#honorable mention of varian as well

[tending-the-hearth]

i love when jeremy jordan plays an angsty guy whose entire sad arc could have been avoided if he was honest with the people he loved 📰🍎

[slytherin-pen]

Season of Shadows

A/N: My first fanfic and specifically my first time writing on Tumblr. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to comment suggestions or recommendations! I wrote this with an OC, but I love x reader fics too so I might give it a try in the future.

Ivy joined the Inner Circle six months ago, just before they went to war with Hybern. Now, a few weeks later, after wounds are healed, the Night Court is ready to celebrate their victory. All but one, one who thought everyone was blind to her fake smiles. She clearly underestimated the ever-observant Spymaster.

warnings: mentions of past death

pairing: azriel x oc

word count: 2.4k

all acotar related credits go to SJM

banner credit to @cafekitsune

The music at Rita’s reverberated in Ivy's ears as she observed her friends on the dance floor. Feyra, Rhys, Cassian, and Nesta moved sensually with their partners, while Mor attracted numerous admirers of both genders.

Ivy remained at their table alone nursing her third glass of wine. She wasn’t much of a drinker but taking a sip seemed to be her nervous tic at this point. Amren was spending the night with Varian, and Elain had stayed home as usual. Azriel had walked off to the bar shortly after the group's arrival. The Inner Circle had endured a lot. After the war with Hybern, several members suffered from significant injuries. Although wings and bones could be mended, the invisible scars often proved more challenging. This was Ivy’s current predicament. No amount of wine could erase the memory of witnessing her childhood best friend perish on the battlefield.

Hybern had infiltrated their village in the Spring Court, demanding the villagers either join them or die. Ivy had already left the village, following her now High Lady during her final escape from Spring. Ivy’s father, a guard for Tamlin, had been left to die for a High Lord who cared little for his people. When Ivy spotted Lucien and Feyra fleeing through the woods, she pleaded to join them, offering her powers in aid. She realized that to help her people, she needed to escape the Spring Court and align with those taking action.

Ivy’s ability to manipulate plants proved invaluable when, minutes after finding Lucien and Feyra, two Hybern soldiers emerged from the trees. Although she was not a fighter, she used the vines on nearby trees to restrain the soldiers, allowing Feyra to finish them off.

Now, as she sat in Rita’s, she reflected on every letter exchanged with Wells during Hybern’s reign over Spring, questioning when exactly she had failed him and her village. Upon joining the Inner Circle, Ivy had hoped to return and help her people, but she had not arrived in time. Wells had joined Hybern, believing it was the only way to save his family, but Hybern did not honor their agreement. Wells became a traitor in many eyes, dying in vain, and now his family and he were both gone.

Ivy could not share her grief openly. Not only was she the only one who knew Wells, but he was also deemed a traitor. Sympathy was scarce for those who had sided with the enemy. Her attempts to speak on his behalf were swiftly dismissed. Most believed that he should have died with honor alongside his family. It wasn’t that simple; he was just a kid, not a soldier. Her efforts felt futile, leaving her to mourn alone, bearing a heavy heart.

She slid out of the booth after finishing her wine. The two couples and Mor continued dancing as she made her way to the back door. She needed a moment to breathe. Being surrounded by joy while she crumbled inside was overwhelming. Stepping into the night, she took a sharp inhale, the chilled air biting her nose and cheeks, flushing her pale skin. A few paces from the bar, she sat on a bench facing a pathway through the town.

Ivy often distracted herself by imagining the lives of strangers based on their appearance. One couple that passed had clearly argued; the female stomped ahead while the male trailed behind, head down like a chastised child. Another woman seemed to have just finished work at a bakery, given her tired demeanor and the white powder on her shirt.

Just as Ivy began to analyze a passing man, she sensed a presence beside her. Azriel sat down, his shadows lingering near his shoulders, with a few tendrils curling around her feet. He remained silent, staring straight ahead. Ivy accepted his company and resumed her people-watching.

A few minutes passed before Azriel spoke. “He’s a farmer.”

Ivy turned towards him. “What?”

Azriel nodded towards an older man with mud-stained knees and a tan stopping at his short sleeves. “That man, I bet he’s a farmer.”

“Oh,” Ivy murmured. “How did you-”

“I’m the Spymaster,” Azriel replied, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “This isn’t the first time I’ve caught you.”

“Right,” Ivy said, wringing her hands together. Unlike Azriel's leathers, she wore a dress that ended at her knees and a thick wool cardigan. She still wasn’t accustomed to the Night Court’s weather. While it experienced all four seasons, unlike the Seasonal Courts, she thought she’d always miss eternal spring.

“Why are you out here instead of inside with the others?” he asked. His wings were tucked in, and Ivy swore she could see the moonlight streaming through the membrane. This, she thought, is a creature meant for the night.

“I just—” she took a deep breath, “needed a minute. It’s hard to hear your thoughts in there sometimes.”

“I understand,” he said. His hazel eyes searched her face. “Do you want to talk about it? I promise I’m the least likely in the Circle to interrupt you.”

Ivy chuckled at the jab at his more boisterous family members. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear it. No one else does.”

A shadow gently pushed strands of her blonde hair behind her pointed ear, giving Azriel a clearer view of her face. “Try me.”

She looked at him through her lashes and sighed. “My friend Wells. I miss him, or who he used to be, I suppose.”

His eyes narrowed slightly as if sifting through his memories. “The friend who joined Hybern?”

“Yes,” she said, a tear sliding down her face. “That friend. And honestly, Azriel, if you’re just going to tell me to forget about him or curse his grave, I really—”

Azriel took her hands, forcing her nails to release the skin they had been piercing in her tight grip. She could still feel the warmth through his leather gloves. “That’s not what I was going to say. Your friend faced a terrible choice. A choice that none of us have faced nor can we predict how we would’ve reacted. He was your friend, and you’re allowed to mourn him as such,” he said softly.

More tears clouded her blue eyes. “It doesn’t feel like it,” she rasped. “I visited our village a few days ago to see how the repairs were coming along.” Her gaze dropped to her hands still held in his, and he gave a comforting squeeze. “They wrote ‘traitors’ on the door in red paint, meant to look like blood, I’m sure. And the looks I got just for being there... I didn’t even dare try to clean any of it up.”

Azriel’s brows furrowed. “You went to Spring? With who?”

Ivy did not look up from their hands and bit her bottom lip instead.

One of Azriel's shadows crept under her chin, tilting her face towards him. His pupils flicked between her eyes before he asked incredulously, “You went alone, didn’t you?”

Ivy nodded, removing one of her hands from his grasp to wipe her tears with her knuckles. “I had no choice. Do you think if I asked, someone would’ve taken me? Your whole family hates the Spring Court.” Azriel clenched his jaw, swallowing the urge to correct her. They are her family too now, but her not viewing them as such was just a small piece of the puzzle he planned to solve.

“I would have.” He grabbed her hand again and scooted closer until their thighs touched, the leather of his pants grazing her bare skin. “I would have gone with you. Crossing borders alone is dangerous, no matter who you are. Besides, I would have supported you. You didn’t need to do that alone, emotionally either.”

“I’ll remember that next time,” she sniffled.

“Would you like to go home? To the House of Wind, I mean. Everyone else will stay at the River House tonight. Depending on how you want to spend the rest of your night, we could raid Rhys’ wine cellar or ask the House for tea.”

Ivy smiled slightly at the offer. “I’d like to go home. And have tea. I’m putting on a brave face right now, but I rarely drink, and I am feeling it.”

Azriel chuckled as he stood, gently pulling her up with him. “Would you like to fly or winnow?”

Ivy looked up at the sky and then back to Azriel. “I’ve never flown with you before.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” he smirked. He guided her arm around his neck before lifting her, one hand looping under her thighs and the other around her torso. “Hold on tight.”

An hour later, Ivy and Azriel finished their second cup of chamomile tea, courtesy of the House. Azriel had changed into a black tunic and sleep pants, while Ivy had replaced her dress with a nightgown under her cardigan.

The fire in the hearth provided some warmth, but Ivy's fingers and toes remained slightly numb from the cold. Lucky Illyrian, she thought. They were built for this climate. Ivy felt like a snake trying to survive in an igloo. She had settled in front of the hearth with a blanket in her lap, while Azriel sat in the armchair to her left. Some of his shadows slithered across the floor, into her lap, and curled around her hands. As she lifted her hands to observe them, she realized they had formed into glove-like shapes over her fingers.

“Are you still cold?” Azriel asked. Ivy had half a mind to tell him he already knew the answer. He didn’t need to be the Spymaster or use his shadows to notice the shivers she was trying to conceal.

Ivy smiled sheepishly. “A little, but it’s alright. I’ve lived here for six months, and hypothermia hasn’t claimed me yet.”

Azriel smiled as he stood before sitting on the floor next to her. “Well, I’d like to keep it that way.” He stretched his legs out alongside hers, pulling some of the blanket over himself before curling his wings around them. “Better?”

The view of the rest of the room was blocked by his wings, trapping the heat from the fire and directing it back toward him and Ivy. She could barely suppress the shudder of pleasure at the newfound warmth. She hadn’t realized how much of it had been wasted filling the rest of the room. “Yes, thank you,” she replied with a small smile.

Azriel put an arm over her shoulder and pulled her closer. “It’s alright to miss your home, you know? Our family might not like Spring, and its High Lord even less, but we understand.”

Ivy sighed and played with a loose thread on the blanket. “I’d just rather not bring it up. Of course, I sympathize with what Feyre went through, not just the day I found her but before too. I just can’t stand to hear how they talk about it. The Spring I grew up in was nothing like she described, and now it’s all destroyed. It’s not like I could take everyone there now and show them how beautiful it was.”

Azriel was silent for a moment, pondering her words. She was right. The Inner Circle would never understand the beauty she claimed for the Spring Court, and with Tamlin as High Lord, they might never see it until someone else took over, which could take a millennium. “Cassian and I get into fights over Illyria sometimes.”

Ivy frowned as she faced the Shadowsinger. “About what?”

He shifted slightly and stared into the fire. “It’s no secret that Cass and I had our…misfortunes in the camps we called home. The difference now is Cassian still sees Illyria as his home. He still has hope it could be a better place someday.”

“And you don’t?”

Shaking his head, “No, I don’t.” Ivy reached over and grabbed his scarred hand, giving it a squeeze as he had for her. “Here is my home now. Rhys and Cass know that if I weren’t the Spymaster with duties requiring me to visit the camps, I’d never set foot in Illyria again. Aside from all the bad memories, the males don’t respect us, and they never will. It’s very difficult to change a place that sees you as dirt under their boots.”

Ivy fiddled with his scarred fingers in her lap. “So you and Cassian fought about what to do with the camps?”

“Not exactly,” he said, his shoulders slumping. “My point is that having disagreements about our homes is nothing new for us. Cassian and I see Illyria differently. Even Mor battles with herself about the Court of Nightmares. She hates her father and Hewn City, but it was still her home. No amount of hatred, even on her end, will change that. The same way none of our opinions about your home will change the fact that you grew up there. It will always have a piece of you.”

Her lips quivered before she turned her head away. “I wish I— I couldn’t help them in time. I left them alone thinking I was going to be some hero, we both did, and we both failed.” The tears rolling down her face reflected the flames in the hearth. “How am I any better than him? We both thought we were doing the right thing.” Instead of a shadow again, it was Azriel’s thumb that wiped her cheeks gently.

“And you weren’t wrong,” he whispered. “Just because things didn’t go as planned doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth trying. I have failed hundreds of missions in my lifetime. I don’t regret all of them. Some just didn’t go my way.”

“I regret this one,” she sobbed. “He’s dead. It’s all my fault!”

Azriel quickly brought her into his lap and tightened his wings around them. He cupped her face with his free hand as he spoke. “Ivy. Ivy, look at me.”

She continued to sob and gasp but looked at him nonetheless.

“It’s not your fault.” He rested his forehead on hers. “It’s not your fault. And I will take you to the Spring Court if that’s what you need. To help with repairs, say goodbye, pack— anything.”

“Thank you,” she rasped. “I appreciate that.” She attempted a small smile, but it looked more like a grimace.

Azriel smiled softly and kissed her head. “Why don’t we get you to bed? You’ll have a busy day tomorrow. You’re planning our itinerary.”

Ivy managed a laugh and nodded. Azriel easily stood with her in his arms and walked toward the stairs. “Thank you, Az. It means a lot.”

“Anytime,” he whispered as her head rested against his chest and her eyes closed.

[mcrtalstrike]

Another one of my Vol’jin rants this time on how him living would improve the WoW story tenfold (elaborated from a twt thread I made)

Vol’jin denied Zul his aid, fought Zul’s forces and left alive, bargained with Bwonsamdi to revive his human bf and after all that, AAAALLL THAT, he’s just killed off before an entire expansion centering around the Zandalari? Nah something is fishy here.

He could have lived by the skin of his teeth and Sylvanas could have made plans behind his back, harming but not destroying Teldrassil, sparking the same conflicts in BFA and Vol’jin having a genuine connection with the Zandalari through his past tensions with Zul, especially taking into consideration that Talanji looks up to him and would be better mentally if she had a NOT DEAD father figure but no, we gotta have the pretty murder death elf on the cover of our advertising.

I know for a fact he would be down recruiting more members to the Horde and he would probably have an interesting interaction with the Maghar too, he’d also be the best character to change the Horde into a council, being the first non Orc Warchief and repeatedly being uncomfortable with the position of Warchief, he even said he wasn’t used to being called that out loud.

Recruiting Zandalari is a whole other deal though, Vol’jin has an ENTIRE NOVEL dedicated to how he feels about the Zandalari, he’s defeated Zul’s own general and denied Zul to his face without fear. He is the closest worshipper we know to Bwonsamdi, he’s that guys little pogchamp and all of this plus what I mentioned with Talanji is only part of why his death wasn’t needed at all. There would be so much he needs to stay humble and professional about but the fact that we were ROBBED of admitting he giggled about how ironic is that they joined the Horde when Zul asked him to join the Zandalari years ago is such a damn crime.

In MoP, Varian threatened to destroy the Horde if they didn’t uphold honor, Anduin would feel an obligation to at least remember this especially when Sylvanas commits atrocities and the Horde breaks from it. None of this has any significance if the one Varian threatened IS DEAD.

Oh and remember Tyrathan? Yeah he just got placed in the trueshot lodge and was forgotten. It’s not like he could have been a really interesting additional way for two major factions to end up forming a truce or someone Sylvanas would want to mess with, both being hilarious because two factions would end up fighting over Some Guy who lives in a lodge all because of one novel

The story could have gone on just as well if he was alive, it wouldn’t change much aside from who’s in charge but it would make a whole lot of people happier and hell, he wouldn’t even have an issue saving the Loa from the maw in SL and working with Bwonsamdi because just like the player, he would be ALIIIIIVEEEEEE. He also has a debt to Bwonsamdi and would help him anyway, he doesn’t need to be summoned.

You could even make a subplot where Vol’jin keeps heading a Loa whisper to him while he recovers in Legion until the “whisper” is so loud he has to investigate, hell that could even be N’Zoth in disguise.

So yeah Vol’jin was an integral Horde character and when he was removed it all went to shit complain at the wall about it

[flynnstopher]

continued from here for @frckledalchemiist​

Holding two beer bottles in his hand, Flynn really hadn’t expected Varian to make such a big deal out of his simple offer of a drink, but really he should have known this was coming. For all they’d hung out enough, it had always been through the connection of Rapunzel and rarely if ever just the two of them. Which really was fine with Flynn, but when he had seen the younger boy standing what seemed almost painfully awkwardly by himself off to the side of the houseparty blazing around him, he’d taken pity and decided to offer at least a few minutes of company. “No, I’m trying to offer you a beer,” he corrected with a roll of his eyes as he held out the bottle. “Well, now that you mention it, yes. You should be honored. My presence should always be appreciated, thank you.”

[comicconathome]

Comic-Con@Home announces the 2021 Masquerade Costume Competition Winners

Best in Show: "Valkyrie (Jane Foster)", crafted by The Queen’s Armory. Beautiful and with extensive hand-leather work that wowed the judges, it lights up, too! A stunning interpretation from the Marvel universe.

-as well as-

Winner: Frank and Son Collectible Show Award of $1,000.

Winner: The Costume Designers' Guild Spotlight Award, to include a costume design book, a $100 Amazon card, and more.

* The Judges' Choice Award resulted in a TIE of two very different costumes! *

Judges' Choice: "Obsidian Desert Queen Zagara", Broodmother of the Swarm from Heroes of the Storm, crafted by international Korean cosplayer MyBoo Cosplay

Judges' Choice: "Snow White", an original imagining of the joyful Queen's Happily Ever After, with exceptionally embellished historical design by Mandy Pursley / Be The Spark Cosplay

Best Re-Creation: "Arachne". Japanese artist and illustrator Sakizou's character cleverly and skillfully translated from 2-dimensional artist canvas to real life by Nina London Cosplay

Best Original Design: "Goodbye Beach City", a beautiful homage to Steven Universe, any way she turns, there’s a detailed story sewn into her dress! From Moria Magre/MinesOfMoriaCosplays

Best Workmanship: "Carlotta, from Phantom of the Opera", a highly detailed re-creation of Carlotta's Hannibal dress of the Broadway show, crafted wonderfully by Canadian Devon Baker / Komickrazi Studios

Most Beautiful: "Lady Loki in Armor", a striking original interpretation of the character in resplendent battle armor and impressive weapon too, designed and crafted by VivSai

Most Humorous: "Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho, A Batman's Life for Me". Perhaps in some alternate universe, Batman and Robin could be partying pirates? A jovial imagining by Jeanie Lopez, plus Lucas and Joe Queen

Best Group: "Lord Captain America and Iron Lady", an Avengers Masquerade, cleverly imagining two Marvel heroes in refined and elegant period costuming, as crafted by Miguel and Lucy Capuchino / Capuchino Cosplay

And some Honorable Mentions: Here’s a few entries just as loved by the judges that nearly won trophies. Even though they scored slightly lower than the top choices, they still deserve recognition for achievement:

Honorable Mention: "Gonk (gonk guh gonk gonk gonk)" a fun re-created screen-accurate Star Wars GNK power droid with moving parts, constructed by Kaiweevil

-as well as-

Winner: The David C. Copley Award for Most Innovative Costume: $500 in Amazon cards from UCLA’s Copley Center for the Study of Costume Design.

Honorable Mentions:

"Edgar Markov", (lower left) an armored character from the terror-rife gothic plane of Innistrad in the Magic the Gathering game universe, brought to you wonderfully by Kensadi / Kensadi Cosplay

"Varian Wrynn", (lower right) World of Warcraft's King of Stormwind and High King of the Alliance in amazingly constructed armor, from international Korean cosplayer Sin_Moon

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

San Diego Comic-Con gives a big "Thank You" to the contestants for all their work and talent,

to the guest judges Jennifer May Nickel, Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis PhD, Garnet Filo, Allan Lavigne and Gigi Bannister for their time and expertise,

to Phil and Kaja Foglio for being our Masters of Ceremonies,

to the Frank and Son Collectible Show, the UCLA David C. Copley Center For the Study of Costume Design, and the Costume Designers' Guild IATSE 892 for their generous support of the event,

and to our convention friends & family both near and far for joining us online- until we meet again!

Learn more about our Guest Judges, Sponsors and 2021 Awards here!

[noperopesaredope]

Fics That I Really Like A Lot

So, I just wanted to make a post uplifting some really great fics I’ve read/am subscribed to or still keeping up with. I like to let people know about other creators, and I just wanted to mention some works I think people should check out.

(Note, this post was made on Sep 2, 2021, so when I say something is recent, I mean compared to when I made this post)

Tangled the Series Fics (Mostly Varian Fics):

Walls of Stone (Finished)

Varian and Whumptober 2020 (Series) (Finished) (Sidenote; I really like this author in general, but there is just so much great whump and extreme angst in this series! Says they are but a humble freshman, but I say they are a very skilled freshman!)

How Pneumonia Stopped a Stubborn Alchemist from Descending into Villainy (Finished)

Screw Treasure, I got Trauma (Finished)

Tangled One-shots (Series) (Finished? I Think?)

Voluntary Manslaughter (Finished)

I’ll Always Lend an Ear (Finished)

Drown Your Past, Burn your Future (Series) (Unfinished, but still going strong)

Scars of a Child (Series) (Unfinished)

Unrelenting Silence (Finished)

Where was the happily ever after? (Finished? Unsure)

All our Dreams (Down the Drain) (Unfinished)

Not All Falling Stars Grant Wishes (Finished)

Alchemy Lullaby (Series) (Finished)

Insignificant (Finished)

Second Chances (Almost finished)

The Pawn Decides Its Fate (Finished)

Unsaid Emily (Finished)

Today, Today (Finished)

The Pride in Your Eyes (Unfinished, but still somewhat new)

Monster (Finished)

You Are Enough (Finished)

An Alchemist’s World (Unfinished, but the first four chapters could definitely work as a standalone fic, so, in my eyes it’s finished)

Too Smart for Your Own Good (Unfinished, going strong)

To find the Sundrop (Unfinished)

There’s More in You (Unfinished)

The Science of Love (Unfinished, going very strong)

Season 2 But Gayer (Unfinished, going strong-ish)

On My Honor (Series) (Unfinished, going extremely strong with consistant updates)

A Prince and His Bodyguard (Series) (Unfinished, going strong)

Rocks, Wolves, and the Moon (Series) (Unfinished, going strong)

Return to Me (Unfinished, going strong)

Perilous Night (Unfinished, possibly discontinued, but worth a bit of the read)

Nomad (Unfinished, author is working on multiple projects, so IDK)

No Reward for Second Place (Unfinished, but fairly new and somewhat well updated)

Oath of the Lawbreaker (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

New Quest for Varian (Unfinished, fairly new)

My Dear Son (Unfinished)

Insignificant (Finished)

Indentured (Unfinished, same author as Nomad)

Enter the mind, remove the sins (Unfinished, going pretty strong)

Darkness exists to make the light truely count (Unfinished, going strong. Updated about every month or two, with consistency)

Creeping Crystals (Unfinished, but going somewhat strong)

Blood of My Brother (Unfinished, going as one of the strongest in its fast updates)

Cyclorama (Finished) (Companion to Blood of My Brother)

Chemistry in Motion (Unfinished)

Away from Home (Unfinished)

Alone? (Unfinished-ish)

It’s just a mild inconvenience (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

Gauze in the Wound (Unfinished, pretty consistent last I checked)

Blood Makes the Knife Holy (Series) (Unfinished, but each part could work as their own fics, and it’s still going)

A Progression of Events (Unfinished)

He Needs Me (Unfinished, going strong)

Or So They Though (Unfinished, going pretty strong)

The Long Road Back to Home (Unfinished, hasn’t been updated in a bit, but is pretty long and each chapter could take about a couple months to finish, and even longer if the creator is stuck/has other fics. Still worth the read)

The Road Home (Different) (Unfinished)

Reunion at Sea (Unfinished, going strong)

Elements of Angst (Unfinished, probably updated soon)

Arson (Unfinished, every time it think that maybe it’s been discontinued, it comes back)

Unconventional Family (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

To find the Sundrop (Unfinished)

Wayward AU (Comic) (Unfinished, pretty consistent)

RWBY (Mainly Oscar Fics):

It’s Venomous (Finished)

Will you stand and be brave or be broken? (Finished)

Oscar Gets Himself a Coat (Finished)

Who You Belong To (Finished)

Imperfect Light (Finished)

Shell (Finished)

Blood on Both Hands (Finished)

Tell Me that I am a Fool (Finished)

If i believed in destiny i'd have to hunt it down and punch it in the face (Series) (Unfinished, can have the occasionally long hiatus, but the creator comes back)

Is Oscar okay? no but the answer is b (Finished)

Running From Memories (Finished)

Rescue Me (Unfinished)

Souls of Love and Bravery (Unfinished, relatively consistent updates)

Revert To Last Save File (but it's the wrong file) (Unfinished, but still going)

Broken Body and Souls (Finished)

Camp Camp:

David’s Family (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

Horror Camp (A little too much child whump for me, but it’s very whumpy) (Unfinished)

Inconvenience (Unfinished)

Still Here (One of my favs) (Finished)

Hetalia (Mainly America and Canada Centric):

Recovering the Broken Pieces (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

Hetalia 2020 - WWIII and more (Unfinished)

(More fics in the crossover section)

She-ra (Quite a few Kyle ones):

The Chronicles of Kyle (Unfinished)

Sunflowers (Finished)

She-Ra: In the Wake (Unfinished)

Princesses and co. work through their issues (Unfinished)

What is Heard (Cannot be Unheard) (Finished)

Long Way Home (Unfinished)

The Hollowed of Etheria (Discontinued. For now at least. Author might revamp it)

Hordak and the Orphans of the Horde (Unfinished)

Big Sis (Finished)

Ex-Horde (Finished? Pretty good on its own though)

Prisoner of Conscience (Unfinished, still going strong)

Tales of Arcadia (Mostly Douxie Fics):

The Immortal Bonds (Unfinished, going strong)

I Can Make RotT So Much Worse (Unfinished, going strong)

Not After 900 Years (Finished)

A Different Path (Finished)

Half-Remembered (Finished)

Shattered Timelines (Unfinished, going strong)

In the Fullness of Time (Unfinished, updated recently)

One Last Time (Unfinished, updated recently)

Tales of Arcadia Watch Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (Unfinished)

Crossover Fics:

Sold (TTS/HtTYD) (Finished) (Author is really good at angsty oneshots that should be made into full fics)

Varian’s Mysterious Transport (TTS/Infinity Train) (Unfinished, unexpected updates)

Of Rocks and Robots (TTS/Big Hero Six) (Series) (Unfinished, very consistent)

(Like the moon) I'll sway the tide and lead you astray (TTS/HtTYD) (Unfinished, haven’t read in a while)

Heathers and other fandoms react to stuff (Multifandom Crossover Fanfiction) (Unfinished, confusing update schedule, not every fandom gets much spotlight, still incredibly fun)

Chemistry in Motion (TTS/Big Hero Six) (Unfinished)

The Weight of Both Worlds (Hetalia/RWBY) (Series) (Finished) (My favorite fic ever)

Infinity (Hetalia/BNHA) (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

G8 china in UA, 1-S class! (Hetalia/BNHA) (Unifinished, possibly dicontinued)

That Which Makes Up This Land (Hetalia/ATLA) (Unfinished, author is editing and reposting all their series, which could take about a year, but it will be back)

A Waterbending Quirk (ATLA/BNHA) (Unfinished, going strong)

Other Fics:

Earth is Odd Enough (Sanders Sides) (Unfinished)

UA Faculty Tiktok OCs (BNHA) (Webtoon) (Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63lWYueDsek&t=208s, she’s amazing) (Unfinished. The Tiktoks, on the otherhand, are very much still going)

Harry Potter and the Lack of Lambsauce (Harry Potter) (Finished)

Grinch x Tony the Tiger (You know) (Unfinished)

Flowey is Not a Good Life Coach (Undertale) (Finished)

It Wears a Mask (MCU Spiderman) (Finished)

A Different Fate (Harry Potter) (Finished)

A crack in the glass (eye) (ATLA) (Finished)

Identity Saga (MCU Spiderman) (Series) (Unfinished, author is very dedicated to fic and is incredibly determined to finish it, so highly unlikely to be discontinued)

Bakery Enemies AU (Miraculous Ladybug) (Comic) (Unfinished, going strong)

Authors I Like:

AquaQuadrant aka @aquaquadrant (probably know them if you’re in the Varian fandom. Ridiculously talented)

bethhigdon (in the TTS fandom and the Big Hero Six fandom, but also other stuff)

Cate_9xBlue aka @cate-9xblue (known best for their TTS fics)

Royalsciencenerd (Writes amazing TTS Varian fics)

HoneyxMonkey aka @honeyxmonkey (Writes TTS fics and talks a lot about Tales of Arcadia on their blog. Has some great ideas)

Sand_wolf579 (Has a large and varied catalogue)

ExploretheEcccentricities aka @exploretheeccentricities (Lots of TTS fics)

ShadowSnowdapple aka @shadowsnowdapple (RWBY Oscar fics that are amazing)

Widowfics (Great TTS writer)

AMax76 (Wrote the amazing Blood of My Brother)

violetsaren_tblue (has some great TTS fics I like)

Time Traverser (Excellent Hetalia America and Canada Fics)

Aloneintherain aka @captainkirkk (Just started reading their stuff, SO many excellent Spider-Man fics)

So yeah, just giving some appreciation for all the fic creators out there and their creations!

[middlechildwhoescapedthebasement]

Ok here she is! My oldest oc Varian! I hope that you enjoy her! She's from my first ever au, the "What if?" au!

Warning: mentions of mass death including a child's, infant abandonment, and its very long

Basics Name: Varian Hasashi Nicknames: Fox, Temperance, Cherry bomb, Momo D.O.B: January 31st, 1419 (this is actually just the day that Fujin found her) Race: Chaos/Order realmer, Hunter* will explain later Gender: cis female Sexuality: Pansexual Personality type: ENFJ (EXTREMELY extroverted, girl can and will party till dawn) Alignment: Chaotic Good Neruodivergence?: PTSD, Autistic, Abandonment Anxiety Disabilities?: N/A

Physical appearance?

Hair color: Ruby red Hair length: Upper back with curls at the bottom Eye color: Fuchsia with star shaped pupils Skintone: Slightly tanned and very freckled Height: 5'0 Weight: 134 lbs Other: Has scars all over her body from her battles but most are from Shang Tsung

Biological Family/Spouse(s) (put biological rather than adoptive because it's important) Father: Unknown Mother: Unknown Brother(s): Unknown Sister(s): Unknown Paternal Grandparents: Unknown Maternal Grandparents: Unknown Aunt(s): Unknown Uncle(s): Unknown Cousin(s): Unknown Spouse(s): Gemini *deceased, Hanzo Hasashi Son(s): Terrance *presumed dead, Akira, Masaru Daughter(s): Ryoko, Mina Niece(s): Unknown Nephew(s): Unknown

Relationship with said family?/Backstory? She doesn't know anyone from her biological family due to being abandoned as a newborn. Her parents had a forbidden relationship due to being from such colliding realms, so they hid their tracks by leaving her on Earthrealm to die. Luckily for Varian, Fujin heard her cries and found her. He made the decision to raise her, but the Elder Gods said that they could not have a familial bond, so he had to force her to call him Fujin and try his best to not see her as his daughter. It didn't work, and as a result, she saw Fujin as her father and Raiden as her uncle. Then the rest of the Hunter clan became her family as well, the elders being uncles and aunts and the kids being cousins. As she grew up, she fell in love with a fellow clan member named Gemini. The two got married and had a beautiful son named Terrance, the were the perfect family, never leaving each other's sides and being full of love and happiness. This all changed when Shang Tsung ambushed the clan and nearly killed everyone, including Gemini and Terrance. Varian tried to stop Shang Tsung from killing her son, but he had bound her with his magic, forcing her to watch her son die. Her need for Shang Tsung's blood almost made break through his magic. Just as she was about to, the Gods forced her into a deep sleep along with the other survivors to ensure their safety. She stayed in that sleep for 228 years, and when she awoke she remembered everything. As much as she wanted to kill Shang Tsung, she knew that protecting Earthrealm was far more important and would honor her family's death more accurately. So, for the next 82 years she did just that. She not only hunted all the monsters, she also fought in both World Wars. The tournament came around and Raiden had asked her to be one of his champions. She gladly accepted, as this was her chance to get revenge on Shang Tsung. Raiden then reminded her that that's not what Gemini and Terrance would want, and that she's forbidden from using her full strength and that Shang Tsung would use that to his advantage. Varian said that she didn't need her full strength to defeat him anymore, but nonetheless agreed with Raiden. When she arrived on the island, one competitor in particular caught her interest: Scorpion. She asked Raiden for his backstory, and upon hearing it she immediately felt empathy for him. She knows what it's like to lose your family in such a brutal fashion. She especially knows what it's like to watch your child be killed as you sit there helpless. But unlike him, she had other Hunters left. Raiden immediately told her that he's going to be hard to reach to as he's now a wraith controlled by Quan Chi's magic. She told him that she knew that, but maybe someone relating to him might make it a bit easier. Turns out that she was right and as a result she was the only one that Scorpion would truly listen to without much resistance. Though he did question why she didn't chose vengeance. She responded that even though she genuinely wanted it, it's not what her late husband and son would want, and that she had a feeling that it wasn't what his wife and son wanted from him either. He insisted that she was wrong and that he had to get his vengeance on Sub-Zero. Cut to Scorpion killing Bi-Han and losing his chance to get his family back. Varian, while a little disappointed in him, understood that he was being manipulated heavily. So she comforted him and stayed by his side, all while trying to break him free from Quan Chi's control. It took a while, but all of her efforts paid off he became free, but he was still a wraith. During this time, they fell in love and their relationship soon became sexual. Leading her to become pregnant with triplets during the Netherrealm/Earthrealm war. They both, of course, were worried out of their minds. Neither could deal with the idea of losing another family. They stuck by each other throughout the whole pregnancy, and the triplets being born was the best day that they had in a very long time. Everything was fine for for 18 months, but

Quan Chi had found out where Scorpion was hiding. Scorpion told Varian that for the children's sake, he had to leave and didn't know when he would be able to come back. Their worst fear had been come true: The family being broken apart. What hurt Varian even more was that she had to fight Scorpion when Quan Chi took control of him again. They all had to wait eleven years until they could all be reunited again. Now, everything is back to being amazing again, and they are one the most tight-knit, bad ass families you'll meet.

What are the Hunters? The Hunters are those whose bloodline was chosen to fight the monsters that Shinnok had created to be invisible to the living. His idea was that he would be able to create death and chaos that no one could stop. The other Elder Gods put a stop to it by choosing warriors to deal with them. Raiden and Fujin were given the task of overseeing the ones born on Earthrealm. To train and watch them, to ensure their success in protecting their realm. Fujin knew that Varian was one because he could sense it in her blood. This is the only reason he was allowed to keep her.

Fighting style? Varian has two different types of weapons, one for kombat and one for hunting. The one she uses for kombat is a six and a half foot trident. She's been using this weapon since she was twelve years old. It suits her quick and brutal style very well, plus it's flashy and unique just like her. Second is the one she uses for hunting. Two very special pistols that can transform into muskets, and when put together, it transforms into a Claymore sword. Despite her "clunky" weaponry, she's extremely agile and nimble. It's almost as if she's always light as air when she fights. She's also an expert at Jujustu (thanks to Raiden's training) if she's forced to fight weaponless. She's a mid to long ranged fighter with an edge on agility. She's also an expert gymnast and dancer so she often adds them to her moves to make a show of the fight. Think of Bayonetta's quote "As long as there's still music, I'll keep on dancing!"

Trivia *As stated above, she loves music and dance. She loves all forms of art, but music and dance will always be her favorite thing in the whole world (except her family) *She's actually rather hated outside of Earthrealm because of her heritage. She's seen as a freak of nature because Order/Chaos aren't supposed to mix *From a very young age she's had to balance her mind between Chaos and Order, too much chaos causes her to become severely reckless and anarchic, too much order causes her to become a dictator of which any means will justify her end *Johnny Cage is her BFF, they go out club hopping every other weekend, her nickname for him is "Sugar Tits" and his for her is "Cherry Bomb" *She loves Fujin with all her heart and he'll always be her true father no matter what the Elder Gods have to say *Very, very, VERY flexible. Due to her being half Chaosrealmer, she can contort herself in severely unnatural ways *Wears ballet slippers in battle because it makes it easier to fight *Most of her outfits are dancer clothes because she thinks they're beautiful and she often breaks out into dance *Is Cassie's Godmother *Has worked with both the Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu, causing her to have neutral views on both clans and seeing that the war has been caused by a misunderstanding *Taught Erron how to shoot *She doesn't know it, but Terrance is actually alive and under Shang Tsung's control. He now goes by Pascal. He thinks that both of his parents and all of his clan are dead *Can play the violin amazingly, her favorite song to play is the "Foxhunter" *Hanzo calls her "Momo" because her favorite food is peaches *Fujin calls her Fox because she's a mischievous little thing *Loves playing pranks and getting into trouble, even in adulthood *Helped Hanzo build a shrine dedicated to their lost families, they both pray to it everyday as do their children

Any questions you have please leave in the notes!

[helion-ism]

What’s your top 5 fav quotes from ACOSF?

OMG THANK YOU FOR ASKING! let’s go 🥰

honorable mentions:

He had to give Lucien credit: the male was somehow able to move between his three roles — an emissary for the Night Court, ally to Jurian and Vassa, and liaison to Tamlin — and still dress immaculately.

With Gwyn … he wondered whether Nesta liked the girl because with her, she was simply Nesta. Perhaps she felt that way around Emerie, too.

Nesta laughed. The sound might as well have been a lightning strike to his head for how much it rocked him, that laugh. Free and light and so unlike anything he’d ever heard from her that even Azriel blinked. A true laugh.

Death watched him. But Death had walked beside him every day of his life. So Cassian stroked his thumb along her palm and said, “Hello, Nes.”

Elain, the wretch, had taken the seat between Feyre and Varian, about as far from Lucien as she could get.

now let’s get to my top 5 🥰

5. Nesta didn’t, couldn’t, move as Cassian leaned to whisper in her ear, “The first time I saw that look on your face, you were still human. Still human, and I nearly went to my knees before you.” His breath caressed the shell of her ear and she couldn’t stop her eyes from fluttering shut. His smile brushed against her temple. “Your power is a song, and one I’ve waited a very, very long time to hear, Nesta.”

4. Gwyn said hoarsely as they moved into the wilderness, the snow mercifully lightening, “You two came looking for me.” “Of course we did,” Emerie said, interlacing her hand with Gwyn’s, then Nesta’s, and squeezing tightly. “It’s what sisters do.“

3. Those golden threads between their very souls shone with the words, as if they formed a harp strummed by a heavenly hand. For it was music between their souls. Always had been. And his voice was her favorite melody.

2. Cassian smiled at her, and the world faded away. The music was no longer the most beautiful thing in existence. He was. Nesta couldn’t stop it then. The answering smile that bloomed through her at last, stealing across her face, bright as the dawn.

1. “I am going to tell you that you will get through it. That you will face all of this, and you will get through it. That these tears are good, Nesta. These tears mean you care. I am going to tell you that it is not too late, not for any of it. And I can’t tell you when, or how, but it will get better. What you feel, this guilt and pain and self-loathing — you will get through it. But only if you are willing to fight. Only if you are willing to face it, and embrace it, and walk through it, to emerge on the other side of it. And maybe you will still feel that tinge of pain, but there is another side. A better side.”

[girlactionfigure]

‘We Are All Jews Here’

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, one of five American Righteous Among the Nations, never spoke about the 200 Jews he saved

BY

PATRICK HENRY

As of Jan. 1, 2020, there were 27,712 persons named Righteous Among the Nations (Righteous Gentiles) by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. All of them are non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Five of them are American.

In 1994, Varian Fry was the first American named to the list. A New York City native and Harvard graduate with a degree in classics, Fry had volunteered with the Emergency Rescue Committee to go to France to help rescue victims of Nazism. Planning on staying for a month, he arrived in Marseille in August 1940 with $3,000 and a list of 200 Jews he hoped to save. Soon, however, he understood the enormity of his task and judged it “criminally irresponsible” to return home. He stayed until he was forcibly expelled from France 13 months later “for having protected Jews and anti-Nazis.” Fighting the Vichy regime and the U.S. State Department, which tried repeatedly to have him sent home, Fry carried a gun, arranged smugglings into Spain, obtained foreign passports and visas, hired a forger, and with a small staff saved over 2,000 refugees. Mainly interested in writers, artists, and intellectuals, this passionate anti-fascist rescued Marcel Duchamp, Marc Chagall, Jacques Lipchitz, Max Ernst, Hannah Arendt, Max Ophüls, Arthur Koestler, André Breton, and several other surrealist artists.

Martha and Waitstill Sharp were named Righteous Among the Nations in 2005. Waitstill was a minister in the Unitarian Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and his wife, Martha, was a noted social worker. They agreed to go to Prague in February 1939 to help members of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. Once there, they helped smuggle Jews out of the country that had been taken over by the Nazis the month after their arrival. They experienced dangerous encounters with Nazi police but managed to return safely to the United States in August. Once again, however, in late spring 1940, they returned to Europe to help rescue Jewish people from France where they worked with Varian Fry, Hiram Bingham IV, and others smuggling Jews, many of them children, into Spain and Portugal.

Lois Gunden, named “Righteous” in 2013, also rescued Jews in France. Born and raised in Goshen, Indiana, Gunden went to France in October 1941, at the age of 26, to work with the Mennonite Central Committee. Fluent in French, she headed the Ville St. Christophe Children’s Refugee Convalescent Home in Canet Plage in the south of France. It was a 20-room mansion that housed 60 children, mostly those of Spanish refugees from Franco’s Spain and Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe being held in the nearby Rivesaltes internment camp. Gunden continued to run this safe haven for refugee children even after November 1942 when the Germans occupied the entire country. She managed to hide many Jewish children in the home and save them from deportation to Drancy and then Auschwitz. In January 1943, she was detained as an “enemy alien” and transported to Germany. In March 1944, she was released in a prisoner exchange.

On Memorial Day 2021, 76 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, let’s remember the heroics of Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, the fifth American Righteous Gentile and the only one to have saved the lives of American Jews.

In early December 1944, the 106th Infantry Division, which comprised the 422nd, 423rd, and 424th Regiments, landed in France and traveled by truck across France and Belgium, reaching the Schnee Eifel area in Eastern Belgium near the German border. On Dec. 10, they took up their positions. On Dec. 16, the 422nd was attacked by the Germans in what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge, during which the Germans would capture 20,000 GIs. Although they were cut off and surrounded, the part of the regiment that Edmonds belonged to held out until Dec. 21 when they surrendered to the Germans. After having been forced to march 50 kilometers to Gerolstein, Germany, the men of the 422nd Regiment were loaded into box cars with no food or water and traveled for four days until they reached Bad Orb, Germany. They spent several weeks in Bad Orb, after which they were divided into three groups (officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted men). Roddie Edmonds’ group, the NCOs, were then shipped to Stalag IXA in Ziegenhain. There were 1,275 men in this group and Roddie Edmonds was the highest-ranking NCO among them.’

It was German policy to single out Jewish POWs and send them to extermination or slave labor camps. Accordingly, in January 1945, the Germans announced that all Jewish prisoners in Stalag IXA would report the following morning. Twenty-five-year-old Master Sgt. Edmonds, who was responsible for all the POWs in Stalag IXA, ordered all prisoners, Jews and non-Jews, to fall out. When the German officer in charge, Maj. Siegmann, saw all the prisoners lined up in front of the barracks that next morning, he said to Edmonds: “They cannot all be Jews.” Edmonds responded: “We are all Jews here.”

Siegmann then pointed a pistol to Edmonds’ head, but Edmonds, refusing to back down, replied: “According to the Geneva Convention, we only have to give our name, rank, and serial number. If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us, and after the war you will be tried for war crimes.” The German major turned and walked away. Edmonds had saved the lives of the roughly 200 Jewish prisoners among the 1,275 American POWs.

Edmonds, who was named “Righteous” in 2015, did not speak much about his experiences. His family only knew that he had been taken prisoner by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge and that he had survived 100 days of captivity before returning home. His son, Baptist Rev. Chris Edmonds, mentioned that when he would ask his father about the war, he often told him only that “Some things were too difficult to talk about.” When Roddie died in 1985, his wife gave her son, Chris, two of the diaries he had kept as a POW.

Yet it was only in scouring the internet many years later that Chris discovered the exact story of his father’s heroism. In 2009, Chris’ daughter, Lauren, was given a college assignment to do a video history project about a family member. Lauren opted to work on her paternal grandfather. Chris decided to lend a hand. He googled the words “Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds,” expecting that it would lead to Army records or the Battle of the Bulge. Instead, it led to a 2008 New York Times article about a New York City lawyer, Lester Tanner, who had sold his Manhattan townhouse to former President Richard Nixon. What could have possibly been the link between Edmonds and the sale of a townhouse to Nixon? Tanner mentioned in the article that Roddie Edmonds had saved his life and that of many other Jews during WWII.

This led Chris Edmonds to Lester Tanner and other Jewish POWs saved by his father, one of whom was Sonny Fox, the American television host and executive. These POWs and in some cases their families filled in many details completely unknown to the Edmonds family. Tanner told them that he admired Roddie for the way he led: “He never threw his rank around ... and was a man of great courage.” Tanner told Yad Vashem that they were all aware at the time that the Germans were murdering Jews. They therefore understood that the order to separate the Jews from the other POWs meant that the Jews were in great danger. “Master Sergeant Edmonds,” he said, “at the risk of his immediate death, defied the Germans with the unexpected consequence that the Jewish prisoners were saved.”

Another of the Jewish POWs saved by Edmonds, Paul Stern, explained that when the 422nd Regiment got to Bad Orb, lower-ranking Jewish POWs from another stalag were in fact sent to slave labor camps where many of them died. Stern, who had learned German in college, could understand what the Germans had in store for the POWs. He also stated that the conversation between the German commandant, Maj. Siegmann, and Roddie Edmonds was in English. “Although seventy years have passed,” Stern claimed, “I can still hear the words he said to the German camp commander.” Finally, Hank Freedman, another POW rescued by Edmonds, told Chris that his father’s faith impacted and emboldened all his men, whether they were believers or not.

On Jan. 27, 2016, in a ceremony at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., attended by then President of the United States Barack Obama, Master Sgt. Edmonds’ son accepted the Righteous medal and the certificate of honor awarded to his father. Roddie Edmonds has twice been nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal “in recognition of his heroic actions during World War II.” So far, no action has been taken. But Chris’ hope has hardly been extinguished. He wants his father to be awarded the Medal of Honor, our country’s “highest award for valor in action against an enemy force.” The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous’ short but powerful documentary on Edmonds, “Following the Footsteps of My Father,” would offer a great deal of compelling evidence.

In the JFR’s documentary, we learn that Roddie Edmonds might very well have also saved the lives of hundreds of his men by refusing to evacuate the camp where they were being held. The Germans knew the end was near and they did not want to be around when the American soldiers arrived. They told Edmonds to get ready to evacuate. Edmonds told the German officers that his men were too weak to evacuate the camp and begin a long march. The French POWs moved out along with the British POWs. The German officers told Edmonds that the camp was his: They were leaving.

Shortly thereafter, on March 30, 1945, Stalag IXA was liberated by American forces. It was the second day of Passover. As Sonny Fox remarked: “It was the day of our freedom.”

[sigurdjarlson]

So according to movie canon Khadgar was given to the Kirin Tor at 6

I usually treat his movie backstory, at least that part, as somewhat canon because we know nothing about it in the books/game. It does get a little muddled though because they obviously change the plot and other things in the movie. (In TLG he doesn’t run away he’s sent away, as far as we know they never intended for him to be guardian they just wanted him gone, etc) but I do take the “given to the Kirin Tor” as canon.

Khadgar has never mentioned a family in game or in the book. And it just seems like a backstory that fits him. They obviously had to look at the character they already have and create a backstory for him for the movie so I’ll assume it also applies to game Khadgar (like how Taria is canon now as well. Although I’m not if Varian’s sister Adriall in the films is ever confirmed canon)

I always wonder why his parents gave him up? His family. Because we know he HAD one. He mentions his parents, having brothers and sisters, etc. He’s not an orphan at six at the very least.

But he never saw any of them again after they gave him up.

Maybe he couldn’t control his magic and the Kirin Tor was like “we’ll take him he’s dangerous” or his family couldn’t handle it so they gave him up?

But then they could still..visit? Presumably? Write letters? Somehow stay in contact with him? They didn’t have to abandon him completely. He says he never saw them again.

Which leaves us with a couple options

(1) the Kirin Tor doesn’t want them having contact so it was a part of their agreement with his parents. (It would distract him after all and I do think they probably discourage attachments in. Jedi like fashion lmao)

(2) I’ve seen in fics where they’re a very poor family and the Kirin Tor literally pays them because they get wind of this very powerful magical child. Which is a horrifying thought but..not entirely without merit. I could see it. Maybe his parents thought it was the best thing for him? He’d have a better life this way?

3) they simply were shitty parents and didn’t care

But as for the Kirin Tor I can see why they wanted him, what better to make the perfect mage (or guardian in movie verse) then to get a child that has the makings of a powerful mage and raise him themselves? (It doesn’t exactly work out but I doubt they expected him to rebel)

They surely thought they could mold him whatever they want.

Also we know Khadgar has a habit of snooping for information. It’s why they sent him off to Karazhan in TLG. I have a hard time believing at some point he wouldn’t have tried to figure out why they gave him up either? Or at least find out what happened to them? Something.

Which implies..The Kirin Tor doesn’t tell him why? So why are they keeping that a secret from him? To prevent him from having obligations outside the Kirin Tor? I doubt it’s for his own emotional well-being lmao. They magically brand 11 year old kids and put the weight of the world on their shoulders in the movie.

Going back to the movie scene where he confides in Lothar and Garona, he doesn’t say why exactly they gave him up (or at least cut contact with him) so either he’s keeping that to himself or he just doesn’t know.

He says something about it being seen as a great honor to be given to the Kirin Tor which okay sure maybe but it still doesn’t explain why he never sees them again? Most good parents wouldn’t accept never seeing their kid again just like that even if it was “a great honor.”

(I got the sense he doesn’t know from the way he acts in that scene. He acts like well..an abandoned kid wondering why he was abandoned)

(Lothar muttering “well..that was cheerful” or whatever after Garona and Khadgar tell their tragic backstories still makes me laugh)

Idk it’s just interesting and so damn sad either way.

My poor boy 😭

[rosereview]

Top 9 Favourite MaasVerse Couples

I did a favourites list of couples in the Shadowhunter universe last year that was really fun so I thought I would do one with all of the couples from Sarah J. Maas’ universe, especially after reading A Court of Silver Flames (review coming soon). Because of all that and given that Sarah J. Maas never fails to be sneaky with which guy the main character ends up with in the end, this favourites list will be full of spoilers. So like before, the top couples all are couples that for sure end up together, while the honorable mentions are couples that I like or ones that I think would be good together or who I want to be together. 

Honorable Mentions

To start off we have character couples that I love but don’t know enough about to be super invested.

Amren & Varian- from ACOTAR. I just think that they are so cute and I love Amren and I’m so happy that she has someone who is there for her. I also think Varian is an interesting character who is the perfect balance for Amren’s intensity, also at all the family gatherings with Varian there, he just feels like the typical come-home-for-christmas-with-a-guy boyfriend who the family gets to know, but also plays around with because he’s new (don’t know if that makes sense, but if you’ve ever had a sibling or cousin bring a partner home for the holidays to a joking-around type family then you’ll get it).

Kallias & Viviane- from ACOTAR. Also don’t know a lot about them, but for the few interactions we see of them, I think they are super cute! The other courts always intrigued me, but especially the Winter Court because I love snow and I also love how close Kallias, Viviane, Rhysand, and Morrigan are (especially Viviane and Mor). I just think it’s so nice that they have other friends in other courts, and again they just seem sweet. 

Juniper Andromeda & Fury Axtar- from Crescent City. We only find out that they are a couple near the end, but from the few times we see them together, I think Juniper and Fury are adorable. Fury is just that super badass bitch that I love to see vulnerable in a couple. I just like seeing that badass girls can still have a very raw and human side, especially when they are with their significant other. Also Juniper was always a favourite minor character throughout the book because she’s such a good friend to Bryce. I can’t wait to see more of them as a couple in the next books!

Next I have people who I want to end up together:

Ruhn Danaan & Hypaxia Enador- from Crescent City. I thought Ruhn and the mediwitch had a great amount of chemistry, and when it was revealed that she was actually the young Queen Hypoxia of the witches, I was so excited! I feel like her and Ruhn will end up together, and because I love Ruhn and just want to see him happy, I think that the two of them as a couple would be great!

Morrigan & Emerie- from ACOTAR (more specifically ACOSF). When Emerie saw Mor in the latest book, I giggled so hard! I think the two of them would be adorable and it’s high time that Mor got a new love interest who will make her happy. (I also really want Emerie to be happy now that I’ve gotten to know her more as a character, and I do think the two of them would work really well together!)

Elain & Lucien // Azriel & Gwyneth- from ACOTAR. This next one I won’t talk a lot about because I’m saving it for the review for ACOSF, but just so you know what side of the debate I’m on, I really do think Lucien and Elain would be good together if Elain gave him a chance, and now since reading the special edition short story about Azriel at the end of ACOSF, I ship Azriel and Gwyn together. (Although I’ll honestly be happy with whoever ends up together as long as all the characters are happy!)

Nyx & Unborn Child of Rowaelin- from ACOTAR and Throne of Glass. I saw this post one day of someone shipping Nyx (Rhys and Feyre’s son), and the unborn daughter of Rowan and Aelin, I fangirled so hard! No matter if Rowan and Aelin have a girl or boy first, I already ship them so hard with Nyx. We already know that Nyx would have been born during the time of the war at the end of Kingdom of Ash (because Aelin fell through the worlds and saw pregnant Feyre and Rhys standing during Winter Solstice) so if Aelin and Rowan had a child not long after, they would be close to the same age, and because of that moving between worlds moment, we know that’s it’s possible for the two kids to meet one day. (Also I have a theory that what happens in the Crescent City books will tie into the possibility of world jumping because it’s already talked about in there how most species in Crescent City came from different worlds, so yay!) I know that this is all just wishful thinking, but I think that would be the cutest thing Nyx being together with Rowaelin’s child! Let me believe what I want to.

9. Nesryn Faliq & Sartaq

This list was so hard to make and I’m sad that these two are so low on it, but I just couldn’t get them any higher! At any rate, I loved these two during Tower of Dawn and when they ended up together I was ecstatic! First of all, I think Sartaq would be an amazing Khagan of the Southern Continent and he’s honestly the only real good one of his siblings. Him and Nesryn leading the Southern Continent will be amazing and I love the way that they bonded over riding the ruks. I do wish that we got to see them even more, but considering all of the characters and storylines, I was still satisfied with the development of their relationship and themselves as characters (just want more content with anything from the Throne of Glass series because I know it’s over and that makes me sad!)

8. Dorian Havilliard & Manon Blackbeak

Next is another couple that I love so much but had to put lower on the list because there are just too many great couples in the Sarah J. Maas universe! I never thought that Dorian and Aelin (or Celaena at the time) would be good together, but was absolutely heartbroken when Sorsha died. BUT that death did lead to so much sexual tensions between Dorian and Manon that it was all worth it! I love these two because, again, it is so nice to see a badass female character also have a loving side, but also seems pretty “dominant” (for a lack of better word) in the relationship. I think Manon and Dorian are so great together, and their banter and cute nicknames (Princeling and Witchling) just gave me life! Even though the end of Kingdom of Ash left me completely shattered, I was very happy that Dorian and Manon still had each other, and I think the two of them will be great monarchs in their separate kingdoms, but also together.

7. Elide Lochan & Lorcan Salvaterre

Another amazing couple from the Throne of Glass series! Even though Lorcan was kind of an asshole when you first met him, when he and Elide had their whole adventure together, I fell in love with the two (especially Lorcan). I love a good “bad” boy “good” girl trope, and Lorcan and Elide were definitely that perfect fit. The way that Lorcan cared so much for Elide while they had to travel together was really cute, and I was so happy to see how Lorcan softened up and Elide became strong as well. It was nice that they still weren’t the typical weak girl, always rescued by the strong Fae. Lorcan and Elide made each other show the world their other sides as well. 

6. Nesta Archeron & Cassian

This couple I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about but most of that will be in my ACOFS review coming soon, but for now I will just say that I LOVE them! We always knew that Nesta and Cassian were probably going to end up together, but still their journey as individuals and a couple was so fantastic to read. The way that the two of them helped each other out in terms of mental health while still being the individually strong characters was so good to see. Their sexual tension was great to read, and I loved the way that their whole story arc developed through the book.

5. Chaol Westfall & Yrene Towers

Again, I loved these two so much probably because they had their own book practically dedicated to them. I loved Chaol in the first two books from the Throne of Glass series, but like most people, I lost that love as the series went on. Going into Tower of Dawn I was really worried that I wasn’t going to like it because of Chaol being the central character, but like always, Sarah J. Maas writes such good redemption and flawed character arcs that it was impossible not to love Chaol again, and the woman who brought the light back to him. Similarly, I really liked Yrene when we first met her in The Assassin’s Blade stories (The Assassin and the Healer), and I was so happy that we got to learn more about her in the whole Tower of Dawn book. The way that Chaol and Yrene went from hating each other to falling in love was done absolutely perfectly, and by Kingdom of Ash when we found out that Yrene was pregnant, I almost threw my book in happiness, I was so excited. This couple is well deserving of the number five spot!

4. Aedion Ashryver & Lysandra

Now we have another favourite couple from the Throne of Glass series (that series is just so big and full of characters, most of the people on this list are from there). I really loved the idea of Aedion and Lysandra from the beginning when we start to see Lysandra play a bigger role in the series. Again, it’s the banter between these two characters that gets me every time, and the way they make fun of each other while also flirting is just so great to read. I was a little worried about what was going to happen to their relationship in Kingdom of Ash, especially since everything was going so well in Empire of Storms and then ended so badly at the end, but knowing that they got married almost immediately after the war was exactly what I needed. Also I LOVED Aedion with Evangeline and all their interactions, which was also why I knew that Aedion had to end up with Lysandra. Every time a kid comes into the picture I feel like I ship that couple just a bit harder. The three of them make the most perfect family. 

3. Bryce Quinlan & Hunt Athalar

I know that technically we don’t know for sure if these two will be endgame, but if they aren’t I will sob and never forgive SJM! I love these two with all my heart and the only reason that they are in number three (and not higher!) is because we only have one book with them. I would not be surprised if they went up higher on my list after the next books come out. First of all, their sexual tension is fabulous. Second, I just adored how they both helped each other health through the book  and how they went through so much together emotionally. I feel like that made the strongest foundation for a relationship, and if that foundation breaks, I think I might just dig myself a hole and stay there. While both are strong characters separately, they are just so much better together! Every scene of them was like magic, and they were the whole reason I could stop reading HOEAB. I need the next books so badly, just because I need to see them together more!

2. Aelin Ashryver Galathynius & Rowan Whitethorn

Finally at the top two, and this decision was probably the hardest one I’ve ever had to make. I love both Rowaelin and Feysand so much, this was impossible to decide, but it came down to the fact that out of every SJM book, A Court of Mist and Fury is my favourite. That book is a f*cking masterpiece and the reason for that is because of Feysand. So Rowaelin is second. Aelin and Rowan are amazing characters individually, but like the reason for all of these favourite couples, the journey that they go on together and help each other through, is what makes them so special and so strong as a couple. Rowan helped Aelin in a way that Chaol or Dorian never could, and Aelin in turn helped Rowan through centuries of pain just because they understood each other so well. The best and strongest part of all these couples is that they became friends first, before going into a romantic relationship (except for Nessian a couple others, but you know what I mean). Being able to create a strong bond before anything physical is so important with these characters, especially helping them get through so much trauma, and ultimately seeing that growth on the page connects you so much more with them as a couple. Seeing these characters go through so much together was really what made me love them to this degree (which is a high degree) which is also why I’m having a hard time believing that their stories are done. I will always need more Rowaelin content. 

1. Feyre Archeron & Rhysand

And now we’re at the top. Like I just said, this was a hard decision, but it also feels so right. Feyre and Rhysand had an amazing development as a couple through the books, and A Court of Mist and Fury is definitely my favourite SJM book precisely because we see their relationship develop. I am beyond happy that we aren’t at the end of the ACOTAR world and we get to see more Feysand in the years and books to come, because I am not ready at all to say goodbye yet. Just thinking of Feyre and Rhys’ lives now (especially with Nyx) brings a smile to my face, and I think that it's amazing how an author and a book can do that. Both Feyre and Rhysand’s characters are so strong and their journeys were so heart wrenching to follow but so worth it at the same time. There is really nothing bad I can say about this couple, besides the fact that I want to thank Sarah J. Maas for writing such great characters, and I can’t wait to see more to come!

Thanks to anyone who read to the end. I know it was a long ramble again. Stay tuned for my ACOSF review coming soon as well.

Until next time!

~Rose Reviews

[disneymiraculousefandomsblog]

Hey guys! So this is a one shot story request by @whitecatindisguise of Varian and Selena (My OC) spending the day together. I know this is super late but I finally got inspired to write again, thank you so much for your patience I hope you enjoy/like it. Comments, feedbacks, and constructive criticism is welcome Enjoy!

Alchemy 101

It was a beautiful day in Corona, Varian had just finished helping his dad with the farming work. Varian was rushing to get everything done because a friend he hasn’t seen in awhile was visiting Corona and he was exited to spend the day and show her around Corona.

“Hey Dad, I finished all my chores is there anything else you need help with before I go to the castle?” Varian asked. Quirin looks around and sees everything done, he was surprised at how fast his son did the work.

“Everything looks great son, I think I can handle the rest. I know how anxious you are to get to the castle, I know your friend is visiting today.” Quirin stated.

“Yes she is, her name Is Selena she is a princess from the kingdom Agave, She was the one that gave me the box of chocolates I let you try. I’m going to show her all of Corona since she wasn’t able to see it the first time she came heh. Varian mind flashed back to the time Lady Cain tried to steal the castle Jewels and blame Selena and her family, not to mention being kidnapped as well. Varian snapped himself out of his thoughts, “I’m going to show her how nice Corona is, and how friendly the people are.” Varian said.

Quirin smiled, he was happy his so finally had a friend, He knew Varian didn’t have many friends other than the Princess and Eugene. “ That’s great son, you can leave I can do the rest of the work just be careful okay” Quirin said.

“Thanks Dad I will.” Varian answered waving goodbye to his father. A few minutes passed and Varian finally made it to the castle, as soon as he entered the castle he saw Rapunzel and Eugene standing in the entrance waiting for Selena and her Family to arrive. “Hey Eugene! Hello Princess! I’m not late am I?” Varian asked.

“Hey Varian! No your just In time, Selena and her family should be arriving any minute” Rapunzel answered giving Varian a hug. Varian smiled and hugged back, he knew Rapunzel loved giving hugs and no matter how many times she gave him a hug he still wasn’t used to it, not yet anyway.

“Thank you Rapunzel.” Varian said with a smile. Varian turned around as he heard the couch approach, he saw one of the guards open the carriage door and allowed the royal family to walk out.

“Welcome back to Corona its so lovely to see you all again!” Rapunzel said greeting them with a bow.

Selena was the first one to walk up to Rapunzel and hug her. “Hello Princess it’s so great to see you again too!” Selena said hugging her. Rapunzel smiled and returned the hug, “It’s great to see you too Selena! I’m so happy your family decided to come back and visit us after the last visit”. Rapunzel said with a small chuckle.

“Yes that was quiet an adventure”. Selena said with a small laugh. Selena turned to where Varian was standing and walked over to him, “Hi Varian! It’s nice to see you again.” Selena said with a hint of nervousness in her voice.

“Hey Selena, it’s nice to see you too. I’m glad you and your family decided to come back and give Corona another chance heh” Varian said sheepishly.

“Why don’t you all come inside, and we can talk about the trading with each others kingdoms. I know Corona could use some of the products you have and we are more than happy to share some of our stuff with the kingdom of Agave.” Rapunzel said with a smile.

“Thank you Princess Rapunzel, we are honored to be trading with Corona. After all the hospitality and welcome you showed us the first time we came, we knew Corona was the place we wanted to trade with.” Queen Luisa stated with smile.

“Aww thank you Queen Luisa that’s very sweet of you to say. I am personally am excited to be trading with you, I love your desserts and I know once Corona tastes them it will be a new favorite amongst the people of Corona.” Rapunzel said.

Selena was standing beside her parents and smiled at Rapunzel statement. “Thank you Rapunzel! I’m really excited too, because now we can come visit more than once a year.” Selena said with a smile.

“Thank you Selena, I’m so happy you like Corona. We would love to have you visit more often, your always welcomed.” Rapunzel said smiling softly.

“Thank you Princess Rapunzel” Selena said giving Rapunzel a hug.

Rapunzel smiles and returns the hug, “How about you and Varian spend the day together while your parents and I sign this treaty, what do you say?” Rapunzel asked giving her a encouraging look.

Selena smiled and looked over to Varian “I would like that, only if Varian wants to of course?” Selena asked with a small smile.

“Of course, i could give you a tour of Corona because you didn’t get a chance too the first time you came heh.” Varian answered with a sheepish smile.

“I would like that Thank you Varian” Selena answered with a soft smile.

“Great! Why don’t you two get going and will see you later, and be careful.” Rapunzel said.

“Thank you Princess we will.” Varian said with a nod.

Rapunzel smiled and nods with agreement, Rapunzel, Eugene, Luisa,and Antonio began walking away to the throne room leaving the two kids behind. Varian and Selena stayed awkwardly quiet for a few moments until Selena made the first comment. “So where should we go first?” Selena asked.

“Well we could start with the market, i need to buy some alchemical supplies that I’m missing heh” Varian said rubbing the back of his neck.

“Alchemical Supplies? You mean the stuff you use to make those cool bombs that we used to stop Lady Cain and her gang?” Selena asked.

“Yes I need certain chemicals and supplies to make them and replace the ones we use heh” Varian answer with a small chuckle.

“Varian umm, do you think you could show me how you make your alchemy balls? I am actually learning how to use alchemy back home, and since your an expert I thought i could ask you for some pointers and maybe show me how to make certain bombs?..” Selena asked nervously gazing around.

“Ooh your learning Alchemy? That’s Awesome Selena, sure i could teach you a few things. I know how it can be when you’re barley starting to use Alchemy heh.” Varian said with a small chuckle as he remembers all the times he caused explosions in his house.

“Thank you Varian, with you teaching me i know I’ll get the hang of this Alchemy.” Selena said elbowing him playfully.

Varian chuckled rubbing his arm,“Your welcome, Will head to the market and show you around Corona. Then we could head back to my lab and teach you some of my Alchemical solution heh.” Varian said proudly.

Selena stifled a laugh, “Okay sounds great! Lead the way Alchemist” Selena said with a small laugh. Varian chuckled at Selena statement and started walking out of the castle Selena walking right behind him.

“The town and market place are not that far, it just takes us a couple of minutes to walk there.” Varian said turning to Selena.

“Cool I don’t mind walking, Back home we don’t have a lot of transportation like you guys do so most of us just walk to get to the places we need to go.” Selena said walking right beside him.

“Ooh really? Heh well I prefer walking too. I usually walk from old Corona where i live with my dad, to the Corona marketplace to get my supplies. Sometimes when you just want to clear your head, walking is better than taking a carriage or riding a horse heh.” Varian said.

“Yeah i know what you mean, sometimes being a princess can be overwhelming back home so i like to take long walks to a nearby garden and just clear my head from all the royal duties I’m going to have to do when I’m Queen.” Selena said with a sigh.

Varian noticed something was bothering Selena, he was not great at comforting but Selena was his friend and he wanted to help as best he could. “Selena is something wrong?” Varian asked.

“I’m okay, its just my mom and dad are the Queen and King of my kingdom and they do so much to keep our kingdom and our people safe. Everyone loves my Mom and Dad and how they rule our kingdom, I’m just worried that i wont be as good of a ruler like them.. i just want to make them proud..”Selena said with a sad tone.

Varian didn’t know what to say, he didn’t have experience with what Selena was going through. He knew Rapunzel was probably the best person to give advice about the princess things, but he knew how it felt to want to make your parents proud. He did and still does everything he can to make his dad proud.

“Selena i know how it feels to want to make your parents proud. Ever since i was a kid all I wanted to do was make my Father proud of me, i still do.” Varian said putting a hand on her shoulder. “Selena I don’t know your parents very well but i know that they are proud of you, and i know you’ll be a great ruler just like your parents.” Varian said with a soft smile.

“Thank you Varian.” Selena said with a soft smile.

“Your welcome, what are friends for heh.” Varian said with a small chuckle.

Selena smiled, she was glad to have Varian as a friend, even if they rarely saw each other she felt like she could be herself around him and not feel judged. Selena snapped herself from her thoughts when Varian spoke.

“This is the town of Corona, and the market where i buy my Alchemy stuff is right Over there.” Varian said pointing to a small store on the corner.

“Wow Varian I didn’t think Corona was this beautiful, i love the colors, Everyone seem nice and happy.” Selena said looking around the town.

“Heh yeah everyone Is nice, some people say that Corona is the nicest kingdom to visit heh.” Varian said with a small chuckle.

Selena gave a small laugh, “Well it certainly looks that way, everyone has been so welcoming. I’m sure it’s normal when you have Rapunzel as their princess.” Selena said with a smile.

“Yes Rapunzel has really changed Corona when she became Princess, she has made Corona a better place you could say heh.” Varian said seeing Monty and Atilla sweet shop.

“Hey Selena, you have to try some of Montey and Atilla desserts. This is my favorite place besides the store that sells my Alchemy supplies heh.” Varian said stopping in front of the sweet shop.

“I have heard that Monty and Atilla make the best sweets in Corona. I would love to try one of their desserts.” Selena stated.

“Great! ill buy this time, since you gave me those box of chocolate heh.” Varian said opening the door for Selena.

“Thank you Varian, I’m glad you liked them.” Selena said with a smile walking inside.

Varian walked inside right behind Selena, They began to look around. Selena was in awe at all the amazing desserts and sweets that were on display, there were cakes that looked like the Castle. Cookies that had the Corona symbol on them, and cupcakes that had the Corona colors and flag. She saw a short man with a white Apron on and a welcoming smile approach them, “Hello Children! Welcome to Monty’s and Atilla’s Sweet Shop, is there anything i can get for you two?” Monty asked.

“Hey Uncle Monty! This is my friend Selena, this is her first time here.” Varian said introducing her.

“What a pleasure to meet you Selena! Well since its your first time here, i suggest you try our best seller on me.” Monty said with a smile.

“This is our famous strawberry and chocolate Lollipop.” Monty said grabbing the pop and handing it to her.

“Thank you Monty! This looks delicious!” Selena said licking it.

“Wow this is really good! Strawberry and Chocolate are my favorite, Thank you Monty!” Selena said taking a few more licks.

“I’m glad you liked it, Varian I’m guessing you want your usual?” Monty asked Varian.

“Yes please Uncle Monty.” Varian answered.

Monty grabbed a rainbow swirly pop from a jar and handed it to varian. “Here you go Kiddo, One Rainbow swirly pop.” Monty stated with a smile.

“Thank you Uncle Monty.” Varian said taking a few licks.

“You like swirly pops too?” Selena asked Varian.

“Yes, they have always been my favorite since i was a kid heh.” Varian answered.

Selena smiled and continued to finish her lollipop, “Thank you Monty your desserts are amazing!” Selena said thanking him.

“Yes thank you Uncle Monty.” Varian said.

“Well we better head out if we want you to finish the tour.” Varian suggested.

Selena agreed and waved goodbye to Monty. Varian gave a thankful goodby wave and both kids walked out happily eating their lollipops.

After a few minutes of walking they finally made it to the market that had all the alchemy supplies. Selena and Varian walk in and see the owner of the shop organizing a shelf with merchandise. “Hey Ben! I wanted to introduce to you my friend Selena, she is from another kingdom. We came to buy some alchemy supplies,” Varian stated.

Ben turns around and sees his favorite customer, “Varian its great to see you! Back so soon Eh?.” Ben said with a smile.

“Heh yea, i need some chemical solutions and a few other things.” Varian answered.

“Well i have all your usual chemicals and materials you always use right over here.” Ben said signaling them to follow him.

Varian and Selena follow him to a shelf that was full of different Chemicals and ingredients to make different types of solutions. “Here you are, we also have a few new compounds that i think you would like Varian.” Ben said.

“Thank you Ben, my friend Selena is learning alchemy too heh.” Varian said with a smile.

“That’s great! Hello Selena, my name is Ben its a pleasure to meet you.” Ben said shaking her hand.

“Thank you, its nice to meet you too.” Selena said with a smile.

“Since you are starting to learn alchemy for the first time i have a special kit that can help you. I give this to every new person that is trying to learn alchemy.” Ben said grabbing a alchemy kit.

“This is a beginners kit, it has everything you need to start learning alchemy.” Ben stated adding the box to Selena.

Selena grabs the box and analyzes it, she sees that the kit came with a pair of goggles, a few beakers, a dropper, gloves, and a few chemicals that are used to make a bath bomb. “Thank you Ben!.” Selena said enthusiastically.

“Your welcome! I believe you will be a pro alchemist in no time, especially if you have Varian teaching you. He is the only one in Corona that knows more about alchemy than anyone else here.” Ben said.

Varian chuckles sheepishly at the compliment, “Thank you Ben, but I’m not an expert just yet heh.” Varian said with a flattered smile.

“Varian i think your a great alchemist, you saved Corona lots of times using alchemy. You used it to help stop Lady Cain and her gang, you cleaned the castle faster than anyone else using your alchemy. I saw how well you work with alchemy and what it can do, it inspired me to want to learn alchemy too.” Selena said with a smile.

Varian tried his best not to look flustered at Selena compliment “Thank you Selena, I’m glad i inspired you to learn alchemy heh.” Varian said with a small smile.

Varian began grabbing a few chemicals and compounds and other materials he needed and added them to a box. Varian began to show Selena what compounds he would use and what they were used for. Once Varian had everything he needed, he went to the register and paid for the stuff. “Thank you Ben, ill be back next week.” Varian said waving goodbye before grabbing the box of materials.

“I’m glad i could help, Good luck with your alchemy lessons Selena.” Ben said waving goodbye to Varian and Selena.

“Thank you Ben!” Selena said waving goodbye.

“I think we got everything we needed to make a few alchemy balls heh.” Varian said.

“Great! I can’t wait to start working!,” Selena said with excitement.

Varian smiled, he didn’t think anyone would get excited as he did when he was learning and doing alchemy. “We have to head back to the castle because that’s where my lab is heh.” Varian said turning to the direction the castle was.

“Cool! It’s amazing that Rapunzel gave you your own personal lab inside the castle. My parents tell me to do my alchemy experiments outside because they always explode making a huge mess in the castle.” Selena said with a small laugh.

“Oh yeah Ive been there heh, I’ve blown up a lot of things in my village when i was working with alchemy heh.” Varian said with a chuckle remembering all the times he blew up and caused damage to his village.

“Really? You blew up things too?” Selena asked.

“Yes many times, I wasn’t an expert at alchemy when i was barely starting. I made lots of mistakes and blew up a lot of things heh.” Varian answered.

“Wow did you ever get discouraged when your solutions didn’t work? I get mad when my solutions don’t work.” Selena stated.

“Well yes i did get discouraged many times, back then no one supported me doing alchemy, especially you father. It was hard at times because I didn’t have support from anyone, well except Ruddiger. He has been with me all the time, he even helps me make the compounds and solutions heh.” Varian said.

“Who’s Ruddiger? I didn’t know you had an assistant?” Selena asked confused..

“Oh right you haven’t met my pet Raccoon/assistant Ruddiger yet. He’s usually eating or sleeping inside my lab heh, you can meet him once we get to my lab.” Varian stated.

After a few more steps they had arrived to the castle, Varian and Selena made their way to the corridor where his lab was located. Varian put the box down and opened the door to his lab, “This is my Lab heh” Varian said moving to the side so Selena could go in first. Varian put the box down on the table, Selena kept walking her eyes darting to everywhere.

“Wow Varian this is a really cool Lab, its way bigger than the one i have.” Selena said in awe.

“Thank you! Rapunzel and Eugene gave it to me since the lab i have at home is to small heh.” Varian said unpacking the box.

As Selena was about to make her way to the table she saw a gray furry animal zoom by her feet and jump on the table where Varian was. “Selena this is Ruddiger my pet/assistant. He is the one that helps me, and i taught him how to make the best hot cocoa.” Varian said petting the Raccoon on the head.

“Aww Varian he’s so cute!” Selena said petting Ruddiger.

Ruddiger gave a smile to Selena and scampered around Varian neck, “Thanks! So you ready to learn how to make your first alchemy bomb?” Varian asked with a small smile.

“Yes i am” Selena said pulling out her goggles and gloves from the kit Ben gave her.

“Great so the first one we are going to make is a smoke bomb, first you grab the potassium nitrate and add 3 spoons into the bleaker. Then we add 2 spoons of polysaccharides in as well, then we turn up the heat the and mix it until the ingredients melt. Once the chemicals are melted you pour it into a glass ball and close it up and there you have your smoke bomb heh.” Varian said showing the smoke bomb he had in his hand to Selena.

“Wow Varian you make it look so easy.” Selena said.

“That’s because it is easy, now It’s your turn to try.” Varian said handing the materials to Selena.

Selena took a deep breath and followed the same steps she saw Varian do, “Okay so i add 3 spoons of potassium nitrate into the bleaker, then i add 2 spoons of polysaccharides, then i turn up the heat and mix it until the chemicals melt.” Selena recited to Varian as she began to put in the ingredients.

Varian gave her a thumbs up telling her she was correct. Selena kept mixing the solution till the ingredients melted, she then grabbed a alchemy ball and carefully poured the solution inside and closed the lid. Selena put her goggles on top of her head to get a better look at the smoke bomb she made. “Did i do it right?” Selena asked Varian.

“Yes you did it perfectly Selena, great Job!” Varian complimented her.

“Yay thank you Varian! So whats next?” Selena asked excitedly.

“Well now we can do a trap bomb, its the one i used on Rapunzel and Cassandra the first time i met them heh.”Varian said sheepishly at the memory.

“You trapped Princess Rapunzel and her Lady in Waiting?” Selena asked,

“Well it wasn’t on purpose it was more so to keep intruders out like Ruddiger, because he kept stealing things right buddy?.” Varian said looking at Ruddiger.

Ruddiger gave a sheepish smile, He knew Varian and him had come a long way since the first time they met.

“I see, well I’m sure this trap bomb will certainly come in handy for me.” Selena said with a soft chuckle.

“Heh yeah it certainly does help you in some difficult situations heh.” Varian said with a small laugh.

Selena put the smoke bomb down on the side of the table getting ready to make her next alchemy bomb. “Okay to make a sticky trap bomb first we use- Varian stopped mid sentence when he saw Selena smoke bomb begin to roll and fall on the floor. “Selena look out!” Varian said trying to grab the smoke bomb before it fell to the floor.

Varian wasn’t fast enough and the bomb hit the floor covering the entire lab with white smoke, Selena and Varian began to cough and shut their eyes unable to see with all the smoke surrounding the room. After a few moments the smoke began to reside, “Selena you okay?” Varian asked shooing away the rest of the smoke.

“Yes I’m fine, are you okay?” Selena asked letting out a cough.

“Yes I’m fine.” Varian answered.

Once Selena could and she opened her eyes she couldn’t help but stifle a laugh when she saw Varian’s Hair completely puffed up and frizzed, Varian gave Selena a puzzled look as to why she was laughing.

“Selena what’s so funny?” Varian asked confused.

“I’m sorry Varian I don’t mean to laugh but you hair its..” Selena stopped mid sentence letting out a soft laugh.

varian turned to the Mirror he had and saw his hair was super puffed up and frizzy as if a storm has just hit his hair. Varian slowly began to let out a small laugh when he saw how silly his hair looked. “Heh i guess i can see why your laughing, my hair looks like it went through a storm heh.” Varian said letting out a laugh.

“I’m sorry Varian, I didn’t think a smoke bomb could have done that to someone hair.” Selena said composing herself.

“I didn’t either, that was a new effect. I wonder why though?..” Varian said pondering.

“Well I guess we can figure it out later, how about we continue our lessons heh.” Varian said with a slight chuckle.

Selena nodded in agreement. “To make a sticky trap bomb first you need 5 spoonfuls of Mucilage, 1/2 cup of water, and 1/2 cup of baking soda. We add all the ingredients into a beaker and turn up the heat and let it infuse with each other, once its infused you grab an alchemy ball and poor the solution in and close the lid.” Varian explained showing Selena the sticky trap bomb.

“Wow that amazing!” Selena said enthusiastically.

“Now you try.” Varian said.

Selena grabbed the materials she needed and began the same process Varian did. “I add 5 spoonfuls of Mucilage, 1/2 cups of water, and 1/2 cup of baking soda. Then i pour them into the beaker and turn up the heat, then let it infuse with each other. Once it’s infused I grab the alchemy ball and pour the solution inside.” Selena recited as she began to put the ingredients in. Once the ingredients were infused she grabbed the alchemy ball and poured the solution inside and closed the lid.

“Like this Varian?” Selena asked showing the bomb to Varian.

“That looks right Selena, Great Job!” Varian said giving her a thumbs up.

“Selena check this out.” Varian said grabbing his stick trap bomb.

Varian began to toss it up in the air, he dribble the bomb up and down around his legs and feet. Until the bomb finally exploded when it slipped from his hands trapping his feet in purple goop. “Guess that wasn’t such a great idea heh” Varian said embarrassed.

Selena giggled as she saw Varian trapped in his own sticky trap, “Did you want me to get you out?” Selena asked with a small laugh.

“Yes please heh, the solution is right over there in my bag.” Varian said pointing to where the cure was.

Selena grabbed the alchemy ball and tossed it on his feet freeing him. “Thank you Selena.” Varian said super embarrassed.

“Your welcome, I have to admit those moved were pretty cool.” Selena said elbowing him playfully.

“Heh thanks, but remind me next time to not do that heh.” Varian said with a soft laugh.

“Shall we continue?” Selena asked.

“Of course, just wait till I show you the next one we’re making.”Varian said grabbing some more materials.

Selena and Varian continued to make a variety of alchemy bombs, some exploded causing them to get stuck, have different colored hair, their face being pained different colors. Selena and Varian continued to make alchemy balls till the day was over.

“This was fun! thank you for teaching me how to make alchemy bombs, now that I’m more familiar with the chemicals and compounds I’ll be able to do them at home.” Selena said with a smile.

“Yes this was fun heh, I’m glad i was able to help you. I know you’ll be a great alchemist one day heh.” Varian said with a encouraging smile.

“Thank you Varian,I couldn’t have done it without you.” Selena said giving Varian a hug.

Varian was stunned at the surprised, “Your welcome heh, that’s what friends are fire heh.” Varian said sheepishly returning the hug.

Selena smiled gently pulled away from the hug, “Well we better get going, I’m sure my parents and Rapunzel have signed the papers already. They wanted us to meet them in the throne room.” Selena said with a smile.

“Your right the did, they will be worried if they think we’re still outside. Selena why don’t you go to the throne room so your parents don’t get worried, I’m going to put my alchemy stuff away then I’ll meet you there.” Varian said.

“Okay I’ll see you later then.”Selena said waving goodbye.

Varian waved back and began to put his alchemy stuff away, it was a full day and he was tired but he enjoyed spending the day with Selena. “Well buddy today was certainly a day to remember heh. I’m glad we got to show Selena Corona and spend the day with her. She will make a great alchemist.”Varian said petting his pet raccoon.

Varian finished putting his stuff away, and made his way to the throne room to meet everyone. Surely this was a day Varian and Selena would remember.

The End

I really hope you enjoyed reading this heh, I stayed up till 3:00am for 3 whole days writing this because that’s when my brain gets ideas lol 😅 you comments, feedback, reblogs, constructive criticism is all most welcome. It lets us Fanfic writes who put a lot of effort into our stories know that are hard work, effort ( late nights😅) make a difference. We write so our readers can enjoy them, so please make sure to remember to always thank the writer of whatever story you read, you don’t know how much it would make the writers day heh💛 Thank you all who stayed and read this story all the way to the end💖

[bbugyu]

a dragon's kingdom

he never wanted to stop learning about you, and you never knew how much you needed him by your side.

part one | part two

wc.5009 | smut, fluff, hurt/comfort, royal au, princess!reader and knight!cheol, penelope is the best character, sex constantly, it's called the honeymoon stage, unprotected sex, lots of it, lk impreg kink?, confessions mid-coitus, oops she pukes (not during sex oh my god), food consumption, mentions of death & mental instability, lots of crying

why do i care so much about lore and names and backstory and motivation. anyways i've created an entire world if you wanna know about literally any person that is offhandedly mentioned in this fic i can give u their origin story, including he horses. this part is really story heavy but also pretty sex heavy so have fun!!! also im in love with seungcheol but what's new.

*

"this feels strange."

you hummed, pulling out a pair of pants from a drawer and holding it up to seungcheol. "what do you mean? wearing someone else's clothes?"

he shook his head no, looking around the bedroom you had brought him to with the promise of clean pants. you had gone through all the rooms, you told him, as you led him through the castle wearing a light tunic tucked into a pair of trousers. you'd collected the clothes you liked, that fit you, and brought them to the tower, but there was plenty that didn't fit your criteria, and you were pretty sure he would fit into the clothes in the third bedroom to the left of the kitchen, past the main dining hall, a room you had discovered to be a counselmen's quarters. "you've been gone for so long, but i was at the kingdom only yesterday."

you looked to him, folding the pants over your arm. "what's it like now?"

a wash of realization caught seungcheol off guard. "my god, you've missed so much."

he changed, insisting you looked the opposite direction despite the fact that you had already seen all of him only hours earlier, and you fiddled your fingers and joked about peeking, but only stole a glance when you heard him buckling a belt that had also been found in the room. you exited the couselmen's room and he helped you onto his horse, leading her down the hall in the direction you told him. you patted down calliope's black mane as she walked alongside seungcheol, listening to him describe the castle ground and all the changes that had been made in the last decade.

"the statue, in the fountain?" you nodded when he looked at you. "it's all three of you now. they added you and the queen probably six months after your disappearance."

"that doesn't sound like father."

seungcheol paused, looking up at you. "i didn't know the king personally until only a few years ago, but he's not the ruthless leader you knew him as any more. your loss changed him."

you should have been more interested in your own father, but you couldn't help the way your mind wandered to fond memories of the flowers and gardens. "are there still lilies?"

"yes, of course," he said. "one of the back gardens was planted in your honor, right by the gates. i've never seen so many colors of lilies in my life."

you were quiet for almost too long, and seungcheol looked to you, immediately noticing the tears welling up in your eyes. "does mother go there often?"

"hey, hey hey," he instantly mounted his horse behind you, wrapping his arms around you and kissing your shoulder gently. "yes. every day."

you inhaled sharply, blinking your eyes rapidly to quell the tears. "she used to love roses," you started.

"she still does," he confirmed, and you didn't even realize that you had mourned for her as though she were dead.

"there's a garden here," you continued, wiping at your eyes and rubbing the moisture away on the pants you wore, seungcheol's hands resting on your stomach as he listened to you. "it was almost dead when i found it, but i take care of the roses there. i'll show it to you later."

seungcheol nodded and pressed a kiss to your cheek, making you smile vaguely. 

"there's a stable, also," you said, sniffing your nose. "you might recognize the horses. i suppose we should bring them back with us, as well."

he faltered. "from past missions?"

"only three," you clarified, gently nudging his steed around a corner towards the kitchens. "most of them ran to the fields, but three have stayed. i've named them. one had letters carved into its armor plate, but it was damaged - i could only read valerie."

"valkyrie," seungcheol said immediately. "tan colored horse, correct? with a white diamond on her head."

you turned in his grip. "yes, exactly!"

his stomach felt heavy suddenly. "she was captain varian's steed. he trained me for years, his mission was last fall."

"i'm sorry," you said, lacing your fingers with his on your lap as you recognized his loss. you thought of a year ago, when you had found the horse. you did your best to remember who had come at that time. "though it may not be consolation, i believe he was the one penelope ran from the grounds."

seungcheol's fingers tensed between yours. "she-"

"didn't kill him," you finished. "he was a good man."

he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in relief, his forehead landing on your shoulder. "he was."

"i wasn't sure the horse was his, though i kept it in case he returned. the forests around here are deadly, but there's a village nearby, so i had hope..." you pursed your lips, thinking of how blasé you had always been about the men that failed to save you, not thinking at the time of the people they knew before they came. "i should have done more."

"you did what you could have," seungcheol reassured, his lips on your shoulder as he curled his arms tighter around you. "thank you for telling me."

you relished in the feeling of his arms around you, sighing as you let your head fall back against his shoulder. "i didn't realize how much i missed human contact."

you felt his breath on your neck when he let out a short chuckle. "i've never had it like this."

"neither have i," you said, adjusting to look him in the eye. he was only a breath away, his lips, his jaw, his neck. he had only arrived that morning, but your attachment to him could never get greater than it was now. you wondered if you glowed like he did in this moment - radiating gold in the streams of light from the afternoon sun. "i like it a lot."

a dimple showed itself on his cheek, and you smiled back at it. he kissed you gently, and your shoulders raised at the goosebumps it gave you. "i do, too," he said, running his lips across your cheek and down your neck.

"seungcheol," you sighed. "we just took a bath."

"and you smell divine," he said, smiling against your skin. you laughed at him, mostly because of his near flat out refusal to bathe with you earlier. 

"i've drawn a bath," you had said, wearing only a satin robe as you returned to the main room. "i'd be happy if you joined me."

seungcheol was laid out on your bed, blanket covering as little as it had to, an arm laid over his face as he did his best to recover his soul after you had pulled it straight out of him twice. "go ahead," he replied, fearful of what seeing your form again would do to him. "i'll make sure no one bothers you."

you laughed, crawling onto your thick mattress to bother him a bit more. "my knight in shining armor, making sure none of the inhabitants of this abandoned castle bother me while i bathe."

"anything for my princess," he said, rolling his head towards where you laid, prodding at his chest.

"anything?"

he saw the mischief in your eyes, and god, he hated how easily he fell under your intoxicating spell. but he only hated it for a moment, before you led him into your candle-lit washroom, the flames glinting off the glistening tiles of your tub and a view of the surrounding forest through sheer curtains. all he could do was sigh in resignation as you held his hand, letting the robe fall off your shoulders.

during that bath, your name sounded like a song coming from his lips, and it fell upon your blushed ears in the most delightful way. you had never even imagined what the first time hearing your name in someone else's voice in eight years would be like, but you couldn't stop replaying that moment in your mind.

"there should be apples in a basket right inside the door of the pantry," you said, pointing to a door as you lit the candles in the kitchen. seungcheol went to the door you gestured to and grabbed a few of the red fruit, biting into one. you walked over to the window and drew the curtains, letting the sun in. you usually left them open, but the rain in the evening before made you even sadder than you had already been this week. now, opening them back up, it felt like a fresh beginning. 

"i have eggs," you said, tapping your cheek, realizing you truly didn't know how to entertain guests. "lots of fruit and vegetables. there's a whole field of potatoes."

seungcheol smiled as he approached you. "whatever you want, i'm not picky. i am going to give calli some apples, though."

you nodded and smiled when he planted a kiss on your cheek, then took another bite of the apple. you watched him trot up the steps to the hall where his horse waited, and you looked around briefly before deciding to wash rice and stoke a fire.

you didn't know how to cook before you came here. you still didn't, really, just the bits of things you remembered watching the cooks in the kitchen when you and your best friend were hiding from your fathers, but it had been enough for you to learn, alone, with only a young dragon as a mentor. meat scared you still - you tried to slaughter a chicken as a seventeen year old and you were so scared of undercooking it that you had roasted it dry - but you had learned how to work with everything that popped up in the plotted fields behind the castle. with the addition of horses, you had been able to take spare jewelry you found to the village and trade for some things you needed - hay and oats, mostly, to care for them - and some things you missed, like rice and cheese. you grunted lightly as you set the heavy cast iron bowl of rice and water over a stovetop, settling the wood lid on it as seungcheol returned.

"how can i help?"

you stared at him for a moment. "you want to help?"

his eyebrows raised. "yes?"

"sorry," you said suddenly, shaking your head as you squeezed your eyes shut. "this is still weird."

he laughed, leaning against the stone wall. "take your time, princess."

"how are your knife skills?"

he pouted and shrugged. "i manage."

you laughed, walking to the pantry to retrieve some vegetables. "do you like squash? they grew like crazy this year."

you checked the rice periodically as it boiled, and you stir fried the vegetables that seungcheol chopped for you. you found another rice bowl - you had never needed more than one - and filled both with rice before frying two eggs.

"i can't believe you've been alone all this time," he said later, pulling a spoon from his mouth. "how did you learn to do all this?"

you told him about your afternoons spent in the kitchen as a child, being more of a nuisance than anything. he laughed when you told him that you had tipped over a pot of stew into the fire below, extinguishing it and creating a thick paste as the stew mixed with ash. you had gotten banished from the kitchen for a year only a few months before you were taken, but you supposed you had picked up some translatable skills during your other visits. 

he asked you about your captor, the mad king that had instilled fear in your kingdom's people with your kidnapping. you told him that king edgar was driven to madness by a cruel curse, and you met his true self only after you had arrived to his kingdom - the kingdom whose people abandoned it in fear of the dragon - where he broke down and clutched you. you reminded him of his own daughter, he had said, a beautiful princess by the name of penelope. he said he never knew what came of her, but you knew she was the one that had been cursed.

"the dragon," seungcheol started, his breath catching. no wonder you shared such a close connection with her.

you nodded. "he thought he was crazy for hearing her voice in his head. she was trying to tell him the whole time."

you were quiet when you told him that the late king's madness is what killed him, only a year after you had arrived.

it was his idea to send calliope back to the kingdom with a letter. he was positive she would make it on her own - she had made the trip several times, despite the king forbidding seungcheol from attempting to save you until now. "scouting missions," he explained when you raised an eyebrow at him, his tone unconvincing. he understood why you wished to stay, and he really could not deny the allure of living in a private castle with you for a little while, but he worried that his delayed return would make everyone assume the worst.

"i could write a letter," he said, to tell them what had happened and that you needed time to wrap some things up here, gather the things that should come back with you. "or you could, my princess, if you're hoping for a more dramatic return."

you were laying in the grass, watching the sun reflect orange against the clouds as it began to set over the horizon, using seungcheol as a pillow. you hummed, rolling to lay on your stomach and plucking a blade of grass to inspect. he watched you, and tucked your hair behind your ear as you thought. "you should write it, i think. they might come to collect us if i do. should we send her off in the morning?"

he nodded at you, his hand still on your cheek. you leaned your head into it, craving the way he held you suddenly.

there were countless days where you had lain similar to where you were now, in the grass clearing surrounded by red rose bushes, the earliest times spent sobbing until your throat was sore and your eyes swollen while you came to terms with being truly alone here. now, though, you laid with your savior and lover, and his presence alone changed the atmosphere. suddenly, these roses that were a source of painful memory for you had an air of romance to them.

"should i tell them?" you wondered aloud. "that i chose to stay all these years?"

seungcheol's thumb glided across your cheek bone. "do you think they would understand?"

your eyebrows crinkled. "you know them better than me, now," you said, ripping the grass in your fingers to pieces. "i know mother would, but i'm not sure about father."

"i think he would," he said quietly. your eyes met his. "heartbreak breeds empathy. i'm sure he would even forgive king edgar if you told him his story."

you considered that for a moment. "maybe i should write the letter, then."

with calliope in the stables, penelope flew the two of you back to the tower for the evening so that you could figure out what all to write, but it was back in that garden the next evening, laying in that same spot, where seungcheol's fingers dug into your waist as you rode him, the sky painted pink and purple behind you. your hips rolled on his, your blouse unbuttoned too low and your pants discarded somewhere they shouldn't be, and you watched his neck stretch against the green grass, a bruise from your biting the previous day showing itself directly over a bulging vein. he filled you in a way that felt new every time, and you sighed, your hands against his bare chest pushing yourself up off him, only to sink down again repeatedly.

his hands tensed on you as he groaned, trying his best to hold out for your second release, but you were making it incredibly difficult for him. you leaned back, palms on his thighs as you lifted yourself off him, and you would never forget the erotic noise that fell from his lips as you seated yourself deeply.

"princess," he groaned, his hands hungrily running down your thighs. "i won't last much longer like this."

the title read more as a pet name, and you couldn't help but clench at the need in his voice, making him choke. "god, me neither."

"please," he gasped out, eyes pleading. "please, can i-"

you nodded desperately, and it took him only seconds to sit up, crossing his legs behind you, cradling you in his arms as he rolled his hips up into you. your jaw dropped in a silent moan, and it took a moment for your vocal chords to catch up, but it wasn't long before you were making all sorts of embarrassing noises for him.

"baby," he panted, his lips pausing their work against your throat. "oh, god, i'm gonna cum."

"yes," you begged. "please. please, seungcheol."

he groaned into your neck, and you whined as you felt him shoot into you, spurring your own orgasm. your throbbing walls milked him dry, and the two of you were panting as you came down, clutching each other in a garden.

you were grateful that he didn't comment on the way you practically waddled the rest of the evening, but you never noticed the proud look on his face whenever he watched you. he did that to you, he thought. and you wanted him to do it to you again and again and again.

each morning, when seungcheol woke with your bare form draped over his side, he felt like the luckiest man on the planet, and you couldn't help but smile when you woke to his quiet and gentle ministrations against your neck, his hands warm against your skin as he pulled you closer to him.

"my darling," he muttered against your throat, adoring the way you felt in his arms, and his honey coated voice made you drunk with desire despite the sleep in your eyes. "when will i ever get enough of you?"

you giggled as you reached for him, making him moan when your hand made contact with his member. "perhaps we'll slow down in a year."

seungcheol thought that sounded okay, but when you wrapped your warm mouth around him, it suddenly sounded too soon.

there was clothing you would miss too much, you told him. the tunics you wore as comfort for years, the most beautiful dress you had ever seen, and god, the trousers. you had never been allowed to wear them before, but the convenience of fewer, less cumbersome layers proved itself again and again, especially now that you had a reason to undress more often.

"i think you look beautiful," he announced matter of factly, seated in the floor only two feet away from you, when you said offhandedly that the dresses probably suited you more. "now and always."

you smiled at him as you folded the clothing into saddlebags. "you're not so bad to look at either," you said, letting him lean over the pile of clothing to kiss you.

the more seungcheol told you about the kingdom, the more you itched to return. you missed the trees and parks surrounding the castle grounds, the cobblestone streets that you would secretly wander down, and you especially missed the way people would smile at you and ask if you were away from the castle alone.

"of course," you would reply, exchanging coin for a snack of bread despite the baker's insistence that you take it for free. "do you think the guards would have let me if they knew?"

the people were your main reason to return. you thought of the citizens that you hadn't seen in so long. you wondered how the children you remembered coming into the world had grown up. you wondered how the shops managed. you asked seungcheol about some, the ones you could remember, and he happily told you the bakery a few blocks away from the back garden gates of the castle was doing well.

you missed your family. with the promise of seeing them soon, your heart ached, even if you had felt spiteful towards them in your youth. you would never agree with everything they did - thus was the nature of an ever evolving world - but you couldn't help but remember the times they had laughed with you. while they had expectations for you, they still cared for you. they still raised you. they still loved you unconditionally.

you missed everyone you saw every day, all the other inhabitants of the castle. your cousin, whose parents died in war when he was only a child, but always had a devil may care attitude anyways. the cooks and help you bothered, but always laughed at your antics. your handmaiden, who had always kept a close eye on you, even if she never told the king about your secret excursions. you thought of your father's right hand man and closest friend, advisor kim. you thought of his son, whom you had been raised with in the castle. he had always been your best friend, your beacon of common sense, and your slightly reluctant partner in crime. you spent much of your long years away daydreaming about his laugh and hugs.

"mingyu," you said, trailing off slightly. you were sitting in the shade of a tree, watching seungcheol throw knives at a target. "is he well?"

"advisor kim?" he adjusted his posture, grunting slightly as he put a telling amount of force behind his throw. "as well as he can be, i suppose. we don't speak much."

"not advisor kim," you said, brows furrowed. "his son. he's around our age."

seungcheol looked to you, his eyes softening. "oh, princess, i'm so sorry." he paused as he kneeled before you, putting a hand to your cheek. "mingyu's father passed six years ago. he's been the king's advisor ever since."

he held you as you sobbed against him, mourning the man you had referred to as your uncle for most of your childhood, and your heart shattered as you thought of all the loss mingyu had endured.

he was smart, and it made sense to you that the king asked him to succeed his father, though you thought it a little cruel. mingyu had always been the most well read person you knew, and was the reason you had decided to make a mission of reading every book in your stone prison. he always had excitedly told you about the latest novel he'd read, or what he had learned in the political journal he'd snuck from his father's office, eyes shining and baring the wolf-like grin you adored. you never understood it back then, but now, having reread most of the books you had access to, you couldn't wait to get your hands on anything he would recommend to you when you could ask him in only a few short days.

you asked that you spend an afternoon with penelope, and seungcheol respected your time with her, despite the boredom that itched at his legs while he sat in your tower alone. he counted your paintings for the umpteenth, wondering how had you done this for so long. he decided he would go check on the horses.

you asked penelope if she truly wished to stay. "we could find someone to help you," you said. "i'm sure father has someone that can reverse the spell."

sweet princess, her warm voice rang in your ears despite her never opening her mouth. i've no family, no subjects, and no sense of humanity. 

you chewed on your cheek, knowing your wet eyes gave you away. "you have me."

she chirped, nuzzling her nose against your arm. and for your companionship all these years, i am grateful. but punishing the wicked is my duty, i have accepted my fate and so should you.

"i accept it," you said, wiping at your face with the sleeves of your dress. "but i'll remain unhappy with it."

penelope's sweet giggle was your favorite thing to hear in your mind, for you could almost imagine the woman that it once belonged to. do visit sometime. though i'd prefer if you left the knight at home.

you laughed despite the tears streaming down your face, and your hand ran over her snout. "you would like mingyu more, anyways."

there were three horses to bring back with you, but only two riders. due to this fact alone, seungcheol told you it would likely take a full day to return to the kingdom.

"maybe longer," he thought aloud, his wandering eyes finding yours as you leaned against a post in the stable. "we might have to camp a night."

"leave in the morning, arrive the next?" he nodded at your question. "that's not awful. it's hard to believe that i've been this close to you this whole time."

seungcheol agreed with you, wishing that he had gone against the king's orders and found you sooner, especially when your fingers fiddled with the collar of his shirt. "if only i had known how close i was to bliss, i would have been by your side for years."

you sighed, content, and wrapped your arms around his torso, your cheek landing on his firm chest as he leaned into you.

the first time the phrase i love you came from him, he was curled over you in your bed. your hands were digging into his hair, his lips were slotted over yours, and you were trying your best to ignore the stinging in your eyes as he pushed into you again, the words hushed against your mouth.

you looked up at him, shellshocked, but he never took your silence as judgement. "i love you," he repeated. "more than i've ever loved another person."

a moan was forced from you with a combination of his words and his movements, and it jump-started your confession. "i love you, too, my knight."

his forehead rest against yours, slick with sweat, as he slowly drove himself into you. your thighs ached, partly from the repeated trips up and down the stairs as you packed, but mostly from the way he gripped the backs of them, pushing them until your knees were nearly at your shoulders. the angle let him too far into you, you thought. if anyone were to die from feeling too much pleasure, it would be you, in that moment, as seungcheol bit at your lower lip and muttered sweet nothings into your mouth.

after nearly a decade of ruling a lonely kingdom, you were so close to returning to the castle in which you were raised. you had set the chickens free from their coop, your horses were prepared for the journey, and your stomach ached at the thought. your nerves got the better of you as you emptied your stomach of its contents behind a tree.

"it's okay, my love," seungcheol said, his hands pulling your hair behind your shoulders and rubbing your back. "i'm right here."

"damn shame," you choked out, catching your breath. "i really enjoyed that breakfast."

he did his best to not laugh despite your joking tone. he stayed by your side as your head swam, and asked if the ride back should be delayed.

"no," you shook your head, accepting the water he handed you. "if we stay a day, i'll make excuses to stay forever. i'll be okay."

he recognized the defeat in your words. despite the weakened state you had woken up in, you were right. this place felt like paradise, and you never wanted it to end, but you had a kingdom waiting for you.

penelope watched over you both, laid out in the grass as you made your final preparations, and you wrapped your arms around her neck as you held back tears.

"i'll visit. i promise."

seungcheol wrung his fingers behind his back as he watched you speak with her quietly. he could never quite shake his fear of the majestic being (he had squeezed his eyes shut and clung to you whenever she had flown you two to the tower), and he had a feeling that she disliked him due to their first impression, but he knew you loved her like a sister. then, the dragon's deep firey eyes moved to meet his, her voice creeping into his mind for the first time, causing a chill to run up his spine.

protect her in my stead.

he put a hand over his heart and nodded, and when the dragon broke eye contact, he felt as though he finally understood her.

seungcheol kept a close eye on you as you rode river, a horse he couldn't remember the original name of, but that you named after the location at which you found him. he vaguely remembered the man that rode him before, but he was one that seungcheol had never liked much. every time you swayed slightly, he insisted on taking a break so you could lay down, but you waved him off, not wanting to delay your return any more than you already had.

"oh, dear seungcheol," you said, a smile on your lips. "you will be such an empathetic king one day. good thing i'll be there to make the hard decisions."

he couldn't argue - he never could. you were wise beyond your years and more observant than the people he debated against at home, most of which with whom his arguments ended in him threatening to fight. but with you, he always understood the deep thought and logic behind your words. you had a way of speaking that calmed conflict instead of fostering it, and for that reason alone, he thought you were destined to rule, and he would happy to be by your side as you did.

[rachelbethhines]

Tangled Salt Marathon - Max and Eugene in Peril on the High Seas

So we have another obligatory animal focused episode. This one fairs much better than Max’s Enemy and King Pascal; but it’s still ultimately useless filler. 

Summary: Rapunzel and the group are finally leaving Tirapai Island when the cargo ferry arrives, but Eugene and Maximus get into an argument, resulting in them falling overboard. They manage to save themselves on a passing ship, but discover it to be a prison ship where all the criminals, including the Stabbington Brothers, Lady Caine and Axel have escaped and taken control. Eugene and Maximus attempt to escape, but discover the villains' plot to ambush the cargo ferry and set out to stop them. Meanwhile, Rapunzel and the group discover Eugene and Maximus are missing and set out to rescue them.

There’s No Ticking Clock In Season Two and That’s to the Series’s Detriment 

So we’re finally leaving the island and this bit of dialogue tells us that they were on said island for at least six weeks. Which matters not in the slightest in the grand scheme of things; which is the problem. 

In addition to there being no outside threat forcing Rapunzel on this journey, there’s also nothing that’s forcing her to hurry up. So we’re doubly lacking in tension. There are no stakes in season two so things feel over long, and arcs that have the heroes stay in one place for more than two episodes at time stop the momentum of the series dead; leading to tedium for the viewers. 

We Didn’t Need King Pascal Just to Set Up the Firefly

The firefly is one of the few elements in the show that has proper set up and resolve. It’s established as the threat in one episode and then used as the solution in this episode. However both episodes are utterly useless in the over all arc so, while clever, it’s a wasted idea. It’s also unneeded since this intro exposition re-explains what the firefly is and what it’s deal is in case people missed out on King Pascal anyways. 

The Reason Why this Max Focus Episode Works, but Not Max’s Enemy, is Because It’s a Double Act

The problem with the mandated animal themed episodes every season is that Max and Pascal aren’t strong enough characters to work by themselves. They’re sidekicks; they’re designed to play off other characters. The writers seemed to clue in on this by making this episode and Max’s episode in season three, team up episodes. So now today’s episode becomes a Eugene focused episode too. Which in turn allows for their character dynamic to be fleshed out more. 

We needed more interesting combinations of the mains in episodes like this one in order for the group to feel like a group. We also desperately needed to do something similar for Pascal instead of just rehashing the same plot for him over and over again. 

This Plot Point Makes No Sense

When I first saw this episode, I thought it was foreshadowing later developments for season three, seeing how it’s one of the few episodes in season two that connects back to season one. However, once you know the events of season three, this episode no longer makes logical sense within the greater narrative. 

For you see, Andrew and Varian have teamed up to take over Corona at the beginning of season three. Yet that begs the question of why didn’t Frederic ship them away on the prison barge as well. Varian you might could excuse being missing here given his age, but Andrew? There’s no reason to keep Andrew around; none that is given on screen anyways. 

Also this mutiny couldn’t have taken place after the Saporian take over either. For starters all the guards retreated from Corona entirely when it became evident that the Saporians were in charge. That’s a stated plot point in Rapunzel’s Return to explain why Cap is missing. There wouldn’t have been a need for a mutiny if Andrew just let all the criminals go and there’d be no reason why Andrew would send them away using his own guards. The Saporians are small in numbers and that would be a waste of manpower. 

Also, because the Saporians are outnumbered, it doesn’t make sense to send away potential allies. Lady Caine has more logical motivation to join Andrew in his take over than Varian does. She just wants revenge on Frederic and riches. She cares nothing about ruling a kingdom and holds no qualms about hurting others; so she’d be the perfect partner for Andrew’s plans. Add in the fact that she has a whole gang/small army of criminals under her command, and she could have brought along some much needed manpower. 

Lady Caine is Wasted!!!

Speaking of Lady Caine, this is her final appearance in the show. Introduced in the pilot as an important character, yet given only three episodes and shoved out of the picture before the final season. And they didn’t even bother to bring up her original motivations or goals in any of her return appearances. 

Chris mentioned in interviews about how he wanted to ‘defy audience perception’ and so pulled a bunch of bait and switches in the writing; but this isn’t that. This is just straight up lazy writing. There’s nothing clever about introducing a character as being important and then not using them. It’s a frustrating waste of time and a waste of a concept; not a surprising ‘gotcha’ for the audience. 

Proper set up and resolve exists in storytelling in order to get your audience invested in what is happening and then give them a satisfying pay out for their continued involvement. Modern television writers have gotten so caught up in ‘shocking’ twists that they forgot the importance of giving satisfying endings to their audience. Because if the audience isn’t satisfied they will walk away. Hooks alone are not enough to keep them around as evidenced by the series ratings drop. 

Also, Why is Weasel Here?

I once suggested that this episode would make more sense if Max’s Enemy came before One Angry Princess in season one. Implying that Caine and the gang were sent away before Andrew’s arrest. This idea flies out the window with Anthony the Weasel here. He was last seen running away at the end of The Return of Quaid. How the hell did he wind up here? 

He had to have been arrested, put on trial, and then shipped away with the other criminals in between TRoQ and PotHS. Which just raises a whole bunch of other questions.   

How much time has passed between then and now?

What did Weasel do to get caught in Corona?

Why did it take so long to ship Caine and her gang out when it was just a matter of days for Attila to be banished? 

Why wasn’t she put on that same barge Attila was going to be put on?

If there was enough time to ship Attila and the Weasel out then there was plenty of time to ship Andrew and Varian, so why are they still in Corona?

Why is there even a prison barge to begin with? Are they just that stripped for room and man power in Corona’s dungeons?

Where does the prison barge actually go to? Does Corona own a prison island or do they have a deal with another kingdom? What is the world building behind this plot point? 

Also where the heck did Dwayne go? 

You Need Villains 

In the end it doesn’t matter. This is just a lame excuse to get rid of all of the season one villians besides the Stabbingtons. Which only stick around because they’re movie originals and need to reappear and be redeemed before the wedding short; otherwise they’d be gone too. 

Which is the dumbest idea ever! Season two and even the first half of season three is devoid of any main antagonists so why are we getting rid of anyone who could potentially fulfill that role? Who’s stupid idea was this? What were they smoking? This goes against basic writing 101. There’s no story if there’s no conflict! 

Eugene Has a Point

Like there are reasons why law enforcement aren’t on call 24/7 and there are also reasons why different territories have different jurisdictions. Not complying to that undermines law and order, not upholds it.

If a police officer from the US could arrest people while on vacation in Spain, it’d be a political nightmare. Even extrication of wanted criminals who seek refuge in other countries requires permission and cooperation from those countries governments or you’d be violating international law; which potentially could be seen as an act of war. 

Also you would still send in people who are actually on duty. Right now there are protests in my country regarding the lack of accountability police officers have. Plenty of cops break the law both on and off duty because they know they can get away with because of the nepotism within the force.  Max pulling out a guide book that essentially gives Corona’s guards permission to ‘enact justice as they see fit’ while even off duty is clear case of an abuse of power, and futhers the narrative that Corona is a dictatorship/police state that persecutes it’s most vulnerable citizens. 

The fact that the narrative then rewards this line of thought by placing Max in the right on this is just another check off in the long list of promoting authoritarian beliefs that this series teaches. People with power are held to different standards then those without. That’s just a fact of life. Having Eugene or Max acknowledge that this does break the law but is still right thing to do would be far better message and give the characters more complexity. 

Who gets to decide what is ‘bad’ here? What is this ‘something’ they are meant to do? This rule is a gateway for corruption because it’s not clearly defined and relies too heavily on the idea that guards are naturally ‘honorable’ and good and not, you know, people. 

There’s a saying in law school. Nothing is simple and fair. If it’s simple then it’s not fair; and if it's fair then its not simple. 

Laws are complex because life is complex, people are complex, and not everything applies the same way because situations are different. That’s why we have courts. And yes, sometimes there’s too much discrepancy in sentences, leading to some people being harshly over punished while others get away with little more than a slap on the hand; but having things the other way around would still cause such discrepancy as not everyone’s experiences are equal to begin with. 

And before you say I’m reading too much into a kids show, this is a conflict that the episode itself has decided to introduce. If you wanted a simple message about doing the right thing than ‘the law’ should not have been brought up at all. Because laws are not simple, they are not universal, and they are not infallible. If the writers thought this idea too complex for their audience then they shouldn’t have introduced the idea. 

It's better to not bring up deeper subject matter at all than to introduce it and then not address it properly.  

Oh, and We Get Confirmation that Corona Speaks English, for Some Reason... 

This was also hinted at this in the supplement book, My First Year As A Princess; which was suppose to replica of Rapunzel’s Diary in the show, though it’s sverealy been paired down from the original concept. 

Anyways, it’s pretty much canon that everyone is indeed speaking English on screen, even though there’s no logical reason for this. Chalk it up to yet more lazy world building. 

Corona is never hinted to being a replacement for England itself. The few hints we get to it’s placement on the world map suggests it’s on the main continent of Europe and is a peninsula. Other real world languages like, French, Italian, and German are confirmed to exist, with Italy at least being a real location in this world. 

Also we spend this whole season traveling to other kingdoms. So why would everyone speak English? This is before British and American imperialism, and before the internet, so English wouldn’t be a default secondary language for the many countries that it is today. So how does this work? 

Once again, if traveling the world is a big plot point of your story then you need to determinate where and how your main protagonist fits into that world. If they’re a princess of a kingdom then we need to know where that kingdom is in relation to the surrounding places we visit or discuss.  

Axel is Still Useless

Max didn’t need a rival. This character adds nothing to the over all story and is one villain/character too many in an already overstuffed series. I don’t mind the idea of pairing down some of the minions and other background characters. I just take issue with getting rid of all of the villains. Particularly interesting ones that could have done more, like Weasel or Lady Caine. 

The Very Existence of Lady Caine Undermines Both Rapunzel’s and Cassandra’s Arcs

So the series wants to present this idea that Rapunzel is compassionate and is all about giving second chances, yet Caine, one of the most sympathetic villains in the show next to Varian, is given zero chance at all. The show is too busy trying to make Rapunzel look ‘bad ass’ by easily taking down an seemingly equal badass female villain, that doesn’t stop to think about the implications of this conflict. 

The series fails because the only people Rapunzel redeems are people that she needs something from. She needs Styalan to gain the Eye of Pincosta. She needs Varian to help defeat the Saporians and ease her bruised ego. She needs Cassandra because she’s her best friend and it hurts her personally for them to no longer be friends. None of the redemptions in the show are actually about the characters who are redeeming themselves, it’s about their effect on Rapunzel’s personal life. 

But placing Rapunzel’s personal feelings above what other characters actually need is the opposite of compassion. It’s selfishness. It doesn’t make Rapunzel the focus of the story it just makes her look like an ass. 

Moreover Lady Caine’s arc is directly tied to Corona’s corrupt legal system. Rapunzel can’t be this purveyor of change if she and the show never acknowledges why the system must change to begin with. 

Last off, Cassandra’s arc is then diminished by the existence of more sympathetic villains like Caine and Varian. They have more reason to do the things they do, and their actions connect back to their goals. Cass doing worst things for less reason, and then getting away with less punishment than them, is a slap in the face to the viewers. It turns her from a likeable character to an unbearable twat, and makes her later redemption a product of nepotism rather than act of agency on her part. 

Everyone is ill served by writing Caine out and not giving her a conclusion to her personal conflict. Rapunzel, Cassandra, Frederic, and Lady Caine herself are all denied a chance to grow as characters and that’s infuriating to watch. 

Also Yes, This Episode was a Big Missed Opportunity to Add Urgency to the Plot

As previously mentioned, season two needed an ongoing external conflict. Anyone of the villains on the ship could have been the main antagonist of the second half of the season. Just have the person in question escape in the confusion, or overthrow the new crew of the ship a second time. Then have them show up later looking for a fight. 

My money is on Lady Caine, but the Stabbingtons or Weasel could have done just a well. Caine wants revenge on Rapunzel. The Stabbingtons are after Eugene. Weasel wants power and riches, so capturing the princess and holding her for ransom could have been a goal. Then have them learn about this hidden power then voila you gotta a set up for a race to the end of the quest.  

You also could just picked an underling at random and then elevated them to main villain by giving them a good goal and a backstory. 

Also finally, Andrew and/or Varian, we’re options that they could have added in here. Varian more so than anybody else as he already has reason to go after the moonstone because his father. 

Heck, you still could have added Varian and not made him the villain if you didn’t want to. This could have been the start of his redemption arc instead, and one of the previously mentioned villains,a Brotherhood member, or one of Zhan Tiri’s Disciples could have still served as the main antagonist. 

In short, most of the problems with Tangled’s story are really easy fixes and the writers had multiple options at their disposal that they didn’t take. Which is just further evidence to last minute rewrites and Chris and Ben’s missamangment. 

Conclusion    

I enjoy this episode because it’s one of the few to tie back into season one, but it’s is a missed opportunity and it is a shame that it went nowhere. 

[glacecakes]

Revenge is Sweet but You're Sweeter

Andrew kidnaps Hugo to get back at Varian.

Warning for blood, torture, general violence. Nothing too graphic. GOD THIS TOOK FUCKING FOREVER TO GET OUT. Basically my cat had a cancer scare and my depression is at an all time high so I was unable to get anything done. I wasn't happy with this fic for most of it until I sat my ass down and said I Will Finish This If It Kills Me. I'm still not THRILLED with this piece but it's finished and fuck it it's done i'm DONE I HAVE DEADLINES.

-

Hugo’s vision blurred into existence after a few blinks. As far as he could tell, he was trapped in some old barn, arms trapped behind his back. He flexed, tugging at the restraints on his hands. The ropes burned his wrists, but they didn’t budge. His legs scrambled in an attempt to stand, but it didn’t work, and he was stuck still on the floor. His eyes scanned the vicinity, trying to gauge his surroundings.

“What the…” he mumbled. His eyes blinked asynchronously as he struggled to focus.

How the heck did this even happen?

The last thing Hugo remembered was that he was talking to Nuru and Yong, sharing some hot cocoa while Varian got some more firewood. They were talking about Varian’s unusually anxious behavior as of late. He was already an anxious guy, but ever since he got a letter from home, he’d been a wreck. He started looking over his shoulder constantly and even sleeping with a weapon by his side. And anytime any of the three asked, Varian would abruptly change the subject.

“What if we all asked him about it? Like, at once?” Yong asked.

Hugo bit his lip. If he were in Varian’s position, he wouldn’t want to spill. He doesn’t want his position compromised, and Varian likely didn’t want the same done to him.

That’s what he told himself, anyway. He definitely did not have a crush on Varian and wanted to keep Varian as close as possible for as long as possible.

He moved to object, but Nuru and raised her mug in agreement.

“When he gets back, we’ll confront him. Something’s bothering him, and we’re his friends. We only want to help.”

Help, or bother? To Hugo it felt like they were too nosy for their own good, and were excusing it as concern. But hey what did he know. Not like he had many friends before them. He’d thrown back the cocoa in quiet acceptance, said goodnight to the others… and now…

Moonlight filtered in through the barn’s broken windows and decaying roof, seeping into every crack and filling the room with shadows.

A shadow from which a man stepped out.

His hair was slightly greasy, yet kept in an immaculate bun. A long, well-groomed beard did little to hide the feral grin on his face. He sauntered across creaking floors, circling around the teen like a shark. He carried a sword which left imprints on the floorboards,

Hugo puffed his chest up in defense. He wasn’t going to be intimidated by this… kidnapper? Assailant? Whatever he was he looked like a jerk.

“Finally you’re all awake. I was worried I’d used too much.”

“Too much?”

“Sleeping powder. Just sprinkled it into your water supply when you weren’t looking. Child’s play, really.” The man laughed, resuming his pacing.

Hugo cursed internally. He let his guard down and paid the price. Being with the trio of hooligans he called friends made him soft, as Donella would’ve said. How long had this man been following them? How long had he waited to strike, judging them and gauging every opportunity, deciding that tonight was perfect to attack mere teens? He just hoped the other three were safe.

Wait, no. Don’t think that. Remember Hugo, you don’t care about them. They’re a means to an end.  

As Hugo’s eyes adjusted to the dim barn, he began to notice more silhouettes creeping in the dark. They slowly joined their comrade, as if summoned. They were of varying shapes and sizes, age and creed. They were dressed too poorly to be bounty hunters, looking more like weary travellers. Further back, near a large hole in the barn roof, was a hot air balloon. It was likely how the teen was transported here. A floorboard splintered under the largest man’s weight.

“Who are you?” Hugo barked. “What do you want with me?”

“You mean your friend never mentioned us?” A short woman asked, stepping up to him and patting his head in mock sympathy. “You poor sheep, travelling with a wolf.”

He recoiled at her touch, nose scrunching up and eyes screwing shut. Her hot breath tickled the strands of hair on his neck.

“We are the separatists of Saporia. I’m the leader, Andrew.” The man bowed. “I hope you don’t mind that we… borrowed you for the evening?”

Ah, Saporia. Something about rebels against Corona, right? Varian had mentioned them in passing once. His face had screwed into pure disgust at seeing a crest painted on a wall in Bayagnor.

“Pricks,” He’d muttered, throwing a goo bomb to destroy the paint.

Likely this guy had beef with Donella, which meant it was up to Hugo to get himself out of here safely. He wondered what she did to earn this anger.

“Yea sure, love getting kidnapped by washed up Coronans,” Hugo snapped, bracing for the inevitable smack that followed. The other kidnappers laughed at his pain. He’d seen this scenario many times under Donella. Sometimes he was the victim, sometimes he was the instigator. But it always worked the same. Those who tried to play the hero, those who tried to resist, they always got the worst of the treatment.

Sure enough, Andrew snapped his fingers, and his cronies descended.

“Hope you don’t mind, we have to… prepare you for our guest of honor.”

-

How long did he sit there, taking hit after hit? They were never intense, rather a series of mildly painful blows that built up over time. Andrew refused to let his compatriots hurt him too much.

“He needs to stay alive and intact.” He said. “Save the broken bones for our dear old friend.”

That didn’t stop any of it from hurting. It didn’t stop the blood that trickled down his nose from a particularly nasty punch, nor the stinging of Andrew’s knife across his back. One eye was beginning to swell shut, and his ribs, while not broken, still ached from repetitive kicks. Individually, it was nothing Hugo couldn’t handle. But combined, the wounds were starting to wear him down.

He never let it show though. If his tormentors got wind of his breaking will, they’d mock him to no end. He had to keep his chin up and show he was better than them. That’s what Don taught him, anyway. Either play up the child act and gain their pity, or stay determined. But above all, never give away information.

He never played hero normally. But then again, he was usually the youngest, the favorite. Donella would let heads roll if her cronies let Hugo suffer when they could take the hit. It was her way of showing she cared, in a twisted way.

In this scenario, he had to be the hero. There would be no sympathy shown, there hadn’t been so far. No, he’d have to figure this out on his own. Yong and Nuru could come save him, sure, but he didn’t want them to risk it. Not that he cared about them or anything! It was just… they were likely to fail. Right?

Oh who was he kidding. Hugo didn’t want to get the others involved.

Responsiblity sucked. How does Varian do it?

BANG!

“ANDREW!”

Speak of the devil.

The door to the barn was blasted open, revealing Varian filled with a fury the likes of which the other had never seen. His eyes were wild, pupils like pin pricks. He rapidly scanned the area, softening only slightly when he saw Hugo was alive, only to reignite to even further anger when he saw Hugo’s current state. His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, indicating he ran here.

Andrew spread his arms wide, greeting Varian like he was visiting for dinner, as opposed to holding his friend hostage. “You made it! I was worried you didn’t get my message.”

Varian held up a piece of paper. The words were impossible to make out from afar, but the implications sent shivers down the spine. “I got your note.” He growled, crumpling the paper in one hand and tossing it to the floor. “Now what do you want?” His voice was venom.

It sounded a lot like Donella, in Hugo’s opinion.

Andrew’s companions slinked ever closer, forming a semi circle behind the prisoner, while Andrew saunted up close to Varian.

To say Hugo was shocked was an understatement. He’d never seen raw fury like that from the normally awkward and intelligent alchemist. And apparently he knew this guy, which meant it was not about getting revenge on Donella.

What had Varian done to get himself an enemy like this?

“Oh come on, I can’t say hi to an old friend?”

“We are not friends. ”

“We were, at some point.” Andrew hummed, wrapping an arm around Varian. “Such a shame. And I think you know what I want.” The younger was as tense as a stone. He sent a death glare up at the man and didn’t answer the question.

He patted Varian’s cheek condescendingly. It was a facsimile of the constant, warm touches of home. Varian wanted to throw up.

Varian grit his teeth, shoving Andrew off and backing up towards his friends. A hand slipped into his pocket, preparing to throw down a bomb, but one of the goons surged forward. His broad muscles pinned Varian to the floor, cheek falling with a loud smack. The bomb rolled across the floor.

He flailed his feet, akin to a rabid animal, but it was no use. The man drug Varian to the wall where previously unnoticed shackles glinted in the moonlight. Each cuff was wrapped around Varian’s wrists. He pulled, able to get about a meter away from the wall, but that was as far as it let him.

"Oh come on," Andrew said, circling around Varian like a snake ready to swallow its prey. "You act like you’re all mature now, but I’ve seen the real you. Deep down, you're still the same naive, evil brat I met in prison."

Prison? When did Varian go to prison?

Varian's body shook with fury. "I am nothing like you." He growled.

"Are you sure about that? Didn't you do the same thing I did?" He fiddled with a knife, getting into Varian's personal space and dragging the weapon down Varian's cheek. "We both wanted something, so we kidnapped the one our target holds dear. And we both threatened to kill them if they didn't cooperate."

Hugo felt his insides turn to ice.

“I want,” Andrew whispered, leaning up to Varian’s face, hot breath ghosting across his cheeks. “For you to suffer.”

Varian met his friend’s gaze, and his body shook with barely hidden disgust. He’d let Andrew hurt the ones he loved once before, he’ll be damned if he lets it happen again. From the looks of it though, he was too late. Guilt and anger bubbled in his stomach like a volcano.

“Don’t worry, goggles,” Hugo said, keeping his voice steady. “I’ve had way worse. Trust me, it’s like kitten scratches.”

Varian’s eyes twinkled with unshed tears, yet he smiled, bunny teeth peeking out from between his lips. “You look like shit.” A faint blush spread across his cheeks. Even now, covered in bruises and blood, Hugo still managed to take Varian’s breath away.

If we get out of this, he vowed to himself, I’m going to tell him how I feel.

For a brief moment, he glanced down at his hands, and then back up at Hugo. The older teen followed with his eyes and allowed a small smile.

A bobby pin.

He put his hands behind his back, to prevent anyone from seeing.

Distract him, Varian mouthed.

How? Hugo hissed back.

Varian shrugged. The older alchemist rolled his eyes.

“Hey Andy, was it?” Hugo raised his head to stare Andrew down. He let a familiar facade slide into place. “Ya mind explaining why I’m here?”

Varian’s eyes widened, and he banged his head against the wall in frustration. Not like that! He thought.

“Like I get that he’s here to suffer or whatever,” He raised his eyebrows to imitate quotation marks. “But uh. I don’t get why you need me. Maybe I’m just not smart enough to understand your plan.”

It was a cheap shot, appealing to the ego, but it did the trick. Andrew seemed like the type to gloat and monologue, and sure enough, he slunk across the room towards Hugo, a pep in his step.

“See, it’s quite simple, really. Varian here… well. He hurt us a while back.” Varian rolled his eyes, but made no comment. With the attention off of him, he picked at the lock. The soft clinks of the metal were easily ignored.

“For a while, I thought that if I ever saw him again, I’d make good on my promise, and splatter his body on the ruins of Corona.”

“Yea good luck with that last bit.” Hugo rolled his eyes. “So what, I was just bait?”

“Oh no,” Andrew’s grin was near maniacal. “We figured death was too light of a punishment. No. If there’s one thing the kid never shut up about, it’s family. Oh, I love my dad, ooh I can’t wait until we find a way to free him, ooh those darn royals tore my family apart blah blah blah. So what better torture…”

He slashed Hugo’s cheek with the knife. Blood oozed out the cut as Hugo hissed in pain. From the corner of his eye he saw Varian flinch, arms shaking as he tried to pick the locks faster.

“...Than to force him to watch us kill the ones he loves most?”

The word love and Hugo were not commonly used together, let alone when talking about Varian. And yet… Hugo’s stomach fluttered at the idea. He was a loved one? It seemed almost impossible, but he could see the frantic energy Varian exuded as he tried to work as quietly and discreetly as possible.

No, he probably just means friend… right?

What if he doesn’t, a traitorous voice whispered. What if it’s exactly what you think it means?

He couldn’t help it. “Varian?” He asked, voice soft.

The younger alchemist gave him a sheepish smile, hiding his hands behind his back.

A mental war was raging in Varian’s head. Every fiber of his being screamed to save Hugo, go to him, protect him, but he couldn’t do that while cuffed. The only way to save Hugo was to keep the attention off himself and solely on Hugo. He couldn’t let Andrew see what he was doing.

“Aw, how sweet,” Andrew crooned. He leveled the sword and Hugo’s chin, redirecting his gaze. His soft expression morphed into a scowl of defiance.

With the sword still at his jaw, Andrew shoved his fist into Hugo’s stomach. The wind was knocked out of him, but Hugo kept his head steady. Any sudden movements could mean he bled out.

Varian let out a whine.

He had to focus.

After a few more seconds, the first cuff was open.

“Trying to play it cool, huh?” Andrew stood to his full height, dropping the sword. He loomed over Hugo and grit his teeth. The man was no longer in a playing mood. He wanted Varian to suffer, and by god the kid was gonna suffer sooner rather than later.

He raised his boot, and slammed the toe into Hugo’s face with a crunch . His glasses cracked on impact. His head hit the wooden beam with enough force to rattle his skull.

Andrew gripped his neck and squeezed. The air escaped Hugo in a rush and he moaned in protest.

Varian couldn’t suppress the scream that pushed its way out. The still intact chain rattled with his tugs.

“Andrew please,” His voice shook on the second word. “Let him go. It’s me you hate.”

“Did you not listen? You’re a smart kid, Varian. I’m going to kill him, and then I’m going to kill everyone else you love. ” His fingers tightened around Hugo’s neck, and he turned back to the older teen.

Hugo’s vision was darkening. “Varian,” He wheezed.

The second cuff snapped off.

And Varian lunged.

With an inhuman cry, he toppled Andrew, sending the man sprawling onto the floor. They rolled onto the floor until Varian was on top. Quick as a flash, he grabbed the discard sword and put it to Andrew’s neck.

Hugo gasped for breath, coughing as sweet air filled his lungs. He blinked the dark spots out of his eyes.

The other Saporians ran to help their leader, but faltered at the sword.

“Stay back!” Varian screamed. He pushed it deeper into Andrew’s neck, nearly drawing blood. “Release him!” He ordered. “Let Hugo go or I kill him right here, right now!”

“You wouldn’t,” Andrew snarled. Varian’s glare pierced his very soul, and the furious teen smacked him across the face.

Damn that felt good.

The last time Varian had been this angry… god, it might’ve been when he was 14. When he saw how happy Rapunzel was with her family, while his own suffered, while he withered away and turned to ash.

The Saporians were quick to obey, one of the taller men untying Hugo. He slid down the pole, grabbing at his throat with his now free hands. His wrists were stained red with ropeburn.

Slowly, he stood to his feet on shaky legs, leaning against the pillar for support.

Satisfied, Varian turned back to Andrew, who was smiling.

“What are you so happy about?” the alchemist hissed.

Andrew laughed. “You really haven’t changed a bit.”

Varian’s eyes narrowed. He slammed the hilt of the sword into Andrew’s head, and the man fell unconscious. He stood off of him.

The other separatists did nothing. They knew what he was capable of. Without any leverage, without their leader, it was a losing battle. Especially now that Hugo was free.

Pointing the sword at the Saporians, he said, “Next time, I won’t let you guys go alive.” He slammed it down into the floorboards with a huff.

“Now get out of my sight.”

-

The walk back to the campsite was quiet for the most part.

Hugo was leaning on Varian heavily, one arm wrapped around Varian’s neck and the other clutching at his waist. Everytime he staggered or tripped, Varian’s grip tightened ever so slightly.

His eyes were stone cold, but never directed at Hugo. If he saw Hugo looking, Varian’s eyes softened, glittering under the stars. It was nearing daybreak. The smoke from their campsite was now visible.

The tents came into view, and Hugo’s entire form sagged in relief. He was so ready to drop into bed and not wake up for 12 hours, but he needed medical care.

Nuru and Yong had long gone to bed, blissfully unaware of what had transpired. The next hour was quiet as well, Varian silently tending to the most serious ones. It was a tender moment, their own little world. A bubble that would be broken by speaking. So for now, Hugo was silent. He let Varian dab at the blood under his nose, let him remove his glasses for safekeeping, let his breath trail over Hugo’s cheeks as they both blushed.

At last, the worst was over.

“So…” Hugo finally said. “That was… something.”

Varian snorted. “Understatement.”

“We gonna talk about what just happened? Any of it?”

“Which parts do you want to talk about?”

Hugo hummed. “I mean I’d like to know what the fuck that guy was…” Varian turned green. “But not right now.”

Varian breathed a sigh of relief. “Then, what?”

Hugo bit his lip, preparing for the worst. “You love me…?”

“Oh…” Varian’s face lit up bright red. His eyes averted, looking anywhere but Hugo. “I-I mean… maybe not love… not yet at least. Not that I hate you! No, I…” He winced. “I… like you. A lot.” He moaned. “That was the worst confession ever please stab me now.”

Hugo laughed. He couldn’t help it. After everything that had happened today, from kidnapping to torture to this , it was so overwhelming and horrible and also so perfect.

“How about, instead of that…” He said. “I uh… say I feel the same? Not love yet, I don’t think but… if you wanna try and get to that point?”

The sun rose behind Varian as he smiled. “I’d like that a lot.”

[k0ekienut]

Stay Alive

Decided to be mean over on Discord and write some future angst for @glacecakes Baby Varian AU on AO3- Alchemy Lullaby: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25816972 (THIS IS AN AMAZING READ, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) 

This is pretty much entirely based on Hamiltion’s- Blow us all away & Stay Alive (Reprise)

Warnings~ Major Character Death, gun shot wound, small mention of blood

Hope you enjoy!

-

Varian was a recently graduated college student and while he's back in his home town, Corona, he hears someone trash talking his dad, Eugene. Who it was? That's what Varian was trying to find out, nobody messes with his dad, nobody calls his dad a dirty thief! His thieving days were far in the past, Eugene was an honorable man who deserved the world in Varian's eyes.

He asks around the town about who had been talking about his dad, Varian didn't like that answer. 

Andrew

Of course it was Andrew, that man did whatever he could to try and bring the Royal Family down.

Andrew. Where was he, Varian was going to kill him! But, where was Andrew? Varian asks around the town once again, of course. 

Of course he was at a play, that man always tried to pretend he had some sort of class. The playhouse wasn't far, Varian makes his way down the street.

-

  He swings the door to the building open, where was that bastard!

"Andrew, ANDREW!"

The man turns around and looks at Varian in annoyance. "Shush! I'm trying to watch the show!"

"You should've watched your mouth before you talked about my dad!" Varian is pissed, how could Andrew act so casual when he just went around talking about Varian's dad in such a horrible way!

I never said anything that wasn't true, your dad is a dirty thief and scoundrel, and by the looks of it, you probably are one too."

Varian didn't think it was possible to get any more irritated, but here he was.

"Just like that?!"

Andrew rolls his eyes, why wouldn't this damned kid just leave? "Yeah, I don't fool around, I'm not your little schoolboy friends."  

Varian knew it was stupid to say, but he says it anyway. "Well, see you on the dueling ground! That is, unless you wanna step outside and go now!"

"I know where to find you, piss off, I'm watching the show now."

The whole conversation with Andrew in the playhouse left Varian pissed as he stormed home. He couldn't believe this, how could Andrew act so careless and casual

Varian arrives to his destination and slams the door behind him. Eugene was nearby.

"Dad! You should've hear the garbage Andrew was saying about you! You would've never let it slide and I was not about to!"

"Varian, slow down."

"I came to ask you for some advice... this is my very first duel and they don't exactly cover this subject back in college..."

"You did what?!" Eugene was shocked, sure Varian made du- no, no very thought-through decisions at time but a duel?

Eugene sighs, there wasn't much he could do about Varian challenging Andrew now. "Did your friends attempt to negotiate a peace?"

"That man never apologizes! We had no choice but to let the peace talk cease."

"Where's this happening."

Across the water in Equis..."

Both of the deadpan. "Everything is legal in Equis..."

"Alright, so this is what you're gonna do, Stand there like a man until Andrew is in front of you. When the time comes, fire your gun in the air. It'll put an end to the whole ordeal." 

"But... What if he shoots and I'm a goner?"

"He will follow the rules of a duel if Andrew is truly a man of honor."

Varian had a lot of doubts, Andrew was no man of honor, but he trusted his dad.

"To take someone's life, that is something you can't shake Varian." Eugene's voice was more serious.

"Dad!"

"You don't want this man's blood on your conscience."

Varian thinks about that for a second

"Okay, I promise."

"Varian, take my gun, I trust you to be smart, make me proud son..."

-

The boat ride across the water was tense, this could be Varian's last moments. But, in that moment it didn't matter to him, he was a Fitzherbert with pride and when someone talks bad about his dad he would never let it slide!

They dock on land, it was time.

"Andrew, how was the rest of your show?" Varian was trying to be polite

"I'd rather skip the pleasantries and get this over with."

"Grab your pistol" Andrew wasted no time.

"Confer with your friends..." Varian was scared out of his mind

"The duel will commence after we count to ten." The two men say in union.

Varian's thoughts were screaming in his head

"Look him in the eye, aim no higher."

"Summon all the courage you require."

"Then slowly and clearly aim your gun towards the sky..."

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8-

BOOM

the sound of a gunshot rings through the air.

his-

his hip-

The red spread across his clothes.

There was so much-

what-

How-

His gun... He aimed towards the sky just like his dad told him to...

Why?-

Varian collapses

-

It was getting late, where was Varian? Eugene was getting sick with worry, this ordeal should've been over quick, maybe he should-

There's yelling, sounds like someone running

"EUGENE!"

Kiera? Cataline? what were they doing here?

"It's Varian, you need to hurry! He's at the medi-"

The two didn't need to finish what they were saying before Eugene bolts towards the Medics place.

-

The door slammed open, “WHERE'S VARIAN, WHERE IS MY SON?!"

Eugene wasn't just worried anymore, all he could feel was pure panic. What happened to Varian?!

"Mister Fitzherbert, come in, they brought him in a half and hour ago. He lost a lot of blood on the way over." The medic was staying professional, keeping his voice calm despite the chaos.

“Is he alive?!"

Eugene couldn't lose Varian, he couldn't lose his son, not like this. 

"Yes. But you have to understand, the bullet entered just above his hips and lodged into his right arm..."

Eugene was a mess already, tears were threatening to spill. "Can I see him... Please..." 

"Mister Fitzherbert, I'm doing everything I can, but the wound was already infected when Varian arrived-”

Eugene was mostly tuning out the doctor at this point, none of that mattered, all that mattered to him was his son.

Infected the word rang in his head despite his best efforts to tune it out as well.

"Varian"

“D-dad..." Varian sounded so weak

"I did exactly as you said dad... I held my head up high...”

Eugene didn't bother holding back his tears, "I know, Varian, I know, you did everything just right."

"Before they got to ten... I was aiming for the sky...” Varian sounded delirious, barely conscious.

Eugene tried his best to reassure his son that he did nothing wrong, he did everything right. But Varian just repeats, "I was aiming for the sky..." in a quiet voice.

Eugene was almost sobbing at this point, "Please save your strength and stay alive..."

He was so desperate he couldn't leave, he could di-

Eugene hears the door slam open once again 

Rapunzel

"No!" Her voice sounded so desperate..

"Rapunzel!" Eugene's voice sounded... broken

"Who did this Eugene, did you know?!" 

Her attention is taken from Eugene the moment she hears her son, "Mom... I'm so sorry..."

"I forgot what you had taught me." 

Rapunzel was already sobbing, her son... Who did this to her son...

"My son---" It was all she managed to get out through the tears that were streaming down her face

Varian's eyes were starting to look hazy, "We played piano...”

"I taught you piano."

"You would put your hands on mine..."

Rapunzel looked back on the memories with Varian, the happy moments they had spent together.

"You changed the melody every time."

Varian lets out a small laugh, "I would always change the lines." His voice sounded like it was getting weaker

"Sh, I know, I know..." Rapunzel needed Varian to save his strength. He had to survive this.

His voice sounded like it was getting quieter...

"I would always change the lines..." Varian's voice was a whisper

"I know, I know..."

Un deux trois quatre 

 Cinq six sept huit neuf

 “Good”

 Un deux trois quatre

 Cinq six sept

Varian echos Rapunzel’s words,

Huit neuf 

Sept huit neuf— 

Sept huit…

Varian didn't say anything back this time, It was silent.

Varian was silent.

"Varian? VARIAN?!"

Eugene and Rapunzel yell out their sons name, hoping for any response, anything at all!

The doctor enters the room once again and check the young adult’s pulse, He shakes his head.

Varian was gone, the light of the couple's life gone.

Rapunzel drops to her knees and lets out a heart wrenching scream, Eugene cries out for his lost son.

The boy that came into their lives all those years ago was gone.