#it gets better. Eventually. Give them two millenia

[morfanerina]

Lost and Found (and Lost again) - 3/3

With Stone Monkey grown, Macaque thought things would get better, his little family safe for as long as they lived. But we all know how Sun Wukong's history goes, don't we?

CW: Events from pre-journey to the west are followed, actually less violence described than previous chapters.

Chapter 3 of 3

Chapter 1/Chapter 2

Also on AO3

The elder lasted more years than Macaque had given them, but death comes to all mortals, and they weren’t an exception. Their death meant there was going to be infighting within the group a few days after, in order to decide on a new leader, but the mourning period should be enough for him to do his job in getting the few messages outside the mountain about the elder’s passing and return to take Stone Monkey and whoever wants away from there. 

So when he arrived after delivering the messages to an amused Grey and his gibbon friend, he had his suspicions that something he wasn’t going to like happened. He was suddenly regretting stopping keeping an ear out, Stone Monkey's privacy be damned.

“Oh, you missed so much, Macaque,” Grey said, and gestured for him to follow. The other gibbon smirked. They walked to the main stream, where several monkeys had gathered, some playing, others observing the nearby waterfall. And then they went to the waterfall and stopped on the elevated rocks right in front of it. Macaque’s ears twitched, the noise annoying him.

“Well?” he asked the gibbons, who gestured for him to wait ‘Easy for them to do, they don’t have six ears.’

He didn’t wait long, Two monkeys jumped from inside the waterfall, laughing, and Macaque stared at Stone Monkey, now the equivalent of a yaoguai teen, a crown of leaves on his head . The crown typically given to the leader.

“ What. ”

“Oh, this is better than I thought,” Grey grinned “So, there have been developments, Macaque.”

Macaque stared at the now silent, but grinning sheepishly Stone Monkey “I can see that,” he deadpanned. 

The monkey that had come with Stone Monkey, a friend of the golden monkey, coughed awkwardly.

Stone Monkey decided to use his favorite strategy in cutting tense situations. Bluntness “I’m the Monkey King now,” he said airily

“What.” Macaque repeated, his face blank “How- ”

“I jumped into the waterfall,”

“Why?” the golden monkey hesitated for a bit in answering him, his smile turning nervous. 

“Liu dared me.”

“Who- Who is Liu?” Macaque asked, feeling a headache growing.

His friend coughed awkwardly again and Macaque decided this conversation was better done somewhere quieter. Both gibbons laughed.

-:::-:::-

The inside of the waterfall cave was wonderful and spacious and somehow had many of the basic amenities he has seen in yaoguai households. There were several beds even, which he took full advantage once the explanations were done, to lay down and curl up to rest and think.

His cub managed to be ‘king’ because he had found the location of their new palace. His cub, who was barely considered a teen. And the faction, in the type of fanaticism the elder had tried to establish for himself the last couple of years, had accepted the discovery as a sign Stone Monkey should be their ruler. And in the two weeks he was gone, several other factions had agreed with that statement, to the point Stone Monkey appointed helpers, from which was Ma, Grey, his gibbon friend and Stone Monkey’s friend - or as they were all now called, Ma, Beng, Ba and Liu - because he needed the support for dealing with the ever growing amount of monkeys that were joining.

Macaque didn’t understand the logic of adding Ba until he realized she was the only one of the group with actual political experience, having discretely advised the elder during the last couple of years of their life. Apparently Stone Monkey (he refused to call him Monkey King in his mind) had known her and known about her duties for a year now, as he accidentally overheard several of their discussions. And didn’t tell him.

To be fair, he had assumed Macaque had heard about it, which was a fair assumption, everything considered, but he had been busier this year… probably by the suggestion of Ba, if her slightly guilty look was anything to go by.

The monkey didn’t move as he heard familiar steps sneaking inside the room, and didn’t react outwardly when the bed space at his back dipped as a weight settled in.

“Are you mad?...” Stone Monkey asked in a small voice. The older monkey sighed and turned, tail twisting with the younger one’s and squeezing it in comfort.

“No. I’m annoyed and trying to understand everything that has happened. But I’m not mad at you,” ‘Beng and Liu on the other hand…’ “I don’t like that you became king,” ‘I can’t drag you away from this ’ “It’s dangerous.”

Many that are born like us become mortal as they grow.

You will lose them.

“I wish I had taken you away with me,” he said. Stone Monkey laid down then, golden eyes looking pensively at him.

“I like it here,” the golden monkey declared “I would like to travel, yes. But I like it here.”

Observing the cub he had watched grow into a mischievous, teen, now king, he sighed, a part of him already grieving the time passing, “Would you like me to tell you a story?” he asked.

“I’m not a cub anymore,” the other replied and let a beat of silence pass and then almost whispered, a bit shy “Can we cuddle as you do?” Macaque chuckled and adjusted them and told a story about a mortal and immortal who were friends.

-:::-:::-

Not willing to be an official part of the court made Macaque a confusing presence for those that did not know of him. It also gave him a certain degree of freedom that he took full advantage of, recognizing that somehow, Stone Monkey did not make a bad king even without his presence. His chosen companions also took their duties seriously, Ma never leaving the other’s side when in official business and Ba helping him navigate the political landscape, the other two taking their position as needed. He traveled instead, far and wide, for places he had missed and others he had never been, taking months on the road.

He always returned, with a story and gifts, to the delight of the court.

Unknowingly to many of the new recruits and members of the kingdom, Macaque’s absence did not mean he wasn’t aware of what happened there. He knew of the questioning Stone Monkey went through with his new allies and advisors, of the macaque’s presence and motive and what advantage would he ever give to the kingdom. Stone Monkey did not tell them of their relationship and did not tell them Macaque was probably the best spy one could have and one of the most deadly monkeys he knew. Instead, he shifted the conversations with surprising dexterity. Or fought hand to hand if the others grew aggressive and started to question his rule, always winning.

Ma had done well training him.

Those that tried to do a coup or assassinate the king? If they were not caught while Macaque was out of the kingdom by one of the loyal four, they would be found blabbering about nonsense, asking for forgiveness and mercy to the king, the six-eared macaque next to the throne smiling, knowingly. The Monkey King never outwardly acknowledges his presence in these times though in private he tried to chide the older one that he hadn’t needed to get so far, they didn’t need to lose their mind when they were already going to lose their life after all.

It was a peaceful ruling despite everything, so of course the status quo had to change when he least expected.

Macaque finished the last story he had, enjoying the awed face of the cubs in the room, when Liu caught his attention and gestured for him to follow him.

“It’s your fault our king is having a crisis,” the monkey said blithely.

 Macaque blinked as he walked beside him “What do you mean?”

“Our king is having a mortality crisis,” Liu replied, seeming unsurprised by it “Suspicious timing for him to focus on it considering how peaceful it has all been,”

Macaque decided not to comment on the disguised accusation. He was fairly certain the first loyal four (as they were now called) had long noticed the increasing immortality stories he pushed onto Stone Monkey and his court. He was also pretty certain Stone Monkey himself was aware of the manipulation, considering how perceptive he was. 

Memories of a long time ago had been haunting Macaque lately, the warnings of mortality among his kind making him feel desperate. He could not teach his own immortality secrets to Stone Monkey, with them not being compatible and fearing the other losing his life to the shadows. He might have, however, given suggestions . It’s not as if the kingdom needed the king always present after all, not when everything was peaceful.

Besides, Ma and Liu themselves had always requested those types of stories too, Ma adding a few she had known from when she had been young on occasion.

When arriving at the throne room, a roar of approval showed that the kingdom’s subjects certainly weren’t complaining about the impromptu choice of going on a journey of immortality if the sudden chants were to be believed.

The preparations were swift, Macaque advising on the minimum he should take and of the dangers he could find. He considered warning the other that the Chinese in FlowerFruit mountain was so antiquated that humans outside wouldn’t really understand him.

Nah, Stone Monkey needed some challenges or else it wouldn’t be fun.

In three days, the king was on his own journey, the kingdom celebrating his braveness and praying for good luck. Beng leaned on Macaque and asked “How long will your vacation take? I know you aren’t sticking around without our king for long.”

Macaque replied, after drinking a hearty gulp of his cup of wine “I’m not putting my feet here again unless Sto- Monkey King returns.”

“Yeah, we figured,” Ma said, sitting down next to them with her own cup filled to the brim “We got you a travel bag, it’s in your room. Got you a nice gift there too,” she added, casually.

Macaque… wasn’t sure what to say with the gesture. In none of the other times the others had helped organize for his journeys, he had even thought they were resentful of him going away. Neither seemed bothered by the ensuing silence, Beng filling it with inane conversation, Liu and even Ba eventually joining them as the party went on.

He went away in the night, with his new cloak and bag.

-:::-:::-

Two decades were a decent amount of time to get immortality. Macaque was going to ignore that it usually took far longer over the fact that the ones in the stories were not Spiritual Monkeys.

He had gotten distracted with a few personal quests the last decade, so he only realized Stone Monkey had returned to FlowerFruit Mountain by the honestly intimidating roar he had heard in that direction. Swiftly, with his newly gained, hopefully not cursed, shadow lantern helping with his control on the shadows, he used shadow portals to shorten the way to the mountain, antsy to know the details of the journey. Despite being half a world over, the trip took only a couple of months, and in that time he could hear the mountain inhabitants cheering their king’s victory and plans for a festivity and allyship.

When he returned, several monkeys hadn’t recognised him and it took him a bit to remember his ears were still glamored. He liked the anonymity however, so he kept the glamor on. He went through the crowd and slipped into a shadow until he was next to Liu, who was now his height and proudly using armor and a lance as a weapon. 

“So,” he said, ignoring the startle and fumbling with the weapon the younger monkey did “What has been happening?”

Annoyed by being startled by the shadow magician, the other monkey told everything. Including the Demon King of Confusion taking over for a while.

“When did that happen?!”

“A few years ago,” Liu replied dryly and then continued, awe in his voice as he explained how the Monkey King beat the other easily… and then started an allyship with the other nine demon kings. The party was a celebration of that.

Macaque didn’t like the other kings, having dealt with them on occasion, but couldn’t deny being allies with them would be a great political advantage. Even if FlowerFruit Mountain was mostly isolated from the rest of the kingdoms.

Liu hid from the other that their Monkey King had decided to be blood brothers with them. He was angry that the other hadn’t returned to help them with the Demon King of Confusion. 

“Oh yeah,” Liu added offhandedly “He has another name now, given by his Master,” Macaque perked at that and looked at him curiously “Sun Wukong.”

The older Macaque mouthed it a few times “It fits him,” he admitted, a bit annoyed another person gave such a well fitting name to his cub.

“Yeah, he is also now Grandpa Sun to all his subjects,” Liu laughed at Macaque’s expression. 

The damn monkey was on the younger end of the population still, not even middle aged by their standards. Young adult at best, and he wanted to be Grandpa Sun?

Macaque shook his head and sighed. Saying goodbye to Liu, he went looking for his now immortal cub, excitement building up as the fact that Stone monkey was now immortal, like him, really hit him.

‘ With immortality, powers and allies, even Stone Monkey shouldn’t get in that much trouble for the next couple of centuries.’

-:::-:::-

Macaque started to fear going on long journeys, as it seemed the other did manage to get into troublesome situation.

“What do you mean you threatened a Dragon King for a weapon . And clothes ?” he asked.

“They weren’t doing anything with it,” Wukong defended himself “And the outfit was needed. I mean, with this weapon, I needed something to match,” 

“I… literally have no words to say to that.”

A moment of silence, both deciding to return to their star watching, laying down on the sand, a few ways away from the waterfall.

“By the way I think I died a few days ago,”

“YOU DID WHAT-”

“I GOT BETTER!”

-:::-:::-

Macaque didn’t trust the Celestial Realm. Neither did Ma or Ba but Wukong had always been stubborn in his convictions, and for all that he loved his kingdom, there was a part of him that was curious of other places, especially ones that are supposed to be wondrous.

When he returned, huffing about being given such a lowly job, Macaque was present. The older monkey admitted to himself to feeling some relief and he knew Ba felt the same from their conversations. And then the visiting Demon Kings, the blood brothers (much to Macaque’s ongoing chagrin) riled Wukong up again, and talked about titles and suddenly the king was fighting deities and winning and Macaque honestly wasn’t sure what to do. He certainly couldn’t go hand to hand with Prince Nezha himself . The realization on how different their power levels were from one another hit him then and he was unsure whether what he felt was relief or not.

He ignored the bit of jealousy that he felt as Prince Nezha retreated.

The Star of Venus returned and affirmed Wukong had the title and then Wukong went to the celestial realm again, ignoring Ba’s and Macaque’s reservations.

The Six-eared Macaque had a bad feeling, growing as each year passed. He felt a bit of comfort that the time difference meant he probably wasn’t getting into that much trouble. It wasn’t even a year there.

If only he knew, Macaque would have cuffed him in the ear and dragged him away from the peach trees himself.

He was nearby when Wukong returned to the kingdom, sharing immortality wine and smiling too tightly, gathering the troops as quickly as he could without provoking panic. He returned to an angry army, the loyal four and Wukong finishing the war preparations.

When they spoke to one another, Wukong raged with wounded pride and admitted to his rash actions, not feeling any regret but that he might lose some of his subjects. Their fight was heard only by Liu and Beng, who made sure no other member got close enough to hear.

Then the celestial army came down, but they were winning but then they were captured, hostages.

Wukong went down.

“Macaque you can’t!” Ma stopped him, grabbing one of his arms, ignoring her injured leg and the cut on her face, pointedly not looking at her king.

“THEY ARE HURTING HIM,” Erlang then stabbed Wukong on the back and Macaque struggled in their grip, desperate, hearing the pained grunt from his Stone Monkey.

You will lose them.

“YOU CAN’T HELP HIM,” Beng yelled before getting elbowed in the throat, choking and coughing, releasing him. Liu lunged at the celestial monkey before he could enter a portal, ignoring that he could be dragging Ma with him, and got him on a chokehold, wincing as he heard Macaque’s sob.

They all knew not even him could fight against deities.

Heaven took Wukong from them, hurt and trussed up, a lamb to the slaughter.

You will lose them.

-:::-:::-

Erlang returned and burnt FlowerFruit Mountain to the ground a few days after.

For the first time since he entered FlowerFruit Mountain to save Stone Monkey, Macaque left, never planning to come back.

-:::-:::-

There was an earthquake and mutterings about a monkey trapped beneath a mountain, traveling in the yaoguai grapevine. 

If we have no attachment to this world, we cease to live.

Macaque didn’t pay attention, still grieving.

We are the only ones around Six-Ears.

[throneofsapphics]

the ebb and flow of fate epilogue 

(part one) (part two) (part three) (part four) (part five)

Cazriel x f!Reader

Summary: “Pure silence filled the room, and Feyre shifted on her feet, wondering if maybe she’d crossed a line.”

Warnings: illness, mentions of violence, death, & blood

A/N: I’m sad this is over, but I've really enjoyed writing it. thank you all so much for your love on this little series <3

She took a deep breath,  steeling herself for this conversation. “When I die-“

“We don’t know -“ Cassian interrupted.

“Please,” she cut him off. “Just .. I need to say this.” 

His mouth tightened, but he nodded.

“Don’t give up. This world still needs both of you,” she swallowed harshly. The tears had already come. 

“And it doesn’t need you?” Azriel said, voice breaking half way through. 

“The world doesn’t get a choice, with me.” 

Cassian ran one hand through his hair, gripping hard enough she thought he might tear it out. “I can’t lose you. Not like this.” 

She snorted. Azriel’s eyes narrowed, he didn’t find this amusing, not one bit, but he knew laughter and humor was one of her coping mechanisms. 

“Do you think I want to die?”

“I didn’t say -” She held her hand up, and Cassian’s mouth slammed shut. Her mouth quirked up at the corner, well trained. Azriel rolled his eyes. She did hold both of their leashes, but he wouldn’t tell her that. 

“It’s happening. I refuse to insult myself or the healers pretending otherwise,” she reached out her hands, palms up, and they each took one without hesitation. “If you want to be angry, do it when I'm dead or not looking. I’m the sick one, you have to listen to me.” 

Cassian looked like he was about to disagree, thought better of it, and pulled her into his chest. “We’ll see who’s listening to who tonight,” he muttered, pressing a kiss to the top of her hair. 

-

Pure destruction stood in front of him. A killing field. Some parts scorched, raw power incinerating everything in its path, others still coated with blood and mismatched body parts. There would be no identifying who had fallen. 

Rhys would never be glad his cousin died, not in millenia, but he’s glad she didn’t have to see the war waged. She’d died weeks before it broke out, and triggered a deadly rage in both Cassian and Azriel. One the world might never see again. 

-

They never missed starfall. 

“You’ll still get to see me once a year.” She waved her hand towards the sky, about to say the most ridiculous love-sick words he’d ever heard, “I’ll be waiting for you, my spirit still traveling between worlds. We’ll find each other in whatever comes after, in the next life, maybe even shoot through time and space together.” 

Cassian’s mouth quirked up at one corner, before he picked her up and spun her in circles until she flicked his wing. 

Cassian braced his forearms on the railing, eyes fixed on the sky. “Which one do you think is her?” He didn’t need to look to know Az was right beside him. They asked this question every year, and each time came up with a different answer. He liked to think she was switching forms, maybe trying to play a joke on them, or play another game. 

-

Azriel peered down in the Cauldron again, after pulling Amren out. He’d hoped, foolishly, that she might be in there too. 

He knew Amren, even spluttering and catching her breath, caught his movement. Azriel tried to avoid her, but she eventually caught up to him and Cassian.  

“She wasn’t there,” the sorrowful, almost pitying, look in her eyes pissed him off. 

“I didn’t ask,” he said coolly. 

“Maybe not,” she assessed him. “But there’s your closure.” 

“What … what does it mean, she wasn’t there?” Cassian asked. 

“It means her soul isn’t trapped in limbo.” 

Azriel really, really didn’t want to speak about this, but Cassian kept going. “So she’s moved on?” 

“No,” Amren said sharply. “It means she’s waiting for you idiots,” Amren really never missed the chance to throw an insult in there, “in peace.” 

Cassian caught Azriel’s eye. In peace. It was a small comfort, like a bandaid stuck on a gaping wound. He knew she wanted him to move on, to go find his “peace,” but it was never the same without her. An empty space inside of him he couldn’t fill. For years, he avoided every reminder of her, did everything he could to drown out the screaming abyss threatening to tug him under. It took Cassian to pull him out, to knock some sense into him and tell him she’d be pissed off. 

-

“Cassian and Azriel had a mate.” Rhys told her quietly. Feyre paused. The sorrow in his voice threw her off. Had. 

“What happened?” She asked softly. 

“She died. Y/n was my cousin, Mor’s younger sister.” 

A part of her heart shattered. She hadn’t known he had another cousin, or that Mor had a sister. They never spoke of her. Feyre didn’t … she didn’t like that. Not that she hadn’t been told, but that they weren’t keeping her memory alive. Maybe that was unfair of her, all things considered she hadn’t been around them that long, and some wounds never truly heal. 

“Will you show me her?” She let Rhys read the silent request in her eyes; I’ll make a portrait. Her mate swallowed, before giving a short nod. 

Winter Solstice came, and to say Feyre was nervous would be an understatement. She’d decided to pull Azriel and Cassian aside before, not certain if they’d want a vulnerable moment like this in front of the rest of them. 

She handed them two identical portraits, wrapped in soft paper. 

Cassian shot her a grin, “Finally take up the offer to paint me in the nude?” 

Feyre snorted, huffing out a laugh. “Open it.” 

They both did. Pure silence filled the room, and Feyre shifted on her feet, wondering if maybe she’d crossed a line. 

For the first time, she felt like she could see every raw emotion going through Azriel’s features. 

Rhys had shown her a specific image, the three of them perched on the roof of the Townhouse, her feet swinging back and forth over the edge, a glass of wine in one hand. Azriel’s shadows subtly pinning her - keeping her from tumbling into the rose bushes. She leaned to the side, Cassian standing trying to snatch the glass from her - a wide grin on his face. Azriel watched from behind, amusement lining his features. An open emotion she hadn’t seen frequently from the male. Her mate had flown in, catching the perfect angle. 

Cassian carefully placed the painting on the table - like it was made of pure gold, and wrapped her in a tight hug. 

taglist: @infinitely-kate @foreverrandomwritings, @anuttellaa @morelovemorepeacemoretattoo-blog @justasillylittlegoofyguy, @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @bookishdeer @sidthedollface2 @mis-lil-red, @acourtofbatboydreams @blessthepizzaman @hallucynatiing @summerloversposts @i-am-infinite @fanfiction-for-my-soul, @brandywineeeee, @oktievia @inloveallthetime, @sleepylunarwolf

[skrbol]

Percy Jackson Headcanons Pt.2

(Some of these tie into the first part)

-Powers

The gods adapt to modern day but only partially, they reflect the way their domains were in ancient Greece or Rome more than how they are now. Their children on the other hand have adapted. Poseidon remains the god of the old sea, the unexplored, the terrifying depths that few would dare to enter.

Percy is the son of a much newer sea, one that has been home to all manners of beings. Millenia of people coexisting and traveling the ocean has given it some newer powers. When Percy needs help and does not have the energy to raise a storm he can sing, the songs of pirates, of sailors, he can funnel the lives of all those who lived and died by the sea into magic. A magic that belongs to the sea, that has become one with the sea. Some even rumor that the Princess Andromeda was pursued by the ghost ship herself, The Flying Dutchman, the seas wrath wrought upon it by Percy’s hand.

Clarisse has a similar power. The Spartans her father swears by never did get much into things outside battle. But as times changed so did war. During capture the flag when all seems lost its been said that the songs of marches seems to emanate from the children of war, empowering their allies. When they are beat down and tired, they die with their backs strong, a distant chant of "a Hell of a way to die" blowing in the wind. And when Silena Beauregard perished the battlefield fell silent as a memorial for a fallen friend rang through the air.

-Appearance

Most demigods use the mist to hide their blemishes. Percy is no different, he hides his scars, some from monsters, some from accidents, and some from Gabe. But the biggest thing he hides is his skin. Percy has fought many gods, titans, immortals, you name it. They have left their mark on him. When Percy defeated Hyperion the golden ichor that fell from his wounds never washed away, when he fought more titans in the pit it added to it. His body has always been an amalgamation of scars and tattoos, now it has splashes of the golden blood of immortals and the green blood of the more powerful monsters he killed thrown in the mix.

Him and Annabeth have theorized why it only happens to him and struggled to find an answer. It was only after Thanatos informs them that he understands. The fates wanted to remind the gods that they aren’t infallible. How better to do it than to mark their savior, the most pertinent demigod of all, with the blood of the immortals he’s beaten on the quest to save them. After all it isn’t only titans whom Percy has made bleed

-Vendetta

Percy frequently had to fend off fights from gods before the war. Every other week it’s either Ares or Athena wanting a fight. At least Artemis stopped after he hit her with his car and Dionysius after he broke his knees with a brick thrown at Mach 1. But these two are so persistent it doesn’t matter if it’s knives, swords, spears, fists. He even beat Athena with a waffle iron once. They just never seem to give up. It doesn’t help that Phobos,Deimos,and Enyo seem insistent on fighting him too.

-Trauma

(t/w: suicidal thoughts, Substance Abuse, and Self Harm mentioned )

After the second Titan War Percy and Clarisse where fast on the track to self-destruction. It all came to a head when they encountered each other in their old bunker, hidden deep in the woods. It was a place where they would hang out and have fun with Beckendorf, Silena, and Lee. All of them gone. Percy saw Clarrise holding a bottle of malt liquor, he himself had just felt a bullet break against the impenetrable skin of his temple, the only way to feel. They saw each other and made a pact to keep each other alive, to confide in each other and help each other until eventually they got past self inflicted wounds and survivors guilt. Both of them were supposed to be generals, supposed to be strong. So they were weak as friends, in private, until they became strong. Many think that only Annabeth or Chris could help them through an episode, but when it’s really bad it’s Percy or Clarrise coming to help the other.

-Parenting/Family

Annabeth is the full blown mama bear in the mortal world, she's at every parent teacher conference, every open school night, holiday parties, EVERYTHING. Gods help the school that tries to shun her kid for having ADHD and dyslexia, she will rain hell on them. She makes sure to listen to her kids side of the story before making up her mind.

Percy on the other hand is pretty laid back, until the Greek side of the family gets involved then all hell breaks loose. No child of his is going a quest before they're fourteen, thank you very much. Aphrodite needs to find her hairbrush for the 12th time this decade? She can go hook up with some actor and make a kid to do it for her, his child won't be risking their life for a fucking hairbrush.

Thalia, Piper, and Reyna are all in equal competition for the cool aunt title. It’s a much less intense competition than the vine riddled flaming skeletal mess that is Grover, Nico, and Leo’s competition to be the favorite uncle. (In reality Frank and Hazel have already claimed the titles)

Grandma Sally is a favorite of all the kids, and both Annabeth and Percy find family dinner where Athena glares at Poseidon from across the table very amusing.

-Protectiveness

Percy has always had a “me and mine” mentality. That is to say he’s fiercely protective of his friends and himself. That is why he fought in the wars. That is why he mouths off to the Olympians. Everything he does is to protect his friends and family, not the gods who sit and watch, but his siblings who fight next to him, who he protects with each battle.

His rage during the Battle of Manhattan was equally about his sorrow for losing members of his family as it was about protecting Annabeth. Even to this day demigod veterans remember his anger when he found that the enemy rolled a Panzer tank through HIS PEOPLE into HIS CITY. -Safehouse

Sally has an open door policy to all demigods. If you’re on a quest and you need a safe place to sleep or a meal you’re welcome to stay. Even the Hunters have taken advantage of such a boon. Not once had there ever been a monster attack on the apartment.

A couple people have theorized on how this works and the best answer is Percy is so terrifying to the monsters that know to stay away from his mother. And they’d be partially right, but Sally Jackson knows better. Because she’s the one who put the shotgun with celestial bronze ammo next to the door. Percy got his protectiveness from somewhere, and it wasn’t the God of the Seas.

[skyeblue8]

Honestly Eve would have worked better as Rosie instead of the real Lilith. Like I can imagine Adam and Eve were living their best lives in Eden at the time until Lucifer & Lilith did conniving things to get the former two Divine Humans kicked out of Eden. The two of them do their best to comfort each other the best they can as they get older but Eve will be nursing growing grudges over time and it will not just be her Exile from Eden but also from different tragedies like Abel and Cain. Once Eve finally dies God gives her the choice to either ascend to Heaven with her husband or be damned in Hell and Eve, with slight hesitation, chooses the latter in order to exact her revenge on the King and Queen of Hell. Many Millenia's fly by and Eve hasn't come close yet to exact her vengeance and unfortunately for Eve she gets payed a visit by the Queen, taken away to the Royal Magne Castle and is made to suffer every torment imaginable as both Lucifer and Lilith are done indulging her 'little games.' Eventually Eve is freed but is almost a shell of her former self and what is worse is that her powers are now halved due to a curse given to her by the royal couple and she will spend many millennia using spells and magical items to store power within them since she can no longer grow her own. Thus, we have our current Eve turned Rosie who picks and chooses her battles carefully and who will eventually become one of the few reluctant allies the Hazbin Hotel will have at their side.

I hope I didn't give Eve any badly written female character vibes in this.

I'm sorry, I'm confused on how Eve is being incorporated into the series. That being said, I think this concept you came up with may actually be interesting to explore story-wise. But again, I'm confused about the whole "Eve" thing.

[theshadowsingersraven]

I'm just saying that if I was Rhys, and Az came to me questioning "What if the Cauldron was wrong?" And I had the knowledge that "...It fell into the wrong hands. And great and horrible things were done with it. Things were forged with it. Such wicked things that the Cauldron was eventually stolen back at great cost." from the Bone Carver from nearly two years ago, and I didn't tell Azriel that to support his line of thinking...it's probably because I know he doesn't genuinely believe that and is just trying to find a divine guarantee that he should be allowed to be with this person that he knows better than to try and dally with. It's probably also because I was in his head to give him the message to come up to my office and thus was exposed to his thoughts, which is probably only confirmation of my thinking because of how similar we are.

And if I were SJM, I probably would've left more apparent narrative hints that the two instances of "wrong bonds" that I referenced could've been because of that time "great and horrible things were done with the Cauldron" if I'd intended for that to be an important aspect of the bonds. Not just having two biased characters question why a bond is the way it is when that can easily just be dismissed as conflict.

[CC3 SPOILERS] And I especially wouldn't have set it up where a being that is older than Prythian itself was mated to a fae in Prythian only for them to later say that they don't know where the bonds comes from. Because that ancient Prince of Hel would've had access to the Cauldron via his mate, and if anyone could've determined for sure that the Cauldron affects or determines mates, it would've been them.

Because all that just sounds like conflict and stakes for a future mating bond to have to overcome, and a part of Azriel’s character arc of overcoming his jealousy and self-worth issues. Not that the Cauldron being used to create the Trove by the Asteri meant that (conveniently) only some of the mate bonds were made "wrong" despite them being powerful and conniving enough to stay in power for millenia. Because surely, that's kind of a huge mistake to overlook, isn't it? To not ensure that the people you're oppressing can't become more powerful via the bonds that might create more powerful offspring? Why wouldn't you spend those thousands of years in power fine-tuning that balance so you have enough power to feed off of, but not get overthrown?

Just saying.

[gmanwhore]

I finished my short story! Could I get a little read over before I send it in from my friends please? It's called I Look Into the Universe and See You

“Do you promise to give this Wormling the life it would have with a guardian of another species? Do you promise that you will give them the education they need?” The Matron Worm’s eye bored into Kuria’s. It wasn’t an interrogation but one could never be too careful as to who was raising their youth. Each Wormling was precious and important. Kuria knew this. She also knew that it was rare for a full grown Space Worm to care for a Wormling themselves due to the nature of full grown Space Worms. Still, she felt a stong need to raise a child of her own, and what better species to raise but her own? She wouldn’t be crushed that she would outlive them by millenia, and they could explore the universe together in peace. “Yes. With every part of my being.” The Matron Worm’s huge, undulating frame shifted smooth as a ribbon as she formed the words. Space Worm language was a mixture of almost computer-like chirps and movements of their long bodies, it was akin to watching the northern lights dance across the sky. This time, however, it was even more spectacular to Kuria because of what was being said. “You may care for a Wormling. Let’s go find one for you.” The Wormlings were in a squirming mass, like caterpillars or kittens. They wer very noisy, trying out their voices. Kuria dipped down to see them, only for one to free itself from the ball to inspect her. It rubbed against her, and it chirped happily. “Aww…does this little one have a name?” The Matron Worm joined them. “That’s Gammen. They were a bit shy earlier…they must like you.” Kuria nuzzled her head against Gammen’s. “They’re perfect. Do they already know the basics?” “Yes. I trained them myself.” “Perfect! We’ll have an amazing time together, right Gammen?” Gammen chirped again, wrapping his body around Kuria’s. Kuria thanked the Matron Worm, and floated off. The two left the White Void. “Hm…where to first? Oh! Juliana would love to meet you, kid!” Gammen chirped curiously. They weren’t quite saying words yet, but from the tone of the chirp and context they were obviously confused. Kuria didn’t explain, they just floated to the void of space. Their body began to shift and change, becoming more humanoid but still glowing white. They put Gammen-who was still a sinophore-like creature-on their shoulders before simply phasing out of reality and into a new one. The place they now where looked almost like a cross between a preschool, a hospital, and playground. It was huge, much bigger then the foyer they were currently in which itself was the size of the main floor of a townhouse. Beings that looked like various furry animals moved around occasionally noticing the new arrivals but not saying anything. The beings flicked into reality and out of it every so often. It was similar to watching an office building, but without the bustle and rush. The whole area had an aura of safe and calm. Eventually a tall cat-like humanoid in a very cutesy maid outfit approached them, her tail flicking happily. “Kuria! You’re back!” “Juliana!” They ran up to each other, catching each other in their arms, Kuria eventually lifting Juliana up and spinning her around in her arms until she was laughing uncontrollably. Even after Kuria put her down they stayed in each other’s arms. “I missed you…you are always gone for so long…” Kuria gently cupped Juliana’s face in her hands and kissed her nose. “I know, I am so sorry. Time is very odd for me, I lose track of it all the time!” Juliana couldn’t help but laugh a little, holding her beloved Kuria closer. “It’s ok, I know I’ll always see you again. You are so loyal.”

Kuria pulled away slightly. “One sec! I have someone for you to meet! You’ll love them.” They separated, and Kuria held out her arm where Gammen was resting. Juliana squealed and automatically reached a paw out for them to inspect. Gammen stayed tight to Kuria at first, but slowly extended to rub against Luiciana’s paw. They never unwound themself from Kuria, only reached over to Luiciana. Once they felt comfortable, they let out a happy trill and rolled their tiny body in her fur. Luiciana looked about ready to cry from happiness. “They are such a darling…” Kuria gently rubbed the back of Gammen’s head with a finger. “They’re ours.”

The two hugged again, careful not to crush Gammen between them. They both looked at the tiny creature with the utmost love in their eyes. After what felt like eternity they let go of each other. “Gammen and I need to go now. There’s lots to explore, I want to teach them everything!”

Luciana smiled sadly, her paws lingering on Kuria’s arms. “Please come back to visit. I will wait, I promise.” Kuria pulled Gammen back into her arms and gave Luiciana a kiss in the same motion. “I know you will. I love you.”

“I love you too.” With that, Kuria faded back into the universe they had been in prior to visiting the Care Center. They placed Gammen in their lap and sat, floating in the void of space and watching as it went about it’s business. The stars blazed with their millions reactions that were both completely calculated and also wild and unpredictable. Planets spun around in their dance, drawn in by the stars gravity but if you were to think about it maybe it was the beauty of them that kept the planets in their course. “Look at it, Gammen. Look at all of it. This is your home. We’re gonna explore it all.” Kuria brought Gammen up so that they could look into Gammen’s eye. “We are gonna do it together. You are going to be amazing. You’ll help so many people, you’ll be loved and hated and you’ll feel everything there is to feel and people will get that same pleasure. Are you excited?” To their surprise, Gammen formed a word. “Yes!”

Kuria raised Gammen up high. “That’s the spirit!”

Kuria shifted back into her giant worm shape and, after making sure Gammen was snug against her, sped off like a dragon. They wove and ducked, twirling around in the massive void of space. They could go on forever, never touching anything, but what kind of life was that? They corkscrewed down, heading right towards a gas giant planet and going straight down into it and letting the constant storm buffet them both around. Gammen’s body tightened around Kuria’s, not out of fear of the storm but fear they would lose their caretaker. Kuria never let them go. They simply curled up and they both launched from the planet’s atmosphere. Gammen grew up quickly, mastering transforming perfectly and learning to simply project onto the universe instead of being fully present to avoid injury. Once Gammen began to speak, they went to populated planets. It was always a race to get there, though Kuria always let Gammen win. Their favorite planet was an almost pluto sized planet in the Andromeda system that was so out of the way barely anyone knew of it’s existence. The only living things on it were fungi and plants. It was as close to paradise one could get. “I took your mother here for our honeymoon. Honeymoon’s are a human thing, you know. Marriages are more common across the universe.” “Oh! Is…is the moon of this planet made of honey?” “No, no. It’s just a little trip taken after a marriage so that the two people can just relax and enjoy each other.”

“It sounds nice.”

“It was nice. I hope to take her here again.” “Mother?”

“Yes?” Gammen figeted, ensure of how to word their question. “What’s other Mother like?” Kuria smiled, letting out a sigh as they called back all the memories they had with their beloved. “She is beautiful. She has the softest fur I have ever felt, and her eyes…oh, they are like the void of space. Her voice is like nothing else, it could put even the most worked up person to sleep. There is no one as kind and sweet as your mother. She could love anyone. I love her more then the stars.” Kuria smiled down at Gammen, a hint of sadness crossing her face. “Should we visit her?”

“Yes please!” Gammen lit up. Kuria couldn’t help but feel happy as well. 

“Alright. Let’s bring her some flowers! She’ll love them, I know it.”

They both shifted into their more humanoid forms, Kuria being her bright imposition on the universe while Gammen chose a more shadowy form to contrast. They both gathered a bouquet each of the best blossoms they could find, making very sure to only take a single flower of each kind. Once they were done, it was a simple teleport trip away from the Care Center. They stood side by side, waiting for Juliana to appear. They did not wait long. “You two are back!” Juliana ran over, and Gammen raised up their bunch of flowers. “These are for you Mother!”

Kuria handed her bunch over as well.

“They are from the plant planet we went to on our honeymoon.” Juliana gratefully took both bouquets, but had to put them down so she could wrap both Kuria and Gammen in her arms, tears gently clining to the fur around her eyes. “I am so lucky to have the two of you…” Kuria pressed a kiss into the side of Juliana’s head.

“I think we’re luckier.” Juliana pulled away to admire how Gammen had grown. “You are so big now! You can talk, you…Oh, I am just so proud!” She held their face, her black eyes filled with pure adoration. She took care of so many people, but this was her child. She saw nothing but perfection in them. “I wish you could stay here.” “Who says they can’t?” Juliana looked up at Kuria in shock.

“Really? But…they travel with you! I mean, I would love to care for them and have them with me but-”

“No buts. If they want to stay here with you for a bit I won’t say no. They are a very good listener, I promise.” Luciana looked over to Gammen. “Do you want to stay?” Gammen nodded hard. “Yes, please! If you don’t mind.” “I don’t mind at all, sweetheart.”

She picked up Gammen and nuzzled her nose against his. Kuria wrapped her arms around the two.

“I love you two so much. I’ll be back before you know it, please don’t worry.” Kuria let go, giving Gammen a kiss on the forehead and Luciana a kiss on the lips before she was gone. Gammen began to cry a bit. They buried their face in Luciana’s shoulder, and she rocked them gently.

“Shh…mama’s got you now. Mother will be back.” “She…She’s never left me before…” Luciana lifted Gammen’s head up by under their chin, and gave him a small smile. “You’ve never felt this, have you? When someone you love leaves and you miss them because you can’t see them?”

Gammen nodded. She wasn’t surprised, he was a little too young to miss her.

“I know how you feel, Gammy. Everytime she leaves I feel sad too, but I’ll tell you a secret. Not matter how far away Kuria is…I know she thinks of me, and I think of her. We’ll never really be apart. Same with you. No matter where any of us are, we are always together.” “Really? You promise?” “I promise. Now, let’s get to work, ok?” Luciana walked off with Gammen in her arms.

Gammen stayed with Luciana for a while, learning how she and her species.worked. They helped her care for the people brought to the Care Center, leaning about how to heal a wound. They also learned how to make someone feel better, how to hold a child, how to keep your voice low and calm, and how to be next to someone in silence. Luciana made sure that they were by her side at all time, so they could learn but also they would never feel. Eventually Gammen went back to travelling with Kuria.

Gammen kept growing. He got a job guiding people in a universe where the future was uncertain, but he loved them as much as his parents loved him. He adopted two children, and taught them to love just as he had been taught.

So the cycle goes on.

[i-bring-crack]

Since Tamayo had nowhere to go, it would have been nice to see Yoriichi take her in and help her deal with her demonic instincts.

Like I just imagine poor Yoriichi doing his best to help an enraged and hungry Tamayo, trying to give her foxes and other bugs to see if it would suffice but nothing seems to help, so he is like... what about water? It somewhat helps?? But no human, and possibly no demon also, can simply drink water all their lives so he tries to give her Tea. Seeing as this is the only thing she can drink without puking it right back out again, Tamayo decides to take the Tea.

Great bonus I just thought about: Tamayo and Yoriichi duo hunting down Muzan again :D.

[Maybe a bit of redemption in there with Tamayo trying to repent from her past killing by becoming a midwife or a nurse and with Yoriichi's help no mother and child are dying under their watch mate.]

With Tamayo's influencer, that could track Kokushibo faster and maybe kill him him.

Orrrr~~ With Tamayo's blood demon art they could turn him to their side, by actually trying to reconcile them: Yoriichi getting to know about Michikatsu's inferiority complex, Michikatsu learning about Uta and finally being convinces by his brother's words that he was loved dearly by Yoriichi.

You know, you know.

It won't be easy at first since Michikatsu is still conflicted, so he runs away, and with Muzan still recovering, he slowly begins to have some doubts that Muzan can't erase completely but will try to Sweeter his envy with words. [and just like Tamayo, Muzan's cells begin to loose control over him, to the point that he might have uttered Muzan's name without thinking and still live.]

Oh right we can't forget about Sumiyoshi and Suyako who upon meeting her, are quite scared [granted everyone is scared, Yoriichi is the most worried due to Tamayo's hunger just bearly being controlled after a decade in a cage, but doesn't show it a lot] but over the many visits, they begin to grow fond of her and eventually accept her and trust her [faster than Yoriichi had done.]

Even better is that one day Yoriichi brought some flowers that where blooming in front of his deceased wife and then Tamayo sees those flowers and is like "Oh. They are real." She doesn't know whenever to be happy, or scared o dream of their existence, either way she panics a lot when they start wilting and tries to get them to a safe space but the moment they meet the shadows, their petals fall off.

Tamayo almost falls to despair at the loss of the flowers until Suyako says that they are always delicate like so but in a few years they should grow back. And Tamayo, demon that she is, will be willing to wait a millenia for those flowers, so she stays with them.

I feel like Tamayo would be the most fond of the Kamado children, but would always be scared to touch them, because, you know... still the children, especially Sumire, would like to watch her from afar and maybe learn more about the pretty flowers Tamayo always studies.

[Hahah Sumire you have two figuratively angels as your parents who get to pass down the most powerful sword techniques to kill demons, the most powerful man in the world as your uncle and the only demon that has ever managed to break of the demonic curse, as your aunt. And they all love you very much.. Ahhaha]

Maybe while Yoriichi is still hunting down(to talk to) his brother, Tamayo is doing her best to make an anti kibutsuji drug that could make him turn human or at least kill all of his cells. With more help of

Yoriichi is finally at his old age, and its quite sad for Tamayo that he doesn't want to get turned into a demon, even when she could make a drug for him, but alas Yoriichi wants to die in the same way as he was born.

But you know who willing to take the antidote that will make them turn into a demon who is not under Muzan's control???

Kokushibo~

Though Yoriichi and Tamayo convince him that he should just turn into a human instead but 1) they still don't have that Anti Kibutsuji drug and 2) Regardless of the outcome, the past can't be changed so it better to make amend by helping the innocent and providing for the weak.

Kokushibo is no more and now there is just the demon Michikatsu.

Muzan is not pleased at all to learn he has lost one of his most valuable assets in the world and, bearly recovered, he sets out to find the location of Michikatsu and kill that traitor along with Tamayo.

In the Kamado house he meets Yoriichi again, though very frail.

Their last fight ends with Yoriichi dying while Tamayo, Michikatsu and The Kamado family escape.

Tamayo has the ingredients needed to create the drug, Michikatsu never needs to eat humans again and is able to live with just so little dosages of blood. And the Kamados are tasked with keeping the sun tradition alive.

Michikatsu already reconciled with his brother, accepts his decision and decides to take care of the Kamado family throughout the ages.

Tamayo does the same but only from afar as she still needs to travel and find more medical knowledge to expand her research.

Great, the Kamados now have a demon uncle, who they later, through some more help and reconciliation, get to meet the decendants- and I just imagine how cute it would have been for Tanjiro and Muichiro to be learning from Michikatsu on how to properly use the Hinokami Kagura.

Or just Sumire still helping out Tamayo until the end.

Or that one last epic battle of Muzan and old Yoriichi where Yoriichi might have died but he certainly wounded enough for Muzan to be at rest for a long long time, which gradually didn't help since he might have passed the opportunity to make other new demons along the way.

Anyways I want more Sengoku. And more Tamayo and Yoriichi Interactions.

OH

Wait.

In that time of large gaps of Muzan not wandering around. Michikatsu and Tamayo find a few especial kids.

The first one being a young ill boy who wished to live longer and once he turns into a demon, he gets very attached to lady Tamayo, often looking very infatuated which is good for Michikatsu since it means he can take care of the Kamados and also spent time perfecting his breath.

Along the walks from the Kamados house to the Tokito house, he finds a certain criminal out there, wandering in the night and very very bloody. At first he thought it was a demon and was ready to kill it but then he noticed it wasn't and is ready to take him to get some help but before he could do anything the boy attacks him.

Michikatsu is quite impressed watching his skills being so perfect at such a young age.

He must become a demon slayer!

So Michikatsu knocks him out and just throws him to a nearby cultivator that might still be willing to help.

It's one of the water cultivators, who takes care of the sudden boy that appeared in his house, Michikatsu sees it from afar and after noticing he is finally training, he leaves the boy be.

Years later he finds himself cornered by two pillars, one of them being the flame pillar and the other is another that cane in later....

"ITS YOU!"

Michikatsu is quite relieved to know he doesn't have to heavily injured the pillars[because that's the only way to stop them from finding him.] As the boy, Hakuji, helps Rengoku understand that this demon was the one to save him and bring him to the cultivator.

"Well that has certainly never happened before!"

Rengoku is quite confused but is willing to listen about Michikatsu being this demon that helps humans. Especially since his friend Hakuji would never be the one to lie.

In the end, Michikatsu isn't accepted back to the corps but is still considered a demon slayer and eventually helps improvise the other slayer techniques, by being a good model as to the power of a raw upper moon. It helps them grow quite rapidly in their skills and now the pillars are in a whole other level of strength, not to mention that the mark could always be passed down since Michikatsu has it. A curse really which is why Michikatsu warns them to never go past that limit unless they really are put in a life to death situation.

RenAka besties now.

And like, fight until the end of their lives.

Also the Rengoku family gets more knowledge about the fire breathing, eventually they go to watch the Hinokami Kagura and befriend the Kamados.

A few more generations pass and Yushiro is actually the one to pass through the red light district since he needs to bring in some medicines that Tamayo has asked to be sent to the poor brothels who couldn't afford medicine.

And then stumbles to see a kid so deformed with his burned sister, He initially passed by them first and then came back to help them after delivering the medicine. Eventually taking them to Tamayo who after trying her best to get them to live, asks them the same question that she did to Yushiro, if they want to live as demons all their live.

The boy is just fine with her sister being alive, no matter what, he only wants to protect her. So Tamayo takes it as a yes and makes them demons.

They are taken yo Michikatsu so he can deal with them better due to their physical power and manage to escape their urge for killing at the end.

Michikatsu gets to be really fond of them since it reminds him of his bond with Yoriichi.

Ume and Gyuutaro eventually become demon hunters also and maybe Michikatsu gives Gyuutaro another more privileged name, one that a great person would have. The same with Ume, and as requested he also puts the -Hime at the end of her name.

Now to the shipping because I got nothing else to do.

Lmao Michikatsu enjoying one of Nakime's concerts and begins to fall I love with her but one day Nakime tries to kill him for her next show, and sadly she can't... because demon Michikatsu.

But although he is disappointed about her being a murder [Which he also is?] He decides to give her up to the Slayer Corps. A good edition since she can now kill demons and use that thrill to perform even better than ever!

And eventually gets to marry her idk. Have an entire infinity fortress to cage Muzan in when she becomes a demon.

[somepinkthing]

Tbh until I played azure moon, I thought I totally agreed with edelgard's meritocracy, if not her methods of achieving it. But then azure moon dropped the whole parley scene along with the line, "It is the path of the strong, and so, it could only benefit the strong." And then claude said if people don't band together to find a solution, any change will only be temporary. And then I married yuri in my verdant wind playthrough and the ending plate said yuri worked hard to establish supports and education for the impoverished instead of just expecting them to rise themselves. And it just... got me thinking about it all

On the broad strokes, I still see where edelgard is coming from and her system is still better than what's currently in place. But, now that I'm revisiting crimson flower, I find that I do see the holes I didn't before. Namely, that the merit-system edelgard speaks of accounts for equality.... but not equity. She would open the doors to allow everyone the same opportunity but fails to account for those without the strength to take it. It's all well and good that now people like ferdinand or constance with their education and connections can contribute to society and rise by their own ability, but what about the poor farmer in a now-wartorn land? What can he contribute at this time? Can a society really be complete if it doesn't give their most vulnerable populations a chance? And I think that's where dimitri comes in. The story repeated in azure moon is that sometimes, people are gonna need help. Dimitri's focus as a leader is still rooted in protecting and serving his people. While less of a visionary than edelgard, he is more of a public servant for his people—both are important aspects of leadership. Azure moon also isn't a perfect ending. Something something the inherent eroticism of changing the structure of your government to mirror social change. You can't just do one and not the other. It's no good if you only give everyone an equal chance but put an unyielding focus on every man for themselves and fail to serve the needs of the vulnerable. But setting up social supports for those populations without giving them an opening to rise and take power for later generations will only work so long as the leader remains benevolent

Claude's methods don't clash as directly with the other two, but it does come with its own set of problems. Claude's main focuses are promoting freedom and dismantling ignorance. He believes in freedom of information, open borders, the right to live without unfair judgement, and a community focused way of living. He wants to dismantle ignorance in order to challenge social practices and norms. That means opening borders, promoting trade, educating the public... and leaving what that life looks like to the people to choose. The problem? This plan puts almost all the power in the hands of the public. There is, of course, nothing wrong with letting people decide their own future,,, but there is something to be said about the benefits of having guiding principles and rules to refer back to even while attempting to promote open-mindedness. His plans ultimately do account for both social and political change, the issue here boils down to the rewards vs the classic pitfalls of freedom and idealism within society. Educating people and promoting choices for all within society is what I'd consider the most sustainable plan BUT having a society that can't unite under anything is how the alliance became what it is. As good of a concept as it is, even claude knows slamming people with information and freedom without some guidance is asking for chaos

To their credit, all of the lords are able to acknowledge the fallacies in their way of thinking. Edelgard addresses it the least, but even she admits that she's always been aware that her path will crush people who need the current system for support—that people like manuela or catherine may end up crushed in the world she creates. Dimitri is much of the same, expressing contempt for the kingdom's politics and strict class culture. He is well aware that it cannot stay as is forever. Claude openly admits to needing people like byleth and lorenz to pave the road and guide the people in the beginning so that change doesn't become chaos and to ensure that greed doesn't ruin everything. His A-support with balthus confirms that the possibility that he'll lose control of the aftermath weighs on him and his C-support with cyril opens his eyes to a situation where a leader should have stepped in and taken control.

Basically, no matter what route you play through, the ending could be seen as just the beginning phases of social change and are not a perfect result. Hell, it's not even the finished product any of them imagined yet. And who's to say one is better than the other? Whose to say even the tightest authoritarian control could stem the chaos that follows drastic change? How can you be sure that releasing information will really encourage people to correct the crest system? Will correcting the crest system do anything to help a millenia of racism or will war just drive people inward? What if too much aid does make one class totally dependent on the other? What if failing to support the vulnerable just perpetuates the environment of the strong ruling over the weak but now under the guise of equality? How do you make people more open minded without forcing their hand? How are you sure that's the direction it'll go in? How do you account for the sudden lack of an organized religion which previously was the one thing tying three very different countries together? Especially when the only thing connecting them now is war? So, essentially, there is no golden route. It's a feel good game so we can generally infer that these issues all get addressed eventually no matter what route you pick, but you can't really say for sure that any one choice is all encompassing. We'll all have that one route we think did more right than the other two, but there are holes in each one

[thelordofdarkreunion]

Watchers in the Shadows

Another plot important story, with the what I am terming the Shadowed Lords.  I have also found a solution to the very important question of “How to make sure the Inquisition just doesn’t murder everyone.”  I own none of these characters.  Enjoy.

“History requires two parties - the historian and their audience.  Without that, one is just talking to oneself.  So kindly stop screaming and you might learn something.” - Trazyn the Infinite, guiding human guests through the Prismatic Gallery

“It is our duty to protect those who are important to future events, those who might save the face of the galaxy, those chosen by prophecy - blah blah blah.  I’m just here to kill things.”  -Revenant

Aboard the Novus Galactica

The Watch Fortress was a miracle of human technology and ingenuity.  This particular one was mobile, a great boon for its occupants.  As soon as diplomats and Inquisitors were dispatched to these strange, newly found galaxies, it had been deemed by the High Lords of Terra that a permanent force of Throne Agents should be stationed in each.  Unfortunately for the Imperium of Man, and, perhaps fortunately for everyone else, they were currently only able to transfer a small amount of the resources they wanted to one singular galaxy.  At the moment.  The time would come when they would fully operate there, the agents of the Imperium hiding in every shadow, behind every crevice, always watching, always waiting.  The fight against the xeno, mutaint, and heretic never ended, after all, and these new galaxies provided ample examples of each.  

The newly anointed Lady Inquisitor Amberley Vail stood on the tiled stone floor of the Watch Fortress, looking out high cathedral windows into the black void of space.  Inquisitors were all technically equals, though in practice some were more equal than others.  Senior and powerful Inquisitors were given the honorary prefix Lord or Lady to denote that they were, in fact, just a little more equal than their peers.  Since she had been the first to discover, and make contact with these eight new galaxies, it would be her duty to oversee all investigations in them.  A great honor.  

At the time, though, Vail would just be investigating each one in turn until more Inquisitors could be spared.  Already she was given her choice in team, and her retinue was here, with more hand-picked agents to come.  And, of course, the operatives the High Lords and Ordo Xenos had seen fit to give her.  With the technology found in these new places, she could now contact the High Lords directly, if necessary, and they could monitor her progress.  As such, they had seen it fit to grant the Watch Fortress a cadre of Officio Assassinorum operatives, one from each Temple.  They were in cryo storage below, except the Vanus operative, currently hard at work gathering every scrap of data she could.  

Should she require pure power instead of singular agents, a Kill Team of the dreaded Deathwatch was on hand.  They were newly formed and called up, but each member was hand-chosen by the Inquisition, and, if rumors were to be believed, the Custodian Guard themselves.  Right now, they were settling into their new home, their weapons drills already ringing through the training spaces.  The Kill Team also served a second, more sinister purpose: if Vail was to go rogue for whatever reason, they had orders to hunt her down and destroy her.  She harbored no illusions of their ability, and, of course, had no intention of turning traitor.  Better had fallen than her, though, so she did appreciate the contingency.  

At the moment, more Marine heavy weaponry and armored vehicles were on the way, along with a regiment of Inquisitorial Storm Troopers.  More things to be added to the armory of the Imperium in this new galaxy.  

Vail paced, then went to her cognator, located next to the Vanus operative, still absorbed in her work.  She sat down, and began to type.  Secrets would be revealed, and the Inquisition would act upon them.

Unknown Location

The room was dark, as it always was, only illuminated by the blinding glory of a nearby star.  No one came here, no one knew of its existence except two organizations.  Two organizations that almost none knew of.  A massive man, power armored bulk hidden by a simple white robe, sword strapped on to his chest, stood side by side with another individual clad in black armor and greatcoat.  A tight fitting black helmet with glowing red lenses covered the second’s face, and as it spoke, the voice that emanated from within was corrupted and rendered untraceable.

“We must begin.  Our list is complete.”

“Unorthodox, yes, but it must be this way,” spoke the second, a reverberating deep base echoing from beneath he white hood.  “What of Inquisitor Vail?  Should she find… certain things, it would not bode well for our plans.” 

“I am handling it as we speak.  Drake shows promise.  It was good to act that quickly, but in the end, the Shadow Broker, the Mechanicus, the Inquisition, the Scoundrels, ONI, the ISB… none of them are good enough to face us.  Vail will hear no word of it.  Stability will be preserved.  Just as we must preserve the Scoundrels themselves.”

“Indeed.  It must be restated: they are key to future events.  I suggest we get moving.”  With a nod to each other, the two figures disappeared into the shadows.

Unknown Planet

The ground was icy and cold, some dead world in the middle of nowhere.  It didn’t even have a name, so remote it had never been discovered.  Of course, there were those who could find it, should they really wish to.  One such individual stood here, examining strange patterns in the snow.  Well-groomed black hair tumbled down to his shoulders, held in place by a circlet of gold.  Despite the bone-numbing cold, the man did not shiver, black and green tunic still in the frigid air.   A heavy crack of displaced air sounded behind him, and the black haired man turned around, smiling softly to himself. 

“Ah.  Can I help you?” he said in a polite and cultured voice.  The two figures, one massive and wearing a white robe, the other of medium height and wearing a black coat, stepped forward.  The black haired man stood, noting the weapons, the size, the strangeness of these newcomers.

“Loki of Asgard.  We have need of your skills,” responded a metallic and synthesized voice from the black coated silhouette’s mask.  This elicited a small, oh-so-sly smile from the black haired man.  

“Yes.  I’m sure a great many people do.  What’s in it for me?”

“Name your price,” came a deep, reverberating voice.  Loki thought quietly to himself, then spoke.

“Done,” replied the tall figure.  

“Now, what do you need me for?” asked Loki.

Hammond Robotics Lab-77431

A metallic abomination of red and grey stood above Dr. Marshall.  It was humanoid, but all metal; unnaturally tall and spindly.  He squirmed quietly, inching away from it on the cold surface of the laboratory floor.  Blood was splattered messily over the surface of computer banks and grey plastic workstations.  Marshall silently prayed that the guards were on their way.  He had just enough time to press the panic button as the… thing slaughtered the two guards and his three colleagues.  Now it stood over him, head tilted at an unnatural angle.  

“No one is coming to save you.  No one ever was.”  It’s voice was horrible, gravely, and grating.  Marshall whimpered.  It spoke again.  “You can beg for mercy.  It won’t help, but go on.”

“Please… please.  I don’t even know what you are!  Why would you want to kill me?”  The thing snarled and pinned Marshall to the wall with one metallic hand.  

“You made me a killing machine.  Who am I to argue with programming?”  The abomination’s synthetic eyes seemed to glow.  “Look into my eyes.  I want to remember this.”  

“No!  NO!  No-”  The begging cut out with a horrifying, gurgling scream as the thing ripped out his throat.  It gave a malicious laugh.  A new voice spoke.  

“Revenant.”  It was a statement.  “We have need of your services.”  Revenant turned around with a snarl, only to find himself face to face with three of the most odd individuals he’d ever seen.  A smooth faced, black haired man in a green and black surcoat, smirking at him.  A figure in a black coat and black armor, it’s face hidden behind a mask with glowing red lenses.  A giant, wearing a white robe, with a sword strapped to its back, its face hidden behind the robe’s cowl.  

“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you where you stand?” sneered Revenant.  

“If you can, which I doubt,” replied the black haired man.  The figure in the coat held up a gauntleted hand.  

“We have need of your services,” it repeated.  “As payment, we can fix you or kill you.  Your choice.  But you must do as we say.”  Revenant seemed to consider the deal.  

“Done,” he replied eventually.  

“Good.  Now, there’s work to be done.”  

Star Wars Galaxy

Belsavis

Imperial Outpost Planet

The New Republic had, in its infinite wisdom, sent a team of commandos to capture a small Imperial outpost planet in the middle of smack-dab nowhere.  Sargent Underwilth was quite displeased by this, as had the entirety of the rest of her commando group, from Private Nikeer all the way up to the Captain.  It would be a long, boring, and completely useless mission, and for what purpose?  Grab a completely insignificant Imperial fort that could house a battalion and a group of shuttles at the absolute maximum?  Why?  Send soldiers to die for that?  She hated High Command for it.  Hate-d.  Past tense.  At the present moment, she was cursing the name of every single New Republic official she could remember, from the major who had briefed them to Princess Leia herself.  Saying things had gotten a bit out of hand would be the understatement of the millenia.  

“I need fire at 1-2-7-4!  Immediate effect, whatever you’ve got!” screamed the comms chatter.  The Imperial stormtroopers crouched next to her looked warily in the direction of the lieutenant whose scream was cut short over the comms.  Captain Pai, the commando leader, was dead.  Major Vekk, commander of the Imperial garrison, was now in charge of both the stormtrooper and commando contingent.  Underwilth had never thought she would be fighting side by side with stormtroopers.  They were terrible shots and propaganda-fueled idiots, holding on to the crumbling remnants of a tyrant.  Desperate times, though, called for desperate measures.  She nodded at her mixed group of Republic and Imperial soldiery, and, as one, they stepped over the ledge of the wall they were crouched behind.  A withering storm of blaster bolts rent the air, many going wide as their users panicked.  It was enough though.  

The bolts slammed into the metal abomination, many ricocheting harmlessly off its bones with high pitched pings!  Underwilth had no idea what these things were, or why they were here.  The commando team had landed, everything going well, and had infiltrated the fortress, only for an army of metal skeletons to show up.  They were spindly and humanoid in appearance, with elongated skulls and arms much thinner than a human.  Their odd appearance didn’t matter, though.  Horrible weapons had rotated, spitting sickly green beams of light at the now combined defenders.  Everything that was touched by those beams died.  Captain Pai was disintegrated where he stood.  Atomized without a sound.  

The defenders had fought back with everything in their arsenal.  Blasters didn’t work.  Grenades didn’t work.  Cryo bombs didn’t work.  Only massive, coordinated firepower would stop these undying invaders. 

Scorch marks appeared on the metal skeleton that Underwilth’s group drowned in fire.  More and more blaster bolts found their mark, staggering it.  Underwilth screamed at them to keep firing.  Eventually, slowly, it toppled into the dirt.  Underwilth’s group let out a great cheer.  It died in their throats when they saw what was happening.  The metal abomination, light faded from its eyes and limbs blown off, glowed with the same sickly green light as its eyes and weapons.  Limbs reattached themselves.  Blaster pockmarks faded.  Internal wiring affixed itself.  It stood, and glowing green eyes snapped on once more.  

Beneath the Surface of Belsavis

Trazyn the Infinite, Overlord of the Nihilakh Dynasty, Archoevist of Solomance, and Curator of the Prismatic Galleries walked through the underground tomb complex covered by the Imperial outpost.  He had come to... acquire the artifacts, weapons, and species in the tomb underneath.  Unfortunately, a group of the idiotic humans that inhabited this galaxy had decided to build a fortress right on top of it.  He didn’t even spend the processing power wondering about the humans.  Mere insects.  His soldiers were there to defend his archaeological expedition, and if the humans wanted to attack them, well, that was their problem.  

Trazyn was, quite frankly, disappointed over this particular galaxy.  It wasn’t that there weren’t ancient and important treasures to plunder: no, far from it.  The things he could find here almost rivaled his own galaxy.  Almost.  It wasn’t that.  

It was that the people of this place had absolutely zero appreciation for history.  It was utterly infuriating.  Trazyn was the historian.  The lives of entire species meant nothing to him.  He was as old as the stars themselves, able to see eons as they stretched out in front of him.  The reason he did any of this in the first place was to preserve history before time or battle erased it.  His entire planet was one massive museum, with exhibits stretching back some 60 billion years before the planet Earth even existed.  But these people?  They didn’t teach history.  Didn’t preserve history.  To borrow a human expression, didn’t give one singular, flying fuck about it.  His mind frowned in distaste over the crude word.  It was nevertheless true.  The inhabitants of this place had merely forgotten the Old Republic, the government that ruled the galaxy only thirty years ago.  The Jedi Knights were myths.  The Clone Wars were bedtime legends.  Trazyn ground his metal teeth in frustration.  Thirty years.  That was a microsecond.  That was about the time a standard Necron court case lasted.  Even the humans, short-lived insects that they were, should remember that long.  After all, they usually lived between sixty to a hundred, did they not?  Simply no respect for the past here.  

The other galaxies were not like this.  The humans of one galaxy even remembered events some two thousand years prior.  That galaxy was the one with the Makers.  A battle between gods and demons.  He had already been to a Maker lab, and taken the dark artifact from the homeworld of the Celzex.  Along with half the guard on duty at the time.  And the throne.  They wouldn’t miss it.  Probably.  

He was getting off track.  Despite the idiots of this place not knowing what it was, this place was magnificent.  The architecture, the stone, the instriptions and technology… oh, yes.  If Trazyn had still possessed a mortal body, he would be grinning like a buffoon now.  He wanted everything.  

The tomb had once belonged to the Rakata Infinite Empire.  He sneered at the name. 

“There can only be one Infinite, and only one Infinite Empire.  And you, my friends, are no longer among the living,” he told a statue.  The Empire had, at its apex, controlled a great deal of the galaxy and possessed technologies and ancient wonders not seen since.  An entire species, called the Esh-Ka, had been trapped here in status for nigh thirty millenia by the ancient Rakata.  Nothing compared to Trazyn, but he appreciated the gesture of the long dead civilization nonetheless.  Ancient Rakata warlords, soldiers, status, glyphs, tablets, weapons, enemies, technology… everything.  This was a prison world, and the Rakata built it to last.  Now, though… now it was Trazyn’s time to shine.  He took everything he could, the walls and massive scripts cut away by his personal bodyguard.  Everything went into tesseract labyrinths.  These were small black cubes, about the size of Trazyn’s fist.  They pulsed with darkness, ever wishing to suck things into their voids.  These cubes were gateways to pocket dimensions, and Trazyn had long used them to capture specimens from his museum.  

He hummed as he worked, nearly giddy with excitement.  If there had been any watchers, they would have found the sight of the ancient necron lord almost dancing with exhilaration to be quite funny.  As he loaded the last of the Rakata imprisoned within the tomb, there was a flash of green light behind him.  It’s coloration was similar to the eyes and weaponry of the necrons, yet only the discharge of his bodyguards’ gauss flayers could have made such a sight, and Trazyn knew for a fact none of them had.  He whirled around, only to be met with a very strange sight.  

Four individuals stood between him and his guards.  One was obviously a synthetic, tall and spindly with red and grey limbs.  This one glowered mechnicgly at Trazyn, but he laughed it off.  You didn’t know a good glower until you’ve stood on the wrong side of a Star God.  The second was human, smirking from behind shoulder length black hair and a black and green tunic.  The third waas masked, armored, and coated, and stood at simple attention, unbothered by the necrons that lowered their gauss flayers at its back.  The last, though…

“Lord Cypher,” said Trazyn with a bow.  The massive man in white noticeably stiffened.  “A pleasure to have you here.  Ah, yes.  I know who you are, of course.  Don’t be surprised.  You would make a fine addition to my collection,” he mused.  Trazyn looked up, noticeably more perky.  “Is that why you’re here?  Have you come to give yourself up?  Ready to be a part of history?”  The massive man, Cypher, glared at him.  

“We have need of your help, Lord Trazyn.  After you are…” he looked around, noticing the completely empty walls of the tomb, “Done here, we wish to speak with you.  Your… expertise is necessary.”  Trazyn grinned, the necrodermis teeth of his death mask coming together.  A necron grinning was a very bizarre sight.  

“Ah, you flatter me, Lord Cypher.  And from one who has bedeviled the Imperium for ten thousand years and fought the Deceiver himself, such flattery is most appreciated.  However,” Trazyn gestured around, “As you can see, my work consumes me.  I’m afraid history stops for no one.  Except you.”  He held out a tesseract labyrinth, his voice flowing with mischief.

“Wait!” replied Cypher.  “We have need of your help,” he repeated.  “If you do not join us, then events will transpire that will result in the eventual destruction of reality,” he stated calmly, as if he were simply talking about the weather.  “It might not happen now, or later, or even in a century, or millenia, but I know for certain it will happen.  Everything you hold dear, everything you have worked so hard for over these billions of years, will be gone.  If you help us, we will most likely succeed, and in payment we will offer to you the greatest treasures in the universe.”  Cypher held out a hand.  “So what say you, Trazyn the Infinite?  Are you ready to change history for once, instead of just cataloging it?”  Trazyn pondered a moment, his neural circuitries firing faster than any mortal could keep up.  Eventually, he took the hand.

“I accept.”

And there we are.  I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any comments, criticisms, concerns, questions, or requests, feel free to contact me!  Wherever you are, have a great day!

[daydream-believin]

you’ll never have to be alone

summary: you just can’t wait to see your best friend again, but your master has other ideas

a/n: this is such a mess lmao might turn it into an actual fic when i have time. also that last sentence is not a tswift ref i just like that word and if anything it’s a beauty and the beast (2017) ref. but the title is in fact a tswift ref yes

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

• you’re just a humble magician’s assistant, doing your best to stay safe and hidden in Arthur’s realm

• your master has just sent you on a trip to into Camelot to get her a few things

• you’re so excited. you’ve never been out of the forest, let alone the big city before and is that a castle???

• while fetching your master’s things, you run into the most beautiful boy

• and i mean run into, like ow your head

• he sees you wince in pain and panics

• he is so sorry pretty person, he did not mean to body check you, here let him fix it with a healing spell he learned last week

• you’re so caught off guard by the magic

• you throw yourself in front of him, and hiss “do you want to get us both executed?!”

• he laughs and assures you it’s okay, he’s the king’s personal sorcerer’s apprentice so the guards won’t pay him any mind

• you’re amazed at your new friend and his freedom but also his cute laugh

• he offers to help you with the rest of your errands to make it up to you, he has the day off after all and he was bored, so why not help out a cute new friend

• soon it’s time for you to start on the journey back to your master, you bid goodbye to Hisirdoux

• he catches you at your cart, stopping you from taking off before you can slip away. he takes your hand

• “please, i just want to make sure i see you again, can we meet overmorrow?”

• you smile “i’m sure i can find some excuse to come back”

• one meeting led to another, and now you two are meeting in the marketplace every free afternoon you both have

• or at least you two make them free, either by getting chores down early, procrastinating, or just straight up lying

• one day your master tells you to pack her bag and grab your cloak, you two were going to camelot to “make an audience with someone who i’d rather i’d never have to talk to again if not for the troubled times” whatever that meant

• you find yourself in the study of Merlin Ambrosious himself. it’s so cozy here, with the paper covered desk and stained glass windows

• you see your crush buddy Hisirdoux and quietly make your way over to him

• you two have a fun litttle conversation while your master waits for Merlin to arrive. it’s so nice to get to see each other again this week.

• your master raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t say anything to you or ask any questions. that’s strange. normally your master wants to know all about your friends. they think you don’t get out enough

• Merlin enters, making a face, and starts to talk business with your master. it was soooo boring and it was all you and Doux could do not to snore. at least all’s going good righ—

• annnnddd now suddenly you and Douxie are on the sidelines of all out shouting match

• 0 to 60 real fast

• so 🙏 turns out your master is Merlin’s ex wife. damn

• whatever they were supposed to be working together on has been thrown out the window, along with any pretense of civility

• so many insults being hurled. hell, you and Douxie’s innocent ears had never heard half of these words they spat at each other

• you and your best friend looked at each other. neither of you would dare try and calm the two master wizards down, lest you get caught in the crosshai— !!!

• oh! apparently words aren’t the only things being thrown oh dear

• your master snatched your arm and pulled you towards the door with force

• “AND DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT LETTING YOUR LITTLE URCHIN NEAR MY SWEET Y/N AGAIN! I KNOW WHAT YOURE TRYING TO DO! I WONT HAVE IT!”

• come again?

• “ONLY IF YOU KEEP YOUR APPRENTICE AWAY FROM MY URCHIN! THEYLL TAINT THE NOBILITY IVE MADE HIM”

• you weren’t even sure what to make of that one

• before you knew it you were back on the cart, camelot drifting farther and farther into the distance

• you could see Hisirdoux, watching you leave from the balcony of the tower, getting smaller and smaller

• well, if your master thinks she can keep you away from him she’d have to try a little harder. it’s not like she could stop you from going to the market

• she turns to you as if reading your thoughts “i don’t want you going to the marketplace alone anymore, i’ll have to come with you now.”

• okay so maybe she could

• a few weeks pass, and you are dying to see Douxie just one last time

• it was like you were mad. all you can think about is trying to find ways that you might be able to get back to him

• you were cleaning out the donkey’s stall when a bird landed on the post near your head

• or at least you had thought it was a bird. looking up, you discovered that it was in fact a small dragon

• a dragon with a scroll in it’s mouth. he motioned for you to take it

• you gingerly took the slightly damp scroll and unfurled it

• well well well, it looks like mr. casperan has been thinking about you too

• the scroll urged you to sneak out as soon as your master fell asleep and meet him where else, but your regular rendezvous spot at the market place

• the dragon then burnt the message while it was still in your hands. smart? you guessed? you supposed this was to make sure your master didn’t find the note but was burning it really necessary

• needless to say it was a no brainer, and you were out of the house by your master’s first snore

• you had your cloak drawn over your head. it wasn’t hard to find Hisirdoux in the night market. he may have also had his hood up, but he was right where you always met, standing awkwardly in a very Douxie fashion

• you came up behind him and tapped his shoulder, and he about jumped out of his skin

• and then he was immediately enveloping you into a bone-crushing hug

• you two have some fun walking around the night market, never letting go of each other’s hands. Douxie’s face is highlighted so perfectly in the orange light of the torches and cooking fires. you can feel the heat on your own face

• you two stayed around for as long as you could, talking about everything and nothing, but even night markets sleep eventually.

• as you lament to Douxie about having to go back home when all you want to do was have a little more time with him, he stares at you intensely. he could feel his palm sweating while clasped in yours. he took a deep breath

• “we should run away”

• ... “run away?” “just you and me. then we can stay together. even for only a little while. if you want”

• “lets do it”

• and so you were off to who knows where on the back of a horse Hisirdoux most likely stole. or at least skipped getting permission to use it. there was no destination in mind, just to get far away fast. none of that mattered though, as you cling to Douxie’s back in your getaway. he wasn’t very good at it, but at least you were getting somewhere

• you got lost pretty fast

• but no matter, anywhere with Douxie was better than being lonely up in your room

• the sun was just starting to rise when you two finally stopped

• the sunrise coming up over the cliff is the most gorgeous thing you’ve ever seen. you look over at Douxie and reconsider. the sunrise is the second most gorgeous

• you two are very sleepy, having stayed up all night, and you crash lying in the meadow grass, locked in each others arms

• but your sweet slumber does not last long

• you are awoken to the sound of your name being said very angrily

• you and Doux scramble to sit up. you two are face to face with two furious master wizards

• “YOU STOLE A HORSE?!”

• needless to say your master rarely lets you out of her watchful eyes nowadays. it was worth it.

• your master was summoned to help with the cause at the battle of Kilahead. apparently they were short on forces for some reason. that reason being that they were all dead. you dred having to join the fight but follow your master nonetheless

• maybe the universe just wanted to give you one last treat before you left the plain of existence, but there was your beloved Douxie, all geared up for the fight

• your master ordered you to stay with the main fight to do your best in healing the knights while she went off to who knows where. which was fine with you. now you could be by Douxie’s side

• fast forward and suddenly your master is gone. who knows what happened to her. definitely not you. Hisirdoux’s master is out cold and will be for centuries.

• as devestated as you both are at being without your beloved mentors for deya knows how long, there is a brightside

• now you can stay with each other for as long as you two liked

• and you did

• for almost a millenia

• and will for evermore

[emmys-grimoire]

AU/OC Michael Concept - Prelude (100 follower special)

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Aliases/Titles

Michael the Archangel,

Saint Michael (Human World),

Archon of the Celestial Council,

Commander of the Legion of Angels,

The Enslaver (Devildom),

Lapdog

Birthday: September 29

Astrological Sign: Libra

Likes: Sweets, Gourmet Food, Astronomy, Nature (and Glamping), Fashion, Humans

Dislikes: Loudmouths, Poor Quality Food, Snakes, Liars, Demons

  BACKGROUND

Michael and Lucifer were not Father's first creations.

They are not thousands of millenia old. Only Father is, and none of Father's first creations remain. They were too crude, too primitive to remain useful in the wars against the Demon King and his demonic spawn, and thus they were tossed to the trash heap where they belonged. Countless sons shared this fate...

... until Lucifer.

Lucifer was the most exquisite, the most perfect of Father's creations. All paled in comparison. The Morningstar would undoubtedly bring the demons to heel.

Father created more sons to aid him, thinking they would certainly be as flawless as the eldest.

Only the next wasn't quite as exquisite. The one next even less so. For reasons that eluded him, he could not replicate his Morningstar, try as he might. Eventually he conceded, and retreated to heal the wounds he suffered at the hands of his corrupted brother, leaving Lucifer and the rest to fight in his stead.

And they fought.

And died.

Only the two brightest survived.

~*&*~

Michael the Archangel is the greatest angel of the Celestial Realm. He is the de facto leader of the Celestial Realm, second to only Father in authority and majesty.

It is a reputation he has carefully cultivated and maintains. It's deservedly earned, because it takes an impressive angel to compete with the epitome of perfection that was Lucifer.

Everyone acknowledges he is not as perfect as Lucifer once was. Michael himself wouldn't even dare to say otherwise, even now. And perhaps because of that fact, Michael was never quite as bound by his pride as the fellow Seraphim he admired the most. Lucifer was a perpetual reminder that there was always something he had to improve on, and Father made it no secret who he favored between the two of them. Still, Michael was desperate to remain at Lucifer's side, so he did everything he could to ensure he did; he might not shine as brilliantly as the Morningstar, but he will shine more brilliantly than everyone else.

Or, at least, that's how it was... for the longest time...

Now he finds himself alone at the top. His once cherished friend now a being he was taught to hate, expelled from the Celestial Realm by his own hand. How did this happen? How could it happen?

PERSONALITY

(+) Positive Traits: Charismatic, Poised, Loyal, Magnanimous, Strategist, Trouble-shooter

(-) Negative Traits: Blunt, Controlling, Demanding, Intolerant, Overbearing, Sadistic

Michael isn't much of a mystery.

It isn't difficult for him to be the ideal image of what people expect an angel to be, because it isn't much of an act: contrary to what Father chose to believe, Michael is much more his son than Lucifer ever was. Flaws and all (though spoiler: Father doesn't think he has any flaws). What separates him and his father is one small, but increasingly significant detail: Michael still cares about the denizens of the Celestial Realm. He cares about them more than anything else. Without them, there's not much more for him to live for.

His father has lived so long that almost all day-to-day concerns of the realm he created now appear pointless and without obvious merit, so Michael and the Celestial Council are tasked with overseeing them. It is a position Michael serves in with the utmost seriousness, and now with Lucifer gone he has even more on his plate. Thankfully, he is a skilled troubleshooter who can quickly assess a situation and he is excellent at delegating jobs to the right people. Unlike Lucifer, he avoids taking on all tasks upon himself and overworking, but he is known to be a very demanding overseer. He's arguably the more tolerable boss simply because he's usually in a better mood when he's around, so delivering bad news to him goes over marginally better... unless it involves ordering the wrong latte or serving him subpar food.

He has a soft spot for kids and animals, the latter of which he's learned to communicate with as a result of the Ring of Wisdom "choosing" him. He is generous and enjoys finding the 'perfect' gift for those close to him on birthdays and Christmas, and frequently invited the brothers to dinner and on outings (sometimes fudging their work schedules with the specific aim of making sure they're available to hang out with him). He's prone to spoiling Luke when he's around, which has incurred the envy of his other underlings.

Due to his controlling nature, he pays much attention to the behavior of things and events in all three realms. He knows the worlds are constantly changing (particularly the Human World), and he tries to be in fashion with the current trends thereof to better move his plans forward. He is stringent about who he allows to interact with the Human World because human-angel interactions sometimes lead to unpredictable consequences he can't control or foresee (Lilith being the most infamous example). He had multiple spies in the Devildom, but gave up his demon-controlling powers when he gave the Ring of Wisdom to Solomon. Diavolo's exchange program, however, has given him eyes into the Devildom once again — which was one of the big motivations behind the Celestial Council accepting the program.

In the other realms, he will sometimes meddle (usually via his agents) and try to initiate a sequence of events that lead to an outcome he prefers, which usually involves stymying the influence of the Devildom, much to the chagrin of Diavolo and Lucifer. It's an odd game of cosmic chess the three are playing — with Simeon occasionally being a willing participant as well (though he of course insists he's merely a pawn on the board).

Michael's sadism is less overt than Lucifer's, but it's unquestionably apparent to those who work under him. It's usually reserved for those who willfully undermine him or spite him, rather than something he subjects fellow angels to for simply failing (though that may change if it becomes a routine occurrence). His punishments of choice usually involve spell-induced ego-fragmentation and hallucinations, which is arguably worse than physical torture methods, but are considered beneficial by Celestial Realm standards (particularly if the victims in question are demons).

The archangel does not like demons and finds it very difficult to trust them. It is in no small part due to his social conditioning as an angel, but the horrors he's had to endure and witness during the countless wars between the Celestial Realm and the Devildom are also still fresh in his mind. He is in constant inner conflict with the knowledge of how he should behave and how he actually feels, what he's expected to do and what he knows is right, particularly when it comes to Lucifer and his brothers. Thankfully, Lucifer senses this, and has given Michael greater breadth in angel-demon dealings and negotiations than he likely deserves.

Will he get better? ... Maybe.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Since this is threatening to become quite lengthy, I've decided to post it in more digestible parts starting with this. Once I've begun actually writing I'll start adding more sections: next will probably be powers (most notably the Ring of Wisdom and what he used it for), followed by relationships.

Still not 100% sure if I'm going to actually write the fanfic (which will certainly turn into a longfic), but this can count as a rough draft of what the prologue will probably be (re: Lucifer/Michael's origin story/purpose at least). Hopefully Season 3 will give us juicy details on how the Celestial War went down so I can have a better idea of where things should fall. I think fanfiction is the only way to give it the grisly carnage and drama it deserves.

For title ideas, I'm thinking Starfall, but we'll see...

[cubeswhump]

Something Feels Familiar

Levi before he was Levi. If anyone wants to be tagged in Levi fics, let me know.

Warning for institutionalized slavery, abuse, burns, drug abuse, working in retail.

This isn't what I wanted.

What? Where did such a thought come from? What wasn't what 262847 wanted? Maybe he wanted something else when he signed up. Was that it?

No. This was perfect. He wanted this.

He had a comfortable bed. The other boxies never told on him. They got to eat the food that didn't sell and would otherwise be thrown out. But once, a customer was watching videos on her laptop, and 262 snuck glances when possible. There was an ad showing a boxie and its owner, and the owner was so tender and loving. 262 wanted someone to hold his hand, stroke his hair… 

He slapped his own face hard. One of the two box babes stared at him.

None of them had actually met their owner, who worked way up in corporate. A huge package deal of several hundred boxies trained to be the perfect employees, several placed at every location in the UK. The managers,  -- hired employees rather than pets -- were the ones who kept them in line, and though 262 would snatch up whatever positive attention he could get, it wasn't enough.

Yes it was. He was a pet and he would be happy with whatever he got. He was grateful.

A little voice in his head said it was weird to have a coffee shop boxie. But it made sense, right? His owner was so smart. His owner knew they would save money by having pets rather than employees, as pets could work longer shifts and didn't get paid. Smart.

262 nudged the other boxie at the counter. "861."

"Piss off," the girl mumbled.

"861, what's coffee shop AU? It just popped into my head, and…"

"I don't care. Stop talking to me."

He talked too much. The handlers couldn't beat it out of him, but it suited him well in such a role. The boxies arranged amongst themselves that 262 would always be at the front to deal with customers directly as the others tended to freeze up if a customer went off script and said something they weren't prepared for. 262 even did well dealing with those who hated corporate boxies.

"It's so unfair. They buy a bundle of you freaks and put us all out of jobs!"

And 262's eyebrows would furrow, head tilting to the side. "Gosh, really? Oh no, I'm so sorry."

He'd listen while the customer ranted their heart out, nodding along and sometimes giving shocked apologies. And he'd often sell them a cup of coffee or muffin. 

It was one of these interactions. The customer ranted, called him all sorts of names, but eventually wanted a caramel macchiato with no foam. No foam, always no foam. Do they even know what a macchiato is?

He forgot to strain the milk. He took a small spoon and started flinging foam into the sink until 476 told him to "stop being an idiot" and that he was "gonna get us all in trouble."

Good enough. Just thinking those words nearly made him double over at the pain in his head.

There is no such thing as good enough. There is only perfection and failure.

Yet he found himself handing the woman her drink. She pulled the lid off as he turned to the next customer, smiling. 

"I said NO FUCKING FOAM!"

The coffee shop blurred. He screamed. 

The customer continued to shout. 476 didn't pause from tending to another customer. And fire licked at 262's face. At least, that's how it felt.

Mister Evan, the assistant mansger seemed to appear from nowhere, going "I'm so sorry, Ma'am. 262, stop that blubbering and apologize now. We'll fix that for you."

Within the hour, 262's skin was scarlet, cheek and jaw swelling, right eye unable to open. The tears kept trickling. Evan had him sit out in the employee break room, out of sight. 262 was terrified to step foot in such a place. Boxies don't get breaks. The light overhead flickered. There were no windows. Looking at the posters on the wall made 262's head pound as the letters danced. 

A millenia seemed to pass. Then the door opened. Miss Donna, the manager, stood in the doorway and gasped. 

"Evan, you didn't tell me tmit was this bad!" she cried. 

And that made 262 start crying too. 

A heart-sinking to a pet-friendly hospital in Miss Donna's own car. 262 was such a nuisance. She had better things to do. 

She sat with him through hours of tests, picked him up the next day when he was discharged, picked up his medicine. Bad pet. Burden. 

Second degree burns on more than half his face. Burned cornea and the start of a corneal ulcer. Lid edema, whatever that meant. He had to wear a patch over his eye for two weeks and then they'd know how his vision was affected. 

Ointment. Eye drops. Pills. No one told him what they were, just apply ointment three times a day. Apply eye drops five times a day. Take one pill once in the morning and once at night -- Miss Donna changed that to only take it before bed so it doesn't impede on his performance at work. May take over the counter painkillers every 2-4 hours.

He couldn't make out most of the labels. He was pretty sure the ointment was silver something, but the second word was a doozy. But at night, when it was meant to be lights out, he holled up in the bathroom and squinted at the label. The words grew clear: OXYCODONE 20MG.

861 was brushing his teeth. 581 was waiting to use the loo. 262 just wanted them all to go to bed, leave the bathroom to him. 

You're meant to take the tablets whole. Don't lick or get wet in any way. don't crush, don't break them or it releases the compound too quickly. He wasn't sure how he knew that.

Everyone was asleep, or pretending to be. 861 definitely was asleep, his snores echoing off the walls. It surprised 262 that they didn't get rid of that in training. But the girls said 262 snores even worse.

He carefully shut the door behind him and got the bottle out of the drawer. He took out one pill, two pills, and set them on the counter. There was a tub of face moisturizer in one of the drawers, as management wants the box babes to stay pretty. He tapped it on the counter, ensuring it was hard plastic and not glass. Then he crushed the pills under it and scraped the dust off. 

He smuggled a plastic straw from the shop and cut a small piece from it earlier. At the time, he hadn't known what he was doing, but his body worked on his own accord. The pieces clicked into place. One end went in his good nostril and the powder was sucked through the other end. He closed his eyes in bliss.

Something pushed at the fog in his brain, but he didn't dwell on it. He needed to savor this feeling. 

[grelleswife]

Hannamey Headcanons

@bapydemonprincess requested some Hannamey headcanons for an OTP ask meme; my answers are included below!

I'm assuming that we're in a more auspicious version of the Season 2 verse where O!Ciel wins and stays human, although Alois eventually dies and leaves Hannah free to pursue her love in peace.

Pre-relationship

2. What was their first impression of each other?

Mey experienced a full bi panic when she first laid eyes on Hannah in that seductive black dress. The maid didn't recognize her feelings at the time, but she had a crush. Although Hannah didn't show it, the comely young maid caught her eye straightaway. The demonness was quietly amused by how taken Mey Rin was with her; Hannah knows exactly what kind of effect she tends to have on the sapphics >:3. Due to her devilish instincts, she sensed that Mey had a tragic past, and that she'd sent many souls to an early grave (the act of killing tends to "mark" the spirit in ways some demons can perceive), which piqued her curiosity. 4. Who felt romantic feelings first?

Mey Rin! She tends to fall fast and hard in romantic relationships. As a demon, Hannah took longer to acknowledge her growing attraction for the maid as something other than carnal desire. 5. Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

Both of them did, to an extent. Mey Rin was distraught because she knew she shouldn't harbor romantic feelings for someone who served an enemy of young master, while Hannah, after becoming acquainted with the pain of grief through Luka's death, was none too keen on being entangled in an intimate relationship with a human. Love could not be suppressed for long, however... >:3

General

2. Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like?

Sort of. Their first few trysts occurred under the cover of nightfall, in the woods near the Phantomhive manor. That way, Mey Rin wouldn't have to risk a visit to the Trancy estate, and Hannah was sufficiently far away from the grounds to avoid Sebastian detecting her. However, their first proper date took place when the Phantomhive servants went on a trip to London. Mey Rin split off from the rest of the group to have a rendezvous with Hannah at a little cafe. They both started off a bit awkwardly (Mey was a bundle of nerves and Hannah felt uncharacteristically shy), but once the conversation got going, the bubbly, smiling maid of Phantomhive soon drew Hannah out of her shell. The demonness bought Mey a plateful of the tastiest pastries on the menu; of course, Hannah didn't eat or drink anything herself, but dear flustered Mey was too caught up in the moment to notice. When it was time for Mey to rejoin the other servants, Hannah walked her part of the way back, and the two held hands. >w< 3. What was their first kiss like?

Mey Rin bid Hannah goodbye after one of the demon's nocturnal visits, but they both lingered, neither wanting to be the first one to leave the secluded forest spot. Hannah took an indecisive step towards Mey Rin. Then she tenderly cupped the maid's face in her hands, bent down, and kissed her. When they parted, she whispered a simple "Good night" before disappearing among the trees, leaving Mey Rin red-faced and trembling. The maid dreamily stumbled through the next day, grinning and tripping on air. The demonness wore no perfume, but she smelt of petrichor, and a whiff of the earth after it rains never fails to remind Mey Rin of that first kiss. 7. Who takes the lead in social situations?

It depends. Hannah is melancholy, withdrawn, and secretive, while Mey Rin tends to be cheerful and outgoing in environments where she feels secure. However, if Mey Rin is nervous or unsure of herself, Hannah will take the lead in order to spare her lover the anxieties that come with prolonged social interactions. She'll gently pat Mey Rin's back or hold her hand to help the maid stay calm. 8. Who gets jealous easier?

Hannah. Demons jealously guard the souls they hold dear, and are very protective of their mates. If Hannah catches someone trying to make a move on her woman, she'll either wrap an arm around Mey Rin's waist and hold her close, or step between Mey and the (real or imagined) rival...giving them a deadly glare that makes the bravest heart quail. She bares her fangs and lets her demonic essence show, her long hair writhing like Medusa's serpents, until the interloper beats a hasty retreat. However, after a few conversations with Mey Rin on the subject, Hannah learns to calm down a little. 9. Who whispers inappropriate things in the other's ear?

Under normal circumstances, I don't think either of them is given to making crass remarks. Hannah prefers subtle innuendos--double entendres or inside jokes that no one but Mey Rin will understand. She'll smirk knowingly when she catches Mey Rin's longing glances at her cleavage (causing the maid to turn into a blushing, incoherent mess). Mey Rin gets a little bolder when she's tipsy; she'll climb into Hannah's lap and whisper about all the things she hopes the demon will do to her when they're alone. Shortly thereafter, Hannah finds an excuse to leave the party early with her lover so that she can make good on Mey Rin's suggestions. ;)

Love

1. Who said "I love you" first?

Mey Rin! She gave Hannah a small gift (a little embroidery piece of an owl), and when she saw how stunned the Trancy maid was at the gesture, Mey Rin blurted out, "Why do you look so surprised? You know I love you, yes I do!" She was mortified by her outburst and slapped her hands over her mouth, but Hannah just laughed and gave her a warm hug. 2. What are their primary love languages?

physical touch and acts of service, with quality time being a close second. Like most demons, Hannah views language as a tool for manipulation--in her mind, actions speak far louder than words when it comes to revealing a lover's true intentions. And since Mey Rin spent most of her childhood and young adulthood deprived of meaningful connections with others, she craves small intimacies like having the demonness brush her hair or hold her when she needs comforting. 4. How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?

Very often! They're extremely snuggly in private. Mey loves to sit in Hannah's lap or rest her head against the demon's bosom, and Hannah dotes on her human. They have to be cautious about overt PDA in the Victorian period, but no one will look twice if two very good lady friends stroll arm-in-arm together... 8. Who's better at comforting the other?

Mey Rin is a little better at this because she's naturally warm and empathetic. However, Hannah has a quiet, reassuring presence, and she learns to tell when Mey Rin is feeling sad or vulnerable and needs a little cuddling. 10. Do they prefer verbal or physical affection?

As explained above, physical affection! 12. What kind of nicknames do they call each other?

Hannah calls Mey Rin "beloved," her flower, or her little princess; Mey Rin is initially hesitant to speak so familiarly with an ancient, powerful demon, but she'll sometimes call Hannah "honey," "love," or Chinese terms of endearment.

Domestic Life

1. If they get married, who proposes?

Demons' concepts of mating bonds aren't the same as our ideas about marriage, so it never occurred to Hannah to make a formal proposal. But one day, Mey Rin wistfully confessed that she would love to be Hannah's wife, if society were more open-minded about that sort of thing. The demonness couldn't bear to see her human sad, so she used her powers to make a pretty engagement ring (amethyst set in gold) to give to Mey shortly after this conversation. If they couldn't have an official ceremony, then damn it, they'd make their own. 2. What's the wedding like? Who attends?

It's held in the Phamtomhive garden, among the roses (Sebastian and Hannah reached an uneasy truce after Alois's death), and all the Phantomhive servants attend. The triplets are also there to assist with the ceremony, strewing flower petals, carrying the ladies' wedding trains, and so on (my headcanon is that they're babey demons who serve as Hannah's subordinates). Lizzy, Sieglinde, and Ran Mao are Mey Rin's bridesmaids. Both Mey and Hannah wear beautiful dresses (pink and purple, respectively). Instead of having a religious official preside over the ceremony, the ladies exchange vows that they wrote for each other. 4. Do they have any pets?

Oh yes! Hannah sometimes takes in injured wild animals to nurse back to health, like a fox kit that got its paw stuck in a trap, or a robin that broke its wing, so they soon have a smol menagerie on their hands. 8. How do they celebrate holidays?

Mey Rin loves holidays like Halloween and the Chinese New Year, so Hannah learns about the associated customs and traditions to help her wife celebrate. For events like Halloween, they'll coordinate costumes (one year, they both dressed up as witches), and save up lots of candy to give to the local kids. Hannah uses her demon powers to add spooky touches to their home, like magical floating candles and ghostly shadows that appear in the windows when someone passes by. Mey Rin gets a huge kick out of it! 10. Who's the better cook?

Hannah. When you've existed for millenia, you pick up a few skills here and there, such as navigating your way around a kitchen. ;) She loves spoiling Mey with her favorite treats. 11. Who likes to dance?

They both do, though Hannah is usually the one to ask Mey to join her on the dance floor.

[tsukihimeyfan]

Sozin’s Comet’s Deus Ex Machina (and ways to fix them)

I’m sure that most of us AtLA fans can agree that the four part Finale was one of the best moments in animation history, with astoundingly well choreographed fight scenes, fantastic emotional beats, gorgeous animation, and frankly breath-taking music. However, I’m also sure I’m not the only one who was frustrated by one aspect of it in particular, the one blot on an otherwise perfect finale: what I like to call the “lion-turtle and pointy rock” ex machina.

The saddest part is that there was very little they had to change to get to a satisfactory, ties-everything-together ending. For example, take Energy-bending and the Lion-turtle. I saw a post a while ago where they suggested that energybending could’ve been related to what Aang learned from the swamp and the Guru, and it just makes SO much sense (Note: I saw the post months ago and I can’t find it anymore, so if anyone knows who first posted that theory please let me know so that I can give credit where credit’s due). After all, Aang seemed to use the energy of the swamp to sense where Appa and Momo were, and later, during Appa’s Lost Days, Guru Pathik says this:

Meaning he, a non-bender, is capable of reading the energy of others, and of locating people bonded to them from miles away. Let’s not forget that he had also previously sensed everything Appa had gone through with the same ability. Sounds like a really useful skill, wouldn’t you say?

Also, looking at both “sensing” occurrences, they look remarkably similar, so we can be reasonably sure that they’re both employing the same method.

It would’ve been so easy to have Aang take a moment to ask how Guru Pathik met Appa. After all, as far as the Gaang knew, Appa was taken by merchants to be sold in Ba Sing Se, so he shouldn’t have had a chance to meet anyone at the Eastern Air Temple. Did the merchants pass through the temple on the way to Ba Sing Se? Did the Guru try to set Appa free? Pathik would then have to explain how Appa had already escaped on his own, and he helped him find Aang by reading his energy. Aang could then ask the Guru to teach him this ability so that if they ever get separated again he’d be able to find and help Appa easily. Boom - energybending basics acquired.

A highly spiritual person like Aang would no doubt have little problems mastering the sensing ability, especially since he’s used a limited version of it before at the Swamp. Also, if we think about how much the spiritual mentors in the show have tried to drill it into Aang that all things are connected,

we can assume that after mastering everything Guru Pathik could do he would eventually be able to sense even people vaguely connected to him from far away. Being the Avatar, the bridge between the spiritual and physical worlds, would almost certainly also help him master energysensing abilities no other had before. 

Maybe they could’ve added a few 30 second scenes here and there of Aang meditating to hone his energysensing skills. Also, during the whole Boiling Rock debacle, imagine how great it would’ve been if Sokka had asked Aang about his dad and, after pressing his hand to Sokka’s forehead and following his bond to his father, Aang was able to tell him that his dad was alive and well, and that he was somewhere in the direction they’d come from, though at that point he wouldn’t be able to pinpoint his exact location.

“I’m sorry Sokka... I can’t tell exactly where he is yet... I know that’s not really helpful...”

“No, knowing he’s alright is plenty. Thanks, buddy”

After Sokka and Zuko rescue Hakoda, I could picture Aang practicing harder than ever until he could use Hakoda’s bond to Bato and the others to locate them in a prison in Caldera City (which would’ve made rescue before ending the war difficult to say the least, and would explain how they were all there for Zuko’s coronation so fast)

Later, during Aang’s trip to the mysterious island, it would’ve been so cool if, instead of handing him the ability, the lion-turtle just told him this:

... and maybe showed him visions of his energysensing training when he did the forehead-touch thing. Then, during the battle with Ozai, maybe after redirecting the lightning away from Ozai Aang could think to himself “I can’t... he may be a monster, but he’s still my friend’s father!”. Then, he suddenly realizes that just like with his friends and family, Aang has a connection with Ozai too, and that if sensing someone’s energy happens by putting a bit of his energy into them, maybe he can use the same route to take some of Ozai’s energy away from him.

Imagine how amazing it would’ve been if they’d added those little snippets of Aang’s energybending training all throughout book 3, without giving it that name, and then Aang used what he’d learned from Guru Pathik and Huu and what he’d taught himself to rediscover a technique that hadn’t been used in millenia all by himself! (well, with a little “nudge in the right direction” from lionturtle-sensei) We were SO close, all the building blocks were there but... *sigh* we ended up still so far. 

Continued with solving “pointy-rock-ex-machina” under the cut

In Book 2, we’re told that to master the Avatar State Aang has to “let go of his attachments”, but that plot point is dropped completely and all he has to do is get hit in his lightning scar and BAM! Avatar State unlocked, no letting go required! 😒 

He was still just as attached to Katara as he was during Book 2, if not more so. So, in the interest of trying to figure out how to tie up as many loose ends as possible, we could try to hit two birds with one stone by fixing another thing at the same time that wasn’t addressed either. 

We could start with a conversation between Aang and Katara where he apologizes for kissing her when she clearly didn’t want him to at some point during Sozin’s Comet Part 1 - The Phoenix King.

“I accept your apology Aang” Katara’d say, “but from now on make sure to respect people’s boundaries, Ok? Especially girls’ boundaries :) We can talk about this more after everything’s over”

At this point, maybe Aang could be left to think and reflect on his relationship with Katara, on his attachment to her, and on how he’d started thinking about her as “his” almost without any input from her.

Maybe Aang could begin to really understand what Guru Pathik was trying to teach him when he said “you must let go”, and the difference between love and unhealthy attachment to people.

He’d therefore be going into the fight with Ozai with that fresh on his mind.

Then, as the battle raged and he grew increasingly desperate, maybe he’d try a few times to force himself into the Avatar State only to fail miserably. 

At this moment

when he’s been overpowered and cornered (and also has a little bit of “downtime” to think), he could start desperately trying to figure out a way to enter the Avatar State, and wondering why he can’t do it. Katara’s been healing him every day! The scar doesn’t even hurt anymore! Why doesn’t it work???

Then, he'd realize that it doesn’t really make sense for a lightning strike to lock his 7th Chakra, since according to what Guru Pathik taught him chakras are locked or unlocked through changes in emotional and spiritual state, not physical. 

(Note: this is also backed up by what little I know of irl chakras and activating Kundalini in the Yoga school of Hindu philosophy. If anyone knows more about it please feel free to add to this or correct me. I’d love to learn how the concept of chakras in Avatar contrasts with its real life counterpart 😊)

Also, if the lightning had messed with the Avatar State some other way, like by blocking his chi for example, he shouldn’t be able to bend properly either.

So what could’ve caused his problem with the Avatar State? 

Of course! After Katara saved him, Aang became even more focused on gaining her love, and grew even more attached to her than he’d been before! Of course he can’t enter the Avatar State! 

Now, I’m a Zutara shipper all the way, and this would work much better if that had been canon, but this could work even with a Kataang endgame since, as I said before, Aang kind of become obsessed with the idea of making Katara “his” no matter what, a clear earthly attachment, instead of loving her unselfishly and letting her love him in her way:

Notice that he said “we kissed” even though he kissed her, and then “I thought we were gonna be together”, an assumption he made without asking her anything once. Same as in this scene:

Mastering the Avatar State doesn’t mean not loving anyone romantically, as we can clearly see through Avatar Roku’s example (also the “if you want power abandon your loved ones” message is stupid and I don’t like it at all. This would be better imo)

Even during the process for unlocking the chakras, the Fourth Chakra tells us that finding love isn’t contrary to spirituality, and can even be a source of spiritual strength. However, I’ve always thought it was a bit strange that the “new love” Aang found to fill the hole left by the deaths of his people was.... just Katara

Because what Aang lost was essentially all of his family and friends right? So wouldn’t it have made more sense for Aang to envision Sokka, Toph, Appa and Momo as well? You know, his old family vs. his new family?

I didn’t fully understand what exactly was wrong with it until I read some of tumblr user marsreds’ metas on the matter, and I have to agree with them that it seems Aang was sort of focusing on his love for Katara so much partially as a way to cope with the loss of his people. To keep it out of mind. That’s not how you build a wholesome romantic relationship, and it doesn’t seem like the best way to deal with grief either. No wonder his Seventh Chakra was blocked.

I would’ve loved to see Aang realize at the moment of truth that in order to access the Avatar State he simply had to let Katara go enough so that he could love her selflessly, so that her wants and needs, and the needs of the world, could come first. He needed to become able to accept her answer, whatever it was, when she gave it. He needed to come to understand that his happiness wasn’t completely (or even mostly) dependent on getting into a relationship with Katara. He had a family he’d found all on his own, made up of friends who adored him and who would’ve given their lives for him if necessary. He was not alone in the world any more. Even if she told him no, he would in all likelihood find new love and be happy.

(in fact we have proof and there’s a perfect candidate right there in the Fire Nation but I digress)

The rest of the finale could’ve played out exactly the same as canon, and in the end Aang would’ve had a better understanding of himself and some inner peace. They could’ve also given us an inkling that Aang would later get to mourn over the deaths of his people properly, surrounded by his loved ones (maybe, ideally, in a hypothetical Book 4-AIR?. God, I wish)

I’ve seen some posts about Aang letting go of his attachment to the Air Nomad’s teachings instead (with maybe that very decision to put the needs of the world above his own being what unlocks his Seventh Chakra), and those are magnificent ideas as well, but I myself would’ve preferred if it went this way because I think there’s something beautifully poetic and satisfying about Aang staying true to himself, finding an alternate solution to violence that would still protect the world, and using the wisdom of His People to put an end to the very war that caused their destruction, while simultaneously giving the worst possible punishment to a man as power-hungry as Ozai

...and leaving him the same way he’s left many of the Fire Nation’s victims in the past: trapped, powerless and forgotten.

I also feel like this ties up all the loose ends better, since it was his attachment to Katara specifically which stopped him from mastering the Avatar State in the first place. And, Kataang endgame or not, it would’ve sent a wonderful message about building and maintaining healthy relationships, perfect for the show’s target audience of preteen and teenage kids.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

[xparadisexlostx]

So Idk what possessed me to write this. I wrote it all in one go and it is in desperate need of a proof read and probably and edit... but I doubt I’ll ever do that lol. I’m tired and I’m getting a headache and I still have drafts to work on, so I’m just gonna post it before I lose confidence and hide it like the many, many other drabbles I’ve never posted.

I don’t know why I wanted to write this in first person. That usually annoys me, but for some reason it just sounded right in this case.

So this drabble is primarily about Beck and Cora, how they meet, and the relationship they have. Obviously I did a LOT, if not too much, condensing because otherwise this never would have ended. 

For context, Cora is Beck’s sort of adopted mom. She his a centuries old witch who was possessed, years ago by a spirit of hospitality. Over time the two merged into one being and that is why she’s pretty much immortal. Because of what she was she was made an outcast by her own people, the clan of the Grey Owls. Here is her face claim. 

_____________________________________________

A long life makes you accustomed to loss. You learn people are better at a distance. Far enough away that you can’t really make out their faces, and their voices turn to echoes by the time they’re in your ears. Any closer than that and you risk the pain that comes with a proper meeting. I found that out the hard way when Hattie passed. 

It was agonizingly slow. At first she just needed a bit of help with getting up after a long day in the garden. And then she couldn’t go as far on our evening walks. Eventually she couldn’t make it out to tend the flowers that she loved so dearly, and she forgot the names of the dairy goats we’d raised by hand and bottle. And when I saw Death come peacefully across the border of the Living Dream, shimmering in the late afternoon sunlight and invisible to my love, I lifted her up in my arms and carried her out to the fields of flowers. She didn’t remember my name, but she held me close to her with what dwindling strength remained in her arms, and laid her head on my heart while I whispered a silent goodbye.

We had never had any children. Back then we only escaped the scandal of being together by living on my family’s land and growing or making most of what we needed. People in the towns whispered, but they let us be so long as we didn’t make too much noise. That wouldn’t have been any life for a child. Children need community, friends, and more love than just two mothers could bring them. The mortals would have never accepted a child of ours, and the witches had cast me out years before on account of what I was---what I am.

I buried Hattie in the flowerbed, and I left my home after that. The place I had been made, where I had settled for three centuries, had nothing to give me but pain. Even England reminded me all too much of what I had lost. I was alone, and I imagined that somewhere else I could find a place where I was content with that once again.

And I did. In a cottage deep in the Sierra Nevada mountains, I found the peace that had evaded me for so long. People stopped by in the occasional way: lost travelers, rapscallion youths, the occasional farmer looking for good dairy stock. That was the way for well over a hundred years. It wasn’t until the storm of ‘01 that it all changed, that I noticed the pie I was cooling on the windowsill was gone, and there was only a small muddy handprint in its place.

In the afterglow of a lightning strike I saw him there. A great, hulking bear, tall as the horizon, pale as a fresh pressed bedsheet, illuminated against the black sky. On his head were horns made of trees, and his claws were gnarled roots. On his back he carried a forest with a heart-tree that glowed gold. My brother, older than me by millenia, scarcely seen but ever familiar, always present. He looked from me to the barn, and stared, transfixed, by whatever he saw, and then he was gone.

I pulled on a raincoat and stepped into my boots, and raced across the yard to the shelter of the barn. The goats stirred in their pen, and the chickens let out a low squawk of protest as the building flooded with light. I found my pie in the back stall and a trail of blueberry pawprints leading away from it and into a pile of hay, where I found a small, trembling kit, little enough to fit in my one hand.

She shook like a leaf, whining up a terrible storm, as I tucked her beneath my coat and took her into the house. The promise of a proper meal convinced her to turn back into the girl I already knew she was, but she still shook so hard that she lost half of every bite she tried to take. I might have scolded anyone else for stealing, but she was so slight, too small and slender for a girl her age, and she was covered in mud and briars and sticks that matted in her golden hair. And when I put her in the tub to scrub her clean I saw the bruises and the cuts that no branch had inflicted. 

Looking back on that night I never had the chance to hold her at arm’s length. From the moment I plucked her out of the hay and pressed her to my heart, she was mine. I couldn’t keep her. The Fox Bitch wouldn’t allow it. And no one would listen to me when I told them of the heinous crimes Elea Tandy was committing against her own kin. No one cared when I complained of the local coven teachers casting her out. 

I made myself content with what I could have, and I taught her what an old witch could when she escaped that awful house and made her way through the forest to me. I showed her how to sew up a skirt as well as a wound, and taught her what the woods had to offer when her mother denied her supper. When she couldn’t read my spellbooks I taught her songs and rhythms to help her remember words and order. How to milk a goat, how to shear a sheep, how to tie a good and proper knot, and how to cook anything you found or caught. Our time together didn’t always last long, and when she left I felt it like a stab to the heart, but she was mine. The baby Hattie and I never got to have, filled with more kindness and curiosity and life than anyone else I had ever met.

And I ought to have known by the sight of my Brother what she was, and that she could not belong to me, or to anyone forever, but it wasn’t until months later, when I saw him again, watching her ride through the woods with a wild abandon, that I understood. 

Feral. A term that makes every parent clutch her pearls and shiver in fear, even though they barely know what it means. Feral witches are born to leave. They are only a brief bridge between the Dream Realm and the physical, destined to merge once more with the Nature Spirit from which they came. 

She was not mine to keep, but I held on.

I held on in agony as she ran off, desperate for freedom and adventure and a respite from the violence of her home. I smothered her in loving arms every time she came back. But she came back less and less. It was too dangerous, and every time she risked us both. I told her I didn’t care, and that I wasn’t afraid of Elea Tandy… but I knew that she was.

She was right to be.

Even I had never imagined Elea could be so vile and twisted as to kill a familiar. And to make a child watch… It turns my gut even to think of it now. I thought it would be the death of her, and it likely would have been if her brother hadn’t turned on their mother himself. He tried to bring her back to life, and so did I. But there was nothing but fathomless despair behind those blue eyes. I finally had her safe beneath my roof, and she was dying in my arms just like Hattie had. No amount of love could ever replace what she had lost when Dawnbreaker had been hanged before her eyes.

After ages of lifelessness, she eventually became restless in her grief, and I imagined I was witnessing her end. I put her in my car and drove her as deep into the wilderness as I could, and when I wrapped my arms around her I said that same silent goodbye. I barely made it home before my own sorrow and anger threatened to drown me. She was too young, I thought, and how unfair it was that she should die having tasted so little happiness, having felt so few kind touches. Brother would care for her upon her return, but why had he ever allowed her to come from the womb of that wretched woman? I had gifted her all the love that I could, and it didn’t feel like nearly enough in the face of all the pain she had been put through.

I hated him for that. Perhaps I still do.

I left California the same way I left England, distraught, and purchased new land on the secluded shores of Lake Erie. I told no one where I went, and no one would have ever asked. 

When I saw the golden horse upon my lawn some years later I thought it was a reflection in the Living Dream, a spirit of what once was lingering, but the girl upon its back was no longer a child. Even at a distance, even after all those years, I knew her face, and when she ran into my arms I held her tighter than I ever had before. 

She was alive and more vibrant than I’d ever seen her---all golden curls and smiles and a wild glint in her eye. We rode horses on the shoreline and sang foolish songs around a campfire. She told me stories of where she had been and everything she’d seen as she wove crowns from wildflowers. The next evening she showed me the scars where the mountain lion had nearly ripped her life away, and then demonstrated her new form with such ease that I felt my knees go weak. Even at such a young age the power swelled around her.

Feral. The very thing that had made other witches reject her had allowed her to thrive. In the wilds she had found the peace and happiness that others had so cruelly robbed her of. And I felt a pride blossom in me that I’d never felt before.

She left me again, as I knew she would, as was her nature, but this time I didn’t feel grief. For as long as she was on this Earth, she would return to me. That much I was certain. And that much has always been proven true.

Now, without the fear of her mother’s viciousness, she comes to me more frequently, and she can linger in my house as long as her wild spirit will allow. Our time together isn’t so rare… and yet I know that it is still brief. 

Each visit I see the spirit grow within her, each year the magic grows stronger. It pulls in more animals, and it bends nature around her without her even noticing it. 

She doesn’t see my Brother when she is sitting upon her golden stallion, basking in the sun as it cuts through the forest branches, but I think she feels him. As the animals gather all around her and play like newborn lambs, as she feels the embrace of the woods around her, I think she feels him watching. Her eyes glisten and she smiles with a fondness that breaks my heart. I think that if she just takes one step she will be lost to me forever.

I call her name when she raises her hand to touch what she cannot see, and with the slowness of a drunkard she blinks her eyes. When she looks back at me in those moments I know she can see across the centuries. She knows what I am. 

Again I call her name. It’s selfish, maybe, to want to hold onto her. Perhaps I do nothing but hold her back. But she smiles at me, and the mist evaporates from her eyes to reveal that mischievous sparkle.

“Come away from there, girl.” I say, beaconing her back toward the house with a wave of my hand and I watch my Brother’s eyes with unbecoming smugness as she presses her golden stallion forward and exclaims “‘Race ya!’” as she charges back home.

[incorrectbatfam]

For the vampier au: how do they each get turned?

The year is 1000 BCE. Ra’s and Talia Al Ghul rule the Persian empires as two of the first vampires in existence, existing largely in secret. They make it their goal to turn as many people over to their side as possible, whether by battle or biting. Biologically, Damian was born a vampire and they utilize some arcane magic to make him appear as a child forever, because even back then people knew that children were far better at getting their way than adults. Honed as a weapon for literally millenia, Damian Al Ghul practically becomes a cryptid in his own right. Villagers shared stories of people who saw the child and never being the same—or worse, never returning. The Al Ghuls were responsible for the most well-known vampires in history, including the famous Count Dracula.

The year is 800 BCE. At 200 years old, Damian was still considered very young for a vampire. He is sent on a mission to turn to their side a young lady who was practically viewed as a goddess by other women, and who aspired to become one of the greatest poets of all time. Talia dropped Damian off on the island of Lesbos. Faster than lightning, the child warrior swooped down and bit the legendary Sappho. Now an immortal, Sappho dedicated her eternity of free time to her passion for writing, where she composed her famous Ode To Aphrodite. Eventually she got bored of Greece, so she changed her appearance and set off exploring the greater Asian continent.

The year is 1206. Genghis Khan had conquered much of the world. Under the Mongol empire, it was as common for women to serve in army as men. One of Khan’s most distinguished fighters came from the Manchuria region. She was a mercenary for the army, a lone wolf. And though she found thrill in battle, she was lonely. And, as fate may have it, so was Sappho. They met in a village where the army was stationed and forged a tight-knit partnership. They laughed together, they fought together. And the thought of being separated was unimaginable. So when Sappho revealed herself to be a vampire, the Mongol warrior jumped at the chance to become one too. And so she was transformed with consent, and together they roamed the world in search for adventure.

The year is 1775. The two girls had heard of this supposed New World and the colonies Britain established. They wanted to see it for themselves. Changing their names and appearances to something more Anglican, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain boarded a ship set for what would become modern-day New Jersey. Immediately they found a stark lack of immortals there and they didn’t want to be the only ones, so they set off on a biting spree, turning men, women, children, and even a few farm animals (two dogs, a cat, a cow, and a turkey) without care. One of these victims was an elderly English nobleman named Alfred Pennyworth. Cassandra took the animals under her wing, while Stephanie felt bad for Alfred because he seemed to have nobody around. So the girls “adopted” Alfred as their grandfather so he wouldn’t be lonely either. 

The year is 1871. Haly’s Circus was the most popular traveling show during Europe’s Industrial Age. Disguised as mother and child laborers working behind the scenes, Damian and Talia were on the lookout for new potential soldiers. And who would make a more perfect killer than the swift, agile Flying Graysons? Talia tried persuading John and Mary nicely, using Damian’s adorable boyish face, and they did give in. At least, at first. But within a few months of John, Mary, and Richard being turned, the parents changed their mind. They wanted nothing to do with Ra’s Al Ghul’s agenda and threatened to expose the vampires to the world. Talia had no choice but to get rid of them. She paid a lower-level mortal criminal to rig the ropes and douse the trapezes in holy water, which would lead to the downfall of John and Mary. The press reported it as a tragic accident. Alfred, who was at the circus during his holiday when it happened, couldn’t help but notice the burn marks on their hands. He chalked it up to coincidence or a prior unrelated injury in the end

The year is 1920. All that the grieving Richard Grayson wanted was to get away from the ghost of his past. He traveled to America, settling in the subpar city of Gotham, New Jersey. As much as he wanted to drink his troubles away, it was just his luck that he arrived at the beginning of Prohibition. His apartment was near a speakeasy, though, so he frequented that. The underground bar itself was owned by mob boss Jason Todd, who was notorious for brandishing guns and picking drunken fights—and winning all of them. But his streak would end when he had one too many glasses of moonshine and challenged an unwilling Richard Grayson to a fistfight. “What, you gonna back out, ya little dick?” Jason taunted. The former Flying Grayson himself wasn’t in the most sober state ever, so after some convincing and people placing betting money on the table, they took up the challenge. It was the roughest fight that bar had ever seen, and in a final act of self-defense, Richard bit Jason. (Granted, it wasn’t in the neck, but a bite was a bite). Jason becoming vampire wasn’t the worst consequence. No, it the older one being stuck with a terrible nickname: Dick.

The year was 1965. One of Ra’s fortune tellers predicted an influx of young soldiers arriving in Vietnam before war was even declared, and Ra’s sent his grandson to a rural village in the country undercover to find more recruits as the League of Assassins’ influence was diminishing. The environment of thick, bushy jungles worked in Damian’s favor as he was able to hide and strike on French and U.S. soldiers. He even managed to turn all but two members of a New Jersey infantry. Later on, the government reported one of the drafted soldiers, Duke Thomas, as missing, but in reality the young man went into hiding with two other vampire soldiers on his squad. And it was a reasonable move—mass media was on the rise and the last thing anyone needed was vampires being exposed as real to the public. Not only that, but Duke displayed abilities that the other two didn’t have, likely attributed to the combined effects of vampire magic and chemical agents like Napalm used at the time, and neither General Grayson nor Lieutenant Todd knew what to make of it.

The year was 1999. A teenage Tim Drake was out on a late-night grocery run to get more supplies, because 2000 was in just a few months and everyone was preparing for the supposed end of the world. He made the grave mistake of taking a shortcut through Crime Alley in an effort to get home on time, and was bitten in the leg by a “homeless” kid who seemed to appear out of nowhere before scurrying off. He didn’t experience anything strange for the next few years. He got plenty of sunburns, but he burned easily even before the incident. He kept his bedroom dark and stayed awake all night, but so did a lot of teenagers during that grunge/post-punk era. Silver felt weird, which he brushed off as an allergy. He avoided churches but that was because religion was never his thing. He craved red meat and avoided garlic, but hey, people had their likes and dislikes. It wasn’t until about five years later, when Tim realized he hadn’t aged a day, that he considered doing some research. 

The year was 2019. Bruce Wayne was at one of his famous Wayne Enterprises gala on New Year’s when he met a stunningly beautiful woman named Talia. She slipped a little something into his drink when he wasn’t looking. Bruce couldn’t remember what happened after that, only waking up with a killer hangover and strange hickey on his neck. He had been Batman for a while now, and when he started experiencing unexplainable things he sought the help of the magician Zatanna, who found out that somebody turned him into a vampire. If he wasn’t brooding before, he definitely was now, and it didn’t help that the butler was a smartass. Alfred revealed to Bruce that he had been a vampire the whole time, looking over the Wayne family since Thomas’s father’s father, because the wealthy Waynes made easy targets for the supernatural. In an attempt to make Bruce feel less alone, Alfred invited Stephanie and Cassandra over for dinner (“Alfred, great to see you again! It’s been, like, a hundred years!”). It was over dinner that Bruce asked questions and the older vampires told their stories, and Alfred offhandedly mentioned something about Haly’s Circus that caught Bruce’s attention. Fresh burn marks from touching a trapeze? Something didn’t seem right. Though the case was over a century old, Bruce did some searching on the Batcomputer and found too many discrepancies in the Flying Grayson case for it to be just a regular accident. With Stephanie and Cassandra’s help, Bruce traced the parents’ deaths back to the League of Assassins. But one new questioned surfaced after all this: what happened to Richard? That question would be answered a few weeks later when Bruce dug up another cold case: a file about an MIA Vietnam War soldier from Gotham, Duke Thomas. He tracked down Duke’s whereabouts, and it turned out he was hiding from the League of Assassins with two other missing people from history: the circus performer Richard Grayson and mobster Jason Todd. Bruce offered him the best damn thing in their eyes: sanctuary. He took all three of them under his bat wing and they joined his immortal crusade against Gotham crime. Some time later, Talia introduced Damian to Bruce under the guise that Damian was Bruce’s son, citing the night she met Bruce at the party. Damian only agreed to Talia’s infiltration plan because he was sick of how Ra’s treated him, like an object rather than a being. So although the paternity test came out negative, Bruce still insisted that Damian was his son and kept him. As for Tim Drake? His story is pretty much the same: deducing Batman and Nightwing’s identities and demanding to join them—classic Timmers move