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lowkis · 3 years

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you put your hand in mine - chapter 14

summary: when loki falls from the bifrost he lands on earth. isla finds him while out walking her dog one night and takes him under her wing, nursing him back to health as best she can. it’s hard, trying to juggle work, life, and looking after a fallen asgardian prince. with nowhere else to go and limited access to his magic, loki must heal, wait patiently, and adapt while trying to wrap his head around life on earth after everything that happened on the bifrost

LINK TO READ ON AO3

rated: t

words: 2325

tags: post-thor (2011), eventual romance, slow burn, mutual pining, fluff, drama, romance, angst, comfort/angst, canon divergence, protective loki, good loki, confused loki, loki needs a hug, he’s trying his best to understand earth, he’s trying his best full stop

chapter 1: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 2: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 3: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 4: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 5: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 6: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 7: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 8: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 9: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 10: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 11: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 12: tumblr | ao3 || chapter 13: tumblr | ao3

Maya whined quietly.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Isla scolded lightly.

Maya snorted and tossed her head, causing Isla to roll her eyes at her dramatics.

“I didn’t send him away or ask him to leave.”

She whined, this time more loudly, and moved to stand at the door, staring at it as if she was begging for Loki to come walking through and return any second. Maya let out a single yowl. A theatrical cry for her lost friend.

“Maya! He’s gone.” The statement brought more sorrow to her than Isla expected. “I don’t know if he’s coming back,” Isla added, softening her tone.

He’d only left yesterday morning and Isla was already missing her companion. The house was too quiet without him. She missed his smile. The grin he’d wear as he played happily with Maya and the mischievous smile he’d wear while teasing her. He’d been good company to have around. Someone intelligent to converse with and someone endearing to teach about her world.

She’d taught a prince about earth. Loki was a prince. Good grief. That was not what she’d been expecting. She was a little hurt he hadn’t told her, but after overcoming the initial shock – which just so happened to occur conveniently after he’d unexpectedly left – Isla knew he obviously had his reasons. She’d initially thought he’d run away from home, hadn’t she? Why would he want to discuss it when family and his home were clearly such a sore topic for Loki? And with someone who was essentially a stranger? They hadn’t known each other for that long at all.

With this revelation came startling clarity. She vaguely remembered now, stories from her childhood of Norse Gods, of Asgard, of Odin and Frigga, Thor and Loki. Never in a million years would she have connected them and actually believed Loki was from Asgard. It was too much for her brain to comprehend and process, so she supposed it had simply cast that connection aside and settled for him simply being an alien. It was easier to handle for the time being.

An alien with the same name as a Norse God.

She really should have put two and two together. She was cleverer than that. Instead, she’d been completely oblivious.

Isla sighed to herself as she settled upon her couch. The cup of coffee in her hands was warming her fingertips pleasantly. With the lack of Loki’s presence next to her as she watched television, keeping Maya occupied with scratches and love, Isla realised she really did miss him. Probably more than she should.

It was silly, really. They didn’t even know each other very well.

She wished she could see him again to let him know that it was okay that he’d withheld the information. It wasn’t her business to know why, and she did mean what she said when she’d told Loki she wanted him to be okay. Wherever he’d gone, whatever this cataclysmic news those agents had to drop on him, Isla hoped he was coping.

That, in itself, was a whole other can of worms that brought forth anxiety and fear with it, but Isla shelved it for later for now. She trusted the right people were looking into it. Hoped they were. Loki was there, at least. He was a powerful sorcerer from what she remembered from the myths, and she’d seen first-hand a fraction of his abilities. She trusted he’d be able to help them all if it came to it.

Whether he wanted to or not, was another question.

Isla’s body tensed.

He hadn’t been pleased to leave with the SHIELD agents.

Her stomach quivered as she remembered the way he’d promised he’d return. It was like he’d set it as his life’s mission. As if his life depended on it. And not just come back to say goodbye or for a catch up.

“I will return to you, Isla. I swear it.”

To her. She shivered again. Her knuckles tingled at the memory of him kissing the back of them.

Such unfortunate timing, Isla thought wistfully. But then gave herself a shake. What God would want to focus all their attention on her, a lowly mortal. A human, who’s life would pass by sooner than Loki could blink.

Nonetheless, regardless of her inappropriate crush, he was still her friend. Isla would always be there for him if he were to ask.

Maya yowled, and continued to do so, breaking Isla from her thoughts.

Isla rolled her eyes and stood, placing her steaming mug on her coffee table. Standing before her husky, who was staring up at her with demanding eyes, Maya continued her theatrics as Isla placed her hands on her hips.

“Maya,” she snapped to try and stop her antics. “Enough.” Her tone was much softer this time as she finally grabbed Maya’s attention and her volume lowered. Her protests didn’t stop but were rendered to pouting yips rather than a pitiful howl that still seemed to slice right through her ears at its painful volume.

Maya sneezed and tossed her head. She sat on the floor and stared up at Isla, cocking her head.

“I know you miss him. I do too. But he’s a prince,” Isla explained to her four-legged friend as she lowered to her knees. Isla ran her hands over Maya’s neck to comfort her. “Can you believe that Maya? We had a prince in our house,” she giggled. “Loki is a God. God of Mischief if I remember correctly,” she added, then smiled to herself. “He certainly seemed like the type to get up to mischief. He’s just like you,” Isla commented as she ran her hand over Maya’s head in between her ears. “I bet you two could get into all sorts of trouble together. You are the perfect companion for him.” Isla trailed off as that wistful tone invaded her thoughts once more.

Maya picked up on her mood and shifted in place. She leaned her head forward and sniffed at her cheek. Her tongue flicked out and licked her cheek in comfort. It brought a big smile to Isla’s face.

“We’ve got each other though, Maya. And he did say he’d come back. I don’t know when that will be,” Isla added, “but it’s something for you to look forward to. Hopefully when he leaves the next time you can get a proper goodbye.”

Maya snorted quietly and stood. She placed her muzzle atop Isla’s shoulder and remained in place, giving Isla her version of a hug.

In a moment of weakness, Isla buried her face in Maya’s fur, clutching at it with desperate hands as a wave of uncertainty even at her own reassurances washed over her.

Loki was a prince. Of Asgard. And a God. He was a busy person. It would be unlikely he’d be able to return to them if he had to go off and save the world or return to his own. Isla wouldn’t hold it against him, of course. How could she? It was by chance he’d landed here on earth so near to her. The time they’d spent together was lovely and she’d found in him a friend – as well as a frustrating crush. She’d miss her friend, but she understood. Whatever business he had with her could wait. And if she was still around by the time he did return, if too much time had not passed, she’d be glad to see him again. Feelings would fade, and that was okay, all that mattered would be Isla seeing that he was all right. That he was happy and doing okay. That’s what she wanted for him.

Maya stepped backwards and her tongue lolled from her mouth. She licked Isla’s cheek, leaving slobbers all over her skin.

“Maya!” Isla laughed and rubbed at her wet cheek. “Thanks,” she added sarcastically with a roll of her eyes. “I really appreciated that.”

She wiggled her butt playfully and skipped backwards. Her tail wagged furiously behind her, ready to play and leave this melancholy mood behind them. Something which Isla couldn’t agree more with.

Isla stuck her tongue out at Maya and stood to fetch her ball. Recognising what was happening, Maya barked excitedly and trotted to the front door.

“I think a walk would do us both the world of good.”

They’d go to the beach. Maya could run riot in the sand and in the surf. Isla would toss her ball for her over and over as the sea air cleared her head and brightened her mind. They’d take an afternoon just for themselves. A treat to cheer them up.

As Isla knelt to attach Maya’s lead to her harness Maya’s hackles rose instantly and without warning. Isla was knocked back onto her heels as Maya stood and growled menacingly. Her gaze was focused over Isla’s shoulder, looking at something she couldn’t see. Isla opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, as she often did, forgetting Maya couldn’t actually talk to her. However a feeling of dread and… an overall wrongness slammed into her without warning. Isla exhaled shakily and hopped to her feet, staring at her front door. She didn’t know why she was drawn to it – or rather, repulsed by it. By whatever was about to step through it.

A large hulking shape filled out the entirety of the frosted glass and Isla’s heart rose into her throat.

Maya spun and her barking was relentless against the intruder. Then, as suddenly as it started, Maya stopped. Her ears perked up and faster than Isla could comprehend, she took off like a shot through the house, towards the back door. Isla heard a clatter as she probably dove through the doggie door and took off after her pup.

Wrenching the door open –

Isla froze.

In her garden at the back of her house, standing on her grass, was something that… wasn’t human.

The being was a behemoth, standing taller than Isla was currently, even though she was elevated up five steps. They were bald with a massive chin that filled out their entire face. They wore armour, which Isla only recognised because she’d seen Loki’s. It wasn’t similar to his, but she recognised the type and quality of it. It reminded Isla of the time he’d shown her his most regal attire, complete with his horned helmet.

Battle armour.

There were other, smaller beings behind them, but Isla couldn’t tear her eyes away from the main one. Their presence seemed to take up her entire garden, filling out the space and demanding attention from all. Isla couldn’t find it in her to look away. Partly due to her fear.

“I am looking for someone, mortal.”

Isla shuddered at the sound of her voice. She hated it instantly. All her instincts were screaming at her to turn and run but they were halted. Maya streaked forward towards the perceived threat and leapt at them without warning as she tried to defend Isla and her home. As her jaw opened to snap at the purple being’s legs something from the group behind lunged and grabbed her by the scruff of the neck before she could make contact.

The purple being didn’t even flinch or look away from Isla.

“Maya!”

She let out a whine as the alien looking thing held her back easily. Maya was pushed away, almost dragged back on the grass to put some distance between her and the purple skinned newcomer.

“Stop it!” Isla ran down the steps but was stopped as two more grey beings started forward and blocked her path with two long spears. They looked wickedly sharp and glowed with a blue light at the end. Isla tried to dodge their barrier but was harshly pushed backwards. “Maya!”

A pained yelp was her only answer.

The giant sliced their hand through the air, casting a fleeting glance over their shoulder. The alien relented and relaxed their grip a little. Maya still struggled against their hold and fought to be free, but they wouldn’t let her. Her growls never stopped as she stared down her captor.

“Let her go, please!” Isla begged.

Dread was clawing at her throat, drawing it closed, and drenching her in a cold sweat.

Was this what SHIELD were so afraid of? But why were they here?

Isla was panicking, thinking death was here for her. This was it. With the size of the titan’s hands, they could snap her in two like a twig and she’d be powerless to stop it. They could swat at her playfully and she’d be gone in an instant.

“As I said, mortal,” the being spoke, ignoring her cries, “I am looking for someone. I know they were here.”

Isla’s frantic gaze was torn from Maya. Their grip appeared to be no longer hurting her, but she was still being given no freedom to move. The alien hissed at her as Maya snarled back.

Rage and fury were beginning to build within Isla’s chest. They both started to beat against her ribcage, begging to be let free at the rough treatment of her pup.

“Where are they?”

“Who?” A sliver of anger bled into her tone despite her efforts to try and keep a lid on it. This goliath and their underlings could easily crush her in an instant, so she knew her limits. Isla knew not to push her luck as her survival instincts kicked in, but she still couldn’t help herself. They’d hurt Maya.

“Odinson. Where is he?”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“His magical signature is everywhere here,” the being scoffed. “He’s here.”

“There’s no one here,” Isla explained. “It’s just us two.”

They looked over their shoulder and nodded to their entourage. Maya was lifted from the ground into the arms of an alien, her jaws snapping back and forth wildly at an attempt to free herself, and Isla was grabbed by a spindly grey hand. Their fingers dug in deep enough to her flesh to cause bruising and she bit back a cry of indignation and pain.

“Search the building. Get them inside.”

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#loki fic #loki fanfic #loki fanfiction #loki x original female character #tom hiddleston fanfic #likes and reblogs are much appreciated :)#my fic #you put your hand in mine

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noodlecupcakeswritings · 4 years

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Undercover - Chapter 14 (A LokixRaven AU)

Loki won the battle of New York and now rules over Earth after eliminating Thor and Hawkeye. The remaining Avengers have gone into hiding, waiting for a chance to take back their planet. Raven (OC) is their key to doing so.

This fic is pretty much porn and with this AU Raven and Loki have no previous history.

Please leave comments, kudos and reblogs if you like it. It really helps me out as a writer, lemme know if you wanna be on the taglist as well :)

Warnings: Language, Fluff, Feelings

Chapter 14

Loki’s P.O.V

The traitor’s body was hung outside the palace gates as a warning, and I made my way to Raven’s quarters as promised. Knocking first to announce my presence, I entered her room. Raven sat on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, and one tempting pale leg exposed by the slit in her dress. I considered kneeling and kissing my way up that leg, but decided against it. She was still just a mortal; she didn’t deserve a God to kneel before her. Whilst I knew Collin’s accusation had been a lie, there was a slight part of me that now doubted Raven. Perhaps it was because I saw myself as unlovable. Perhaps she was too good to be true.

The rational part of my brain argued back. If that were true why would she have laid herself bare to me, she had no reason to tell me about her past and yet she had seen me as someone she could trust with such information. I wanted to do the same, tell her everything, but that small seed of doubt made me hold back. Most of my life before this involved me being second best and having information withheld from me. Why would she be any different? I was her king, and she was nothing but a slave. And she should be kneeling upon my arrival. “Kneel,” I ordered softly.

In one fluid motion, Raven sunk off the bed and on to her knees before me. She gazed up at me, looking about ready to do anything I asked of her, ready to prove her loyalty. Cupping her cheek, I bent down to kiss her softly. Maybe I was letting my doubts and self-loathing colour my vision. I should go, take some time to think this all over, to make sure I didn’t do something I might later regret. “Forgive me, my dear. I need some time to reflect upon today’s events.” I sighed. Turning away from her so I couldn’t see the disappointment on her face, I headed for the door.

“No.” Raven said firmly. Quickly she was on her feet, putting herself between me and the door. There was that defiant side again. If any other slave had done this or spoken to me in a such a way, I would have punished them. Yet here I was breaking my own rules yet again for her. “I am not letting that traitor come between us,” she continued. “Step aside, Raven. Please.” “Not until you look at me in the eye and tell me if you really believe his words.”

Raven approached me, cupping my cheek tenderly and making me meet her gaze. She looked hurt, and that only made me feel even worse. “You really think I came here with an ulterior motive? That I’m some kind of spy? Why would someone like Shield hire a murderer like me?” She asked. “I…” I trailed off, unsure what to say. “Loki, I have no reason to betray you.” “But you do. I took your world by force, enslaved it, ruined it. You and everyone else have reason to betray me.”

Her gaze turned sympathetic, “you did. But you haven’t ruined it.” “Look outside at your city, its destroyed.” “Let me prove to you that you haven’t destroyed my planet. Let me prove to you that there’s still beauty in the planet you rule over.” “You…you want us to go outside?” “It’s your planet, we can go anywhere you wish.” Whilst I had done my research on the planet, there were so many places to go that I didn’t know where to begin.

“Where would you want to go?” I asked. This made her pause, as if my question had taken her by surprise. Her gaze dropped as she thought about her answer. “Me? But this is about you,” Raven responded. “You said you wanted to show me there was still beauty here, tell me where. There must have been somewhere you’ve always wanted to go.” “Theres quite a few places I’ve always wanted to go, it’s just trying to decide which one.” “Then don’t decide which one. Decide what you want to see first.”

As she made her decision, I conjured the tesseract from the weapons vault. Raven eyed it suspiciously, looking at me for an explanation. “This is how we’ll get around. Hold it with me and think of the place you want to go most,” I explained. Cautiously Raven placed her hand on top of the glowing blue cube and closed her eyes. In a matter of seconds, the tesseract took us to her desired location. Before us was a vast lake, mountains in the distance and surrounding us were purple flowers that looked similar to lavender. Unfamiliar with the location, I turned to Raven who was looking around in pure wonder, a smile across her face that reached her eyes.

“It really works?” She asked. “You doubted me?” I couldn’t help but smirk. Raven raised her brows at me, “you doubted my loyalty not five minutes ago.” Touché. “So where exactly are we?” I asked. “Lake Tekapo. New Zealand. I’ve never been this far from home before.” She continued looking around as if she still couldn’t believe it. Suddenly she practically threw herself in my arms, thanking me profusely.

After a moment, I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close and feeling content. This was the first time I’d really held her outside of aftercare. All too quickly she pulled away, looking slightly concerned. “We didn’t pack any clothes. I didn’t bring my sketchbook,” She panicked. Smirking, I conjured the black leather-bound book for her, handing it over. Ravens worries seemed to ease, but she also seemed fascinated by my use of magic. “I’ve never really seen you use your magic before. What else can you do?” She asked. “We’re here for the beautiful sights of your planet, not for my sorcery. Besides, you could have shown me many beautiful sights back in your bedroom. But this isn’t bad,” I smirked.

“I’m holding you too that.” She retorted with her own smirk. “When I said beautiful places around your planet, I figured you’d suggest Paris or Rome.” “We can visit the Eiffel tower if that’s something you’d like to see. Paris is romantic, yes, but it’s also what everyone else would pick. Besides, I wanted to see natural beauty over man-made beauty.” “Or is it because there’s different kinds of flowers to draw here? What are these anyway?” I motioned to the purple plant. “Lupins. And I’ll have you know some of the places I want to go have no flowers to draw. Maybe I’ll have to find a new muse.”

Raven found a place amongst the Lupins to sit, looking out at the landscape. “You don’t think this is beautiful. Or at least peaceful?” She asked. Instead of focusing on the landscape, all I could focus on was her. Her hair could have easily made her blend in amongst the Lupins as they were mostly the same shade. And she looked at ease here. More than she did at the palace. Leaving the palace had me slightly anxious. It was the first time I’d ventured out like this and with another person. Clones were in place in case of an attack, and the Chitauri were always ready.

“It’s peaceful,” I agreed. Eventually I took a seat next to her, Raven already sketching away and adding to the cast collection of drawn flowers in her book. After half an hour, she turned to me. “Would you mind if I drew you?” She asked. “Me?” “You’re a good subject. A handsome one.” She started sketching, glancing between me and her book every few moments. The time it took her to sketch gave me time to consider our arrangement. I’d never treated a slave like this. Yes, I had gotten close to previous slaves but never been on a...date with them.

Especially never let one leave the palace whether I’m with them. Maybe this alternative approach would bring us closer. Maybe she could finally be the one. Perhaps when I opened up to her about my heritage, she wouldn’t be judgemental. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.

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Raven and I continued to travel around the globe visiting many places. The marble caves of Chile, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Japan, and luckily it was blossom season. We also visited the beautiful Plitvice Lakes of Croatia, the otherworldly black sanded beach of Reynisjara, Iceland and the peaceful, secluded Faroe Islands. I had to admit, Earth seemed more and more beautiful with every place we visited. Raven decided there was one last place she wanted to visit, Tromso, Norway. The weather was colder, so I conjured Raven some much warmer clothes.

“And you wanted to come here because?” I asked. “You’ll see tonight. Hopefully.” We spent the day exploring the bay as it was quieter, meaning less attention being drawn to us. Besides, I could conceal us from the mortals if need be. I just wanted time with her. It felt like most past worries I could forget about. I could just enjoy these moments we shared. The past week and a half had been bliss. I felt ready to tell her everything, ready to pour my heart and soul out to her.

Evening fell and Raven had forced me to hike to the hillside, sitting down beside me. The black sky was dotted with stars, the moon high and full. “We’ve stargazed already this week,” I mentioned. “Just wait.” After another half an hour of nothing, a green and yellow aura appeared across the sky. Raven smiled widely, looking up at the sky in wonder. Oh, Earth was beautiful indeed. Seeing such an aura reminded me of Asgard, made me miss it. It would have been nice to take Raven there if things had been different.

But the bridge was broken, I could never return, and nobody could leave. Ravens fingers brushed against mine hesitantly, as if asking to be held. Lacing my fingers with hers, she took that as a sign to rest her head on my shoulder. This was the most affection I’d received in years. It brought a soft smile to my face. I didn’t want this trip of ours to end, but we had to return to the palace, eventually.

“I’m glad I got to share all this with you, Loki,” Raven spoke softly. Turning to look at her, I leaned in to kiss her. Raven melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around me. Pushing me down, she straddled me with a soft smirk. “Someone could see, my dear,” I teased. “As if you’d let anybody see me like that.” “Your right.”

Taglist: @sweetfictionalworld, @therealityhelix, @darkprincessloki92, @skulliebythesea, @fizzyxcustard, @myownviperroom, @jana-banana-fana, @lostinimaginaryplaces

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littlemisssquiggles · 4 years

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Something I noticed: Ozpin and RWBY both came up with outlines of plans but have nothing concrete. Both were rejected, not because said plans, but because they lied to their allies and the lies were revealed at the worst possible time, place and way.

…Hmmmmmmm….I dunno about that Miki-chan. With all due respect, I’m going to have to disagree with you on this one point m’friend since I wouldn’t go as far as to say that RWBY actually had a plan; at least not one that went beyond withholding the truth from General Ironwood.

Since we’re comparing Oz’s actions to that of RWBY’s---Oz was the only person with a legit plan---one that more or less worked successfully in his favour for the past few lifetimes. You know what I just realized? The only thing that Oz didn’t have a plan for was a way to stop Salem and that was technically the ONLY relevant piece of information that he withheld from his allies; inclusive of our heroes and the members of his inner circle.

Other than that, Oz told them everything else that he knew and had things in place for.

The existence of the Brother Gods, the Maidens of Magic, the true purpose of the huntsmen academies as strongholds for the Vaults containing the Relics and the identity of Salem herself---our heroes (mainly the RNJR group at the time) garnered all this info through Qrow Branwen who would’ve have been able to pass it onto them if Oz hadn’t disclosed it to him in the first place.

Herein lays an issue I have. It’s for this reason why it bothered me (and still bothers; mind you) how in RWBY V7CH4, the CRWBY Writers---mainly Eddy ‘Double D’ Rivas---had Qrow Branwen deadass tell Ruby that her choice to withhold information from Ironwood is no different from Ozpin’s deceit since according to him, Ruby is choosing to place her trust in others.

“…Oz only trusted himself with the whole truth. You’re trusting others but you’re making sure they prove themselves first. I think that’s a pretty big difference.”

… I have never heard so much wrong in one sentence from a character I like. Brace yourself Miki-chan and to anyone who happened to be reading this response post for I am about to go off on small tangent as to why I strongly dislike this one line from V7 and why it peeves me so much that this dribble came from Qrow Branwen.

If this line had been said by any other character; I probably would’ve been fine with it. If it had come from someone like Yang or Weiss or Blake or anyone of our other young huntsmen characters who didn’t know Ironwood personally then I would understand for them to have this impression of him since V7 is technically our group’s first time getting to really know and understand the General through working with him and his associates.

But the fact that this line was said by Qrow of all people is such a huge contradiction in my eyes. No matter how I look at it; it felt incredibly off to me to have Qrow say something like this regarding the team’s choice to deceive the General. It was off to have Qrow say this to Ruby when outside of Oz; Qrow is the only other person who knows James given the fact that the two were forced to work together via their association with Oz as members of his Inner Circle. Qrow may not share the same rapport and level of respect towards James like Oz once did---on the contrary, back in V3, there a bit of tension between Qrow and James given the Branwen man’s displayed disagreement against the General’s actions during that season. Needless to say, in spite of their differences in the past, Qrow still knew the General a lot better than Ruby and the others to gage the type of man he is. So to have Qrow condone his own niece and their entire group deceiving one of their own allies; especially given the events of V6 is SO bothersome to me.

And I guess the biggest reason as to why this bothers me so much is because, if I recall correctly, back in V3, Qrow literally instigated a courtyard battle with Winter Schnee because he detested how Ironwood had went behind Ozpin’s back to get the Vale Council to waver in his favour for bringing Atlas military forces to Vale for the Vytal Festival despite Oz voicing his oppositions about it earlier in the season.

“…Despite what the world thinks; we’re not just teachers or generals or headmasters. The people in this room, the leaders of the other two academies; we’re the ones that keep the world safe from evils no one even knows about. It’s why we meet behind closed doors, why we work in the shadows so you tell me James, when you brought your army to Vale, did you think you being discreet or did you not just give a damn?!”

Qrow didn’t like it went Ironwood went over Oz and did his own thing so it feels awkward to have him basically do the same thing to Ironwood here in V7 especially coming off of V6 where part of his anger towards Oz was because he had kept such a huge secret even from him---one of the people he claimed to have trust.

This brings me back to my biggest gripe with this quote from Qrow. How can Qrow imply that Ruby’s deceit is no different that Oz due to him ‘only keeping the whole truth to himself while Ruby only told it to people she trusted after they had proven themselves worthy of her trust’ when…Qrow himself is an exemplar of Oz’s trust.

So was Ironwood!

As a matter of fact, let me share a quote that Qrow himself said back in V3 that justifies my point. This was taken from the same episode that I mentioned before--- RWBY Volume 3: Chapter 3- It’s Brawl in the Family.

“…Discreet wasn’t working. I’m here because this is what was necessary.”

“…You’re here because Ozpin wanted you here! He made you a part of this Inner Circle and opened your eyes to the real fight that’s in front of us!”

Referring back to what I said earlier---our heroes (meaning JNR_RWBY) eventually learnt the truth through sources like the Branwen Twins. V4 was when Qrow told RNJR the truth and V5 was when Yang and Weiss heard it from Raven.

However, neither Qrow nor Raven would know any of this info if Oz hadn’t trusted them with it in the first place. And Oz only trusted them because, just like Ironwood, they had proven themselves worthy to be drafted into his inner Circle of allies. After all it was stated back in V5 that Ozpin had his eye on Team STRQ the minute they were assembled, just as how he had his eye of RWBY.

“…Your Uncle Qrow and I didn’t attend Beacon to become huntsmen. We did it to learn how to kill huntsmen. Daddy and uncle left that part out, hmm? Aside from the Grimm, huntsmen were the only ones capable of ruining our raids and hunting us down. Our tribe needed a counterforce. And Qrow and I were the perfect age. The entrance exams were child’s play compared to what we’d already been through. We were good. So good, that we caught the attention of Beacon’s very own headmaster, Professor Ozpin. Even after we were put on a team, I could tell he was keeping his eye on us. Back then, I thought it was because he knew, but it was Team STRQ he was interested in…”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Constant attention, extra training missions, turning a blind eye whenever we happened to break the rules and get into more trouble than we should’ve. Sound familiar?”

“What’s your point?”

“How much do you know about Professor Ozpin?”

“He was…a prodigy. One of the youngest headmasters to be appointed to a school.”

“Because that’s how he planned it. Because the man you know as Ozpin designed those schools and has followers inside every academy on Remnant that are loyal to him and no one else.”

“That doesn’t make any sense! How could he have---No. Why would someone even do that?”

“Because old man Oz has a great and terrible secret. One that could spread fear across the world. One that he eventually entrusted to our team, and once I knew, there was no good back…”

This was taken from RWBY Volume 5: Chapter 6 – Known By Its Song. I just want to draw attention to the part where Raven told Yang and Weiss that Oz entrusted the members of Team STRQ with presumably the same information that gave the members of his Inner Circle .

This is why Qrow’s line from V7 is like his name; a load of crow; in my opinion. Ozpin kept the whole truth to himself? Ruby is different because she only trusts people with the truth until they’ve proven themselves?

…Even though, that is EXACTLY what Ozpin did with Team STQR and his Inner Circle? The only exception with him being the truth about Salem’s immortality. Speaking of which; how can Qrow imply that Salem’s immortality is the whole truth given everything our heroes (and by extension, the audience) have learnt over the past couple of seasons?

As a matter of fact, let’s take a gander at this so-called “whole truth” that Qrow Branwen spoke off; shall we? Allegedly, Qrow had implied that Oz failing to mention the fact that Salem is immortal and therefore undefeatable to be the whole truth and nothing but the whole truth, right? But this simply cannot be the case since, as we know, there is a whole bunch of other stuff that also falls under that category. Basically, the whole truth can be divided into the following.

Salem the True Leader of the Grimm

The Brother Gods

The Maidens of Magic

The Relics

The True Purpose of the Huntsmen Academies

Oz and Salem’s History

Our heroes first learnt all this information from the Branwen Twins. As I stated before, V4 was when Qrow first told this to RNJR during his rendition of the Tale of the Brother Gods and this was ultimately followed up a bit in V5 when Raven passed on what she knew about Salem to Weiss and Yang.

While I understand that Salem’s history with Ozma that led to her curse of immortality is an important piece of information; I’d hardly call that the “whole truth”. It’s not even half of the whole truth. It’s only a very small fraction compared to everything else on the board. What about all the stuff concerning the Maidens? The Relics and the Vaults? The Brother Gods. All of that information falls under this so-called “whole truth” that Qrow implied to Ruby and as I’ll repeat again, Qrow was only able to do this since Ozpin told it to him.

Referring back to Raven’s quote from V5CH6, Qrow was among the few people that Oz chose to trust with everything.

While he didn’t tell them about Salem’s immortality, he did entrust them with everything else. Therefore Oz didn’t trust only himself with the whole truth. The only information that Oz kept to himself was the one piece of info he didn’t have a clear plan for. A clear method of stopping Salem is the ONE thing that Oz couldn’t account for since even after living many lifetimes, it’s the one thing that he and his predecessors had failed to come up with a solution to.

But for everything else, Ozpin had things put in place. The protection of Maidens of Magic by erasing them from the public view and knowledge. Having the four huntsmen academies double as a fortresses to hide the Vaults keeping the Relics away from Salem and her forces. Designing the vaults in such a way that they can only be opened by a Maiden of Magic and creating the huntsmen class---warriors trained as humanity’s protectors to safeguard the world against the plight of Grimm---all of this came according to Oz’s plan. Well…the Wizards’ plan.

It’s just like Raven had said back in V5. Oz had a plan for mostly everything---a plan that worked in his favour for his lifetime as the Headmaster of Beacon Academy and during his life as the King of Vale, contributed towards the People of Remnant being able to live eighty full years of peace and harmony within the kingdoms in the aftermath of a war that spanned for ten years.

Oz even had a plan in the event of his death and inevitable rebirth. What was it that he told RNJR back in V5?

“…But I thought the headmasters all took their orders from you.”

“That was the intention. Four lieutenants I can trust, especially during times of reincarnation…”

That was taken from RWBY V5: Chapter 3 – Unforeseen Complications. Oz had people he trusted. Qrow was among those people.

The one thing Oz did not have a plan for was how to deal with Salem, but in spite of this, he fell back to focusing all of his efforts on the main mission that the God of Light first tasked to Ozma.

“…Mankind is no more; yet your world remains and in time, your kind will grow to walk its face again. However, without our presence, they will be but a fraction of what they once were. Creation, destruction, choice and knowledge were the ideals upon which humanity was made. Now I leave them behind with the hope that you may learn to remake yourselves. If brought together, these four relics will summon my brother and I back to your world and humanity will be judged.

If your kind has learned to live in harmony with one another and set aside their differences, then we shall once again live among you and humanity will be made whole again. But if your kind is unchanged. If you demand our blessings while still fighting amongst yourselves then man will be found irredeemable and your world will be wiped from existence. Until your task is complete, you will reincarnate but in a manner that ensures that you are never alone…”

In the Lost Fable, the God of Light never told Ozma to stop Salem. She wasn’t supposed to be his priority. On the contrary, Light attempted to sway Ozma from pursuing Salem entirely since he already knew of her fate.

“…I’m sorry but…that world just isn’t dear to me with her. If I may, I’d rather return to the afterlife to see Salem.” “You will not find her there.” “…You mean…she isn’t gone?” “Salem lives. But the woman you hold dear in your memories is gone. Heed this warning. Where you seek comfort, you will only find pain…”

Taken from RWBY Volume 6: Chapter 3 – The Lost Fable. From the beginning, Ozma’s purpose was never to stop Salem. He, and by extension his other lives and successors, were supposed to work towards uniting humanity and ensuring that the world doesn’t fall to ruin in the event of the Gods’ Return.

It’s why the efforts of the King of Vale---King Phadrig as I’ve dubbed him--- were so extraordinary to New Remnant’s history. You can say that during that lifetime with that successor, Ozma succeeded in fulfilling the duty he was given.

As the King of Vale, he helped unite the world during a time of war and peril. Could you imagine what would’ve happened if the Brother Gods had been summoned back to Remnant during the first Great War?

But here in lies a question I now wish to ask--- why didn’t King Phadrig summon the Gods back to Remnant after the Great War had ended?

After all, he didn’t just end the war but also put things in place to ensure that Remnant never fell to war again. Through the efforts of the King, the People of Remnant were able to enjoy 80 long years of peace and prosperity among the four kingdoms for the most part. There was even the establishment of the huntsmen academies to train Remnant’s next generation of heroes against the Grimm.

Even still, why weren’t the Gods brought back then? I’m guessing that the King of Vale probably perished before he got a chance to summon the Gods. In the RWBY World of Remnant episode on the Great War, it was eluded that King Phadrig used three of the Relics---Choice, Creation and Destruction to finally put a stop to the War during the Vacuo Campaign. So I’m wondering if there was a penance that Phadrig had to pay---a sacrifice he was forced to make with his own life as a means of ending the war after which he didn’t have enough time left to summon the Gods but…the least he could do was ensure that no matter what happened, Remnant would be safe and the Relics kept out of Salem’s grimm-y clutches.

I’m going to assume that, much like in Ozpin’s case, the King must’ve left ‘specific instructions’ to allies he most trusted in those days for them to carry out his mission in his place after he died until his successor---Ozpin---would appear sometime down the line.

Once upon a time, I shared a RWBY Musing with an analysis on the Ozma Cycle, during which I deduced that following the death of a Wizard, it possibly takes up to 50 years before his next reincarnation. Given the fact that Oz felt the need to leave specific instructions in the event of his death and the reactions of the villains when they discovered that he had returned so soon (according to Tyrian Callows in V6), I’m left to believe that, unlike other representations of reincarnation in media that happens instantaneous, in RWBY, there is a huge time gap in the Ozma Cycle leading to a new Wizard being “born” in a different period in Remnant’s history.

That’s my hunch. The one except so far has been Ozpin’s rebirth into the mind of Oscar Pine.

I’m still waiting for the show to address this. There seems to be something very unique about Oscar’s case in the cycle. Not only is our veteran little prince the youngest within the Ozma Cycle but his pairing with Oz seems to be premature given that past incarnations have been older with a longer time gap. But…that’s a talk for another time.

Overall what I’m mainly trying to say here Miki-chan is that I really, really cannot compare Oz and RWBY; at least not on the grounds you presented. It’d be like comparing; not even an apple to an orange; but like a cherry to a full-sized watermelon. Between the two factions, Oz is the only one between them who had anything remotely resembling a concrete plan.

The only place where Oz fell short is not having a defined method of stopping Salem. That as much is true. But in spite of this, Oz kept working diligently to uphold the time of peace that his predecessor has worked to create following the Great War. He may not have had a way to stop Salem but at least he still had the failsafe that his past lives had put into place. It’s like what Jinn said in the Lost Fable.

“…Thus began a long and painful cycle of death and rebirth for Ozma. Some lives were spent in mourning, many were spent attempting to forget it all but no matter what, his mind would eventually turn back to the task he had been burdened with.

And as the centuries went on, Ozma began to learn the importance of living with the souls with which he had been paired. But no matter where or how he lived, her presence was always felt. If humanity were to ever stand a chance at being united, one thing was clear…

“…He had to destroy Salem.”

“Knowing he could never rid the world of her through any mortal means, Ozma sought out the power of the Relics. Armed with my knowledge, he believed he could fulfil his promise to the God of Light…”

Was Oz wrong for withholding this information from allies he deemed he trusted? Yes. I’m not faulting our heroes for being upset with Oz about that. But at the same time I don’t particularly like the idea of the narrative having most of the characters bastardize Oz actions since when you look at the whole picture, Oz’s actions were just.

RWBY on the other hand, I still can’t rationalize their actions towards Ironwood at all. It wasn’t that Oz lied or didn’t have a plan or didn’t trust others.

He did. He did trust others.

That’s why his whole Inner Circle exists in the first place. He didn’t lie entirely. He told his allies all the information for the things he already had planned for. He just didn’t tell them about Salem because she’s the only thing that he didn’t have a plan for. And after RWBY forced the truth out of him, he had no choice but to tearfully admit his failures in that out of shame and remorse.

But even then. I STILL understand why Oz and his past selves did things the way they did. It’s exactly as Oscar rationalized in V7. Oz didn’t tell anyone the last bit of truth concerning Salem since he didn’t want them to lose hope.

Because fighting an enemy who you know can’t be killed sounds like a hopeless cause.

Hence why we saw characters, like Raven Branwen, either abandon the fight all together or straight up join Salem out of fear for their own survival as in the case of Professor Leonardo Lionheart.

I’d even like to bet my bottom dollar that Ozma gave up as well. Probably more times than he can count. My theory is still that Ozma possibly became the Hermit AFTER Jinn’s revelation.

According to the Lost Fable, Ozma gave up several times but no matter of how many times he tried to quit, at some point he always came back to the mission he was given---to unite humanity and save them from damnation.

And what’s remarkable is that despite learning the truth about Salem, Oz and his fellow Wizards never gave up. At some point, they always got back up and did what they could to fulfil their god-given duty and the King of Vale was probably the first time in a long time where Oz actually succeeded.

Norman the Inquisitor found the Relics and learnt the terrifying truth about Salem from Jinn. Isaac the Hermit created the Four Maiden of Magic. But it was King Phadrig---leader of Vale who used the knowledge and tools left behind by his past lives to end the first Great War and bring about an era of peace. It was in his lifetime shared with the King where Ozma finally succeeded in uniting humanity.

But in doing so, he also knew that it would only be a short-lived peace if he didn’t find a way to stop her. Hence were Oz comes into this mix. All that was left for Oz to do was uphold the peace the King had built while working to figure out a way to stop Salem once and for all.

In his pursuit of this solution, I think Oz probably suffered one of the hardest failures; more so than Ozma or Diggs. Despite his own efforts, Oz failed in discovering a sure way to stop Salem. Not only that but he additionally failed in preventing her and her pawns from undoing nearly ALL the work that the King had worked to achieve.

Needless to say; even though he didn’t have a plan to stop Salem, at least Oz had the knowledge and experience that he inherited from his past lives to fall back on some form of a back-up plan to say the least.

Team RWBY, on the other hand though, what even was their plan, exactly?

Compared to Ozpin, can I even call their actions towards Ironwood a ‘plan’? No. Not really. From my perspective, it’s safe to say that RWBY did not have a plan. At least not one beyond just simply lying and withholding the truth from the General for as long as they could which was foolish of them in the first place; especially after how they treated Oz. If anything, the only thing RWBY had was intentions. An intention to keep deceiving someone who was supposedly their ally and was willing to trust and work with them so long as they gave him that respect in return.

But in his pursuit of this solution, I think Oz probably suffered one of the hardest failures; more so than Ozma or Diggs. Despite his own efforts, Oz failed in discovering a sure way to stop Salem. Not only that but he additionally failed in preventing her and her pawns from undoing nearly ALL the work that the King had worked to achieve.

Now that I think about it, I guess I can say that this is one part where I can say that I do see a bit of your point Miki. Team RWBY didn’t have a clear plan and figured they could prolong the inevitable by seeing how long they could continue to deceive the General until they figured out an alternative.

To some degree, it was the same for Oz too. Similar to RWBY, Oz didn’t truly have a clear plan to stop Salem either. The most he had to work with were the tactics and strategies left in place for him by his predecessors in his memories.

In looking at it from this angle, the upper hand that Oz had over RWBY was experience. Based on their actions in recent season, the impression I’m getting now is that none of our young heroes fully understood the gravity of Oz’s past actions. You can almost say it’s like watching children playing adults when they don’t fully understand the weight of all the important decisions that the adults have to make in given scenarios.

And this fits in with our heroes since RWBY are children compared to Oz who is the old soul with wisdom built upon life times of strife and triumphs. And in handling things the way they did; I think RWBY completely missed the mark and wound up moving rather foolishly in comparison to Oz.

This is especially reflected in their whole treatment of Ironwood. Because take a look at this---

Oz may not have told Ironwood the truth about Salem …but he still kept him in the loop. Remember that Qrow quote I shared earlier about Ironwood from V3. Ironwood was only brought into the Inner Circle because Oz wanted him there. Oz made it an active choice to include Ironwood. It was Oz’s decision first hand to place his trust in Ironwood. And even when Ironwood acted out of place or did things that Oz disagreed with; even then, that didn’t stop Oz from trusting him. He still shared with him the same information that he told all of the people he chose to trust; for better or worst.

This is the REAL difference between RWBY and Oz. Not Qrow’s nonsensical statement about Ruby choosing to trust others with the truth when they proved themselves to her. Get out of here with that.

The difference between RWBY and OZ is that Oz trusted Ironwood. Despite the soldier’s flaws; even when he didn’t agree wholeheartedly with his choices, Oz trusted Ironwood because he was willing to see the good in what he was trying to do. And in return, he received Ironwood’s full trust and loyalty.

RWBY on the other hand, took one look at the state of Mantle and rather than try to see the good in the General’s attempted actions, they---or rather Ruby--- immediately misjudged him and deemed him untrustworthy…even though, he’s supposed to be one of their allies who they risked everything to meet with in Atlas?

Even when Ironwood went out of his way to prove that the group could trust him as he was willing to work with them, they never did truly reciprocate that. Not only does this highlight just how wrong RWBY (well technically Ruby) was, it also adds another layer of lunacy to Qrow’s comment from V7CH4.

“…Oz only trusted himself with the whole truth. You’re trusting others but you’re making sure they prove themselves first. I think that’s a pretty big difference.”

Yes Qrow; because Ironwood rightfully arresting you for illicitly commandeering an Atlesian airship and entering the kingdom while at the same time choosing to turn a blind eye to your clear crimes; returning the Relic to you (as opposed to putting it inside of a highly secured vault) while at the same choosing to accommodate you guys during your stay in Atlas while also being a LONG STANDING ALLY OF OZ THAT YOU YOURSELF KNOW AND HAVE WORKED WITH isn’t proof enough that he should be trusted?

…Really?

I can’t compare RWBY to Oz. I mean… I can but…it’s NOT really the same, y’know what I mean? It’s like I can compare them but at the same time there is no real comparison, you get what I’m saying if that makes sense?

No matter which way I look at it, I always return to my original opinion that Oz’s actions and mistakes are far more justifiable and sympathetic than RWBY’s.

And in doing this post, it just adds another reason for me to not be okay with their actions in V7.

RWBY---well Ruby---was immediately wrong the moment they chose to lie to Ironwood. And what’s worse about is that their actions made them look like hypocrites given how they lambasted Oz for withholding the truth from them, only to turn around and do they exact same thing to an ALLY just days later. It still bothers me when I think about it. But for the most part, I hope I actually answered your inbox Miki-chan.

Sorry if this answer took so long for me to respond. It actually took me a while to come up with a decent answer because there is really a lot I can say on this topic. I don’t even think I covered everything I wanted to say but this answer is already 7 pages long in MS Word sooo….I think I will leave it at this for now XD Even still, I hope I answered you and if I did, please do let me know if you can.

~LittleMissSquiggles (2020)

#squiggles answers: rwby #professor ozpin #general ironwood #team rwby #rwby volume 7 #miki-13 #squiggles answers

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nicolasnelson · 4 years

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Sebastian’s Backstory (Analysis)

From 2x09 I think we can piece together some of Sebastian’s backstory. So here is my very long analysis/recap on what we know about Sebastian’s backstory and what parts I think are the truth and what parts are lies.

CHILDHOOD (1570s-1580s)

At 8 years old, Sebastian’s parents sold him to merchant ship. This suggests he grew up in a poor family and probably didn’t have much of a childhood to begin with.

Sebastian continuously ran away from the ship, but the crew always found him. He was either really bad at running away, or the crew had a few supernatural members on board who could track him. Werewolves or vampires could do it by scent. Witches could do it by using an object he owned.

They punished him, likely with some form of torture, perhaps magical in nature. This happened repeatedly over the years, likely at every port they visited.

When Sebastian was 17, he was turned into a vampire. This was after 9 years of being enslaved to this merchant ship. It’s quite possible he found a way to convince someone to turn him into a vampire so he could fight back.

Sebastian likely slaughtered his entire crew and took over the ship. He became a pirate and killed so much that he gained the nickname “Sebastian the Merciless.” His ship flew the pirate flag, black with a white skull and crossbones.

He added other vampires to his crew and they went searching for things to steal or people to attack (Alaric calls them marauding vampire pirates). He would have needed some non-vampires to man the ship during the day, probably a witch or two on board.

ROANOKE (1587-1590)

His ship came to the Colonies (America) and he stopped at Roanoke. It is likely he met Cassandra there since she was involved with the townspeople and subject to their rules.

In Roanoke, Sebastian continued to be a monster. He still fed on humans while he fell in love with Cassandra. She obviously saw some good in him because she protected him from the town leadership, even going so far as to summon a monster worse than him so the town wouldn’t discover him.

Cassandra desiccated him to save him from the monster she summoned, and he watched from a spectral state as she was torn apart by the monster. She left the token that could destroy the monster around his neck in his coffin.

Somehow his coffin was moved from Roanoke to Mystic Falls. It’s unclear why it was in the basement of the Salvatore school or how long it has been there.

Sebastian claims to have been in that coffin for 483 years. Judging by his backstory, I think he is lying. He was likely a vampire for at least a few years before he was desiccated. I find it unlikely he became a vampire, formed a vampire pirate crew, and fell in love with a witch all in the span of one year, especially considering how much longer it took to sail on the ocean in that time period. But it is still possible that he was indeed desiccated at 17. We can only guess whether he was telling the truth or not. (I did the math, and if Sebastian really was desiccated in Roanoke, he would have only been desiccated for a maximum of 440 years.)

AWAKENING (September 2028)

MG and Kaleb splashed some blood onto Sebastian’s coffin while they were moving the blood fountain. It was enough to allow Sebastian to reach out to someone “fragile minded.” He chose Lizzie for unknown reasons.

Continuously, he warns her he is dangerous while flirting with her. He is definitely saying the right things to get close to her, and when they go on their date, he asks for what he needs. I think it’s important to note that he asks her if she has a supply of human blood and does not ask her to give him any of her blood. She probably would have if he’d asked, but he does not want to harm her or accidentally kill her if he drinks too much.

MG interrupts and tells Lizzie she’s seeing things, thereby breaking Lizzie’s connection to Sebastian, so Sebastian reaches out to MG.

MG won’t help him, so Sebastian takes advantage of Wade. It’s important to note that he doesn’t kill Wade. The Sebastian of the past would have killed him without a thought, but Sebastian of the present lets him go once he has enough blood to restore himself.

Sebastian lurks around the school and tries to attack Kym in the woods, but MG and Kaleb stop him.

When the Croatoan is on the loose, Sebastian offers MG sensitive information about his past to help them defeat it. He could have let the Croatoan wipe everyone out, or withheld the information until many more were slaughtered, but he gave MG the information as soon as he remembered it. He specifically mentioned that he didn’t want Lizzie to be killed by the monster.

Vardemus meets with Sebastian and decides he should be enrolled in the school to keep him from attacking people on the streets. Since this is Clarke, he may have had other plans for Sebastian, but we can’t know what that might have been.

THE SALVATORE SCHOOL (October-December 2028)

Lizzie makes Sebastian a daylight ring so that he can go pick up Landon with her. Sebastian says he wants to drink human blood, and Lizzie tries to ditch him on the side of the road.

Sebastian kills Landon. I fully believe that someone has told him that Landon is a phoenix and will come back to life if he’s killed. He was likely curious to see how that worked and probably did it mostly to annoy Lizzie. Landon wasn’t threatening Lizzie when it happened, and Sebastian isn’t just going to snap someone’s neck for no reason (at least not now).

Sebastian is charged with changing out the flat tire, even though he’s never done that before. He somehow manages to do it, but now that we know he worked on a ship, that kind of handy work wouldn’t be too bad for him.

Lizzie is not accepting his advances, so he reminds her he’s dangerous and grabs her neck. His gamble succeeds and she’s into the idea of danger. Sebastian and Lizzie have sex on the hood of her car.

Sebastian admits that the world has been cruel to him and that he wants to stay at the Salvatore school.

Sebastian and Lizzie have a lot of sex back at the Salvatore school, and they make out in the hallways. It’s safe to say the whole school, minus the teachers, know that she and Sebastian are kind of a thing.

Alaric tells Sebastian that he’ll have to pass some tests if he is to stay at the school. He has Landon administer the tests because he will come back to life if Sebastian kills him.

Sebastian makes an effort with the werewolves.

Sebastian recognizes that Alyssa set a trap for him by cutting herself on purpose. He has incredible self control. Literally every other vampire in the room has red eyes and fangs bared, but Sebastian is completely calm the whole time.

Sebastian helps calm down MG when MG’s ripper side takes over. He didn’t need to do this, but he obviously cares about MG enough to stop him from making a huge mistake. He knows about rippers and has likely seen some in his time.

Sebastian warns Landon that he should be worrying about MG and Alyssa instead of him.

Landon takes Sebastian to see the witches. Alyssa tries to get him to fail the tests again by using her magical orb to read his deepest feelings. It’s pretty clear that he’s hoping Alyssa will see how much he desires Lizzie and get embarrassed by his feelings. Instead she sees the truths he can’t even admit to himself yet. 1) The modern world is terrifying, 2) He’s afraid they won’t let him stay at the school, 3) He’s afraid they’ll find out about his past and throw him away “like trash off the side of a boat.” Alyssa’s word choice here makes me wonder if the feelings orb revealed anything about his piratey past. And then lastly, 4) He knows Lizzie is better than him and that he doesn’t deserve her.

Sebastian reacts badly, throwing Landon off of him, and then the witches use a spell on him. Lizzie stops them, and Sebastian looks genuinely terrified. He runs from them, embarrassed and wounded. I think what Alyssa said served as a big wakeup call to him. He has a past that he can’t escape, and he’s afraid that he will end up hurting Lizzie.

Sebastian works out his frustrations by practicing his sword work in the gym. Landon comes to talk to him. Sebastian opens up to him about his past on the merchant ship and how he was tortured.

Sebastian leaves campus and feeds on a girl jogging outside at night. Alaric has followed him and shoots him with a crossbow. I fully believe Sebastian knew Alaric was following him. He lured Alaric away from the campus to get him to stop him.

Alaric has discovered Sebastian is “Sebastian the Merciless,” a vampire pirate, but he’s still willing to give Sebastian a second chance. Sebastian could easily take this chance. He could act grateful and get the chance to stay at the school and sleep with Lizzie to his heart’s content. A true villain would accept that offer.

But Sebastian claims he’s controlling Lizzie and that he’s had sex with her all around the school. He says things that target Alaric’s anger. He’s goading him into attacking him. I fully believe Sebastian wanted to die to protect Lizzie. He felt that his past was too much to overcome and that she would be better off without him.

Alaric temporarily locks Sebastian up. Either Emma got a last minute flight or Alaric anticipated this happening and had her on standby. Emma helps to lock Sebastian in the prison world the twins made for Kai.

THE PRISON WORLD (February 17, 2018 - prison worlds run on a loop)

Sebastian encounters Alaric, Josie, and Lizzie in the prison world. He clearly knows that Alaric has sent multiple students to the prison world because he says “The miseducation of young minds.”

TL;DR - Sebastian has killed many people, but he is capable of love. He’s willing to sacrifice himself to protect Lizzie. Basically, there’s a lot more to Sebastian than we’re seeing.

[Updated 1/29/20]

#legacies #legacies meta #sizzie #sebastian the merciless #lizzie saltzman #who knew i would be writing legacies meta #under the cut bc it got really long

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kittyotakunoir666 · 5 years

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Felinette Month Day 8: Myths

They are young adults I don’t know what age though.

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30

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Felix heard of the women from the forest. The woman was described as beautiful, caring, and sweet. How she is a healer and her natural medicine. How she never leaves that forest ad if you want something from her you have to go to her instead. How her house is both a shop and a house with 6 rooms but each one has a unique style but she still gets a signal even if she shouldn’t. How she takes in anyone who needs a place to stay if they need a break from the world. And that is exactly what Felix needed.

He had become more stressed from his work along with him being a workaholic and his friends and family noticed this. So they sent an email to the woman to ask if she could have a room ready for Felix, the woman had agreed and so now Felix had no choice but to go since it be rude after everything was already paid for. So he flew to where the town where the forest was located.

When he arrived he called for a taxi and instructed him to the forest, the taxi driver understood where he was headed so he drove him to the forest and said that he should follow the red and pink flowers and he should arrive at his destination.

Felix followed the flowers, he had walked a long way when the flowers led him to the middle of the forest which was a clearing where the house was. The clearing was huge and was a big perfect circle and where the forest ended there were mushrooms, flowers, and some rocks. There was a garden, a few chickens, and many, many, many flowers, plants, and herbs of different kinds. Felix went to the door and entered the shop.

“Excuse me is anyone there?” Felix asked no one

That’s when the woman of the forest came through the side door. Felix lost his breath as she entered her shop with a smile and she seemed so graceful. Her beauty caught him off guard but he quickly got a hold of his mind, which was a good thing as she began to speak.

“Hi, you must be Felix, nice to meet you. My name is Marinette,” Marinette greeted Felix and introduced herself to him she then motioned for him to follow her, “Your room is ready, you will be the only guest I have staying here until further notice since some guests tend to pop up without notice if they’re from the town since some of the local kids whose parents trap them in their houses tend to escape and run here.”

“Ok,” Felix responded slowly taking in the information she was saying

“I would stay away from the chickens, they tend to get feisty with strangers, don’t touch the flowers, herbs, and other plants because I use them for the medicine, you can explore the small garden, breakfast is served around 7 am, lunch is served around 12:30 pm, and dinner is at 8 pm,” Marinette explained as she led him to his room, “The wifi password is ‘LadybugandChatnoir’ and don’t worry you’ll get great signal here even if we’re in the forest, try not to go into the forest to much or you’ll get lost, but don’t worry if you do get lost I’ll find you and bring you back to the house. If you hear strange noises at night don’t worry about it, it’s just the woodland creatures who come here to sleep or just to explore this place since they are curious animals. And here is your room”

Felix nodded at all of it before entering his room and Marinette bid him a good afternoon. When he entered the room he saw that it actually suited him nicely; The walls were painted gray, the bedsheets were a nice color black, the bed was a size king by the looks of it, there was a desk with a computer, there were bookshelves near the window seat, and there was a small closet for the clothes of the guest.

Felix unpacked and put his things away and settled in. He would be staying there for at least a week before heading back. It after lunch so he might not see Marinette until dinner time so he decided to do some work on the computer and check on some emails. He stayed there until it was time for dinner, Felix and Marinette had dinner before both turned in for the night. Through the night Felix kept hearing things so he decided to put some calming music on the computer and he was able to fall asleep afterwards.

When he woke up the next day it was around 5 in the morning so he decided to do some work. Before he knew it, it was 7 and breakfast was ready so he went to eat. Marinette was in the kitchen making coffee when he entered, Marinette motioned to the table and there were already two plates with food in them.

“How do you take your coffee?” Marinette asked him

Felix turned to her before answering and saw that she had two cups full of coffee, “1 scoop of sugar should be good”

“Got it,” Marinette said as he brought his cup to him after putting a scoop of sugar in it and went back for her coffee that had two scoops of sugar and some milk and then sat down with Felix and they began to eat and converse, “How did you sleep last night? I heard you put music on the computer”

“Well the noises we’re disturbing me but after I put the music I was able to sleep nicely,” Felix informed her

“I have a record player along with records with calming music if you would help you sleep better,” Marinette offered

“That would be wonderful thank you,” Felix said, “Oh, Today I’ll be going to the town to walk around, would you anything from the store?”

“No, Felix, I’m good,” Marinette said.

They finished their food and Felix said he’d be gone for about 5 hours. So Felix left to explore the town and visit the tourist places just to check them out. As he was walking around he found out he forgot his wallet so he headed back two hours early. As he arrived back to the field he wasn’t ready for what he stumbled upon returning. What he saw was Marinette gathering her plants humming to herself but the thing that made him freeze was what he saw on the back of Marinette and how she was picking the flowers and herbs.

She had wings and was flying.

It took him a minute before unfreezing and clearing his throat which caught the attention of Marinette who whipped around at the sound and uttered a squeak. Marinette’s eyes widened and she let out a small scream before falling to the ground, once she got back up she flew at full speed to Felix grabbing him and carried him bridal style to her room and locked the door before turning to him and glared, she still had her wings out.

“You can’t tell anyone about this or the consequences will be fatal for both of us,” Marinette warned him getting closer to him and then putting her hands on either side of him on the wall that he had backed up to, “No one can know, I have lived in secret for the majority of my life before being trapped here and even then I made it work in my favor, So don’t go around telling people that I’m a fairy, got it.

Felix nodded his head and gulped, trying to hide his fear. Marinette noticed the gulp and backed off and before saying sorry and leaving the room, Felix assumed that it was to keep gathering the flowers and herbs. Felix went to his room, laid down on the bed, and just stared at the ceiling. He had lost track of the time because Marinette came to get him for lunch but she had hidden her wings again.

There was an awkward silence between them when Marinette broke it, “Aren’t you curious about what you saw?”

Felix stopped eating and looked at her then set his utensils back on the table, “I...I do have questions...but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or force you to answer my questions.”

At this answer, Marinette gave him a small smile and thanked him since the last time someone found out they didn’t stop pestering her about her fairy life, “He practically became obsessed with my fairy form. He always asked me to be in that form. The thing is, I let him pester me because I loved him and we began dating before he found out and at the time I thought that it was so wonderful I didn’t have to hide anymore from him but then it took a turn when I refused to turn into my fairy form. We fought and he brought up that I was lying to him and I said no I never lied I just withheld information about me because I was following the rules and that it was an accident that he found out, this pissed him off and he left angrily and that’s when I realized that I was in a controlling relationship so I acted fast and left. I move to the town near here but then my ex found me again and I fled to the forest, this forest, but then he found me and the forest felt my distress and created the clearing and the circle and afterward the magic flowed to me and told me that I was trapped but safe from him. To me, that’s bittersweet because the magic flowing through was keeping me safe but was also trapping me but I learned to adapt to my situation”

“I’m sorry that happened to you” Felix apologized

“Don’t apologize it’s not your fault,” Marinette said with a sad smile before continuing and changing the subject, “Anyway, we should move on, you came here to relax not hear the tragic story of a random woman fairy.”

They finished eating and continued like this for most of the rest of the week. Marinette was able to be in her fairy form when she wanted too, especially since no townspeople came to stay at her house, but the thing is that something was happening and they didn’t know it. They were falling for each other and the magic could sense it and because the magic could feel that Felix was falling for Marinette the circle trap was breaking. But while they were falling for each other and extending Felix’s stay with her someone who was touched by magic felt the magic of the shield breaking and he decided to take a little trip to visit an old friend.

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D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30

#felinette month #Fairy Marinette #Cliff hanger ending #marinette dupain cheng #Felix culpa #Day 8 #Felinettte month day 8

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ladynuwanda · 5 years

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Whatever Souls Are Made Of (Michael LangdonXMallory AU) - Chapter 2

A/N: I think it’s important that I make it clear that whatever mention to witches’ Lore in this chapter comes from the fact that I spent a good portion of my teenage years reading Marion Zimmer-Bradley’s books. They’re not really the product of a deep study of the history of witchcraft in Britain. (Any discrepancies are probably due to my own bad memory, they’re not from Ms. Zimmer-Bradlye’s work, though.)

Warnings: Just some good ol’ characterXcharacter smut. =)

Word Count: 2,3K

The problem with children is that they grow. And everything that was once pure and innocent is lost to the corrupted cynicism that becomes necessary for survival in adulthood. Misty Day was obviously the first to notice the changes that to come, and was quick to transfer Mallory to one of the larger bedrooms that would be shared by the other girls of her age, the new students. Like Miss Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt, a young witch from a noble family, who would soon become like a sister to Mallory.

The moment things started to change could almost be pinpointed to that first afternoon they spent in Thrushcross Grange, in the company of Lady Miriam Mead. Much to their surprise the lady offered them a kind welcome to her house, and took care of the two of them in a loving manner. Michael was visibly moved by the novelty feeling of having an adult taking care of him for the first time, but Mallory simply couldn’t make herself trust the lady. If anything her kindness seemed even more suspicious considering what they had done to her dogs just moments before.

While Mallory did her best to remove blood stains from herself, with a rag soaked in warm water that was given to her by Lady Mead, the mistress of the house said she wanted to have a word alone with Michael. After another quick silent debate with his best friend, that happened in the space of an exchanged glance, Michael told the lady he kept no secrets from Mallory. Whatever she had to say to him could be said in the girl’s presence. The connection they shared was so obvious to Lady Mead now that she was sitting in front of them, she immediately understood that there was no point in speaking to the boy in private, anyway.

She told them that Michael was special. He had magic in him, extremely powerful magic. In his heart, Michael felt it was true, but he couldn’t understand why Miss Cordelia, or Myrtle Snow, would have withheld this information from him. If he was so powerful, like the lady was saying, it was simply not possible that the witches didn’t know. Lady Mead explained that warlocks were considered a lesser class of magic practitioners by the witches. It wasn’t unusual for them to keep a boy like Michael from receiving warlock training by making him a servant.

On the other hand she, Miriam Mead, could help him awaken and develop his powers. She told him to place his right hand over Mallory’s ankle and try to heal it. Michael did as the lady told, but nothing happened. Whatever magic he had, he still had no control over it. He couldn’t find in himself the healing powers to help Mallory. An ice-cold glint appeared in the lady’s green eyes when he said he couldn’t perform healing magic, and the grin that came with it sent a shiver down Mallory’s spine. She reached out a hand, and healed her ankle herself, with relative ease, and reminded Michael that they should be returning to the Heights before nightfall.

They made most of their way back in silence. Michael was lost in his own thoughts, while Mallory’s heart was cold with a fear she couldn’t yet name. “You are not, are you? Accepting her offer?”, Mallory asked hesitantly, afraid to look into his eyes and see that his decision had already been made. “Mallory, you’re such a dedicated student... always willing to learn more and improve yourself. And yet, you don’t think I should work to develop my powers, if I have any?”, he looked at her and she saw the honesty of this question in his blue gaze, and how much he feared a negative answer from her. He could take it from anyone else, but not from Mallory.

“Of course I do, Michael! Your powers saved my life today! I just... I don’t trust that woman.”, she lightly shook her head and shrugged, a gesture that made her look like the little girl he had met five years before, and Michael had to repress the urge to take her in his arms again, hold her against his own chest, and tell her everything was going to be alright. He kept looking at his feet as he walked, deep in thought.

Michael knew Mallory was going to be the Coven’s Supreme one day. He didn’t think, he didn’t believe... he knew. He didn’t need to be told. It was certain as the sky above their heads and the earth beneath their feet. And where would he be when that happened? He wouldn’t even be her butler, her guardian, the head of the staff. That job would probably belong to Kyle Spencer by then. Michael would only be good to shine her boots, if that much. It would be degrading for the Supreme to be associated with someone like Michael.

Mallory was the only person that had ever truly cared about him in his entire life. And the only one he had ever cared about, too. The idea of not being good enough for her was simply intolerable. “You don’t need to trust her, Mallory, you just need to trust me. I’ll learn whatever I can from her,be the best warlock I can... but at the end of the day, I’m still going to be the same Michael.”, he held her hand in a reassuring gesture, and it almost brought peace to her heart again. But it didn’t change the fact that for the next five years, Michael would be spending most of his free time in Thrushcross Grange, taking lessons from that mysterious woman.

Mallory, in her turn, became the most brilliant student the Coven had ever seen. The most dedicated, the most enthusiastic... not to mention her natural talent. And in Michael’s absence, she learned to get along with other young witches like herself, and found out what it was like to have sisters. But none of them could ever occupy the place in her heart that belonged to Michael.

No one could tell for sure when it was that the nature of their affection for each other changed, not even Mallory and Michael themselves. It happened naturally, as part of the process of growing up. Suddenly being in each other’s company was no longer enough, they needed physical touch to feel anchored together. And then those touches were craved for more than just reassurance, they were born from the desire for one another.

And the two of them started a subtle dance of stolen glances and furtive smiles, in front of everyone else. The lingering brush of their hands as they walked past each other, with their fingers delicately entangled for the briefest moment, their cheeks blushing at the same time for the shared touch, identical smiles on their lips. The way Mallory searched for Michael’s approving eyes when he was around and she did something remarkably prodigious. The widest grin lighting up his face in response, that made his blue eyes sparkle with pure joy. The little presents he left where she could find. When Mallory would get caught up studying after hours in the library and missed a meal, he’d leave an apple, or some other fruit for her. On any given day, it wasn’t uncommon for Mallory to find her favourite flowers, freshly picked, in the most unusual places. And the secret kisses, in every opportunity, in all the secluded corners of the Manor, that felt like the very air they breathed came from each other’s lips.

Coco kept talking about the special gift Mallory could give Michael someday, but Mallory hated it when her Coco spoke in those terms. The idea that she would give something away to him, gave her the impression that she was about to lose something. And Mallory felt the opposite, she only had to gain by being intimate with Michael. After all, he would be giving it to her as well. It was a treasure they would be sharing. Nothing to lose. A lot to gain. And Mallory knew exactly when she wanted it to happen: on the day between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice, Beltane, the fertility Sabbat.

Mallory wanted to give herself entirely to the man she loved the way the witches had done since the days of Avalon, as the Maiden Goddess being blessed by the seed of the Sacred King. It was as much an initiation ritual as it was an act of love. The Great Rite was a too ancient of a ritual, and too sacred, to be practiced inside temples built by men. She had seen Zoe and Kyle disappearing into the dark night, after the Maypole dance, on Beltane in other years. Leaving everyone else still celebrating life around the bonfire, they would be sheltered by the trees, performing one of the only kinds of magic you didn’t have to be a trained witch to perform.

Michael had built their own smaller bonfire and Mallory had made a circle around them in the clearing, by running a stick to the earth. She drew the proper symbols with the stick as well, and said the ritual words. They were just standing in front of each other, almost unable to breath, their hearts drumming in their own ears. They both wore the traditional flower crowns and white robes. Michael thought Mallory had never looked more beautiful, she was the Maiden Goddess herself. His sacred bride. It was like looking at the most precious jewel, he wanted to touch her with every fibre of his being, but he hesitated, afraid to cause any damage.

Michael had a powerful air of authority about him now, he looked positively regal. Mallory looked at the full moon above them when she heard the first notes of the music that was being played in the distance, asking the Goddess for her blessing. When she looked back at the blue eyes she loved more than anything else in the world, Michael read that love in her eyes and closed the small distance between them. Pulling her close by the waist, he kissed her like it was the first and the last time. Mallory responded with enthusiasm, her delicate fingers entangling in the golden curls of his hair.

Before they even knew what they were doing, that had already freed each other from the white robes. Michael’s lips found the soft flesh of her breasts, and he felt like he could just stay there forever. Their fingers were eager to explore the smooth uncovered skin, and they worshipped each other’s bodies with their lips. Mallory had never seen Michael, or any other man for that matter, naked before. She asked herself why people made such a taboo out of nudity. It was the most magnificent thing she had ever laid her eyes on. The real shame was that he would have to cover himself, on a daily basis.

Michael stopped for a moment, his hand on his beloved girl’s face, his lips slightly parted in wonder. Looking into Mallory’s eyes, he could see the stars reflected in that golden brown that made his heart sing. Mallory saw the light of the bonfire dancing in his blue eyes, and felt like her own body was being consumed by those flames. One hand on the back of his neck, she pulled him for another kiss and they slowly sank to the ground together. Mallory was lying on her back, with Michael on top of her, between her legs. He aligned himself to her entrance and looked at the face of the Maiden Goddess beneath his.

“I am the altar”, her gentle voice was firm with the power the Goddess gave her, but the sweet hand that touched his face was still the hand of his adored girl. “And I am the sacrifice”, he whispered entering her, a deep whimper escaping his lips. She didn’t feel any pain as he moved inside her, only pleasure. The sense of being whole for the first time in her life, of being exactly where she belonged. For Michael it felt like coming home, a home he didn’t even know he longed for. He lost himself to the rocking of her hips following his, the sweet moans she poured in his ears, as they danced the oldest of dances together, moving as one.

And in that moment they really were one. He was inside her and part of her at the same time, Michael couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. Mallory was him, as much as himself, but looking at her he could still marvel at the Goddess in her. Michael was her best friend, her brother, her lover, her other half... herself. As much the little boy she had met as a child, as a mighty king, or a god. As the pleasure was building up in the part of their bodies that was still just human, they started to move faster and harder, chasing their climax.

The sounds that left his throat were getting louder and more desperate, as her fingernails dug deeper in the soft skin of his back. When she came undone beneath his body, moaning softly with her eyes closed, her body arching in pleasure against his, he couldn’t hold himself any longer and spilled his seed deep inside her, with a groan. They remained there for a long time afterwards, shaking and catching their breaths. Tears were leaving their eyes, even though their hearts felt like they could burst with joy, and they shared passionate kisses, between alternated giggles and sobs.

That was the eve of Mayday 1790, probably the last perfectly blissful night before the Summer that changed everything. The Summer that would hit the entire Coven like a hurricane and leave no stone unturned, no life unsoiled. That night was the calm before the storm, and it was as perfect as the storm would be terrible.

Taglist: @blakewaterxx @ccodyfern @consultingsnowqueen @coollangdon @crossdressingpirate @hecohansen31 @kalam22 @kirchnvrs @lathraios @laying-with-the-devil @mega-combusken @michael-langdon-appreciation @mvllorylvngdon @mytrash-mylife @no-need-for-rules @queen-of-quotes @rosegoldrichie @sophiegracejreylo @suspirateux @tayfinities @touch-in-the-night @wvntersldr

#American Horror Story #AHS Apocalypse #Michael Langdon #Mallory #Cody Fern #Billie Lourd #AHS Brontë AU #Wuthering Heights #MCA #Millory #Fanfiction #Whatever Souls Are Made Of

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bookstakeyoutootherworlds · 6 years

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Fairy Tale

for the wonderful, amazing, talented, and most of all--kind @chromehoplite, I present you the fairy tale I had to write for class, that I tweaked just a little;)

Long ago, in a place far from here, lived the king of the fairies and the maiden who was to become his queen. In the world of fairies, nothing was considered more important than beauty. The fairies loved their pretty eyes, their glistening wings, and their tinkling voices. So when a young maiden, a true beauty herself, was told that she was going to marry the handsome king and become queen, she thought herself the luckiest fairy in the land. Only, she soon learned that a beautiful face does not equal a beautiful heart. Her new husband was a cruel man, and so, when the Queen fell pregnant, she told her wish-giver (who would bestow one gift upon the child for the mother as well as another wish-giver that would bestow one wish for the father) that she only wanted one thing for her child. She wanted her child to be kind.

Nevertheless, when the child was born, he was beautiful. Eyes as blue as the sky, wings a deep indigo that shimmered like the stars, and lips like a rose. The Queen lived long enough only to give the child his name; Ciel.

As the leaves abandoned the branches to suffer through the cold alone, it was time for the child to be presented to the kingdom, and thusly receive the two wishes from the wish-givers at the request of the parents. The queen’s wish-giver knew the king to be an awful sort of man. Knew that he only had a child because it was required of him and that he feared the day his child would marry, as it would be the same day he would be forced to abdicate his throne. And so she let the king’s wish-giver go first.

The king’s wish-giver stepped forward. “At the wish of the King, this child shall be cursed to fall in love again and again, only for him and his lover to forget all knowledge of one another as soon as he knows it to be true in his heart.”

The queen’s wish-giver gasped along with the crowd. To use your one wish for your child on such an awful curse? What a horrid thing to do!

There wasn’t much the queen’s wish-giver could do against such strong magic, but she could give the boy a fighting chance. “The boy may be forced to fall in love again and again, only to forget what his heart knows, but he shall only fall six times. On the seventh realization of his love, he will be informed of his curse and if he decides to let his loved one go, rather than drag them along on this endless cycle of tragedy, then his curse will be broken!”

The wishes were given and so they would be. The queen’s wish-giver only hoped that the boy would grow up as his mother had wished; kind enough to let someone go.

And so the boy grew, unaware of the curse and untouched by the darkness that clung to his father, until the day he first met the boy who was to suffer the curse with him.

It was a party. A ball actually, for fairies loved to dance. Their feet half on the floor and half in the air as they tittered about, and no one loved to dance quite as much as Ciel. He danced the way a rose stood, proud and confident in the fact that none else is prettier. As he danced he locked eyes with a boy across the room. If Ciel was ice, all blue eyes and star filled wings, then this boy was fire. Warm eyes like the embers of a fire and wings like obsidian, they were born to revolve around each other. They danced the entire night and forgot everything upon the morning.

The second time, Ciel was in the garden. It was the perfect place to escape his father. He walked along, fingers dragging across the flowers, until he caught sight of someone else. No one else was supposed to be here, but this boy certainly looked as if he belonged. Now Ciel was walking with this boy, trading words like flowers and glances like chocolates. By the time Ciel sat down for dinner, he could not remember anything remarkable happening that day.

The third time, Ciel was in the village handing out little presents to his people for the Winter solstice. Focusing on his work, he handed out another, eyes catching on long fingers, which led to a tilted smile, and finally eyes like the sun waiting for night. Waiting for him. They were the loveliest things he had ever seen and they were forgotten before he even made it home.

The fourth time, it was night. Ciel was not supposed to be out at night. He heard the guards calling after him as he flew through the town, but he needed time away from his father. He flew and flew, before a hand caught his arm and he was pulled into a doorway glowing from the hearth inside. Warm from the fire and warm from the hand holding his own, the two talked until sleep overcame them both. In the morning, the boy was gone along with any memory of his existence.

The fifth time, Ciel was watching the fish in the castle pond, cursing the fact that he had wings and yet could not fly away from here. And then suddenly there was a boy. They fed the fish together. It wasn’t so bad being here after all. And then is was again.

A sixth time. Glances exchanged. Smiles given. Hearts beating a little too fast. And then nothing.

The seventh time, Ciel was in the town library, donating books he had already read, knowing his father never would. Suddenly there was a boy. He had read one of those books too. They had both loved it. They loved each other.

The boy left and right when Ciel would normally forget all about him, his wish-giver appeared before him.

“Ciel.” She stated. “You have loved this boy before, and yet you have forgotten. Your father, in an effort to keep you from the throne, has cursed you to always fall in love with him and always forget. Again and again. Soon, in three days’ time, you will forget about this meeting as well.”

Before any questions could be asked the wish-giver was gone and so, Ciel cried. He cried for the lot he was given in life, he cried at the fact that his father would do such a thing to him, but most of all he cried because of what he had to do.

The next day, he met up with the boy again. He was beautiful, and perfect, and undeserving of such a curse that was Ciel’s fault. And so, Ciel told the boy of how he had found him a job. A job far from there. A job in the grand library of the owls. Any fairy would leap at the chance to go, and while the boy did seem hurt at first that he was being sent away, he soon agreed too. He would go, leaving behind the curse of the king, and leaving behind Ciel.

The day came for the boy to leave, but he instead showed up at the castle doors, the wish-giver in tow. The two embraced like a key finally finding its lock, sliding into place and releasing all of their withheld memories.

“You did it, Ciel.” The wish-giver said as the two remembered times they had embraced like this in the past. “You broke the curse by putting his happiness ahead of your own. Now, take your rightful place on the throne and teach these silly fairies about the importance of kindness.”

And so, that is exactly what the two lover’s did. The king, as punishment for not having a kind heart, had it ripped out. The fairies, seeing the king’s shriveled, black heart, took it upon themselves to be kinder; so that when they die their hearts might not look like that. And Ciel? Well he and his love lived happily ever after.

#ciel phantomhive #sebastian michaelis #sebaciel #fanfic #fluff #for chrome #also help #how do I have the continue reading thing?#I'm so sorry this is taking up your dash

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shadowtearling · 5 years

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NOVEMBER 2018 — This was a reeeeeaaallllyy good month, quantity- and quality- wise. I found myself genuinely enjoying the books I was reading, which is a relief after a shit year thus far tbh. It’s like I remembered to have feelings! Wow! I’m human. Also a crybaby. So many tissues...

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

I was so nervous going into this because it’s so beloved, and nothing sucks more than being disappointed by a widely loved book like this (plus I already told myself I was never going to touch this series LOL @ past me, you fool). The first quarter was difficult to get into because there’s just so much information withheld from the reader, and, at one point, I started to become frustrated, feeling like an idiot for not knowing what the hell was going on. As the book went on, I found myself just wholly engrossed in Lyra’s character that not knowing became a secondary priority. It didn’t matter anymore that I knew absolutely nothing as long as I was on this journey to finding out with someone as witty, clever, and kind-hearted as Lyra. I was rooting for her the whole way through and was genuinely panicking when she was in danger. The second half is definitely much better than the first just because it feels less like fumbling around in the dark. Her parents are freaks. Bear dad for the win. Also, that ending... how she just gonna do That? girl.. Gonna try to read the rest of the series whenever that happens lol

My Plain Jane by The Lady Janies (Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows)

This was so. much. fun. I was reading this at a Barnes and Noble, while sat near this group of old men (who don’t know each other) talking about who knows what, and laughing out loud every few pages. (One of them finally got fed up after a few minutes and asked me what I was reading—I was literally holding the cover up, but I digress—and I struggled to explain that this is a Jane Eyre retelling full of nagging ghosts. How can such a Serious Novel™ possibly have a laugh-out-loud retelling? It works (but only because they throw every single fact out the window). If you really love Jane Eyre and Charlotte Brontë, this may not be the book for you. They mischaracterize both women, and while I didn’t mind, others might. This is also a pretty straightforward retelling of the novel in that the very basic structure is there, but I found that I kept turning the page because I wanted to know how exactly they would deviate from the original storyline. I really wasn’t disappointed. I especially love the Rochester shade. :)

It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Sigiura

It’s not like it’s a secret that I don’t like this book. I really just talked this to death. The first half was going okay, but Sana, the main character, was really bland and had no real passion or interest that gave her character dimension. Oh, and there’s a million cheating plotlines that were resolved terribly. Find you a better book. Read my lengthy review (in which spoilers are involved).

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

I didn’t mean to love this as much as I do. I was scared about it at first, wondering if I’ll love it more or less than Uprooted and terrified that either outcome would be true. Thankfully, I love this differently to its predecessor. I think Uprooted is just so special to me in a way where I felt like it was the only companion I was afforded when I had no one else. I read that book during a really terrible time in my life lol. But this one reminded me why I love reading, after a whole year of feeling terrible that I couldn’t find it in me to give a shit about any of the books I was picking up. It’s the perfect atmospheric book, and I definitely picked it up at the right time, with the cold just beginning to settle into my bones. I fell in love with Miryem and Irina, and it makes sense because they’re mirrors of each other. What I love most, probably besides the ending, is how none of the characters are willing participants of their fairy tale, but they’re clever enough to know how to work the system so they at least survive it. And survive they did. I also loved how every perspective felt distinctly different from the last that I never found myself wondering from who I was reading. One more thing, Mirnatius is very dear to my heart. (His character, though, is questionable because he’s the only dark skinned person in the story, and he’s also literally the devil. I don’t know how to process that because I know he’s also seen later on as a victim, but like.... still... lol)

REREAD! We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

I love this book a lot. I was feeling all sorts of feelings, and I wanted to let some of that emotion out. I still think this handles grief and loneliness so well. I think because I’m in a different place than I was when I first read this, especially regarding to those two things, my reaction and takeaway is extremely different. First read, I was mostly dealing with the suffocating weight of loneliness. Now, I picked this up specifically because I’m grieving, differently from Marin, but nonetheless grieving. Who knows, maybe when I read this again in the future, I’ll once again be in a different place and I get something completely different from the first two times. This book is great for any occasion, though. If you want a good cry, for whatever reason, this is It.

The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale

I enjoyed this book, but I doubt this is something I’ll remember a year from now. I liked the writing, simple but compelling. I thought that Alys’s apathy was done really well. I was caught off guard and cried a little (I’m sensitive, Aubrey), but I love that. This is a really slow book, with a whole lot of nothing happening. I like books like that, especially because this made up for its slowness with the atmosphere. My problem is that the ending was rushed, and it became extremely obvious that Alys was not a character who does things; rather, things happen To Her. The other issue is the love interest/story: I don’t mind insta-love as long as we see relationship growth within the novel. Because of time jumps, we almost never see the two have moments together that weren’t for the sake of the plot. It was hard to believe, then, that devotion they had for each other when they barely interacted on the page. It’s Average.

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

I tried talking about this twice, and twice I cried. I’m really just the snot machine this month, huh? Okay but seriously, I am genuinely so thankful to Kelly for writing Filipino characters in her books. I am a whole ass adult crying about representation in a middle grade novel because that’s how much I needed it. Much like The Land of Forgotten Girls, there’s not really a plot. This is more character-driven, filled with stories of everyday magic and the power of friendship. My favorite part is Virgil’s relationship with his grandmother that reflected my relationship with my grandmother, even though the two ladies are vastly different from one another. ALSO, if you’d like a book with a really wonderful deaf/HoH rep, this is your friend. Valencia was a delightful character to read from.

Ajax Penumbra, 1969 by Robin Sloan

Forgettable but fun! I like learning about Mr. Penumbra’s origin story, and I would be glad to read more of him were there more. This was too short, imo, because Sloan introduced some interesting new things to this world that had great potential (particularly the bookstore and its previous storerunners) and weren’t given enough time to fully develop. As with the book, I really won’t remember this by the time the new year rolls around. It was fun while it lasted.

#wrap up #wrap up 2018 #2018 #booklr #bookish #readingwu #readingwu 2018

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cursedfaulkners · 6 years

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I apologize in advance for how long this is going to be. I have so many ideas and headcanons about this character. She is quickly becoming one of my favourite and most fleshed out characters of all time. I just love her and I could honestly go on for hours!

DAY 1: MC for the Hogwarts Mystery Event 2018

Facts: (with comments in italics)

Name: Annie Jane Faulkner (Never uses her middle name. In fact she only really hears it when her parents are really pissed, the whole “first middle last name how dare you...” etc. that parents love doing)

D.O.B: 21.April 1973

Blood status: Pureblood (While the Faulkners are not counted as one of the sacred twenty eight(for many reasons of which I’m too lazy to think of), her mothers family the MacMillans are. Neither are typically concerned with the whole blood purity shit and are thus considered blood traitors, though not to the extent of say the Weasleys.)

House: Ravenclaw (Was almost a hatstall, but not quite. The hat was stuck between Ravenclaw or Gryffindor but settled on the former. Interestingly enough, Jacob was also in the same situation. But in his case it was a toss up between Ravenclaw and Slytherin.)

Wand: Maple, Unicorn hair, 12 1/2″, Slightly yielding (Almost the exact same as her brothers who had a maple, dragon heartstring, 10″. “Curious indeed” - Ollivander. Maple wands choose those who are “by nature travelers and explorers; they are not stay-at-home wands, and prefer ambition in their witch or wizard.”)

Pet: A barn owl named Nunzio (Of latin origin meaning messenger. Derived from the element ‘nuntio’ which means to announce or to report. A rather fitting name if Annie does say so herself.)

Patronus: Hawk

Best class: Charms (Her favourite class as well. Besides care for magical creatures which comes in at a very close second)

Worst class: Potions (For no real reasons other than Snape despising every fiber of her being. Honestly, if not for Penny she would be failing big time.)

Boggart: Jacob’s dead body (This one really destroyed her. She first encountered boggarts in DADA as a third year and was not prepared to see her dead brother. For a moment she forgot it was just a boggart, it was the first time she really realized the very likelihood that she might not find her brother alive, if at all. She never managed to cast the Riddikulus charm that class, it being all too real for her. Instead she ended up having to sit that one out, pale, dizzy, crying and at the verge of throwing up. It was also an eye-opener to her fellow classmates and even Merula won’t go as far as to bring up the boggart incident. She has since then cast the charm successfully and reminds herself in almost a ritual chant each time “It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.”)

More info under the read more(Turned out to be a lot more than I first anticipated)

- She is honestly such a little shit sometimes. Sarcastic and blunt. But we all love her.

- 2nd year, after an incident that we do not speak of, Felix had caught her and rather pissed, dropped her off to Chester. His bloody problem and “Keep a @%& eye on your house Davies!” -.-” After being not so gently escorted back to the commonroom, one earful and a few overwhelmed tears later; they had come to find a new understanding. From there on out, Chester took on a sort of brother role that lasted until his graduation. Annie did appreciate having someone to talk to. Especially someone who knew her brother at Hogwarts, or at the very least someone who had overlapping years with him. (My version of Jacob would have been a 3rd year when the prefects started Hogwarts)

- Has a habit of sneaking out of her dorm and wandering around the castle at night. Usually on days she really misses Jacob and needs the fresh air as well as to stretch her legs.(Or so she claims at least the odd time she gets caught.) It doesn’t happen too often but more so around the holidays. Night to Christmas morning, 2nd year, she was wandering around and happened upon the room of requirement and thus the mirror of Erised. She did get caught by Dumbledore(who had been alerted by a nearby painting), but in his Dumbledore way her let her off the hook “this one time”(one time my arse). But that is a story for another time

- Grew up thinking she would become a magizoologist, but through everything that has happened, she became a curse-breaker instead. Worked for Gringotts for a year or two before starting her own firm with Jacob. #TeamFaulknerSiblings

- Has grown suspicious of Ben lately. He seems to know more than he’s letting on. But she has yet to confront him.

- Not as close with Rowan as they used to be. A lot of stuff is happening and they are simply starting to drift apart. She doesn’t confide in her as much as before. But who knows what might still happen.

- Penny is absolute bae and Tonks is a mood. Her two best hufflepuffs in the world! Annie loves these two and would honestly die for them.(Except no she didn’t, but the battle of hogwarts is a whole other can of worms that will not be opened this day)

- Annie and Tulip and still getting to know and trust each other. Annie still doesn’t like the fact that Tulip withheld information about Jacob from her though.

- The Weasleys! Good Godric the Weasleys.. Where do I even start.. it almost deserves a post of its own. Annie did grow close to Bill from the get-go. He quickly turned into that big brother she so desperately needed. He was the go to guy to invite on everything cursed vault related. While they did have a brother-sister sort of relationship, she did find herself fancying him a small bit for a short while. It was a small crush that eventually ended. There was an incident between them in her 3rd year but that is between Annie and Bill, agreed upon to be never spoken of again. Charlie on the other hand. Annie had definitely fancied him for a long time. The feeling was mutual but being so awkward both of them, it went unsaid for quite some time. They grew closer during their 4th year and started officially dating not two weeks into their 5th year. They would end up marrying many many years later.

- Barnaby is precious and we must protect him!

- Merula is a bitch. Annie is just fed up at this point. Sure it was fun to push her buttons(and merlin knows she has enough of those) and she almost enjoyed being snarky back at her. It was a nice distraction but they are 4th years now. It is getting old. She just doesn’t care anymore. You’d swear “Piss off Snyde” had become a signature catchphrase. Hell, maybe it has?

___________________

Ok.. I could honestly go on and on and on all night but I will draw a line here. If you are interested in my version of either my MC or Jacob or anything, please don’t be a stranger! I would love to explore and work out more about her. Asks of any kind are honestly welcome! My inbox has been empty for the entire 6+(?) years I’ve been on tumblr.(Not even an exaggeration.. it’s sad). This is probably a little too late but I’m sure it’s still the 22nd somewhere in the world so I’m going to count it ;)

#hogwarts mystery #hogwarts mystery event 2018 #MC #Annie Faulkner #I know the art is kind of shit but a lot of the detail went missing between drawing it on paper and transferring and colouring on computer #I swear my art is better on a good day #this was not a good day #I am honestly so tired #Its 4am #Ive been up for hours working on this #appreciate me xD

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putris-et-mulier · 7 years

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I love this.

Terminally Beautiful is a book I published a few years ago (Kevin Shamel wrote a great introduction for me and although you should check out his books I’d say that’s the best thing he’s ever written and huge shout out to Robin Cracknell who is an incredible artist whose work I've admired for years) and so “terminally beautiful” it’s one of my Google alerts. It’s one of the most annoying alerts because of the results it gives me, like this.

So why do I love this? These articles and other media like this are the exact reason I wrote that book. The sexism, the heteronormativity/homophobia, ableism, beauty myth, bigotry in general and how ignorance and good intentions strip people of humanity.

I mean, as a human being I hate that this still goes on but it’s pretty validating in a perverse way because at least my work is still relevant.

Before we begin, this isn’t an introductory course. If you don’t know what inspirational porn is then you need to Google it before reading further.

Censored by me.

Why that article is horrible:

The most annoying part is that I know to have any credibility in the following statements I have to out myself yet again as someone who is terminally ill because of a genetic mutation like this child. Because of poor funding and research they said I was only likely to live until I was 5. We now know that my variation lets a person live into their 30s but no one knew that at the time so this resonates with me.

A five-year-old child and a six-year-old child (the groom) are forced into a wedding, even if it’s a mock one

The children performed in the ceremony by pledging to be friends forever

Remember that this child is five years old, it doesn’t strike me odd that one of the things on her bucket list would be things like parties and even doing something special to affirm friendships but none of us are really under the impression that she discovered the term “bucket list” on her own or that these children weren’t coerced by heteronormative adults who think it’s adorable, especially because the best friend is a boy so of course it has to be romanticized/sexualized

It’s pandering. That disabled child can get “married” in situations like these because it’s cute but disabled children in these stories probably won’t live long enough to be denied the right to actually be married. No one seems to realize this but marriage equality is still not a thing, around the world and in particular in first world countries disabled people are given the choice between healthcare and the privilege to be married. It’s a literal death sentence, just because it’s a legal marriage does not make that marriage equality. And yes, America is among the worst.

If this was a good idea, if these children legitimately wanted this extravagant mock ceremony to affirm their friendship how is it made any better by publicizing it? By making a spectacle of it?

Able–Savior complex™

The mother is doing this to “come to terms” with her child’s disability

The whole thing is about this child’s mother. “Her mother has been filling her world with magical experiences”

They literally say in the article that the “magic of the day” helped make up for a recent hospitalization for blood transfusions

Eileidh Paterson’s name was not given in the title and she’s referred to in the article as “Little Eileidh Paterson” which is condescending because this child has more knowledge and experience about life in general through their disability than anyone else involved, even at five years old

Despite everything, no information or link to charities that help terminally ill children or any applicable charity for this child’s mutation, Neuroblastoma which was sometimes misspelled in the article

Donate to St. Jude (charitynavigator.com gives them a ¾ and 100% in their transparency)

National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (4/4 and 100% transparency)

This article I'm criticizing was posted July 1, 2017. It’s only been one week since the ADAPT protests going on over BCRA (healthcare) and Romper has published nothing about it. This whole situation is disgusting to me. If you wanted to do a puff piece then how about on how Stephanie Woodworth gave her iconic zip ties to her adorable cats?

It would be easy, you can even avoid talking about disability as much as you did here. You don’t even have to post or mention the footage of police dragging people from their wheelchairs and zip tying them. It would just be acknowledging that this is happening and people like Stephanie Woodworth are risking their lives while you shield your eyes.

(Dawn Russell, pulled from her wheelchair and zip tied by Denver police while in custody)

At least be thankful, it’s groups like ADAPT that get these beautiful children futures and actual healthcare so you have more time to condescend to them until they hit puberty and then you can send them off to institutions.

Romper published 31 stories about Beyoncé and Jay-Z in less than 24 hours the day this article was posted. A celebrity having twins is absolutely applicable to their market, mothers, but is it 31 more times important than millions of lives?

It’s less than a month until the first anniversary of the Sagamihara Stabbings on the 26th it was a mass murder under the declaration of a eugenics manifesto dedicated to the eradication of disabled people

We still cannot honor the victims because all of their names were withheld to protect the families from the embarrassment of being related to one of us. Don’t even go to the trouble to putting out flowers or candles, even on public property, because that wasn’t allowed either.

Knife attacker… Accidentally only killing 19 out of the intended 150 demotes a serial killer to a knife attacker? And the reason he’s smiling in every bit of footage is because at least the ones he didn’t kill he still put in the hospital, he isn’t a total failure.

“Jesus Christ, it’s a blog about mothers”

Obviously disability is applicable to motherhood as mothers are disabled and/or have disabled children but besides that this is the news section which posted articles criticizing politics and engaging in the discourse of popular social topics.

“Give the author a break”

No.

No one gets a break anymore until we have to stop breaking our backs to carry your dead weight. Jen McGuire has posted about disability, but how does she do it? What good is it?

“Maybe Romper didn’t want to publish that kind of article”

They do

but healthcare issues are never about disabled people, it’s about the NTAB people associated with them

Okay, benefit of the doubt. If she has a Twitter, has been tweeting consistently and recently, and hasn’t mentioned the ADAPT protests only then will I pass judgment.

… I’m passing judgment.

Not even a like on any mention ADAPT protests but then again, she is Canadian which she does expressly apologize for…

If only ableism didn’t exist in Canada, gosh darn it.

Yesterday Kate Letterick wrote a great article for the CBC News about how disabled people haven’t been able to attend event celebrating Canada Day.

I’ll throw her a bone and give her link because I don’t think she can actually bear to type “disability”

Who the fuck cares if you’re from Canada?

If you blog about politics, sociology, healthcare, bigotry, history, current news, anything, but you just happened to never write about disability you are the reason things like Bexit happen and people like Trump get into power. People like Justin Trudeau. It will always be applicable to your target audience because you know what type of people are disabled? All types of people. And you know who it affects? Everyone.

Romper quite regularly posts news about BCRA but they aren’t about us or for us, not pull a Kanye West but Romper doesn’t care about able-bodied mothers.

There is this contributor,

Depression… Okay, it’s a start. It can certainly be a disability.

…Oh, that’s it? Then this sucks. No offense (all offense) but she’s a depressed mother on a mommy blog (redundant) and tweets but also has not touched anything to do with ADAPT.

High functioning depression… Okay. I'm going to try to be open-minded but a lot of people who refer to themselves as high functioning do so to distance themselves from people who are "low functioning" because it's ableism wrapped in privilege. Going through her recent work it looks as if she fits the stereotype.

This isn’t an issue of Cripple Olympics, this is an issue of representation. You need more than token writers who don’t even represent or care about a community they identify with.

#Christy creare #Signal Boost™ disability #ableism #actually disabled #civil rights #cripple punk

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jennycalendar · 7 years

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Imperfections (17/?)

dfsjlkfdsjklsdfkljfsdkl this is a plotline that i’m specifically really excited about and it really starts in this chapter

it’s also on ao3!!!

To Jenny’s surprise, Rupert leaned in and kissed her, surprisingly hard. He pulled back just a bit, studying her with a strange look in his eyes. “Do you know,” he said, his voice shaking a little, “you turned my life upside down from the moment you told me you loved me?”

“Rupert—”

“This isn’t—it isn’t about you being better than I deserve. I know how you feel about that.” Rupert’s fingers traced Jenny’s cheek. “I expected to be alone,” he said. “I expected that if I did find someone who I might want to spend my life with, I could never be completely honest with that person, or prioritize my relationship with them over the teachings of the Council. And I wouldn’t ever have considered that I might make the conscious choice to tell that person what I am about to tell you right now.”

Jenny could see the intensity in his gaze as he looked at her, and it all but took her breath away. She waited.

Rupert closed his eyes, then spoke, as though he couldn’t quite bring himself to look at her. “There is a tradition on every Slayer’s eighteenth birthday,” he said. “A rite of passage, one might call it. The Cruciamentum. The Slayer is drugged and stripped of her powers, and then locked in a house with a brutally strong vampire. It is meant to test her skills and intelligence, to prove that she is strong enough to continue fighting. It has killed many, many Slayers before, but many others have survived beyond it.”

Suddenly Jenny saw where this was going. “No,” she said slowly. “No. You’re not going to go through with it.”

“Jenny—”

“You’re not going to go through with it,” Jenny continued, “or you wouldn’t have told me.”

Rupert breathed out, and Jenny, relieved, knew that she’d been right. “I don’t know what I can do,” he said finally. “The mere thought of contemplating going against Council orders—they’d have my head if they knew I was discussing the Cruciamentum with my lover. But—” He smiled slightly. “Do you remember what you said when we broke up?”

“Which time?” Jenny quipped.

Rupert laughed quietly. “Over the summer,” he said. “You said, ‘Rupert, just because you’re a Watcher doesn’t make you the all-knowing, wise one in our relationship.’”

He let his hand drop, studying her face with so much love that Jenny felt a little off-balance. Sometimes she forgot how much he loved her. She was only now coming to terms with the fact that he might have reason to. “The way the Council holds themselves above other civilians, some of whom have more field experience, is truly deplorable,” he said. “I called them to ask about Faith being placed under your care, and it took me a good twenty minutes to convince them that you were suited for taking care of a Slayer. So many Watchers called over the course of the next two hours to tell me how unethical my methods were, that they would never dream of doing such a thing, that Faith deserved someone actually trained and qualified in Slayer history.”

“And you didn’t agree,” said Jenny, almost a question.

Rupert nodded emphatically. “The Council wants the vampires destroyed,” he said. “In their eyes, Slayers are expendable resources, and rebellious ones aren’t useful to the cause. That’s what they’ve always taught us, and that’s what they’ve told us is safer for us to believe. The concept of a woman not affiliated with the Council being involved in any way with training a Slayer goes against everything that they believe in. That I believed in.”

“But?” Jenny prompted.

“But I’ve seen the way Faith looks at you,” said Rupert simply. “I don’t know if she’d have stayed so firmly anchored to the side of good if not for the care you’ve shown her in these past few weeks.”

“I think you’re exaggerating a little,” said Jenny, embarrassed.

“I don’t think I am,” Rupert replied, a quiet, solid certainty in his voice.

They were both silent for a moment, studying each other’s faces. Then Jenny said, “So I’m guessing you’re putting aside some of the Council teachings?”

“Not some,” said Rupert, a bitter note in his voice. “The Council is based on the assumption that Watchers have more wisdom and knowledge than any other person in regards to the supernatural world. I don’t want to be a part of that kind of elitism.”

Jenny stared at him. Then she said, “You have never been sexier to me than you are right now.”

“Jenny—”

“I am dead serious,” said Jenny.

“As, um, flattering as that is to hear,” said Rupert, who was doing a very bad job of not blushing, “I—we do really need to talk about what to do in regards to the Cruciamentum.”

Jenny sighed. “You have a point,” she agreed reluctantly. “Okay. What are our options?”

“I’d say we dispose of the drug when I’m given it, but it’s a highly toxic substance,” Rupert replied. “If injected into a human, it would kill them on the spot.”

“How is this a tradition?” Jenny demanded, suddenly very angry. She thought of Faith, who was so close to eighteen, going through something as terrifying as that. She imagined how horrible Buffy would feel knowing that Giles had violated her trust so completely. “This is disgusting.”

“I quite agree,” said Rupert, taking her hands in his. “My suggestion is that we find some magical means of destroying the drugs. The Council knows of my relationship with magic, but they don’t know about Willow. If she were to vanish it—”

“Vampires!” said Jenny suddenly. Rupert blinked. “Look,” she said, “I feel like if this is a tradition, it’s definite that more than one Watcher has tried to destroy the drugs magically. But injecting them into vampires—if the Council decides to do a spell to see how the chemicals left the syringe, they’ll see that it was injected into someone. And we could just stake the vampires afterwards, so that we aren’t leaving a trail of bodies that could be used for evidence.”

Rupert pressed his lips together. “It seems a bit risky,” he said finally.

“There’s always the possibility that one of the kids might have a better idea,” Jenny reminded him. “We’re definitely going to have to talk to Buffy about the whole locking-her-in-a-dangerous-house thing.”

“You’re quite right.” Rupert hesitated. “Jenny,” he said, “I’m—so grateful to know you. I don’t like to think of what I might have done on Buffy’s birthday if not for what you’ve taught me.”

“About?”

“About the Council. About myself. Just—” Rupert smiled awkwardly, looking down. “I think I forgot sometimes,” he said, “that relationships are a give-and-take sort of thing. Before I met you, I assumed that there wasn’t much I needed to learn.”

“You put too much blame on yourself,” said Jenny, squeezing his hands. “You would have done the right thing whether or not I was here.”

“Be that as it may, I’m still very glad that you are,” Rupert said with affection.

Jenny smiled. “Me too.”

“You know,” said Faith, tossing her backpack onto the sofa, “you could have told me that being a part of Sunnydale High meant selling lame-ass candy to people.”

“No, this is new, or I would have warned you,” replied Jen wryly. “Me buying ten boxes from you should be enough to keep Snyder happy. He still doesn’t have much of a reason not to like you.”

“Oh, he doesn’t seem like the type who needs a reason,” Faith informed her, taking a bar from one of the boxes. “I can eat this now, right?”

“I’d hardly be a responsible guardian if I withheld food from you,” quipped Jen. “Do you have that form thing I need to sign to buy candy?”

Faith dug in her backpack, fishing out the slightly crumpled form and a pen. “Here,” she said, handing both items over to Jen before beginning to unwrap the candy bar. “You do know that Giles is probably gonna buy a billion boxes from Buffy, though, so—”

“Then it isn’t about candy for him either,” said Jen without looking up from the form. Faith got a weird lump in her throat, forgot what she was going to say, and tried to focus instead on the candy bar, which tasted unusually good. She wondered if that was a thing too in Sunnydale. “You sure this isn’t magic candy?” she asked Jen playfully.

Jen laughed. “I hope not,” she said. “I’m thinking of melting some down to make hot chocolate tonight.”

“Giles coming over?”

“Actually, Willow and Xander might stop by.” Jen’s face seemed purposefully neutral. “I hope that’s okay with you.”

Faith shrugged. “Hey, it’s your house,” she said.

Jen was quiet for a few minutes, rearranging the magazines on her coffee table almost nervously. Then she said, “Faith, I—I want you to stay here on a permanent basis.”

Faith felt a strange rush of an emotion she wasn’t sure whether or not she liked. “What?”

Jen looked up, twisting her hands in that way Faith was now beginning to realize meant that she was anxious. “I know you’re not big on the permanency thing,” she said, “and I’ve tried my best to respect that, but I want this to be your home as much as it is mine. If that’s—too much, or too soon, I completely understand, but I just want you to be aware of the fact that a home in Sunnydale is one hundred percent something you can have.”

“I left something in my room,” said Faith, and got up, leaving the living room as fast as she could without running. She half expected Jen to call her back, but she didn’t, and Faith slammed the door of her room shut harder than she needed to.

She hadn’t realized Jen had cared about her this much. Or, okay, maybe she had, a little, but it hadn’t been something real and concrete until Jen had straight-out said it, and that had made it safe. Unattainable. A half-formed possibility that wasn’t frightening in the slightest. The want in her chest was burning like a red-hot coal, but she couldn’t smash the glass of a store window and pull out a perfect life for her, newly formed. There was always a catch. There had to be a catch.

Maybe the catch was that Faith couldn’t tell Jen all the things she wanted to, because her life had taught her over and over that trusting in a happy ending was a horrible idea. The moment she gave in and let herself feel like she had a home was the moment she had something that could be taken away from her.

Except—

Shit.

Except she already loved Jen, and that sure as hell counted as something she didn’t want taken away.

Faith got up and kicked her dresser, hard. What was she supposed to do with love? All it was doing was making her angry and scared, even though she’d wanted someone to love so badly when she was little. She was awful and ungrateful, and she hated that for some reason Jen didn’t seem to care about that. More than that—she hated how much Jen cared about her.

There was a knock on the door. “I’m going to call Willow and Xander and tell them tomorrow might be a better day to visit,” Jen said carefully. “I think tonight might need to be a quiet night.”

“Fuck you,” said Faith.

“Can I come in?”

“No.”

“Okay. Can I talk to you through the door?”

“Do whatever you want, if you’re so big on bothering me,” said Faith as coolly as she could, and hated how easy it was to be cruel. It was in her nature, probably.

The responding silence was so long that Faith began to feel the beginnings of guilt, but then the door opened and Jen came in. Faith hated the understanding in her eyes more than anything in the world. “We don’t have to talk about it,” she said.

“I don’t care,” Faith snapped. “Invite Willow and Xander over. Hell, invite Giles and fuck him in my bedroom. Do whatever the fuck you want, just stop talking to me.”

Jen looked down. “I’m sorry if I pressured you with my offer,” she said, quiet and uncertain. Somehow, that was so much worse than any kind of anger she could have directed at Faith. “I—I hope you know that I never want to make you feel—”

“I don’t—stop.” Faith felt the anger draining out of her, leaving her with an awful guilt. Jen looked small all of a sudden, and Faith realized for the first time that Jen was actually shorter than her. She held herself with so much confidence, usually. It made her seem taller. “Stop apologizing to me. Stop it.”

“Faith—”

“Stop it,” said Faith fiercely. “Okay? Just—I—”

She meant to say something mean and incisive, something that would drive Jen away and get her kicked to the curb. End her time as a Scooby on her own terms instead of on someone else’s. But then Jen looked up, and the guilt in her eyes made Faith angry and sad at the same time. She knew she couldn’t say anything that would hurt Jen more.

“Just leave me alone,” said Faith. She hated that her voice was shaking. “Leave me alone.”

Jen bit her lip. “Okay,” she said quietly, and left, shutting the door behind her.

Faith sat down on the floor. See, she thought, if I can hurt someone like Jen, there’s nothing good left in me, and in a weird way that made her feel a little better.

Faith was scared. Jenny got that. Permanence and love were two things that angry, bitter teenage Janna would have been frightened off by too. Sometimes it was weirdly like looking in a mirror, seeing Faith with her defensiveness and anger so readily visible. She wondered if this was what it was like to be a mom—not the sweet, easy comradery she’d always had with Willow, but a struggle with someone who had the more difficult parts of Jenny’s personality. Someone who didn’t realize Jenny might be able to help, and didn’t understand how much Jenny cared.

Jenny sat down at the kitchen table, a hollow feeling in her stomach. It was exhausting, sometimes, trying to reach Faith, even if she knew that what she was doing was the right thing.

“I brought—” Rupert stopped in the door of the kitchen. “Are you all right?” he inquired softly.

“I, uh,” Jenny laughed a little self-deprecatingly, “asked Faith if she wanted to stay with me. Permanently.”

“Oh.” Rupert put the boxes of band candy (wow, that was a lot of band candy) down on the kitchen counter before sitting down next to Jenny. She leaned into him. “Would you like me to make you some hot chocolate? I may have purchased a small amount of candy from Buffy.”

“Small,” said Jenny. She felt her mouth quirk up as she glanced pointedly over at the boxes.

“You’re clearly very upset, so I shall allow that teasing,” said Rupert with good-natured annoyance, resting his hand over Jenny’s on the table.

Jenny turned, wrapping her arms around his neck so she could hug him. “Thanks,” she said quietly. “It’s been a taxing day all around.”

“I’m sure some chocolate will put things in perspective,” Rupert replied, stroking her hair.

Jenny laughed quietly, resting her chin on his shoulder. “Yeah,” she agreed. “I could really use the relaxation.”

#fic #imperfections #jenny and faith #committed to job meets commitment issues #shaking things up a little

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