#tfs returning visitor

[lilyoffandoms]

Victim

Since I drew this terror, felt I should draw the next one from The Fernweh Saga:

[agentark]

a lil rose beckham moodboard for funsies~ ✨

[lacunafiction]

I loved hearing about how the mc interacted with the others when they were a kid especially with a certain blonde rival (the play date and library incident were just perfection). Will there be more stories or flashbacks in second one?

Hi Anon!

I'm so glad you enjoy hearing about the MC's past childhood and early teen years in Fernweh! 🥰 The play date scenes were some of my favorites to write, but I think the library incident™ outshines even those, especially the hide and seek memory. (Kid R only wanting the MC to find them and outright ignoring everyone else! 😭) I do have some great news for you: flashbacks and past stories will return!

In fact, you'll learn that your Returning Visitor's 'stay' in Fernweh helps to make those memories rise back to the surface. We've seen hints that the trauma/distance/coping (?) has caused some past memories to be hazy or out of touch. Well, they come back with a vengeance next book. I can't say more due to spoilers; it's a special feature/mechanic that's present in the Book Two TFS Patreon 🌲 alpha content✨, but you all will be able to experience it eventually.

I'll tease and say it's also possible to unlock some road trip to Fernweh memories with B. Warrick, depending on your choices.

(Slight spoilers from Book Two below! ⚠)

"Do you think it squeaks…? Like, in theory." That was one of many questions B had while peering up at the rubber duckie that threatened to blot out the sun. They were excited about the novelty attraction, pointing out how the mile markers began to have soap bubbles on them well in advance of the required exit to arrive at the attraction. It was too adorable.

Your MC's past is something you will learn more about, possibly even shaping it at some points, since TFS's theme of coming home to a place that's not quite the same will be echoed throughout the series.

[beatrizamante]

More convos from my favorite genius dumbass (thanks Kay s2 your input is amazing)

Bonus family drama convo, if TFS parents and grampa were alive y.y

[gravesung]

adeo & prison (+ lethe tidbits.)

after he leaves the criminal underworld and goes into politics, adeodatus does a lot of prison visits with different programs and reform initiatives. humanizing and de-isolating inmates is important to him, though he has ambitions to rework the entire prison system once he gets elected.

sometimes he participates in whatever activity the program is engaging in — watching a performance, leaving discussions, helping with classes/education, etc — and sometimes he'll just hang around and talk with inmates whose visitors stood them up. a lot of them develop a good rapport with him over time. once they're released, he'll help them get work and/or enroll in school if they haven't yet (ie. those who have been in and out of the prison system most of their lives).

in particular, he's big on writing recommendation letters to plead their case to potential employers. when the letter is coming from a national leadership candidate?? it's gonna get taken seriously. and if he looks into the employer and finds out they're part of an opposing (conservative) political party, he'll "gently convince" (read: bribe) a local millionaire to write it in his stead.

shortly after he first met lethe — future fiancée, iykyk — he found her shoved into a holding cell and charged for assault and battery. he recognized the street-corner busker he'd befriended and was like ??????? tf you doin here??? and got her out on bail, got the charges dropped, got her record cleared under the table without telling her any of it. this happened more than once. SDKJFHSDJKF look!! people were trying to steal her shit!! it was just very hardcore self defense ok!!

anyway the third time she was sent to prison, it stuck, and she spent two months there before bail could be posted. this was honestly when the bulk of their actual bonding took place. he visited as often as he was allowed, brought her things, they learned about each other's histories — in his case, learning about a history filled with gaps and inconsistencies that he was so so so curious about solving.

and thus, his initial fixation began. to the outside eye, this was just what adeo did — he took in mentees, guided them out of precarious situations, helped them re-integrate into society. but that was the thing about lethe. it's rare that adeo can't read someone minutes into talking to them for the first time, and rarer still that when they lie to him, he can't figure out the truth in a roundabout way. he knew something was off about her story. but he couldn't pinpoint it — and she had no records to look into. no living family, no deceased family with any history beyond the factories they worked in. it was all dead ends. which was strange for someone who must have been in and out of hospitals, PT centers, orthopedic and prosthetic centers for years with those arms.

in truth, this was the primary reason he kept pursuing her even after she was out of prison for the final time. he wanted to know. it was weird!!! he'd never experienced this kind of cat-and-mouse before, and it was making him feel emotions he hadn't felt in a long, long time!!! little did he know. lol.

anyway. the prison reform programs he fostered continued to grow after he went missing five years ago, as did many other aspects of his legacy & his impact on the city. even all these years later, his name hasn't left people's mouths. there is still a great deal of hope that he is alive out there somewhere, and as they slowly suffocate under the constricting fear of the thing terrorizing the streets he once protected, they pray and pray for his return. i think the biggest theories are that he got captured by another nation's government and is being held prisoner somewhere KKJDHHSJDS

[msm-tsotmw]

there will be brief mentions of alcohol n shit here, so just know that

-Mod Jimmy 🗣️

~~~~~~~~

so… I’m in the infirmary waiting room! great! now I have to wait for ATTMOZ-knows-how-long until-

(A Pluckbill emerges from a door in the waiting room.)

Erm, Flitterine Kwyll?

(oh. that’s me.)

yes?

You Are A Visitor, Correct?

uh, yeah. I am.

You Can Go Visit Tooribella Chïrfell And Mondo Shivvursen Now.

oh, okay.

(Flitz follows the Pluckbill, who leads them to the door to an infirmary room. He opens it for them.)

Here.

thank you!

(The Pluckbill just walks away and closes the door.)

uh-

hey flitz

(Flitz turns around to face Mondo, sitting on a chair adjacent to the bed Toorie is sleeping on.)

oh, hey Mondo!

…what’s the deal with Toorie? I mean, I know she ate something super weird and started coughing, but what happened?

well uh

(Flitz flies over to Mondo.)

she ate something that apparently wasnt only filled with fire fern but also lots of sugar

and apparently that can do some shit to you

like what?

like uhhh

having her act up like a ghazt on catnip and then making it cough like it just inhaled grumpyre smoke

ah. okay. are there any after effects, though?

not a lot but shell forget abt what happened when it ate whatever tf that was

soooooooooooooooo… like sweetened grape extract?

yea like that

shes been sleeping since like 4 am

oh, damn. that’s long.

but not as long as the one time sprigg slept for like 17 hours after staying up for DAYS trying to decide one (1) piece of paper

what?

yea

sprigg doesn’t seem like the type of monster to get 17 hours of sleep…

well they did

Wha ?

(Flitz and Mondo face Toorie, who just woke up.)

Wh— Why Am I In The Infirmary ??

y-

you ate something loaded with sugar and fire fern and then you started acting up and coughing so i had to bring you here

Oh .

Wait , FIRE FERN ???

yea apparently

Oh , Dear Torrt . Did— Did Anything Bad Happen To Me ??

well not a lot aside from that

Oh , Okay Then .

*Gasp* WAIT , DID I HURT ANYONE ?!

nah

Oh , Thank Torrt …

but you DID flirt with me

which i kinda liked

(Flitz perks up and makes a smug face.)

i heard that, Mondo.

NO YOU DIDNT

mhm. yeah. I heard you pret-ty well.

NO YOU

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

STOP FUCKING MAKING THAT FACE

Huh ??

mondo said you flirted with him, and that he l—

SHUT UP FLITZ

alrighty, fine.

What ? I- Huh ??

(Mondo looks at Toorie, then back at a very smug Flitz. He lets out an extremely heavy sigh.)

you flirted with me during your high thing or something idk

I—

(Toorie’s face looks a bit pinker than usual.)

I Did ??

yeah

you said you would marry me if you could

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

stop that flitz

okay.

I Said I Would What ??

marry me

OH .

and i am being completely honest

you flirted with me and said you would marry me

Oh , Uh , Wow !! Ahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa …

Wow . Uh .

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Wow . Um . I Don’t Think I Actually Would … We’re Not Even Dating !

yea

That’s— That’s Weird .

uh

We Probably Won’t Get Married Anytime Soon Though , Right ?

nah

we probs wont

oh yeah you wi-

(Mondo pinches Flitz’s beak shut.)

mrhghmmphrghgmmmmrph

shut your purple furby looking ass

Hey ! That Wasn’t Very Nice .

(Mondo looks at Flitz.)

alr fine

(They un-pinch her.)

sorry flitz

alrighty ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

can you stop making that face though

Yeah , It’s Making Us Nervous .

okay.

(Now it’s time for the ✨AWKWARD SILENCE.✨)

…sprigg, moperetta and mauna haven’t returned yet… ya think they’re okay?

I’m Sure They Are ! They’re Probably Still Looking For That Light , But I’m Sure They’re Fine .

yea

i hope so

its actually kinda been concerning me

It Is ?

yea

i havent heard from them

Not Even In Letters ?

nah

Ah . I See .

do you think they’ll come back soon?

… Yeah ! Probably . They’ll Be Back Any Day Now , I Think !

(Oh, this bitch does NOT know.)

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

anyways yea

flitz is just gonna be an ass to Mondo until he picks his ass up and confesses to Toorie lol

(don’t think that’ll be happening anytime soon lmao)

-Mod Jimmy 🗣️

[raguldhoni]

Algolia vs. Connector Search Tools: A Comprehensive Comparison

Evaluating Performance, Features, and Usability to Help You Choose the Right Search Solution.

When it comes to implementing a powerful search and discovery solution for eCommerce, two major players often come up: Algolia and Constructor. While both provide advanced search capabilities, their workflows, implementations, and approach to AI-driven product discovery set them apart. This blog takes a deep dive into their differences, focusing on real-world applications, technical differentiators, and the impact on business KPIs.

Overview of Algolia and Constructor

Algolia

Founded in 2012, Algolia is a widely recognized search-as-a-service platform.

It provides instant, fast, and reliable search capabilities with an API-first approach.

Commonly used in various industries, including eCommerce, SaaS, media, and enterprise applications.

Provides keyword-based search with support for vector search and AI-driven relevance tuning.

Constructor

A newer entrant in the space, Constructor focuses exclusively on eCommerce product discovery.

Founded in 2015 and built from the ground up with clickstream-driven AI for ranking and recommendations.

Used by leading eCommerce brands like Under Armour and Home24.

Aims to optimize business KPIs like conversion rates and revenue per visitor.

Key Differences in Implementation and Workflows

1. Search Algorithm and Ranking Approach

Algolia:

Uses keyword-based search (TF-IDF, BM25) with additional AI-driven ranking enhancements.

Supports vector search, semantic search, and hybrid approaches.

Merchandisers can fine-tune relevance manually using rule-based controls.

Constructor:

Built natively on a Redis-based core rather than Solr or ElasticSearch.

Prioritizes clickstream-driven search and personalization, focusing on what users interact with.

Instead of purely keyword relevance, it optimizes for "attractiveness", ranking results based on a user’s past behavior and site-wide trends.

Merchandisers work with AI, using a human-interpretable dashboard to guide search ranking rather than overriding it.

2. Personalization & AI Capabilities

Algolia:

Offers personalization via rules and AI models that users can configure.

Uses AI for dynamic ranking adjustments but primarily relies on structured data input.

Constructor:

Focuses heavily on clickstream data, meaning every interaction—clicks, add-to-cart actions, and conversions—affects future search results.

Uses Transformer models for context-aware personalization, dynamically adjusting rankings in real-time.

AI Shopping Assistant allows for conversational product discovery, using Generative AI to enhance search experiences.

3. Use of Generative AI

Algolia:

Provides semantic search and AI-based ranking but does not have native Generative AI capabilities.

Users need to integrate third-party LLMs (Large Language Models) for AI-driven conversational search.

Constructor:

Natively integrates Generative AI to handle natural language queries, long-tail searches, and context-driven shopping experiences.

AI automatically understands customer intent—for example, searching for "I'm going camping in Yosemite with my kids" returns personalized product recommendations.

Built using AWS Bedrock and supports multiple LLMs for improved flexibility.

4. Merchandiser Control & Explainability

Algolia:

Provides rule-based tuning, allowing merchandisers to manually adjust ranking factors.

Search logic and results are transparent but require manual intervention for optimization.

Constructor:

Built to empower merchandisers with AI, allowing human-interpretable adjustments without overriding machine learning.

Black-box AI is avoided—every recommendation and ranking decision is traceable and explainable.

Attractiveness vs. Technical Relevance: Prioritizes "what users want to buy" over "what matches the search query best".

5. Proof-of-Concept & Deployment

Algolia:

Requires significant setup to run A/B tests and fine-tune ranking.

Merchandisers and developers must manually configure weighting and relevance.

Constructor:

Offers a "Proof Schedule", allowing retailers to test before committing.

Retailers install a lightweight beacon, send a product catalog, and receive an automated performance analysis.

A/B tests show expected revenue uplift, allowing data-driven decision-making before switching platforms.

Real-World Examples & Business Impact

Example 1: Searching for a Hoodie

A user searches for "hoodie" on an eCommerce website using Algolia vs. Constructor:

Algolia's Approach: Shows hoodies ranked based on keyword relevance, possibly with minor AI adjustments.

Source : YouTube - AWS Partner Network

Constructor's Approach: Learns from past user behavior, surfacing high-rated hoodies in preferred colors and styles, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

Source : YouTube - AWS Partner Network

Example 2: Conversational Search for Camping Gear

A shopper types, "I'm going camping with my preteen kids for the first time in Yosemite. What do I need?"

Algolia: Requires manual tagging and structured metadata to return relevant results.

Constructor: Uses Generative AI and Transformer models to understand the context and intent, dynamically returning the most relevant items across multiple categories.

Which One Should You Choose?

Why Choose Algolia?

Ease of Implementation – Algolia provides a quick API-based setup, making it ideal for eCommerce sites looking for a fast integration process.

Speed & Performance – With real-time indexing and instant search, Algolia is built for speed, ensuring sub-100ms response times.

Developer-Friendly – Offers extensive documentation, SDKs, and a flexible API for developers to customize search behavior.

Rule-Based Merchandising – Allows businesses to manually tweak search relevance with robust rules and business logic.

Cost-Effective for SMEs – More affordable for smaller eCommerce businesses with straightforward search needs.

Enterprise-Level Scalability – Can support growing businesses but requires manual optimization for handling massive catalogs.

Search-Driven Recommendations – While Algolia supports recommendations, they are primarily based on search behaviors rather than deep AI.

Manual Control Over Search & Merchandising – Provides businesses the flexibility to define search relevance and merchandising manually.

Strong Community & Developer Ecosystem – Large user base with extensive community support and integrations.

Why Choose Constructor?

Ease of Implementation – While requiring more initial setup, Constructor offers pre-trained AI models that optimize search without extensive manual configurations.

Speed & Performance – Uses AI-driven indexing and ranking to provide high-speed, optimized search results for large-scale retailers.

Developer-Friendly – Requires deeper AI/ML understanding but provides automation that reduces manual tuning efforts.

Automated Merchandising – AI-driven workflows reduce the need for manual intervention, optimizing conversion rates.

Optimized for Large Retailers – Designed for enterprises requiring full AI-driven control over search and discovery.

Deep AI Personalization – Unlike Algolia’s rule-based system, Constructor uses advanced AI/ML to provide contextual, personalized search experiences.

End-to-End Product Discovery – Goes beyond search, incorporating personalized recommendations, dynamic ranking, and automated merchandising.

Scalability – Built to handle massive catalogs and high traffic loads with AI-driven performance optimization.

Integrated AI-Powered Recommendations – Uses AI-driven models to surface relevant products in real-time based on user intent and behavioral signals.

Data-Driven Decision Making – AI continuously optimizes search and merchandising strategies based on real-time data insights.

Conclusion

Both Algolia and Constructor are excellent choices, but their suitability depends on your eCommerce business's needs:

If you need a general-purpose, fast search engine, Algolia is a great fit.

If your focus is on eCommerce product discovery, personalization, and revenue optimization, Constructor provides an AI-driven, clickstream-based solution designed for maximizing conversions.

With the evolution of AI and Generative AI, Constructor is positioning itself as a next-gen alternative to traditional search engines, giving eCommerce brands a new way to drive revenue through personalized product discovery.

This Blog is driven by our experience with product implementations for customers.

Connect with US

Thanks for reading Ragul's Blog! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

[lilyoffandoms]

A Stubborn Victim, but Still a Victim in the End

From this part of this nightmare from The Fernweh Saga:

[Masterlist for this art series here]

[companionwolf]

A little more in depth look into my original fiction ideas that I'm reworking:

Breaking Code (novel): A girl in the middle of post apocalyptica takes in a rouge android wolf, which is searching for a device that would help rebuild society.

House of Cards (novel): A regular human is sucked into a world where reality and fiction blend, and must find a way to save the souls of previous deceased Readers and return them all to their Reality, while escaping the wrath of a desperate, murderous entity called SHADOW.

The A Month On Top of the World series of IF games (A Month on Top of the World, Turnback Hour, and Time is Relative): A young man finds he’s the puppet of a young celestial being, who hopes to unlock the powers of limitless creation. Together they end up saving the world and causing a rebellion.

The World Spins Madly On (novel): It’s New Year’s Day. An asteroid is expected to hit Earth on next New Year’s Eve. As one could expect, the world doesn't take the news very well. 

How to Survive on Earth (novel): As a longtime alien visitor of Earth tries to create a guide to living the average life of a human on Terra Firma, he finds himself a major participant in bettering of the life of a young transgender man. 

EYE (comic): a humanoid wolf dog being called Ava finds themselves in the role of savior of a strange void-like desert world, and has to find a way to destroy its ruler before it ascends to the first plane of reality and drags it all down.

BAD (novel): In the midst of a fungi based zombie post apocalypse world, a man called the Seer with the ability to catch snippets of the future finds himself on the quest for answers after a failed attempt on his life.

Two (novel): A human with the ability to read anything’s past is taken in by a scouting guild and helps uncover the past of the zombie apocalypse.

Insiders (novel): A human wakes up in a strange empty world that mirrors their childhood home after a traumatic event, and with the help of other ‘insiders’ that they encounter, comes to realize what’s going on- that this world is inside their own mind, the insiders are alters, and they need to find a way back out, together. [Extememly fictionalized depiction of DID in this.]

The Curiousity Project/Demon Split (novel series): Evolved animals conduct fucked up science and deal with unraveling reality in a post nuclear apocalypse world.

4th wall breaking fantasy comic: I don't remember the plot of this thing, actually.

Transitional Objects (novel): The end of the world has come. Humanity adjusts, to this and to their new coexistence alongside apocalypse-Awakened toys.

("Where and what is Too Much Love?" That's the post apoc plushie tf game.)

[lacunafiction]

This might be a dumb question, but is the nightmare we experienced in chapter 1 what Milton was experiencing when he was kidnapped? I hope you have a great day and thank you for creating this world we can all get lost in! 💚

Hi Anon,

I hope you're doing well and thank you for your well wishes! 💐

This isn't a dumb question at all. :D I haven't seen much discussion about this nightmare as compared to the others, so I love that you have mentioned it. I'm going to have to give a non-answer for now, but I will say Book Two also includes a similarly more 'thematic' style of nightmare before we get into the ones that are more grueling and call out the MC's choices. If each one is a warning, a glimpse into what befell someone in Fernweh, or a tease from the ??? is up to you!

There is a point behind every nightmare, even the opener ones. 👀

One detail I'll mention from Book One is: After the very first nightmare, if the MC chooses to go see B, there is a subtle line about them still feeling some discomfort over B's room theme (the vines!).

Time spent in Fernweh will let those nightmares gain more ground, including the MC's ability to recall them more vividly. I can't wait for you to experience more of them as we continue. Thank you for what you said about getting lost in Fernweh; that's my sincere hope! 🥰💚

[lacunafiction]

The MC could use this kind of a game. 😂

B: Truth or dare?

MC: Truth.

B: How many hours have you slept this week?

MC: ... Dare.

B: Go to sleep!

MC: I don't like this game.

@lacunafiction

[sh1-n0bu]

Ahem..Hello, I Have Returned. With a juicy question as promised~!

Here's today's question..

Who would be the loudest? I'm talking like LOUD the neighbors are very concerned and worried about whatever tf is going on in this household/apartment

Scara, XIAO, Or Childe? Honestly i think they'd all be kinda loud but i jus wanna know who would win out of all of these slu- boys..

Answer honestly, as the previous stars of the show had to face the wrath...you don't want that, do you? 😈

-🦊

oh xiao definitely. it’s not even a question, it’s a known fact by everyone nonnie.

childe is loud well but he only does that to spite you. scara can be loud as well, but he tries to keep his voice down since he’s very embarrassed of the situation he ended up in. xiao wants to be quiet and he thinks of himself as well however verr and the visitors staying the night at the top floors of wangshu inn knows who’s the loudest.

[teratron]

Transformers: Last Bot Standing #1 Review

By Nick Roche (Writer/Artist) and E.J. Su (Artist).

-----

IDW's 15 year plus tenure on the Transformer's license is coming to an end and with it they've decided to put a cap on it with what looks to tell a hypothetical "last story" for the Transformers franchise.

I've actually been meaning to do a big retrospective series one day of going through IDW's original TF continuity that ran from 2005 to 2019. But figured given the circumstances to do my first TF review of looking at what will be the last IDW Transformer story.

The premise of the series is a fairly familiar one as it's become something of a common one over the past few years; a hypothetical last story centered around an aged and grizzled version of a character we think of as younger. The "Unforgiven plot" as I call it, Roche even draws on this in his notes by using Eastwood as the visual basis for Rodimus' elderly looking face. Comic fans will recognize it in the form of stuff like Old Man Logan (and the film), Dark Knight Returns, and even Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow? to a certain extant. IDW even has another series like this out at the moment for the TMNT franchise, The Last Ronin.

Now where this first takes us is to the town of Fembrance, an Old West-style town on a far-flung planet that looks to be on the verge of an industrial revolution. It's where we meet what looks like we'll be one of our main characters, Shib Walkis; a young and determined owner of a delivery business, who finds herself looking down what seems to be the coming technological change that might drive her out of business.

Shib and the town of Fembrance find their worlds changed however when a lone and worn-down robot stumbles upon their town...and only to be brutally killed by the revealed Rodimus, who spent most of the issue disguised as a Shib's family wagon. Exposed, Rodimus wanders off into the desert warning them not follow him.

This was a pretty decent setup issue with a nice twist at the end. It's a fairly obvious theme but I like the setup of one of our main characters being someone who doesn't like the upcoming technological change being revealed, and presumbably paired off with a robot from a near dead species far more advanced then anyone could conceive. Good "End of an Era/Dawn of a New Age" setup.

The first issue also provides some good questions at the end that gives a reader a reason to check out the next issue; who was this Visitor? why did Rodimus kill him at first sight? why and how long as Rodimus been on this planet? Did Shib know about her family wagon being a robot in disguise?

E.J. Su was the artist on the first IDW Transformers series, Infiltration, so it's unsurprising but fitting the last TF series put out by IDW has him on it also. Su's probably either my favorite, or second favorite TF artist, so I was all the happy to see him come back to the franchise beyond just his (amazing I would add) covers for IDW's hardcover collections. Art's very simplistic for most of the issue but the detailing the robots is where the art shines, it's hard to make immortal robots look old but the weathering and chips all over Rodimus and Visitor in this issue do a good job on conveying the idea.

[wxldchxld]

This started out as like, a light piece just to describe what Beck’s workspace looks like and I won’t lie I’m a little obsessed with it. People always ask me like how tf Harper and Beck get along and... this. It’s this. Harper turns into a big sappy baby who lives off of nothing but Loving Her Wife Juice.

I’ll probably go back and edit this a couple of times for typos and other things but I love it so much I just wanna post it rn. And I won’t be putting it under a cut so y’all will have to live with it.

Harper knocked, almost tentatively, on the open door. From outside she could smell the intoxicating aroma of fir trees and herbs, sweetened by dried apples and candied citrus, drawing the attention of any passersby and calling them in. But she lingered there, knocking a second time when she got no response. Somewhere an old record player was crackling as Judy Garland sang about far away places over a rainbow, and a warm voice was humming along with it. Harper gently ran her thumb over one of the embroidered silk foxes among flower petals embedded into the translucent curtain that covered the door. The fabric, a deep ocean blue, shuffled under her attention, and the little creatures looked as if they were dancing.

Even on the threshold of Beck’s workshop, the world felt so slow. Time didn’t abide by schedules and obligations. It flowed like a lazy river on the precipice of winter, slowly but surely crusting over with ice. If she stood still long enough, would it freeze entirely? Or would the warm glow that haloed her lover forever melt away the sharpest crystals and encourage it to move on?

She didn’t need to knock. She didn’t need permission to enter. Not only did she doubt Beck would care, but the building was hers. The city--in its own way--was hers. It was her nature to utterly and completely possess things---to take them into herself to keep. If someone asked, she’d likely have even said Beck was hers. 

But she had no claim over this place. It was a feeling that went far deeper than any deed or contract or organization. The magic here was so perfectly interwoven with it that it felt like it belonged to Beck.

Inside the room, there was a little tsk and a rich, quiet laugh. “What are you doing hanging out there like a bat? The door is open.” 

The door was always open. Beck still clung to the old superstitions of their people. Ancient rules about hospitality and ways witches ought to behave. Rules made in a time when their people had been valued and listened to, long before Christians had turned them into a target and Google had rendered them obsolete. But Beck claimed it wasn’t about people, it was about magic, and its strange laws that were shrouded in mystery. Magic, she said, liked to know its witches were always open and welcome to it. In return for a witch’s “proper” hospitality, magic would sweep away the bad luck that so often got caught behind closed doors. And--again according to Beck--spirits were much the same, and closing the door on them might cause otherwise benign entities to turn dark with anger.

But Harper had been raised by much less traditional witches. One specifically that would have worn her back end raw with a wooden spoon for letting the heat escape and airing their business out in front of their neighbors. 

She pushed the curtain aside and stepped into the room, leaving any lingering thoughts of her mother laid on the doorstep with the rest of her worries.

The apartment was an explosion of barely organized chaos. Dried herbs and flowers hung from the ceiling or were pressed between the thick, heavy pages of spellbooks laying on the shelves beside jars stuffed with candied fruits and tea leaves. Knitwork and embroidery and tapestries and clothing in all states of completion were laid out on tables or hung up from the wall. Live plants in brightly colored pots lounged in the sunlight that poured in from the huge windows on the far side of the wall. There was a collection of open-faced cabinets filled with canisters of wood and glass and stone that sat in clusters with no apparent system of coordination. Above her the high ceilings had been turned into an aerial playground of wooden bridges, little boxes, and plush cushions either nailed into the wall or floating in midair among the drying plants where her most cantankerous familiar could sit and look down on the apartment like a goddess. A fire roared energetically to her right, and to her left there was a small kitchen where an enormous pot of sliced apples was being attended by an enchanted spoon.

It was nothing like the penthouse they shared when Harper left her work to come home. But oddly enough Beck’s workshop didn’t feel cramped or chaotic. It was warm. It was inviting. Everything melted together on the merit that no two things were remotely related to one another in any sensible way. A way that suggested every single item had been purposefully hand picked or handmade by the master of the domain and placed precisely where they were meant to be. 

And there she sat, behind it all, nestled among the plants in front of a wall of windows. Her feet were curled up in the plush, gliding rocker beside her, and she was smiling up at her through a halo of sunlight. In this place she was a queen, and her crown was made of braids entangled with wildflowers and encrusted with knitting needles and crochet hooks that she had stuck away for safekeeping and promptly forgotten about. She was holding a little stuffed creature in one hand, and pulling a needle and thread in the other.

Beck always seemed fondly amused by the slow, reverent way Harper entered her domain. Their eyes met for a few gentle seconds, and then Beck looked to her right, where something shimmering and half formed in the sunlight began to move. Harper tried to focus on the spirit, but it collapsed in on itself and turned into a yellow moth as big as her hand, and lazily fluttered into the shadow of a flower by the window.

“That doesn’t unnerve you?” Harper asked, taking a seat in an armchair across from her girlfriend.

Again the blonde let out a breezy laugh that harmonized with the music in the background.

“You spend half your nights in an enchanted necropolis in some undisclosed abyss with only dead people and a renegade faerie for company, and an air spirit unnerves you.” She said, a playful perk in her brow. 

Harper scoffed in feigned offense. “Dead things don’t think. They don’t watch me. I don’t like to be watched.”

“What a shame. You’re quite the sight to look at.” 

Now Harper laughed, a rare, genuine chuckle of amusement. She wasn’t modest by any means, but Beck’s flattery could still make her heart race and her stomach fill with butterflies. As if it were the first time, even though compliments fell from Beck like droplets of rain in a spring shower.

“Well it’s a privilege. And it’s only bestowed on people I think highly of.”

Beck snorted soundlessly. “I can’t imagine there are many of those.”

“Only one, currently. And I’d let her do anything she pleased.” Harper replied. There was a small, suggestive grin on her lips, and a devilish twinkle in her eye.

“Oh?” Both of Beck’s brows raised and the hand holding her needle pressed against her heart as if she were shocked. “Then I guess I have someone to be jealous of, because you certainly don’t let me do whatever I want.”

Again she laughed, and Beck joined in with her. Harper rolled her eyes, her quick tongue failing her, and said lightly. “Shut up.” 

“See?! There it is right there. Always bossing me around.” The little witch clicked her tongue in fake disapproval. 

“Anything you want to me.” Harper corrected, still grinning so wide that it hurt her cheeks. “The fact that I don’t let you wreak havoc all across the tristate area is not the same.”

Beck held up both her hands in surrender. “Hey, you say potato, I say tomato.”

“That’s-” Harper halted her correction when she saw the look on Beck’s face that suggested her point was about to be proven perfectly. “Absolutely right.”

It was Beck’s turn to roll her eyes, and then she returned her attention to the project in her hands. Harper leaned forward just a little to try and catch a subtle glimpse, and without a word from the necromancer, Beck raised up the stuffed animal to show.

“Essi has decided that she’s infatuated with snails.” She said, shaking her head. 

Esteri was a frequent visitor in their home. Harper could remember when she was born how Beck had practically lived at Frankie’s house and brought the infant home with her when her friend needed rest. Midori and Jari had done just the same, and the door to her penthouse had practically revolved for months as the gaggle of friends came and went. Essi had just turned three a short while ago, and she’d grown into a wild-eyed, challenging little girl. Consequently, one of Beck’s favorite hobbies consisted of indulging her every whim and encouraging her to be as difficult as possible. If that meant making a snail to feed her newest fancy, Harper knew that “Aunty Beck” was more than happy to provide. 

“It’s not surprising, between you and Dori I don’t know who lets her play in the dirt more.”

“We play in the garden.” Beck corrected.

Harper refused to give ground. “Gardens are mostly dirt.” 

“It’s important for witches to know how to plant and grow.” Her playful tone had gotten a little more serious. Not angry, but carrying a thread of absolute belief. “You could use a bit more time in the garden. And the sun for that matter.”

“Alas my love,” She sighed dramatically, “I am a creature of the night.”

Something soft bounced off her nose and fell into her lap. It was the snail. It’s stupid, smiling face laughing up at her.

“Are you throwing things at me now?” She teased, “Do you really want to start this with me?”

“You’re the one who said I could do whatever I wanted to you.” Beck wasn’t even bothering to contain her wolfish grin.

“You. Not this creature you’ve created. I can’t take an attack like this sitting down. I have a reputation to uphold.” She stood up, stuffed animal clenched in her hand, and slowly walked toward the fire place.

“Don’t you dare!” Beck squealed. They both knew it was an empty threat, that Harper would never disrespect the woman she loved so brazenly, but Beck threw the blankets off her lap and scrambled to her feet in a flash. Harper held the stuffed creature high above her head as Beck latched onto her. 

There was a flush of heat that certainly didn’t come from any fire as their bodies pressed together. Beck was all soft curves over surprisingly strong muscles and blue eyes that glittered in the flames.

“Give me that back!” She demanded, trying to sound stern and reaching hopelessly for the toy. The pair stumbled and fell against a wall. When it shook a cascade of lavender petals and thyme leaves peppered them like confetti.

The necromancer curled one of her legs behind her lover’s and held up the animal higher. “I never knew you had this kind of rage inside of you. You know maybe you should go to therapy.”

“I never knew you were so annoyi-OH” Harper swept them both to the side, and Beck only managed to stay upright because she was being held against her so tightly. The little witch huffed, her cheeks flushing. “Oh I’m going to knock you over the side of the head so hard it smarts for a month!”

“See! There it is again! That rage!” Harper teased, merciless. A little childish, even. “Beck it’s me! Please, remember you loved me once.”

“You’re too rotten for loving. You give me that toy right now!”

Harper was shaking with laughter, her free hand wrapped around Beck’s waist as she strained. Beck was laughing too, intermittently. Every few seconds her angry façade would break just long enough for a smile and a chuckle that made her quiver against her.

“Why are you so godsdamned tall?! Was your mother a giant?” Beck’s hand had a hold on her wrist and her nails were just barely scratching the skin that ignited a dangerous excitement in Harper.

“A troll, actually. It’s a wonder I turned out so pretty.” Harper carefully guided them through the room backing them into the perfect position. When her hand was at just the right height, she felt the toy roughly ripped away from her, and the enormous black feline leaped over the both of them with it in her mouth, and (likely sensing what was about to happen) ran out into the hall. 

"They say the devil has a pretty face---and Angrboda you’re giving that back!” The smaller witch tried to twist to look at her familiar, but Harper had pulled her tight against her body. Now with her other hand free she tilted up her lover’s chin and kissed her softly, the both of them still intermittently giggling.

They turned again, fingers tangled in one another’s hair, lips locked, the air between them dissolving until her lungs burned but still neither of them pulled away. Not until Harper had backed the witch up to the armchair. She gave her lover a rough push and watched her fall back into the seat, panting and grinning in delight. 

She placed a knee on either side of Beck and trapped her against the cushions, reveling in the way she shivered. Her head stooped to whisper in the little witch’s ear. “And what would you let the devil do to you?”

Beck's hands were tightly gripping her hips, trying to pull her even closer. She smelled like apples and wildflowers and everything Harper loved in the world. She was everything Harper loved in the world. Perhaps even the only thing she loved in the world of the living.

“I’d let her do anything she wants.” Beck said beneath her, and the record came to a scratchy stop, and all Harper could hear was the crackle of the fire and the door slamming shut behind them.

[ao3komorii]

League Story Previews!

Finished the previews for the Sylas, Spirit Blossom Thresh and TF stories! Note that these are subject to change since I haven’t actually written the stories yet (minus Thresh), but this is what I currently want to do with the stories.

Just a note, Spirit Blossom Thresh is the next story, and is over halfway done being written! When Thresh is out, there will be a new poll to choose the next League story I write, so don’t worry if the champion whose story you want isn’t among these previews! Hope you enjoy the previews!

Sylas

Everyone in Demacia knows what happens to someone discovered to be a mage; they are either determined to be too unstable and jailed or killed, or are given the chance to become a mageseeker and prevent their fellow mages from harming Demacia. You would have gladly chosen death that day on the streets if it wasn’t for your little sister, an innocent party taken in as a pawn to get to you cooperate. The deal was simple; you continue to catch mages, and your sister lives to see another day. You thought that you were content to live your life this way, if only for your sister’s sake, but find yourself at war with the ideals you had held for so long when you enter into a battle of wills with the most dangerous fugitive mage Demacia has ever known. The council grows impatient as you fail to catch the elusive Sylas of Dregbourne and issues an ultimatum; you must capture him or you will be put to death as a failure to Demacia, and you are rapidly running out of time.

(Notes: This is definitely going to be an angsty one. There are some scenes in it I’m super looking forward to writing since Demacia is just an angst pit right now.)

Spirit Blossom Thresh

Mount Targon drew visitors from near and far, eager to explore its beautiful but treacherous landscape, the mountain a great danger to anyone who dared come near it, including your village at the base of the mountain. Long ago, your ancestors had struck a deal with the spirits that lived within the mountain’s secret portal; every month, a representative would be sent to bring a gift to every spirit, and in exchange, your village would be kept safe from the dangers of the mountain. After your grandmother’s sudden passing, the title of spirit guardian fell to you, a responsibility you were not fully ready to bear. There are rules to the job, the most important one being to only stay in the spirit world for the two hours a month the portal is open. Everyone has heard the stories; any spirit guardian that dared get careless and overstay in the spirit world has never returned alive. You had been guardian for six months, just enough to gain some confidence, when a freak accident sees you attacked and mortally wounded by an azakana and left for dead. Upon waking, you find yourself in an unthinkable predicament; rescued from death and forced to survive a month in this world before you are able to return home, you must learn how to get along with the two-sided spirit with the sad eyes who has become your temporary protector.

(Notes: I’m sort of taking this in a different direction than the Spirit Blossom event on the client. The main change is that I’m sort of going “what if instead of being angry with Ahri after their fight, he was just sad” so I’m making this into more of a redemption story for a spirit who was going about his job wrong and needs some help to get on the right path again.)

Twisted Fate

Your life was as ordinary as one could be in Piltover; you helped out in your mother’s cog store, delivering all around the city while trying to scrape together enough pocket money to afford a ticket to a Seraphine concert. You were content to live as you were until you were snatched from the streets by notorious Zaunite mad scientist Zarek Dysnal, who is intent on using your body to further his experiments on creating a human bomb. After a failed experiment, you are left with a cursed body and forced to flee the city, pursued by an army of robots sent to drag you back to their creator. Alone and unable to touch any living thing lest you rot them where they stand, you find unexpected help in the form of a bored swindler in a race to cure yourself before Dysnal can use your body to plunge Runeterra into a second ruination.

(Notes: This one I have the least notes for, but this is generally where I want to go with it. And Dysnal is an OC, not some random person from League lore, so no need to try and google him lol. And before anyone worries about it, I do plan to involve Graves in the story as well!)