#sorry for the mixing of spelling out numbers and using the symbols for them but imo its harder to read otherwise

[omophagic-beast]

thinking abt a d6 dice pool system where its pass/fail, but you could not only roll, say, one 6 to succeed, but could also roll two 5s, three 4s, four 3s, five 2s, or six 1s

im not sure how this would work out probability-wise, but do think it would be fun to roll a big handful of dice, see a bunch of 1s, and realize that you rolled so many 1s that you still managed to succeed

especially since rolling that many 1s is less likely than rolling one 6

thoughts? is there a game with this kinda thing out there?

[cathoderaysunshinebeaver]

Heretic/Hexen

I love Doom. I’ve never made an attempt to list my favorite video games in a numerical order, but if I did, Doom would likely be one of the highest, if not #1. I’m also a big fan of the “dark fantasy” aesthetic, so discovering the Heretic/Hexen series was a treat, to say the least.

Released in 1994, Heretic was built using the Doom engine by Raven Software, with John Romero himself having helped the team set up their computers and teaching them the basics of how he would make maps for the game. With this in mind, you’d be forgiven for saying what a lot of reviewers said at the time: this game looks like a Doom reskin with a fantasy theme.

This sentiment mostly applies to the first game, Heretic. But in a sea of other “Doom clones” released at the time, it is definitely one of the more competent ones. You play as Corvus, one of the few surviving elves in a world overtaken by the evil Serpent Riders, who have decided to exterminate all the elves because their magical powers make them resistant to the mind control spells the Serpent Riders use to conquer and subjugate realm after realm on their quest for world domination. Unsurprisingly, Corvus is out for revenge, and the end goal of the game is to hunt down and kill the first of the three Serpent Riders, D’Sparil.

The gameplay in Heretic is more similar to Doom than in the later games, but it does the Doom formula well. Most weapons have a distinct counterpart in the game it is based on: the Elven Wand is your pistol, the Dragon Claw is your chaingun, the Ethereal Crossbow is your shotgun, and so on. They are satisfying to use (save the wand, arguably), and look deliciously fantasy-eque, with beautiful spritework. The levels are split into a familiar structure, featuring three episodes with nine levels each (and two more episodes released as an expansion pack). The enemies are varied, with pretty animations and distinct sounds, and play into the Doom experience very well in that the combinations and locations of enemies in each area lends itself to very different strategies (although “run really fast and blast everyone with the crossbow” rarely fails on most difficulties). The two expansion episodes are considerably more challenging, and will require more quick thinking and ammo, sorry, mana conservation. Definitely a fun romp.

The sequel, Hexen, is where the series starts finding it’s own unique twist on the genre, and is the by many regarded as the “classic” that really put the franchise on the map. Again, you’re playing as a vindictive hero on a quest to liberate their realm from the Serpent Riders. This time it’s Korax, the second out of the three. However, now you’ve got to pick a class. This is the first big difference you’ll notice when starting the game. Corvus is MIA from his last adventure, and instead your choice of protagonist is between Baratus the Fighter, Parias the Cleric, and Daedolon the mage. While the game isn’t an RPG, these characters all have different stats when it comes to running speed and base HP. More importantly, they each have access to their own unique set of weapons. Mana is shared between the weapons, which are now split into green, blue and dual mana types, but they all behave very differently. For example, the fighter’s weapons are mostly of the melee variety and consume mana rapidly only for special attack modes, as they can still be swung without mana. The mage on the other hand uses his bare hands to cast a lot of his spells, but they do not burn through mana nearly as quickly. Unsurprisingly, the cleric is a hybrid, and uses both a spiked club and a mix of magical weapons. An “ultimate” weapon is also available to each class, which must be assembled from parts and consumes both blue and green mana, but has really devastating attacks (the cleric’s “Wraithverge” summons ghosts that scream like banshees and tear every nearby enemy to shreds; it’s just as metal as it sounds)!

Beyond the class differences, the level structure is the other major difference between Heretic and Hexen. Instead of a linear series of levels, each episode is now defined by a hub level with many branching areas that can usually be visited in any order. You need to find key items and activate switches in each one to open the way to the next world, and many areas within each sub-level are also locked until you find the right key/switch in a completely different area. As would be expected, this new spin on the level progression comes with both pros and cons. Few players today will be able to complete the game without ever looking at a walkthrough, and based on some comments I’ve read, this is one of those games that many people in the 90s would only dream of beating on their own. That said, there are very few instances where pulling a switch won’t at the very least give you a short message indicating it’s purpose (i.e. “A door has opened in the Wastelands”), and even then those with enough patience will rarely feel completely lost if they’re willing to backtrack systematically through every area over and over, taking note of every single locked door and unreachable area. I doubt it’s something the majority of gamers enjoy doing, but if you’re the type who would rather give up before accepting a hint, I’m happy to report that this game IS beatable even with your play style.

On the other hand, this structure also adds a lot to the feeling of being on a dangerous, epic quest. Metroidvania fans know that there are few things as satisfying as picking up a key and thinking “hey, I recognize this symbol! Now I can finally see what’s behind that door in the swamp!”. Uncovering the world bit by bit in this fashion really lends an air of mystery to the land of Cronos (where Hexen is set), and truly gives you that classic feeling of “pride and accomplishment” when you’re finally able to descend into that forbidding temple that’s been looming on the horizon for so long. And for those of you who are worried you won’t get to blast enough monsters to get your fill, this game still has you covered.

The enemies in Hexen are just as threatening as those in Heretic, and they look even better this time (seriously, if you enjoyed the visual aspect of Heretic, Hexen steps it up tenfold with truly gorgeous sprites, textures, animations and even some environmental visual effects, like thick mist and dead leaves blowing in the wind). You’ve got a fantastic cast of evil wizards, zombies, dog-like orcs, Minotaurs and more types of dragons and dragon hybrids than you could shake a Mace of Contrition at. A good amount of the baddies are initially very similar to those in Heretic, but their attacks are more distinct, varied and dangerous, and there are a whole lot more of these guys this time around. If you have the enemy counter turned on in your automap it won’t be uncommon to see the numbers exceed 400, and some of the weaker enemies will even respawn after a while. Don’t worry though, it’s not frequent enough to be stressful, but instead it really helps the backtracking from getting too tedious. Key hunting is a lot more intense when you never know if an Ettin is waiting around the corner to cave your skull in! However, if you’ve seen any other reviews of this game, you’ve heard a lot of grief expressed in regards to the Minotaurs (and their big brothers, the Maulotaurs). They aren’t the strongest foe in the game, but their shields, their surprise lighting bolts and their sheer numbers can definitely be a pain in the gluteus maximus. On the plus side, it makes killing them all the more satisfying, and you’ll find yourself experimenting quite a bit with your weapons and items to figure out the safest and quickest way to end their existence.

That’s right, I forgot to mention the items. The third and last major difference between Doom and these games is your inventory. The items are largely the same in all the games in the series, and using them can be a bit of a hassle unless you’re willing to fiddle around with your control settings to find a setup you prefer (I would usually bind the item selection keys to the scroll wheel and use them with the right mouse button). Visually, the inventory is similar to that seen in Duke Nukem 3D, and just like in that game, you’ll likely find yourself using some items a lot more frequently than others. Health and mana refills are a major aid, and beyond that you have things such as invisibility, invincibility, flechettes (despite what the name says, they’re more like grenades or mines, depending on your class), and a magical book that gives your weapons a much more powerful firing mode for a short time (although this item is mysteriously absent in Hexen). A special mention also goes to the Morph Ovum/Porkelator/Seal of the Ovinomancer, which transforms an enemy into a chicken/pig/sheep, respectively. A lot of fun to use, and and immense help against some stronger enemies if you’re low on health and/or mana.

If you didn’t find yourself using these items all too much in Heretic or Hexen, the following game might just give you a reason to. Hexen II is the third game in the series, and the final chapter in the Serpent Riders saga. This time you’re in the realm of Thyrion, and the last Serpent Rider, Eidolon, is the one who must be slain to free the land from his curse. In terms of gameplay, Hexen II is a lot more similar to Hexen than Hexen was to Heretic. You’ve got the same type of hub level structure, and you’ll again pick a class at the start, although now your choice has expanded, consisting of the Crusader, Paladin, Necromancer and Assassin, as well as the Demoness in the expansion (yes, all these games have expansion packs and they’re all worth playing in that they’re more of the same, but expanded, duh, and more polished).

The major difference this time around is one you can probably tell immediately from the screenshot: yes, Hexen II goes 3D (and in an exception to the common rule at the time, it is NOT titled “Hexen 3D” despite technically being the third installment). Specifically, the game uses a modified Quake engine. As mentioned, the core gameplay remains largely the same as in Hexen, but the level designers definitely did not waste that extra dimension. The levels are less expansive here, but a lot more complex and full of hidden passages, surprising loops and a whole lot of verticality. Scurring across a courtyard with archers raining arrows down on you from balconies is just as tense as it is satisfying later on to reach the same balcony and return the favor to any ghoul unlucky enough to find themselves below. Overall, the layout and progression in each area feels like it’s been given a lot more consideration and has endured more testing. Most of the time, the key hunting in each area feels more self-contained, and when it isn’t you rarely feel like you have no idea where to go. This is because every lock has been designed to feel more like a puzzle. In practice, your goal is still to find an item and bring it somewhere, but the locks and keys themselves are much more distinct, which helps you remember what to do and where to go. Instead of levers and typical keys, you find yourself looking for artefacts such as potion ingredients that will let you turn metal into wood, pieces of a broken mechanism or symbolic relics that must be placed in the hands of a statue to go in line with a prophecy. There are also more direct instructions in the form of book entries and inscribed stone tablets, which are very helpful in those cases where the puzzle might require a bit more than just item hunting, such as pulling switches in a certain order or lining objects up to create a pattern. It’s still unlikely that you’ll breeze through the whole game without getting confused, but you’ll rarely be at a complete loss; you’ll usually know what you’re looking for or what you’re trying to activate, even if you may need a walkthrough to find a specific hidden passage or to figure out exactly what a contraption does.

Overall, Hexen II feels like a refined Hexen, with more care put into making every area feel very distinct. It is absolutely not any less challenging though. The areas might be smaller in terms of actual units of measurement, and there are definitely fewer enemies on the screen at all times, but this is compensated for in spades. The third dimension adds a thick layer of complexity to every level, and the enemies hit HARD. If you got into a rhythm in Hexen of circle strafing, dodging and picking off targets in an order of perceived priority, you’ll have to learn to dance to a different tune here. Some enemies will close in on you incredibly quickly, and many of them have the ability to turn you into minced meat in a matter of seconds. Now more than ever is when you’ll want to shoot with a steady aim, use your items wisely, keep all the possible paths of retreat in your mental map, and scour every nook and cranny for health and mana to stand a chance against some of the stronger mooks. Hexen II as a whole is a lot more fast paced and tense and also has a more dramatic views and set pieces along with some extra bits of storytelling scattered around the world for those interested.

So, what are my thoughts on the Heretic/Hexen series as a whole? In short, it’s a treat. Combining classic fantasy tropes with the hectic action of Doom (and Quake) was an idea that was bound to happen sooner or later, and in this case, it worked out really well. There are of course other examples of this iconic clash of genres (check out Amid Evil for a totally kick-ass recent example!), but from what I know, the Serpent Riders saga is the one with the most lasting appeal. All the games strike a great balance between frantic, gory FPS action and the slower paced mystery and brooding sense of evil that only dark castles and dungeons can provide, with each game leaning a bit more toward one direction or the other. At a core gameplay level, there is nothing absolutely groundbreaking about Heretic/Hexen, but every element is done well and with care, and the presentation oozes of 20th century gothic fantasy charm, both the visuals and music. If the first paragraph of this review made you go “oh, those are both things I like!” then definitely check these games out. Same goes for anyone who is simply curious about the history of Id software and the impact Doom and Quake had on the gaming landscape. My only warning to you before playing these games is this: keep in mind that these games are from the 90s. There’s a reason many people have memories of booting these games up, getting completely stuck and then never playing them again. That said, as long as you have an internet connection (how else would you be reading this?) and an average amount of patience, there’s a whole lot of fun to be had here. All the games mentioned above are available on Steam (and GoG as well, I believe), and play excellently with modern source ports: gzdoom for Heretic and Hexen, and Hammer of Thyrion for Hexen II are my recommendations.

Finally, there is another game in the franchise. Heretic II returns to the story of Corvus (from the first game) and continues the story beyond the Serpent Riders arc, but due to some licensing issues it is not available on neither Steam nor GoG. Technically you could still buy a physical copy of the game, and I’ve seen mentions of at least one fan endeavor to make the game more accessible on modern computers, but I have yet to check it out. Maybe in the future. For now, I hope you enjoyed this dive into one of the slightly less famous, but still very popular classic 90s “Doom clones”!

[magicoldcottage]

Title : The rose

Also known as : Shatapatra,

Scientific Name : Multiple

Identification : There are more varieties of rose that I could list here, so instead here are some of the key versions to watch for. Damask Rose only blooms for a couple of weeks but is used in 96% of all perfumes (Bulgarian rose oil) This is the best oil for anti-depression. The Cabbage rose is used to create French rose oil this is the strongest aphrodisiac use this version for love spells. Provins Rose was the first cultivated in europe around 5000 years ago, this is the best option for creating Rose water.

Properties : Antidepressant, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Sedative, digestive stimulant, expectorant, Anti-viral, Antisptic.

Uses : Perfumery, potpourris, stewing, Incense, Gentle skin care, Acne, Add to a bath to bring calm

Try It : A simple rose water method ;

Mix 3 parts vodka to 1 part distilled water (Sorry Tap water won't work) in a jar. Add fresh rose petals ensuring the liquid covers the rose entirely (At least 2 inches of clear liquid above the flowers.   Cover the jar and leave it in a warm place such as a window for 3 weeks. Strain out the petal and rebottle the water. It doesn't need to be refrigerated.

Warnings : Nil

Parts used: Flowers, Hips (Hips have 50 times more vitamin C than Oranges)

Magic : Attract Love, fertility, Binding spells, clairvoyance, Mending a broken heart, empowerment. Commonly used on Altar's to build your connection to your deity. The Romans would be give their deities a crown of roses as an offering. Wash your hands with Rose water prior to casting love spells.

Planet : Venus

Element : Water

Deities : Venus, Hulda, Demeter, Isis, Eros, Cupid, Adonis, Bacchus

Folklore and History: Thought to have originated around Persia, we have been cultivating rose for at least 3000 years with over 10,000 know varieties available. Rose oil contains over 300 chemical components, only 100 of these have been identified by modern science. The Romans also loved roses, not only as displays but on the floor to walk on as a status symbol. Even some wines (Falemian)were served with petals floating on them. Both bride and groom would be crowned with roses, a tradition that has remained till this day as the buttonhole and bouquet. In old english formal dinners it was tradition to suspend a rose over the table as a symbol that everything discussed was to remain secret.

The rose has always been associated with love but did you know planting one in the garden was supposed to bring you luck (Green witch tip). The rose is connected to a number of religions representing the soul in Islam and connection to Mary in Christianity. Red Roses represent Passion and Sacrifice, White for purity, Yellow for Wisdom and Joy, Pink for gratitude and peace, Purple for Wonder and positive change.

Plant Tips : There is a rose for everyone, from ground cover rose used to prevent weeds, Climbing roses for amazing shows to Shrub roses found in most garden and park. In almost every colour you can imagine new variants are produced each year. Most roses does grow their own roots but are grafted onto a roots stock from another plant. Most are planted in spring, liking good soil and plenty of sun.

Click here for more of my guides

Don't forget to like and follow for more original content.

[everafterkeiji]

Song: About the Boy by Little Mix

Summary: Wherein a red head manages you to act like a fool in love

Pairing: Eijiro Kirishima x fem! reader

Warning/Genre: CRACKTIVITIY AND FLUFF

Word count: 5.4k

Quirk: Enchantment / Magic

Abilities : Flight, can cast spells, your emotions help you increase the amount of energy you blast, when you use your quirk your eye color changes to your favorite color (Y/F/C)

Symbols: Bold+Italic = lyrics , Italic= memories/text/thoughts

A/N: PLEASE this song is a bop and it just goes so well so pls listen to it!!❤️

You were just walking, a coffee in your hand with earbuds in blocking out the noise of the streets. You were on your way to your dream school, UA, while mindlessly scrolling through your phone thinking that you could reach your school earlier than you expected. You were nervous to say the least to meet the people that literally brought down the bots like it was nothing. Even if you aced the test, it was still intimidating to be in the same room with such powerful people. Do they even recognize me? Fuck I can't hold a conversation on my own. You thought. You took in a sip of your coffee in hopes that it can calm down your nerves.

Yet the universe regards your wishes when a body hard as a rock came in contact with yours. With one hand holding on to your hair and the other on your waist protecting your fall as you screamed in surprise when you both land on the street with a thud. The hardness of what you felt softens when you see bright red hair in your vision. The stranger- actually very handsome stranger that was on top of you looks at you with red wide eyes.

Did I die and heaven gifted me my dream boyfriend?

"Miss? Miss? Oh my god- I'm sorry for being in this position- I mean- Some guys weren't looking and their car was heading your way and you couldn't hear me so I had to save you- Are you okay?" He says panting, you take in the view in front of you as he helps you stand up brushing off the dust in your clothes, you silently thanked yourself for not dressing into your uniform knowing you can change into it with a spell. You were holding his hand. At the sight of it you immediately blush, ignoring the giddy feeling in your chest.

Man is he cute. You thought.

"Can you hear me?" You nod but you were loosing your cool when your shirt was drenched in coffee. You also frowned at the sight of your now broken earphones laid out on the street. You thanked the heavens that you had iced coffee. His eyes turn to your outfit, biting his lip in regret wishing he could've pushed away the coffee before ruining your outfit.

"I'm so sorry about your shirt! I can buy you another one-"

"T-thank you." You managed to say while he gives you a shy smile with a hand to his neck.

"It's nothing! Heroes should always save people shouldn't they?" You smile at his words.

He actually saved me.

You couldn't help but compare the events to some fairytale when a dashing young man saves you-that part alone was true but your imagination stops when you check the time on your phone.

"H-holy shit I'm gonna be late! I'm so sorry, I have to go! Thank you!" Your eyes glowed as you flew, not looking back to the red heads reaction to your sudden action. To say he was surprised was an understatement. You, in mid air, recites a spell to teleport your way into school. You landed in front of the gates of UA as you quickly utter a spell to freshen your appearance as you enter. When you arrive at front of the classroom, your hand couldn't reach the knob with how it was shaking yet you took a deep breath opening it to see people chattering away.

You decided to take a seat at the left row when a sudden red head comes running in the room.

"Hey! I'm so sorry I'm a bit late something came up and-" his eyes lock with yours and you teleport in front of him and he jumps a bit when you appear, the class looking at you two curiously. They were taken aback by your quirk.

"It's you."

From then on you swore on your life to avoid the red head but seeing his warm smile, his kind eyes, his charm, how can you do such a thing? As far as the class knows, you are by far the most powerful one knowing you can do anything just by a spell, basically everything you wished for can be handed to you in a silver platter. However, how can one Kirishima Eijiro make you weak to your knees? Was it his physique? His personality? His kindness? You couldn't pick your poison on what exactly drawn you the red eyed teen.

Something about the boy

Trying to find a logical reason on what makes this man so interesting to you was the most troublesome thing to do. Why is that when he talks to you every function in your body stops? Whenever you open your mouth you tend to loose track of what you wanted to say and end up mix matching your words.

It's the verse in my head

The words that make me stutter

Ever since you met him, it was like his presence took away your ability to speak. Nothing has ever drawn you to such a being before but acting weak in front of him wasn't something you wanted to do. You're basically a witch, seeing you fly the first time you met him he already knew he was curious about you too. You were already outstanding in his eyes, what else can you possibly do? Shapeshift? Make him fly? All you can do was try to avoid him like the plague so your heart can contain itself from letting him have it yet even with a smile on his charming face, it already makes your surroundings filled with such vibrant colors.

The change from gray to color

You often use your flight to catch up with him sometimes, knowing he was always intrigued with how easy it was for you to float around like that. Sometimes you use your quirk whenever he drops something, that's when you raise a finger while the fallen objects simply follow your finger as you placed them back on his hands. No matter how much you used your magic in front of him it never fails to make him stare in fascination.

Even his little buddies were interested in you, Mina always making you do tricks in the air while Kaminari begs you to lay a spell on Bakugo. Which of course you granted Minas request instead of Kaminaris knowing how powerful and pissed off Bakugo can be, it can possibly lead to your grave. But of course, whenever Kirishima had a favor you were bound to do it in a heartbeat. He once requested to teleport with you finding it so convenient and absolutely captivating how you can just pop up in different places.

"Do you trust me?" You asks helding out a hand in front of him, he nods happily while you utter a spell setting you're destination to be outside of UA. His hand tightens around yours and you smile while you zap out of the classroom seeing flashes of light before landing just in front of the gates of UA with a swoop sound. Kirishima raises his fists to the air with adrenaline filling his body.

"That was so cool, Y/N! Man, your quirk is literally something else. How can you do that so easily?-" His next words became a blur to you when you just stand there admiring him. With a smile to your face, you just nod at his words not even bothering to listen. You were sure he was rambling on and on about your abilities and once again your heart speeds up taking in his compliments.

A guaranteed bet

Oh, I found my lucky number

Even when you found yourself bruised and exhausted, the worried red head would always check up on you after training. At times when you felt like you weren't giving your best at your battles, he would manage to change your perspective on yourself making you push your limit. Which causes you to overuse your power making you unconscious in the middle of the fight while Kirishima and the others crowd around you, bringing your drained body to Recovery Girl. He would be right there along with Kaminari once you've regained strength.

The feeling that you get

Can't help but make me wonder

You will do the exact same thing to him. Bakugo will test out his powermoves on Kirishima and Kirishima will take it like the man he is but Bakugo ends up overworking the boy leaving burns on his skin. Watching him fight was something so intriguing to you. He knows he isn't good with long distance fights yet you offer him with your kind words edging him to do better. You would wrap bandages on his arm whenever they were ugly with scratches and burns or cast a spell to supply with him food and beverages when he missed lunch.

No need to try

He's just right

Oblivious to your actions, you continued to show how much you care for your little angel, earning teases from Bakugo and Sero yet you disregarded their comments and kept casting spells just to see his winning smile fall upon his face and that alone completes your day. You've gone to malls together, Kaminari, Mina, Sero, and Bakugo tagging along. Even if you intended to be with him only.

"Hey Kiri?" You asked tapping his shoulder gently while you flew above him leaning downwards to reach his shoulder. He turns around with a smile in his eyes when he sees you above him, you were in a sweater and leggings so whenever you flew above anyone, no one could dare to land their eyes under your shirt or your skirt, which everyone respectfully turns away -but Mineta? He was obviously the reason why you were conscious on your outfits.

"Hey Y/N! What's up?" He asks while you circle around him before you floated just in front of him with your cheeks pink from gaining the courage to ask him out.

"I was wondering if we can hang out at the mall if you're um available or if you want to- it's okay if you say no though-" he cuts you off with a chuckle before you landed on your feet, lowering your head thinking it was the best way to hide your flustered state.

"I'd love to Y/N! I'm down for anything plus I think there's a new movie out so I'm excited to watch it with you guys!" He says excitedly and you sighed thankful that he didn't reject you but you tensed up when you felt an arm wrapped around your shoulder. You turned your head to see a smirking Kaminari with his eyes on you as you rolled your eyes while he pulls you closer.

"A NEW MOVIE? I'M DOWN! What about you guys?" Suddenly Mina and Sero pop up behind Kirishima as you nudge Kaminari with you elbow, glaring at him while he laughs at you.

"Ooh we're going to the mall? I'm coming with~" Mina says clapping her hands while Sero chuckles beside her saying he wanted to come as well.

"Bakugo?" You only hear a grunt from him then you lower your head while Kaminari laughs at you. You raised your head shooting daggers his way and his eyes widened making him remove his arm around your shoulder before hiding behind Kirishima, scared you were gonna lay a death spell on him.

Nonetheless, you enjoyed their company even if it didn't go as well as you planned. When you were caught staring at Kirishima, Bakugo rolls his eyes before grabbing you to the corner pulling you away from the rest.

"Oi, look at me." He says and you look up at him, thrills running down your spine knowing you were never this close to Bakugo before. Soon, you were questioning how you were even alive at this point.

"W-what is it Bakugo?" You asked shakily yet he smirks at you.

"You got the heart eyes for shitty hair, dumbass?" Your eyes widen before you look away and he teasingly chuckles at your dismay.

"Ah, shitty hair huh? You might wanna lessen that stare of yours. Everyone knows you shit head." You cover your face in your hands and Bakugo chuckles again at your state. You stare at him- well it came more as a glare when you tried to appear stronger to the explosive boy.

"D-do they? Look, as much as I like him, I really couldn't care less if he doesn't notice."

He's got that something

I can't let nobody tell me no

"You wanna mutter a love spell on him, cupid?" Bakugo teases laughing at you. Your eyes glowed before making him turn to you with his eyes rolling. He covers your mouth before you can even cast a spell on him. His smirk resurfaces on his face.

"So you're willing to die so you can cast a spell on me huh extra?" You roll your eyes at him before removing his hand on your mouth.

"I'm not making him fall in love with me, stupid. I can't and I won't. Its against the use of my quirk."

Even if you were able to cast spells, you weren't allowed to cast a spell to make someone fall in love with you or for someone to die upon your spell not because of some forbidden chant, but it was because you couldn't handle the pressure and power of it. Casting death upon someone was not something to take ever so lightly. You were well taught enough to know the spells needed for death but your emotions and morals won't allow you. The amount of energy for you to even obtain to cast a spell that strong will certainly make you pass out not to mention to enormous guilt that will weigh on your shoulders once you do so.

"Y/N?" A voice appears beside you and Bakugo. You both turn around to see Kirishima with curious eyes. The sight in front of him suddenly marking a memory in his mind seeing you so close to Bakugo, especially when Bakugo had a prominent smirk on his face while he was staring at you. He only broke the conversation when he felt a tug on his heart seeing you two.

Bakugo leaves you two alone with yet another smirk tugging on his lips.

"No wonder that dumbass likes her." He mutters under his breath.

You believed that even without a love spell, there was no way you weren't going to succeed. Even if you had to cast a dozen spells just to make him smile, just to see his eyes lit up whenever you show him magic, just to see him be happy because of you, it was all worth it. But how far can your patience reach when he's gone busy with internships?

You knew that him, Midoriya, and the others were quite busy because of their internship and the more days pass by you, the less you see Kirishima. You were stuck in class paying attention to whoever was up front, or just fighting with Kaminari to test out some new spells you learned. Sometimes, you would choose to hang out with Bakugo and Sero just to avoid your thoughts whenever you worried about him.

Yet on the other side of the field, he misses you as well.

He misses to be able to feel your presence around him, he misses to see how powerful you were, he misses your little gestures or gifts that you bring to him. Though, in the back of his mind, he can't help but think of you and Bakugo. Seeing you two so close at the mall, made him feel small all of a sudden. What were they talking about? Why was he smirking like that? Are they secretly dating? His mind was filled with questions but then again he thinks that Bakugo wasn't a dating person. He was conflicted if he should just ask you directly or just observe on the sidelines.

Bakugos words were ringing in your head about a love spell. You've never casted a love spell. Yet alone even find a spell to do it since you feel guilty meddling with a person's emotion towards someone. Now that Kirishima had his hands busy, there's no harm done if the person you badly wanted to cast it upon wasn't here. You just wanted to try since a love spell was much easier to conjure than a death spell. All you had to was utter the designed chant but you were questioning if it even works without the potions or herbs. You were indeed a powerul being so you did skip ahead on the steps.

Having a heavy book on your hand was laid out in your bed just switching back and forth between pages. Your fingers drag across the surface of the paper reading the chant in your head. You sighed, this isn't gonna work. This chant is literally older than All Might. You thought. As your fingers brush against the rough surface, your eyes landed on a love spell that required no potion or exchange. It was said to be a spell that enhances the attraction but some pages were torn off making the sentences confusing, yet the chant was still there.

Meanwhile, an excited yet nervous boy was on his way to your room. Kirishima finally had the time to be with you and he was more than anxious to face you knowing the tightening in his chest was making his mind race at the thought of finally seeing you. Though the thought of seeing you with Bakugo, had the poor boy rethinking his actions.

The chant only had one requirement, and that was nothing more than your emotions. If your emotions portray what you desire, the chant was sure to work on whoever your target was. You felt that without Kirishima around your emotions weren't as deep than you thought, putting you at ease. You sigh as you brace yourself for a chant, taking in a deep breath. Your hands placed on top of the spell with your eyes glowing before closing them as an aura surrounded you.

"Fall upon me and obey with bliss, as he whose heart shall belong to me, with the name that lie on my lips, to love and intertwine his heart to me, you are mine to be-"

"Y/N?"

"KIRISHIMA?!" Your eyes widen as great winds surround the two of you before the once crimson red eyes of the teen stood in front of you glowed pink as the wind surrounds him. It happened so rapidly that you were off your feet flying towards the teen that lay unconscious on your room, shaking him with worry.

"Kirishima?! Hey, hey wake up!" You shout shaking him up and Bakugo walks by your room to see his unconscious friend flat out on the floor. His vermillion eyes widen as he takes Kirishima.

"OI SHIT HEAD WHAT'D YOU DO?" Bakugo shouts and you shake your head as the blonde helps Kirishima stand up, his arm on Kirishimas shoulder being a wall for him to lean on.

"I d-don't know! Come with me." You grabbed Bakugos shoulder as you utter a spell teleporting you to Recovery Girl. Bakugo was surprised at how fast you landed but he only laid down Kirishima before grabbing your arm harshly pulling you outside her room.

"Mind telling me why the shit head is passed out on your room?" You fidget with your fingers, your heart racing. Did it work? It was an accident! Why didn't I lock my fucking door? Why was he here anyway? Your mind hurting from the power that you released, and it was most definitely hurting because of the worry.

"Fuck Bakugo I don't even know! I was just practicing a s-spell okay! And Kirishima just came in okay and the spell was directed to him-" You were cut off when Bakugo when raised you by grabbing you by the collar of your shirt, making you float so you don't loose balance at how he easily lifted you off your ground before you flew.

"It's the love spell isn't it?" You gulped as he stares at you, bringing your face closer to his before you give him a silent nod lowering your head, then your feet reaches the surface now that he sets you down.

"Ain't that desperate huh extra?" He smirks but you punch his chest, catching him off guard.

"Oi shit head what'd you-"

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT OKAY! I'm not fucking desperate for Kirishima to acknowledge me or like me back, Katsuki. He just came in my room, I didn't even know he was coming back!" You shout back but he only shake his head.

"Dumbass you don't need a fucking spell-"

"Y/N? He's looking for you." Recovery Girl comes behind you two and you jump at her voice.

"I- thank you ma'am." She nods at you but before you can open the door Bakugo stops you midway.

"Oi, don't you think that stupid spell of yours have a shitty side effect? Who knows what shitty hair will act like." He scoffs and you sigh, running your hand to your hair.

"So what? I can't talk to him?" He flicks your forehead with his fingers and you hit his shoulder while he smirks.

"Ah it's a love spell isn't it? Isn't he gonna act all clingy and shit?" You shrug your shoulders and Bakugo grabs your head shaking it lightly while you slap his hand away.

"And they say that you're the smart one." You roll your eyes at his comment before opening the door nonetheless. You were face to face with a sat up Kirishima with a hand to his head.

"K-kirishima?" Bakugo almost wanted to laugh at your stutter but you nudge him with your elbow earning an annoyed groan from the blonde.

"How are you feeling shit head?" Bakugo asks and Kirishima just eyes you two but once his eyes leave the blonde, Kirishimas eyes linger on you more.

"I don't know what happened, my head just really hurts but Recovery Girl says nothings broken so I'm fine! What's got you guys so worried?" He asks with curious eyes and you both shake your head.

"I'm just glad you're doing okay, Kiri. Are you sure you're not feeling anything weird?" You ask, your heart pounding. Kirishima shakes his head and looks at you.

"Nah, I feel okay! I guess I was just exhausted and passed out. I'm fine, Y/N, I swear. What about you? I haven't seen you in days." He gives out a small chuckle and you sigh in relief.

It didn't work, you and Bakugo thought.

"I'm fine, Kirishima." You smile at him and returns the gesture back at you, yet the guilt was now weighing over your shoulders knowing you casted a spell on him. Kirishima took notice of you had your head hung low and you were playing with the ends of your skirt. His hand reaches your hair, gently caressing your hair and while your wide eyes and flustered cheeks were hidden from him, it was no denying that you were shaking.

I've got it bad. Kirishima thought.

You look up at him while his hands were still caressing your hair. You were searching for traces of the spell on his eyes but you found nothing but the glimmer in his eyes when he stares back at you.

"I'm glad I get to hang out with you again, Y/N." He says and you just simply wanted to faint at his kind words and you hear a very displeased scoff behind you.

You and Bakugo just observe Kirishima for the rest of the week. You two would sometimes discuss if you accidentally conjured it onto someone else that was named Kirishima but you think otherwise. You even asked your parents but they said love spells were always a hit or miss. You even thought about asking help from Midoriya, which you knew he would accept, but this issue was between you three. Kirishima was just being his usual self, nothings changed. Everything was the same as before but for Kirishima, his feelings were weighing down his heart. The more he saw you and Bakugo have your little conversations in a corner, he already knew his chances were slim to none but he still wanted to be with you with every chance he gets. Thankfully, Kaminari delivered the news that you two weren't dating when he saw Bakugo hit you in the head.

I won't stop until the girl is mine. Kirishima selfishly thought. Finally realizing he wasn't gonna waste his time anymore. He knew it was selfish, but were your little gifts and tricks to him could mean you liked him too?

Months of being with you, admiring you from afar, denying the feeling in his heart whenever you flew around him grabbing his attention, the care you give him when he's injured, it was all to overwhelming to finally come to a decision that he is in fact, in love. Maybe the spell didn't work and he's come to the light or perhaps the spell actually worked and it increased his attraction towards to you. But the way his breathing came to a halt whenever you were in the air fighting against his classmates, or whenever he feels this warm feeling in his heart whenever you laugh or check up on him, he knew he felt something else.

For you and Bakugo, he was just being his usual hero self. Helping you here and there and following you wherever you went making excuses just to be around you. It looks as if the roles were reversed now. You were once the love sick puppy following him around but now your cautious and almost distant still afraid of the spell. Now it was Kirishima that was falling under your spell. Volunteering to help you with training or even carrying your things. Bakugo took notice of his actions but didn't pay any attention to it knowing Kirishima already told him his little crush for the magical girl.

Got me running around like I'm a lovefool

Taking me down I can't stop

But the guilt was unbearable on your side.

You knew even if the chant was a fail, you still directed it to him. Who knew what side effects could have been given to him? What if you never revert the spell? Is his soul tied to yours? While the guilt was eating you away, you're fingers hover over his contact texting him finding no more excuses to hide what you've done.

hey kiri! do you think you could meet up with me at the mall?

In which he responded to rather quickly.

heyy! yea sure be right there in 15 mins!

He got me feeling like a girl gone mad. You thought while you patiently waited for the boy. Meanwhile, Kirishima had his feet on the ground ready to be with you but his nerves quickly shut down wondering what's gotten you to meet up with him so sudden. When you spot his figure, you signal him a wave and he sits next to you with a warm smile.

"Hey Y/N! You good?" You bit your lip, anxious to tell him the issue you've had for weeks. He frowns at your state and takes a step forward landing his hand on your shoulder, giving you sympathetic smile.

"You can tell me anything, Y/N. It's just me." He says the concern in his voice evident. You take a deep breath before finally speaking.

"Kirishima, I'm so sorry for casting a l-l.. l-love spell on you. It was accidental though! I wouldn't think about putting a spell on you! Y-you just came in so suddenly and I lost control over my power- I didn't know if it worked though but-"

"Wait wait.. a love spell?" He tilts his head in confusion and you lower your head still trying to relieve the stress.

"It didn't work though! You're not showing any signs of love or anything.. right?" His eyes widen and his cheeks blossomed with the color the same as his hair. He lets his hand reach the back of his neck before staring at you, his heart pounding at how anxious he was.

"I- I don't think you need a love spell for me to like you cause I already do." You've never whipped your head much faster than now. You look at him, searching once again for any traces of the spell yet nothing. Nothing but genuine feelings.

He liked you.

You.

"A-are you sure? I'm assuming it's because of the spell huh? I promise I'll try to revert the spell-"

"No amount of spell can make like you the way I do. Even if the spell was accidental, I don't think it was accidental for me to fall for you." Did you past away? What sweet heaven was this? Taking notice of how tensed and quiet you were, Kirishima sighs before looking at you.

"If you're with Bakugo, I completely understand. If you don't like me-"

You stopped his sentence when your hands found its way around his neck and your lips finding its home with his lips. He had his eyes open but once he registers what's happening he immediately pulls you closer, hands to your waist like how you first met, his eyes closing at the sensation of your lips in sync. Everything around you was a blur except for feeling of having him this close to you. You were too overwhelmed and contented with what was happening, you let loose of your quirk. You two were floating and he seems to smile even more as he continues to lay his love on your lips. You pull away resting your forehead on his with a smile that no one can ever tear down.

"God, Kirishima I- I like you so much. Just from the moment we met and no spell can ever change that." You say before you two landed on the ground and your hearts were screaming for joy at this point. Kirishima chuckles in front of you before he pushes a strand of your hair behind your ear making you blush even more.

"Guess I can say I'm under your spell then huh?"

"Oh god."

[heartofether]

Episode 15 - Elderberries TRANSCRIPT

[You can listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts, or go to our “Listen” page if you’re on desktop.]

AUTOMATED VOICE

[LOWER-PITCHED AND SLOWER THAN NORMAL] Please state your message.

[THEME SONG PLAYS.]

VAL

Three-eyed Frog Presents: The Heart of Ether.

[THEME SONG FADES TO A STOP.]

[PHONE BEEP.]

[INT. THE POPPY GARDEN MOTEL, AGENT MAY AND JUNES’ ROOM, EARLY MORNING.]

AGENT JUNE

Oh, is it on? I dunno how this recording device works. Would have been, like, ten times easier to just record on our phones, but, eh.

Anyways, it’s just me right now, which means I get to do all the talking. Guess I should, I dunno, talk about the mission? Daughtler?

Oh! I know. There’s this candy store downtown that displays massive gummy bears in the window, only it’s so hot outside that the bears have started melting. It’s some mix of disturbing, but also hilarious? Seriously, those bears look so sad, I can’t help but laugh.

Let’s see. Say, what’s that stupid thing he always says? [DRAMATICALLY MOCKING AGENT MAY] This is Operation Saturn, phase 1.2. Conducted by Agents May and June. All recordings are property of the—

[AS AGENT JUNE TALKS, THE DOOR IS HEARD OPENING AND CLOSING. THERE ARE FOOTSTEPS AS AGENT MAY WALKS IN.]

AGENT MAY

Here’s your coffee.

AGENT JUNE

Much obliged! Oh, you got it with oat milk, right?

AGENT MAY

[SLIGHTLY BITTER] It cost extra, but yes.

AGENT JUNE

Aw, hell yeah.

[AGENT JUNE TAKES HIS DRINK.]

AGENT MAY

I’ve never understood the excitement behind alternative milks.

AGENT JUNE

Hey, I’m lactose intolerant. Not that that would stop me from consuming dairy in most scenarios, but oat milk hits, alright? You should give it a shot.

AGENT MAY

I don’t put milk in my coffee, just sugar.

AGENT JUNE

Mm. Gross.

AGENT MAY

[HE HUFFS A SIGH.] Well, I’ll stop judging your coffee order if you stop judging mine.

AGENT JUNE

I’ll agree to that, sure.

[HE TAKES A SIP, THEN] See anything of note in the coffeeshop?

AGENT MAY

[UNCOMFORTABLY] Maybe. There was this girl sitting at a table. She was wearing all-black, which is strange considering the weather.

AGENT JUNE

Uh, ever heard of fashion? Dude, you literally wear a suit every day! No wonder you overheat. I mean, why do you think I skip the blazer?

AGENT MAY

[IRRITATED] At least I wear my tie correctly.

AGENT JUNE

I leave it undone on purpose, alright? It’s a statement.

AGENT MAY

Do you know how to tie a tie?

AGENT JUNE

[DEFENSIVE] Yes!

[AN UNCOMFORTABLY LONG PAUSE.]

AGENT JUNE

So, there was this girl in the coffeeshop.

AGENT MAY

She seemed fairly young. Must have been in either high school or college. She was staring at me over her laptop the whole time. Like she was, I don’t know, stalking prey. It was like her eyes were knives, and she was trying to carve my flesh off.

AGENT JUNE

So, she defo wasn’t just idly looking or whatever. Like, you’re pretty sure she was thinking about killing you?

AGENT MAY

Well, there’s no way I can know for certain, now, is there?

[A BEAT.] She was wearing a black fabric surgical mask, though.

[A TENSE PAUSE.]

AGENT JUNE

Do you think she was—?

AGENT MAY

I can’t say for sure.

AGENT JUNE

I mean, it might have been an accessory, but we’re in Daughtler, Washington—

AGENT MAY

I’m not going back there to check. Okay? If we see her again, maybe we can consider interviewing her, but I don’t feel comfortable going back to see her.

AGENT JUNE

[UNDERSTANDING] Alright.

[AGENT MAY SIGHS.]

AGENT JUNE

[CONT.] Alright. I won’t force you.

AGENT MAY

I—I appreciate that.

[THERE'S A PAUSE.]

AGENT JUNE

Uh, how’d you sleep?

AGENT MAY

About as well as I could in a car seat.

AGENT JUNE

Okay, I can’t just keep letting you sleep in the car. It was kind of funny at first, but now I just— [HIS SENTENCE TRAILS OFF IN VAGUE STUTTERS.]

AGENT MAY

[BEAT.] Well?

AGENT JUNE

I feel bad! Alright? I mean, look at me, I have this whole room to myself, and meanwhile, my partner is sleeping in a company vehicle that may or may not have bloodstains in the backseat.

[BEAT, THEN] Actually, I’d love to talk about those weird dark stains later, because uh, what, but I’ll let it slide for now. It’s still gotta be super uncomfortable, though.

AGENT MAY

We could always take turns.

AGENT JUNE

No, what I’m saying is I don’t think either of us have to sleep in the car! There has got to be a better solution.

AGENT MAY

The Foundation already declined giving us a second room, or trying to transfer us to a larger one. Trust me, I tried.

AGENT JUNE

Dammit.

[A LONG PAUSE.]

AGENT JUNE

It's king-sized, you know.

[ANOTHER LONG PAUSE.]

AGENT MAY

Do you think the motel has spare blankets? I think I could try sleeping on the floor.

[THOUGH UNSEEN, AGENT JUNE LOOKS INTO THE CAMERA LIKE HE’S IN THE OFFICE.]

AGENT MAY

…I’ll go down and ask later.

AGENT JUNE

Good idea.

[A BEAT. THERE'S SUIT RUSTLING AS AGENT MAY CHECKS HIS WATCH.]

AGENT MAY

We should head out soon.

AGENT JUNE

You’re really glued to that watch of yours, huh?

AGENT MAY

Excuse me?

AGENT JUNE

Not that it’s bad, you just check it a lot. I don’t really know what watch etiquette is, but I think you look at it more than most people do. I’ve also noticed you tend to look at it more around specific times? Is there a reason, or—?

AGENT MAY

[MORE SERIOUS THAN THE CONVERSATION WARRANTS] It’s none of your business. Perhaps I simply prefer to keep on schedule. Let’s go.

AGENT JUNE

[SLIGHTLY CONFUSED] Oh, um, okay. Sorry. [UNDER HIS BREATH] Jeez. Let me just—

[PHONE BEEP.]

[RECORDING ENDS.]

[ANOTHER BEEP.]

[INT. THE OPEN EYES BOOKSTORE BACKROOM, EARLY, EARLY MORNING.]

HOLLY

Are you recording?

PHOEBE

Yes, yes, I am.

HOLLY

Kind of weird to be doing this so early in the morning.

PHOEBE

I’m sorry, I know it’s super early. Night just felt…well, it felt more dangerous, I guess? Even Grandma Doe recommended not doing it too late. I wanted to get it done before the shop opened, though.

HOLLY

Oh no, I don’t mind. I guess people usually just consider night to be “the witching hour.”

PHOEBE

This isn’t really witchcraft, though, is it?

HOLLY

Guess not. Most modern witchcraft is a lot more…chill, I guess?

PHOEBE

Right. [A BEAT.] Do you think it’s really a good idea to be doing this in the back room?

HOLLY

Well, it’s not like we have anywhere else. It’d be super shady if we did it right outside, and your forestry friend would be pissed if we went out into the woods to do it.

PHOEBE

[NERVOUS] There’s so much paper, though. I mean, we could easily set the whole thing alight. My apartment’s really small, I know, but maybe we could—?

HOLLY

Don’t worry about it. We did a pretty good job clearing stuff out to make space, I think. It should be fine, I mean, a lot of the most flammable stuff either got moved out or shoved against the wall.

Besides, didn’t she say that it might be good to do it here for like, symbolic purposes?

PHOEBE

Yeah. Yeah, I guess you’re right. [SHE CHUCKLES.] Maybe this will finally give me incentive to organize everything.

HOLLY

[SHE LAUGHS, SOMEWHAT NERVOUSLY.] If this works, then hopefully you’ll be able to do that anyways.

PHOEBE

That’s true, yes. I, um, guess we should get started. Can you read the directions?

HOLLY

Of course.

[HOLLY IS HEARD UNFOLDING A PIECE OF PAPER.]

HOLLY

[READING] The purpose of all of this is energy. You are lighting fire to produce energy. You are grinding berries and eating them to produce it as well. Ether functions under this key desire for vitality. If you can understand this simple principle, this keen need it has, it will treat you much more kindly.

By designing this ritual for you, my hope is that it will spell out as clear as day to Ether what you are trying to achieve. It rarely gives people what they want, rather it gives what it sees fit for them. You must steer it in the correct direction, or else it will choose a different fate for you.

These instructions are similar to what Valencia and I did, as well as symbolic for what you hope to achieve. However, nobody has ever developed an exact science for how these rituals function. We may only rely on guesswork and hope. While I would like to develop more specific procedures and instructions, I do not know if I ever will. Perhaps that could be your task.

[BREAKING READING] Could I skip her whole monologue? We already read it, and I don’t think it’s important in-the-moment.

PHOEBE

Sure.

HOLLY

Cool.

[SHE FLIPS THE PAPER.]

HOLLY

Materials needed: Yarn or string to create a casting circle. Some people use salt, but it produces an awful mess. Several circles of yarn around you and your workspace will work just fine.

PHOEBE

We did that already.

HOLLY

Yup. [READING AGAIN] Three white candles with words carved into them. It does not matter what the words are, they simply have to be legible and completely cover the candle. No numbers. I just wrote out song lyrics on that one.

PHOEBE

Oh, that’s neat! I, um, did poems I like.

HOLLY

Cute. [A BEAT.] A lighter or match of some kind. Someplace to safely burn paper—we got a metal bin, so we’re good. Did you turn off the smoke alarm?

PHOEBE

I did, yeah.

HOLLY

Let’s hope the place doesn’t burn down, then. [CHUCKLE, THEN] I’m joking, I promise. It should be fine. [SHE CLEARS HER THROAT.]

A book—you will be tearing out each individual page, so to save time, I suggest a children’s book. A bowl or container of some kind. Elderberries, I recommend you cook them beforehand, but make sure none of them are pre-mashed. Something to mash the elderberries with. Finally, a few drops of your blood, or something to draw blood with. That’s what the sewing needle is for, right? You sure you don’t want a blade? I have a pocket knife.

PHOEBE

[UNCOMFORTABLE] I get nervous around knives, but thank you for the offer.

Oh—actually, I wanted to ask, um, where did you find elderberries? I couldn’t find them anywhere.

HOLLY

I asked the bartender down the street.

PHOEBE

Huh.

HOLLY

Yeah, they make all sorts of weird cocktails. Are you ready? Once we start, we can’t stop until it’s complete.

PHOEBE

[WITH WEIGHT, NERVOUS, BUT DETERMINED] I’m ready.

HOLLY

Okay.

[HOLLY FLIPS THE PAPER AGAIN. THERE’S A PAUSE.]

HOLLY

Phoebe?

PHOEBE

Yeah?

HOLLY

Whatever happens, I—we’ll be okay, alright? No matter what. I’ll make sure of it, I swear.

PHOEBE

[TENDERLY] Thank you.

[THERE’S A PAUSE AS THEY ARE HEARD KISSING. HOLLY TAKES A DEEP BREATH.]

HOLLY

Create a circle around— Okay, we already did that. Um, Start by lighting the candles.

[PHOEBE IS HEARD LIGHTING A MATCH AND LIGHTING ALL THREE CANDLES.]

HOLLY

Tear each individual piece of paper out of the book. One by one, burn each piece of paper using fire from the candles. Once you have burned each page, burn the cover. Do not attempt to put any of the fires out. This tedious process shows care and dedication. The blood in later steps is there for a similar purpose.

[PHOEBE IS HEARD TEARING PAGES OUT OF A CHILDREN’S BOOK AND LIGHTING THEM ON FIRE. THERE’S A LONG PAUSE AS SHE DOES SO.]

PHOEBE

Good thing this book only has twenty pages. [A BEAT.] What’s next?

[PHOEBE IS STILL TEARING PAPER IN THE BACKGROUND, AND THE BURNING SFX GOES ON FOR SOME TIME.]

HOLLY

Uh—place your elderberries in the bowl and begin mashing them in a clockwise motion. As you do this, speak out loud and ask Ether to grant you knowledge and the ability to see what others do not. There should be no misunderstanding in what you are trying to achieve, and if you have garnered Ether’s attention, it should have already decided what it shall do with you. [MUTTERS] Fuckin’ weird.

[PHOEBE CEASES HER PAGE-TEARING.]

PHOEBE

The book is done. Pass me the spice grinder with the berries?

[HOLLY PASSES PHOEBE THE SPICE GRINDER.]

PHOEBE

Thank you.

[PHOEBE IS HEARD GRINDING THE ELDERBERRIES.]

PHOEBE

[WHISPERING TO HERSELF] Ether, um, whoever or whatever you are, if you are listening to me, please grant me knowledge. Grant me the power to see what others do not. Let me see and know everything.

[THERE IS A RINGING HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND AS HOLLY SPEAKS.]

HOLLY

If this works, the words on the candle should begin to—holy—God!

[HOLLY STUMBLES BACK.]

PHOEBE

Glow?

HOLLY

[FREAKING OUT] Yup? Uh—they’re actually glowing, what the—

PHOEBE

[OVERLAPPING] What’s next?

HOLLY

Sorry, sorry. [SHE RUFFLES THE PAPER IN HER HAND.] Mix a few drops of your blood into the elderberries.

PHOEBE

Pass me the sewing needle.

[HOLLY PASSES PHOEBE THE NEEDLE. SHE PRICKS HER FINGER.]

PHOEBE

[UNDER HER BREATH] Ow.

[SHE LETS A FEW DROPS COME OUT, SUCKS ON HER FINGER BRIEFLY, THEN MIXES HER BLOOD IN.]

HOLLY

Drink the elderberry mash. You must consume every bit of it, or at least as much as you can.

PHOEBE

[GROWING IN A MIX OF PANIC AND EXCITEMENT] This is it—I mean—wait, I’m about to consume my blood, that’s weird, but—this is really it.

HOLLY

[ENCOURAGING] You can do it.

[PHOEBE IS HEARD DRINKING THE ELDERBERRY MASH. THERE IS A PAUSE.]

HOLLY

If successful, the candles will—

[THE CANDLES ARE HEARD EXTINGUISHING.]

HOLLY

…blow out.

PHOEBE

[SLIGHTLY SICK] I think I got it all.

HOLLY

How do you feel? Is—has anything changed?

PHOEBE

I feel…I feel like there’s a part of me that was never there before. Like, my internal self expands farther out than my physical self, like I’m floating, it’s—I need to go lie down.

HOLLY

I’ll take you upstairs. It worked, though?

PHOEBE

I think it did. I mean, Grandma Doe said I would feel some sort of immediate change, but the rest of it would trickle in slowly. I feel different, though.

HOLLY

[SLOWLY, CAUTIOUS] Does this mean you’re not human anymore?

PHOEBE

[A BEAT.] I haven’t thought about that. I mean, I think I might just kind of be human plus? I’m not sure. Grandma Doe was still mortal, after all—she felt pain, she got ill—her mind was just super advanced. Does that make me inhuman?

HOLLY

I…I don’t think so. I think you just have mind powers or whatever.

PHOEBE

I’ll think about it later. I’m just going to try to get some sleep before the shop opens.

HOLLY

You don’t even have to open today, you know. People will understand if you just say you’re ill. Or I could run it for today, since there’s usually less traction on weekdays.

PHOEBE

[SINCERE] Thank you.

HOLLY

Of course.

PHOEBE

[SHE SIGHS.] Okay, time to—

[PHONE BEEP.]

[RECORDING ENDS.]

[ANOTHER PHONE BEEP.]

[INT. IRENE’S HOUSE, MIDDAY.]

IRENE

I just got home from work. Apparently, Phoebe did that ritual early this morning. It went well, from what Holly told me, though Phoebe’s been taking the day off to rest.

Oh, and they also posted that advert on the bulletin board yesterday. You know, for someone to develop Valencia’s film.

That’s not important right now. You know what is important?

This morning, at work, I opened up a folder on my computer and guess what was in it? A new audio recording where there shouldn’t be one. Guess the technological gods have decided to be generous today.

I decided to wait until I got off to listen to it. It’s dated shortly after the incident, so I think it might be important.

Besides, work has been…well, different, since the Spread. I haven’t told Carol or Aden that’s what it’s called, though. The whole incident brought us closer together, but I think that’s a double-edged sword. They know me well enough, now, I think they can tell I’m hiding something. Aden definitely knows I am—I mean, what I told him was pretty cryptic, but Carol I think just…knows. She’s just like that. [SCOFF] Maybe that’s part of her motherly instincts.

Right, that’s beside the point. Back to the recording.

Here goes nothing.

[IRENE CLICKS ON THE FILE.]

[PHONE BEEP.]

[INT. DRIVING, LATE AT NIGHT.]

[THERE IS THE AMBIANCE OF DRIVING DOWN A DESOLATE FOREST ROAD AS THEY TALK.]

UNKNOWN GIRL

Does it work?

ROSE

I believe so.

UNKNOWN GIRL

[SHE SNORTS.] About as well as a cheap cell phone from Walmart could, I imagine?

ROSE

It just has to be able to record and make emergency calls. I’m not too worried about it. Thank you, again. Really, I owe you.

UNKNOWN GIRL

Hey, I didn’t buy it. I just walked into the store and handed your money to the guy behind the counter. It’s not a big deal.

[DULLY SKEPTICAL] You’re trying pretty hard to cover up your tracks, you know. Destroying your phone, not wanting to be seen in public to go get a new one, only paying in cash. Almost makes it sound like you’re a criminal or something.

ROSE

[FRANTIC] I’m not! I swear, I’m not.

UNKNOWN GIRL

No need to get defensive. Look, I get it. We all have reasons to want to disappear. I’m surely in no position to judge.

You know, I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I feel like we might actually have a lot in common.

ROSE

Why is that?

UNKNOWN GIRL

We both don’t know where we’re going, or why.

ROSE

[UNDER HER BREATH] Oh, I know why.

UNKNOWN GIRL

So you do have a reason?

ROSE

It’s not a big deal.

UNKNOWN GIRL

Your secret’s safe with me, you know.

ROSE

It’s nothing. Really. Just…do you have to know or—?

UNKNOWN GIRL

Well, do I have any reason to?

ROSE

No, but do you even have a reason to be helping me?

UNKNOWN GIRL

[DEADPAN] What can I say? I’m a generous soul.

[A BEAT.] Say, why did you want something to record with, anyways?

ROSE

I, um—it’s stupid.

UNKNOWN GIRL

Try me.

ROSE

It’s—well. I guess I don’t want to be forgotten? I want some way for people to find out what happened to me when…if…you know. There’s…if something does happen to me, there’s at least one person who deserves to know.

UNKNOWN GIRL

You think you’re going to get yourself killed?

ROSE

I don’t know. I suppose it’s better to be safe than sorry?

UNKNOWN GIRL

But you have someone you know will want to listen. [CONNECTING THE DOTS] You weren’t a loner before you left, were you? You left someone important behind, and now you feel bad. You owe them an explanation.

ROSE

[UNCOMFORTABLY] Yes. Right. I guess.

[A BEAT.] I don’t want to talk about this anymore.

UNKNOWN GIRL

Who did you abandon?

ROSE

[RAISING HER VOICE SLIGHTLY] I said I’m done.

UNKNOWN GIRL

Alright, alright.

[A BEAT.] If it makes you feel better, I’ll let you prod at me a bit.

ROSE

[HESITANT] Where did you get your name? Wednesday is such a unique name, I don’t think I’ve ever heard it outside of stories.

WEDNESDAY [UNKNOWN GIRL]

It’s certainly no ‘Mary,’ is it?

ROSE

I mean, obviously. My name’s pretty basic.

WEDNESDAY

I actually chose it after I left home. Not like that, just never liked the name my parents gave me. Kept the last name ‘White,’ though. It has a ring to it.

ROSE

Was there a reason for it, or did it just sound nice?

WEDNESDAY

When people meet someone with a weird name, that tends to be the thing that most grabs their attention. “I met a girl named after a day of the week today, isn’t that bizarre?” I didn’t want to be remembered for anything I didn’t want people to see. If one thing was going to stick with them, it would be my name, but not quite the face that goes with it. Just the girl with an odd name.

ROSE

So you want to be forgotten?

WEDNESDAY

Not forgotten, but I want control over the memory of me. I want to fade away into obscurity, but not obscure enough that it’s suspicious.

ROSE

[KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE] You’ve thought about this a lot.

WEDNESDAY

When you’re like me, you have to.

ROSE

Wh—what does that—

WEDNESDAY

[OVERLAPPING] Do you need me to stop at the gas station up ahead?

[THERE’S A SLIGHTLY TOO LONG PAUSE.]

ROSE

Um, yeah, I have to—

[PHONE BEEP.]

[RECORDING ENDS.]

[INT. IRENE’S HOUSE, EARLY EVENING, THE SAME DAY.]

[THERE’S A LONG PAUSE.]

IRENE

[STILL PROCESSING IT AS SHE SPEAKS.] Okay. Okay! This is definitely a start. A great start, actually!

Okay, let’s see, uh—after you ran away, you destroyed your phone—no wonder the police couldn’t track it—and then you went with some person named Wednesday.

That’s definitely a start. If I can figure out where Wednesday—White, was it?—yeah, Wednesday White. I know Wednesday probably isn’t her legal name, but I might still be able to find her somewhere. If I can find Wednesday White, I might have a good shot at finding you. That’s great news!

[A SLIGHTLY TOO LONG PAUSE.]

IRENE

[HER ENTHUSIASM DYING] I don’t trust Wednesday, though.

[A BEAT.] Okay, maybe I shouldn’t be so skeptical. I mean, you’re not an idiot, Rose. You wouldn’t hitch hike with just any random stranger. Would you? Doesn’t even seem like you gave her your real name, she called you ‘Mary.’

[SHE HUFFS A SIGH.] Maybe I’m just being defensive. Still, she seemed off, didn’t she? That whole thing she said about her name just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. She prodded a lot, too. Almost as if she wanted to make you uncomfortable.

I could be reading into it too much. I guess I won’t know until I find her. Hopefully, she didn’t fade into obscurity too much. There’s gotta be some record of her existence online. If I’m lucky, she might be on social media or something. Who knows? Lots of time has passed.

[A PAUSE, THEN, SOFTLY] That person, you—were you recording for me? You wanted me to know you hadn’t abandoned me on purpose. [HURT] And here I was, thinking you would just leave without reason. That you had betrayed me in some way. I’m—Rose, I’m so sorry—

[JUST AS SHE SAYS “SORRY,” HER PHONE BEGINS VIBRATING. SHE PICKS IT UP.]

IRENE

[SKEPTICAL] There’s an unknown number calling me.

[SHE ANSWERS.]

IRENE

Hello?

CALLER

Hello? Is this the person who posted an ad outside of Open Eyes Bookstore?

IRENE

Oh! Um, yeah, that’s me. Wow, I didn’t expect to hear from someone so fast.

CALLER

I’m an observant person. I like to make my rounds throughout the town. You’ll never know what you’ll find, after all. Or who.

Anyways, you have some film that needs to be developed, right? Well, it just so happens to be your lucky day, because I have a dark room.

IRENE

That’s fantastic. I can pay you however much you want, just—

CALLER

[OVERLAPPING] Oh, that won’t be necessary. I’m studying photography, so the experience is payment enough. No worries!

IRENE

That’s very kind of you, thank you.

CALLER

Of course!

Oh, where are my manners? My name is Sadie. Sadie Creed. And you are…?

IRENE

Irene.

SADIE

Irene! How cute. Where do you want me to pick up your film?

IRENE

Um, I’m sorry if this sounds rude, but I would prefer to meet out in the open? Is that a problem?

SADIE

Not at all. How about Lemongrass Park?

IRENE

That’s actually perfect, yeah.

SADIE

Great! I’m happy to meet you tomorrow night at 8:00, if that time works for you? I know that’s a bit late, but I work at the candy shop until then.

IRENE

That should be fine, yeah.

SADIE

Looking forward to it! Pleasure doing business with you, Irene. Bye-bye!

[SADIE HANGS UP.]

IRENE

Huh. Well, I guess that solves that.

Time to go find Wednesday White.

[PHONE BEEP.]

[RECORDING ENDS.]

AUTOMATED VOICE

Today's quote is: A wave of grass engraves upon the stone: ‘There is more than one good way to drown.’

Sylvia Plath in "Epitaph in Three Parts," 1955.

[OUTRO MUSIC AND CREDITS PLAY.]

MICRO-COSMOS PROMOTIONAL AD [written by Jesse Smith]

[THERE ARE STATIC NOISES.]

ATHENA

This is Communications Athena Romero of OEC #0137-F recording from a… still, unknown location on the infant planet Ophiuchus-22. Though I have my… well, rational, doubts, something in me feels as though this transmission might actually be reaching someone. Might just be desperation, though. Most likely just desperation. Regardless. We would appreciate any and all OC representatives or employees, or individuals otherwise receiving this transmission, to please send a response. We have been recording mandatory and otherwise necessary emergency chronicling logs for days now. Please.

[WE HEAR MILES'S FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]

MILES

(distant) Athena, are you sending out another transmission? They’re not going to-

[C41 APPEARS WITH THEIR USUAL PING.]

C41

Shhh, let her do her thing, Miles. She needs to set her character up correctly for the new listeners that are hearing this promotional advertisement.

MILES

The new— what?

C41

What?

MILES

What are you talking about?

FELIX

I believe what Cal is doing is called “breaking the fourth wall,” my friend.

MILES

Breaking the what now?

C41

Oh, just forget about it.

[MILES GROANS; WE HEAR ALEX APPROACH.]

ALEX

What about a promotional advertisement?

ATHENA

Guys, could you… [SIGHS] I am trying to finish this log, so could you please give me a moment?

ALEX

Sorry, Starshine, I just got a little caught up in the whole “self-aware and breaking the fourth wall” thing.

ATHENA

It’s… fine.

C41

If I were you, Athena, I would close your log out by telling the listener to tune in to Micro-Cosmos: A Science Fiction Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts! The show is created by a crew of LGBTQ+ people, and features strange infant planets, brief romantic scenes before epic tragedy, cool sci-fi terminology, and adorably talented AI units, like myself!

ATHENA

Micro-?

C41

More information on the show can be found on its website: “microcospod.space”, OR its Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, or TikTok, which all have the handle “@microcospod.”

MILES

… uh huh.

[THE CREW SITS IN SILENCE FOR A SECOND.]

C41

That’s just what I would say, though.

MILES

… Cal, we really need to figure out what is going on with this new phase of yours.

[deathbydarkelves]

I decided to make playlists for Cathala and Tarinne plus explanations for why I chose each song because I entered one of those ADHD fugue states and if I didn't finish this task I would die

Anyway here are the two links (they're youtube playlists because I don't have spotify. I would obviously recommend using an adblocker if you're just gonna watch on youtube) and the explanations for each song are below the cut :) Each playlist is about an hour long.

For Tarinne’s:

1. Foggy Nights: I consider this her theme so putting it first as a sort of intro only makes sense.

2. Here’s a Health to the Company: I think this works as an example of her general disposition. She’s a people person, and always a fan of singing these sorts of songs in taverns, on ships, or what have you. It also kind of feels like a sendoff to soldiers, which I imagine symbolizes her joining the Sentinel Army and quickly thereafter fighting in the Third War.

3. Wartime Prayers: Somewhat self-explanatory, this is symbolizing her seeing war for the first time, but I also included it because the last line transitions SO WELL into the next song.

4. The Hollow: This song is an intro to an album I've never heard so I don't know the context, but I really love it because it sounds like someone praying to their deity and like I mean c'mon. Elune. Tarinne's praying to Elune to guide her through the war. Do I need to elabo-

5. Wave Walker: KILL DEATH MAIM AHAHAHAHA

6. Isil Elun’falo: Just a super rad fan-made night elf song that's basically "wow we sure do love Elune" said in twenty different ways for four and a half minutes. But it ROCKS and I LOVE it.

7. Chewing Cotton Wool: This song is about losing a loved one (I did have to check but yeah that's what it is) and I use it to symbolize Tarinne losing her mom during the war. The last line, which includes the song's title, I especially like. It's referring to how morticians (apparently) put cotton gauze in a corpse's throat and mouth to keep body fluids in and make the face look more natural. So there's a fun fact for you.

8. See U Soon (Song for Dad): Just a short lofi piece to rest a bit, and it was also chosen because the title's in reference to Tarinne growing closer to her dad after losing her mom. She still visits him at his leathers and furs shop in Stormwind fairly often, especially after dangerous adventures. She just wants to make sure he knows she's alright ;-;

9. No Lullaby: Right back into it with a song that I use to represent Tarinne's general feeling of not being able to go home because it's not there anymore. She's felt like this since the end of the Third War, but it's especially strong since the whole Teldrassil thing. But I like the ending, "who said you're on your own," because it contrasts the repeating of "alone" in the rest of the song. And it's kinda like "hey, listen, you're not the only one who feels like she can't go home." I mean that's probably how basically every single night elf feels right now skxnks

10. The Moss: This song juxtaposes classic fairy tales with scientific facts about the world and I love it to BITS. I'm using it here to represent both Tarinne's love for storytelling but also her sort of... part-time historian/archaeologist/conservator career.

11. Rasputin: I just associate this song with her for some reason and this was the best place to put it.

12. Electric Feel: Moving on to focus more on Tarinne's relationship with Cathala now. This is an extremely great and somewhat 😏 song that I also included because the electricity theme is appropriate because Cathala has lightning powers and y'know it's from Tarinne's perspective or whatever.

13. Bedroom Hymns: You know why this is here.

14. Movement: I can't talk about love songs without talking about Hozier, okay. This is just a nice, slower song to relax a bit with.

15. Never Let Me Go: I have an entire goddamn music video in my head with Cathala and Tarinne for this song and it’s very dramatic and emotional and I had to include this song or I’d die. Basically just listen to near the end of this song when she's repeating the title over and over, and imagine the two of them seeing each other at opposite ends of a battlefield after the dust settles and they rush towards each other and fall to their knees holding on as tightly as they can because they got separated early on and each thought the other was dead. Then you'll know how I feel when I listen to this song.

16. Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control: First of all I love the title, and second of all there's a big section in the middle (1:49 to 2:47) that I like to interpret as the two of them grappling with the fact that they're not really quite sure who or what they're fighting for anymore. Their people, yeah, but there's so many alliances and semi-permanent enemies and only-on-every-other-thursday-enemies all intertwined and the world is just so very confusing and they're trying to make the best of it. Elf school didn’t include international, interracial politics in its curriculum. It did however include how to properly plant trees, and AP calculus (this is a joke).

17. In Dreams: I like to imagine this song is something the two of them would say to each other, as a way of saying “even when everything we know is gone, even when the world ends, I will still be by your side. And if I’m not, don’t fear, for I will find you.” It makes a nice note to end on :)

For Cathala’s:

1. muse: Just a nice lofi intro to get us into things :) I don't see this song as her theme, like I do with Tarinne and the first song in her playlist, but I like it quite a bit. I don't actually really have a theme for Cathala yet, I'm currently going with a version of Way of the Monk from WoW's OST but I'm still looking for something better.

2. Frogs Singing: I included this because it's about just appreciating nature, which works because night elf and also mindfulness and meditation is a whole thing.

3. Tongues: This is a song about feeling distant from your peers which is like Cathala's whole existence! She's this weird mix of two cultures and ultimately she feels out of place regardless of where she is or who she's with. Also the theme with not understanding what people are saying works because the poor woman had to learn Pandaren from scratch and that shit ain't easy. I think blizz said somewhere probably that Common is just a language that EVERYONE knows inherently because Video Game but that's bullshit in my opinion. I'll allow spells that let you understand foreign languages to an extent (Comprehend Languages from D&D lets you understand the LITERAL meaning only, which I like), but every culture and species in the universe knowing Common is silly if you think about it for more than two seconds.

4. Kung Fu Fighting: I'm legally required to include this song. Also I prefer the Kung Fu Panda version, I'm sorry.

5. Harder Better Faster Stronger: I vicariously experience having a great work ethic through Cathala and that's why this song is here because she has 999 Determination and does Too Many push-ups every day or something idk. I was gonna say "every morning" but I have a headcanon that elves only need to sleep every couple of days (sort of a nod to "elves don't need to sleep at all" from D&D, and to explain why NIGHT elves are active at all hours of the day) so that doesn't work.

6. What's Up Danger: This song is Cathala's whole Vibe. Almost zero threat assessment skills in this woman's brain. If it can be punched, she will punch it.

7. Eye for an Eye: Fairly self-explanatory, it's a song about wanting revenge so... yeah. Checked that box. It was this or The Vengeful One by Disturbed but ultimately The Vengeful One's religious symbolism probably makes it fit better as a Tyrande theme lol ("I'm the hand of god, I'm the dark messiah." Did you mean: the Night Warrior)

8. Survivor: Cathala's survived a lot of shit and this could kinda be her making fun of herself for it because "Gods, man! Don't I deserve a break!"

9. Ashes: Really the reason I include this song is the last chunk (2:42 to the end) because holy shit. Listen, if I was gonna include a song with fire motifs, it was gonna be a somber one like this.

10. Into the West: This can kinda represent Cathala just trying to fucking breathe and recover from Teldrassil. Also works because I dunno it has stuff to do with the elves in LotR, I haven't seen those movies in a while. It sounds nice and is melancholy so I included it.

11. Like Real People Do: Cathala loves Tarinne a lot you guys have I ever menti-

12. Into the Wild: Tarinne changed Cathala's world for the better and she's super fucking grateful she has her by her side. Kinda goes without saying but you know.

13. Chasing the Moon: I have a vague music video in my head for this of them falling in love and it's very cute so there's that. Also it's in this specific spot because hey she may be deeply traumatized but she's still got a fair number of things/people in her life that make her happy so :)

14. Follow My Girl: I've got a theme going in my head that while Tarinne is fairly certain of her place in the world, Cathala is still trying to find hers. She outlived all her connections on Pandaria because Elf Lifespans(tm) and the only members of her family still alive are distant relatives she never knew very well.

15. Wish That You Were Here: This works both to represent Cathala on Pandaria feeling super homesick, and for more recently after Teldrassil. Either way, it's a message to her parents and sister.

16. Mr. Fear: She does her damnedest to hide it but she's absolutely terrified something like Teldrassil's gonna happen again! That fear drives her to do everything in her power to protect who and what she can. As long as they're not Forsaken, cause she's still got her biases, that compassion even extends across faction lines. She never really got the whole Alliance/Horde thing anyway. Innocent people shouldn't have to die, regardless of who or what they are.

17. Ordinary Day: Not to get super out there but I think this song works as symbolizing Cathala really trying to hold on to her faith in Elune, but ultimately feeling pretty abandoned. I mean she can clearly see Elune's influence everywhere. But Elune sure ain't doing Cathala any favors as far as she can tell! It also ends the whole playlist on maybe a bit of an uncertain/open-ended note, because this "losing faith" aspect is a new thing with her and will definitely be something she continues to struggle with for a while. On a related note, I should say Tarinne is still very much devout but she gets what Cathala's feeling and doesn't force anything on her, and vice versa. And Cathala wouldn't become atheist, the night elves aren't monotheistic and she still worships all the other deities, it's just specifically Elune she's a little :/ on.

[mysterykidscasefiles]

Mystery Kids and the Case of the Whispering Rock

Summary: Norman, Neil, Coraline, Wybie, Raz and Lili arrive at Grunkle Stan’s Summer Camp with the hope of having a summer of fun, or in the case of the two Psychonauts, with the intent of investigating a psychic disturbance. When they meet two twins that seem to be experts on the secrets of Gravity Falls, they find themselves reluctantly teaming up. But how much can they actually trust each other? There are secrets in this town, but more surprising are the secrets being kept from each other.

Table of Contents

Chapter 21: The Cabin

"Should we knock first?" Mabel asked. "Do you think anyone lives here?"

Lili rolled her eyes. She could sense there was no one in the house. The others were being cautious because some of them thought magic had brought her here, but Lili knew it hadn’t been anything close to magic. Not just because magic wasn’t real, which it wasn’t, but also because she knew exactly what had called her here.

She felt her gaze being pulled back to the ancient tree. 

Plants often spoke to her, not in words, but in feelings, and colors, and other senses that she couldn’t quite put into words. The ancient tree had reached out to her, pulling her towards it with an overwhelming feeling of warmth that Lili couldn’t ignore. 

She felt safe, protected, and she knew that she didn’t need to fight against the tree’s magnetic poll. She probably should have told Raz what was going on, but she had been so overwhelmed in the moment that she didn’t want to focus on anything else except for getting to the tree. Maybe she had been in some sort of half- trance brought on by the tree’s sheer overwhelming life-force, but it hadn’t been malicious or against her will. However, she did regret talking so candidly in front of the other kids. 

Coraline approached the cabin and examined the front door before peeking in through the window. “It doesn’t look like anyone has lived here in a long time.”

��Hey, look at these!” Mabel said as she pointed to the two symbols etched into the wood of the upper part of the door frame. “These are pretty! Hey, Dip, do you know what they mean?”

Dipper frowned and stepped closer to get a better look. One symbol looked like two triangles pointing inward at each other, and the other symbol looked vaguely like a chicken's foot with the toes pointing up in the air. “No, I’ve never seen them before.”

“Maybe this place really is cursed and they are some sort of warning?” Neil suggested.

“Or some kind of evil spell,” Coraline added darkly. 

Mabel shook her head. “No, they aren’t either of those things.”

Dipper raised an eyebrow at her. “How do you know? You haven’t seen them before, have you?” 

“Nope,” Mabel said with a shrug. "I just know they just aren’t those things.”

“Well that’s... vague,” Coraline said dryly.

"We aren't going to figure anything out standing out here," Raz said as he stepped forward toward the door. "I'll go first."

Raz turned the door handle and the wooden door creaked open. The door opened to a spacious living room. Light flooded in from the windows, illuminating a layer of dirt and dust on the floor and on top of the furniture. To the left, there was a kitchen where a large cobweb hung in the window. In front of them was a living room with an old couch in front of a fireplace. There were stairs to the right leading up to the second floor, and at the other end of the house there were three doors. One of the doors seemed to lead to a smaller room, which was probably a bathroom.

Raz stepped into the cabin and the floorboards creaked underneath him.

“It’s even creepier on the inside,” Coraline commented and her excitement was audible in her tone.

There were more sounds of creaking floorboards as the rest of the kids slowly shuffled into the cabin.

“I wonder what kind of people would live in a place like this?” Wybie mused.

Raz discreetly placed a hand on the wooden railing of the staircase and closed his eyes for a brief second. No one but Lili seemed to notice the gesture. 

“No ones been here in awhile,” Raz said after he removed his hand. “Probably around twenty-five years or so.”

“That’s a... very specific number. Why do you think that?” Wybie asked.

Raz shrugged. “Just a guess… you know, judging from the amount of dust around here.”

“Okay Sherlock, that’s great, but who lived here?” Coraline asked. “And what brought Lili here?” 

“Do you think the place is haunted?” Neil asked suddenly and Lili saw the other kids tense and look around expectantly. Lili really couldn’t blame them. Luis had been okay once he calmed down, but he had still been dangerous. 

“No… I don’t think so,” Norman spoke up. His voice sounded even more hesitant than usual. 

“Why not?” Coraline asked. “We already met one ghost. Maybe Lili was possessed like you were and that’s why she brought us here.”

“I wasn’t possessed!” Lili snapped.

“Because there are no cold spots,” Dipper said, causing everyone to look at him. “That’s why you don’t think the place is haunted, right?” He looked to Norman for confirmation. “This place is just as creepy as the mansion, but the temperature is pretty much what you would expect. Ghosts create cold spots and since there are no cold spots, no ghosts.’’’

Norman nodded slowly. “Yeah… exactly.”

“Okay, so if it’s not a ghost, then what brought Lili here?” Neil asked. 

“There are some rooms in the back,” Mabel suggested. “Maybe we’ll find something that will tell us more about this place?”

Coraline nodded and took the lead this time, guiding them through the living room to the door on the left. She placed her hand on the handle and Lili could feel her own heartbeat increase with anticipation. She had to admit, she was just as curious as the rest of the kids to learn more about this strange cabin nestled in the most incredible tree she had ever seen. This may or may not be the psychic disturbance they were sent to find, but even if it wasn’t, Lili had to learn more about this place.

Coraline pulled open the door and Lili frowned in disappointment. Empty boxes filled the room along with old brooms, empty jars, and lots of canned food.

“This is a little… anticlimactic.” Coraline said. “ I think we just found the storage room. And it looks like whoever lived here took most of their stuff with them.”

“Let’s try the next room,” Raz suggested. 

Raz walked over to the second door and turned the handle. This room was definitely different, but somehow, just as unexpected. There was a cauldron in the middle of the room, tables covered with different colored stones and crystals, and shelves supporting a mix of jars and old books. Some of the jars still had the remains of strange dried-out plants.

“It looks like whoever lived here left some of their books behind,” Dipper said as he stepped into the room and pulled a few down from the shelf. “Listen to these titles: The Encyclopedia of Magic Herbs, The Complete Book of Dowsing and Divining, The Secrets of Alchemy… and this last one.” He wiped the dust off the cover. “Wards, Runes and Protection Magic.”

He flipped through the pages curiously. 

“These look like those symbols outside,” he said excitedly. 

“Really?” Mabel asked, as she rushed to her brother’s side and began pulling the book from his hands despite her brother’s protests. “These symbols are so pretty,” she said giddily as she gazed down at the pictures. “I can put them in my art!”

“No, bad idea, Mabel!” Dipper chastised as he pulled the book back. “I think these symbols are supposed to do things. You shouldn’t mess with them until you know more about them.”

“But they say what they mean right there!” Mabel said, pointing to the description next to the pictures. “And it looks like most of these do good things.”

“But you still don’t know how they work,” Dipper argued. “Or if it has to be drawn a certain way. One mistake and you might curse yourself.”

“You guys are taking that book way too seriously,” Lili said with a frown. “They’re just pictures.”

“How can you say that? We’re literally standing in a witch's house… or it used to be,” Coraline said. “There are real spell books and a cauldron. Some spell even called you here, and you still don’t think magic might be real?”

“We actually haven’t seen any proof of magic yet,” Wybie cut in. “We don’t really know why Lili came here.”

Coraline gave him an exasperated look. “Seriously, Why-born?”

“Sorry Jonesy, I can’t believe in magic until I see proof and I can actually study it.”

“Uhh, hey guys,” Neil said. “I think the witch, or whoever lived here, left a note.”

Everyone stopped to look over at Neil who was holding up a faded piece of paper. 

Coraline took the note and began reading out loud.

“Greetings Weary Traveler, 

If you have found your way here, then that means the ancient one has looked into your heart and found you worthy, or perhaps you were in danger and the ancient one reached out to save you, or maybe you stumbled upon this place by your own luck… 

Even after living here for decades, the magic of this clearing is still a mystery. Just know, as long as you reside here, no evil may harm you. This clearing belongs the ancient one and the good flowers and fae that protect this place. 

Agnes and I stumbled across this place when we were at our most lost and we had no place to return to.  We were young then, and we built this cabin among the branches where we knew we would be safe from all harm and away from the prying eyes of the small-minded townsfolk. We could not have built this place without help, however. The Corduroys may be simple, but they were kind, and unlike the other people in the town, they did not judge us for our different ways. We are lucky to count them among our friends, for there are no finer craftsmen around. 

Of course, after the cabin was built, Agnes and I made our own alterations... 

Now we are older and Agnes’s health requires more than I can provide. We are forced to move to the city and leave behind our beautiful home that has kept us safe for so many years. Our only wish is that whoever finds our home will care for it as deeply as we did. So please, rest here, weary traveler. Rest here and fear no evil, for even though this is a forest of monsters, you are safe under the ancient one’s protective branches. 

Blessed Be,

Eleanor”

The room was silent as Coraline finished reading the letter. 

Finally Coraline spoke again, her voice smug. “So... who still doesn’t think witches lived here?”

“They talked about an ancient one,” Dipper said slowly. “It sounds like they are referring to the tree. The tree must have protected them from the rest of the forest.”

“How can a tree protect someone?” Neil asked. 

“I’m not really sure,” Dipper admitted. “But it sounds like they were able to live out here safely for a long time.”

“I hope they are still okay,” Mabel said. “And that Agnes is feeling better.”

“Yeah, they seemed like good people,” Neil agreed.

After the kids finished searching the room for more information about Agnes and Eleanor with little luck, the group decided to move onto the second story of the cabin. The second floor was comprised of a large bedroom with one bed in the middle of the room, a study full of volumes of books, and a bathroom.  Compared to what they were expecting, this part of the cabin was relatively normal.

After the second story didn’t reveal any more interesting information, the kids headed back down stairs to search for anything else they might have missed. Neil and Norman checked the kitchen, where they found more cans of food and strange preserved plants in jars. Coraline, Mabel and Dipper were looking through the room they found the note in, and Lili and Raz were searching the room that was used as storage for anything that the previous owners might have been left behind. 

“Guys! Check this out!” Wybie’s frantic shout could be heard throughout the cabin.

Lili and Raz were out the door in seconds. They found Wybie standing just outside the half-bath downstairs, which comprised of just a toilet and a sink. It only took another second before the rest of the kids arrived. 

“What’s wrong?” Coraline asked, rushing out of the room she had still been investigating. Her eyes were wide and frantic as she scanned Wybie and then glanced around for anything unusual. “Are you okay?”

“No! You have to see this!” He turned back to the half bath, bent over to reach the toilet handle, and flushed the toilet. He watched in fascination as the water swirled down the toilet.

“Uhh, what are we looking at here?” Raz asked. 

“The toilet!” Wybie explained. “It flushes!” 

“Uh huh…” Dipper agreed. “Most toilets do that.”

Wybie shook his head in frustration. “No, think about it!”

There was a pause and then Dipper took a sharp intake of breath. “Oh.”

“Yeah!” Wybie shouted. “Where is the water coming from? Is there a pipe system? And if there is, then why didn’t we see them from the outside?”

“Maybe the pipes are built into the tree?” Norman guessed. 

“But then look at this!” Wybie said as he reached over and flicked on the bathroom light. The ceiling lights turned on, illuminating the entire room. “How does this place still have power?” He asked. “How is any of this stuff still working, and how did it even work in the first place?”

“Maybe they have some sort of generator?” Raz suggested.  

“That still works after all this time?” Dipper asked doubtfully.

Wybie silently pulled out a screwdriver from one of his overly large pockets and began unscrewing the light switch cover. Under the cover, was the metal light switch, which he unscrewed from the wall. As he took out the light switch, Lili expected to see wires, but there was nothing. The light switch wasn’t attached to the wiring at all.

Wybie stared dumbfounded at the switch in his palm, like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. That was when Coraline reached over and flicked the switch. 

The lights in the bathroom went off. 

The kids stood together just outside the doorway in the darkened bathroom trying to process what they had seen. 

Lili’s mind was racing as she tried to search for a logical explanation. Maybe the cabin was technologically advanced and only made to look rustic. Maybe-

“It’s magic,” Mabel said casually and a shrug of her shoulders, like she was just describing the weather. 

Wybie looked over at her. “What?”

“Well, witches lived here,” Mabel explained. “It makes sense that they would use magic to power their cabin. In the letter, Eleanor did say they made some alterations when the cabin was made.”

“But-But- it can’t be magic,” Wybie insisted. 

“But Wybie, isn’t this great?” Mabel asked. “You said you wouldn’t believe in magic until you saw it for yourself and you were able to study it. Now you can!”

Wybie looked back at the toilet, his face a mixture of bewilderment and curiosity. 

“It’s probably some type of spell,” Dipper agreed. “But I don’t understand why it would still be working when the witches are gone. Why would the spell work over twenty years later?”

“Maybe they were really powerful witches?” Neil suggested. 

“Maybe,” Dipper agreed. “But I think it’s more likely that the spell on this cabin is coming from some sort of magical power source.”

“You sure know a lot about magic, Pines.” Coraline pointed out. “Why is that?”

Dipper looked taken aback. “I don’t really. I’m just guessing.”

“And how do we know that’s not a lie?” Coraline folded her arms. “You already admitted to lying to us about there not being monsters in this forest.” Coraline gestured to Mabel. “I have a feeling that the two of you know a lot more than you’re letting on.”

Lili snorted and Coraline sent a glare in her direction.

“Something funny?” Coraline asked.

Lili rolled her eyes. “Nothing, it’s just… You’re one to talk about keeping secrets.”

“I told you that’s none of your business,” Coraline snapped. “And I have a feeling that what I’m holding back is nothing compared to what you’re not telling us.”

Lili faltered. “What?”

“Yeah, let’s talk about you, Lili,” Coraline continued. “You’re the one that got put under that weird spell and brought here. And when we got here, you were certain that this was a good place and that we would be safe here. Strangely enough, the witch’s letter told us the same thing. But how did you know that?”  

Lili scowled. “It was just a gut feeling. I don’t know what you’re trying to prove-”

“Ever since I met you, I knew that there was something off about you,” Coraline continued. “Something different that I couldn’t quite put by finger on. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were a witch.”

Lili could feel her heart pounding in her chest.  “I’m not a witch. I don’t even believe in magic.”

Coraline shrugged. “Maybe you’re right, or maybe there is a reason why you are so insistent that magic doesn’t exist. Either way, I have a feeling you’re hiding something. Same with the twins over there. They seem way too comfortable with this magic and monsters stuff. There is definitely more to the story than they’re willing to tell us.”

“Oh, so now I’m a witch too?” Dipper scoffed. “Just because Mabel and I have discovered some weird things about this forest and I happen to make a few good guesses about magic based on lore from Dungeons Dungeons and more Dungeons?”

“Let’s not start calling each other witches, please,” Norman requested desperately. “Nothing good comes from that.”

Coraline threw up her hands. “Hey, I'm not saying it’s a bad thing. Doing magic sounds pretty cool. I would love to be a witch.”

“Witch isn’t quite the word I would use to describe you,” Lili said in a low, spiteful voice.

Coraline scowled. “What was that?”

“Okay! I think we all need to take a break from each other,” Raz said suddenly as he placed his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder. “Lili, can I talk to you outside for a moment?”

Lili allowed Raz to lead her outside the cabin, knowing that if she continued to stay in the same room as Coraline, the wooden cabin might go up in smoke.

Lili shrugged Raz’s arm off her shoulder as soon as she was outside. 

Ugh, how dare she- Who does she think she is! Lili vented loudly in her mind to no one in particular, but she knew Raz would hear her.

Are you okay? Raz asked in concern. You seem-

Pissed? Of course I’m pissed! She accused me of being a witch! 

Yeah, it’s weird, Raz said as he rubbed the back of his neck. Because in a way she was kind of right.

Lili whirled around to face him. What?

Raz winced. What I mean is, she guessed that you were hiding some sort of power. It was your herbaphony power that brought you here, right? 

Lili looked over to the trunk of the tree and she could instantly feel her anger start to dissipate as she thought of the warm, safe feeling the tree gave her. Yeah… this tree… it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before from a plant. I can’t really explain it, but it sort of called me here. Lili shook her head. I shouldn’t have talked so openly in front of the other kids. I know better than that. 

It’s okay. Coraline is getting suspicious, but luckily I don’t think our covers are blown. Raz assured her. I don’t even think she was really serious about that witch remark. I think she was just trying to make sense of everything. 

I told you this would happen, Lili snapped. Normals can’t handle with someone is different from them. They can tell when someone’s not like them, and it freaks them out. 

Lili walked off the porch and stepped down onto the huge branch that was holding up the cabin. She made her way over to the trunk of the tree and placed her hand on the bark. Immediately, she could feel the tree’s calming life force flowing into her body. 

“Are you okay?” Raz asked for the second time.

Lili let out a breath. “I’m okay. I just need to be alone for a few minutes.” She removed her hand and sat cross legged on the large branch. 

“Okay,” Raz said, but he didn’t move. “Do you want to be alone by yourself, or do you want company?”

The corners of Lili’s mouth twitched upwards at the question. She loved that he knew to ask that. Raz understood that she needed time to herself, but he also understood that there were times when being alone also meant being alone with him, even if they just sat together and didn't talk. Best of all, when she did ask to be completely alone, he was never hurt or made her feel bad for needing her own space. 

“Sit down, Raz.”

He complied with a small smile, crossing his legs and sitting next to her. 

I saw you used Clairvoyance on the cabin, Lili said mentally. She suddenly felt desperate to change the subject to anything but Coraline and the other kids. What did you see?

Not much, Raz admitted. I still sensed the old owners, but it was faint. I think they are both alive but living far away. I don’t think they’re coming back any time soon. 

They must have had a strong connection with this place if you can still sense them. 

Do you think they’re witches? Raz asked suddenly. I know you said you didn’t believe in magic stuff.

No? Maybe? I don’t know, Lili admitted in frustration. I didn’t think I do, but there are things about the cabin that I can’t explain. 

Let’s hope the cabin with the magical flushing toilets isn’t the psychic disturbance we are looking for, Raz said. Because we would get laughed out of the Psychonauts. 

Lili shook her head. I don’t think it is. This place is weird, but there is nothing here that matches the level of psychic disturbance we are looking for. I still feel like our best bet is whatever Coraline is hiding with that Other Mother creature. She felt her anger start to rise again at the thought of Coraline.  Did you read her mind last night? 

There was a long pause, long enough for Lili to look over at him in concern. 

Yeah I did, Raz said, but his eyes were far away. 

What did you see? What’s she hiding?  

Raz shook his head. I’m not surprised she doesn’t want to talk about it. I’m not even sure how to explain it to you. It might be better if I just show you... But Lili. He locked eyes with her and her gut twisted at the look he gave her. It’s bad.

I hope you liked this chapter! Sorry it's been so long, but I feel like now I'm settled in with a new job, finishing Act 1 wont take too long.

I might have to give this chapter one more edit some time soon, but I wanted to post it now because otherwise it might be another 24-48 hours before I would be able to get this out.

I hope you like it and I'm sorry it took so long!

If you would like to support me, here is a link to my Ko-fi

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[perchedon]

A Stitch in Time: Push and Pull

Doubt darkens the mind and makes us vulnerable. It can turn us against those we love. Time will tell us what is truly important. Sometimes we don’t know what we have until we fear losing it.

Mentions: @gam3rj3nn​ @jinxandjingles​ @ashraenv​ @azadzior​ @vynixnostra​ @sleeping-seer​ @korizar-shademyst​ @mekandawn​ @tsundancer​ and Tessa

[Part One: The First Vision]

Slipping through the portal, Tol Barad was left behind, replaced by the gold and black colors of his Silvermoon apartment as they faded into view. Perchedon didn’t stay long, only pausing to pull off his shirt and toss it onto the floor with more force than was particularly necessary before slamming the door shut behind him.

Left in the hall, down the stairs, take a right. He barely registered the trip outside to the street as his thoughts and emotions hung over him like a storm. Placing his fingers to his lips, the demon hunter let out the sharp, reality-rippling whistle that called his saber to his side. Even Sival let out a surprised grunt at the speed her master leapt onto her back and spurred her forward. 

The beauty of Eversong was nothing more than a green and gold blur as the two rode hard out of the city gates and down the paved road. It was well past midnight, so they encountered no one along the way, but Perch wasn’t sure he would have bothered to have Sival avoid them if they had.

It didn’t take long for them to reach the Dead Scar, that horrible path carved through Quel’thalas by the undead, forever marring the face of the once pristine kingdom. Perchedon didn’t even wait for Sival to come to a stop before he was off her back, firing a plume of felfire in front of him. He didn’t care what he hit, he just wanted a release of this frustration building up within his two souls.

Greafs and gevinces ran through his minds. Thoughts turned to hurt, hurt turned to anger. With each thought, another blast of felfire upended dirt and bones and probably a few lingering undead but the Shivarra barely noticed, too lost in the thoughts of their two minds. 

Too lost to notice the bronze sand floating down around them like snow.

Until a shout behind him finally caught his attention.

Rustberg stretched out around him, but it was nothing like the village he had just left. Barricades had been placed on the outskirts three deep, until it was nearly impossible to get in or out. Fully armored tavern security and town guards rushed past him in every direction. He could hear Caleigh, Ashrean, and Jinx shouting orders, trying desperately to direct the chaos. 

Beyond the defenders and barricades, Perchedon saw them.

Beasts of nightmare that put even the ugliest demons to shame, vaguely humanoid creatures that appeared to be fused with large octopi, gigantic bugs hovering in the twilight sky, and what should have been normal people of every race with their eyes glowing with void energy. In between their numbers, deep purple obelisks emanating some dark power. Tol Barad was being attacked by minions of the Old Gods.

“We’ve gotten everyone to Baradin Hold and sealed the doors.” A familiar voice had Perch spinning on his heel. Tessa materialized out of the shadows next to Vynix, followed closely by Vesper and Kori.

“Good. Let’s hope its defenses are enough.” Vynix glanced upwards towards the sky, so automatically that he must have been doing it several times a day. “Still no sign of Perchedon?”

Faces fell, the three glancing at each other as if they knew they would be asked and already dreaded it. Vesper spoke up first. “...no. I’m so sorry. I… I don’t think he’s coming back, it’s been weeks...”

No sign? But he was right here. What was going on…? The Shivarra called out, shouting to his beloved that he was here, but no sound came. Just then, Talyn and his dogs ran past the group talking, and directly through the demon hunter. Perch hadn’t felt anything, but the shock nearly had him jumping out of his own skin.

He was a ghost.

“Damn it!” The tavern owner’s voice brought him back to what was happening around him. Vynix was running his hand through his hair, the way he did when he was upset or stressed. “Ran away, it’s just like him to think no one would care. I should have known he would do this.”

Perchedon could only watch as Vynix yanked the ring from his left hand and tossed it aside in the dirt before running to the front lines. Vesper placed a hand over her mouth, looking close to tears as Kori put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Tessa only glanced at the discarded engagement band with sympathy tugging at the corners of her mouth before the three followed after their boss.

The barricades shattered under blasts of Void energy. A tauren baring the symbol of the Twilight’s Hammer slammed into Ash and Caleigh with enough force to stagger even the mighty paladins. Jinx and Capoeta led the Fel Raven’s charge, but for every minion they slew, three more took their place. A woman that Perch had never seen before, dressed in white and bronze, exchanged powerful spells with a man dressed in black and purple. Despite Azryl and Caythaes’ best efforts, red and green blood soon mixed with purple, wetting the ground under their feet. 

The world around him spun and his vision began to fade into black.

Where had he been…?

Eversong… the Dead Scar…

Away from home….

……

A dawn patrol of Farstriders came upon the unconscious demon hunter the next morning, laying crumpled in the Dead Scar surrounded by scorched dirt and a ring of bronze desert sand.

[schrijverr]

Professor Elric?

After The Promised Day Edward is sent on a miliary mission to Hogwarts where he will teach Alchemy to his students. He is told not to interfere with their business, but he has a hard time not getting involved with this weird Voldy prick.

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: none

Chapter 5 out of 10

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

“I really don’t get him.” Hermione said frustrated, “He doesn’t want to be here, he doesn’t want to teach us and he doesn’t want to tell us everything about Alchemy, but he also doesn’t want to tell us why. And he has that stupid riddle that I can’t seem to figure out!”

They were in the library again and Hermione had told them what she had learned in Colonels Elric lesson, although it was mostly complaining about being sore. Harry and Ron didn’t really know how to help her and Harry wasn’t sure they should focus on Elric, especially with Umbridge running around. He tried to tell her that: “Hermione, I’m sure Elric is a mystery and all, but maybe Elric will be better than expected, but we already know Umbridge is evil.”

“Ugh, fine, but I will say I told you so if that’s not the case.” Hermione said with a pout, “So far Umbridge has only been giving undeserving detentions and punishments, but she is a Ministry spy and it will get worse, besides all that she isn’t teaching us. We need a way to be taught to defend ourselves.”

And that was that, she didn’t talk about Elric for the three weeks after, except complain about her aching muscles and the riddle, although she stopped with the last one, Harry and Ron figured she had the answer.

~

Edward was looking over his class, it had been a month since his first lesson and there were now sitting thirty eight students in his class that number would soon be down. He put his hands in his sides and said: “In front of you is a piece of paper. You will write what you think ‘All is One and One is All’ means on it. You will not talk with you neighbors or communicate in any other way. When you’re done you will hand your paper in and go back to your spot. You have ten minutes to write your answer down, the time starts now.”

He watched like Hawkeye as they started to write, some knew what they were doing and were quick to give him their piece of paper, other were obviously clueless and just doing something. When he had all their papers he went through the stack and divided it in two stacks. Then he said: “If I call your name stand up. Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, Padma Patil, Dean Thomas, Hannah Abbott, ...”

He went on until twelve people were standing, he looked at them all and said: “Congratulations, you get to continue this course. The rest pack your bags, I’m sorry, but you’re not cut out for it.”

There was a bit of commotion as the others left the room. They all watched them leave with mixed emotions.

When they had all left Edward clapped in his hands to get their attention and said: “Now that’s done, we can get started. First we need to learn how to make a transmutation-circle to do that we need to know the symbols for the different materials. Write this down with me.”

And he started to write down the Alchemical alphabet down on the board, then he went on: “You need to know which elements you can turn into corresponding other elements. A transmutation exists of Comprehension, Deconstruction and Reconstruction, in short CDR. This part is comprehending which material you’re using and what material you can transmute it into.”

~

“We need to do something about Umbridge.” Hermione exclaimed as she went to sit down next to Ron and Harry in the common room.

“What happened?” Ron asked.

“She’s assigned as High Inquisitor, which means she gets to evaluate the other teachers and make rules. The Ministry is taking over.” Hermione told them.

~

They hadn’t transmuted in class yet, but Hermione had been surprised to learn that Mister Elric, he asked them to call him that, apparently he found Colonel too formal, was a good teacher. He knew what he was talking about and although he liked to lecture them and ask them questions while they were punching thing it seemed like he really loved Alchemy. He would sometimes get lost in his explanation, realize what he was doing and tell them to forget the last few minutes, because it would be too advanced. Yet, most of the time they could still follow him, at least a bit, he was great in telling them really complicated things in a very easy way.

He was a chill guy once they had learned to not comment on his height. Draco had once asked him if everyone in Amestris was shorter than here or if it was just Colonel Elric. After which Mister Elric had exploded: “WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THEY COULDN’T BE SEEN BY A MAGNIFYING GLASS AND WOULD BE CRUSHED ACCIDENTALLY UNDER SOMEONES BOOT LIKE AN ANT BECAUSE THEY’RE SO LITTLE!”

Hermione had thought that Draco was pretty pale, but that showed that he had the ability to lose some more shades and turn completely white.

Today had been a normal lesson, a lesson like any other, but Hermione was still curious about why Mister Elric would hate magic and teach at a magic school, it just didn’t make sense. So when they were packing up she stuck her hand in the air and waited until she was called on, then she asked: “Sir, why do you teach at a magic school if you hate magic?”

Everyone fell silent as Mister Elric looked at her and raised both eyebrows, he then asked: “What gave you the impression I hated magic?”

Hermione flushed and repeated what Ron had told her: “Well, you once used witch as an insult and you hate it when people refer to Alchemy as magic, even though it is referred to as magic in all the books and you never use magic, so I guess that I just kind of, assumed.”

Mister Elric though it over and said: “You do have a point, I have a strong dislike for magic. You see, for me magic isn’t fair. You can create things from nothing or into anything without repercussion, this is not the case in Alchemy. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost that is Alchemies first law of equivalent exchange. Magic doesn’t follow this rule, so I don’t trust it, something must be given and it isn’t. I myself have also looked in the library, but I haven’t found why magic works and how. You magic folk just accept that something is given to you, but you never wonder why and what will be asked in return. It is dangerous to rely on magic.”

“But nothing bad happened in centuries and we’ve used magic freely.” Draco said.

“And it probably won’t, but I still wonder if you are just lucky or if someone or something will come and ask for you to pay your dues. A lot of people will have profited and will have been able to use magic freely, but the people who will be there when something bad happens will still have pay for them.” Mister Elric told them.

Hermione frowned and said: “Sir, you just said ‘you magic folk’, why didn’t you include yourself?”

Mister Elric smiled and said: “If I’ve read correctly, I’m what you call a muggle. Now that’s enough questions for today, dismissed.”

The class exploded as people tried to process this information. Draco yelled: “What? Explain or my father will hear about this!”

But Mister Elric didn’t respond, he just gave them all a look and said: “I said, dismissed, in the army that means this conversation is over and you leave.”

Then he casually started packing up his stuff and make his way to the door, once he was there he said: “I need lunch, if you don’t want to get locked in I suggest you move.”

~

“You will never guess what happened during Alchemy.” Hermione exclaimed when she entered the Room of Requirements.

Harry and Ron had just been setting up to practice the Stunning Spell when Hermione had interrupted, they gave her a confused look as she said: “Mister Elric is a muggle.”

“What!” both cried out at the same time.

“I know, but this also means that we can definitively rule him out as one of Voldemorts men.” she informed them happily.

“Are still really on about that?” Ron asked.

Hermione gave him a mean look and said: “I never stopped, I just didn’t discuss it with you two anymore. It’s getting dangerous, Voldemort is back, the Ministry is doing nothing and just last year a Death Eater infiltrated the school! Is it really such a stretch to be wary of new members of staff?”

“I hadn’t thought about that, Hermione, sorry.” Harry sheepishly admitted.

Hermione rolled her eyes and said: “Whatever, let’s just go on with this meeting. We just lost a problem, not gained one. We should be happy.”

[monstersdownthepath]

Spiritual Spotlight: Dammar the Denied

True Neutral Psychopomp Usher of Liquor, Luck, and Medicine

Domains: Healing, Luck, Protection, Repose Subdomains*: Resurrection, Curse, Purity, Psychopomp

Concordance of Rivals, pg. 8

Obedience**: Consume a full serving of alcohol and spend an hour reflecting on the intricacies of the living form. At the conclusion, pour a second serving at the base of a tree or a large stone. Benefit: Gain a +4 insight bonus on Heal checks and saving throws against the effects of alcohol and swarm attacks.

(*IMPORTANT NOTE: The Subdomains are my best guess; Subdomains are not listed in Concordance of Rivals. **ALSO SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT: Dammar’s true Obedience squicks me out something fierce, so the one provided is an alternate take with only a slight deviation from its written form. The actual Obedience will be in the link at the end of the article, as always, but be wary if you have emetophobia or are otherwise sensitive to people un-eating things)

A single bottle typically contains six servings, by the way. Gutter-quality swill will maybe run you 5cp a cask, assuring you’ll more or less always have some on you provided you aren’t robbed, set on fire, or stranded away from civilization for weeks on end, eliminating the bookkeeping nonsense that Obediences with material components usually require. It doesn’t even have to be any specific kind of alcohol! ANY old stuff will do, including any you make yourself.

The tricky part is the second portion of the Obedience, requiring you to sacrifice a serving to a tree or rock. This means one bottle will carry you through three Obediences, which doesn’t sound like much until you have to start devoting a good portion of your carrying capacity to wine casks. Get yourself a cart! As for why the rock/tree bit is tricky, well, you won’t always have access to such terrain features! Sometimes you just get stuck underground, or in a frozen tundra, or in the Plane of Air for a few days! Maybe the DM will let you substitute the symbolic offering by just pouring it on an altar you make, but that’s something to discuss with them beforehand.

The benefit is mmmmmmmmmnot great, despite being a triple threat. It’s a triple threat against threats that aren’t super threatening; unless you invest in Signature Skill, the Heal skill in general has few uses. Being more tolerant of alcohol is impressive for roleplaying but not typically useful in combat, and while bolstering yourself against a swarm’s lethal Distraction ability IS good, it’s too niche to be impressive.

Boons are gained slowly, gained at levels 12, 16, and 20. Servants of the Monitors, though, can enter the Proctor Prestige Class as early as level 8. If entered as early as possible, you can earn your Boons at levels 10, 14, and 16. You MUST take the Monitor Obedience feat, NOT Deific Obedience. Monitors grant only a single set of Boons.

Boon 1: Mixed Blessings. Gain Enhance Water 3/day, Vomit Swarm 2/day, or Neutralize Poison 1/day.

Oooh, three spells I don’t think we’ve seen in a Boon before! Exciting!

Enhance Water turns any water you touch into some form of alcoholic drink, but here’s the twist: any diseases, poisons, minerals, and other contaminants within the liquid are transmuted into seasonings/flavoring and additional alcohol. Plain old purified water will get you a passable beer, but irradiated scum-filled poisoned pond water will get you several pints of top-shelf, sealed-behind-glass-and-rigged-with-an-alarm bourbon or wine that you can potentially sell to people for outrageous prices (by that I mean about 50gp to 100gp a bottle).

The unfortunate downside is that it only affects water, meaning no cheating and dipping your finger into a glass of wine that’s been served to you to clear out the poison your gracious host slipped in... However, the spell makes no distinction between free-floating water or water in a container, only that that it cannot affect Unholy Water and has no effect on magical liquids within the water (only mundane contaminants). While your round could certainly be better spent elsewhere, there’s something funny about having the ability to turn several pints of water surrounding an underwater enemy into cloudy alcohol. Aboleths aren’t immune to poison! And god, can you imagine how agonizing it must be to have alcohol rush through your gills AND into your eyes? Even if it’s just for a few seconds--ouch!

Now, Vomit Swarm is a good combat spell for those who wish to abstain from drinking too much. Sadly, no “drop the swarm in an enemy’s pants” casting range here, but the swarm starts adjacent to you and moves in a direction of your choice once its supply of victims is exhausted. Even better, though, is that the spell’s power scales with level; by the time you get this ability you can choose to spit out a swarm of spiders OR a swarm of wasps, and on hitting 13 Hit Dice you can spew a ravenous horde of army ants instead! And army ants are nasty, let me tell you. A swarm of them moving in their slow march will disassemble anything in their path, so make sure your allies aren’t in said path.

Neutralize Poison, predictably, neutralizes poison. It’s a good spell to have on standby, because some poisons can be nasty. Especially Con-damaging ones! All three of these spells have their own uses, but unless you’re short on liquor for your Obedience, I’d stick to Vomit Swarm unless you planned on heading into the Darklands or a jungle/swamp.

Boon 2: Dammar’s Mercy. 1/day, you may cast Maximized Breath of Life as a spell-like ability.

That’s 40+Caster level (max +25; you start with +10) HP restored to a single target. Breath of Life is an... interesting, very oddly-worded spell. As written, it’s effectively worthless for anything but death through HP damage (which, don’t get me wrong, is the #1 killer for many creatures) as it does not cure ability score damage/drain or negative levels. In addition, since it instills a negative level on its--oh hold on I forgot to explain how it worked, didn’t I?

You cast Breath of Life on someone who’s already dead, you see, and it restores HP to their corpse. Lets say Mr. Squishly, the local Wizard with an impressive Constitution score of 10 and 30 HP to his name is instantaneously blended by a monster with six natural attacks which all rolled maximum damage on every dice, bringing Squishly to -54 HP! You’re unconscious at 0 HP and dead once your HP hits a negative number equal to your Con score, so -10 in Squishly’s case. That means poor Squishly just up and croaked!

But you, Helpful Proctor, have Drammar's Mercy available. With a flourish of your fingers and a reassuring pat on the back (delivered within 1 round of death!), you give Squishly 50 HP back, taking him to -4. Since -4 is within his death threshold, Squishly is brought back to life!!! Unconscious, but alive! And then he gets a negative level slapped on him, bringing him to dangerous territory and teetering on the brink at -9, a papercut from death. But alive!

However, if he got an additional bump on his way to the ground and brought himself to -55 HP, there’d be nothing your spell could do; yes he’d come back to life for one brief and stellar moment just before the negative level killed him again. And at -60? Sorry, you’ll need some stronger juice here.

Thankfully, cases where you’re overkilled by a ludicrous amount are rare, especially if you’re smarter than Squishly and get out of the Adventurer Disassembly Zones that are threatened squares. 50 HP is a lot, enough to bring most people back from death unless their bodies were torn to pieces or disintegrated... Or if they died from Con damage or, again, negative levels. Healing in combat is generally not what you want to do, but Breath of Life CAN indeed be used on targets that are still alive, instantly granting them a huge chunk of hitpoints to keep on trucking in the current battle!

The most unfortunate part about Breath of Life is that it can only work on a corpse that’s been a corpse for 1 round or less, but Dammar has forseen that issue and gives their followers a bit more wiggle room...

Boon 3: Uncertain Fates. You may keep the souls of any intelligent creature that dies within 30ft of you, which orbit you as disembodied lights. You have a cumulative +1 bonus to AC and caster level checks to overcome spell resistance and a -1 penalty to Fortitude saves for each soul you keep in this way. You may hold a number of souls equal to half your Hit Dice plus your Charisma modifier, and they are immediately released to the River of Souls if you are stunned, unconscious, or fall asleep. If you have a creature’s soul and access to their body, you may use Breath of Life on that creature as though they had died on the previous round.

yyYYYEEEAAAAH

How would YOU like to have additional AC equal to half your Hit Dice? That’s 7+Cha mod when you first get this power and it only raises as your power does. Dammar is the Usher responsible for making the trip from the Boneyard back to the land of the living as grueling as possible, but this ability allows you to briefly cheat that system by preventing the souls from reaching the Boneyard at all. You can have a halo of flickering, moaning lights dancing around you, deflecting incoming blows as well as any armor. The more people that die around you, the more difficult it is to actually hurt you--it’s like Death Knell except better! Those hovering souls don’t even get a saving throw to avoid joining your little menagerie, though your ‘hold’ on them is so tenuous that you don’t actually stop them from coming back to life if they get raised by other means.

The fact that ONLY Breath of Life actually benefits from this ability is a little disappointing, but you DO get that 1/day for free, and Clerics, Oracles, and Shamans all get it as well. and since it requires no material components, it’s rather simple to get scrolls made--it costs around 600gp to make or a little over 1100gp to buy one--for later use. You can even make the scrolls yourself, given that you have it as a spell-like! The restriction that you can’t fall asleep or otherwise go helpless without losing your collection is pretty harsh, but if your allies NEED you to make it back to town with their souls in tow, just slap yourself with Lesser Restoration and keep trucking until all of them are back safe and sound.

Every ally that falls also make it harder to fell you! ... Just uh, be real careful around poison-wielders since your Fortitude save hemorrhages as your AC is bolstered. But hey, that’s why Dammar also gives you Neutralize Poison!

You can read more about them here.

[mischiefs-hawk]

Just read an adorable morning!Newt New Hallows pairing fic you posted and...hinting to newt in a dress?? Pretty please can we have a fic with Newt in a dress and looking so beautiful and his boyfriends just can’t handle how pretty Newt is?

(A continuation of this: http://mischiefs-hawk.tumblr.com/post/180223579814/newt-being-sleepy-mornings-are-difficult-and-of) 

Anon, I don’t know what the hell happened. I literally just kept going (I’m so damn long-winded). I hope you like it though!!!<3

While Newt tended to be oblivious to most things, sometimes when its thrust in your face not even Newt can ignore it.

The dress hanging in their bedroom’s closet was much too, well, everything for Newt to look past it for his light brown vest. It was a ballgown, something bright and shiny he had seen in one of Queenie’s magazines or perhaps at the Yule Ball?

Once, back when he worked at the Ministry in the Beast Department, Theseus had dragged Newt to the Ministry’s Yule Ball. Despite how much Newt had hated being surrounded by so many loud people, he hated having to wear the proper robes Theseus gave him.

He’d been enraptured by the beautiful gowns the women wore, their different shapes and lengths, the whole spectrums of colors, and the gems that made women look ethereal. Newt had wanted so very badly to be able to try one on of their dresses. To see if he could be that beautiful.

Now, in his and his boyfriend’s home, Newt had to wonder if Gellert and Albus knew about Newt’s desire or if they had made a spectacularly accurate guess.

The dress was beautiful. It was long, even by Newt’s standards. Some of it would probably drag behind him. It would leave his shoulders bare with lacey blue and black sleeves that would extend around his wrists in an oriental style. White gemstones were spread over the top of the dress seeming to fall down and around the wearer’s waist to where they circled the bottom of the dress.

It was so beautiful that Newt almost wanted to cry when he saw it.

With shaking hands, Newt brushed a hand over the dress. It was as soft as silk- it probably was silk.

Newt looked behind him, making sure the bedroom door was closed. Albus and Gellert were gone for the day, off doing something Newt didn’t care to know about. Looking back at the dress he tried to figure out if he had enough time to try it on before his boyfriends came home.

It was for him, right?

Newt knew both of his boyfriends thought that he was more or less dead in the mornings. That he paid less attention in the mornings until he got his tea. It was actually the opposite. Before he had his tea, he couldn’t block out all the sensations, sounds and everything else around him. There was too much information, too much that it caused an overload. Thus, he tended to be a tad grumpy.

So, the other morning, when his boyfriends openly discussed buying Newt a dressed he heard them. If they thought he was asleep, or he wasn’t paying attention, Newt didn’t know.

But it was always a bit interesting to listen to them talk so openly when they thought he wasn’t awake.

“If it’s mine, I can put it on right, Pick?” The bowtruckle poked his head out of Newt’s shirt pocket. He scurried up to Newt’s shoulder then atop his head. The Magizoologist laughed, leading him over to his vanity.

“Might be easier for you to stay there, okay?”

The Bowtruckle chirped at him, clearly displeased to be separated from his tree.

“Just a moment, okay?”

Taking the dress off its hanger, he gently took it over to the bed and laid it down.

Well, if he was going to do this then there was no point in waiting.

-

About a half hour later found Newt sitting in front of his vanity. He didn’t usually wear any of the Jewelry Gellert or Albus gave him. This was for a number of reasons, the biggest being his Nifflers liked to steal it. Instead, he usually kept it all in an enchanted Jewelry box that the Nifflers couldn’t open.

Today though, he figured the dress was good enough reason to try some of it on.

Brushing back his hair, Newt hummed, turning his head to see his reflection.

“What do you think, Pickett? Lengthen my hair, just for the night?” The bowtruckle chirped, climbing atop the open jewelry box, seemingly making himself comfortable to watch his favorite tree.

Pointing his wand at his hair, Newt spelled his hair longer so that it now fell a little past his shoulders. Surprisingly, the Magizoologist noted the color was a little different, a bit like gold with red highlights. He quite liked it.

Fumbling for a moment, Newt managed to braid his hair into a kind of band around his head, sort of like a crown. Binding it with several silver hairpins, he decided he liked the effect of the silver and sapphire designs in his hair.

When he was content with his how his hair looked, Newt looked through the rest of his lovers many gifts to find a suitable necklace.

Seeming to understand what Newt was looking for, Pickett struggled to pull something up.

“Hm? What’s this?”   Gratefully taking the item from the small creature, Newt saw it was a choker necklace. The band was made of several levels of interlocking chains, sort of what Newt imagined chainmail might look like. In the center of it, hanging atop the links was the Deathly Hallows Symbol.

Newt was fairly familiar with the symbol now, as both his lovers had been obsessed with it. Technically, Gellert still was.

Each of the three hallows was painted or made from a different metal. The triangle, the Invisibility cloak, was a bright silver unlike the duller color of the chains. The circle, the resurrection stone, was bronze shinning like dragon’s scales. The line through them, the Elder Wand which Newt had seen both Gellert and Albus use, was gold.

“They’re really odd, aren’t they?” Newt murmured to his companion as he put the necklace on.

Pickett chirped in agreement, while many of Newt’s creatures did like or at least tolerated Gellert and Albus, Pickett was not one of them. He disliked being separated from his favorite tree so often.

The baby nifflers had been quite easy to win over, a few shiny trinkets here and there and they adored Newt’s lovers. Norris hadn’t been as easy to win over but Newt had seen the rather bright and expensive bejeweled eggs that had been added to his nest around the time he actively stopped disliking Albus and Gellert. Newt just never said anything about it.

“Gott in Himmel!” The sudden Germanic shouting made Newt jump, standing up, wand in hand and pointing at the door until he realized it was just Gellert. Behind him, Albus stood completely slack-jawed.

“I-is this okay?” Newt nervously asked, “I’m sorry, I can change if-“

Both of the older men were at his side in a moment, practically begging Newt not to, which would have been highly entertaining if Newt wasn’t so afraid.

Yes, they’d bought the dress for him and they’d had engaged in intercourse multiple times but what if this was just too weird for them? What if Newt liking to dress up as a girl was just too weird?

Albus and Gellert weren’t saying anything after they had said no. They just stared at Newt who eventually couldn’t take it anymore and shouted

“Would you please tell me if this is okay or not?!”

The Magizoologist was looking at the ground, much too afraid to look up until one of his boyfriends (Gellert) gently grasped his chin and lifted it till he was looking into Gellert’s mix-matched eyes.

“You are beautiful, mein kleiner liebling.” The German said, pressing a kiss to Newt’s cheek.

“He’s right, Newt.” Albus said, his warm hand on Newt’s exposed back.

“Artemis,” the Magizoologist corrected with a blush, “when we’re doing this, when I dress like this, can you call me Artemis?”

Around him, Albus and Gellert’s gaze met, each of them smiling.

Albus, ever the proper English gentleman, took Artemis’ hand and led her to their shared bed. Sitting on the edge, Albus pulled Artemis onto his lap. Behind them, Gellert leaned over to start pressing kisses to Newt’s shoulders and back. Albus and Artemis were kissing now, Gellert’s movements making Artemis shiver delightfully against Albus. The friction between the three of them making their desire extremely obvious, especially for Artemis in his pretty little dress.

The soft but hurried touches of Albus and Gellert were driving Artemis wild, he wanted more. He wanted Gellert to bite into him hard enough to draw blood, Albus to throw him against their bed and pin him down.

“Please,” Artemis begged, “More?”

Albus and Gellert glanced at one another again, grinning.

“Of course, you remember your word?” When Newt had started asking for Albus and Gellert to be harsher, they each set a definitive word that would key the others into that they needed to stop whatever scenario they were in. For Newt, it was Hippogriff. For Albus, it was Phoenix and Gellert’s was Thestral.

Artemis nodded, each of them repeating their word.

“Now, my little Salamander, what do you want us to do?”  

[louthegreatfurrry]

The Same Eyes, Pt2

Ursula can’t sleep.

Flotsam and Jetsam aren’t there, and she’s alone, and she’s cold, and she’s shivering.

She’s thinking of Ariel. Of Athena, of Triton, of Nico. Of the blood on her hands that will never be fully washed away. Of the way her heart still beats, sometimes, in the lonely hours of the day – how it beats after something she will never again have.

Another shiver tears through her. She closes her eyes and presses the heels of her hands against them, grimacing into the darkness. It has been years – she’s supposed to be strong, she’s supposed to be the Sea Witch, she isn’t supposed to crack apart and be weak and be weak and be weak –

She cries for some time. She doesn’t try to control it, knows it will stop by itself.

A shiver, a muffled sob, and she inhales sharply, deeply, holding her breath until her chest stops heaving.

A whispered incantation, the smallest tug on her magic, and she lets herself fade into sleep.

When she wakes, Flotsam and Jetsam are curled up on her chest.

*

She has a few libraries. There are of course the public ones, in her greeting and working room, but her caves consist of more than that. Beyond the first chambers are long and hidden hallways and corridors, leading to her bedroom, to her stores, to her altar, to the lounge –

and to her past.

There are books in every single room. General in her sleeping chambers, lists upon lists of correspondences and dangers and what’s and how’s and why’s in her stores, worshipping by the altar, stories in the longue – and in the final, most hidden room of them all, is a collection of her very first notebooks.

This is where she finds herself the next day, fingers dancing and trailing over leather-bound books that haven’t been used in years. There are no symbols on them. No timestamps or markings to show when they were written. And now, several years later, she finds that she cannot remember why that is.

She pulls out one at random. It’s a mess – no system, no numbers, no index, nothing to make sure she could later make sense of what was going on. The pages are littered in scribbles and doodles and sketches, lists of herbs intermingling with incantations and retellings of her day. There is a flower, and here is a shell, and there is a warning reminder for what happens when one mixes two types of coral.

She scoffs, somewhat fondly, at her younger self. Careless mixing of corals is a beginner’s mistake. By now the warning riddle she’d made rings easily in mind whenever she needs it.

Flipping to the first page the scoff becomes a small smile. The timestamp in the top left corner dates her to be no older than nineteen. The beginning of her career – she probably hadn’t been in her teacher’s care for more than a few months. Beneath the time stamp…

the smile turns pained.

Her name shines out at her, written with a certainty she only finds in spells nowadays. Beneath it, in the same sure letters – Apprentice Sea Witch.

Ursula closes the book quietly.

There had been a time she’d been proud of her title. There had been a time it was worth it.

There had been a time she was loved.

She stuffs the book back into the shelf and drifts further, pulling out another one. It’s a fair bit older, it seems – thicker, more used but better taken care of.

The timestamp says she’s twenty-two.

The book has an index, but poorly executed, and there aren’t numbers on every page – but at least there’s only one topic on each page, this time. She chuckles. Sometimes she still struggles to do that in her personal notebooks, so she supposes she can’t fault her younger self.

As she’s about to close the book a lone paper slips out between the pages. Slowly it drifts to the floor.

Ursula blinks. She puts down the book, then bends, picking up the paper –

Her heart stills. Her ribs tighten around her lungs she takes a step backward, dropping the page as though bitten.

She had been a formidable artist – still is, though she never draws anything but herbs.

Athena beams up at her from the floor, forever captured in a sketch, hair and lips red, eyes a piercing green that some part of her still complains isn’t quite right.

“Ursula?”

She jumps, spins around, and comes face to face with a worried Flotsam.

Of course. Of course. They are tied to her by magic, can sense whenever she has problems –

“Flotsam,” she says, and her voice does not shake, it does not.

Flotsam’s gaze drifts, lands on the drawing on the floor, and the painful jerk of their head speaks volumes. They say nothing, only swims over, curling and twisting around her torso – once, twice, then settling around her shoulders.

They say nothing. There is nothing that can be said.

Ursula stares at empty space before her. Then, with one trembling hand, she reaches up to brush her fingers over Flotsam’s scales. She closes her eyes. Breathes. Breathes.

“Shall I tell Ariel to wait?” Flotsam asks, their voice low, and close, and warm.

“Ariel?” Ursula repeats, snatching her hand back and trying to look at their face. “Is she here? Again?”

“Aye.” Worried. Uncertain.

She makes for the door, leaving the drawing and her beating heart behind. “No, no – are you mad? Show her in.”

“Are you sure?” Flotsam asks, tightening around her shoulders before sliding away.

Ursula scoffs, rolling her eyes as she goes through the long and crooked hallways. “When have I ever not been sure?”

The heavy silence that follows is more than enough answer, and Ursula shoots Flotsam a dirty look.

Jetsam is waiting with Ariel in the working room, swimming in lazy circles around her. They look pleased with themselves, a rumbling hissing sound echoing through the water. Ariel looks a bit worried, but a lot more exasperated, and most of all resigned to her fate.

“Jetsam,” Ursula says, letting a slow smile onto her face. She is pleased with them, and would have showered them in praise if her guest had been any other than Ariel. But it is Ariel, and so there is a hint of exasperation in her voice, and Jetsam slowly untangles from Ariel to bump into Flotsam. The two eels cackle quietly to each other, swimming in a practiced pattern as they disappear out of the room.

Ariel draws a deep breath, pulling a hand through her hair. “Bless you,” she says. “He was – ”

“They,” Ursula interrupts, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “None of them are he’s.”

Ariel blinks at her, hand frozen in her hair.

Ursula glares back.

And Ariel bursts into a wide beam. “Sorry,” she says, but there’s joy in her voice. “I didn’t know – but now I do, and it won’t happen again. Did you know, my sibling Arista, they’re the same way?”

Ursula deflates like a pufferfish. “I – no,” she says. Thank you for telling me, she thinks, but she doesn’t say it, for it’s not Athena before her, it’s Ariel.

Ariel shakes her head. “I, uh – I was wondering if I could… see him? Again?”

“Certainly,” Ursula says. She raises an eyebrow, crosses her arms, and cocks a hip. “But don’t you have royal duties to tend to? Doesn’t Triton care if you disappear for a few hours each day?”

Ariel blushes. Poking her index fingers together she looks away, biting her lip. “I, uhm… might have… bribed Sebastian a bit…”

Ursula raises an eyebrow as she turns for her cauldron. “And who might that be?” she asks, pulling out the cauldron and snapping out a tentacle for the bottle of dried seaweed.

“Dad set him to spy on me,” Ariel says. Ursula can’t see her, but she doesn’t need vision to hear the flat look on her face. “But it seems that my friendship mattered more to him than his King’s orders.”

Ursula freezes. Spy? She forces herself to ease up, pulling the cauldron out onto the floor. “Wise of him,” she mutters, “to value friendship.” She tugs the cork off the bottle with a little more force than necessary. “Not so wise of your father to assign a spy to his daughter.”

Invasion of privacy. How old is Ariel again? She looks old enough to look after herself – even if she hasn’t reached full maturity, she cannot possibly be more than a year away from it.

“Yes, well,” Ariel says, flustered, toying with her own fingers. She isn’t looking at her. “He – he does it because he loves me.”

Ursula barks a laugh. “Oh, is that what he tells you?” She shakes her head and sprinkles the seaweed in. “He might think so, but it’s not familial love that motivates him, I assure you.” She has never known Triton personally, but Athena had introduced them once. Well – Ursula had been too hurt to really do much more than force a smile, but she’d analyzed him thoroughly. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’d set a spy on Ariel because he didn’t want to lose his child.

The incantation leaves her mouth with ease, and slowly colors drift to the surface of the cauldron.

“How does that work?” Ariel asks, peering curiously at the colors. “I mean… it’s just seaweed…?”

Ursula blinks. “Well,” she says, slowly, weighing her words. She isn’t really supposed to tell someone who isn’t an apprentice, but… it can’t hurt, can it? “It’s mainly my own magic, but the seaweed is a very common plant. It exists everywhere and is supposed to have eyes in all the places it has been.”

“Would I be able to do that?” Ariel asks.

That’s it. Either she’s purposefully trying to be rude, or no one has ever taught her about the do’s and don’ts when it comes to sorcerers.

Ursula takes a bit too long to answer, and Ariel blurts a rushed, “Only, I don’t want to bother you to do this every time I want to – well, see him, I suppose – ”

Ursula smiles humorlessly. “You don’t have a drop of magic in you,” she says. The next words are sharp. “Without magic it won’t work. Without seaweed it won’t work. Without the cauldron it won’t work. It needs every single ingredient to work.”

Ariel looks to the floor. “I’m – I’m sorry,” she says, softly, quietly, and Ursula clenches her teeth at the echo of Athena in her voice. “I didn’t know I shouldn’t…”

Lacking knowledge, then. No need to take offence, then. “No one told you,” she says, gesturing dismissively. “You are not to blame for things you cannot control.”

Ariel stares at her with wide eyes. She says nothing, does nothing, only stares with those wide, shocked eyes.

A beat. “Well,” says Ursula gruffly, stepping back from the cauldron and jabbing her thumb at it. “It’s all yours.”

*

Ursula moves around Ariel with ease. She’s used to her cauldron taking up space in the work room, and it’s never been a problem before. It doesn’t require a lot of work to add Ariel to the mental map.

She updates the list of items she has in her everyday-use stores, restacks some of the most crucial ingredients, takes note of what she needs to have more of, and sends Flotsam and Jetsam off to find some of it for her.

And then there’s nothing more for her to do, except float around mindlessly and moving a bottle here or there. That’s a waste of time, to be quite honest, but Ursula doesn’t want to leave Ariel alone in the work room – nor does she want to just stare at her.

Alright. Conversation it is.

She stands and moves across the room, resting her elbows on the opposite side of the cauldron. Ariel doesn’t speak or glance up, but she shifts, tilting her head slightly. It’s subtle, but it’s there, and it warms Ursula to see that she has her attention so easily.

“What do you see?” she asks, keeping her tone low.

Ariel hesitates. “His castle.” Her tone is low, as well – and still enough to disturb the surface of the lights. They flicker and dance across her face. “Him, more often than not, but…” She frowns down into the cauldron. “Sometimes his friends. His servants. And… sometimes none of them. Sometimes I’m just… floating through the empty halls.” She looks up, then, eyebrows drawn close together. The lights are reflected in her eyes. “What does that mean?”

Ursula chuckles and shakes her head. “Love is not black and white.” Ariel’s confused expression deepens. “This spell lets the watcher see whatever holds their heart,” she attempts to explain. “It matters not whether that love is romantic, platonic, or something else entirely. A parent might see their child, an artist might see their craft.” She shakes her head again. “It means only that you love his world as much as you love him. And that is not a bad thing, my child.”

Ariel hums softly, then looks down into the cauldron once more. “And you?” she asks. She does not look up. “What do you see?”

The lights dance. They swirl and twirl and flow around each other, tugging and twisting – and they form nothing. Ursula smiles grimly. “Nothing,” she says. “Nothing at all.”

*

Ariel comes back the next day. She doesn’t say what she’s there for, and Ursula doesn’t ask. She just gestures for the cauldron with one hand, not looking up from her books. Silence settles again.

Now, she’s fairly sure she’s getting closer to having a solid first-half of the spell. The transformation is truly the trickiest part – the legs, and lungs, and the whole thing with tolerating the pressure for longer times – it’s not as simple as to just give her legs. She needs to change every single cell in her body. But! She’s getting closer! The sacrifices are piling up, however – she’ll need to look into that.

She’s snacking on some shrimps Jetsam had caught for her when Ariel lets out a startled cry. “What!” she yells, straightening but not looking away from the cauldron. “No, no – this can’t be – no!”

Ursula looks over, swallowing the shrimp with a grimace. “What?” she barks. “What is it?”

“They’re marrying him off!” Ariel is gripping the edge of the cauldron so tightly that hadn’t Ursula made it herself, she would have been worried it would crack. “It’s his birthday, they’re forcing a wife on him – ”

Ursula’s blood becomes steel in her veins.

(I’m getting married)

(wedding bells and cheering and Athena singing)

(a dream turned nightmare –)

“No, no,” Ariel whispers. Her eyes are filling with tears. She slumps over, the tension bleeding from her shoulders. “He refuses – they argue – ” Her voice rises to a cheer. “He storms from the room!” And her voice falls once more. “But they’re not giving up so easily – ”

(I wish I could’ve fought it wish I had a choice wish I’d know it was magic wish I wish I wish I –)

The lights flicker and disappear.

Ursula heaves after air. “Sorry!” she blurts, “Sorry, sorry – ” She grapples for her magic, directing it back to the cauldron. The lights flicker back.

Ariel stumbles away, staring at it with wide eyes.

Ursula is stronger than this. She must be, right now, for Ariel’s sake. And with practiced ease she pushes down the beat of her heart, the heave of her chest, cloaking herself in steel-cold determination.

She crosses the room in less than a second, aiming to offer comfort – and stops, hovering uncertainly behind Ariel. It crosses her mind that she hasn’t comforted anyone beyond Flotsam and Jetsam in several years. Hesitantly she puts a hand on Ariel’s shoulder – unsure if that’s okay, if it’s allowed, half-expecting Ariel to flinch away from her –

and Ariel promptly flings herself at her. She throws her arms around her neck, presses her face into Ursula’s shoulder, and shakes. “What do I do?” she whispers hoarsely, worry and sorrow and crass determination in her voice. “What if he marries?”

Thank Poseidon for conversation – keep both of their mouths busy so Ursula doesn’t have to think about what to do with her arms. “Do not lose hope, child,” she says, placing a hand on Ariel’s shoulder. “He’s human – even if he marries, he can still love you. Their hearts are great, they can hold many at a time.”

“I will never love any other!” Ariel cries, shaking her head against Ursula’s shoulder. “Never! I cannot!”

Ursula blows frantically at the water in front of her, lest she gets a mouthful of Ariel’s hair. “I know,” she says, bringing her other arm up as well. “I know, child, I know better than any.” She looks to the roof. “I shall make you human, so you can go to him, but I cannot make him love you.”

Ariel shakes. “He does,” she whispers, so quiet that it barely reaches Ursula’s ears. “He already does, I know he does, I can see it in the way he stares at the sea – ” She chokes on her own words, then muffles a wail. “But what if he marries?”

“Perhaps he won’t,” Ursula tries, desperate for Ariel to calm down, for her sorrow to settle. Out of the corner of her eye she sees Flotsam and Jetsam, the two of them frozen still as statues by the entrance. She gestures frantically for them to leave. “Let’s take it as it comes, child – there might yet be hope.”

Ariel shivers in her arms, then sniffles and nods. She starts to pull back. Ursula lets go instantly, backing off as though burned. “Yes,” Ariel says, sniffling again. “Yes, there – might yet be – ” She swallows, rubbing at her eyes, and turns back to the cauldron “I’m not leaving your side, my prince,” she whispers. The look in her eyes is so tender and soft that Ursula must turn from it. She doesn’t wish to intrude on such a moment.

“I’ll – be right back,” Ursula says, softly, more to herself than Ariel. She goes in the direction Flotsam and Jetsam had disappeared. They’re hovering right around the corner, eyes worried, twisting and turning –

they rush to her once she arrives. Ursula collapses against the wall, pressing her hands against her face. Flotsam and Jetsam swirl around her, close and closer still until their scales brush against her skin.

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

“What plagues you, Witch of the Sea?” Jetsam asks, in the way they so often do, sounding indifferent when the worry really burns into their very bones.

Ursula gives no answer right away, slowly dragging her hands down her face. “Her – ” she tries, but she chokes off, pressing a hand to her chest as she forces herself to calm. “Her Heart might marry another,” she manages, finally, and it’s been years.

Understanding noises from Flotsam as they wriggle closer, pushing in under her arm, around it, settling across her belly. “Do you need a moment?” they ask, twisting their head to stare at Ursula with a piercing, yellow eye.

“We can tell the princess you have business to attend to,” Jetsam adds, twisting the other way so there’s an eel head on either side of her.

It’s a tempting thought – to disappear back to her chambers and stuff her face into the soft surface of her bed, thinking of nothing and doing nothing.

“No.” She hauls herself up once more, Flotsam and Jetsam moving with her as easily as they breathe. “No, she shouldn’t be alone.” She bats them away, bats her emotions away, bottles them up as though they were just another herb to her collection, and goes back into the room.

Ariel doesn’t look up. “They’re arguing again,” she says, worrying her lip. “He doesn’t want to marry, but – there’s something about a promise made to his dad? I’m not sure, they’re talking too fast to read…”

“Don’t blame yourself,” Ursula says, squaring her shoulders as she walks over to her notebooks. It’s more urgent now than ever to finish the spell.

Ariel nods distantly. “Do you… have a spare page?” she asks, after a hesitant pause. “I’d like to take notes…”

If she has a spare page? If she has a spare page? “Poseidon’s halls, child, have you seen my collection?” she asks, half-heartedly attempting a joke even as her voice wobbles dangerously. “You can have a whole notebook if you so wish. I’ll find one.”

*

She has two whole shelves full of empty notebooks. She goes automatically for a basic, nondescript one one –

But a half-buried thought arises, and she stops.

She raises her hand a few shelves and grabs the oldest notebook she has. Leather-bound, died rusty red with powdered coral, the edges trimmed with gold and set with emeralds.

A wedding gift.

Ursula stares at it for a moment.

Then she returns to Ariel.

“Here,” she says, handing the book over. “This belonged to your mother.”

Ariel freezes, then blinks at the book, before looking up at Ursula with wide eyes. “It – did?” There’s suspicion in her voice, but confusion as well, and a terrible, terrible sorrow.

Ursula nods curtly. “And now it’s yours,” she says, flicking a pen over to her.

She grabs the pen, but is still frowning at the cover. Opening the book, the frown fades, a surprised look taking its place. “It’s empty,” she says, leafing through the pages in wonder.

Ursula turns away. “I know.” And her heart aches. “I know.”

*

She disappears completely into her sketching and note-taking. Before she realizes she’s filled up four whole pages of scribbling and sketching. There’s almost nothing remaining of her fingernails, and her hair is a mess. When she looks up it’s gone dark, Jetsam is asleep on top of a shelf, and Flotsam is watching her with tired eyes.

“Time?” she croaks, voice hoarse after too-long of no use.

Flotsam inclines their head. “Nearing the fifth hour.”

Ursula curses under her breath. The sixth hour is the peak of night – if they’re nearing the fifth it’s far too late to be up. She turns to Ariel, ready to tell her it’s late, but the words die on her tongue when she sees her.

The poor girl has fallen asleep on top of the cauldron, arm draped across the edge and cheek pressed against it. The notebook has fallen to the floor, half the page filled with neat scribbles and quite a few question marks.

She looks so peaceful where she lies – first now does Ursula see the bruises beneath her eyes. But she can’t keep sleeping there – her father will worry, and if he worries, he’ll come looking, and if he finds Ariel here –

She swallows.

“Ariel.” Ursula puts a hand on Ariel’s shoulder to stir her. “Ariel, you have to go.”

A muttered complaint, but then she raises her head, blinking sleepily at the room. “Wh…?”

“You fell asleep,” Ursula says, trying hard not to sound amused. “Apologies. I forgot the time. We’re nearing the fifth hour.”

She’s awake before the last word leaves Ursula’s mouth, sitting straight as a stick. “Dad!” she cries. “Oh, no!” She shoots up, frantically pulling at her hair to get it out of her face. “Oh, he’ll skin me! Ah – here, the book – ”

“Take it,” Ursula says, pushing the book back at her. “Go, now, before your father comes to tear my home apart.”

Ariel doesn’t even complain, only grasps after the book and stuffs it into her sachet. Then she halts, casting a glance to the cauldron, then to Ursula, and finally at the exit.

“Go,” Ursula says, lazily waving a hand at the door. “He’ll survive the night.”

“Thank you!” Ariel blurts, and then she’s gone.

Ursula stares at the spot she’d occupied and finds that she cannot remember the last time she was thanked.

[welcometophu]

Missed Fortunes: Crowns 5

Twinned Book 2: Missed Fortunes

Crowns 5

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Access to special collections at the library requires authorization. One perk of being an upper level Magical Studies student is being pre-authorized for texts concerning Talent as a part of the course. They’re kept in a separate room, the walls lined with glass-front bookshelves, filled with books of all shapes and sizes. Not a one of them was ever mass produced, although several dating from as early as the seventies have been printed from computer texts, and some before that were reproduced by mimeo.

In some ways, it’s a little like mixing texts hand-copied by monks with old school ‘zines.

But every single text is a first-hand account of Talent. Every single text incorporates real life experience, for any number of specialties. They have been carefully cataloged and organized, to a point, although Carolyn wishes they were cross-referenced under more in-depth topics. She knows that Pawel hopes to eventually digitize them, but for now, collecting them in one place is his primary goal, so that the students can learn from a great breadth of Talented experience.

The room is smaller than the main special collections room, but there are two large wooden tables at the center, each with a half dozen chairs. Carolyn leaves her bag on one chair, her laptop open on the table and ready for notes. She can’t take photographs of any of the texts, but she plans typing up notes on as much as she can find.

If she even finds anything.

The magical texts are organized by geographical location first, then by year. Carolyn is positive that there’s a logic behind that, given how different specialties tend to group together, but it’s not helpful right now. It takes hours of searching, starting in the northeast US and spreading from there, before she has managed to find a half dozen texts from areas east of the Mississippi. She steps away from the wall and stretches, pressing her hands at the base of her back as she arches.

There’s a knock on the door; Carolyn turns as it creaks open. She flushes, realizing that she’s been on display through the glass door and large windows. The librarian smiles slightly as she pokes her head in, and it’s almost reassuring. Carolyn wishes she could remember her name. It’d be polite.

“I’m doing just fine,” Carolyn tells her. “Although I’m probably going to be at this for hours.”

“We’re looking for a student hire to help us cross-reference the texts,” the librarian points out with a small smile. “If you happen to know anyone in the Magical Studies program looking for work.”

Carolyn suspects there are plenty, but she’ll pass that information along to her sisters first. “I’ll see if there’s anyone I know,” she tells her. “Don’t worry, I’m being careful with the texts. I’m looking for some fairly specific information.”

“Isn’t everyone who uses this room?” The librarian waves a hand, a silent signal to go on, and backs out, closing the door carefully.

Carolyn sits down at the table, picks up the top book she found, a slim volume hand-written in the late 19th century. It looks like a cross between a diary, a list of recipes, and an old-fashioned spell book. On the first page, the script begins, “This is the story of one Josephine Adams, and her sister Clara, and the things they saw in the cards.”

It sounds like it has promise, anyway.

Carolyn brings up a fresh document, and begins to type in notes. Josephine was fifteen years old when the volume began, and Carolyn flips to the end just to note that according to the date, Josephine was seventeen by that time, and her sister had just turned fifteen. Carolyn keeps track of the time, because anything can affect a reading when it comes to interpreting the cards. She has the advantage of being able to look back and see a greater picture than the girls could see as life unfolded.

She skims through the book, pausing whenever the cards are mentioned. Both Josephine and Clara were being raised in traditional ritual, although they received a hand-drawn deck from their maternal grandmother a year before the book began. While there are periodic sketches of cards from the deck, none of them are detailed enough for Carolyn to be able to see clearly. She can find hints of symbolism, a feeling for what the card was like. It’s enough to make her wonder if the deck itself has been preserved in special collections as well, or if the family still passes it on.

She pauses on a day that shows the Wheel of Fortune at the top, Strength next to it, and the Hanged Man beside that.

We met a family of wolves today. The grandfather could no longer change, his wolf aged and grey about the muzzle, his breath sour and some teeth missing. He curled by the fire, while the mother and father sat with our elders and spoke. We children were sent away.

The eldest of the Clan family—Bernard—tried to argue that he was adult enough to remain, but he was sent with us outside. Clara, of course, peppered him with questions. She has never met a Clan boy before, and made him shift to show his claws, and his teeth. He was gentle with her; for that I am thankful.

She insisted that I Read for him, of course, and he agreed. Even though he snarled and bared his teeth when I brought forth the Cards. He whined as each was laid upon the table, and refused to come to his human form.

I have never laid a Reading before that was entirely of Trump. This family looks to outside sources, both for strength, and for leadership. They have nothing within. When Death was the final card laid, I gathered them all up and told him to be ready for Great Change.

They only stayed through dinner, then left, running on four feet through the woods as if the very Shadows hunted them down. I asked Mother what brought them here, and she refused to answer.

She said that dark times are coming, and Clara and I should not Read. It is not true Talent.

Grandmother disagreed. Clara and I have hidden the deck so Mother cannot take it from us.

The cards are drawn more carefully than other illustrations, and the passage ends with an image of Death. Carolyn pulls back from it, fingers resting lightly upon the image, because this she knows.

This is a Shadowwalker. There is no cloak, no scythe, no rose—none of the traditional symbolism for the card that means change. This is a woman made of darkness, with another in the distance, almost hidden in the shadows that lie around the edge of the card. Death points toward the shadows with one hand, the other beckoning the viewer closer.

A shiver rolls down Carolyn’s back, and she pulls her fingers away.

She should see if these images have enough of whatever power her Talent seeks. Should see if she can bring an illusion from them, raise it up. But not that card. Not that shadowed Death. She knows change is coming; she doesn’t need to invoke it right here in the library.

The image of the Wheel of Fortune looks as if it is dry paint against an old wooden wall. Carolyn brushes her fingers over it—just paper, nothing more—then presses her fingertips closer. She glances at the glass windows and door, hoping no one is watching, then ducks her head again to focus on the picture.

It’s a good image, one that she instinctively feels a kinship toward, but it doesn’t come to life under her touch. The paper stays just paper, with none of the slick, cool feeling that signals the beginnings of an illusion. She slumps back and looks down at the images again.

She’s not sure she’s going to be able to shake that particular image of Death any time soon.

She already broke the rules by touching the paper so roughly when she tried to call the illusion out. As tempting as it is to snap a quick picture, she won’t let herself break the rules again. Instead she pulls out her notebook and quickly tries to copy the sketches of the cards. They don’t seem to have the same vibrancy that the original does, so Carolyn adds a note to ask Kit to take a look at the book.

It’s interesting that whoever created this deck used a Shadowwalker image. She’d love to get her hands on the deck to shuffle through and see what other legends she might find.

Another brief rap against the door, and Carolyn snaps her head up, thankful that she’s not doing anything wrong right this second. Cass wiggles her fingers, then opens the door and slips inside.

“Hey, I was walking by and saw you in here,” Cass says. “I’m probably interrupting, sorry.”

Carolyn’s only managed to make it through one book so far, and she can’t borrow the others that she’s found. At this point, having an ally might make the work go faster.

She nudges one of the remaining books toward an empty chair. “You can help, if you want. I’m looking for any Predictive Talent that references illusionary work, and traveling. I’ve pulled the few references I could find from the eastern side of the States that seem to reference Tarot cards.”

Cass drops her bag on one chair, takes another and opens the book. She wrinkles her nose and coughs delicately. “Dust,” she says.

“Yeah, things get a bit musty in here sometimes.” Carolyn carefully closes the one book and picks up her last. “I’ve spent an awful lot of time in here for someone who isn’t actually majoring in Magical Studies.”

“But Kit is, isn’t he?” Cass says easily. She opens the book in front of her, tilts her head as she runs her finger down the first page. “It’s a minor for me. I haven’t had to do a lot of independent research yet, but I expect I’ll start in the fall. I have to talk to Pawel about my options.”

“Are you Talented?” Carolyn looks away as soon as she asks. The question is rude; everyone has the right not to say whether they are or not. But it seemed like the logical question to ask at the moment. Almost everyone Carolyn knows in the program is Talented in some way.

Silence for a moment, and when Carolyn looks back over, Cass is nodding. “Yes,” Cass says. “Emergent.” She fiddles with the pages, flipping forward and backward slowly in the book. “I don’t like to talk about it much, if that’s okay.”

“It’s fine.” Carolyn lifts the book she’s holding. “So, are you up for helping me out today? Oh, and if you ever need a job on campus, they’re looking to hire a student in the program to work toward cross-referencing the resources in here.”

“That might be a fun project.” Cass stops several pages in, holds up the book so Carolyn can see the images. “This isn’t the same as your deck, right?”

The images are stiff, extremely traditional. The deck that every non-Talented person knew, long before Talent became a household word. Carolyn huffs, because more than likely, this won’t be true Predictive Talent. “No. It’s a mass produced deck, the Rider-Waite Tarot. See if there’s anything about true prediction or guidance in the book, or any unique images.”

“Mm.” Cass bends to her work, and Carolyn does the same.

The book Carolyn looks through is a history of a lineage of Healers, as told through Tarot. The book was written by three generations of women: Prudence, her daughter Patience, and her granddaughter Tempest. In each case, every Healer has two pages to themselves, on which the birth is recorded, along with a card cast on that date for the infant’s fate. Notes are made throughout the years, and cards cast every decade, until the death is noted.

There is no explanation how this line of Predictive women intertwined with the Healers, and Carolyn makes a note to look for further texts from this geographic region in hopes of explanation. It may not help for her project, but it’s interesting, and a little different.

“I thought all texts in this room were from Talented families and communities,” Cass says slowly. “This boy seems to have grown up in a completely mundane household.”

“He could be emergent,” Carolyn murmurs, then pauses as she realizes what she said. “Wait.” She carefully marks the page she was reviewing, and sets the one book aside before reaching. “Let me take a look at that.”

“Sebastian Edwards Smith,” Cass says. She slides closer to Carolyn, sharing the book between them. “There’s a photo tucked into the book here, with his name on the back. It’s interesting, actually. He found the deck in a home when his parents moved in the 1950s. Like you said, it’s just a standard deck that was available at the time. But after he worked with it, he both claimed to be able to talk to spirits, and to tell the future. He was talking shit about the ghosts—he writes about it in this book. But the cards really did guide him, and he started drawing his own and it got even better.”

Sebastian. A Predictive Talent named Sebastian, and literally the first reference to a male of Predictive Lineage who holds the Talent. Carolyn dashes off a quick text with the name of the book, the location in the room, and a note that Kit should take a look at it.

She goes to set her phone down and pauses, adding, If you get a chance, can you do me a favor? I would really really love if you could sketch the special collections room for texts concerning Talent. I want to see if I can use it to travel.

Carolyn has a theory, and if she’s right, she and Kit may need to work together.

“How is the search for illusions going?” Cass releases the book completely to Carolyn, putting a little more space between them.

“Still struggling to figure out how it really works, but I’ve got some ideas. Some things seem to work better for me than others,” Carolyn admits. “I wish it could just be any picture. It’d be nice if I could just open my phone and look at a picture of a place and go there, right?”

“It sounds both amazing and convenient,” Cass says, sighing. “Very different than what Mac does. She can just pop around line of sight.”

“As open of a secret as that is in the house these days, we probably shouldn’t talk about it,” Carolyn says. She knows Mac is still careful, and doesn’t want the world knowing that she’s Kenzie Davis, the first girl who publicly Emerged on national television. Carolyn doesn’t blame her, either. It seems awkward, and uncomfortable, to be in that public a position.

Cass nods. “You have a point.” She drums her fingers on the table, but makes no move to take the book back.

She wants something. But she’s not saying what she wants.

There isn’t much that people come to Carolyn for. Relationship advice lately, but she can’t imagine Cass wanting or needing that. She’s been with Dax for a long time, and despite occasional arguments, they seem solid. Which means Cass must want a reading.

Carolyn carefully closes her research books, ensures she knows exactly which ones she was working with, and how far she got. She wants to take another look at the one by Sebastian, probably with Kit in tow. But the other two she may be done with. The Healer one intrigues her from the sociological viewpoint, and she wants to return to it another time. She has a vague idea of looking at the psychology and sociology of the intersection between types of Lineage Talent as her final thesis project.

At the rate she’s going, she wonders if she can minor in both Sociology and Magical Studies before she graduates. She might have enough credits.

Once the books are away and her laptop closed, she reaches into her bag and draws out her Tarot notebook and deck. She spills the cards out and shuffles them a few times, then holds the deck out to Cass.

“Are you sure?” Cass asks, and Carolyn nods.

“Shuffle a few times, until you feel ready, then cut the deck. I’ll give you a full reading,” she offers, even though Cass never quite managed to ask.

Cass shuffles the cards carefully, moving slowly like she’s trying to read the cards with her fingertips. Carolyn wonders if that’s what Cass does, if she can somehow look past objects into the lives around them. She has to promptly discard that thought before she falls down a rabbit hole of somehow thinking that Cass is using her deck to spy on her. That wouldn’t make sense.

Cass finally sets the deck down without cutting it, nudges it toward Carolyn. “I was thinking about challenges I’m facing right now,” she says quietly. “Not romantic ones. Kind of familial ones, and social.”

“Okay, we’ll do a three card spread, but a little differently than the past/present/future that I usually do for quick readings.” Carolyn lays out the top three cards from the deck, from left to right. “This is your current situation, the challenges you face, and some guidance to help you get through.”

Cass tugs her braid loose, finger combs her hair as she sits back. She pulls her hair back from her face, redoing it into a high ponytail.

It’s a nervous gesture. Carolyn might not be good at people, but she’s picked up at least a few things from Heather.

“You’re balanced,” she says, touching the Four of Wands, where a girl dances between four wands and four roses, balanced and joyful. “At this exact moment, you’ve figured out how to balance everything. Your family. Your sisters. Dax. Schoolwork. It’s probably pretty delicate, but it’s a good feeling. The thing is, anything that perfectly balanced has a way of falling.”

She picks up the next card, turns it right side up so Cass can see the pentacle surrounded by ruins, but also awash in the glowing light of a new day. “An ace is a good card,” she says. “Aces are about new beginnings, but your ace is upside down, so the new beginning may not be something you want, or need right now. It has the potential to go really well, but it’s also a challenge. And challenges don’t always go as you hoped. This particular card is usually about money coming in, or something to do with creativity and talent. It’s a card of success. If you have a job, it could mean that you have the potential to start something wonderful and new with that job, but that it’s also very dependent upon your personal talent. Or even Talent.” Carolyn trusts that Cass understands that difference between those two words.

Cass leans her elbows on the table, shoulders tense. She touches the third card in the reading. “Okay. So I’m balanced, and it sounds like whatever new beginning is an option is going to toss me off balance and onto my ass. Why does it look like my guidance is going to walk off a cliff?”

“Remember that everything in the Tarot is symbolic. Just like Death means change, this cliff is symbolic, too,” Carolyn says. “The Fool is about innocence. It’s about trusting those around you, and about being spontaneous. The Fool is, in some ways, almost a direct opposite to your current situation. You are so tightly balanced that you could fall. The Fool encourages you to open up, play a little looser. See what happens when you let chance in. You may not be able to plan for everything in your life, and if you follow the Fool, it might be easier to handle the unexpected.”

Cass taps her fingernails on the table, shoulders taut, jaw set. “Okay. So. Stop being a control freak, that’s what it says, right? Because I can’t actually control what’s happening, and if it gets out of control, it’ll be okay.”

“And trust your family and friends. Don’t let anyone push you off that cliff,” Carolyn taps the dog that nips at the Fool’s heels. “But at the same time, remember that there people who would warn you away, too. Listen to them.”

She gathers the cards up, carefully puts them back in the bag. Cass remains silent while Carolyn sketches the layout, and makes notes on what interpretation she used for the positions of the cards, and their meanings. When she’s finished, Cass is still staring at the table, drawing one fingernail along the grain of the wood.

“Cass,” she says quietly, and Cass’s head snaps up. “We all know that you’re really reserved. You can be bubbly, sure, but you keep everything important all knotted up inside. Maybe you need to undo some of those knots and let people in. Not just Dax, but your sisters, too.”

Cass licks her lips, then nods. She smiles slowly, although it never reaches her eyes, and touches Carolyn’s hand. “Thanks. You’ve given me something to think about,” she says. She glances down at her phone, shows the time to Carolyn. “It’s late. We’d better get back and get ready to go over to Paint it Red.”

It’s a lot later than Carolyn thought. “Yeah. Shit.” She finishes packing her things up, putting her resources back on the shelf. “We’ll have to hurry back.”

Cass tilts her heads, holds her hand out, palm up. “You were able travel to that illusion of your room. Think you could take someone through it?”

Possibly. Probably.

Maybe.

And if she can’t, it could be an epic disaster.

“I don’t think I want to chance it, and it doesn’t exactly work on demand,” Carolyn mutters, ignoring the fact that the picture is easily accessibly if she wants to test the theory. “Let’s just walk back. We’ll make it in time.”

She’ll test it eventually. She knows she has to. She just wants to be a little more certain that it’s going to work. And she’s not sure she wants to test it with Cass.

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[authormitchel-blog]

GOF: Part 8

Harry had been presented a green and silver Slytherin kit before the task. It had been taken into Hermione and Millicent’s hands immediately just to make sure that it was “just right” in time for the first task.

            He entered the tent set up for the champions and was greeted by Ludo Bagman.

“Harry! Good-o!” said Bagman happily. “Come in, come in, make yourself at home.”

            He brought a small silk bag out from his back.

“Now that we’re all here, we can begin. You will each select a small model from this bag, a symbol of what you are about to face! Your task is to collect the golden egg.”

            Warrington looked unconcerned, but Harry remembered the look he had when Harry first told him about the dragons. Knowing now that his calm expression was all just an act.

            Krum and Fleur also looked stoic in their pre-knowledge until Bagman said, “Ladies first,” and offered the bag to Fleur.

            She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon. A Welsh Green. Krum pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. Warrington pulled out a Swedish Short-Snout, number one tied around it’s neck. Then Harry pulled.

            He would go last and he would face the Horntail.

Harry smartly ignored Bagman and chose to sit next to Warrington until he left. Before long Warrington was called. Harry wondered how much they would be able to hear, but when Warrington entered the enclosure the roar of the crowd was hard to miss.

            It was worse than Harry could ever have imagined, sitting and listening. A champion would go out. Bagman would comment on the task. The scores would be shown, but not announced then the whistle would sound signaling the next champion.

            Warrington. Whistle. Fleur. Whistle. Krum.Whistle. Oh sweet jumping Hippogriffs. It was his turn.

He walked out through the entrance of the tent, the panic rising into a crescendo inside him. Then he entered the enclosure.

            Harry saw everything like it was a dream. Hundreds of faces stared down at him from the stands. Then there was the Horntail. She stood at the other end of the enclosure crouched low over her eggs, her wings half furled, her eyes watching Harry’s every move. Its spiked tail thrashed leaving yard-long gouge marks in the hard ground. Harry didn’t want to be one of those spikes.

            So, he rose his wand.

“Accio Firebolt!” he shouted. Harry waited, every fiber of him hoping, praying….then, he heard it speeding through the air behind him. He turned and saw his Firebolt hurtling toward him around the edge of the woods before entering the enclosure, stopping midair, waiting for him to mount. He swung his leg over the broom and kicked off from the ground, but then something happened. The whistle that signaled the next contestant sounded again and the Horntails attention was drawn to the sound before it stopped on Harry.

            He was on his broom, when the Horntail flew up and sent a slew of fire in his direction. The end of Harry’s broom caught fire. He put it out, cursing himself for caring about his broom when the dragon was gearing up for another hot blast.

            Harry barely made it behind a large boulder when he felt the burn of it start to heat the edge of his robes. He could hear the dragon moving so he took a chance, and came out from behind the rock and made a run for it. He had his Firebolt in his hand ready to mount again, but dropped it when the dragon made a swipe at him.

            Harry looked eagerly under her, and saw the eggs. One of them stood distinct and golden from the others, and Harry knew that was the one that he needed.

            As Harry had to dodge another blast, he wondered if there was anything like a shield charm that he could use in this scenario, and just when exactly he would learn that particular spell.

            “Accio, Egg!” he called halfhazardly, part of him knowing that it wouldn’t be that simple. Sadly, the dragon heard that failed attempt too and swatted at his body like a human swats at a nat.

            “It’s not even yours,” Harry said. “That egg doesn’t belong to you!”

He had said it more in frustration than he had anything, but the dragon’s head whipped around toward her eggs as if she could….understand him.

            She smelled them, eyeing Harry like he was a sheep that needed to stop bleating.

“It’s fake,” he said again.

            But the voice that was coming out of his mouth was different.

He was speaking in Parseltongue.

            “I’m sorry,” Harry said. “Sorry, that you have to be here. That you have to do this, but it can be over….”

            The dragon swiped at him again, and Harry just barely got out of the way. The rocks that the dragon did hit splintered like it was nothing.

            “I just need the egg,” said Harry, and now, not even the roar of the crowd could be heard. They were all listening intently to the words that he had to say even if they couldn’t understand him.

            Everyone in the crowd watched as Harry moved ever closer to the dragon.

“I just need the egg,” he repeated.

            And the dragon, nodded.

Then reared back and Harry had nowhere to hide, and he couldn’t run. He was going to get flayed alive.

            He raised his wand to cast something, anything that might save him, but then the dragon sat back on her haunches and she lowered her nose to the eggs, and touched the golden one. Then, it did the most remarkable thing. It nosed the golden egg right to Harry’s feet.

            Harry picked it up to the absolute silent awe of the crowd.

He moved into the relative safety of the alcove. The crowd could still see him, but he was out of the direct range of the dragon.

            Now, the really hard part.

He cast, “Sonorous,” on his voice. Then waved a wand over his kit. His outfit changed into Hermione and Millicent’s invention.

            On the back it spelled, “SPEW” in big bold letters. And on the front a rather nicely done depiction of Dobby himself. He stood atop a boulder so that he could be seen by everyone, then started speaking.

“House elfs deserve freedom. House elfs deserve fair pay. House elfs deserve equal rights. It is unfair the things that we are doing to our magical brethren and the cruelty must end here. I…” Harry stopped briefly.

            “I, Harry Potter, a Triwizard Champion, declare my loyalty to the house elves and to house elf liberation, and urge each of you to contact me or Hermione Granger if you would also like to join us in the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare and to support this wonderful cause for justice.” Harry smiled and waved at the crowd, removed the Sonorous from his voice, bowed to the dragon then left the arena his SPEW kit blazing for all the crowd to see and ponder.  

            “Last year dementors, this year dragons, what are they going to bring into this school next?” Madame Pomfrey said as she checked him over.

            Somehow, Harry only had a small cut which Madame Pomfrey cleaned with some purple liquid that smoked and stung before she touched his shoulder with her wand and it felt healed instantly. She ordered him to sit still, but when Ron, Hermione, and Millicent entered the room, he jumped up to meet them.

            “Harry, you were brilliant,” said Hermione. “and now everyone knows about S.P.E.W. Several people were already asking about it where I was sitting. A little blonde Ravenclaw also looked very interested in your speech.”

“Ditto, Granger,” said Millicent, though Harry doubted the Slytherin section where Millicent was most likely sitting were very concerned about elf rights, more like they were busy making fun of Harry.

            “Mate,” Ron said in complete shock. “That was wicked. The way that dragon just nudged you the egg. We all had no idea what you were saying of course, but…. Wow! I’m glad that I told you about the dragons in advance.”

            “Wait, what?” Harry asked before getting the whole story from Ron about Charlie and Hagrid and how he had really been the one to make sure that Harry had a heads up in the first place. Harry didn’t care about that honestly, he was just glad to have his friend back.

            Harry had his own field of support that followed him up to the castle. The twins, Lee Jordan, even Angelina Johnson were there along with his friends and quite a few Slytherin lower years to find out what exactly was in the egg.

            “Go on, Harry, open it!” several people cheered.

Harry dug his fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around the egg and pried it open. It was hollow and completely empty, but the moment Harry opened it, the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the air.

            “Shut it, Harry,” Millicent shouted.

“What was that?” said Seamus Finnigan, staring at the egg as Harry slammed it shut again. “Sounded like a banshee…Maybe you’ve got to get past one of those next, Harry!”

            Neville was shaken. Believing wholeheartedly that Harry was going to have to fight off the Cruciatus Curse for the next task. While George had offered up Charlie himself who apparently like several members of the Weasley clan couldn’t carry a tune. While Blaise threw fighting his mother into the mix.

            “Perhaps you have to marry her next? That’s a task few survive,” he said so only Harry could hear.

            When Harry got back to his dorm, he sat his tiny model of the Horntail on his dresser, and watched as it yawned, curled up then closed its eyes. Harry did the same. 

            At breakfast the next morning, Ron was the one to meet him at the entrance to the Great Hall. Everyone turned to him and looked, a few stood up to get a closer look and then people were applauding.

             Harry looked at Ron in shock.

They were applauding him now more than they had when he had finished the first task. “Go Harry!” Dean shouted from the Gryffindor table as well as a few others.

            It was like he had stepped into another universe.

“Ron, what’s going on?”

            Ron smiled at him, and clapped him on the back.

“Everyone’s keen to support the real Hogwarts’ champion is what,” said Ron.

            “What do you mean?” asked Harry. “There are two Hogwarts champions.”

“Technically yes, but you’ve gone and got the school divided. Where some people before thought that you may have cheated or gotten in illegally, now everyone knows that you’d be barmy to put your name in the Cup, and now, people are wanting to throw their support behind you. Everyone’s split,” Ron explained. “The younger years fourth and below are all hoping for you to win, while the upper years are pulling for Warrington, mostly. But we’ve got a good crowd behind us, Harry,” Ron said, and instead of arguing with his friend that he had newly made up with, Harry had simply nodded.

            It would be nice for someone to be in his corner anyway.

            Later, Blaise, Millicent, and Harry were heading to the library when they were stopped by a frazzled looking Hermione.

            “Didn’t try to lead them on strike, did you Granger?” asked Blaise. “House elf magic is not to be messed with. Keep going and while it may look like chicken or meatloaf, or even pumpkin juice it will taste like sardines, Granger, sardines.”

            “You sound like this has happened to you before,” Harry asked. But Blaise was too distraught to talk about it.

            Harry shushed his quiet laughter and then urged them all to follow her.

Millicent shook her head.

            “I’m way too curious to say no. She never gets in a tiff. Trust me,” she told Blaise. “this should be interesting.”

            Blaise nodded then said, “Better than studying,” before following Hermione and the others.

He had one brief glimpse of an enormous high ceilinged room, large as the Great Hall above it with mounds of glittering brass pots and pans heaped around the stone walls, and a large fireplace at the end. Then someone was squealing, “Harry Potter sir! Harry Potter!”

            Next second all the wind had been knocked out of Harry as the squealing elf hit him hard in the midriff, hugging him so tightly he thought his ribs would break.

            “Dobby?” Harry gasped.

“It is Dobby, sir, it is!” squealed the voice from around his navel. “Dobby has been hoping and hoping to see Harry Potter sir, and Harry Potter has come to see him, sir!”

            Dobby let go and stepped back a few paces, his tennis ball eyes brimming with tears of happiness. He looked the same as always, but was wearing…something unusual. When Dobby worked for the Malfoys, he had always worn the same filthy pillowcase. Now, however, he was wearing the strangest assortment of garments Harry had ever seen. A tea cozy for a hat pinned with bright badges, a horseshoe patterned tie over his bare chest, odd socks, and plaid shorts.

            “Dobby, what are you doing here?” Harry said in amazement.

“Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!” Dobby squealed excitedly. “Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir!”

            “Winky?” said Harry. “She’s here too?”

“Yes, sir, yes!” said Dobby, and he seized Harry’s hand and pulled him off into the kitchen between the four long wooden tables. Harry noticed as he passed that the tables were positioned exactly beneath the four house tables alone in the Great Hall. Harry supposed that the dishes full of food were transported to their counterparts above at mealtimes.

            Dobby led Harry to the front of a brick fireplace and pointed.

“Winky, sir!” he said.

            Unlike the other elves who were wearing Hogwarts emblazoned togas, Winky was dressed in a blue blouse and skirt, but where Dobby looked neat though unusual, Winky matched but was rumpled. There were soup stains all down her blouse and a burn in her skirt.

            “Hello, Winky,” said Harry.

Winky’s lip quivered. Then she burst into tears.

            “Oh dear,” said Hermione. She, Blaise, and Millicent had followed them to the end of the kitchen.

            “Winky, don’t cry, please don’t….”

But Winky cried harder than ever while Dobby beamed ever brilliantly back up at Harry.

            “How long have you been here, Dobby?”

“Only a week, Harry Potter, sir!” said Dobby happily.

            “Dobby came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir. You see, sir, it is very difficult for a house-elf who has been dismissed to get a new position, sir, very difficult indeed…”

            At this Winky howled even harder, her nose dribbling all down her front.

“Dobby has traveled the country for two whole years, sir, trying to find work! But Dobby hasn’t found work, sir, because Dobby wants paying now!”

            “Good for you, Dobby,” said Hermione while Blaise looked nearly as disgusted as the other elves, who had turned away as if Dobby had said something very rude indeed.

            “Thank you, miss,” said Dobby, grinning toothily at her. “But most wizards doesn’t want a house elf who wants paying.”

            “Of course not,” said Blaise. “That’s not the point of a house elf.”

“That is exactly what they said, sir! And Dobby likes work but he wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid Harry Potter…Dobby likes being free.”

            Winky’s cries grow louder.

“Then I goes to visit Winky, and finds out Winky has been freed too.”

            “It’s a revolution,” Millicent said, nudging Hermione’s side. Dobby then explained how they got to Hogwarts and what Professor Dumbledore had offered them but, “Dobby beat him down miss…Dobby likes freedom, miss, but he isn’t wanting too much, miss, he likes work better.”

            While the discussion of what Winky was being paid went far worse.

“Winky is not sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!”

            “Ashamed?” said Hermione blankly. “But Winky, can’t you see? It’s Mr. Crouch who should be ashamed, not you. You didn’t do anything wrong, and he was horrible to you.”

            Winky slammed her hands over her ears.

“You is not insulting my master miss! Mr. Crouch is a good wizard. Mr. Crouch was right to sack bad Winky.”

            “Winky forgets she is not bound to Mr. Crouch anymore; she is allowed to speak her mind now, but she won’t do it.”

            Millicent stepped forward.

“House elves aren’t allowed to speak their minds. They keep their master’s secrets at all costs. They’re supposed to uphold family honor,” she explained.

            “And that means not bad mouthing Crouch?” Harry supplied.

“But Professor Dumbledore said we could call him….” Dobby stopped, appearing nervous. “He said we is free to call him….a barmy old codger if we likes sir! But Dobby is not wanting to Harry Potter, sir. Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore and is proud to keep his secrets and our silence for him.”

            “But you can say what you like about the Malfoys now?” Harry asked him, grinning.

A slightly fearful look came into Dobby’s immense eyes.

            “Dobby…Dobby could,” he said, doubtfully, before squaring his small shoulders. “Dobby could tell, Harry Potter, that his old masters were….were bad Dark wizards. And about their friends.”

            “You ought to be ashamed, Dobby, talking about your masters that way.”

“They isn’t my masters anymore, Winky!” said Dobby defiantly. “Dobby doesn’t care what they think anymore!”

            “Bravo!” Hermione cheered.

“What?” said Blaise. “He’s merely realized what most of us have realized for years.”

            “That Malfoy’s full of hot air.”

“Precisely,” said Blaise. “Oh, my poor Mr. Crouch what is he doing without Winky to help him?”

            “Winky,” said Hermione. “I’m sure Mr. Crouch is getting on just fine. Every time we’ve seen him he’s looked…”

            “You is seeing my master?” said Winky breathlessly. “You is seeing him here at Hogwarts?”

            “Yes, said Hermione. “He and Mr. Bagman are judges in the tournament.”

“Mr. Bagman comes too?” squeaked Winky. “Mr. Bagman is a bad wizard. A very bad wizard. My master isn’t liking him at all.”

            “Bagman Bad,” said Harry.

“Oh, yes,” said Winky, nodding her head furiously. She looked angry. “My master is telling Winky some things, but Winky is not…no she is keeping her master’s secrets..,” she said fiercely before dissolving into tears once again.

            “Poor master, poor master.”

Sensing Winky wouldn’t be up for anymore conversation the group walked away. The other house elves plied them with food and Hermione promised that she’d knit Dobby a new sweater.

            “Harry Potter…can Dobby come and see you sometimes, sir?”

“Of course you can,” said Harry. “I’d like that very much.”

            Out in the hall, Millicent said, “That was odd.”

“Yeah,” said Hermione. “She doesn’t think much of Bagman.”

            “Who does?” said Blaise. “The man’s the definition of the bad sort.”

“And you should know all about that, Zabini,” said Millicent.

            “We’ve all got to be good at something,” the boy quipped.

[just-pig]

Super Seventeen || Chapter Four

word count: [1942]

featuring: [some meanie]

published: [august 25, 2017]

i’ve been so ignorant of this fic recently :”) you guys are more than welcome to yell at me to update lmao

That evening, Wonwoo could hardly sleep.

Not because there was a lot on his mind (although he definitely was thinking at about a million thoughts per minute), but because he had been researching the glyphs decorating the NCT arrow that Jisoo had trusted him with for the night.

He had this feeling that he should know about them. At the same time, he had no idea why he should even have a clue about what they are.

He started his frenzy with random google searches: wooden symbols, arrow decorations, symbolic arrows, etc., hoping to find something useful. (He didn’t, but along the way he obtained the fact that people used arrows way too often for tattoos).

It wasn’t until his phone lit up with a notification that Wonwoo realized he’d been sitting in front of his computer, left hand death-gripping the wooden shaft of the arrow, right hand fiddling with the trackpad for at least an hour and a half. Exhausted, his eyes did an automatic scan of who the sender was.

gyu > wonwoo hyung!!!!! > jisoo hyung wanted me to transfr some info for u

me > you’re w/ jisoo hyung right now?

gyu > we went to the coffee shopp togther after we left hq > and then i wennt to his house bc i accidentally spilt coffee on him > oops

me > … > what does jisoo hyung want

gyu > idk > he said something about herogliphs??? > and the arrow that u guys showed me > ??? im hoping u understnd him

Wonwoo’s eyes immediately flitted towards the arrow. Hieroglyphs…. Of course!

me > they’re called hieroglyphs

gyu > so you do understand!!! > okok my job is odne > gn hyung!!!!! sleep well :D

me > gn

Wonwoo now understood why the symbols had seemed so familiar. Hieroglyphs. He hadn’t delved very deep into the subject before - as he was more into science and math as opposed to ancient culture and mythology - but he had definitely stumbled upon the term more than once. He didn’t know much, but what he was aware of that it seemed to be an Ancient Egyptian form of communication. Similar to Korean, it used symbols and characters for certain sounds.

He frowned. But why would NCT deal with Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs? And did they actually take the time to learn the meaning behind the symbols, or were they completely bluffing? (Knowing NCT, they were definitely the kind of people who could pull that off).

Wonwoo sighed. Glancing over at his clock, he was greeted by the numbers 12:32 in big, red block lettering. Reflecting on the fact that he had school the next day, he decided to call it a night.

~~~

As a temporary replacement for their blown-up building, the entire school had transferred to a different school’s building. It was a newer school that had just opened a few weeks ago so no one was really there yet, letting Wonwoo’s school have plenty of space to conduct their classes.

“Has anyone heard of the Ancient Egyptian communication technique referred to as hieroglyphs?”

Up until this point in his history class, Wonwoo hadn’t really paid attention to what his teacher had been saying. But that sentence definitely caught his attention. Immediately sitting up straight, he raised his hand, and was surprised to find that only a handful of the students in the classroom were doing the same. This is an Advanced Placement class, for goodness sake. How can you have not heard about hieroglyphs?

“Interesting. Well, hieroglyphs are essentially the Ancient Egyptian language, expressed in symbols.” The teacher stuck a picture of an bird on the board. “Much like our Korean culture, each symbol represents a sound. This hieroglyph, for example, produces the sound of ‘a’.” She continued sticking up pictures. “Keep adding more hieroglyphs, and you get a word. The word I’ve spelled out is arbitrary, an English word for random.”

There were some sniggers upon hearing the definition of the chosen word. Wonwoo, on the other hand, found this all somewhat intriguing - he would have to look into the topic later on.

“There are a few hieroglyphs that are just words. You don’t need to combine smaller fragments.” Posting another picture, she said, “This is the word ankh -” She wrote this on the board in English letters for better understanding “- and it’s commonly perceived as the Ancient Egyptian symbol for life.”

Wonwoo’s eyes hyperfocused. That symbol...  wasn’t it one of the hieroglyphs decorating the arrow?

He had brought the arrow with him to school today (he wasn’t sure if that was the best idea, considering it was a pretty lethal weapon), and his hand itched to reach into his bag and pull it out. But pulling out an arrow in the middle of class was not the best choice.

The symbol for life. Wonwoo never thought that NCT could be this deep. He’d have to tell Jisoo later.

~~~ (why are the page breaks happening so often this is such a pet peeve of mine loiwendlks)

Lunch. One of Jeonghan’s favourite times of the day. Apart from sleeping, of course. Sleeping is always a priority.

Sitting at their usual table, chatting with his friend Taehyung, Jeonghan was surprised to see Wonwoo beelining for their table out of the corner of his eye. As he got closer, he realized that Wonwoo seemed to be headed for Jisoo. Not his problem then. He continued talking with Taehyung.

He didn’t think it would be anything too concerning. He certainly hoped it wasn’t. If there was something that Jeonghan hated the most, it would be having to deal with his superhero persona during school hours. He wasn’t quite sure why - it just bothered him, having to mix his secret identity with his social life while maintaining equal balance on both sides.

So it definitely irked him when he noticed Jisoo walk hurriedly out of the lunchroom with Wonwoo. What happened this time?

He glanced over at Seungcheol, who hadn’t seemed to notice. Slightly panicking now, Jeonghan nearly dropped his sandwich (Taehyung snickered at this, earning a glare from Jeonghan).  

“Can you…” Jeonghan hesitated, unsure of how to propose a proper statement for a quick departure. “Um… hold on. I need to go to the washroom.”

“Now? You just -”

“I drank a lot of water, okay? Fluids.” With a final cheesy thumbs-up, Jeonghan quickly slipped out of the cafeteria, at the same time muttering to himself, ‘Fluids? What the hell was I thinking?’

He also hadn’t planned this out very well in his head because when he finally was aware of where he was he glanced around to find no sign of Jisoo or Wonwoo. The hallway also went both ways horizontally, taking a turn in different directions at the end of the corridor, leaving Jeonghan incredibly stressed - should he turn the wrong way, he would be heading in exactly the opposite direction that his friends had gone.

He supposed he could’ve just gone to the washroom and went back into the cafeteria, but he didn’t bluff his way through Taehyung’s suspicions for nothing. Jeonghan was going to find his friends. He just had to hope that they didn’t leave for the stupidest purpose.

Or maybe…

Jeonghan shuddered. This would be one of the stupidest ideas he ever made.

As superheroes, identity was a crucial thing. To this day, Jeonghan remembered the chills that ran down his spine when Pledis was laying down the regulations: Number one - Keep your identity a secret, no matter what. (Being the rebel he was, Jeonghan had then chosen his given name as his alias - in the process, dragging Wonwoo, Mingyu and Seungkwan with him. Pledis would’ve forced them to change but by then they’d already signed the contract, so they couldn’t exactly do anything).

So at one point, they had wondered what would happen if they used their powers in everyday life - subtly, of course.

After experimentation, they discovered that their powers were only at full boost if they had their suits on. Appearing as a normal civilian, Wonwoo had estimated that their powers were only an eighth of their full capability - roughly enough to not look completely insane.

Smiling slightly to himself, Jeonghan inspected his hands before dodging into a secluded corner by the lockers in the hallway, followed by a brilliant ribbon of light hovering around his hands as he was rewarded with a device falling in his hands - an LG G5 [a/n: there are so many kpop idols promoting this I had to].

He frowned at this. His mind had imagined a rose-gold iPhone 6 and he was surprised of the result, although he assumed this was what he got for using his powers when he wasn’t supposed to. Whatever, it would do.

All he really needed to do was track the location of his friends. He could’ve done it with his own phone, but that wouldn’t be fun, would it?

In other words, Jeonghan was already planning an elaborate hidden camera in his head.

He apparently was not aware of how bad of an idea that would be.

~~~

“Well you fucked up.”

“I didn’t mean to knock him unconscious! What did you expect me to do? First he sends us creepy messages from an unknown number and then tells us to turn around! Wonwoo and I just did what we thought was the best plan for self-defense!”

Blinking to adjust his eyes to the blinding light, Jeonghan realized that he was in the school nursery, and surrounded by half of the team.

“HE’S AWAKE! Oh thank God,” Jisoo said. Turning to Jeonghan, voice slightly guilty, he added, “I’m sorry about… um… punching you, although truthfully you pretty much asked for it considering what you did.”

Jeonghan hesitated as he tried to remember what had happened up until that point. The hidden camera… and then making Wonwoo and Jisoo turn around, only to be greeted by Jisoo’s fist. He guessed that explained the subtle ache in his nose. “Oh. Sorry about that,” he chuckled.

Wonwoo awkwardly stepped in. “Oh, and one more thing before I head to class - can you… not mention this to Seungcheol hyung? He’d kill us otherwise.”

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. “I guess. Although if he asks about any bruises, you guys are the ones coming up with a solution.”

Jisoo scoffed. “We already had to when we brought you here.”

“Okay, bye hyung!” Wonwoo then departed with Jihoon, Soonyoung and Jun, leaving Jisoo and Jeonghan alone (Jisoo had study period currently, so he wasn’t particularly worried about going anywhere).

“Why’d you follow us anyway?” Jisoo asked. “Wonwoo and I purposely went all the way to the far boot room just in case someone would find us.”

Jeonghan shrugged. “When Wonwoo came to get you, he seemed so nervous, so I just assumed something was up. Seungcheol didn’t notice so I went - keep in mind, after rudely  dismissing Taehyung.”

Jisoo grinned. “Sorry about that, then. Wonwoo was only nervous about being discovered by anyone else but overall there’s good news - he deciphered one of the hieroglyphs on the arrow.”

Jeonghan frowned. “Hieroglyphs? Were those the symbols on the arrow?”

Jisoo nodded. “And one of them is the symbol for life. Considering how out of place it is from the other ones, Wonwoo’s guess is that it’s some kind of watermark, whereas the other hieroglyphs are some kind of message. We’re going to have to have a session just to figure out what the message is though.”

Knitting his eyebrows, Jeonghan said, “You guys have to be careful, okay? I don’t know much about Ancient Egyptian mythology, but I do know that hieroglyphs are commonly used for spells and whatnot, so just… be wary.”

Jisoo smiled. “Of course.”

[magnusbane-lightwood]

It's me again :D 1. How seriously amazing is your header? I'm so very in love with it, I've been staring at your tumblr page for 5 minutes :DDD 2. I've started to read your number prompts and they are all so cute <3 I'd therefore like more of them and would like to request nr. 17: “Looks like we’ll be trapped for a while…” I'm thinking you'd have to have a mundane AU, because otherwise Magnus could just portal them out of the (elevator? rooftop? supermarket? :D) Lots of love <3

And for the anon who asked: Can I have 17 written?Hi sweetie!

First of all: THANK YOU SO MUCH! Seriously, I tend to go back to this message and just get this incredibly goofy smile on my face. You’re seriously so damn sweet, thank you so much for, well for liking the things I write basically. It seriously means the world.

Second of all: This one got really long and since my day fucked up entirely and I won’t have time to write the last 1000 words right now, I thought I’d post it in chapters (hopefully I’ll be able to post chapter two tomorrow - since it’s almost finished - so you won’t have to wait long at all, please forgive me!)

Anyway, here’s chapter one! I hope it was at least somewhat along the lines of what you wanted (It takes place in the shadow-world still, but in this story Magnus and Alec didn’t meet because of Clary…):

You can read it on AO3 HERE if you’d like to!

17. “Looks like we’ll be trapped for a while…”

Isabelle frowned when she walked into the dark loft. Magnus and her had decided to meet up for lunch two hours prior and when the warlock hadn’t shown up, Isabelle had assumed he’d gotten caught up in work and forgotten about the time again. So she’d gone to his apartment to find him, but seeing the empty space had her instantly worried. It wasn’t all that unusual for Magnus to forget about the time whenever he was caught up in some spell, but he was a gentleman and if he would be out of his apartment for work and risked being late, then he’d always make sure to tell whoever he was meeting up with as much.

She’d met the High Warlock of Brooklyn at a downworlder party she’d gone to for her previous boyfriend, Meliorn, a few months back and their mutual interests in both fashion and science (as Magnus had explained - mixing potions wasn’t all that different from what she was doing in her lab) had the two of them instantly clicking. Despite the night having ended with a breakup for her, after she found Meliorn in bed with two vampires, she’d still considered it a success after Magnus had invited her over to his loft for drinks to “celebrate her getting rid of the trash”, as he’d called it. Although they both knew that the Seelie had never made any promises of exclusivity to the Shadowhunter, Isabelle had still found herself appreciating the supportive sentiment. They’d been best friends ever since.

Which was why she knew something most definitely wasn’t right with the picture before her.

Picking up her phone from her pocket, Isabelle dialed Magnus’ number and waited for the dial-tone, praying to the Angel that he’d pick up - Only to have the call cut off almost immediately. Her heart beating slightly in panic, she started looking around the loft for any indication to where her friend might be. After looking through the entire apartment without any results, she picked up a shirt to try tracking him. The light flared around her hands and an image of Magnus flashed before her eyes. He was in what looked to be a cage, shouting something she couldn’t hear. She tried to focus on getting a location, but before she could get so much as a hint, something slammed into the vision and it blinked out. With a curse, she stuffed the shirt into her bag and ran towards the institute.

She needed a stronger tracking.

***

“Alec, I need your help!”

Alec looked up from where he’d been planning out next week’s patrol-schedule and raised his eyebrows in question to his sister’s abrupt entrance.

“I thought you were having lunch with your friend?” he said, straightening up and looking his sister over. “What’s wrong?”

“I was, but something is wrong. He didn’t show up and he wasn’t at his apartment. I tried tracking him, but I got cut off by something. I need you and Jace to use your parabatai bond to track him”, Izzy explained and Alec knew better than to question his sister’s instincts. So he simply pushed off the table and started walking towards the training-room, where he knew Jace would be - especially since Raj had walked by earlier with a put-upon sigh that told the oldest Lightwood-sibling that his brother had roped the poor guy into training with him again.

“Sorry to interrupt guys”, he announced their presence when they walked in and almost smiled at the sight of Raj throwing Jace down on his back and pinning him with a knife to his throat before they both looked up at them.

“That”, Jace panted, his eyes on Raj’s smug face, “Does not count. Alec distracted me!”

The other man just huffed a laugh, helped him to his feet with a roll of his eyes and turned to Alec with a rise of his eyebrows.

“What’s up?” Jace voiced Raj’s unvoiced question.

“Izzy needs our help to track her friend, she thinks he might be in trouble”, Alec explained and Jace nodded as he started to remove his training-gloves and walked towards them.

“I could use a small break anyway, you want us to go out with you to find him too?” he said and Alec shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll go with Izzy to check it out, call you if we need backup. You should probably go make sure Clary’s doing okay with her rune-studies anyway, leave Raj alone for once?” He gave Jace a pointed look and Raj mouthed a ‘thank you’ to him from where he was packing away the knives they’d been using.

“I have some work I need to get done anyway. You can try to beat me some other time, Blondie”, he said as he walked past them out of the room, patting Jace on the shoulder. Alec shook his head at Jace’s frown as he watched his retreating form.

“Still beating you, huh?” Alec asked and Jace returned his eyes to his parabatai with an exasperated look that made the corner Alec’s mouth lift, amused.

“I don’t know how he does it, the man is a freaking ninja! I figure out how to block one move and he’s already on to the next. It’s insane!” he answered and Alec just shrugged at him in a ‘what can you do’-manner.

“As much as I enjoy this little fanboy-moment of yours, Jace, we need to hurry up. Magnus is in trouble and I need to get to him”, Izzy spoke up, thrusting the shirt she’d brought towards them and Alec went into mission-mode as he grabbed the shirt along with Jace’s hand and started focusing on tracking the warlock.

The familiar feeling of Jace’s energy surged through him as the light swirled around their joined hands and a blurry picture opened up in his mind. He could make out the siluett of a man sitting cross-legged in a leaf-filled cell, light coming from somewhere above him. Magnus, Alec assumed as there didn’t seem to be anyone else around. He redirected his focus from the image to get a feel of where this cell was when a force slammed into him and both him and Jace grabbed the other tighter as they fought it to stay on the track. A symbol on the side of the cell caught Alec’s eye and as Jace gave his hand a small tug, he knew his parabatai had seen it to. Breathing out slowly, he felt Jace’s energy leave and slowly opened his eyes as he let go of the other’s hand.

“He’s in the Seelie-realm, in a cell of some kind. Doesn’t seem hurt though, but you’re right - we should hurry to get him out”, he answered his sister’s questioning look before walking away to get changed.

***

Magnus Bane was bored out of his freaking mind. Bored and irritated. He’d been stuck in this cage for hours, unable to do anything but wait for someone to notice his absence and come save him. He really hoped Isabelle hadn’t left him a message to cancel their lunch, because unless she noticed that he was gone no one would come for him in the next 24 hours. The prospect of sitting in this muddy room, with his magic drained enough to keep him from breaking out, for an entire day had him letting out another groan and letting his head fall back against the wall.

“If someone could send me a knight in shining armor to save me, that’d be great”, he grumbled towards the man-sized hole in the roof where the light was being let in. It was too high up for him to reach and possibly escape from and Magnus wasn’t too keen on risking a broken ankle in trying either, so he simply stared longingly at it and wished for a grand rescue of some kind.

***

“We should split up, we’ll cover more ground that way”, Alec suggested and with a confirming nod from his sister he broke away to search for her friend. He wished he could say that it was a surprise to hear that the Seelies had thrown the High Warlock of Brooklyn into a cage for some reason, but considering that during Alec’s last meeting with the Seelie Queen, she’d been just about ready to do the same to him for not wanting to sleep with her, he really and truly wasn’t. Honestly, what was a surprise to him was how the rest of the faerie-folk were still accepting her as their leader. If Valentine and his people were what gave the Shadowhunters a bad reputation, then people like the Seelie Queen most definitely was what gave downworlders theirs. He’d discussed the matter of damaging downworlder-leaders with Luke and Raphael a few days prior, and the two of them had suggested they’d bring in the High Warlock to their monthly meetings, since he apparently had the most sway over the downworld as a whole.

Alec had never met Magnus Bane, but from what he’d heard about the man he seemed like a good person with a rather wild reputation. The latter was just from what he’d been told by his parents though. Izzy had protested wildly as they’d argued that her new best friend was, in their father’s words: ‘Somewhat of a lothario who is nowhere near fitting for a young shadowhunter woman to be socializing with’, and Alec couldn’t blame her. Especially since his father, who followed Valentine blindly for years, most certainly wasn’t in any position to judge anyone else. Alec sometimes thought back to how he’d viewed downworlders only two years earlier, before befriending Luke and Raphael after Clary had stumbled into their lives and turned it upside down, and felt ashamed of his past self. He hadn’t known better at that time, of course, but that didn’t change the fact that he’d thought of himself as above so many people when he’d had no right to.

Stepping over a few fallen branches, Alec surveyed the area around him, trying to see if anything looked even the slightest familiar to what he’d seen in his tracking-vision. It was no use though, they’d been forced to leave the vision too soon and hadn’t had a chance to see anything above ground from where the warlock was held. Alec heaved a frustrated sigh and continued moving forward at a swift speed.

He didn’t even make it another two yards before something sounded behind him and Alec whirled around, bow drawn and at the ready, only to be immediately blinded by a flash of light so bright he had to shield his eyes. In the shock he took a step backwards, and where he was certain there had been solid ground just a second before, were now nothing but air. With a surprised scream, Alec fell through the gaping hole in the ground.

***

Magnus looked up with a frown at the bright flash above him, just a second before something - or rather someone- fell through the hole in the roof of his cell with a scream and landed right in the middle of the little room. The man looked up towards the hole with a frown, obviously cursing its existence, before rubbing slightly at where he’d landed on his hip, grimacing slightly.

“I’m not at my full power because of the stupid wards on this place, but I’m pretty sure I could heal that for you if you want?”, Magnus spoke, rising and walking towards the man, surveying him calmly as he did so.

He seemed to finally notice that he hadn’t fallen into an empty cell and snapped his eyes up towards Magnus’ voice. The warlock felt his breath catch as the light from the roof-opening hit them, making them appear almost golden, but gathered himself quickly and reached out his hand with a gesture towards the man’s hip.

“So? You want some help with that, then?” he prompted, with a rise of his brows. That appeared to be enough to shake him out of where he’d been outright staring blatantly at Magnus - obviously still surprised that there was someone else in this stupid cell, not that Magnus could blame him all that much for that - and he started rummaging through his pockets until he finally drew a stele from one of them.

Ah, a shadowhunter then, Magnus thought and finally noticed the rune running up the man’s neck as he bent over to activate his Iratze.

“Or you can do that, I guess” he mumbled and dropped his hand before returning to sit against the wall. When the man had finished healing his hip, he returned his gaze to Magnus, cocking his head slightly to the side, and the warlock was once again struck how gorgeous this man truly was. In the shadows, his eyes appeared almost green and Magnus reached his hand out again:

“Well, if we’re going to be stuck down here together, I feel like we should at the very least know each other’s name. I’m..”

The man rose slightly from his seat to grab Magnus’ hand this time as he interrupted.

“Magnus Bane, yeah I know. I’m actually…” he started, before looking around, a frown etched on his face once again.

“Uhm… Well, I’m here to… To rescue you, actually. I came with my sister, she was worried when you didn’t show up for lunch and…” he looked at Magnus again and, to the warlock’s delight, seemed to forget what he was talking about the second their eyes met. Magnus raised his eyebrows in question at the statement and hummed in acknowledgement before he spoke:

“As much as I appreciate the whole ‘handsome knight in a not-so-very-white and shining armor coming to my rescue’, they usually tend to avoid falling into the cage with the princess. Well, prince in this case”, he teased and smiled as a blush rose on the other’s cheeks.

“Yeah, that’s… That wasn’t exactly part of the plan”, the man admitted and Magnus squeezed his hand where he was still holding on to it, dragging him slightly towards him to lean against the wall instead of sitting in the middle of the room. The shadowhunter followed without complaint and Magnus smiled to himself at that.

“Well, since it looks like we’ll be trapped here for a while why don’t you…” he started and then the man’s words from earlier registered with him and he looked up at him with a huge smile blooming freely on his lips.

“Wait, did you say sister? Isabelle sent you? She’s here?” he asked, more than excited about the prospect of the man not being all alone on this rescue-mission.

“Yeah, we split up and she went the other way. I… I’m not entirely sure when she’ll be here though”, the man confirmed and then muttered something about hoping she was smarter than him and didn’t accidentally fall in here with them too. Magnus cocked his head as he regarded this new information. Isabelle had told him she had three brothers and looking at the man before him he registered the physical attributes his friend had used to describe them all with. He hummed slightly to himself before saying:

“Tall, dark hair, gorgeous hazel-eyes and a preference for the bow… You must be Alexander then?” he purred and the blush on the man’s cheeks deepened furiously.

“Alec”, the man - Alec Lightwood apparently - corrected him with a nod.

***A/N: I hope you like it thus far and I’ll try to hurry up and get chapter two up for you by tomorrow! Also: I’m writing some other fluffy malec-things that were supposed to be posted during the day, but since my day just got completely fucked up they might have to wait until the weekend… ugh, life! Sorry!If you have any prompt you’d like to send me (or simply share your thoughts on some matter), my ask-box is always open! If you’d like to give me one of the number-prompts, then you can find the different numbers HERE!