to his resent to Wakaba),

-they finally learn what Akechi is and that he is malfunctioning (y'know being a serial killer weapon) due to being hacked, so they decide to help him (bonus point if they can get him on their team),

-so in Okumura palace arc they set on changing the CEO heart and capturing Akechi (who is also there, because he has to get rid of Okumura),

-during the fight in that Palace, Futaba manages to free him from Conspiracy’s control (bonus point if he awakes to Robin Hood),

-when they get him back to Leblanc's attic, Futaba repairs him (because I feel like she would be into robotics just like her mom) and they learn that even if he is on their side now, he doesn't remember who he really was (even first his name, only Akechi).

So, my AU would revolve around Akechi re-learning about his past (he can bond over his amnesia with Morgana) and being as human as possible.

I have a few ideas that I probably will draw (or write, who knows), but that's all for now. Thanks for coming for my ted talk.

Bonus comic - very messy, sorry:

[cilis-readings]

pac which deity should you reach out to

reminder: these are very general readings. messages can be picked from each pile and apply to you and your current situation. take what resonates, leave what doesn’t :)

just to preface, i work with a few deities regularly and have communicated with several for various reasons. this reading is all in good fun, all of the deities that came through in this pick a card reading were made aware that this was for a collective group of people and they agreed to be included! if you feel called to reach out to any of the deities below, feel free to do so! just be sure you do some research before diving into things — if you need help or don’t know where to start, my messages are always open :)

pile 1

the deity that made their presence known for pile one is the greek goddess selene! she made herself known with the moon card. selene is the greek personification of the moon. she is typically worshipped during the full moon and new moon but she can be called upon whenever you need her energy. she sees everything that goes on in the night and she travels across the sky in her chariot every night, pulling the moon behind her.

she may be helpful in your healing process if you have emotional wounds that still haven’t healed. she can be somewhat cold at times but that’s because people don’t truly understand her and her experiences. she can help you tap into your unconscious and become aware of the tools you need in order to heal. she also brings forth our shadow self, making us face those parts of ourself that we tend to shy away from. her main goal usually lies within the realm of having us let go of the things we truly have no control over. letting go of those things we cling so hard to gives us the freedom to heal and be happy with who we are and what we have.

pile 2

the deity that made their presence known for pile two is the egyptian goddess isis! she chose to make herself known through the temperance card. isis is the goddess of a multitude of things, including but not limited to healing, magic, fertility, and even motherhood. she is a goddess who is fiercely protective over her worshippers and even those who just casually work with her from time to time. she provides a very nurturing environment and makes you feel safe and warm inside.

she can help us hone in on our intuition and help give us the guidance we need to feel comfortable enough to share our intuitive gifts with others. she is also helpful when it comes to making decisions that might be difficult for us to fully comprehend, thus giving us the clarity we need to make the best decision for everyone involved. since she has that motherly spirit about her, she’s also strict when she needs to be. if she catches you procrastinating or losing motivation, she will put you in your place. she allows us to get into the habit of practicing moderation. she is very upfront about not wanting to deal with extreme behaviors or personalities, she wants to promote balance in any way that she can.

pile 3

the final deity that made their presence known is the norse god odin. he chose to make himself known through the magician card. now odin, just like isis and selene, has so many different facets about him but i’m going to try to limit myself for this collective reading. odin is the all father in norse mythology, he is the god of war and death, but also poetry and magic, hence him coming through as the magician!

odin is a great deity to reach out to do just about anything, but my experiences with him have to do with finding my own inner strengths and knowing when to reach out to others. i know that everyone’s experience is going to be different but those are just a few things he helped me with. moving forward, he can help us see what we aren’t seeing, he sees all and isn’t afraid to show us what we need to see. he can also help with learning to trust your own abilities and not having to rely too much on what other people think about. he can help us feel like we are truly capable and competent when it comes to knowing what steps we need to take to get to where we want to go. he also has a more parental aura about him like isis due to him being the all father. his wisdom and skills are very strong aspects of his and they tend to rub off on the people he works with.

if you’d like a more in depth reading i offer paid readings here!! i also have a tip jar if you’re feeling kind,, tips are not expected but they are very appreciated! any feedback is appreciated as well, i hope this reading was helpful to you in one way or another :)

[rottenprincessshura100]

Why season 3 will be great.

Mephisto is a tertiary character in the first two seasons of the blue exorcist anime. He's there in the background, watching and scheming.

But in the Illuminati arc, he gets significant character development. He's still as mysterious as always, but he gives us more clues about who he really is and how complex he is. Or how complex he wants us to think he is...

In a way, we get Izumo's story arc and Mephisto's.

What do we learn about Mephisto in the new season?

Mephisto is an Otaku, and he's a prolific one.

Mephisto teaches Rin "demon manners" and finally admits that he is a demon king and one of the highest powers in Gehenna. He then takes Rin's mind into Gehenna and flexes his powers. Mephisto is trying to teach Rin about being a demon in a human world, but he's also being as intimidating as fuck. Mephisto wants Rin to know that he's a force to be reckoned with and somebody not to cross. He wants Rin to know the pecking order and how superior he is.

3. Mephisto is so powerful that he can temporarily stop a hole between Gehenna and Assiah. (Some exorcists hint that he's not commonly seen amongst the order. He's a mysterious and infamous person. His fame really makes Angel jealous.) (If they don't anime this, it's a horrendous crime.)

4. Mephisto thinks he knows everything about human nature and how humans can all be tempted by certain things. Mephisto can control the humans and believes them all the same, or if given a suitable catalyst, they can be "bought." They are all like Faust, right? Humans want simple things sex, money, power and knowledge. Knowledge being the the most important.

5. Even though he's the school director, he's a lazy teacher, and I find this entertaining and admirable, no? Kids learn through experience. He lets them get into as much trouble as possible and learn critical thinking in the process.

6. Mephisto can be pushed into extreme violence. As we see when he's torturing Amaimon...for being...Amaimon.

7. Mephisto plays cat and mouse with Shura. He seems like he's being incredibly evil and threatening and wants her to know she's playing with fire. Superior demon fire.

If she continues spying on him, he vows to have her crushed.

And he does crush her in a roundabout way. Being the king of time, he knows what's coming in the future. He chooses to protect the exwires, but Shura gets severely hurt by Lucifer's seraphim. After it all happens, Mephisto gets her medical care and gives her gifts (he feels guilty!?)

8. Mephisto's complex barriers keep True Cross safe from demon invasion; he's the only glue holding things together. But as Mephisto rebuilds the barriers, they are represented as a delicate house of cards. Each card is stamped with Mephisto's demon heart. As strong as he is, his grip on Assiah is tenuous and shows a sense of fragility. This visual will be so beautiful to see animated!

9. That weird kid, Takara, is named after a corporation that Mephisto owns. Mephisto is very wealthy, and that kid is very mysterious. Takara is kept calm and asleep by Mephisto through a possessed puppet. When Shima uses his K'rik, its Armumahel powers weaken Mephisto but wake up Takara, unleashing a powerful blast that sends Shima tumbling.

10. Mephisto was probably behind saving Izumo from the Illuminati; he lets her be recaptured, but she gets the closure she needs, including reconciling with her mother. Mephisto also saved her baby sister and had her raised by the CEO of Takara Corporation.

11. Mephisto gets to tease Lucifer for an entire chapter. He fears his more powerful brother, but it doesn't limit his capacity for sass.

12. And finally, Mephisto even admits he doesn't have all the answers...and he's in the same boat as everyone else. Even though he thinks he's powerful and superior, he has the exact wants and needs as humans. Knowledge.

Knowledge that evades him.

It makes him almost human, doesn't it?

[felidacy]

Rogue system knowledge & Tim and Jason

@head-in-the-clouds27 regarding your question about if Talia will know about the Rogue system for Tim and if this change in Tim would also make the dynamic with Jason different got me thinking. So here is what I thought about. 

Rogue System & The League 

Tim is a natural snoop that makes unreasonable amounts of contingency plans as he goes, which is why he weasels himself into Barbara Gordon’s heart through lighthearted trash talk about Bruce & Dick and thirst for knowledge in order to learn more about computer science from day one. (Tim is not arrogant enough to think he could achieve the same level of greatness through the lack of a teacher.) As such, Tim learns about the League when he wasn’t supposed to know (really dumb of Bruce when Tim could be at risk, did he learn nothing?) when he snoops through the Batcomputer and decides then and there that attracting the interest from them is far too dangerous. 

Paired with the newly attained hacker knowledge and having no qualms about using questionable methods like gaslighting and blackmail, Tim uses that to control a large part of the Rogues underground. Unintentionally he becomes one of the big bosses in the crime family as he forces them to alter pieces of information, use codes that only they understand, and build up a cover-up to make it seem like they use it for every vigilante and not only for a tiny Robin. (Whoever doesn’t do as he is told is either being put into a trap with Batman arriving or Tim makes it through cleverly planned incidents and more gaslighting that the Rogues end up fighting each other. You would assume that they understood that quickly, but people are sometimes stupid and like underestimating Tim, and as such, some more drastic measures needed to be taken. In the end, though, they learned to listen after all.) 

It is that altered information that the League is only aware of because when they infiltrate some of the crime families to learn about the system, the plan never goes according to plan. Despite Talia’s strong suspicion of that bird, Ra’s has enough of losing good assassins for some measly system along with the unwanted attention of the Detective again that he orders them back. Talia is supposed to concentrate on their newest project that she put at risk because of Batman being too close for their liking now. (Talia does as she is told despite her dislike as she forms her new, little soldier through manipulation and honey-covered lies she whispers into his ears. With hundreds of years of knowledge, she knows just how to use pawns when it involves the pit.)

Jason and Tim’s first meeting

Like in canon because of the Red Hood’s appearance in Gotham, Tim is forced to leave for Florida and prohibited from leaving the Tower for an unknown amount of time. Tim does not mind that he is essentially skipping school for that time, however, he does mind that he was totally caught off-guard by the Waynes and as he was rushed through the Zeta tube he was unprepared. With the Waynes being unaware of his nature (granted that is on him 100% and isn’t it what he wanted) there is not enough time to take a lot with himself, which includes the much-needed packages of blood he regularly consumes to stay sane and, you know, alive. 

It isn’t much of a rebellion when he tries to escape out of the tower and much more of a healthy desire to live. Tim might not seem like it with his unhealthy tendencies, but he does have a stronger will to survive than a wet paperback. But as predicted with someone like Batman, the safety measures prove themselves to be fruitful and even Barbara does not want to help him out, instead reinforcing the system. It is completely unreasonable and overkill in Tim’s eyes when heroes from the Justice League show up when he does end up getting out by a sheer miracle. Finally meeting the Green Lantern he loved ever since he was small (Tim is in denial that he still is) isn’t worth it though with the follow-up lectures, but the worst ones are when Superman - who is practically like an uncle to the Waynes - shows up and gives him that disappointed puppy look. Even when the man isn’t his uncle because Tim is not a Wayne by any means, it has a deadly effect on him. And then come the messages from Dick that make Tim feel so guilty that he lets go of his stubbornness for once and plays obedient soldier. 

(Tim watched with rising panic as he depletes the little amount of blood resources that he had and a familiar feeling of hunger settles in him. Being alone and hungry was a familiar friend, if you could call it that, for Tim. But Tim had gotten so used to a different reality -although it was still slow going as both Bruce and Tim himself were hesitant- that it was now something that he dreaded.)

With very poor timing it is when Tim is at his worst that the Red Hood breaks into the Tower and comes across Tim. Not Robin, but Tim the monster. A boy that he heard a lot about through Talia and yet that boy before him then wasn’t quite as helpless and weak as he has been told. He had a familiar edge in his smile, in the way that his eyes seemed to stare straight into his soul and how he didn’t hesitate to grasp a knife as a weapon. (Robin was supposed to be the comfort, the sneaky surprise that struck when you least expect it. Not deadly dangerous. That wasn’t Jason or Tim, they were familiar with the darkness and didn’t hesitate to use it. They were a different kind.) None of that mattered to the Red Hood in that moment however. The pit hummed in satisfaction to have an evenly matched target that could keep up with its strength, though technique wise they were far different. The pit drowned out how similiar the two were, the pit only made the Red Hood see green and so incredibly angry. 

The Red Hood wasn’t the only one who was filled with an unexplainable surge of power, however. Tim fought viciously against the larger man who could count himself lucky with the helmet, because otherwise, Tim would have already ripped his throat open. He made do with the knife in his hand instead of his Bo-staff and he managed to hurt the Red Hood more than once, although none of the wounds are fatal enough to halter the man in his steps. Angry at that, the Red Hood managed to push Tim down the stairs where he crumbled into a mess along with his weapon when bones snapped. Groaning and cursing Tim was ready to get up again when he was shoved back down and the Red Hood took off the helmet. 

Jason Todd, his hero, his dead Robin stood before Tim. Not so dead after all. 

The reveal was a greater shock than when Jason leaned closer and spat a choice of words at the replacement. The pretender. The cuckoo that snuck into a nest he wasn’t supposed to have when he had his own family. Nevermind that it was a poor excuse of one. But Jason didn’t know anything about the truth. How could he? He didn’t know that he lost his mother long before she died of person. Didn’t know that the comatose state of his father was a mercy in disguise. Didn’t know that the Waynes didn’t even truly want him. Jason was angry at Tim and regardless of the explanations that he tried, the older didn’t want to listen to him any longer. 

As such, the slitting of his throat came quick like the strike of a viper. Jason didn’t care as Tim bleed out then and there. He left his message for the Bats and left without even sparing Tim another glance. That hurt more than it should have and it took Tim longer than he wanted to call back the logical part of his brain. Like, how he was in danger of dying. He activated his emergency beacon and hoped that Bruce and Dick would soon come, but Tim knew that his survival rate wasn’t great. (Vampires weren’t immortal despite popular belief in pop media. He had seen it with his mother after all. Vampires turned grey in a way no human could and not long after they would turn to ash. There was a reason that the Drakes were apparently always burned and not put in coffins.) Tim did not wish to die, so he did the only logical conclusion. Crawling to the knife that was kicked aside by Jason, he took the weapon in his slippery hands and prayed that all the blood on it was more from Jason than his own. His own would have proven to be useless. With probably not much time left, Tim licked the blood off from the knife even when it made his poor throat scream in more pain.

However, that was nothing compared to the following. Tim had never tasted such awful blood like then. It was rotten and slid down his throat like sludge, he needed to fight against the urge to throw it back up again. Forcefully he kept his mouth shut even when the heat set in. The usual healing effect of blood was cool and numbing to his body, but this blood scorched from his insides and decidedly did not start healing the wound. Being a naturally cold creature, the heat was nearly unbearable to endure. At first, Tim thought he misjudged and that he would die that die, but then he did realize that there was somewhat of an effect. While it didn’t heal the wound, it stopped the blood flow enough that he could outlive the attack. 

Later on Bruce, Alfred and Dick would wonder how Tim survived. They were thankful beyond belief, but there had been so much blood and Tim lied so cold and still that Dick fully expected to have lost another younger brother when he didn’t have the chance to protect him, again. Tim did not want to talk about that day, barely even spoke which was at first explained by the injury but later on put on as trauma. Tim would end up disclosing who the Red Hood was, but beyond that there was not a thing he explained. 

Dick caught Tim more than once staring into the mirror and looking at the scar, the first scar that was ever left on his body. Dick would try his best to cheer him up and explain that it didn’t make him ugly or anything, but Dick had no clue to the extent of how much it truly unsettled Tim. For the first time, the powers of his have failed. Tim wasn’t scared of the attack itself or what Jason had done, Tim was scared that it could happen again now. 

[sokkastyles]

Hi! I have seen various explanations for why Azula asked Zuko to join her in the catacombs and then let him have the glory of killing Aang. The second part can be easily explained as a way to control him and a way to protect herself if Aang actually lived. But I have seen people argue that Azula let Zuko join her in season 2 out of some kind of love for Zuko. She never needed Zuko for her plan to succeed so it never made sense to me.

Also, how do you think Ozai reacted to Azula after the invasion when he found out she lied to him? I always found it odd that there was no reference or hints of Ozai punishing her or anything like that?

She actually does need Zuko and she tells him she needs him for her plan to take Ba Sing Se to succeed.

Azula tells Zuko that she's planned that moment very carefully, and she's not lying. She does a lot of things that are strategic moves. First of all is separating Zuko from Iroh, because she learned through experience that Iroh would be a thorn in her side in bringing Zuko home.

But if you think about what else she learned, specifically in season two in her fights with the gaang, she learned that she could not win if she had to face Zuko, Iroh, and the gaang at once. She loses against them in the Chase and has to resort to fighting dirty to get away.

So she divides and conquerors. She captures Katara, then seperates Zuko snd Iroh, then captures Sokka and Toph and Aang. What's interesting to me is why she chooses to put Katara and Zuko in the same prison and the rest of the gaang in a different cell, but if I were to speculate I would say that Azula expected that Zuko and Katara would fight and take care of each other. Even Iroh and Aang teaming up to save them works to her advantage, because seeing Katara and Zuko together creates tension for Aang and sewing Iroh and Aang together creates tension for Zuko. When Katara and Aang seperate from Zuko and Iroh, Azula is able to play on that tension to seperate Zuko and Iroh, AND play on Katara and Aang's emotions when it's uncertain whether Zuko might help them. Azula was absolutely counting on having Zuko on her side.

But I'll also repeat what I said before. Azula needs Zuko on her side, not because she cares about him, but because she bases a lot of her self worth on having what Zuko does not. If Zuko no longer needs those things, it is a threat to Azula's superiority. If Zuko no longer wants to go home, Azula has to face the reality that her home is not a great place to be. Her whole speech about how If he joins with her, he'll have everything he always wanted, isn't just her playing on what she knows Zuko wants. She NEEDS him to want those things, otherwise she can't be the golden child to his scapegoat.

This is why I keep saying that Azula's relationship with Zuko is abusive. Azula has to make Zuko feel bad in order to make herself feel good. If Zuko is happy living a simple life in a tea shop with Iroh, she can't convince herself that her life is the best, because deep down, she knows how empty it really is.

I also do not think it's odd that we never see a reference to Ozai punishing Azula for lying about Zuko killing Aang. When have we EVER seen Ozai punish Azula? Oh, I think the lie did contribute to Ozai's decision to take her down a peg in the finale, but I don't think he outright punished her. That's not his style. But the manipulative way he talks to her in the finale definitely is. I don't know that he even believed Zuko when he told him Azula had lied, as the reaction we see is disbelief and at that point Zuko has fallen out of favor so why consider what he says? But I think it did shake Ozai, the possibility that Azula could lie to him, and that her glory might outshine his instead of being a reflection of it. But that was always going to happen the older Azula got, and it's something a parent like Ozai would never handle well.

[cdragons]

When the East Winds Blow

Stannis Baratheon x YiTish Second Wife!OC (who also doubles as a childhood friend)

Aka: A WOC fixes all of Westeros' bullshit with a magic flute and is about to whoop a bunch of old white men's asses with a slipper because they need it ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

Next Part

Summary: 美灵 (Měilíng) was a young girl from the port city of Shenlong in Yi Ti when she learns that she is the only living child of 徐浩然 (Xú Hàorán), a cruel and powerful merchant in Wan, and takes her to Westeros to expand his company. Scared in a new land, her only companions are her trusty flute and memories of her mother's stories. But she will have a friend who will change her life forever, and she will do the same for him.

Warning(s): MDNI 18+; Domestic Abuse; Child Abuse; Cersei is the worst; Tywin is the worst; Robert is a pig; Měilíng's dad is like 40 years+ her mom's age, and the worst; the story is going to be written like those Ted Ed mythic videos; Robb and the Northern boys and the other OC don't show up for a lil' bit, but it's coming

Author's Note: Please read this post for reference. Exams and ADHD are kicking my ass, and I need a distraction. Please do not repost without my permission. I did not come up with the names for the Yi Ti regions; that credit belongs to the brilliant @anya-snow. If you are interested in the names' translations, it is at the bottom.

From the Beginning:

“As she entered the world and cried out in victory for her survival – the fearsome, dark clouds parted, and the sun’s feeble rays shone only to pool the delivery room as the gentle breeze brought by the sea welcomed Xīwángmǔ’s new child, and the small wind chimes and bells danced in its embrace.”

In the Shenlong province, a young girl gave birth to a young girl. However, the baby was exceptional. As she grew, she showed to have a very cunning mind. She has met thousands of foreigners daily since being born in a port town. Her proficiency in learning foreign tongues alone caught the attention of one of the oldest and wealthiest merchants in Wan. Měilíng did not have much, but she had her mother and her simple life by the docks, and that was enough for her.

Xu Hàorán, an aging but powerful merchant in Wan, was the most important port city in Yi Ti. The merchant was very old, and his wife had long died without giving him any children. At the news of the child’s birth, he ordered the child and her mother to be brought to his home.

After seeing the child’s face, it was clear that this was his daughter. Recalling the time he spent with a girl from a poor fishing family years ago, he realized that Měilíng was the product of that night. Overridden with joy at the idea of him finally having an heir, he immediately ordered Mei to begin her education as he locked her mother in a small, dark room.

Měilíng despised her father. Soon, it became years since she saw her mother, and she missed the lullabies she would sing to her. She would long to listen to the stories of the great water dragons that controlled the storms and the seas.

But still, she decided to continue her education. She showed much promise at a young age for business and trade. She had a keen eye for craftsmanship and a talent for linguistics. Her proficiency in learning foreign tongues made her a vital tool in expanding her father’s company across the Golden Empire to Essos and eventually to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

In return for how rich his daughter made him, Měilíng’s father granted Měilíng one visit to her mother. When the pair reunited, Měilíng’s mother gifted her beloved child a flute from the bones of a basilisk killed by the great Dragon King, who ruled the sky and its storms from his kingdom in the sea.

Because of how quickly she learned Westerosi’s Common Tongue, her father decided it was best to bring her with him on the voyage to Planky Town in Dorne, where he hoped to expand his trading route to the pockets of the high nobility.

On the seas, a cyclone headed directly to the ship Měilíng and her father were on, but only Měilíng was calm.

Taking out her bone flute, she played a simple but beautiful tune to the sky, and the cyclone disappeared, and the winds brought their ships to Dorne in half the expected time. Although this story was kept secret by the crew under strict oath of Hàorán’s orders, she was soon called “风子” or “Child of the Wind.”

“Bewitched were the Martell’s – for they have never seen such finery in all their years. ‘What luster! What radiance!’ they exclaimed. After rigorous negotiations that resulted in a broken vase and spilled wine by thrown glasses, a trade was brokered, and the Xu’s have planted their first flag in the West.”

After reaching Dorne, the Martells refused to meet with the foreign merchant. They believed that any goods his ships carried had long become spoiled and rotten from the sea voyage. But they were shocked to find the fruits fresh and ripe, the herbs and spices’ scents had not dulled, and the porcelain vases retained their glossiness and shine. But what caught their eye the most was how superior their silks were compared to their own. Their roughest bolt alone was far smoother than the Princesses’ finest dresses.

The silks and fruits caught the eyes of a young Princess, Elia Martell, and her younger brother, Prince Oberyn. Fascinated by the riches, their curiosity was peaked by the olive-skin-toned girl, who wore strange braids and smelled of the ocean and wind.

Elia asked Mei if Yi Ti was anything like Dorne. Měilíng replied that only one region in her country matched Dorne, and it was Ren. She wove tales of how the Renii managed to thrive in the deserts and become masters of magi and developing technology and medicine. Although Mei had never personally visited Ren, she told the Donrish princess and her brother all the stories of the province she could recall from her lessons and her mother.

Měilíng asked Elia if there was any magic or dragons in Dorne. Elia laughed in delight. She told the foreign girl that Dorne did not have dragons, but they had vipers with poison so potent that it would instantly kill a ten-foot man. The Seven Kingdoms' only dragons were underneath the Red Keep in King’s Landing. But they were all dead. But there was no magic. This disappointed Měilíng.

Elia asked if Měilíng knew anyone, and Měilíng replied that Elia was the first person in Westeros she had ever spoken to. Amazed by the girl’s fluency, Elia exclaimed that she and Měilíng would be best friends for the rest of their lives. Měilíng thought the young princess strange but agreed nonetheless.

Seeing her children make friends with the merchant’s daughter, Princess Lorenza was pleased to see the strange girl smile. But Hàorán was furious. Greed from his newly gained wealth made him paranoid, and he thought Měilíng was ridiculing him in the Common Tongue. He faked a smile before hurrying his sale to the mother so that he may properly punish his willful brat.

After purchasing their goods, the sewists in Sunspear immediately went to work producing the finest garments for the upcoming ball hosted in the Red Keep at King’s Landing.

Meanwhile, Hàorán grabbed Měilíng’s arm and dragged her to the ship. He locked her in her room and told her she would not have any food tonight. They would leave for Yi Ti after the Martells returned from King’s Landing.

“Silence swept across the hall when the heralds announced the arrival of House Martell. When Dorne’s ruler and her children arrived, a collective gasp was heard amidst the hushed keep – never had anyone seen such pure, unadulterated beauty before their eyes. Every young girl, hoping to catch the eye of Prince Rhaegar and hold his gaze, felt fury flush their bodies. But no other girl was more envious than the little Lioness of Casterly Rock. Cersei Lannister, daughter of the Hand to the King, had come in complete confidence that she would be the most beautiful girl in the Seven Kingdoms. But after gazing upon the young Elia Martell’s dress with silk-embroidered suns and stars, golden rings, and topaz diadems – she felt utterly and completely humiliated. She turned to her father to demand they go home, but his stern gaze made the spoilt and rotten girl stay silent in flushed shame.

Tywin Lannister was not faring any better. He had paid more than enough gold dragons to order the finest Dornish silks for his daughter’s dress – only to see it as a tacky, cheap counterfeit. But even he had to admit that Princess Elia Martell was the only girl whose beauty was worthy of watching the crown prince’s. Seeing how her father’s eyes were no longer on her, Cersei decided that she would do whatever it took for Elia Martell to die a miserable and painful death.”

Nobles crowded the Martells’ daughters and sons. They were driven mad with envy at their beauty– so rare to find silk so smooth and lustrous while remaining thick enough to keep away the chills in the evening sky as autumn chased summer away and winter was creeping on the Mad King’s doorstep.

One noble lady with embroidered turtles on her dress approached the Martell Princess. She was Lady Cassana Baratheon, nee Estermont. She begged her friend to tell her who gifted the princess with such luxury, and her friend revealed that her husband had brokered a deal with an old, wrinkled merchant from Yi Ti, along with his young daughter, who carried an old flute with her everywhere she went. She shared stories about how her little sun, Elia, was quickly won over by the foreign girl’s charms, and now they acted as close as sisters born from the same womb.

Cassana wished to know if they could invite the merchant to her home. She thought it would be cruel for such a sweet girl to be trapped on a boat with no companions.

“‘Oh, how wonderful it would be to have a girl around,’ thought Lady Cassana. ‘Robert has gotten too used to being so rowdy after being fostered in the Vale, and hopefully, the little merchant girl will straighten him out.’

Robert stood beside the table, its surface heavy with meats and sweet cakes. He was only ten years of age and had already managed to grasp the attention of every young man his age in the room. Her mind wandered off, thinking about her youngest son, Stannis, who locked himself away in the guest chambers after the Martells arrived—always studying, her youngest boy. Lady Baratheon adored her two boys, but she longed for the longest time to be blessed with a daughter. She thought if the Gods had blessed her and Steffon with a girl, she would help bring Stannis out of his walls and help reel Robert in. If what the Princess of Dorne had spoken true of this trader and his daughter, then Cassana had no doubt that she would make a truly excellent companion for her boys.

Back in Dorne, Měilíng scratched her ears. Had someone been talking about her? Was it the Dornish Ruler she met a few weeks ago? Perhaps Elia? Měilíng shook her head. Thinking someone would speak of her so much was a silly thought. She was only the daughter of a merchant who played the flute. Still, her ears burned as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. To forget her hunger, Měilíng brought her prized flute to her lips to ease her worries and blew to create a sweet but sad melody.

Back in the Red Keep, a young Stannis Baratheon had crept away from the banquet in the Great Hall. He despised crowded rooms, and Robert’s boisterous guffaws only added to his irritation. Once he entered his room, he opened the window and took out the book Maester Cressen lent him while packing for this trip. He had not begun reading it. But a stream of calm and soft notes entered his ear before he could read the title.

“A flute?” he thought to himself. He tried to remember the instruments played downstairs.

There were lyres, harps, and lutes. But there were no flutes. Stannis lifted his head and heard the sweet, silvery tune from the window. Book still in his hand, he decided it best to read his new book beside the window, where he could continue listening to the lovely melody. He glanced down at the book, finally reading the title.

The Golden Empire of Yi Ti”

Tagging: @asa-do-your-thing, @arcielee, @a-libra-writes, @aphroditesmoon, @valeskafics, @anya-snow, @dreaming-for-an-escape and anyone who wanted more of the worldbuilding of GOT are welcome!

Translations: Mandarin was used for YiTish bc author is Chinese

美灵 (Měilíng) - "美" means "beauty" and "灵" means "spirit or soul"; it can be translated as "beautiful spirit"

浩然 (Hàorán) - "浩" means "grand or vast" and "然" is a conjunction and the author will look further into it; it can be translated as "vastness or expansive"

徐 (Xú) - a common Chinese surname that became popular in the Zhou Dynasty and has multiple translations, but the author chose the translation of "slowly."

瑶池金母 (Xīwángmǔ) - "Queen Mother of the West"; the wife of the Jade Emperor and mother goddess in Chinese mythology

风子 (Fēng zi) - "风" is "wind" and "子" is for "child"; it can be translated as "child of the wind"

[thegoldheartlocketandkey-blog]

911 Spoilers Season 4: You’ve been warned. 😅 Buddie Rewatch

Episode 7 - 9

Episode 7: There goes the Neighborhood

Mom Band is High: The 118 shows up in hazmat suits. And looks over at all the woman who’s faces are bleeding. One of the women flirting with Eddie, even though he’s in a hazmat suit.

Buck finding the blunt and pointing out it’s pink. Hen and Chimney knowing what the substance is.

Bobby sends Buck and Eddie to go knock on neighbors doors to see if anyone of them is experiencing symptoms. The very high woman slaps Eddies ass. I don’t condone it, but I understand why she did it.

Eddie and Buck walking out, practically pressed to each other’s side. Buck stating, “There goes the neighborhood.” As they walk over to the neighbors.

Buck is on a date with a woman. He’s telling her about the rescue of the woman who got stuck in the window during a date. This date is unimpressed by Buck’s story. The date becomes very awkward.

Veronica (Buck’s date), orders herself chocolate cake. Buck asks if she’d prefer to share, Veronica vocalizes how she doesn’t like what he is insinuating, and Buck orders his own slice.

Buck keeps talking himself into a whole, where Veronica thinks she is being body shamed.

Buck returns from his date and tells Albert that the date he just went on was horrible. Albert was more concerned with wanting to eat Buck’s cheese cake. As Buck passes Albert a fork, he notices how badly the trash smells and takes it out. This is when he learns that Veronica is his new neighbor.

Buck tells Albert that they have to move.

Turkey attacks; Buck and Eddie are walking side by side. Buck was explaining his situation to Eddie. Eddie points out that his date Veronica, didn’t know she lived right next door to him. Buck explains to Eddie how his therapist has explained the importance of a safe space, that his apartment use to be that, but now it isn’t because she lives right there. Eddie making faces, and slight smirks as Buck talks about the situation.

Eddie laughing at Buck as he admits to having Albert distract her for 20 minutes while he got the mail.

Buck vocalizing that he doesn’t want to live this life looking over his shoulder, this is when we hear rustling and Eddie knowing the suspect is behind them.  Buck and Eddie, in unison, slowly turn around. The turkey hops out into the side walk, Eddie calls out to Sonny, and pulls out a net canon. Buck pulls out blueberries.

Buck starts to throw blueberries at the turkey, they both back up as he gets closer. Eddies aims the net and catches the turkey.

 Noah’s Playset gets crushed by tactical vehicle; Eddie observing the scene, explaining to Buck that this happened accidentally, Buck standing behind him as he explains training exercises.

Eddie coming up with the idea of lifting the vehicle off, by pulling the parachute up. Buck being the one to control the lift and pulling the vehicle up, allowing enough time for everyone to pull the man from underneath, before the vehicle falls back on it’s own.

Buck hanging out at Chim and Maddie’s, waiting for Albert to give the all clear. He’s been avoiding his apartment to avoid running into Veronica.

Buck knocking on Veronica’s door. He admits to things being a little weird and making a peace offering of chocolate cheese cake. He gives her a proper welcoming to the neighborhood.  Veronica admits to owing Buck a thank you for introducing her to a great guy. Buck’s confused by this, until Albert comes out of her bathroom in just a towel. Buck looks at Albert so disappointed.

Episode 8: Breaking Point

Fed up Flight attendant; Eddie and Buck are pushing two separate gurneys as the approach the scene of the accident.  Eddie and Buck tend to the flight attendant, as Chim and Hen handle the bigger injury.

Buck looks over at the other injured party, he looks like he wants to say something, but shakes his head against it.

Eddie looks over the attendant and believes it is just a broken ankle.

Buck finally asks if it is just him, or does the victim look familiar to anyone else. Bobby making the realization that this is the same guy they pulled out of the engine.  Eddie makes a comment about this guy’s job is more dangerous than theirs.

Buck and Eddie maneuvering the lady onto a board and lifting her up onto a gurney, as Chim is extracting the object out of the other victim’s neck.

The scene cuts to a dirty dinner table, it’s an implied romantic dinner because there are candles lit and a wine bottle open. We hear R&B music and a woman moan. We hear Eddie say, “No, let me.” And more moaning, and Ana say, “You’re almost there.”

This was the biggest fake out in history. There is no practical reason for Ana moaning like that over Eddie doing fourth grade math work.

Ana let’s Eddie know that her offer to go over and help tutor Christopher still stands. Eddie telling her that he would not be comfortable putting her out. She tries to reassure him, that she’s not pressuring Eddie to tell Christopher about them. She understands his situation and knows how Christopher is. Explaining that Eddie is right to be cautious.

Eddie is thankful for her understanding and see’s her as an amazing woman. He starts a light banter, where he is praising her, but throws in she’s a terrible math teacher. They start to lean into each other, teasing out a kiss, but Eddie’s phone rings and he has to head out to tuck Chris into bed.

Honestly, the only reason they probably didn’t kiss is because of covid, sadly I do have to put that out there. In a non-covid world, Eddie and Ana may have a bed scene instead of a math date.

Eddie gets home, Buck walks up to the entrance and jokingly tells Eddie he’s late. Eddie explains there was traffic.  

Buck already got Christopher to go to bed, Eddie calls him a miracle worker.  Buck corrects him, by stating he’s just an excellent negotiator. Buck explains how Chris was willing to get ready for bed and into bed as long as he didn’t turn off the lights or tell him a story.

Eddie banters about the one-time Buck told Chris about the kid stuck in the rotisserie, Buck justifying that moment as a cautionary tale.

This entire interaction feels wholesome and it feels like a couple interacting. The vibe we get isn’t two best friends interacting. It’s more of co parents bonding over the love of their son.  I know you understand what I am trying to say here.

Eddie thanks Buck for watching him, Buck excitedly asks about the date. Eddie says the date went great, and that he taught her math.

Buck confused by the math makes a comment about thinking he was single for too long. Buck heads out as Eddie goes into Chris’s room.

Eddie asks Christopher about his night with Buck. Chris being more concerned over knowing where he was. Eddie explains that he was out to dinner with an old friend. Chris attempts to get more information out of his dad, but Eddie is not budging.

Eddie wishes Chris a good night.

Buck walks into his dark apartment, bumps into a laundry basket and finds a random bra. Albert is in the living room surprised that Buck is home.

Buck realizes that he’s just crashed a date between Albert and veronica, it’s slightly awkward.

Trapped on a roof: Taylor Kelly is covering a stand off with a man stuck on the roof. Negotiators are trying to get the man to come down on his own. Eddie makes a judgy comment about how the guy should not have cornered himself onto a roof.

The 118 start placing bets on what the guy they think will happen to the man.

Buck and Taylor are talking. Buck tells her about his situation with his roommate and the woman he went on a date. Taylor is impressed with the fact Buck having an apartment.

The 118 ordered a pizza, Eddie is the one handling grabbing the order. Eddie offers a slice to the homeowner of the building.

Buck complains about his situation to a random cop. The cop not really understanding Buck’s view or the legitimacy of the bro code.

Eddie, Hen, Chim, and Bobby chanting jump at the man on the roof.

Eddie confiding to Bobby and Athena about how Christopher is asking a lot of questions, but he doesn’t know how to approach this dating thing. Bobby and Athena both telling him that he needs to be honest with Christopher and just tell him, he’s old enough to understand.

Buck continues to talk to Taylor about his Albert situation, but also opens up how expected the year to be different. He expected more growth since starting therapy. Buck vocalizing that all he wants is a meaningful relationship. Taylor chiming in to say she’s met all the people he’s work with; his life is filled with meaningful relationships.

Taylor proceeds to tell him he needs to be a little more patient, let the universe big them to him. They laugh at the comment.

Home owner pushes man onto the car below, tells everyone to leave. The 118 runs over to the victim.

Buck’s home, putting away groceries, when Albert shows up with more groceries. Albert points out that it was his turn to buy groceries. Buck comments about how Albert spends so much time at Veronicas.

Albert apologizes for the Veronica situation, Albert invites Buck to dinner on Thursday night, to patch things up with Veronica. Buck not wanting to feel like a third wheel asks Taylor out on a date. He does not explain to her the situation.

Eddie and Christ are preparing dinner. Eddie tells Chris that he wants to tell Chris something. Eddie tells Chris that his friend is a girl. Chris is able to figure out this friend is Eddie’s girlfriend. Eddie wants to explain the situation further, but Chris becomes angry he yells and tosses the salad bowl on to the ground. Chris walks out of the kitchen, telling Eddie he is mad at him.

Eddie not knowing what to do or say, kneels down on to the ground and starts picking up the pieces of the shattered bowl. In a moment of defeat Eddie just pauses.

Buck is sitting in Veronica’s apartment, in a chair uncomfortable, waiting for Taylor to show up.  

Albert gives Buck a drink and as Veronica asks about Buck’s date, Taylor knocks on the door.

Taylor making Buck regret inviting her to this date, but letting Albert and Veronica know Buck talked about them nonstop.

Veronica revealing that she watched Taylor’s broad cast about the standoff.

Taylor and Buck walking to a corner of the apartment, Taylor vocalizing how she had assumed the night would just be the two of them, maybe dinner, and possibly some sex. Buck suggesting that they could still do those things. Taylor completely against that idea, given this is a weird double date. They awkwardly sit down together.

Veronica asks how long they have been dating. Taylor is quick to nip that in the butt and answers honestly. She admits to there situation being a more as needed basis kind of thing.

Buck elaborates how they met because of work and how he saved Taylor’s life.  

Taylor tells everyone that the reason Buck and Veronica didn’t work out is because of his ego. Veronica agrees and expresses how she won’t just stroke someone’s ego. Taylor realizing that she shouldn’t either and decides to leave. Buck runs after her.

Buck tries to stop Taylor to explain himself. Taylor tells him that he’s so needy, always trying to get people to like him. Buck becomes a bit defensive, but attempts to apologize. He tries to justify why he did that to her about wanting a friend present.

Taylor calls him out for being a shitty friend if he thinks that is what friends do to each other.

Eddie video calling Ana and explaining to her that talking about being in a relationship had Chris go into a total melt down. Eddie explains that he’s letting him cool off before, mentioning it again.

Ana being very sympathetic to Chris’s situation, telling Eddie that she understands if  he would like to ends things for Chris’ sake. Eddie telling her that’s not necessary that he wants to be with her and that they’ll figure it out. They end the call and Eddie calls over to Christopher asking him to come over.

Eddie doesn’t get a response and walks over to Chris’ room. He opens the door and starts to panic when he can’t find him. As he starts to panic, Buck calls him. He immediately starts to ask Buck for help. That’s when Buck reveals that Christopher is with him, that he used Eddies phone to call an Uber. Eddie sighs with relief and tells Buck he’s headed over now.

Chris is sitting on Buck’s couch watching TV, waiting for Buck to get off the phone.  Buck walks over to Chris and mentions learning that he blew up at his dad. Chris states that he doesn’t want to talk about it. Buck understands, but states that he’s here now, might as well talk about it.

Buck reminding Chris that he was there for Buck when he needed a friend to talk to and now Buck wants to be that friend for him.

Chris tells Buck that his Dad is dating. Buck tries to sympathize with Chris telling him it must be difficult or at least weird, because if may feel like he’s forgetting about his mom. Chris reveals that he wishes he could forget about his mom himself.

Buck is taken back by the response. Chris continues to clarify that people keep leaving him, not just his mom, but his Abuelita, Carla, his friends. That they leave and he misses them and he’s tired of missing them.

Buck looks completely shattered at this moment. Shoot I’m close to tears. Christopher has gone thru a lot at such a young age. He deserves the world.

Buck tells Chris that people leave, and yes it hurts, but not everyone goes away forever. That they sometime leave and come back and we need those moments to be able to cherish them when they come back. Buck promising that Chirs will see the people he loves again and reminding Chris that he always has him., because he’s not going anywhere.

Chris stands up and gives Buck a big hug. Telling him that Buck is a good friend. Buck being honest in that moment and admitting to being a good friend only sometimes.

Buck calls Taylor and leaves her a voicemail wanting to speak so that he can apologize. Taylor is live on TV reporting about Covid and how hospitals will need to start rationing care. This makes her emotional and on the verge of tears, but she faces away from the camera and finishes reporting the news.

Taylor calls Buck, not wanting to get an apology but to get his help get Covid vaccines out into the community before they can no longer be used. Everyone getting together/working together to get the last 600 doses used.

Buck and Eddie walking out of the hospital with coolers filled with vaccines and helping set up stations.

Eddie taking a station and helping administer the vaccines.

Buck walks up to Taylor and tells her the good news about all the vaccines getting used and none going to waste. They have a heart filled moment where she asks Buck why’d he help her after all the horrible things he said to her. He explains he was just trying to be a good friend. She kisses him on the cheek as thank you. They walk away in directions.

I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. Taylor should have stayed Buck’s frenemy or at least just a friend. I liked the idea of Buck having someone not in the 118 or his sister to turn to and be friends with. Taylor never sugar coated anything. A friend ship would have just made sense, but I wasn’t completely against the relationship, I actually thought it was end game at one point, when we get to the point I’ll make sure to point it out.

Eddie approaches the door, before opening it up, looks at Chris once more. He turns back and opens the door for Ana. Christopher becomes excited and runs over to hug Ana. Safe to say he’s no longer upset over is dad dating. Eddie watches them hug.

Buck is sitting in his apartment when Albert walks in and tells Buck that he broke up with Veronica. Buck offers Albert his Thai food.

Eddie pulls Chris to the side, asks him how he really feels about Ana. Chris admits that he’s happy it’s Ana, but warns his dad that she’s a hard grader. Eddie joking that she may grade him on a curve. (My brother pointed out that this could technically be a terrible dick joke, thought y’all would like to know)

Chris calling over to Ana and telling her that they have popcorn.

Episode 9: Blindsided

Maddie texting Chim that they need a baby name. Chimney ask the 118 for name suggestions. Eddie is approaching the group and stands next to Buck as this happens. As Buck and Eddie begin to suggest, Chim cuts the off and clarifies that he does not mean their names.

Buck states that he thought they where going to put random names in a hat and choose the name that way. Eddie has his hands on his hips as they discuss.

Eddie and Buck are now leaning against the truck. Eddie admits that Shannon and him didn’t know what they were going to name Christopher until they saw him.

Chim sends Maddie a message with that idea and Buck quickly points out that Maddie musty have not liked the idea. Eddie walking by his side with a slight smirk. Eddie and Buck walk away laughing and Eddie pats Chim on the shoulder.

Drunk Mom causes a pile up: Buck and Eddie working to get the at fault driver and her son out of the vehicle. They become real motivated to get the car opened up when they realize her son is in the vehicle.

They aren’t able to pry the doors open, Eddie suggesting they cut off the roof.

Buck tells Mom that her son Jacob is in safe hands.

Buck runs over to check on driver who was just in a car explosion, he feels a pulse, but notes the driver is badly burned. They pull the driver out and send to the hospital.

Athena asks Eddie to what hospital are the taking the at fault driver. He tells her First Presbyterian. When Athena mentions that she’ll follow behind and tells Eddie to make sure to tell the Hospital they are going to need her BAC levels as soon as she arrives. Eddie says Athena, but she cuts him off and tells him she has the warrant.

Albert is injured in a vehicle because of the drunk driver. Buck is walking with Bobby as Sue radios the information to Bobby. May figuring out that the caller is Albert, Buck confirming this when May mentions his voicemail recording. Eddie is standing behind Buck as this is happening.

The 118 starts to search for Albert, they are screaming his name as they check every vehicle.

Buck and Bobbie make the realization that Albert wasn’t in the pile up, but in front of it.

Buck calling out for Albert and find the tire tracks. Eddie tossing Bobby and axe for the rescue.

The 118 working together to extract Albert and save his life. Maddie and Chim giving birth. Eddie and Hen in the back of the ambulance preforming CPR.

Buck shows up at the hospital at where Maddie and Chim are. He has the hospital bag that was in Albert’s car. Chim asks if Alberts here, this is when Buck looks at him, hesitant.

Eddie is making coffee; Chris wakes up and says good morning. Eddie runs towards Chris and gives him a big hug. Chris is confused by the big hug and asks what it was for. Eddie states it was a just because hug and they hug again, it’s an even bigger hug this time.

Buck video calls Chim and Maddie, he’s introduced to his niece. As they say good bye Buck repeatedly says Buck loves you, to his niece.

[cookinary]

I redrew (and redesigned) my Portal boi because he definitely needed a refresh!

Sum details:

His mask broke during the long fall in Portal 2 but he kept it anyway

I'm going with the stupid "Portal 2 happens 50 000 years into the future" theory because it's complete nonsense and I fucking love it so, because he spent so long in the Relaxation Vault, he got very pale (he was already pale in Portal 1 but not as bad)

For the same reason, his hair grew pretty long (he shaved it after escaping)

He got the massive burn scar on his left arm from an energy pellet grazing him

Oh yeah, trans rights also

And I just realized that I never shared his backstory here so it's under the cut if you're curious!

In chronological order:

Mitch creates Aperture

He puts Ophelia at the head of the entire facility

Ophelia realizes that Pedro would make the perfect test subject so she wipes his memory -it's the first and only time that a full memory wipe is done on a subject- She then realizes that watching him test would make her feel bad so she gives him the mask to hide his face. That way, she can watch him test without any remorse.

After a few tests, she puts him in a cryo-chamber (because she wants to put him through much harder tests that have not been invented yet)

Mitch and Denny are (forcefully) hired as test subjects but are brainwashed. They are both put in cryo-chambers

Not long after, Ophelia decides to turn herself into an android so she can live forever and control the entire facility. The scientists warn her that this can cause severe memory loss and mild insanity. She does it anyway and loses all memories of her human life. She now has full control over Aperture.

Judging all the scientists useless, Ophelia floods the Enrichment Center with a deadly neurotoxin

Portal 1 happens

At the start of Portal 2, Pedro is woken up by banana Pedro (who is a core in this AU) who wants to help him to get out of here.

Basically the same story happens. But Pedro eventually encounters Mitch and Denny who try to take him down. He kills them in return (Denny didn't have his long fall boots)

They finally get to Ophelia. Though, contrary to Wheatley (who got corrupted by the mainframe), Core!Pedro was actually planning to take Ophelia's place from the beginning. He stuffs Ophelia in a potato battery (she appears as an hologram being projected from the weird eye/circle thingy on it) and sends she and Pedro down the elevator shaft

Pedro's mask breaks during the fall, which leads Ophelia to realize that his face feels familiar after they reunite

While going through old Aperture, Pedro and Ophelia learns the truth about themselves (thanks to all the pre-recorded messages)

The rest of the game happens pretty similarly, except that at the end, after shooting Core!Pedro into space, Ophelia tries to get Pedro back to testing (after all, he IS the perfect test subject). Pedro refuses and attempts to destroy her. He fails, but Ophelia gives up and lets him go as she does not want someone who will try to destroy her 24/7

Basically like in Blue Sky, Pedro ends up in a small town where the people help him back to full health. He settles here and eventually finds out he has great cooking and baking skills and gets his own little cake shop (I'm not sure I still want this to be the post-game for this AU but I'll leave this here anyway)

These notes date back to 2020 HOLY SHIT IT'S BEEN 4 YEARS

[trofysisters]

Университет. Часть 1

Давид и Виктор родились в один день, только один - ночью, а второй - утром. Поскольку Виктор на год раньше был отправлен в университет, то и Давиду, к его огромному удивлению, пришлось экстерном заканчивать школу и ехать в общежитие. Зато ему выдали три стипендии: за хорошую учебу, за логические способности и, внезапно, за танцевальные навыки. (David and Victor were born on the same day, only one was born at night, and the second in the morning. Since Victor was sent to university a year ahead of schedule, David, to his great surprise, had to finish school as an external student and go to the dormitory. But he was given three scholarships: for good studies, for logical abilities and, suddenly, for dancing skills)

Едва вселившись, Давид решил развить навык. Может навык уборки? (As soon as he moved in, David decided to develop his skill. Maybe a cleaning skill?)

Виктор же первым делом начал писать курсовую работу. Вот что значит синдром отличника. (The first thing Victor did was start writing his term paper. This is what excellent student syndrome means)

Оказалось, что многие девушки без ума от Давида. Некоторые даже прорывались в его комнату, чтобы полюбоваться им спящим. (It turned out that many girls are crazy about David. Some even forced their way into his room to admire him as he slept)

А вот Илону его вид, даже с оголенным торсом, не возбуждал. Неужели ее привлекала его молодость и невинность? (But Ilona was not aroused by the sight of him, even with his bare torso. Was it his youth and innocence that attracted her?)

Но покров девственности с Давида она сорвала. (But she tore off the veil of virginity from David)

Первокурсники наконец определились со специальностями. Давид решил изучать политологию, а Виктор - математику. Поскольку старая курсовая работа на новом факультете была бесполезна, Виктор сел писать новую. (The freshmen have finally decided on their majors. David decided to study political science, and Victor decided to study mathematics. Since the old course work at the new faculty was useless, Victor sat down to write a new one)

Соседи по общежитию порой слишком раздражали, и, чтобы не портить себе нервы, Виктор изучил контроль над чувствами. (His dorm neighbors were sometimes too annoying, and in order not to spoil his nerves, Victor learned to control his feelings)

В отличие от него, Давид сам любил пощекотать нервы окружающим, появляясь из ниоткуда, благодаря техники ниндзя. (Unlike him, David himself loved to tickle the nerves of those around him, appearing out of nowhere, thanks to ninja techniques)

Тем временем пришла пора Тимофею и Илоне покидать университет. Тимофей точно знал, чего хочет от жизни: 6 детей, и чтобы они все вышли замуж. А чтобы прокормить такую ораву, можно и поработать, например, в архитектуре, как мама. (Meanwhile, the time has come for Timofey and Ilona to leave the university. Timofey knew exactly what he wanted from life: 6 children, and for them all to get married. And in order to feed such a crowd, you can work, for example, in architecture, like his mother)

Илона хотела бы стать ученым, но в науке мало платят, поэтому она готова устроится на более прибыльную работу: разведка, армия, приключения или музыка. (Ilona would like to become a scientist, but science pays little, so she is ready to take a more lucrative job: intelligence, army, adventure or music)

Ну а парни закончили первый семестр с высокими баллами и попали в список лучших студентов. (Well, the guys finished the first semester with high scores and were included in the list of the best students)

Потянулись долгие дни учебы. Виктор не только посещал все занятия, писал курсовые, но и делал домашние задания, вернувшись в общежитие. (Long days of study dragged on. Victor not only attended all classes, wrote coursework, but also did homework when he returned to the dorm)

Давиду приходилось силой вытаскивать его в кафе или в новый бассейн. (David had to force him out into a cafe or into a new swimming pool)

Да, Надя, Давид хорош, но не для тебя этот цветочек расцвел, (Yes, Nadya, David is good, but this flower did not bloom for you,)

и не для тебя, настырная однокурсница. Она подкараулила Давида в коридоре и просит рассказать о его первом вуху, а лучше показать. (and not for you, annoying classmate. She waylaid David in the corridor and asks him to tell her about his first woohoo, or better yet, show her)

Так ребята закончили первый курс опять с высшими баллами и в списке лучших студентов. (So the guys finished the first year again with the highest scores and on the list of the best students)

Далее

[aer1ths]

FFXV Fic Recommendations

Hello! I thought I’d share some of my favorite fics from my most favorite game. Will update with more when I read more. Thank you!

Set Thy Hidden Stars On Fire by MYuzuki (16k words)

This time, when Prompto wakes up to start a new loop, it’s raining.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a cause for concern (or even a blip on his radar, really) but this time he wakes up outside for some reason, which means he’s in the rain.

And as his luck would have it, it’s something of a downpour.

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If you love Prompto, you’ll love this fic. It’s relatively short, but managed to have me still think about it nearly a year after reading. MYuzuki is a great author!

Salvation by cassisluna (11k words)

Nyx Ulric lives and accompanies Lunafreya across Lucis to wake the six. Written for the 2021 FFXV Reverse Bang.

As she travels to wake Titan and Ramuh, Luna is grateful for the time given to her to see the land of Lucis with her own eyes and feet.

Nyx promised the King that he would see Princess Lunafreya to Altissia, and it seems easy enough—until he learns the Oracle's price for forging the covenants. After that, it's just a matter of... maybe going off-route for a while to let the princess sight-see for a bit.

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I love anything that expands upon Lunafreya’s character or Kingsglaive. This fic did not disappoint with that at all.

Worth The Risk by Asidian (6k words)

It's captivating. Prompto's probably going to have thirty-eight photos of it for them to relive the experience, in vivid detail, later on.

But Prompto's not taking pictures anymore, Noct realizes. The camera's stopped.

And when Noctis looks over to see what the matter is, Prompto's just staring through the view-finder, head angled up. He's gone absolutely sheet-white – looks like he might pass out. He says, "Noct," very softly, like it's a plea.

Then the world explodes, and something slams into Noctis with the force of a subway train, and everything goes dark.

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I adore Asidian’s writing, especially for Prompto. This, and any of their other fics you should absolutely check out!

Honor Bound by The_Asset6 (125k words)

It’s still hard for Ignis, Gladio, and Prompto to believe that Noctis has been gone for a year. However, when an old ally appears to tell them that what is gone might not be lost after all, that spark of hope they kept alive during their ten years apart is rekindled. Their only question: what will they have to sacrifice this time in order to bring their brother back alive?

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This fic focuses more on the bros rather than Noctis himself, and it was really nice to see from their POV how far they’d go to get Noct back. A longer read but didn’t drag, great fic!

Somnus Ultima by The_Asset6 (349k words)

King Regis and Queen Aulea’s desire for a child has finally been fulfilled, as well as their kingdom’s need for an heir to the throne. However, when a dark mage with a vendetta against Lucis blesses the young prince with a deadly curse, they realize that no sacrifice is too much when it comes to someone you love.

But too much, it turns out, is never enough.

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A sleeping beauty AU! I won’t lie, this one is long, but it’s so worth it. I don’t typically like AU fics, preferring canon-compliant work, but I gave this one a chance and didn’t regret it. The author made great use of the characters and created a lengthy but not hard to read story that was very enjoyable.

Reliance, Resolve by Gnine (13k words)

"Where are you?"

Noct. Voice controlled, each word precise and even. In other words, pissed off to the point of seething. Prompto had obviously screwed up. Again. Seemed about all he was capable of doing lately when it came to Noct—and just about everything else.

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Prompto's self-reliant streak kicks into overdrive, sending his life into a tailspin.

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A nice pre-game fic centered around Prompto, giving some insight to his and Noct’s relationship. Author tagged as pre-slash.