#that run i got all the high dragons and i cannot say i wanna do it again

[crows-of-buckets]

Playing dao on hard mode is both extremely frustrating and insanely fun. I am getting my ass kicked and have reloaded a save five times in a row but I refuse to give up I will clear this game and all the dlc on hard mode I swear it

[enemiestoanchors]

i love you (but I cannot survive you) — a thiam playlist

i. All I Want | Kodaline

'Cause you brought out the best of me, a part of me I'd never seen. You took my soul and wiped it clean; our love was made for movie screens.

ii. The Killer Was a Coward | Dermot Kennedy

And when I think of you, I think of spirit defined, and I think of all the love that we shared in a very dark time.

iii. Demons | Imagine Dragons

Don't wanna let you down, but I am hell-bound. Though this is all for you, don't wanna hide the truth.

iv. Take on the World | You Me At Six

And nobody knows you the way that I know you; we'll fight, we'll crawl into the night. I won't let go; with you by my side, the calm, the storm, we'll face it all.

v. Eyes on Fire | Blue Foundation

And just in time, in the right place, steadily emerging with grace.

vi. I Found | Amber Run

And I found love where it wasn't supposed to be, right in front of me.

vii. Litost | X Ambassadors

And how long must I stay? Will I lay by your side just to say that I'm yours and you'll never be mine?

viii. Another Love | Tom Odell

And if somebody hurts you, I wanna fight, but my hands been broken, one too many times, so I'll use my voice, I'll be so fucking rude.

ix. Fortnight | Taylor Swift; Post Malone

And I love you; it's ruining my life.

x. The Show | Niall Horan

Life is like a board game some of the time; mistakes and heartbreaks are no crime, but there's a lot creeping through under broken skies.

xi. Guilty as Sin | Taylor Swift

What if the way you hold me is actually what's holy? If long-suffering propriety is what they want from me, they don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly.

xii. Us | James Bay

I still hear the howling, I still feel the rush; over the riots, above all the noise, and through all the worry, I still hear your voice.

xiii. Fade | Lewis Capaldi

That I'd end up so caught up in need of your demons that I'd be lost without you leading me astray. Guess I'm such a fucking fool for the way that you caught me.

xiv. Saturdays | Louis Tomlinson

My heart might be broken, but I won't be broken down.

xv. Fine Line | Harry Styles

You've got my devotion, but man, I can hate you sometimes.

xvi. The Great War | Taylor Swift

It turned into something bigger. Somewhere in the haze, got a sense I'd been betrayed.

xvii. Holding On To Heartache | Louis Tomlinson

I called you twice, but then regretted it and changed my number.

xviii. Hoax | Taylor Swift

My only one, my kingdom come undone, my broken drum; you have beaten my heart. Don't want no other shade of blue but you; no other sadness in the world would do.

xix. I miss you, I'm sorry | Gracie Abrams

Nothing happened in the way I wanted; every corner of this house is haunted.

xx. my tears ricochet | Taylor Swift

And I can go anywhere I want, anywhere I want, just not home. And you can aim for my heart, go for blood, but you would still miss me in your bones.

xxi. favorite crime | Olivia Rodrigo

I defended you to all my friends, and now, every time a siren sounds, I wonder if you're around 'cause you know that I'd do it all again.

xxii. Somebody to Die For | Hurts

And there's no hell that he can show me that's deeper than my pride 'cause I will never be forgotten. Forever, I'll fight.

xxiii. So High School | Taylor Swift

No one's ever had me, not like you...Truth, dare, spin bottles, you know how to ball; I know Aristotle.

xxiv. Complex | Katie Gregson-MacLeod

I need him like water; he thinks that I'm alright. I'm not feeling human; I think he's a good guy, but it's complex. It's a complex.

xxv. Ghost Of You | 5 Seconds of Summer

So I drown it out like I always do. Dancing through our house with the ghost of you, and I chase it down, with a shot of truth, that my feet don't dance like they did with you.

xxvi. Give Me Love | Ed Sheeran

Give me love like never before 'cause lately I've been craving more and it's been a while, but I still feel the same.

xxvii. illicit affairs | Taylor Swift

And you know damn well, for you, I would ruin myself a million little times.

xxviii. Holding On And Letting Go | Ross Copperman

It's everything you wanted, it's everything you don't.

xxix. Atlantis | Seafret

Now all the birds have fled, the hurt just leaves me scared.

xxx. Hurricane | Fleurie

Though I am breaking down again, I am aching now to let you in.

xxxi. You and I | PVRIS

We can meet in the middle, bodies and souls collide. Dance in the moonlight when all the stars align.

xxxii. Crazy in Love - Remix | Beyonce

I'm not myself. Lately, I'm foolish; I don't do this. I've been playing myself, baby I don't care.

xxxiii. this is me trying | Taylor Swift

And maybe I don't quite know what to say, but I'm here in your doorway.

xxxiv. Can't Catch Me Now | Olivia Rodrigo

You can't catch me now, I'm coming like a storm into your town.

xxxv. Perfect | Hedley

I'm not perfect, but I keep trying 'cause that's what I said I would do from the start.

xxxvi. Til My Heart Stops | Too Far Moon

I almost died the day I lost you; I'll keep breathing til my heart stops.

xxxvii. The Alchemy | Taylor Swift

There was no chance, trying to be the greatest in the league. Where's the trophy? He just comes running over to me.

xxxviii. The Exit | Conan Gray

Feels like we had matching wounds, but mine's still black and bruised, and yours is perfectly fine now. Feels like we buried alive something that never died.

xxxix. Don't Forget About Me | CLOVES

Lost through time, and that's all I need: so much love, then one day buried. Hope you're safe, 'cause I Iay you leaves; is there more than we can see?

xl. Hurts Like Hell | Fleurie

I don't want them to know the way I loved you; I don't think they'd understand it, no. I don't think they would accept me, no. I loved, and I loved, and I lost you.

xli. Is There Somewhere | Halsey

'Cause I clutched your arms like stairway railings, and you clutched my brain and eased my ailing.

xlii. Burn with You | Lea Michele

We're not healthy, barely breathing, but this pain keeps my heart beating.

xliii. Cringe | Matt Maeson

Lover, come hold me; could you forget? That I got a secret, digging a ditch.

xliv. Him & I | G-Eazy; Halsey

We got that love, the crazy kind. I am his, and he is mine, in the end, it's him and I.

xlv. An Evening I Will Not Forget / Furthest Thing | Dermot Kennedy

Days with nothing but laughing loud underneath my coat, when you tap my shoulder, hold my hand; nights with nothing but dark in there, you could be my armor then.

xlvi. Call It What You Want | Taylor Swift

You don't need to save me, but would you run away with me?

xlvii. I'll Never Love Again | Lady Gaga

And I want to pretend that it's not true, oh baby, that you're gone 'cause my world keeps turning, and turning, and turning, and I'm not moving on.

xlviii. This Town | Niall Horan

And I know that it's wrong that I can't move on, but there's something about you. If the whole world was watching, I'd still dance with you.

xlix. Without Fear | Dermot Kennedy

And now I really think you're heaven-sent 'cause you've been forcin' all these hollow hearts to feel again. And now I really think you're heaven-sent, but there's a beauty in being broken; I've been seein' it.

l. Waiting Room | Phoebe Bridgers

Know it's for the better.

li. Only Love Can Hurt Like This | Paloma Faith

Burning hot through my veins, love is torture; makes me more sure only love can hurt like this.

lii. Still Falling For You | Ellie Goulding

And just like that, all I breathe, all I feel, you are all for me, I'm in.

liii. Daylight | Taylor Swift

I once believed love would be burning red, but it's golden.

liv. Margaret | Lana Del Rey; Bleachers

'Cause when you know, you know.

lv. Lost Without You | Freya Ridings

You were the only safe haven that I've known; hits me at full speed, feel like I can't breathe and nobody knows this pain inside me.

lvi. I Fell In Love With The Devil | Avril Lavigne

Got me playin' with fire, baby, hand me the lighter. Tastes just like danger, chaotic anger.

lvii. Million Reasons | Lady Gaga

I've got a hundred million reasons to walk away, but baby, I just need one good one to stay.

lviii. But Daddy I Love Him | Taylor Swift

No, I'm not coming to my senses; I know he's crazy, but he's the one I want.

lix. Ultraviolet | Freya Ridings

No, I can't hide it, and you're reading all of me.

lx. Sunday | Dermot Kennedy

You're one of few, boy, who can safely say they had somebody truly love them back.

lxi. golden hour | JVKE; Ruel

You know nothing compares to the shattering feeling I get, oh, when you're not right there.

lxii. Daylight | David Kushner

You and I drink the poison from the same vine. Oh, I love it, and I hate it at the same time.

lxiii. Half Hearted | We Three

The fighting is done, and nobody's won, so now I'm just laying here in pieces on the floor.

lxiv. Always Remember Us This Way | Lady Gaga

So when I'm all choked up, but I can't find the words every time we say goodbye, baby, it hurts.

lxv. Latch | Sam Smith

Now I've got you in my space; I won't let go of you. Got you shackled in my embrace, I'm latching on to you.

lxvi. Say Don't Go | Taylor Swift

'Cause you kiss me, and it stops time, and I'm yours, but you're not mine.

lxvii. Put A Little Love On Me | Niall Horan

When the lights come up and there's no shadows dancing, I look around as my heart is collapsing 'cause you're the only one I need.

lxviii. Ho Hey | The Lumineers

I belong with you; you belong with me; you're my sweetheart.

lxix. XO | John Mayer

Your heart is glowing, and I'm crashing into you.

lxx. Strange Love | Halsey

Everybody wants to know about how it felt to hear you scream; they know you walk like you're a God, they can't believe I made you weak.

lxxi. You Mean The World To Me | Freya Ridings

And it kills me that you might not know after all, 'cause I know I don't let you see, but you mean the world to me, and I know that I can be pretty mean, but you mean the world to me.

lxxii. Dark Paradise | Lana Del Rey

Love you forever can't be wrong; even though you're not here, you won't move on. That's how we played it.

lxxiii. Oceans | Seafret

I want you, and nothing comes close to the way I need you. I wish I could feel your skin and I want you from somewhere within.

lxxiv. The Archer | Taylor Swift

All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put me together again 'cause all of my enemies started out friends; help me hold onto you. I've been the archer; I've been the prey. Who could ever leave me, darling? But who could stay?

lxxv. MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT | Loveless

In the middle of the night, just call my name; I'm yours to tame.

lxxvi. Train Wreck | James Arthur

You can say what you like 'cause see, I would die for you. I'm down on my knees, and I need you to be my God, be my help, be a savior who can unbreak the broken.

lxxvii. Walls | Louis Tomlinson

For every question, why, you were my because.

lxxviii. Infinity | Jaymes Young

'Cause you're the reason I believe in fate, you're my paradise, and I'll do anything to be your love or be your sacrifice.

lxxix. Salvation | Gabrielle Aplin

Just a trick of light to bring me back again, those wild eyes, a psychedelic silhouette. I never meant to fall for you, but I was buried underneath, and all that I could see was white.

lxxx. Sleep On The Floor | The Lumineers

Take all your savings out 'cause if we don't leave this town, we might never make it out. I was not born to drown, baby; come on.

lxxxi. Castle on the Hill | Ed Sheeran

I still remember these old country lanes when we did not know the answers.

lxxxii. The Other Side | Ruelle

I don't want to know what it's like to live without you; don't want to know the other side of a world without you.

lxxxiii. Angel With A Shotgun | The Cab

They say before you start a war, you better know what you're fighting for. Well, baby, you are all that I adore; if love is what you need, a solider, I will be.

lxxxiv. Black Friday | Tom Odell

You look so pretty, pretty like the wind. Every time you touch me, I feel adrenaline.

lxxxv. Die With A Smile | Lady Gage, Bruno Mars

So I'ma love you every night, like it's the last night, like it's the last night. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you.

lxxxvi. Northern Attitude | Noah Kahan

If I get too close and I'm not how you hoped, forgive my northern attitude. Oh, I was raised out in the cold. If the son doesn't rise until summertime, forgive my northern attitude. Oh, I was raised on little light.

lxxxvii. "Slut!" | Taylor Swift

Half awake, takin' your chance. It's a big mistake; I said, "It might blow up in your pretty face." I'm not saying, "Do it anyway," but you're going to.

lxxxviii. Backroads | Lonely The Brave

So the sinners stopped, and the villains turned, and I'll be the sky, and you be the bird.

lxxxix. Angel By The Wings | Sia

Oh, so, your wounds, they show. I know you have never felt so alone. But hold on, head up, be strong.

lxxxx. Too Deep | Ritual, Delilah

You said my signs were vital, that every touch was tidal. You held me, you held me so right, you held me so tight.

[heylavellan]

dragon age prompts: magic edition

feel free to use these and reblog them! you may find it useful to use the first letter of the theme + number.

demons and spirits

you turned into an abomination and now i have to kill you

you turned into an abomination but i really dont want to kill you so we're on the run now

"i wasn't bisexual until i met a desire demon"

trying to explain to the love spirit "no, i can't have them because they are taken"

i didn't realise i loved you until a demon used you against me in the fade

there was this really weak looking spirit in the fade so i let it come back with me. turns out it was a rage demon who needed a break.

one character attracts these really weird spirits that no one's heard of. but they swear they really did meet a demon of narcissism while bathing in a lake and that a spirit of integrity was the only thing holding a ruin together

i was going to die, but this spirit is the only thing keeping me alive at this point. let's not discuss this. (they discuss it anyway).

we got into a big argument over the nature of spirits and demons, and a third person is making us do something together to get along.

im pretty sure you're a demon, but i'd rather live in this illusion than face reality

the circle

i know im just an apprentice, but i'm really down bad for the knight commander so can they be at my harrowing?

you sneak me books from the restricted section of the library and in return i dont tell the first enchanter that you also steal supplies behind the tranquils' back

"who's going to tell the first enchanter?"

i know i'm using blood magic, but the cats keep eating my favorite plant and i would just like it to stay alive. please dont tell the templars.

this sounds worse than it is, but i accidentally destroyed all the apprentices' phylacteries. what should we do?

so this really cute new mage came in and they're from a rival noble family. im not sure if i want to kiss or kill them.

sharing a lyrium bottle to see who can make cooler illusions.

you and i fundamentally disagree on a theory of magic, but a third person has to explain why we're both wrong.

alternatively, you and i fundamentally disagree on a theory of magic, but disproving a third person's theory helps us reconcile our differences

court mages

"respectfully, your highness, i cannot maintain perfect weather in the palace at all times."

"respectfully, your highness, i could maintain perfect weather in the palace, but it's a waste of my talents."

the heir keeps sneaking into my office and messing with my calculations to support the upcoming battle. please stop.

the commander and i CANNOT be in the same room under any circumstance because we will get into a fight

i'm really falling in love with one of the heirs, but i'm a mage so i really can't have them. oh, they're engaged now? ouch...

"why am i your court mage if you refuse to take my advice?"

"i can guarantee you that no one in this meeting is possessed."

look, my parents don't really care for the plight of mages. when i become monarch, i'll make sure mages are listened to

i understand those are your circle robes, but now you're in my court and you really can't wear something that ugly.

apostates

i don't get why anyone calls you an evil witch in the forest, you're quite nice and give me tea on wednesdays

so if your entire family are templars did they just let you be an apostate?

please don't call me an apostate. it makes me sound ugly. maleficarum makes me sound sexier.

you spent the past year chasing me because im a blood mage but do you really want to stop the hunt? do you really want to kill me?

i swear i saw my true love in the forest, they just changed into a mouse and ran away.

"nothing you say will ever make me trust an apostate."

you are the only apostate i've never handed over to the templars

i'm a grey warden recruiting folks, and you are way more competent than circle mages. wanna enlist?

tranquility

you are the reason i no longer believe all mages should be tranquil

something happened, i'm no longer tranquil, and i'm freaking out.

after being made tranquil, you were the only one willing to hire me. your treatment of me is unexpected.

i thought you deserved to be made tranquil, but seeing you after i'm not so sure

sharing our last kiss before we're both made tranquil

after being gone for two weeks, i come back and found you made tranquil.

"life would be better if i was just tranquil!"

[suzukiblu]

Fic Writer Meme

Tagged by my dear @dancinbutterfly, and like, obviously I will take any excuse to talk about writing.

.

1) how many works do you have on ao3?

168, although a few of those are podfics that the podficcer credited me as a co-author on. Actually less than I would’ve expected, tbh.

2) what is your total ao3 word count?

1,431,989. Honestly also kinda less than I would’ve expected at this point. I will blame all those old fics I never brought over from LJ and ff.net for this expectation.

3) how many fandoms have you written for, and what are they?

I literally cannot tell you, the ancient ways have been lost to me. I can give you my Ao3 fandoms, though!

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Overwatch

The Witcher (Netflix)

Young Justice (Cartoon)

Animorphs

Star Wars

Good Omens

Venom

Fantastic Four

Leverage

League of Legends

Daredevil

Supernatural

Care Bears

World of Warcraft

Spider-Man

X-Men

Slender Man Mythos

Additionally, long ago: Naruto, Gundam Wing, Digimon, Ranma ½, Bleach, Inu-Yasha, and many scattered other fandoms of my youth. So, so many others. So I’ve written for 25+ fandoms, at least.

4) what are your top 5 fics by Kudos.

a mark, a mission, a brand, a scar (13004)

I once started out to walk around the world but ended up in Brooklyn (8450)

it’s a long way forward (so trust in me) (6965)

oh don’t you dare look back, just keep your eyes on me (6818)

if the bad times are coming let ‘em come (5362)

5) do you respond to comments?

Not really these days, though I hoard and treasure them like a freaking DRAGON. I used to respond to all of them but sometimes I’m just not around and then it becomes awkwardly late to reply and also they kinda . . . pile up a bit. I do try to answer all the comments with questions in them, at least, as long as the questions aren’t literally spoilers or anything like that.

6) what’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

I don’t usually write super-angsty endings, I think? I don’t FEEL like I usually write super-angsty endings, anyway, at least not these days. I think I did it more often when I was more into, like, drabbles and shortfic. Now I just spend way too long on stuff to give it a downer ending.

The most recent angsty ending I can think of is wanna hold him, maybe I’ll just sing about it, though eventually I did write a sequel to that to soften the blow a bit. And also torment people a bit. Both, technically. Technically both.

7) What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

blondes really do have more fun, definitely. It’s very . . . giddy, I guess? What with the gender euphoria and all. There’s angst and heavy emotions in the actual plot but the highs of the happy parts/ending are probably the highest/happiest ones I’ve written, and Supergirl gets everything she wants without having to compromise or give up anything else.

8) do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve ever written?

I write fusion fic more than crossovers, really, but I have written a LOT of fusion fic. Some of it has been weirder than others, tbh, but probably the Avatar: The Last Airbender/Animorphs fusion that I have been lovingly slaving over deserves to be this answer if only for how much extremely sincere effort I have put into it over the years.

9) have you ever received hate on a fic?

Mild hate, but occasionally. I don’t really tend to remember negative comments, tbh, though it does sometimes make me not want to reread the comment section I know they’re in. But a lot of the hate I’ve gotten in the end just seemed like socially-awkward people being unnecessarily blunt instead of just hitting the back button, so I try not to take it personally. Can’t please everyone. Don’t WANT to please everyone, frankly.

10) Do you write smut? What kind?

Yes, and the kind is “a lot”. Sometimes I don’t really feel like it but definitely I have done a lot of it. I try for Feelings and also to be safe, sane, and consensual as much as I can.

11) have you ever had a fic stolen?

I . . . am not sure? Though probably, after being at this for all this time. Someone once told me that someone picked up a fic I’d (at the time) abandoned and just started writing/posting more of it without asking or telling me about it, but I never actually found said fic and I don’t know if that technically counts as “stealing” anyway.

12) have you ever had a fic translated?

A few times, yup, it’s pretty gratifying! I also like to run them back through Google Translate and see what they say, haha.

13) have you ever co-written a fic before?

yoooo @dancinbutterfly, @rainnecassidy! Also done it with a few other people long, LONG ago, but that was back in the LJ era. Don’t think I’ve technically collabed with anyone else lately, although sometimes people will give me ideas for stuff I’m writing or offer suggestions when I’m stuck on a thing, which is very helpful.

14) what’s your favourite ship?

Like . . . per fandom? ‘Cuz we could be here a while. Most recently it’s Jaskier/Geralt, for a while it was Aziraphale/Crowley, DEFINITELY for a while it was Steve/Bucky . . .

You know, I guess technically my all-time favorite ship is actually Naruto/Sasuke, because I made a LOT of friends in Naruto fandom and it actually hugely influenced the end of my teenage years and beginning of my adult life and so, SO much of my writing. So like, if nothing else it wins on influentialness.

15) what’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

Let ‘Em Come. @rainnecassidy and I wrote that AU a long-ass time ago now and I never did my half of the sequel fic because I got too distracted with another longfic I was working on at the time and then took a real long fandom break. I always felt kind of bad about it because people seemed to bother her for said sequel more than they bothered ME for it, since her fic was the last posted part. Unfortunately I just don’t have the spoons or the MCU-focus for the research and effort it’d take anymore. Also, like . . . it’d probably be pretty long, so unless I was REAL obsessive about it it’d take a good long while.

Basically I think its time has just passed at this point, alas.

16) what are your writing strengths?

Sex, action, snark, and weird fusion fics. Also making people love things they usually hate, that’s one I get told a lot.

17) what are your writing weaknesses?

Fitting physical descriptions of . . . literally ANYTHING into the story. Just, anything. Physical descriptions are hard.

18) what are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in fic?

I try not to do it, personally, because I know soooooo very little about other languages. Sometimes I’ll sprinkle in a little bit of it, but usually I feel like it’s better to avoid it, personally.

19) what was the first fandom you wrote for?

I literally could not even tell you. The first fandom I REMEMBER writing proper “fic” for was . . . Ranma ½, I think. I thiiiiink. But that was a long-ass time ago and I never even posted it anywhere because those were the days when I despised typing things up beyond all measure, hah. And before that I remember writing Animorphs . . . comics? Storyboards? Something like that. Kind of a cross between the two.

20) what’s your favourite fic you’ve ever written?

I do not know! There’s really just too many, tbh. Some top options are you found me when no one else was looking, best friends means you get what you deserve, clay kids, Avamorphs, handmaiden!Anakin, oh don’t you dare look back, just keep your eyes on me, and . . . and I could go on for a dang MINUTE, honestly, haha, I’m just gonna stop myself here before I get too carried away.

.

I tag whoever happens to be reading this that wants to be tagged; have fun with it!

[just-call-me-the-intrusive-thot]

Soulmate September - Day 8

Day 8 - The temperature of your chest gets hotter when you are closer to your soulmate and colder when you move further away. (D&D AU)

Pairing(s): Romantic Roceit, Romantic Background Analogical

TWs: Swearing

–

“Oh I adore being made out to be the bad guy here.”

“You robbed the lair of the Dragon Witch! It’s literally your fault that we are mired in this bog of despair!”

Roman’s accusation rang loudly within the wagon as they made the long ride back to Amoresse to rest for the night. Janus rolled his serpentine eyes, 

“You, dear delusional knight, are totally not the one who went and killed said Dragon Witch, thus leaving her treasure for the taking.”, the half Yuan-Ti hissed, appropriately, “Besides, you can absolutely take the moral high ground here when you stole her crown at the first opportunity.”

The pristine elven knight gasped dramatically, clutching his figurative pearls at such an accusation! 

“This is an outrage-!”

“Both of you shut the fuck up or I’m driving this wagon off the nearest goddamn cliff!!”

Roman and Janus both immediately quietened down at the threat issued so casually by their wagon driver as the dhampir hissed curses under his breath. The two in the back glared at each other back and forth, avoiding looking towards the wrecked fabric of the canopy and the splintered wood. In Roman’s defense, he hadn’t known that grabbing the crown specifically would cause the Dragon Witch’s castle to fall to ruin around them. He’d realised his mistake almost immediately when he felt the dark magic radiating off of it. However, he couldn’t bring himself to admit that was the case. Especially not around Janus, the damn snake wouldn’t let him live it down. 

Being careful to pick his moment, Roman hazarded a glance over at the reptilian rapscallion eyeing up his spoils; Janus was an enigmatic entity to Roman, showing such sophistication and poise while also being prone to stumbling over his words or his own two feet in the same breath. Unabashedly, he displayed selfishness unrivalled by even the most aristocratic nobility, but in a pinch, was fully able to toss aside even the most valuable of artifacts to save a life. 

Roman had tried not to think about it. The noble and chivalrous knight, Roman of Sandaria, being saved from the jaws of death by a conman who, by all accounts, he had fully expected to leave him to die. The elven man wasn’t sure where his resentment lay; perhaps Roman thought he should’ve been able to save himself, perhaps he felt guilty for misjudging Janus but couldn’t find it in him to admit it, or perhaps it was an underlying prejudice from his training days. Yeah, he really  didn’t want to think about it.

Instead, Roman made his way to sit up front next to the moody wagon driver, making light conversation,

“I should be the one manning the wagon, your highness.”

“Roman, I’ve told you before, you can just call me by my name.”, the dhampir met Roman with piercing silver eyes, “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don’t understand my- Virgil,”, he corrected at the last second, “Nothing’s wrong. Aside from the fact you refuse to allow me to call you by your title-”

“That’s horseshit and you know it, Roman.”, Virgil kept his eyes on the road, anxious over the possibility of a crash if he kept his gaze averted too long, “I’ve known you since we were kids, I can tell when you’re lying. Besides, being called ‘your highness’ feels wrong as it is. Coming from you? It’s even fucking weirder than this whole marrying into royalty thing...”

Roman rolled his eyes but sat closer to offer Virgil a one-armed hug. The latter gave it a moment before accepting the gesture, “Virgil, you’ll be fine. If any one of us was suited to princedom, I cannot think of a better candidate. And your future husband is unreasonably attractive, so I don’t see what you have to complain about-”

“Oh my god, shut UP!”, Virgil chuckled and shoved Roman playfully. “I mean, you’re not wrong but the last thing I need is to think too hard about Logan and crash this stupid fucking shambles of a wagon!” 

The lighthearted banter did wonders to distract Roman until Virgil managed to get things back on track unfortunately, “Now, stop deflecting and tell me what’s got you so gloomy, Sir-Sing-A-Lot.”

Roman rolled his eyes at the old nickname, “I’m fine, Virge, really. I merely wish our cascading castle adventure had been a little less…ruinous.”

“.... Was that a fucking pun-”

“Ahem.”, Janus cleared his throat from behind the two of them, “I do so loathe to interrupt.... whatever this is,”, he gestured between the two of them, “But I believe that’s our stop up ahead. Wouldn’t want to go destroying that as well.”

With that, the serpentine rogue slunk back into the wagon. Roman muttered something under his breath, inaudible to Virgil, before reluctantly joining the scaled nuisance bagging up his wares. The elven knight made sure to keep his crown tucked into his rucksack, just in case thievery was something to be wary of in Amoresse. The town’s reputation, however, gave Roman hope that their visit would prove more helpful than hindering; the rumours told of a town renowned for helping wayward, lonely souls find their soulmates. As a single, disaster gay, Roman sure hoped the rumours were true. Truly he could think of nothing sadder than turning up alone to his best friend’s wedding.

Getting booked into their rooms at the tavern was a far easier ordeal than having to endure the overly chaotic gate guard to the city. The bizarre tiefling had spent so long rambling on and on about the most grotesque topics that by the time they had successfully secured a wagon bay, the moon now shone in all her celestial beauty. Virgil had suggested resting for the night, and despite Roman’s urging that they stay together, Janus had been insistent on checking out the nightlife. The knight had been content to let him do so while he guarded the prince, but the tired dhampir insisted he too take the night to enjoy himself. Roman would have argued further had Virgil not issued the suggestion as an order after his first protest.

And that was how Roman found himself sitting at a small outdoor bar tended by a rather friendly dwarf. Said dwarf, Patton as he came to learn, was quite the chatterbox while Roman was content to take in the night air in spite of his earlier worries. 

“Say kiddo,”, the dwarf broke from his pleasant rambling, “you’re looking a little lonely there. You got something on your mind?”

Roman hadn’t expected that. He pursed his lips in thought. 

“I suppose I may as well be honest with you. I’ve been wondering if-”

“If the rumours are true?”, Patton finished, “Well, luckily for you, they are!”

He ducked down behind the counter and pulled up an ornate crystal bottle that contained a marvellous prismatic liquid inside. Roman watched with great interest as the dwarf pulled out a goblet and began to mix a sweet, fruity smelling drink before dropping in three drops of the colourful elixir.

“Anima Venenum”, Patton informed him, “Our town’s alchemist created it by accident a couple of centuries back, and ever since, we offer some to tourists who look like they need a little guidance in the ol’ world of love!”

Roman was mesmerised, “Really? You mean, I needn’t pay you for it?”

“Nope! Our only rule is to never hand it out to anyone who doesn’t ask us for it. It’s up to you if you wanna accept this, so no pressure. I just figured you looked like you might be in need of it.”

The knight had so many questions swirling around in his brain, but by the time he had settled on a single one, his hand was holding the goblet to his lips. The taste was citrusy like sweet clementines, but with a mixed berry and almost floral taste that reminded him of a rose wine. As the last of it slid down his throat, Roman noted a soft honey-like taste as he thanked Patton, 

“That tastes wonderful! I’ve never had an elixir that tasted so good.”

Patton chuckled, “Actually, the elixir itself is tasteless. People just take better to it when it's mixed with a good drink, otherwise the texture weirds ‘em out.”

“Ah, I see.”, Roman let out a gentle chuckle. He didn’t feel all that different, truth be told, and so he asked, “How will I know it’s working?”

“The effects are instantaneous, don’t you worry! It might be hard to notice at first, but when you’re near your soulmate, your heart will feel really warm- In a good way! Not like heartburn, so don’t worry about it feeling unpleasant.”, Patton assured him.

Roman nodded, making a note of it as he got up to leave before quickly asking, “Oh! How long will it last?”

Patton waved him off, assuring him, “It’ll last for as long as you need to find your soulmate, guaranteed!”

With the night reaching its peak, Roman found himself strolling along the cobbled streets back to the tavern when he felt it; a flicker of warmth in his heart. Soft as the beating of a butterfly’s wing but very much there. He followed the feeling until he came upon a narrow street, hardly lit by the lamps stationed at it’s opening. The street itself was largely empty bar a silhouette in the dark leaning against the stone bridge that arched over the shimmering water running beneath it. 

His heart raced as Roman approached the figure, the flames licking at his heart until he arrived about a foot from the entrance of the bridge. The figure turned to Roman, smirking a familiar smirk,

“Come to join me, oh loyal guardian of our beloved prince?”

Janus. His soulmate was Janus?! Roman couldn’t believe it, yet no matter how thoroughly he scanned the immediate area, not a single other soul revealed itself. The half Yuan-Ti raised a bemused eyebrow at Roman, “Please, do keep ignoring my question so you may continue to look like a fool.”

Roman scowled. Maybe the kindly dwarf was just teasing him? No, he didn’t seem the type. But this conman? His soulmate? Perhaps Roman would indulge it, see where that led him. Worth a shot anyway. 

“My apologies.”, was all Roman offered as he took a spot on the bridge next to Janus, the flames of his heart undeniably soaring to life at the close proximity. Janus gave Roman a puzzled glance which let Roman take in his features; a half scaled face and body that, the more he watched the moonlight dance along the scales, made Roman want to gently reach out and touch them. In fact, he had subconsciously been doing just that when Janus had held his wrist in place, “It’s not completely rude to just touch someone’s scales without permission. What’s gotten into that underbaked brain of yours, Roman?”

Flustered and embarrassed by his lack of tact, Roman uttered quietly, “Soulmate cocktail.”

“Pardon?”

Roman panicked, “So many cocktails. Is what I said. Like, 14 whole cocktails.” 

Great. Excellent save.

“..... You’re expecting me to believe that? Did you forget that I’m rather adept at being able to tell when someone’s lying to my face, Roman?”

End him. Just end him now. Roman wished a stray lightning bolt would smite him where he stood so he wouldn’t have to face his own stupidity. Quick, say something to help ease the situation.

“Okay. I had 16 cocktails.”, he stammered with a laugh, “I’m absolutely drunk. You got me, you clever reptile you!”

Roman of Sandaria you are a certified idiot. 

“.... Alright then. Prove it.”, Janus goaded him, locking onto Roman’s crimson eyes with his own citrine snake-like eyes. 

“Prove-?”

“Let me smell your breath.”, Janus clarified, getting closer. Each inch set Roman’s heart aflame all too literally. “If you’re as inebriated as you claim to be, your breath will absolutely stink.”

Shit.

“Uuuh, personal space-”, Roman began to move back, but Janus grasped the front of his tunic.

“Don’t give me that, Mister Personal-Space-Is-A-Societal-Construct, I’ve seen how often you get in your dear prince’s personal space...”, Roman could’ve sworn for a split second that Janus sounded resentful, or perhaps envious, before his tone took a more curious route, “... or perhaps could there be another reason you don’t want to be so close to me?”

The knight became aware of the burning within his chest threatening to rage out of control, the distance between them barely a couple of inches now. Roman wasn’t sure what to do, but the lure of Janus’ eyes and the way his ribcage radiated with a heat he’d never felt before spurred him to act; he leant forward and pressed his lips to the serpentine man before him.

It surprised Roman just how pleasant it felt, though he prepared himself for harsh retaliation from the half Yuan-Ti when he felt Janus take in a breath against his lips. However, Roman was pleasantly surprised to find that Janus, not only didn’t issue him a well-earned slap and spend the rest of the night cussing him out, but instead kissed him back even harder. Not that Roman was complaining. By the time they pulled back for air, Roman didn’t even notice the fire in his heart subsiding to be replaced with a more natural warmth as Janus’ hands softly caressed Roman’s cheeks. “I’ll be the first to admit, I totally saw the night heading that direction.”, Janus mused in surprise.

Roman let out a hearty chuckle, hardly even noticing that he’d subconsciously wrapped his arms around Janus.

“Care to tell me what brought this on, Roman of Sandaria?”

Just hearing his name spoken in such an enticing dulcet made his knees feel weak; how had Roman never noticed how beautiful Janus’ voice was? His mind was too busy latching onto every octave, every syllable, that he nearly forgot to answer him. He took Janus’ scaled hand and pressed his lips to it in a gentle gesture his soulmate clearly wasn’t used to if the flustered way he averted his eyes was anything to go by,

“I suppose you could say I did a little soul searching.”

----

Have some straight up Roceit fluff, this came out so cute.

@tsshipmonth2020

Taglist: @somehow-i-got-an-account @cateye-glasses @lavender-mochi [I know you love your Roceit so I figured I’d tag you incase you needed this] @fandomsofrandom [I nearly missed the reblog where you asked to be added I’m so sorry]

[rattyarts]

Huge-ask post (I am VERY funny)

Because I have so many questions that can be answered with just text, and I have mentioned my dislike of filling my art blog up with Words Words Words... let’s get them all done in one go!

(You guys can blacklist #rattytalks if you’re just here for the draws, btw)

A shit ton of asks under the cut!

Anonymous said: So for the center of the world, what with it being forcefully PG and all Bad Thoughts TM being prevented, how does having kids happen? Do parents just black out and wake up holding a child in their arms and vague memories of the last 9 months?

Ever seen a movie where they do that “and one day... a baby was born!” thing and a kid just appears offscreen with no explanation?

(This is how it works everywhere, Edgelands included; no one does the do or gets pregnant in this setting.)

Anonymous said: Hello! Quick question, and sorry if you’ve answered this before, but can other elves see the “intangible” bits of one another? Big fan of your work btw!

Nope! And thank you!

Anonymous said: Leopold was in my dream last night but I sadly cannot remember any of it.

I am SO sorry. I will try to keep my stinky murder men out of your head in the future.

Anonymous said: are the floaty bits stuck in one spot, or could the one they are attached to learn to move them around their body as long as its still within a certain distance? like, someone with the Floaty limbs, lets call him Ray, can move his limbs all over his body, allowing him to do all sorts of neat things that others with their attached limbs probably couldn't?

Whatever you want, honestly. As a general rule of thumb I don’t like putting down TOO many hard rules that prevent people from having fun with this setting. (Please ignore and scrap anything you think is stupid, I do this all the time and enjoy keeping this setting inconsistent and contradictory)

Anonymous said: Do elf names work off of Death Note rules, or is it like, if you know one elf’s name, all elves with that name are now unable to harm you? So if all the elf brothers are named Martin, for example, does it only work with blue?

I think it’s prolly just the one! Probably? Idk, might change if I think of something funnier.

Anonymous said: Can elves do magic on themselves or does thst go against the knowing name rule

Most people tend to know their own names, lol. So in my opinion, no, but don’t let me stop you if you got a fun idea.

Anonymous said: Could an Elf stitch on parts from another elf and have them work? i.e an Elf's finds the arm of another Elf. "Hey, free arm, might as well put it to good use", so they attach the arm and now they can give three high fives at once!

Same deal as previous questions, I personally would say no, but I also encourage people to do whatever the hell they want. It’s more fun that way!

Anonymous said: I bet elves are greasy to the touch.

They’re very powdery! Like if you rolled them in flour. And by flour I mean nasty glowing elf dandruff.

Anonymous said: Can elves fly or are their wings just for show?

No flying!!! (Unless you’re a mousefly)

Anonymous said: Something tells me that the elves would LOVE Obatzda.

Had to look that up, but definitely!

no1fan15: Not sure if someone asked already- Does Edgeworld have any equivalent to demons and angels? Like the old rubberhose cartoon kind?

Demons, yes! That’s what imps are: basically any demon, devil, or generic monster, but tiny! Even a couple of pop culture critters in there, there’s probably a very small gillman or robot monster running around there somewhere.

Angels, not so far. 

Anonymous said: How come Margaret hasn't yeeted George's jar into the Edge yet

I’d say being locked in a closet is good enough! (and also I need him for plot reasons, don’t tell anyone)

Anonymous said: If elves have knees bulges in the front then do they have butt bulges in the back?

i do not want to think about elf bulges

Anonymous said: So if you find a baby Therewoof and you say "aw you're so cute", their true name is So Cute?

Yep!

Anonymous said: Since a Therewoof's true name can be something like "cutie pie" or "dingus", does their name have to be spoken with "intent" for it to doggo-fy them? Or do they just have to live with the reality that any casual conversation/flirting can make them lose up to a month to Doggy Mode? My mom has little terrier dog named "Sweetie" so that got me thinking 'bout Therewoof names. & Anonymous said: here's a good question: If someone says a therewoof's true name, but not reffering to them, does it still affect them?

Just saying it will do! It’s based on those old werewolf stories where calling out the person’s name will change them back into a human/cure them, and a lot of the time it was by accident.

(My favorite is the one where they slam the door on the wolf’s tail and then say his name, and the dude ends up with a wolf tail for the rest of his life.)

Anonymous said: Would Seeing eye Therewoofs be a thing?

I... guess? Probably? Since regular dogs can turn into woofs, yeah. You might have to start paying em once they turn into a person tho. 

Anonymous said: Was ChalkZone ever an inspiration for you? Because I just love the silly world of ChalkZone and I noticed getting that same warm feeling when thinking about Edgeworld.

Maaaan, I wish. I’ve only seen about three episodes or so, but it seems really fun!

Anonymous said: So I saw your mimic post, and even though I don't think I've seen any other of your art before I was absolutely HAMMERED with an indescribable sense of slightly unsettling strangeness and comfortable familiarity. Your art feels like something from like, an old point and click computer game I would have had formative memories of before accidentally losing or scratching the disc therefore making me unsure if it ever REALLY existed. Sorry for being weird but I love the wacky nostalgia feel here

Aaaaaah, THANK YOU! That is SUCH a cool comparison and I appreciate!!!

Anonymous said: If the Edgeworld is based on cartoons then is there a Reverse Edge-world that’s based on anime?

Lol, I mean I DID have an anime phase for a while there, so...

caydebug: Man I’d love to see this as a cartoon some day

Honestly, same. Best you’re gonna get is the occasional animatic or gif, tho.

Anonymous said: Does anyone..."go" in Edgeworld? or is it like Pleasantville where bathrooms exist but there are no toilets in them because acknowledging it is yucky?

Oh god I keep getting asked this and have been avoiding it like the damn plague. But... Uh. No. No they do not. I am begging you all not to send any followup questions.

Anonymous said: Have you considered putting computer viruses or illnesses in with the buggymen? Since those are typically called ‘bugs’

Sure!

Anonymous said: are there any limits to what an Animimic could posess? i.e if they were in a costume of a Buggieman with multiple arms, could they control all of them? what about a small Mousefly costume? can multiple fit into one costume like a clown car? and what about in pitch black darkness, where you can only see the lights of their eyes and not their bodies? could one fit inside the pocket of a jacket you are wearing and help you steal things/wield a gun like a living turret?

Since clothing fills into the body type of the intended wearer, they would indeed be able to control all arms/legs in buggieman clothes.

Size restrictions is one of these things I wanna try to be vague about: I personally have been imagining them sticking to hiding in things no smaller than, um. Maybe imp sized, but really, whatever. It’s a cartoon eyeball critter!

You can put multiple animimics in one outfit!

They can move around just fine in darkness without being off screen, yeah!

And sure why not. lol

Anonymous said: I know you have been asked this once before, and you said nah you don't, but with a few more months of worldbuilding, do you have an idea for what could be down the edge now? 🤔

Not really! It’s not super important, honestly. I’d say any fan theory is about as valid as anything else I can come up with.

ps2polpo: I doubt you’ll ever elaborate on The Edge but I like to imagine there’s just one dude there like the Nowhere Man from the Yellow Submarine movie. Mostly cause the thought of someone accidentally winding up there being like “where am I?” And there’s just a guy casually waving at him like a friendly neighbor is funny to me & Anonymous said: The implication that the Edge is the physical manifestation of edginess so there’s probably like, Trevor Henderson monsters hanging out down there.

See above question! Valid! I also accept falling forever, getting erased from existence, ending up in another universe, getting stuck in limbo with thousands of other people, whatever you want, really!

Anonymous said: " he has very few bones and weighs basically nothing, " "Fastball special" trope, but with Leo?

YEET THE NASTY MAN

Anonymous said: did you ever watch dragon tales as a kid? because george and margaret make me think of murderous zak and wheezie from that show, and i love it to bits

I did not, but I would have loved it. Definitely up my alley!

(watched Quest for Camelot a loooot, though!)

Imma go ahead and stop here! There’s more but I’ve been writing for well over an hour and I have things to do. If your question is missing I’m either saving it for later, wasn’t entirely sure how to answer, or it’s spoilery.

Will probably do another one of these at some point!

[tellywoodtrash]

immj2 05 + 07.12.20 lbs

05.12.20

“tum saari property mere naam karoge.”

BITCH WHAT NOW???????????

V like dadiiiiiiiiiii ko dhokaaaaaaaa?!!!!?!?!?! oh ho, lagta hai pair chhoote chhoote V ko asli waale feels aa gaye dadi ke liye, free of charge!

THIS MAN AND HIS FACE NEED TO BE STOPPED SO HELP ME GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

also what else that tongue do (other than throw constant taane to guilt a bitch) baby boy mmmmmmmhmmmmmmm 😏😏😏

riddhima thinking ki property meaning khatra and she can’t allow it to stay on dadi, she has to take it on herself, so that if kabir tries hurting anyone, it’ll be her.

this one’s paar ki nazar has recognized that train of thought, i think.

she’s like think whatever you want idgaf, just do whatever the fuck i say or else. and don’t even think of charging me an extra paisa. jaake bhaanda phodna hai toh phod lo, phir you won’t get your remaining 4.5 cr. DAMN GIRL, WHERE THIS SHAATIR TAKE-CHARGE SIDE OF YOURS BEEN ALL THIS TIME???????/

hubs thinking same thing. he’s never been more turned on by her as when she’s using maximum brain.

“kya hai?????? aise taad kyun rahe ho?????????”

“taadna ekdum free of cost hai. only for your pretty face!” I HATE HIM.

LOVE THIS TROPE. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE.

face change from smiley eyes to shaatir eyes, as he contemplates the facts before him. unf, the things it does to me to see him emote.

lijiye, iss show ke Idiot Brothers. and their plans to prove it’s not vansh and to get riddhima thrown out. i’ll pass.

but this one’s face tho. cutest. 

same, aryan. mera bhi yehiiiii reaction hai. taareeef karoon kya uskiiiii, jissne, tumhe banaaya!

some rando has come and is like hi, i’m your new lawyer; your old one appointed me before he left. no doubt he’s been sent by kabir.

V’s face: chutiya samajh rakha hai kya???? that’s not how this shit works.

v is like you’re here about my will and lmao riddhima’s all happy thinking oh vihaan has started my work already. SIS TILL NOW WHAT HAS HE DONE ACC TO YOUR PLAN? TELL ME ONE (1) THING THAT HE’S DONE LIKE YOU SAID.

yadda yadda yadda lawyer is like the property cannot be transferred for a few months. because Reasons. sure. sounds legit.

kabir is ecstatic. needs to learn to hide his MWAHAHAHAHAHA MERA CHAAL KAAM KAR GAYA FACE better if he wants to win at this game. he’s up against poker face all india/tellywood champion.

fb to kabir bribe/threatening lawyer. zero surprise.

V telling dadi idc about all this, meri asli daulat toh aap hai. lmao he really just does not give the other grandkids a chance to be #1 in dadi’s books.

ishani is pakka sure this is vansh bhai itselfffffffffff. and lmao angre’s suspicious face. they’re legit like:

V trying to negotiate salary increase (10% per month!!!!!!!!) and riddhima’s like bhakkkkkkk, sabzi mandi laga rakhi hai kya maine? yeh faltu ki bargaining nahi chalegi yahaan, jo karna hai karlo.

ishani’s back with bhai’s favvvvvvvvv chocolate cake and.... OH NO HE WAS SO FUCKING RUDE TO HERRRRRRRRRRRRR. riddhima ko sabak sikhaane ke liye ishani ko kyun sunaaaa rahe hoooo!?!?!?!!?

anyway riddhima tried to sametofy that raita by apologizing to ishani and.......... that went as well as expected.

kabir and aryan watching and lootofying mazze.

lmaooooo aryan tubelight ko situation samajh hi nahi aaya and kabir is just like

lmao have you seen a more pitying look????

angsty piano playing time.

lmaooooooooo she’s like “jahaan vansh banna tha, wahaan bann nahi paaye, yahaan yeh karke kya kya fayyda hai?” which......... troo. i really like this give-no-fucks version of riddhima who says what’s on her mind, instead of just doing lengthy internal monologues of stupidity. 

as,kjdlkasjd;lksjd;lkjsa;ldkjsa;lk she’s like vansh never yelled at anyone if it wasn’t a big deal. to which V is reacting just the way i am rn.......

‘lmao reallllllllly??? i don’t remember it like that.’

more lecture and yeah, i relate to him.

ishani over here crying to angre about bachpan se leke aaj tak vansh bhai ne kabhi nahi daanta. which again i’m like?????????? i have literally only seen V1.0 yelling at ishani for some bs or the other. literally never has he shown her any pyaar; the most he’s ever mellowed at her was when he gruffly told her sunny’s “truth” and made her understand that the wedding with angre would be good for her. nostalgia comes with some reallllll rose tinted glasses huh, ki everyone’s whitewashing asshole!vansh this way.

soft ship gently chugging along!

anyway angre has a plan and ishani like so help me god imma murder this fucker if he’s not vansh. there’s my girl!!!!!

this one is driving a hardddddddd bargain and wow, really going to town on that piano. riddhima doesn’t find it shady at allllllllllllllllll that he’s an equally good piano player as vansh huh? zerooooo thoughts about that.

“gunaah karne waale se bada gunehgaar hota hai gunaah sehne waala.” bhai waaah, isske victim complex ko mera salaam, ki bechaara is ONLY GETTING 5 CRORES, BOOOOOO HOOOOO.

“jabse tumse yeh deal kii haina, badi gandiiiii waali feeling aa rahi hai!” lmaoooooo yeah sureee, i can see how torturous it is, to be paid OBSCENELY to......... play yourself.

“mujhe teen guna chahiye. i want triple.”

BITCH WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF 3X SLKJDFSLKJFLDK 15 CRORES I KNOW TERA HI PAISA HAI BUT HADH HAI BHAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII?!?!? YOU SOUNDING A LOT LIKE THIS GUY:

oh boy ishani and angre have entered hearing about “triple”.

badi safaai se he said OH I MEANT IMMA BAKE A TRIPLE LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE FOR YOU TO SAY SORRY.

softttttttttttttttttttt siblingssssssss. baaaaabies.

but hubs and wifey have come with some stress relief for bhai, lol.

lmao riddhima’s reactionnnnnnnnn.

lo ji yeh bhi aa gaya rang mein bhang daalne. wants to make things interesting via bet. some realllllll high stakes shit. good lord, don’t be gross and bet riddhima or something, maharabharat style.

aaaaaand it’s on!

no point screaming in your mind, riddhima. should have sent him to basketball camp before you recruited him.

"bohut mazaa aayega!!!!” lmaooooooo seeeeee, i told y’all. all this big baby legit wants is someone to playyy with himmmmm. have you ever seen him look THISSSSS HAPPY EVERRRRRR??????????

——————————————————————— 

07.12.20

lmao @ his purposely bad dribbling.

stressing Dollar Biwi out some more by saying he hasn’t even watched the game on tv.

unffffff. Chehra Appreciation Break. these go out to my girl @nawaazishein​ (she knows exaaaaaaaactly why.)

riddhima is like when you pick teams, pick me, and kabir is here to talk smack and say everyone’s gonna find outtttttt nowwww.

ok great, whole fam’s here. there’s a chalkboard set up for the score and everythinggggg. coz as per usual, no one else has nothing else to do. not even catch up on their podcasts or play some candy crush or nothing. they just wanna watch these two grownass men having a pissing contest.

V wins the toss but aryan’s bitch ass lies and says kabir won it. K selects riddhima first.

he knew that kabir’s dumb ass would do exactly that. besides, he’s seen riddhima play. she sucks ass at it. best if she brings down K’s team from the inside, lol.

V’s picks: useless!chacha, angre. K’s pick: aryan. rules established, ki after every 10 points, rival team se player will be out.

all i can think of rn is that everyone went and changed and riddhima’s gonna play in her sari and heels?!?!?!?!!!?!?

game faces on!

lol such bball captain and his gf head cheerleader vibes. CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh god are we supposed to sit and listen to chachi’s commentary?!?!!?!?

please note i’m literally only watching this ep to see the boys’ shirts move and expose chest and abs. 

riddhima gets the ball and is standing there in one place dribbling so that V can easily intercept and he’s just..........

............. imitating a frilled dragon or some shit?????

kabir just took the ball from her and scored.

first basket he made and he’s already telling vansh to give up. dude, hadh hoti hai overconfidence ki.

V like haar-jeet ka faisla end mein hota hai. i would say i’ve already won, getting to see this much sweaty neck and chest, mmmmhmmmmmm.

SCOREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! i mean, yeah V scored a point in the game or whateverrrrrrrr, BUT **I** GOT TO SEE SOME TUMMY WHEN HE JUMPED UP!!!!!

lol idk what the sassy finger wave was for, but i liked watching it.

THIS DUMBASS. SOMEONE PLEASE JUST PUT HER OUT OF HER MISERY.

aryan’s out.

AND I SCORE AGAIN!!!!! ouff, the things i have to resort to coz they don’t gimme tellywood men shirtless anymore.

useless!chacha’s out.

askljdlkjlkdjlsakjdlsakjdlsdjlaskjdlj bechaara kabir.

“you. out, please!”

sureeeeeely he will not pull the kkhh move in front of the whole fam??????/ will he?????????

look at his face, ki awwwwww, how cute that she’s trying.

riddhima is so stupid, if she scored all these points, why didn’t she pick V to leave the game instead of angre!?!?!?!!?!?

BITCH DID THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“isski har harkat vansh se kyun milti hai?????” idk sis, take a wiiiiiiiiiild guess. if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck........... MAYBE THE FUCKING 6 FOOT 2″ DUCK LOOMING IN FRONT OF YOU AND RUNNING HIS HANDS ALL OVER YOU IS YOUR FUCKING HUSBAND??????

the way he’s smiling is practically challenging her to figure it out.

she’s still like nope, not him. just a coincidence. while she mulls on that brain fart, imma stare at rrahul’s chest some more.

of course.

YOUR WHOLEASS FAMILY IS STANDING THERE WATCHING THIS OMG I’M DYING OF SECONDHAND EMBARRASSMENTTTTTTTT FUCKING TAKE IT TO YOUR ROOM YOU WEIRDOS

“yeh bonus hai. free of charge. just for your pretty face!”

this dumbass is also hung up ki how overnight he became good at playing basketball. abbe oh gobar ganesh why can’t you just accept it’s him?!!?!?!?

aryan’s like dude, it’s him. i’ve seen him play. this is him.

but there must be somethinggggggg unique about vansh’s style right????

ahaaaa, ambidextrous.

kabir legit threw something like that looks like a clown’s nose. i guess he just carries that around full time coz he’s a 🤡🤡🤡

blah blah we already knew this from the precap. i’m just fwding to when he plays with the left and wins.

lmao V’s faaaaaaaaace. when kabir finally gets his day of reckoning, vansh is really nottttttt gonna hold back.

never seen ppl THIS happy to see a left handed person, lol.

“vihaan vansh ki tarah left hand se khel sakta hai??????”

CUTESTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lmaoooooooooo his face is like jo toota nahi tha, woh bhi tod ke rakh degi.

lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllll. asshole.

uh huh honeyyyyyyyyy. did the Vansh Move.

asking how you did all this when i never told you these facts about vansh?

“tum zaroorat se zyaada sochti ho, Sweetheart.”

DUN DUN DUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“kya aisa humne pehle kabhi nahi kiya? kya yeh pal humaari zindagi mein kabhi bhi nahi aaya, riddhima?” he said her name The Vansh Way, not The Vihaan Way!!!!!!!

“tum mere......”

“haan riddhima, yeh tumhara veham nahi hai. main vihaan nahi, vansh hoon. tumhara vansh.”

haaaaaaye bechaari. at this point i’m feeling quite bad for her. it’s not her fault she’s so stupid. ab hai toh hai. kya kar sakte hain. bedagarkkkkkk ho tera, vansh. may you die of blue balls for fucking with her simple mind this way.

i just did my homework reallllllllllly well, it seems. so my 3x payment is totally worth it. god i wish that pool was full, so that i could dunk his head into it and hold it there for a few minutes.

THIS ASSHOLE DOESN’T EVEN FEEL A LITTLE BIT BAD FOR WHAT HE’S DOING. LIKE, THODAAAA TOH HE SHOULD FEEL.

and then he turns around and looks at her like this!?!?!?!!?!?!? OUFFFF. FUCK YOU MANNNNNN.

blah blah talk about how now everyone must be convinced (except kabir) but yeah, i’m just here for The Face.

JFC SIS. AT THIS POINT YOU JUST NEED TO PULL A KHUSHI KUMARI GUPTA SINGH RAIZADA AND YANK A FEW HAIRS OUT FROM HIM AND ISHANI AND SEND IT FOR A DNA TEST.

shhhhhhhhhh, koi hai. yup. and not at all an excuse to get touchy touchy with wifey and give her some more mindfucky clues as to who you are.

someone’s watching us, we gotta sort out the property shit realllll quickkkkkkkkk.

he has An Idea, it seems. oh boy.

[theriverpersonshadow]

Lamia Drama/Deltarune Semi-Crack Fic

The not-awaited, not asked for Lamia Drama X Deltarune crackfic that absolutely no one wanted, but might now find they want!

I played Deltarune Chapter 2 and just decide to write some silliness for fun. This is extremely non-canon to everything involved. Spoilers (kinda but not really) for DeltaRune Chapter 2.

Warnings for swearing, an extremely brief moment of existential dread, and one sexual joke.

As always, the species of lamia I use come from @vex-bittys

If this is your cup of tea, maybe buy me a Kofi?

           Susie stared up at the sign in front of them. “Kris. This…. Is this a fucking pet shop???” Susie said. The sign said “Caring Coils” and had a picture of someone part skeleton, part snake.

           “No! It’s a spring shop!” Lancer said. What else could “Coils” mean?

           “U-Um… I… I don’t know where this building came from???” Ralsei said. As far as he was aware, they had seen neither snakes nor springs on their journey, but apparently this was in Castle Town now! Somehow!

           Kris walked in. It was surprisingly bright for something in the Dark World, eerily similar to what it’d be like in the light world, but given that the main inhabitants seemed to be the apparent offspring of Jockington and Sans, just… What was even happening here.

           “Are these, like, half skeleton, half snake?” Susie said, walking up and knocking on the glass holding the Mamba. A dozen or so snakes suddenly tackled the glass, hissing at her. “Okay, not gonna lie, that’s kinda cool. You think they bite?”

           Kris just stared at the sign on the glass enclosure saying “Please Ask Before Handling – We Bite – Highly Venomous” until Susie got the hint.

           Regardless, Susie hummed, seriously contemplating sticking her entire hand in there anyways. “Hey. Hey Noelle, you dare me?”

           “SUSIE NO!”

           “C’mon, does venom even work on monsters?”

           “Hah! Clearly you know nothing. Monsters do not have blood and nerves to shut down the same way humans do,” Berdly said, strolling over to the Mamba enclosure. “They don’t even look that tough. Look! They’re worm- AAAAAAAAAAAA;LKJSDFLK;JDFA!” He had stuck his hand in there and immediately gotten himself bitten by like 13 Mamba. He flapped his wings, running around the room and sending bitty Mamba flying absolutely everywhere. Tiny battle cries filled the room as they chased after Berdly.

           “Um… Kris? Should we help him?” Ralsei said, watching the chaos.

           Kris answered No, deciding to instead head into the back. Unlike the skeletal-snakes who were snake sized in the front, this area seemed inhabited by skeleton-sized skele-snakes. Kind of. Most were shorter than Kris, except one Cobra who zipped directly by them with a weaponized mop in hand. Kris peaked back – looks like the cobra dude was mopping up the little skelesnakes. Cool, that’s been settled.

           They got a few odd looks as they browsed the area. It had snake things, and child things. Presumably for snake children, which most of these seemed to be. If not for the supplies and price tags, it’d be easy to mistake this place for an orphanage – which Kris could understand, who would want a Sans X Jockington baby?

           Oh hey, that one might be an adult. A particularly grumpy looking  skele-snake looked them up and down, them immediately flipped them off, “Oh great, I thought I was done with human shit. Or whatever the fuck you are.”

           Kris flipped him off back. What meaningful dialogue.

             Meanwhile, Ralsei was trying to figure out what he should do. In the few seconds Kris had left, Suzy had broken another enclosure completely and even more snakes were running around, not at all helped by Lancer and Rouxls mistaking the new lightners(?) for worms and trying to eat them. Berdly had been swiftly knocked out by the tiny swarm.

           Thankfully, something answered Ralsei’s prayers. He didn’t expect his newly found angel to be a 12-foot-something long version of the things causing chaos, but he literally started mopping up the little ones and depositing them into boxes. As soon as that was done, he gave them all an exhausted, withering stare, “Why. Just… why.”

           “Worms are tasty!” chirped Lancer.

           “These are not worms, we’re lamia,” the new person said. He sighed, straightening himself, “Where are my manners. I’m Nikolai. Apparently the rest of the staff disappeared, somehow, and I have no idea where we are, so forgive me if I’m a bit… in need of several of wines.” His “staff” uniform had been replaced by gold and white robes… and a small golden nametag declaring him “staff”.

           Rouxls pushed himself to the front. “I sympathizeth with thee mostly fullily, thine fellow worker of high class and generallyeth most terrifying stature.”

           “… I think I’m having a stroke,” Nikolai said.

           “Hey Yooooo. I Heard Someone Was Wanting Wine (alcoholic)? I Have Some Battery Acid Right Here!” the Queen said, holding her glass cup of battery acid. It exploded in her hand. “Oops Lol (amused)”

           “… I… I give up,” Nikolai said, laying his head on a table. Several of the bitties were chirping and giving praises, trying to tell him not to give up, but the Mamba were also trying to knock the box they’d been placed in off the shelf by all ramming the side of it at once. The chaos refused to be contained any longer.

           Ralsei looked at Nikolai sympathetically, going over and patting his back, “H-Hey, it’s okay! I’m sure between the two of us and Kris we can keep… order… Oh dear.” Everyone had scattered. It seemed that only The Queen, the unconscious Berdly, and Noelle remained in the room with them.

             The Queen looked into the bitty Papython tank. “Hey Is That You Trousle?”

           Trousle looked up at this new lady with the cool glasses, nodding.

           “Sorry You Came Eleventh In The Dragon Cards The Deckening Mini-Tournament Game But Dang Getting That Much Out Of Like A Billion People (Exaggeration) Is Dang (Damn) Impressive!” The Queen said.

           Trousle’s eyes widened, how did she know that?

           “Oh Yeah And Here Is This (based on search history: Sexy Dom Bitties).” It was a small domino with Mettaton legs sticking out from it.

           Trousle was silently screaming, but being him had the perk that he didn’t have to hold in his screams! They were silent by default. So he was just screaming and completely blush-colored in the face.

           “Oh And Emo Thrash Metal (based on search history: Emo Thrash Metal).” She deposited a small broken chunk of the Thrash Machine that had thrashed her giant robot’s ass which was inexplicably wearing eyeliner and had “it’s not a phase mom!” written on it.

           Meanwhile, Susie had joined Kris in flipping off Hux, and then Liam came.

           “Tch. I don’t know what you troglodytes think you’re doing, but we’re closed. Get out,” Liam hissed, putting himself between Hux and the intruders. They were not closed, but could you really be “open” when you had accidentally planeshifted to another dimension without the majority of your staff?

           “Yeah! Fuck off!” Hux hissed, throwing a double birdy.

           “YOU GUYS WANNA GO?!” Susie yelled, foaming at the mouth and drawing her axe. Liam looked injured, but if he was going to go around picking fights, she wasn’t going to stop him!

           “Oh please,” Liam said, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms, smirking far too smugly. “I would obviously win.”

           “OH IT IS ON!” Susie said, surging forwards. She and Liam both turned out to be too adept at dodging for this to go much of anywhere, and Hux and Kris just spent the fight insulting each other even after Susie and Liam got so mutually carried away they left the battlefield.

           Lancer had found some new kind of paradise: a plastic hammock full of dubious, blueberry snot flavored salsa! He paid no mind to the other person using the weird spa, just jumping in and plopping into the vat of goo.

           Oozy blinked owlishly at Lancer, then started laughing, “Kid? Kid, what are you doing?”

           “I’m claiming this spa as mine, you minty fresh bundle of mouthwash.”

           “Um… This… is my bed?”

           “No it’s not! This is a hammock, not a bed!”

           “… can’t argue with that logic,” Oozy said, shrugging. He wrapped lightly around Lancer, purring. That said, he couldn’t quite resist the urge to tease, “Wow, easiest snack ever.”

           “Thanks!” Lancer chirped.

           Rouxls Kaard then skidded down the hallways without ever adjusting his Trademark Pose, “HALT WORMTH! THEE SHALSTH NOTS EAT MINE PRINCETH.”

           Oozy, being a little shit, looked Rouxls in the eye as he lightly pressed his teeth to the back of Lancer’s head and audibly said, “Nom.”

           “NOOOOO! UNHAND HIM, THINE UNCLEANETHEST OF HEATHENS!”

           “Naaaah.”

           “I’m slimy!” Lancer chirped.

           Meeeeeeanwhile, Keith was laughing maniacally in a mix of sheer disbelief and genuine amusement as he dodged kicks from a living checkers piece, a small army of Pawns at his side. Too bad they weren’t from the same game.

             Some of the Queen’s butlers helped Nikolai and Noelle clean up the storefront from the burst of chaos (and Berdly). They still weren’t sure how they got there, but y’know what, even Nikolai cannot contain this, so he lets the kids who are old enough play around the area with some supervision.

           The Mamba immediately flock to the Dojo, Liam leading the charge, to prove their superiority over all. Berdly gets his ass beat there again. There are Papython in the bakery and Kings in the café, and, well, just lamia generally everywhere.

           A lot of the younger ones flock to Seam. Every child’s dream come true: a giant plush toy that can actually talk to you and he’s kind of just a big fluffy grandpa!!!

             Eventually just Kris and Hux are left inside, locked in a battle of wills and insults.

           “Like you’d even know what it’s like to not have fucking control of shit! To always be told what to do and what to be, and if you can’t, no one gives a fuck about you!”

           Kris: Act:

           Understand.

           They understand, they understand far too well.

           …

           Kris: Act:

           Kidnap.

           The snake boy is going home with them now. He screams, but he does not get a say in this. Bye.

[autisticfangpyreclub]

Don’t fear the dark, let it protect you - part two

Lloyd never paid much attention to his dragon side. But he never could have imagined how much it wanted to be heard.

-

The smell of bacon and eggs greeted Lloyd as he entered the kitchen. He sat down at the table, and Zane handed him a plate.

“Sorry, it’s a little cold,” he said with a frown, “we were going to wake you up but…”

Lloyd shrugged. “It’s alright, don’t worry about it…”

He poked at the bacon with his fork, unease gnawing at his gut. He’d never had a problem eating meat before. He ate meat all the time. But the overwhelming smell of grease and burnt flesh coming from his plate was nauseating, headache inducing even. Suppressing a gag, he pushed his plate away.

Cole looked over at him in concern. “What’s wrong, you feeling sick?”

Lloyd’s cheeks flushed. “No, just, uh…” he stuttered, “I’m just not… uh…”

“You don’t appear to have any sort of high temperature,” Zane said, placing a hand on Lloyd’s forehead, “though your face is very red… is there something wrong with your food?”

Lloyd gently pushed Zane away. “No, it’s fine, but… do we have any vegetables?”

Zane blinked and raised an eyebrow. Everyone at the table gave him similar bewildered looks. “Vegetables?” Zane asked.

“Yeah, I’ve been really craving some all morning,” Lloyd replied, getting up from his seat, “we probably have some carrots leftover from thursday right?”

“Yes, but…”

Lloyd opened the fridge. He snatched up the bag of baby carrots and started shoveling them into his mouth. Zane stared at him, mouth agape.

“Lloyd, are you sure you’re… feeling alright?” he asked as he watched Lloyd toss the empty bag aside and move on to the lettuce.

Lloyd swallowed a mouthful of lettuce and shrugged. “I dunno, I feel fine, why?”

“Because you hate vegetables!” Jay said, “did you fall out of bed and bonk your head or something?”

Lloyd finished off the head of lettuce and stuck his head back in the fridge. He sniffed for more vegetables, growling when there were none to be found. He was still hungry.

Kai placed a hand on his shoulder. “Lloyd, what’s going on-”

He snarled at him, his teeth suddenly much longer and sharper. Kai jumped and drew back in alarm. “Woah, dude!” he yelped.

Lloyd slapped a hand over his mouth. How had that slipped out? His eyes darted between Kai, who was still slowly backing away from him, and the shocked faces of his friends. He shuddered.

“I… I have to go…” he mumbled, and ran out of the kitchen, ignoring the shouts behind him.

-

He didn’t stop running until he was outside the monastery, standing on a patch of grass overlooking the cliff. Lloyd sighed, and sat down to catch his breath. He shouldn’t have trusted those oni in his dream. He shouldn’t have let his oni side take over. Now he was turning into a monster.

...a monster with an unending hunger for vegetables, which to be fair, wasn’t the worst possible scenario. It was almost kinda funny. Okay, the snarling was bad, but he could deal with that.

Speaking of hunger, the grass he was sitting on smelled pretty tasty too…

Before he could stop himself, he was down on all fours ravenously munching on the grass. He probably looked so ridiculous. He didn’t care though, all that he could think of was how sweet and delicious the grass was.

“...guys, I found him.”

Lloyd froze like a deer in headlights. He hesitantly turned to see Nya standing behind him, and almost felt like dying from embarrassment.

“Um… this isn’t what it looks like,” he said weakly.

Nya raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because it kinda looks like you're on all fours eating grass like a goat.”

Lloyd looked down at his hands. “Okay, yeah, it is what it looks like…”

He stood up and brushed himself off, as the rest of the ninja gathered around him. Cole laid a comforting hand on his back. “Hey, no matter what’s going on right now, we’re here for you y'know?”

Kai nodded and patted Lloyd on the head. “Yeah, and sorry about what happened back there, I didn’t mean to scare you bud.”

Lloyd leaned into his touch and smiled. “Thanks guys… but you shouldn’t apologize, you were right to be afraid…” he murmured.

“Aw, don’t say that!” Jay said, “we’d never be afraid of you, even if you have turned into a werebunny!”

Lloyd squinted at him. “A… what?”

“Y’know, a werebunny, like a werewolf but a bunny,” Jay explained, “that’s what happened right? You got bitten by one and now you're turning! Oh no, tomorrow’s a full moon too-”

“I’m not turning into a bunny!” Lloyd shouted, “I’m turning into an oni!”

“Since when do oni’s eat vegetables?” Nya asked, “seems weird, given their whole destroy everything thing you think they’d eat meat.”

“Herbivores can be quite destructive, even more so than carnivores actually,” Zane said.

Lloyd groaned and put his head in his hands. “I don’t wanna turn into a giant bunny… wait, why aren’t you guys more freaked out? I just told you I’m turning into an oni!”

“Why aren’t YOU more freaked out?” Jay shot back, “I thought your oni side taking over was like your greatest fear.”

“It was, but… I had a dream last night that I turned into a full oni, but I wasn’t destroying anything, or hurting anyone,” Lloyd said, his body relaxing as he remembered, “it was… peaceful.”

“Have you talked to Wu about this yet?” Cole asked.

Lloyd shook his head. “No… but I think I should, before I start eating grass again… ugh…”

-

Master Wu was deep in meditation when Lloyd crept into the room. He sat across from him, and crossed his legs. Wu didn’t acknowledge him. The room was awkwardly silent for a moment.

“...I sense something is troubling you,” Wu said.

Lloyd flinched, then cleared his throat. “Yeah… so, um… it’s kinda hard to explain…”

Wu poured a cup of tea for himself, and then one for Lloyd. “I’m listening.”

Lloyd nodded in thanks and took the cup of hot tea. Deep breath in. Master Wu is part oni too, he’ll understand. “I had a dream last night… about the oni.”

Something in Wu’s expression shifted. His grip on his cup tightened. “...what happened in this dream?”

“I turned into an oni.”

Wu gasped and narrowly avoided dropping his cup. He coughed, composing himself. “You must’ve been horribly frightened by this vision.”

Something in the way Wu was looking at him made Lloyd nervous. Like he was being interrogated. He tensed his shoulders and looked away. “Uh… actually… it wasn’t that bad.”

An uncomfortable energy settled over the room. “What?” Wu asked, a dark tone seeping into his voice.

“Yeah, I know it sounds crazy but when I was an oni, when I was with the other oni I felt…” Lloyd wrapped his arms around himself and sighed, “safe… like I belonged.”

Wu stood up abruptly. He grabbed Lloyd by the arm and pulled him to his feet. “Wait, master, what-”

Lloyd’s next words got caught in his throat. Wu was glaring at him, like he had done something seriously wrong. “Lloyd, listen to me, and listen well.”

The nervous feeling Lloyd had was crawling in his gut, making his head foggy. He tried to pull away, but Wu’s grip was strong. “Master please let me go-”

“The oni are dangerous, deceitful creatures who only crave destruction, you cannot trust anything they say.”

“Master, please stop, please let me go-”

Wu ignored his pleas. “You must suppress the darkness, or it will consume you, just like it consumed your father.”

At that, something in Lloyd snapped. He growled. His nails transformed into claws, and he swiped at Wu with his free arm. He hadn’t meant to scratch him that bad, but from the pained scream Wu made he’d obviously done some damage.

Lloyd scrambled back the second Wu let go of his arm. The smell of the blood on his claws only riled him up more, his eyes narrowing and illuminating the dark room with a neon green glow. “I told you to LET ME GO, old man.”

Wu gaped at him, gingerly touching the gash on his face. “How dare you use your claws against me nephew!” he yelled.

“I am not my father,” Lloyd snarled, “I’ll never be my father, and I do not fear the darkness anymore.”

Green scales covered his arms and legs. He grit his fangs as his horns tore through his skin, this time not bothering to grow them slowly. The pain only gave him clarity.

“You say oni are dangerous and deceitful… what are you then?” Lloyd asked with a scowl.

“Excuse me?”

Lloyd rolled his eyes. “You're more oni than me, and you know it,” he said as he approached Wu, claws bared, “maybe that’s why you lie, maybe that’s why you don’t tell anyone your secrets even when it could help them.”

“What are you talking about-”

“You lied to me!” Lloyd could feel tears pricking at the corner of his eyes, but he pushed them back, “you knew embracing my oni side wouldn’t make me dangerous, but you still made me suffer!”

Wu’s face changed from anger to sorrow. “Lloyd… I’m so sorry, but you must calm yourself-”

“SHUT UP!”

Fiery tears poured down Lloyd’s cheeks. Scales had grown over his entire body, leaving him thankfully fireproof. He cried out as his limbs cracked and popped, becoming more animalistic and quadruped, until he no longer could stand on two legs. He fell to the floor with a thud.

He looked up at Wu, terror in his eyes. “This… this isn’t like what it was like before… what’s happening to me…?”

“I… I don’t know…”

Rigged spikes formed on his wrists and ankles, and along his newly formed tail. He heard a gross tearing noise as large bat-like wings burst from his back and ripped through his shirt. Lloyd’s pained cries morphed into growls. His face pushed out into a snout, the final part of his transformation before he collapsed in exhaustion.

Before he passed out, he saw Wu standing over him. Hopefully this scared him enough to make him never want to grab Lloyd like that again.

-

“Oh youngling, you poor thing…”

Lloyd opened his eyes to see a familiar face leaning over him. A gentle paw touched his cheek. “Oni…?”

The oni smiled, and stroked his hair. “My name is Theta, actually.”

Lloyd groaned. “Theta… what happened? My head feels awful…”

“You transformed into a dragon,” Theta said quietly, “but don’t be afraid, in time you will learn how to control your shapeshifting abilities.”

“But I… I attacked master Wu…”

“Oh don’t worry about that, he deserved it,” Theta scoffed, “he won’t harm you ever again, I promise.”

A calming sensation washed over Lloyd as he was cradled in Theta’s lap. “Um… sorry for the weird question, but what pronouns do you use?” he asked.

“She her dear,” she replied, hugging Lloyd close to her chest.

Lloyd sighed in content, and snuggled into her warm fur. She hummed a lullaby for him, one his father had sung to him when he was little. He felt safe.

“Rest now child… even when you awake in the physical realm, my shadow will still protect you.”

[yukiwrites]

Step by Step, Towards the End

Thank you so much for the support as always, @breeachuu! I hope you like it!

Summary: Wolfram had chosen to stay by Dimitri and Byleth's side, so he would do anything to be able to keep on helping them achieve their objectives. He didn't expect to feel so proud, happy and fulfilled just by being part of history being written, though!

Commission info HERE and HERE!

__________________________

Despite being wet until their bones, the two did not let go of their embrace, sharing the very last of their warmth with each other. As Dimitri was weary from pouring his heart out for the first time in his life, he started to get heavier and heavier in Wolfram’s arms.

Although he was part dragon, Wolfram wasn’t one to rely much on physical strength, so Dimitri’s weight would undoubtedly topple them both on a puddle lest Wolfram did something. The answer came from a nearby cot at the stables -- Aquilo called on Wolfie once he saw his master trembling with cold and with lack of strength in his legs.

Little by little did they both walk without breaking physical contact until they reached Aquilo’s cot, and further until they were within Aquilo’s embrace, under his wing.

As a wyvern, Aquilo’s body was not warm in the slightest, not to mention the piercing cold of Dimitri’s armor… And yet, their embrace filled Wolfram’s chest with warmth, especially since he held Dimitri within his bosom, allowing the Prince something he most likely hadn’t had ever since his family passed away: solace, and a shoulder to cry on.

At some point, despite it all, Dimitri fell into a short sleep, one that wasn’t accompanied by the ghosts of the past; one that allowed him to rest his weary bones for the first time in… a decade. Wolfie simply did what his Mother and Father did for him whenever they nested: he ran his fingers through Dimitri’s wet hair, bringing him a sense of belonging.

The rain stopped before dawn broke, and the ensuing silence woke Dimitri up from his light sleep. He blinked slowly, as though wondering if he was within a dream for it to be so comfortable, but soon met with Wolfram’s blue lips and tired eyes.

“Oh…” Dimitri flinched. “Forgive me, I wasn’t myself.” He sat up, noticing he was under Aquilo’s wing. “I must ask for forgiveness once again, you’re freezing! Let us-”

“Hey, it’s okay, I’m fine.” Wolfie placed a placating hand on Dimitri’s shoulder. “I’m here because I want to be, so no need to apologize to me! Besides, I’m more worried about you. Are you feeling better?”

“I,” Dimitri opened his mouth, then closed it as he looked down. “Yes, I am feeling better. Thank you for stopping me on my suicidal mission, Wolfram. Were you not there, I would perhaps die a dog’s death pursuing Edelgard…”

“Mhm,” Wolfie bobbed his head to the sides, taking Dimitri’s hand into his. “I’m still worried, though, especially about those stabs. You didn’t let anyone take a look at it yesterday, right? I used a bit of healing magic during the night, but magic won’t heal infections, so I wanna take a look at it as soon as possible.”

Dimitri deflated, a small smile sprouting on his lips from the solace of having someone worry about him. “Of course. The maids should have started placing hot water on the tubs, so please come warm yourself in my quarters.”

Wolfram felt a shiver run down his spine and smiled weakly. “Sure! I won’t say no to a warm bath.”

The walk to Dimitri’s quarters was silent, though they never let go of each other’s hands, as though still lingering on the previous night’s events. Once they arrived, they almost ran into the maid that was coming out of the room from supplying the tub with hot water.

“K-kyaa!” She shrieked lightly as she saw Dimitri up close, shivering as though she had met the god of death itself. “F-forgive me my impudence, please spare me-” she bowed deeply, fearing meeting Dimitri’s eyes.

Hesitating, the prince let out a pained smile and stopped reaching out for the bowing maid.

���It’s alright. Thank you for your service, miss,” he said politely, which prompted the girl to look up to him in shock before she nodded vigorously and scurried off to continue with her work.

Wolfram followed the girl’s back with his eyes, then turned to Dimitri, placing one hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright?”

The prince nodded, entering the room. “I’ve much to atone for, and many to apologize to for my past behavior,” he took a deep breath, as though that was the first time he did so in five years. “Thinking for myself and living for myself is no easy task, but I… am ready to walk towards that direction.”

“Mhm,” Wolfie leaned on the door as pride swelled in his chest. Dimitri took off his cloak, placing it on a coat hanger beside the door.

“Then, please, Wolfram, help yourself to the hot water.” He started unbuckling his bracers.

“Oh, no, I’m not going until after you! You’re the patient here and I want this wound clean and dressed before I’m to do anything!” Wolfie puffed his cheeks, poking Dimitri’s shoulder.

Chuckling, the prince nodded obediently. “Very well, friend. Thank you for taking such good care of me.” After saying that, and free from his bracers, Dimitri started to undress himself of his armor.

The cloak and the armor were heavy on their own, yes, but as each piece of clothing came off, Wolfram could see where all that weight that almost crushed him the night before came from: Dimitri’s body knew nothing but muscles and scars. They were firm to the eye and Wolfie was sure that they would be just as hard if he were to touch them and-

He felt… rather weird. His throat was dry and his reflex was to look away once Dimitri was about to take off his breeches. Only when the prince was fully immersed into the tub did Wolfram look again, somewhat conscious of how weird his heart was beating at that moment.

“How does it look?” Dimitri tilted his head to the side, revealing his naked nape, the place where the stabbing was most severe. As Wolfram thought, it looked like it would infect soon, so he was adamant on cleaning it well.

“Phew, good thing we caught it early!” The half-manakete said once he was satisfied with the cleaning job. “Okay, but I’ll need some herbs and bandages… I’ll go get them now!” He fled before Dimitri could even protest, his face on fire.

Wolfie ran towards the infirmary inside the bridge (that was reserved for high-ranking soldiers), his face so hot he almost forgot how cold he had been just an hour previous. His mind was chaotic, trying to understand his erratic emotions, though his hands moved with the ease of familiarity with the place. He didn’t even realize he was already on his way back after getting everything he needed until he was in front of Dimitri’s door again.

“I’m back!” he went in without being fully ready, his heart pounding.

It pounded harder once he saw that Dimitri was sitting on the bed with only a towel wrapped around his waist and a smaller one hanging over his shoulders.

“Welcome back,” he smiled warmly. The wound in his eye was already closed and taken care of, but it was the first time Wolfie was seeing Dimitri without his eyepatch, so he needed a moment to revive his heart.

“How handsome…” he mumbled, then gasped. “Um, okay! Here they are! Lemme look at your wound again!” He spoke in a high-pitched voice that was foreign to his own ears. However, once he got close, he realized it would be no use to dress the wound on Dimitri’s neck if his hair was still dripping wet. “Wait, let me dry this for you,” Wolfie placed the medicine on a nearby table, then carefully took the towel on Dimitri’s shoulder to start drying his hair.

“... Thank you,” Dimitri closed his eyes, leaning his head on Wolfram’s touch. For some reason, he didn’t feel like apologizing or saying that he would do it himself. It felt good, warm and comforting to be pampered as though he was a child, even if only for a moment.

Wolfram’s heart went off like a battle horn; his face so red and rigid he even had trouble swallowing and breathing. Still, he couldn’t help but drown all of those noises his brain and heart were making to simply enjoy the moment. For how long had he wanted his first friend to be this well? It was a moment Wolfie wouldn’t trade for anything.

He dried Dimitri’s hair in silence, then only instructed the prince to move this or that way so he could properly dress the wounds before finally nodding with an easy smile. “There you go, all patched up! You need to rest, you hear? If you strain this area too much, it REALLY might infect…”

“Of course. Thank you once again, Wolfram. Now, please, warm yourself before the water gets cold; I cannot be at ease seeing how wet you got because of me.”

As though reminded of his still damp clothes, Wolfie shivered. “Uh-oh, I completely forgot about it. Okay, I’ll go take a bath now, thank you! But I can just heat up the water with my fire, so no need to worry about it getting cold, nyaha!” He winked -- as much as one could actually see it -- before running away behind the room divider.

Seeing Dimitri look UP at him with that warm gaze -- it made Wolfie feel all tangled up and weird inside. He had to warm himself up before he went crazy!

Since he had access to hair oil inside this room, Wolfram used the opportunity to wash his hair as well. It had gotten rather long in the past five years -- its tips were of a light green that resembled Nidra’s hair, which made Wolfie even prouder of being able to grow out his hair.

He took after Henry in many ways, especially in the hair area; his locks were thin and barely grew after some point, so no matter how much Wolfie wanted to have a long braid like his older brothers, he could never do it.

But that wasn’t the case anymore! Now he could braid his hair in Meliodas’ fashion, though his locks weren’t nearly as long as his brother’s: they barely reached up to the middle of his back, but that was a start!

Wolfie came out of the room divider with a smile as he lovingly dried his hair. He found Dimitri midway to putting his armor back on, which made the smile die immediately.

“Wait, you need to rest!” He protested, blocking Dimitri’s path to another piece of armor.

Dimitri’s hand dropped, but his back was straight and his gaze was firm. “Thank you for worrying about me so much, Wolfram. Truly. I also must ask for forgiveness for how I’ve behaved in the past few months.” He bowed deeply, making Wolfram flinch.

“H-hey, I don’t need this-”

“No, you do. If it weren’t for you, the Professor and everyone, I wouldn’t be here today. I wouldn’t be alive to think of what step to take next… So, yes, you and all the others need to be thanked and apologized to.” He was resolute. “I must admit I still do not know what to do to atone for all the monstrous acts I commited, but I do know that I will live my entire life looking for the answer.” He looked up to the ceiling, as though he could see something that wasn’t there. “The first step I need to take in order to redeem myself and live for what I believe in is… to return to Fhirdiad.”

Wolfram gasped at the remark, feeling pride swell in his heart. They were going to save the people that were suffering under the Dukedom and the Empire’s heel!

“I have always believed that to be the right path, but the shackles were…” he glanced up to the ceiling again, then smiled bitterly, “they were too much to bear. They are still heavy and I might falter under them, but if I am to follow the path of the living… then I am willing to bear that weight.”

“Mhm…” Wolfie clutched his chest with emotion, then watched as Dimitri reached out to take said hand into his.

“So I beg you not to stop me, friend. I must attend the morning council to relay not only my apologies but the change of course to the others. Instead, will you not go with me?”

Wolfram smiled, then pouted. “That’s unfair; of course I’ll go with you!”

Dimitri chuckled, squeezing Wolfie’s hand slightly before letting go. “Thank you, Wolfram.”

On their way to the council, Wolfram felt strange that there were many eyes on him -- he could feel glances from afar and from the people passing by them; all directed at him. What could it be?

The answer would arrive as soon as they stepped into the room: all of their classmates gasped at Dimitri’s entrance (and Dedue even faltered, worrying about his wounds), though their eyes lingered on Wolfram; specifically, his ears.

“Ah!” He gasped, then shut his mouth with one hand. How could he forget? He had revealed himself the previous day to save Dimitri! Now everyone knew he wasn’t human. Their eyes moved back to Dimitri during his speech, so Wolfram was given a few minutes to think of his situation.

He was wearing some random clothes that were hanging around Dimitri’s room since his own were completely drenched from last night, so it was no wonder that he didn’t even wear his own bandanna. Wolfie had been so focused on Dimitri, he forgot everything else!

It was a wonder in and of itself, honestly, especially because keeping that secret had always weighed heavily on him from day one. Now, it was gone with the wind, poof! Like it never happened… and Wolfie only just now noticed it.

It was almost funny!

He was smiling by the end of the meeting, which had spanned several hours after Dimitri suggested they change their course, so before Gilbert officially closed all topics for the day, Wolfie raised his hand with a light heart.

“What is it, lad?” Gilbert asked as he placed the documents he had taken back on the table.

Wolfram and Dimitri exchanged glances and the prince took a step back with a smile. Once Wolfie was at the center of the room, he found Caspar’s and Dorothea’s gazes before anyone else’s, which gave him even more strength to reveal everything.

“Yesterday… well, I was gonna say that some of you might’ve seen me flying without my wyvern yesterday, but even now you can see how different I am from all of you, right?” He turned his head to the sides, his still loose hair dancing behind him. “Actually, I’m not fully human and, well, I came from a faraway place to help.”

“Help? With the war? Did you know?!” Annette raised her hand as though asking a question at a seminar.

“Hmm, honestly, I was instructed to stay with Byleth, no matter what happened, so I didn’t really know what was going to happen.” Wolfie scratched his cheek. “I’m really sorry for deceiving you all about my amnesia, but I really didn’t have any choice. I couldn’t show up and say I wasn’t human in a place I never saw shape-shifters about…”

“Shape-shifter…” Mercedes hummed. “It was said that the Children of the Goddess could transform into dragons. Are you perhaps…?” She trailed off, placing one hand over her chest.

“Uh, I have a human father and a dragon mother, but she’s not a goddess. Well… I did come here on our own goddess’ orders, so…”

“Amazing! You came into contact with her?” Mercedes approached, smiling brightly. Behind her, Ignatz was also eager to listen.

“Nyaha!” Wolfie giggled.” Alright, giddy up…!” He raised his sleeves, looking for a chair to sit on. Telling that tale would take a while, but it seemed that most of them were willing to listen, so Wolfie smiled widely and got ready to finally reveal everything.

Well, he was going to keep the parts about Rhea, Flayn and Seteth to himself. Byleth also shared more of what happened to her when she came to him with questions, so it wasn’t his place to reveal that either, but he just had to say what he had already told Caspar and Dorothea, so it would all be okay!

Unfortunately, Wolfram didn’t take into account the amount of questions many people could ask as opposed to only two people, so the reveal ended up stretching all the way until lunch time, and then a bit more. The half-manakete even forgot that he had planned on giving Dimitri his jewel right after they exited the meeting, so once he freed himself from the last stragglers, he went back to the familiar corridor towards Dimitri’s room.

Since his heart was light all day, Wolfram wasn’t still completely into the mood a manakete would usually be in for a jewel exchanging moment. He knocked on the door with an easy smile, then entered with Dimitri’s permission to find the prince awkwardly on top of the bed.

“Dedue and the Professor threatened me, saying that they would not let me out of their sight unless I rested, so resting I am.” He huffed in a defeated sigh.

“Heehee,” Wolfie giggled in response, thanking both of them in his mind. “Good, because that’s where a patient should be.” He sat on the bed, which finally allowed Dimitri to sit up (‘resting’ was not something he was accustomed to), then fiddled with his pockets.

The nervousness came a bit late, but surely it wrapped Wolfie in its clutches. “Um, I have something for you,” he croaked out.

“You’ve given me so much already, Wolfram.” Dimitri touched the tip of Wolfie’s knee, which was close to him.

“But this is something I promised to give you five years ago, though; it’s looong overdue.” Wolfie pressed his lips nervously, fidgeting with the jewel in his pocket. “Remember that lock of hair I asked you to give me?”

Dimitri stared blankly at Wolfram for a good second before gasping softly. “... Indeed! You said that your kin forges a… jewel of sorts to symbolize their relationship…”

“Mhm,” Wolfie took out the jewel from his pocket, placing it on Dimitri’s palm. “We pour different feelings into our fire to craft jewels based on how we feel about this or that person. And in this… are my thoughts about you. I crafted this a bit after I heard you were dead, then missing, so there’s a lot of longing and hoping.”

“... I see.” Dimitri spoke softly, touching the jewel with his index. “You’ve been worrying about me for such a long time, have you not? I’ve no words of thanks left…”

“There’s no need for more thanks, just, um… This is a big deal for my people, so I’m only asking you to take good care of it?”

“Absolutely! If I had the skill, I would attach a chain to it to hand around my neck right away, but since this is too precious to try my luck on this, may I ask if I can hand it to someone so they can make it into a necklace?”

Wolfram fidgeted. “Um, I think it’s better if I do it. It’s something really intimate, you know?”

“Of course, thank you for teaching me yet another aspect of your culture. Then, I am returning this to you,” he placed the jewel back into Wolfram’s hand. “I look forward to the day when I can carry it with me always.”

“Mhm…” Wolfie felt all mushy inside, which even translated to his flushed cheeks. “Thanks for accepting it, Dimitri. It means a lot.” He giggled, then clutched his and Dimitri’s jewels into his hand and kissed it lovingly.

Seeing the heartwarming scene, Dimitri couldn’t help but smile in turn, not even realizing he reached out to caress Wolfram’s long hair.

So many things had changed.

Yet, the most important ones hadn’t, thankfully.

There wasn’t much time for Dimitri to rest, unfortunately. Since they were in a race against time -- their enemy already had a tight hold on the capitol and were striking at the remaining loyal houses as they spoke -- they needed to make haste to Fhirdiad if they wanted to bring Cornelia’s reign of terror to the end.

Along with Dimitri’s changed behavior and Wolfram’s revelation, many aspects of their daily lives improved. The prince now took the time to speak with every single soldier he could, not to mention the maids and servants.

Caspar even told Wolfram that Dimitri had apologized to him about the way he had treated Caspar’s uncle, Randolph, back at the monastery’s invasion! Wolfram couldn’t be prouder of the both of them, honestly. Dimitri, for obvious reasons, but Caspar for being able to forgive so easily and let go of the past, despite Wolfram having been the one who dealt the killing blow on Randolph.

The closer they got to Faerghus, the colder it got. Despite spring being in full bloom, a land of the north was still a land of the north until the end. Wolfie had to resort to wearing more layers of clothes under his armor, resigning himself to not transforming during the battle for Fhirdiad if it meant not wearing an open back shirt like usual.

Yet, despite the cold, the streets were burning -- self-inflicted flames hailing from the Dukedom’s soldiers themselves, who were intent on bringing down the city with them if they had to.

The fight was fierce and full of traps along the way, but soon Dimitri’s spear dug itself inside Cornelia’s chest, bringing an end to the tyranny of a woman mad with power. She had spouted some nonsense about Dimitri’s stepmother causing the tragedy that had changed his life forever, but the prince stood tall in face of her poisonous words, emerging victorious in the end.

Once he relayed his victory speech to the soldiers, Gilbert approached from behind, urging him to go up to the balcony and greet the people he had saved.

Dimitri paled in an instant. “Do you mean- no! I cannot face them, not after everything I did-”

“It’s precisely because you did everything you could that you must face them now, Your Majesty.” Gilbert bowed deeply, facing his King, at long last.

Still faltering, Dimitri took a shaky breath. “Very well. “ he took a step forward, then glanced at the allies that followed close behind -- Gilbert, Byleth, Dedue and Wolfram -- before smiling.

The roars of the people could be heard even before they could be seen.

“What… what is this?” Dimitri gapped at the warm welcome. He was expecting stones, not cheers of victory.

“As you can see, the people are rejoicing in the return of their King.” Gilbert said solemnly.

“Bloodstained as I am… Am I fit to be King?” His voice shook as his eyes filled with tears.

“Don’t cry, Dimitri.” Byleth poked at the tall man, smiling mischievously.

Sniffling, Dimitri dried his face. “These are happy tears, my friend.”

Hearing his emotional voice made Wolfie sniffle as well, though his tears went unseen. The thunderous applause of the people in front of him reverberated through his chest, making him stand upright and allow himself to feel proud. He was so proud of his friend; of his company; of… of even himself! It was because everyone had banded together to put an end to evil that they managed to achieve such an overwhelming victory!

With these light thoughts and steps, the group went to the victory celebration that the soldiers prepared while Dimitri was busy meeting the people.

The venue wasn't as fancy as it had been back at the Monastery -- they weren’t going to fill the royal hall with battle-worn soldiers, after all -- since they were huddling themselves around the barracks, but the atmosphere was just as lively. No, it was much, much livelier than in the past, since they were now celebrating a victory they had shed blood to achieve.

Caspar took Wolfram for a spin just like he had done when they were students, but this time there was no one to kick them out for tripping on other people. There was only laughter, song and good food all around.

Wolfram spun so much he started to get nauseous, so he excused himself for a bit to get some fresh air -- something he mildly regretted since the so-called ‘fresh air’ was cold as ice, despite the season.

However, he didn’t regret it TOO much, seeing as he found Dimitri at the balcony he had chosen.

Dimitri noticed Wolfram approaching and smiled softly. “Have you grown weary of the festivities already?”

“No way, there’s a lot more partying in me yet.” Wolfie giggled, then shook his head slightly. “But all that dancing upset the food in my stomach so I was just taking a walk. What about you, though? You’re the main character!”

“It’s not that I’ve grown weary,” Dimitri looked beyond the balcony, towards the brightly lit city below, “I just find it difficult to be around everyone at the moment. Being back here in the castle after so long compelled me to visit the graves of my loved ones. It’s been too long since I offered flowers, perhaps a full decade.”

“Oh,” Wolfie pressed his lips, allowing Dimitri his space to speak.

“But I cannot stay away from them any longer. I’ve chosen to live for myself, but that does not mean that I disregard the dead. It simply means that I will live all the life in me to atone for everything.”

Wolfram opened his mouth to contest; to say that he had nothing to atone for, not regarding the ones who died, but he stopped himself. He knew that this was a matter too heavy to approach for the moment; not to mention that Dimitri wanted to atone for his five years encroached in darkness as well, so Wolfie had no right to say anything in that regard.

Instead, he took a step towards Dimitri, took his hand and leaned his head on on the prince’s shoulder. “I’m really proud of you, did you know? When you stood there in front of the people and showed your emotions,” he felt Dimitri shift, as though embarrassed for having cried in front of so many people, “and vowed to be the best person you can be to them until you can handle it. You’re going great.”

Dimitri’s chin trembled with emotion as he feared that he would dissolve in tears for the second time that night. Speaking was difficult, and the words of thanks only came after many tries. “Thank you, Wolfram. Truly.”

Wolfie simply nodded, but before he could even reply, he heard hurried steps coming in their direction with his sensitive hearing. His head snapped up to where the sound was coming from, followed by Dimitri’s confused gaze.

Soon, however, Dimitri heard the steps as well.

“Your Highness, I finally found you!” A foot soldier gasped for breath. “There’s an express messenger from the Alliance at the parlor, it’s urgent!”

Startled, Dimitri exchanged hurried glances with Wolfram. “Very well, thank you for running all the way here. Lead me to him.”

Apparently, the Empire was about to strike Derdriu, so Claude had sent an express messenger asking for the Kingdom’s aid right as he felt the shift in the Empire’s forces. Wolfram truly respected Claude’s backbone -- to ask help of someone who had been his enemy in the previous battle, albeit a misplaced one, was a power move.

Regardless of how each of them felt about the situation, their morale was at an all-time high after retaking the capital. That being so, they headed to the Aquatic Capital with clear heads and firm arms.

As they travelled, they devised many strategies to be able to jump into action as soon as they arrived, but the one Byleth suggested the most seemed to be the one that they would find themselves in: from how the Professor read the battlefield and how much she knew Claude, they would most likely fight in a pincer attack.

Claude was planning on luring the Empire’s forces into his territory so Dimitri could strike them on the back and effectively wipe them out. Truly a power move; Wolfram’s respect for him grew even more.

He conveyed as much once they met on the battlefield while Wolfie served as a fast messenger as usual.

“Wolf, you haven’t changed at all! Or should I say that you changed just as much as I expected you would? Done with the amnesia act now?” Claude teased despite being out of breath for covering his allies with his arrows from above.

Laughing, the half manakete simply relayed the message, glad that Claude’s wit hadn’t disappeared even after half a decade.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel weird while fighting those people. He was basically moving back and forth to relay Byleth’s orders, but he still had to protect himself here and there, so he was involved in a skirmish or two.

They felt familiar, like enemies he had fought before… Or watched someone fight before. But where? Who was it? The battle was so chaotic he couldn’t even focus on pulling a memory from years ago.

Yet, despite Wolfram’s worry, the battle progressed much faster than anyone had expected once the Kingdom army arrived. Of course, a pincer attack was usually always a winning tactic so it was no wonder that Claude was confident in that strategy.

But the truly shocking part of that entire endeavor was not the battle itself, but the results after it was won: Claude had taken measures to merge the Alliance back into the Kingdom, solidifying a step into the unification of Fódlan by Dimitri instead of by what Edelgard had been trying to do for the past five years.

“I need to leave right away, so our reunion won’t be as long,” Claude had told them the night before he was set to board a ship to somewhere far away, “but when I come back, I wanna hear all of the juicy details, you hear?”

Wolfie giggled after accepting Claude’s stretched hand into a warm handshake that shared a promise to meet again, whenever their futures crossed. Wolfram wondered in passing if he would still be in this world whenever Claude returned, but somehow, he felt that regardless of how long it took, they would meet again, against all circumstances.

Merging the Alliance back into the Kingdom after hundreds of years of its independence was a surprising boon to their cause -- though it would mean many, many mountains of documents to sign and reports to read once things calmed down -- but there was still one step to take before they could bring the fight into the Empire’s territory: they had to retake Arianrhod, the Fortress City.

It was once the border between the Kingdom and the Empire, which was now being controlled by the imperial forces. Dimitri had to take it back to ensure that Fhirdiad would be safe while they breached into the Empire’s territory towards Enbarr.

The plan was to retake Arianrhod, mostly known as the Silver Maiden, right after reclaiming Faerghus, but Claude’s matter was more pressing, so the endeavor was pushed back. Now, however, it was their priority.

It was the final step to reclaiming all of Faerghus, especially now before the imperial forces inside it were strengthened.

The fortress resembled the Great Bridge of Myrddin, though it was certainly more focused on defense and entrapment than on attack. There were many demonic beasts guarding the devices that controlled the traps, but Wolfram was able to take on one of them all by himself.

In Fódlan, or at least in this world where Fódlan was located, there were many kinds of magic; many still that were innate to some people. Although Wolfram was an outlander, it wasn’t as though he didn’t have untapped magic inside of him; it was simply because there was no such practice in Archena.

Because of all of these factors, Wolfram was able to find a powerful kind of magic within him: one that he called ‘Naga’ in respect to his kind’s Mother. It was devastatingly effective against monsters of all kind, to the point that he was able to fry a demonic beast in one shot after using the magic. Though it was a one-use only magic, it was something that would be a tremendous help in the future.

“Holy shit!” Caspar yelled from beside Wolfram during the battle after seeing the scorched body of the beast fall to the ground. “What was that? Awesome!”

Even Byleth commented on it after Wolfie returned to her with a message. “So this was your innate magic. Is it common in your world? It’s powerful.”

“Heehee…” Wolfram laughed awkwardly. “I don’t know, honestly. I just felt a surge of power and used it. We don’t use innate magic where I’m from, so I don’t know if it’s common or not.”

“I see; interesting. I wish I could go there someday to perhaps teach more people about magic from this world.”

“Oh, that would be interesting! I know my Father would love to learn more about magic!” Wolfie giggled happily, gearing himself up again to deliver another message.

Just one more step… Just after conquering this fortress, they would finally be able to start their war against the Empire in earnest.

The next stop: Fort Merceus!

[chaoticevilbean]

Lord of the Rings Rewrite

Based off the movies, extended edition, and Pippin has magic

Merry hits me through the tent, and I quickly duck under the material.

"Quickly!" Merry boosts me into the cart and I quickly sort through the fireworks. I hold up a medium green rocket, but Merry quickly shuts the idea down.

"No, no! The big one, big one!" he exclaims, looking this way, and that so we won't get caught. My head aches slightly as I hold up a big red rocket, shaped like a dragon's head. I'm about to put it down, when I see Merry's face. He wants this one, so I push aside the ache and jump out of the cart and into the tent. Merry and I set the rocket up, but I'm distracted as my ache returns at double the pain. I try to ignore it and light the fuse.

"Done," I say, pushing the rocket up. It falls onto Merry's chest.

"You're supposed to stick it in the ground!" Merry tells me, panicking as he pushes it back towards me.

"It is in the ground!" I respond, his panic infecting me. My head hurts worse, and I try to figure out the problem. I push it back.

"Outside!" Merry practically yells, pushing it back once again. The pain dulls. Oh. That was the problem. This is bad.

"It was your idea," I remind him. He does all the thinking for me.

Suddenly the firework goes off, pushing us away and blackening our faces. It takes some of the tent with it as it flies high above the party, forming a great big dragon of sparks. Everyone looks on in awe, but my head is telling me there's something wrong. I understand as the dragon turns back towards everyone, flies low to the ground and almost hits everyone before flying off once again and bursting into beautiful fireworks.

"That was good," Merry tells me. I agree, but I wanna say that we should leave now.

"Let's get another one," my voice says without my consent. I internally groan at my automatic idiocracy. I turn to run off, knowing that Merry will listen to my stupidity, when someone grabs my ear. I hear Merry exclaim as well, so at least we were both caught.

"Meriadoc Brandybuck," a familiar voice says, "and Peregrin Took. I might have known." Me and Merry look to see Gandalf. Fear threatens to choke me, but I try to hide it. Hopefully they'll pass it off for the punishment that's sure to come.

The punishment does come, in the form of washing all the dishes from the party. Which, considering the entire Shire came, is a lot of plates and silverware and cups and bowls.

Late into the night, the crowd begins to call out for Bilbo to give a speech. He complies, standing on a barrel to be seen by all.

"My dear Bagginses and Boffins," the mentioned cheer loudly, "Tooks and Brandybucks," Merry and I join in with our families, "Grubbs, Tubbs, Hornblowers," cheers from each as they're mentioned, "Bulgers, Bracegirdles, and Proudfoots." I hear someone call out "PROUDFEET!" followed by laughing from those around him.

"Today is my One Hundred and Eleventh birthday!"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" choruses the crowd. Bilbo continues.

"Alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. (cheers?) I don't know half of you half as well as I should like and I like less than half of you, half as well as you deserve." I think about this. So he doesn't know half of us as much as he'd like, and he likes less than half of us, and only half as much as we deserve. I see Gandalf smirk, and find a small mimicry move its way up my face. But I stop when I realize that no other Hobbits besides me understood. I'm supposed to be an idiot, so I adopt the same confused look as Merry.

"I, er, I have things to do." As the old Hobbit speaks, he reaches into one of his pockets. I notice a faint feeling of darkness as he takes something out of his pocket and holds it behind his back. The object glints the moment before it's hidden. "I've put this off for far too long. I regret to announce this is the End. I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye." Bilbo smiles fondly at Frodo, while everyone looks curiously on. Then, quite suddenly, every Hobbit gasps. Every Hobbit but me. Bilbo seems awfully pleased with something he did and hops off the barrel and heads past everything towards his house. I see Gandalf take his pipe out of his mouth and scowl. I look at Merry, but he's just as stunned as all the others.

"What happened, Merry?" I ask. My friend looks at me, eyes wide.

"I don't know, Pippin. I don't know," he mutters. I furrow my brow as I try to think of what happened. Obviously, I was the only one not affected, and judging by what was going on, no one saw Bilbo head home. I watch the chaos and notice Gandalf heading after Bilbo, walking briskly, but somehow as unnoticed as the Hobbit himself.

"Come on!" Merry calls, and I turn to find him running off.

"Wait up," I call back, rushing after my friend.

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

We found ourselves in the Green Dragon not that many days after Bilbo left. Apparently, he headed to live with the Elves. After many mugs of ale, Merry and I found ourselves on a table, singing and dancing away.

"Hey ho, to the bottle I go!

To heal my heart and drown my woe.

Rain may fall and wind may blow,

But there still be

many miles to go!

Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain,

and the stream that falls from hill to plain.

Better than rain or rippling brook-"

"Is a mug of beer inside this Took!"

I take over on the last line of the song, raising my half-pint in salute before taking a drink. Everyone around me cheers. It feels good to know that people think I'm good at something, even if it's not that great of a talent.

We walk out later that night, saying goodbye to Rosie on the way. We chuckle at the thought of what Sam would look like if he saw that. She's no more than a friend to us, but Sam's got the biggest fancy for her than anyone else I've seen.

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

I can hear singing, like something from another world. I turn and see wood elves passing by. Some are riding on the finest steeds I've ever seen, while most walk, carrying lanterns and wearing pure, glowing robes. I hear talking amidst the singing, and look in the direction it comes from. Just as I see two small forms gazing at the procession, I fall into darkness.

"Smoke rises from the Mountain of Doom. The hour grows late and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my Council. For that is why you have come, is it not? My old friend." A wizard with long grey-white hair and beard and an all-white robe walks down the steps of a huge black tower. Gandalf walks over as he speaks and bows.

"Saruman," Gandalf says. So that is the wizard's name, though what a name it is. I feel the fear within me tremble. Unlike with Gandalf, this fear is real, instinctual, not from years of experience but from something primal, something dark.

I feel a shift, and then Saruman and Gandalf are walking near the tower.

"So the Ring of Power has been found," Saruman states. I shiver at the feeling that comes when he says this. But then I think. Ring of Power? I've heard stories, but nothing concrete.

"All these long years it was in The Shire under my very nose," Gandalf tells his fellow. I want to scream at Gandalf to not tell him, that this wizard is nothing good, but I know that it will be no use.

"And yet you did not have the wits to see it. Your love of the Halflings leaf has clearly slowed your mind." I frown. Many of my best ideas come from Old Toby.

"But we still have time. Time enough to counter Sauron if we act quickly," Gandalf hurriedly says. Sauron. The name sends more shivers down my spine.

"Time! What time do you think we have?" Saruman exclaims, a hint of anger in his voice. Another shift comes, and suddenly I'm inside the tower. I can feel the evil in it, thrumming, but not like the feeling in your chest when you hum. The sound of a war drum, or the noise right before some big monster roars and devours you whole.

"Sauron has regained much of his former strength." I turn and see Saruman and Gandalf still speaking.

"He cannot yet take physical form but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak Gandalf. A great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame." My head begins to ache. The evil in here is so powerful, and the words, and Saruman, and the very tower echo with darkness.

"The Eye of Sauron." Gandalf seems to not feel the darkness surrounding him. Could he be a part of it? NO! I can feel his energy, bright and filled with goodness. I move closer until I'm standing right beside him, using his light as an anchor in this pitch black place. My fear becomes my safety.

"He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon he will have summoned an army great enough to launch an assault upon Middle Earth," Saruman continues, not sounding concerned about the Dark Lord of Mordor trying to kill everything in Middle Earth.

"You know this? How?" Gandalf questions.

"I have seen it," the dark wizard dressed in white answers. The two walk into a different room and I follow. A pedestal stands in the middle of the room, a black cloth covering what sits upon it. I feel pulled towards it, but my will to stay near Gandalf is greater.

"A palantir is a dangerous tool, Saruman."

"Why? Why should we fear to use it?" Saruman pulls the cloth off, revealing a globe, a sphere of black, cloudy glass.

"They are not all accounted for. The lost seeing stones. We do not know who else may be watching." Gandalf moves forward, covering the palantir back up. As he does, I sense a darkness flash through the stone. He must feel it as well, for the Grey Wizard pauses, his face one of realization.

"The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are already moving. The Nine have left Minas Morgul." Saruman sits back on his throne.

"The Nine!"

"They crossed the River Isen on Midsummer's Eve disguised as riders in black."

"They've reached The Shire?" The Shire? My head pounds now. I know, I know! That's home! That's where Merry, and Frodo, and Rosie, and Sam, and Mother and Father, and my sisters, and everyone!

"They will find the Ring and kill the one who carries it."

"Frodo." FRODO‽ SERIOUSLY, GANDALF‽ Of all the Hobbits in Hobbiton, it had to be one of my best friends! And then Gandalf the... the Fool goes and says his name! Every thought rushes in one way and out another as I stare between Gandalf and his traitorous kin.

"You did not seriously think that a hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can. Against the power of Mordor there can be no victory. We must join with him Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise my friend." I make a slight grunt at the friend part. You'd have to be a fool or evil to be friends with someone this dark. And Gandalf isn't evil.

"Tell me. Friend... When did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?" I internally cheer at the insult, but all possible celebration is wiped from me as Saruman throws the firework-making wizard across the room. As the two begin to fight, throwing each other everywhere, my vision fades.

"GANDALF!" I shout as it all goes black.

[lordmomohismomoness]

Oneshots - Fluffy

A Matter of Appearances by Chromeknickers

Rated T 7K words Completed 2011

Zuko and Katara serve tea at Iroh's shop, which leads to Zuko and Katara getting shamelessly hit on. Their solution to their pervert woes? Pretend to be a jealous couple in order to scare off the grab-happy folks of Ba Sing Se.

Closet Negotiations by Rashaka

Rated T 3K words Completed 2006

Empty closets are good for lots of things. As Katara is going to find out, hiding is just one of them.

Sometimes I Really Wanna Kick You by Footinmouthed

Rated T 10K words Complete 2014

A/U Zutara: Katara may be the youngest intern Azulon Agencies has ever taken on, but that doesn't stop her from yelling at the CEO's son... and then... falling in love with him?

Unwanted Correspondence by Aurcras

Not Rated 1K words Complete 2020

it's a love letter, and he's not jealous. not at all.

Just Improvise by Boogum

Rated T 2K words Complete 2018

Fortunately, Sokka was a quick thinker and had come up with a plausible excuse for why the gaang, or what appeared to be the Avatar and his travelling companions, were at the Ember Island marketplace. Unfortunately, that same "genius plan" meant that the officials now thought they were a group of travelling actors. And the crowd happened to be Zutara shippers. Whatever that meant.

Rounding The Edges by Sadladybug

Rated T 10K words Complete 2015

It can take some grit and hard work to grind out the sharp edges, but the effort can produce something that shines. A Zutara oneshot in which Katara learns a few new things about Zuko, including the fact that he may be very difficult to live without. Featuring unexpected teamwork, tense training moments, and more than a few awkward conversations. Canon compliant(ish), Book Three beginning sometime between TSR and EIP.

Written for the 2015 Zutara Secret Santa Exchange on Tumblr.

When you say "it's gonna happen now" by Pentaghastly

Rated M 5K words Complete 2020

She should have known.

Still, it takes four weeks, several photo exchanges, hundreds of blush-inducing messages, and three days for Katara to realize that Lee, Age 23, Ten Kilometers Away—

Lee is Zuko.

Zuko has seen her bra.

She really, really should have known.

Masquerade by Cathie_writes_things

Rated G 3K words Completed 2018

Zuko sneaks out as the Blue Spirit to look for the Avatar in Ba Sing Se. He ends up accidentally crashing a masquerade party in the upper ring, where a familiar blue-eyed girl decides to take an interest in him.

He hadn't meant for any of this to happen.

Burgundy and Blue by Anothersilenttwriter

Rated T 3K words Completed 2020

Zuko didn't know who she was until it was too late.

He wanted so desperately to believe in something, anything. His whole life had been centered around destiny and honor, and always something bigger than him that he was just comfortable being around a spirit stronger than him. But to find out his new source of hope at his lowest point was nothing more than a girl, well he was disappointed.

But he learns that it isn't too bad.

The Painting by The_savage_daughter_0627

Rated M 3K words Completed 2020

Katara is roped into attending an art gallery by her boss, where his nephew's work is being displayed. She runs into a pretty cute guy with an interesting scar by a painting. He asks what she thinks, she critiques it, and then things get real awkward, real quick.

Written for Zutara Week 2020 prompt "Celestial". Reposted.

The Brownstone by The_savage_daughter_0627

Rated M 5K words Completed 2020

Katara meets up with Zuko for her first modeling job, and realizes she may be in over her head as she realizes there is more to the young artist than meets the eye.

Sequel to "The Painting", so if you haven't read that yet, DO IT!!!

The Lucky Dragon - A Short Zutara by Damagectrl

Rated G 16K words Complete 2019

With no 100 Year War ever happening and an aging Avatar Aang meditating any scuffles, there isn’t much threat of annihilation from the other nations. Nature, however, is another story. After an algae bloom decimates the local fish population and sends the tribe to the brink of starvation, the Southern Water tribal elders are approached by Fire Lord Iroh and offered access to Fire Nation fishing waters until the fish repopulate.

In exchange: his beloved nephew needs an escort to his cousin’s coronation. Everyone seems in begrudging agreement. Except Katara, who after being requested for the task, flees and accidentally ends up on the last island she wanted to be on with a man and his young, friendly dragon - Druk

When Eyes Meet by Dyce

Rated T 4K words Complete 2013

Katara and Zuko have an embarrassing chance encounter during season one. After that, every time their eyes meet, they're more drawn to each other.

Gonna Kiss You In My Arms by Babyfairy

Rated G 1K words Completed 2018

Beneath his mask, he smiles. She's looking for him and he knows it.

I feel something (when I see you now) by Glowgal

Rated T 5K words Completed 2020

Zuko hasn’t thought about high school in years. Of course he thinks about Katara from time to time - a man never forgets his first unrequited crush. But she's nothing more than a fond memory, a relic from simpler times.

Then Katara gets cast in a fucking Blue Spirit movie.

And yeah, Zuko’s thinking about high school again.

or

Katara is famous and it's just a lot for Zuko to deal with. Then he bumps into her in a Rite-Aid.

Let those colors run (now you're having fun) by Glowgal

Rated T 4K words Completed 2020

“Everything ok?” Zuko asks. “Did some asshole ask you what’s in your bag again?”

“Everything’s fine,” Katara laughs, and she knows, suddenly and surely, that she wants nothing more than to have him on her arm at this event and every event for as long as he’ll have her. “I just have something I’ve got to ask you.”

or

Katara is not allowed to take Zuko to the premiere of the Blue Spirit movie. So naturally, she's taking him.

The Sexless Innkeeper by Gemgirl28

Rated M 2K words Completed 2020

Katara keeps accidentally spending the night with Zuko. Or does she?

VERY loosely inspired by the episode of How I Met Your Mother by the same name.

Pumpkin Patch Proposal by The_savage_daughter0627

Rated G 3K words Completed 2020

Zuko is a nervous wreck as he prepares to ask Katara to marry him.

The strength of my convictions by Antarcticas

Rated G 2K words Completed 2020

“I’m glad that I don’t have to account for more terrible lawbreakers coming here.”

“You’re happy with this one?” he asks teasingly as he pulls her closer to him.

“Yeah,” she looks up into the mask’s terrifying visage — it should be worrisome that she doesn’t know what lies beneath it but she trusts the Blue Spirit implicitly. She has for the past several months. Her lips curve up and then she buries her face into his warm black outfit, his smoky and spicy scent comforting. “Yeah, I am.”

Katara's got a man wearing a mask in her apartment. Blutara.

Angsty:

Fault lines by antarcticas

Rated G 3K words Completed 2020

Zuko loves Mai. Zuko loves the resilience in her eyes, the beautiful fire under her skin, the courage of her touch and the strength of her countenance.

Zuko loves Mai. Zuko—

Zuko cannot stop thinking of Katara.

[swanqueeneverafter]

The Once & Future Queen Pt.12

Storybrooke. Sheriff's Station. (Belle reads an entry in a book while Alice grimaces at the creature crawling under Will’s skin.) Belle: “I feared as much.” Alice: “What is it?” (Belle hands Elsa the book who studies the page.) Belle: (To Alice:) “It’s a Fomorroh. (She looks at the drawing of it in the book over Elsa’s shoulder:) Whoever put it there was very highly skilled.” Alice: “What does it do?” Belle: “In the days of the Old Religion, they were used by the High Priestess to enslave the minds of their enemies. Once a thought was planted, the victim would not stop till they’d accomplished it.” Elsa: (Looks up:) “Could that be what affected Anastasia?” Belle: “It’s a definite possibility.” Alice: (Staring at the creature squirming under her brother’s neck:) “How do we get rid of it?” Belle: “First we must paralyse the serpent.” (Belle looks to Elsa who nods and they head into the jail cell to join Alice. Standing over Will who lays sleeping on the cot, Elsa uses her powers to freeze the Fomorroh in place.) Alice: “Is it dead?” Belle: “Sadly not. Merely dormant. Now for the tricky bit. I’ll need a knife.” Lily: (Entering the station alongside Tiana:) “Here. Have mine.” (Lily pulls out a knife from her boot and hands it to Belle.) Belle: “Er... thanks. I still need to sterilize it though.” (Lily nods and walks over to her father’s desk. Pulling open a drawer, she leans down and produces a bottle of rum.) Lily: “Dad’s secret stash. Will that do?” Belle: (Nods:) “Actually, rum is a great antiseptic. Thanks.” (Belle pours the rum over Lily’s knife and Alice grimaces as Belle cuts the Fomorroh out of Will’s neck.) Alice: “That’s it? Belle: “For now.” Elsa: “What do you mean?” Belle: “If you kill one, eventually another grows in its place.” Alice: “But how do we get rid of it, if it keeps growing back?” Belle: “There’s only one way, I’m afraid. You have to kill the mother beast.” Alice: “How can we do that if we don’t know where it is?” Elsa: (Noticing that Will is beginning to wake:) “I think we’re about to get some answers.” Lily: “All right, everyone out of the cell.” (Ushering everyone out, Lily pulls the cell door closed and locks it while Will rolls over onto his back.) Will: (Seeing the five women all staring at him:) “Oh bloody hell. This isn’t good.”

A Short Time Later. (After asking for time alone, Tiana and Will talk while Elsa, Belle and Alice watch with Lily from the Sheriff's office.) Tiana: (Casually biting into one of her beignets:) “So, you don’t remember anything?” Will: “I remember Morgana conjuring the snake, but…nothing more. No.” Tiana: “And how do you feel?” Will: “Apart from this throbbing pain in my cheek, I feel fine.” Tiana: “Mhmm. Well rest assured, you deserved it.” Will: (Bringing his hand to his face:) “This was you?” Tiana: “You’re damn right it was. Under Morgana’s control or not, you had it coming. (Will begins to protest:) First you tell Henry that you and Ella had an affair in Wonderland... (Will’s eyes widen:) Then you run up a huge bar tab at the Lair and leave without paying...” Will: “Oh, bollocks.” Tiana: “And finally you try to break into the library. That’s where I put an end to your night on the town.” Will: (Grabbing the cell bars:) “T, you have to know I would never cheat on you with Ella. Or anyone. I value my life too much.” Tiana: (Smirks:) “Oh, I know. Ella was as surprised as I was when Henry told us what you’d confessed to him. Ella and Henry are fine too, by the way.” Will: (Shaking his head:) “I’m lucky to be alive.” Tiana: “Lucky you can run faster than Henry, you mean.” Will: “Henry? No, I’m more worried about Regina! Or Ella... Or Robin if it comes to that. T, can you ever forgive me?” Tiana: (Nods:) “First things first. (Tiana turns and waves for the others to join them:) According to Belle, the serpent in your neck is dormant and when it wakes, your mind will be Morgana’s once more.” Will: “But how do we get rid of it, if it keeps growing back?” Belle: (Walking over to them:) “There’s only one way, I’m afraid. You have to kill the mother beast.” Will: “That creature that lives in Morgana’s hut? (Belle nods:) Great. How long have I got? How long before this thing wakes up?” Elsa: “A day, no more. And I wouldn’t face her alone.” Alice: “Don’t worry, I have a feeling Will’s going to have plenty of company on his trip back to Morgana’s hideaway.” Land Without Magic. Past. Hong Kong. (August sits across from the Dragon.) Dragon: “Tell me. Why have you come?” August: “You see that?” (Rolls up his pant leg.) Dragon: “No, because the problem is with your other leg. (August chuckles and rolls up his other pant leg:) You're turning to wood... Pinocchio.” August: “How in the hell do you know my name? Who are you? Are you from my land?” Dragon: “August, you're in pain. Waste your energy not on me but on your affliction. All you need to worry about is whether I can help you. And the answer is, indeed I can.” August: (Exhales and whispers:) “Thank God.” Dragon: “There are, however, conditions.” August: “Yeah.” Dragon: “I need an item of great value to you.” August: “Money. I-I have some--” Dragon: “No. That comes later. I need something close to your heart, something that cannot be replaced.” (Points to August's neck.) August: (Pulls out a necklace from beneath his shirt:) “This? It's... It's worthless.” Dragon: “The pendant, perhaps, but the string—it was the string your father used to animate you as a freshly carved puppet. In a way, it first gave you life. It will serve as payment from your soul.” (The Dragon holds out his hand.) August: “Will it work?” Dragon: “Perhaps. (Reluctantly, August gives him the string:) Now... as any vendor from this world, I also need payment from your wallet. 10,000 American dollars.” August: “$10,000?” Dragon: “Bring the money tonight, and you shall never turn to wood again.”

Morgana’s Hovel. Present. (Agravaine visits his niece to share information from Camelot.) Morgana: “Do the people grow weary of Guinevere’s reign yet?” Agravaine: “I wish it were so, my lady, but I do bring information of an equally enticing nature. I have planted the seed of suspicion in our young Queen’s mind. I’ve struck a blow at the very heart of old Camelot.” Morgana: “Go on.” Agravaine: “Lancelot grew unsure of my motives, but I’ve turned the situation to our advantage.” Morgana: “How so?” Agravaine: “I’ve used it to implicate an old friend of yours. Gaius.” Morgana: “The old healer?” Agravaine: “I think there are some interesting times ahead for our physician.” (Agravaine goes to pour himself a drink.) Morgana: “And that’s your news is it? You were almost found out and managed to divert their suspicions onto an elderly healer? It’s hardly information of an enticing kind, is it?” Agravaine: “No, my lady.” Morgana: “So, my lord…you can do better. And you will do better.” Agravaine: “Yes, my lady.” Morgana: “I, on the other hand, have learned the whereabouts of the man destined to be my downfall.” Agravaine: “Really? You know where Merlin is?” Morgana: “Yes, and I have already set plans in motion that will lead to the Sorcerer’s own demise.” Agravaine: “My lady, I must admit your news is far more interesting than mine. Where is he, this Merlin?” Morgana: “Ah, now that’s the tricky part.” Storybrooke. Past. October 2011. (On the school playgrounds, Henry looks at a family tree assignment he was supposed to complete. It is not filled in. He tucks it into a folder and slides it under his open lunch box. Mary Margaret walks up to him.) Mary Margaret: “Henry? You didn’t turn in your homework again. Is there a problem? (Henry does not answer, so she sits down beside him:) Oh, Henry. Things really will change if you just believe it. (He closes his lunch box:) Life is unpredictable.” Henry: “Is your life unpredictable? Because it seems to me like everything is pretty much the same around here. Except me. My birth mom didn’t love me. Regina says she does, but she doesn’t. I-I don’t belong here.” Mary Margaret: “You do belong here, Henry. You are loved. (Her expression perks up as she comes up with an idea:) I wanna show you something. (She reaches for something in her bag:) This morning, I was cleaning out my bedroom closet. Like I’ve done every week, thousands of times, and do you know what happened? I found something. Something I’ve never noticed before. (She pulls out a large book, entitled in golden letters as Once Upon a Time, and places it down in front of Henry:) It was just there. Like magic.” Henry: “That’s not possible.” Mary Margaret: “Well, of course not. (Henry begins opening the book:) But it happened. This book somehow arrived. (Henry turns to a page with a drawing of an older man and young boy:) Was it given to me? Did I forget about it? I don’t know, but there it was. And do you know what I saw when I looked inside? (Henry looks at her expectantly:) Hope.” Henry: (Glances down at the book:) “Looks like fairy tales to me.” Mary Margaret: “And what exactly do you think fairy tales are? They are a reminder that our lives will get better if we just hold onto hope. Your happy ending may not be what you expect, but that is what will make it so special.” Henry: “Can… can I borrow this?” Mary Margaret: “You can have it.” Henry: (Smiles:) “Really?” Mary Margaret: “Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a powerful thing. I think you could use it. (She gets up and pats him on the shoulder:) I’ll see you in class.” (She departs.) Henry: (Flips to another page of a princess and her prince:) “Ms. Blanchard.” Mary Margaret: “Yes?” (He looks up and is stunned to see her dressed as the same princess in the book. A moment later, she appears as normal.) Henry: “Thank you.” Mary Margaret: (Smiles:) “You’re very welcome.” (She continues walking away.) (Watching this exchange from afar, Emma turns to the Apprentice.) Emma: "That's the last one." Apprentice: "Yes, the storybook that started it all." Emma: "Merlin’s messing with me, right? I put him back in his tree and now he’s getting his revenge? (The Apprentice stares at her with a confused expression:) I mean, I'm not sure I like the idea of being the catalyst behind so much tension between Henry and Regina." Apprentice: "I imagine you would dislike the idea of losing your family forever even more." Emma: "Well, when you put it like that..." Apprentice: "Now remember, you must be in position at the precise time Henry knocks on your door or all will be lost." Emma: (Nods:) "I'll be there. What about Mulan?" Apprentice: "If all goes according to plan, your friend will join you back where you both belong." Emma: "What’s Mulan doing for you while I'm delivering storybooks anyway?" Apprentice: (Smiles:) "There are many elements that have to be set in motion before you can safely return home, Emma. In life, we all have our parts to play, and I am no different. Come, we shall make one last journey together. After that, your fate is in your hands." (They walk together around the corner and out of sight. Meanwhile, Henry opens the storybook and flips to a page of a princess and prince with an infant child.) Henry:  “Emma.”

Storybrooke. Present. The Dragon’s Lair. (Zelena watches as Regina fills a large leather bag with various unsavory looking items, including the baseball bat.) Zelena: “What happened to you focusing your energies on Maria and Henry?” Regina: “Morgana targeted Henry. I don’t know what she’s up to and Morgana can attack me all she wants, but the minute you go after my kids? You better believe I’m coming for you.” Zelena: “Are you sure that’s the wisest move? I mean you don’t exactly have the greatest track record when it comes to witch fights.” Regina: “That’s why you’re coming with me. Come on, Zelena, Morgana is the reason Robin Hood had to sacrifice himself. Don’t you want revenge for that?” Zelena: “Honestly... revenge is the last thing on my mind. I’m more concerned about keeping the ones I love safe and so should you be. I thought we retired from the revenge business?” Regina: “Well I don’t know what else to do! Without Emma, I can’t create a protection spell powerful enough to protect the town. Even if I could, we all know how well that worked out last time.” Zelena: “All right, but shouldn’t we try and find out what Morgana wants? Lord knows she’s not the first person to try and take over everything. If we understand her motivation then maybe-” Regina: “Guinevere already tried that, remember? The last time anyone gave into Morgana’s demands, she kidnapped Lily and Maleficent. Then, when people gave her the benefit of the doubt, my daughter was taken from me. (Sighs:) Look, I admire this new passive nature you’ve discovered and we can ask Morgana all the questions you want, but this time we’re gonna take the fight to her for a change. Now are you coming or not?” (Regina picks up the bag and leaves while Zelena considers her options.) Land Without Magic. Past. Outside a bar in Hong Kong. (August looks through his wallet to find payment for the Dragon, but does not have sufficient funds.) Mulan: (From her seat at the bar:) “Hey.” August: “Hey.” (He walks towards her.) Mulan: “You look like you could use a drink.” August: “Yeah, well, I wasn't planning on staying very long.” Mulan: “Come on. Humor me. Celebrating alone is no fun. (When he sits next to her she pulls out her purse, which contains a big stack of one hundred dollar bills:) Figured a medicine man wouldn't take plastic. (Raising her bottle:) Um... To second chances.” (They toast.)

August: “Who knew they'd be so expensive?” Mulan: “Mm. Save my seat?” August: “Sure. (Mulan gets up and heads to the bathroom. August drinks his beer and looks around the bar. Turning back he sees a man now sitting in Mulan’s chair:) Oh, hey someone was sitting there.” Apprentice: “Yes, she was saving my place. Hello, August.” August: (A little startled by this:) “All right, how do you know my name?” Apprentice: (Chuckles:) “I know many names. Would you prefer I call you Pino-” August: (Hushed voice:) “Keep your voice down. August is fine.” Apprentice: (Smiles:) “Very well. August W. Booth. If you’re looking for answers... (Slides the storybook in front of him:) here’s where you should start.” August: “I’m not sure a bunch of fairy tales can cure me. (Winces in pain:) Ah!” Apprentice: (Notices August rubbing his leg:) “The body has a strange way of sending us signals, doesn't it? The tricky part isn't hearing them, but knowing what they truly mean.” August: “Listen, old man, I’ve already found someone who can give me what I want.” Apprentice: “Yes. But you have no money with which to pay him. August, what the Dragon has will stop you from turning to wood, yes. But that's just a symptom. You have a choice to make, either you can steal this poor girl’s money and give it to the Dragon. Or you can take this. (Places his hand on the storybook:) Inside lies the answer to your salvation. (Cautiously, August reaches out and opens the book:) Remember August, only you can cure yourself.” (After turning over a few pages, August looks up to see that the Apprentice and the money have both vanished.) Boston. Past. An Upscale Restaurant. (Emma Swan arrives and walks through the restaurant. Spotting her mark, she heads to Ryan’s table, he stands and extends his hand.) Ryan: “Emma.” Emma: “Ryan? You look relieved.” Ryan: “Well, it is the Internet. Pictures can be…” Emma: “Fake. Out-dated. Stolen from the Victoria’s Secret catalogue. So…” (They each take their seats.) Ryan: “So… tell me something about yourself, Emma.” Emma: “Oh… Uh, well, today’s my birthday.” (Watching this from a discreet distance, Emma smiles at the past version of herself before heading into the elevator.)

The Land of Oz. Past. (Carrying a small basket, a young girl walks along the yellow brick road. Up ahead, her path is blocked by a young man and a fallen tree.) Young Girl: “Excuse me, but your tree is blocking the path. You should move it before somebody gets hurt.” Young Boy: “I'm afraid it's already too late.” Young Girl: (Sees a lone egg nestled in the boy’s hand:) “The poor thing. It must not have survived the fall.” (The girl waves her hand over the egg and it glows green.) Young Boy: “How did you do that?” (The Young Girl waves her hand again and the nest reappears safely in the tree above them.) Young Girl: “Magic.” Young Boy: “Are you a witch?” (The girl nods.) Young Punk: (Stepping out of the bushes with his friend:) “She's a freak! Haven't you ever heard about the monster who lives in the shack? The freak with magic?” Young Girl: “That nest didn't fall out of the tree, did it?” Punk: “No. It made good target practice, though. And so will you.” (The Punk draws back his catapult and the girl runs for cover.) Young Boy: (Charges at them, weapon held high:) “Why don't you practice on my axe? (The punks run away. Turning to her:) Are you all right?” Young Girl: “Yes. Thank you. (Stepping out from behind the tree:) Well, that was a first. Not a lot of people want to befriend the girl with magic. Maybe they're right. Maybe I am a monster.” Young Boy: “You used your magic for good, and that doesn't make you a monster. It makes you special.” Young Girl: “You really think so?” Young Boy: (Offers his hand:) “I'm Stanum.” Young Girl: (Shakes it:) “Zelena.”

Outside Morgana's Hovel. Present. (Raising her head from behind a large boulder, Merida looks down at Morgana's hovel as Agravaine exits.) Merida: (Whispered:) "Do you know that man?" Will: "Not a clue. Thanks to this thing in me neck, I can barely remember my own name." Merida: "Shh. (Merida watches as Morgana also exits the hovel:) Right, there's our chance. You tell the others, I'll go on ahead." The Land Without Magic. Boston. Past. Emma’s Apartment. (Henry Mills arrives outside and is about to knock on the door when it swings open.) Emma: “Hey, kid. What took you so long?” Henry: “Oh... Are- Are you Emma Swan?” Emma: “Yep, and you’re Henry and you’re also my son.” Henry: “Yeah... how did you-” Emma: “I’ll explain on the way. Come on, kid. Let’s go home.”

[phoneboxfairy]

Working Up a Sweat (The Gym Fic!) (smut alert)

Ao3 link - https://archiveofourown.org/works/22405093 (Includes all proper formatting/italics/etc)  Commission for @a-god-of-calamity :)   Magnolia, Fiore, a fair sized city boasting sixty thousand residents, and home to a few notable families. Perhaps the most notable is the Dragneel clan. Unlike other families the Dragneels are not old money. Rather, Igneel, the family patriarch often referred to as The Dragon King, earned their wealth and notability slowly but surely, starting with the purchase of a single hotel a few years before the birth of his son. By the time the son, Natsu, was in middle school that single hotel had transformed into an empire. A second hotel was dedicated in providing luxury accommodations for travelers who otherwise might not have been able to afford it. Eventually the empire grew to include include shelters for families in need and the Dragneel Fund, which provides support to those who need it. But even Igneel the Dragon King cannot live forever, so making sure his heir would be ready to take over became a priority starting right around the same time Natsu entered high school. He made sure the boy had extra lessons on proper business management as well as plenty of first hand experience helping in various positions within the organization. By the time Natsu was twenty five he knew that company like the back of his own hand.  Even the old man was frequently heard praising his son’s skills. But lately...lately it all seemed like it was a bit too much. As much as he loved his family and the company, he desperately sought some sort of an outlet. Natsu tried to work out at his private gym, knowing full well how working out can relieve so much pent-up stress. But his efforts here were fruitless. When he was at home he couldn’t help thinking about work, about the company that led to his family’s wealth. Good thing Magnolia has some pretty awesome gyms. The newest one in town was called Fairy Tail, and already had a reputation for its facilities, classes, and top-of-the-line equipment. One afternoon after a stressful meeting, Natsu made a detour from his usual path home, instead ending up in the gym. He paid for a membership and made his way to the locker room. That’s where he first saw her. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of what he immediately described as a smoking hot blonde.  She’s curvy but clearly works out, he thought, judging by the way her sweatpants and tank top hugged her form. Her hair was tied up in a sloppy ponytail, and she had this fierce determined look on her face. What a babe. Wow. He shook his head to clear his mind, turned around… ...and walked right into a locked door. Thwack It didn’t go unnoticed. A few people snickered. But otherwise nobody really seemed to care about Natsu’s silly blunder. He dusted himself off then headed in the direction of the weight room...this time paying attention to where he was walking. As soon as he got to his destination he got right to work pumping iron. For a while that’s all he could think about. Then a voice caught his attention. "Are you alright?" "Hnh?" He looked up and saw her, the babe from earlier. Oh shit, better play it cool. "I...saw you run into that door. I would have stopped but I was running late for my class. I didn’t want my students to miss any yoga time." She was blushing. The rosy tint to her cheek made her look even prettier. "Ohh. That's nothin'. I'm fine. Thanks for asking!" He flashed a smile. Her blush deepened. "You're welcome." Pause. She bit her lip. "I'm Lucy, by the way. Lucy Heartfilia." "Nice to meet ya, Lucy." He recognized the name. She was the heir to the Heartfilia travel company, a group that sent quite a few customers to Dragneel hotels.  Rumor had it she had spent part of her inheritance buying a small bookshop and turning it into what locals referred to as paradise for bookworms. She was also every bit as beautiful as he had heard. "Likewise. You're Natsu Dragneel, right?" "Yeah, that's me. How'd you know?" "I saw your family crest on your hoodie. And I, um, recognized you from the paper." Those publicity pictures don't do him justice at ALL, she thought. To say nothing of how utterly hypnotic it was watching him do dumbbell curls. "Wow, you're beautiful and smart. I like that." “Thanks.” Her smile lit up her face. “So, what brings you to Fairy Tail? Don’t you have a private gym in your mansion?” “Yeah but sometimes you just need to get away, ya know? Escape from everyday life.” “I definitely get that. I should go, though. It’s been a long day and I’m supposed to meet my friends for dinner.” She handed him a folded up scrap of paper, blush setting her cheeks ablaze. “Call me if you want. Or, you know, if you have time.” “A cutie like you? I’ll make time.” A smile that exposed a fang and made Lucy’s heart flutter. “Al...alright! See you later, Natsu.” With that she left, leaving Natsu feeling pretty good about the whole situation. It wasn’t every day you had a meet cute with an absolute babe like Lucy, after all. With her on his mind, he couldn’t help smiling. That first night they shared a few texts. He wasn’t really surprised she didn’t talk much. After all, she did say she was meeting with friends. No way was he going to monopolize her free time like that. He also wasn’t surprised when they met up again a few days later after their respective workouts and immediately began flirting. Natsu was, however, quite surprised when Lucy asked him out. “Do you, um, want to go out sometime?” “Like a date?” Flustered nod. “Sounds good to me. I know! I can take you to dinner Saturday night.” Lucy paused and seemed to contemplate this for a minute. Then she smiled. “I like that idea. If you want I can show you around my bookstore first...” The light in her eyes suggested she wanted to, so why was she acting so shy about it? Well, Natsu wasn’t about to make a beautiful woman feel bad about something she was so clearly passionate about… “Sure!” Another one of his bright smiles. “Text me your address and let me know when you wanna meet up. Don’t keep me waitin’, alright?” Mock sternness. She saw right through his ruse, giggled,  melted his heart. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Mr. Dragneel.” Lucy leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Natsu’s eyes widened. He sure as hell hadn’t expected that, not so soon anyway. “Is that a hint of things to come?” “Only if you’re good.” Her response left him speechless, eyes wide as he stared at her in admiration of her boldness. She treated him to another cheek kiss, giggled. “See you Saturday night.” With that the pair went their separate ways, both contemplating their upcoming date. Truth be told it was quite an exciting prospect. Neither one were exactly unlucky in love, but all previous relationships seemed to be lacking...something.  Natsu was fed up with women trying to hook up with him in an attempt to score some of the family fortune, and Lucy had had more than enough of men seeing her as nothing more than a smoking hot body and a prolific bank account. Their meeting had been quite fortuitous. Lucy didn’t care how wealthy Natsu was, as she had money of her own. And sure, Natsu thought Lucy was a total babe, but he was also quite enamored with her personality, her sense of humor, and the way her smile made her entire being light up. Sexual attraction was there, sure, but with it was also the possibility of something more, something sweet, something lasting… Natsu sure hoped so, anyway. With these thoughts in his mind, the heir to the Dragneel Fund spent his Saturday morning preparing for this date. Lucy spent hers minding her shop for a bit, although she did close early to make sure she was adequately dolled up for her suitor. “Adequately” was an understatement. She thought she looked beautiful, a perfect mix of relaxed and classy in a black uneven tank top, matching skirt, a white overshirt, cut out leggings, and black boots. Her long hair was tied into two side ponytails, and a light dusting of makeup accented her face. By the awe-struck smile on Natsu’s face when she opened the door, he was pretty impressed too. “Hey, Lucy! Looking good. I feel kinda underdressed.” A gesture at his black dress shirt and jeans. “Don’t feel that way. You look great, Natsu.” Cute blush, beautiful smile. “Come on in. I’ll show you around.” The Celestial Gate was a shop like none he had ever experienced. It had that old book smell that reminded him of his father’s study growing up. Lots of shelves were lined with an endless quantity of books. There was even a cozy little reading area with couches, beanbag chairs, and tables to set snacks on. Now, Natsu didn’t exactly visit a lot of bookstores, preferring to order any needed reading materials online, but somehow he found Lucy’s shop every bit as appealing as its owner.   “I have an idea.” “Hm?” Lucy would never admit it but she had been glancing at him, trying to figure out what he was thinking.“Why don’t we stay here? We can order something to eat and get to know each other.” That look on her face seemed to be a mix of surprise and relief. He suspected, given their similar backgrounds, that she too had had more than her fair share of glitzy, ritzy dates. Here’s the thing about glitzy, ritzy dates: You can’t properly get to know someone on them. Not really. “I’d love that.” “Awesome. Hungry for anything special?” “This is gonna sound weird but...pizza!” She giggled. Natsu grinned. He didn’t think that was weird at all. That’s how Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia came to spend their first date sitting together in an oversized beanbag chair she called a fuf, eating pizza and talking about their life experiences. Once the food had been put away he laid back, stretching his arms behind his head. She quirked her head, bit her lip. “Can we cuddle? Is that okay?” “Duh. Go ahead.” A gesture and a smile beckoned her closer. She paused for a moment, smiled, then snuggled next to him. As if on instinct he curled his arms around her. Why not? It felt right to hold her close like this, although he couldn’t explain why. His fingers dared to stroke over the bare skin of her midriff. She didn’t object. In fact, she snuggled closer and let out a content sigh. “So warm...I like this...” “Me too.” He chuckled. He lifted his other hand to her cheek, let his thumb brush over her chin. She gazed up at him, eyes full of curiosity and wonder...with maybe a little anticipation thrown in. She nibbled her bottom lip. His heart melted. So cute, so absolutely beautiful. She looked like she needed a little tenderness, and honestly he was glad to give that to her. That decided, he leaned in, took her by surprise, kissed her. No resistance. That kiss was sweet...but entirely too fast. “Natsu?” “Yeah, Luce?”Luce...I like that... “Kiss me again?”“Alright...” Another softer chuckle. Another kiss, then another. She seemed to melt into his arms, and almost all her inhibitions floated away.Almost.As good as it felt to make out with her, to feel her body against his, Natsu couldn’t help noticing a little hesitation. And undeniable chemistry or not, he wasn’t the type to force someone into something they weren’t comfortable with yet. Especially not Lucy. So he pulled away from the kiss, rested his forehead on hers. Smiled.“That was nice...” “Yeah… we should do it again sometime.” “Definitely.” Here she kissed his cheek. “Thanks for an amazing first date.” “First, huh? That means there’ll be more, right?” “Duh.” She giggled. Natsu waited for Lucy to lock the shop up, then walked with her to her apartment door. They shared a tender kiss with a promise for more, and he watched to make sure she made it inside safely. Then he went home, unable to keep himself from smiling. Maybe an hour passed since Natsu had kissed Lucy goodnight and headed home. He had enough time to hop in the shower, change into comfy pajama pants, and flop on his bed and turn the TV on when his phone buzzed. A message...from Lucy? And a photo at that? It wasn’t exactly a surprise. After all, they had sent each other silly selfies before. So he opened the message, opened the photo file… ...and was treated to an absolutely stunning vision.  There was Lucy in a rather racy lingerie set. Black silk and lace. A pushup bra and a low-rise thong, accompanied by a cheeky message. “New set...you like?” Oh yeah, he liked, alright.He sent back a single word.“Wow.” She didn’t reply right away. That’s when he realized something was, well, amiss. His suspicion was confirmed when her response came through.“Oh my GOD wrong convo. I meant to send that to my bffs. Sorry sorry sorry!” She was mortified. Aw, poor girl... Natsu got an idea.“It’s fine. I like seeing that side of you. Let’s make it even, though.” “...you like it? And what do you mean, make it even?”He leaned back on his bed, grinned, snapped a pic, and sent it to her. “Fair’s fair ;)” At first he wondered if he scared her off, since she didn’t respond. When she did..she was clearly impressed. “Well...that explains why you always wear baggy pants ;)” One message made him blush. How could she be so adorable and sexy all at once? “Duh. ;) Just know you can always be yourself with me, sexy-as-hell selfies and all.” “Thanks, Natsu. I should go to sleep, tho. I can barely keep my eyes open. Talk tomorrow, k?”“Of course. Night, Luce. Sweet dreams.”A kiss emoji was her last message of the night. From that point on, things seemed to change between the two. To be clear it wasn’t a bad change. In fact, Natsu thought it was an improvement. Lucy was becoming more open and flirty with him, whether they were on a date, in the gym, or texting at the end of a long day. They had known each other for a little over a month, and had gotten into a routine. Chat and flirt at the gym on the days Lucy taught her class, go on dates every Saturday. Then Lucy caught Natsu by surprise by sending him spicy little snapshots every night accompanied by the same three word message: “Just for you… * kiss*”   The first night she was wearing an outfit that reminded him of a librarian...well, except for the way her top was unbuttoned to reveal a flash of black lace bra and the curve of her breasts. On another night she was laying down in a silky nightgown that accented her form perfectly.One night he was treated to the sight of his gorgeous girlfriend’s body barely wrapped in a towel, offering him a teasing glimpse of generous underboob and soft freshly washed skin, skin he wanted to kiss and touch more with each passing day. Late Thursday night, she surprised him yet again with a text. “Rough day?” “Yeah. Ugh. Board meetings suck.” “I feel that. Here. Maybe this’ll make you feel better...” Accompanied by a rather large download file. Curious, he clicked it...then realized it wasn’t one pic, but several. The folder was titled “Yoga Fun.” Yeah, he liked the sound of that. There was Lucy in a tight tank top and shorts that hugged that beautiful ass of hers, doing a variety of sexy yoga poses that succeeded in taking his breath away and sending blood straight to his cock. He couldn’t, wouldn’t stop looking at the utterly erotic vision before him. Then his phone buzzed again. “What do you think?” He responded with a pic of his own, showing one hand stroking over the growing bulge in his sweats. Buzz buzz. Another photo file showing her in the bath, her completely bare body covered in nothing but warm water and bubbles. “Mm, yummy. Now to enjoy a nice bath. More tomorrow...” Followed by a wink and a heart. That night Natsu gave in to temptation. He let his imagination wander as he flipped through Lucy’s photos, his fantasies focusing on what he would very much enjoy doing with the voluptuous blonde. At this point the sexual tension between the two was as thick as fog. They were clearly both head over heels for one another, both pretty damn sure they were going to hook up at some point… but the question was, when? The answer turned out to be sooner than either expected. The next night, after some pretty intense flirtation and a goodbye kiss that included him grabbing her sweet little ass in the middle of Fairy Tail’s evening rush, Natsu got a message. “Want to play with me tonight?” The accompanying image made his mouth water. She lay on her back in a rather skimpy ensemble consisting of a cupless bra and low-cut lacy panties. Her free hand, the one not holding the camera, stroked over her bare skin. Her hair was down, flowing freely around her, and there was a sinfully inviting look on her face. There was only one acceptable answer here. “YES.” “Good. What’cha wearing?” For once words failed him and he went for the direct approach, took a hopefully appealing selfie showing off chest and low-hanging sweatpants, and sent it to her. Her response sent his heart racing. “Yummy, but a bit overdressed, yes?” “If you say so...” He paused, flung his sweatpants off, took another pic. “Is that better, babe?” “Getting there. I’ll give you a special treat if you lose the boxers, Dragon Prince.” One single text sent his pulse racing. Was she serious?! Gods, he hoped so… He also didn’t want to keep Lucy waiting, not with such an intriguing promise hanging in the air. So off went the boxers. He grasped his cock and snapped another photo, hoping she would like what he had to offer. By the looks of it, she was quite impressed. “Dragon is right. I’d love to ride that...” Accompanied by a wink. He blushed. For several moments there was silence. Natsu wondered if Lucy had forgotten about this special treat… then his phone buzzed, indicating a received video file… That video file… holy shit, it was hotter than anything he had ever had the privilege of witnessing. Lucy was on her knees on her bed. Her legs were parted, and she ran her hands through her hair. The whole time she was flashing a sexy little smile at the camera. Her hands roamed. They cupped and squeezed her generous tits, and fingers brushed over perky, berry pink nipples. Holy shit she’s fucking perfect… He couldn’t, wouldn’t, take his eyes off of her, slowly pumping his cock as the video continued. Her hands wandered downward, stroking over her tummy and lower. She did a little shimmy dance as she hooked both thumbs into the waistband of those tiny panties, tugged down, exposing silky skin and a bare hint of blonde hair… “Natsu...” Her seductive whisper made his cock twitch. He grasped harder, eagerly anticipating what was next, wanting to see her most intimate regions… ...but the video stopped there. Knowing Lucy, this was deliberate. She did like teasing, after all. He sent her a video of his own, showing her exactly what he thought of her special treat. “More please?” “Of course…*kiss emoji* You know… I think of you when I touch myself…and I feel like playing tonight...” “Oh? I’d like to see that.” “You can if you want...vid chat, maybe?” “Yes please.” The text went through and perhaps a minute later Natsu’s laptop beeped. Incoming video request. He did a flying leap over to his computer desk, perched himself in the chair so he was comfortable and visible to the camera, and accepted the request. There was Lucy, beaming up at him in all her beautiful glory. He could see her a lot clearer now, thanks to the larger screen. Her skin looked so soft, supple, glistening with a fine mist of sweat. “Ready, Natsu?” “You bet,  Lucy. Let’s play.” His voice was dark and low, practically a growl. The sound gave her a sweet chill. Playing with him was going to be fun… “Alright...” Soft giggle. She bit her lip, gazing up at him with those big brown eyes as she tugged her panties off and let them fall to the ground. One hand shifted between her legs, parting her lips so he could see easier. “You like this, Natsu?” A purr as she traced fingers over her clit and those delicate pink folds. “I love it, Lucy...” Definitely a growl as he grasped and pumped. His breath caught in his throat as he watched her pull out a vibrator from under her pillow and gently trace it over her skin, taking the same path her fingers had taken moments before. “Shit...I wish that was me...” “And I wish you were...right... here...” She slipped the toy into her pussy, then let it buzz away as she fucked herself. Her voice got a little higher. She sounded a bit like a video girl when she moaned, except those girls had absolutely nothing on his goddess. “Babe, if I were there you wouldn’t have to play with that damn toy...” “Ohh...really… what, mnn, what would you do to me if you were here?” “Anything you wanted.” Fuck, the thought of really being with her was making his already impressive erection even bigger. “I think I’d lay you on that soft bed of yours, warm your entire body up with my mouth, then take my time pleasuring and fucking you until we were both completely satisfied.” “That sounds like heaven. Mnnn...” The toy was drenched, and he could see her horny juices leaking from her folds as she humped her hips, one hand pinching and tweaking her nipples. “Na...Natsu...” “Go on, Lucy-baby.” He caught a glimpse of her nodding in response. Then she moved the toy up to rub little circles against her clit...and immediately cried out. “Ohh….Natsuuuuuu!” Her entire body trembled in utter ecstasy, all for him. Natsu kept pumping, fueling his own passion with the thought of being buried deep inside her, imagining her milking his cock as she came… “Lu...Lucy….!!!” One last mighty pump brought forth a spattering mess of his seed. Given the circumstances, he couldn’t say he cared. It’d get cleaned up eventually. “That...that was fucking amazing...” “M-hm. It was...” Big happy sigh. “Hey Natsu?” “Yeah?” “I’m gonna hop in the shower. I’ll call you when I get out, alright?” “Alright. Take your time, baby.” A giggle as she blew a kiss, then the screen went blank. She did indeed take her time. He had time to get cleaned up and was loafing on his bed, this goofy happy smile on his face. He had also had time to send a message to the company’s merchandiser requesting that a Dragneel Fund hoodie be sent to a certain bookshop that next morning along with a large bouquet of flowers, which explained part of that goofy smile. Ring Ring They exchanged some sweet talk followed by the comfortable pause of two people very much in love. Then Lucy sighed. “What’s up? Everything’s good with us, right?”“Everything’s wonderful. I was just thinking, that’s all.” “Thinkin’?” “Yeah...” Was it his imagination or did her voice falter here? “I...I think I love you, Natsu. Isn’t that crazy? I mean, we haven’t exactly known each other very long...”“That’s not crazy, Lucy.” His voice was low, soft. He was imagining holding her close as they talked, maybe even running a hand through her hair. “You’re not the type of girl who’d be so open and sexy with someone unless you really cared for ‘em.” “...how do you get me so well?” “Because I love you, duh.” Too late to take the words back now, not like he wanted to. “It’s weird. This whole thing started out as a big physical attraction but the more we’re together, the more I’m around you, the more I realize it’s gotta be love.” Sniffle, sniffle.“Lucy? Are...you crying?” “Y..yeah, a little. Because I’m happy. You...you make me happy...” Siiiigh. Then,  “I... think I have an idea for our next date.” “Alright. What’s that?” “We could meet at your place and have some, um, private gym time. I could show you some yoga moves in person...” Yoga moves...the implication was clear with the tone of her voice. Oh, they were going to get flexible, all right. “I like the sound of that. Same time, right?” “Yeah.” Yawn. “Sorry. I’m about to fall asleep.” “It’s okay. I’ll see ya tomorrow. Sweet dreams, princess.” “Night, Natsu. Love ya.” Click.That was that. Both fell asleep easily, smiling even in slumber. In the blink of an eye it was Saturday afternoon. Natsu got an early start, heading down to his gym to make sure everything was in order an hour before Lucy was due. Then he started lifting weights, pumping iron until the doorbell rang. There she stood, smiling at him in a slightly oversized hoodie and those same shorts she had teased him with the other night. “Hey, beautiful.” “Hi.” Blush. “Where should I put my bag?” “Anywhere’s fine. I’ll get staff to take it up to my room.” “Okay.” She set the overnight bag down, then made a show of unzipping her hoodie. She peeled it off slowly, flashing him a saucy smile as she revealed a skimpy crop top that accented every curve.Damn…“So, ah, how do we start?”“Watch me and follow my lead.” A quick kiss that would have been chaste were it not for Lucy nibbling his lip. Watching her was no problem, not when the sight of her enthralled his senses. He wasn’t great at yoga, but she was more than willing to help. She brushed her hands against him, giving him subtle hints at how to correct his posture. Eventually she started showed him some more complex poses, more for the sake of showing off for him than anything else. Splits, bending over, even a rather suggestive headstand. Then she felt a warm hand stroke up her thigh. Siiiigh. “That feels good...” “Want some more?” “Yes please.” “Whatever you say. Keep posin’.” And pose she did. She did another headstand, starting with her legs straight up but moving into splits. His hands found her ass, squeezed, then adventurous fingers stroked over the front of her shorts. She blushed, exhaled, didn’t protest. She also didn’t tremble at all, no small feat when she was being intimately fondled. Damn him and his amazing hands. Slowly, carefully, she moved her legs straight upward. “Hold still.” “Okay.” Inhale, exhale. She didn’t have to wait long to find out what he was up to. His hands roamed again, this time tugging her shorts upwards and off her legs. “Oh...Naughty boy.” “Don’t pretend you don’t like it.” Dark chuckle, flash of fang. “I like it...and I think you’d like it if I got rid of some of these clothes.” “You know I would. Show me. Please.” “Anything you want, love.” In one smooth motion Lucy got back on her feet. Then she made a show of peeling her top and sports bra off...a show Natsu watched intently. She didn’t break eye contact, not even as her hands roamed and cupped her now bare breasts. He caught a glimpse of her tongue flicking over lips. Holy shit. “Now what?” “Don’t tell me you’re playing innocent, Natsu...” “No, no way.” Here he reached over, cupped her cheek, smiled at her. “I want you, but I want you to have a say in what we do tonight.” “Oh...okay. In that case...” Her eyes brightened and her smile turned mischievous. “Tie me up.” Not a question, none of her usual shyness. He nodded then wrapped some athletic tape around her wrists. Then he took a good long look at her. There she lay, naked except for those little panties. Those would come off soon enough. First he focused on her bare form, leaving kisses and love bites all over her body. He grabbed and kneaded her ass. She squirmed. Good sign. "Hold still.""Okay..." He tugged her panties off, baring the sweet pink treasure between her thighs.And what a treasure. He gazed at her in reverence. One hand stroked over her tiny tuft of soft blonde hair."Damn, Lucy. You're perfect.""Thanks. Don't be shy, though." Eyes heavy, voice low and sensual. He nodded then turned his full attention to lavishing pleasure on her. Fingers traced over her clit with feather soft touches while his other hand parted her lips oh so gently.She smells incredible... Growl. He leaned in and flicked his tongue against her delicate pink folds. She trembled, quietly begging for more."More" was exactly what he wanted to give her. His free hand stroked her thigh then squeezed her ass. Then he treated her to a spank. She moaned and arched her back. So he did it again, his hand leaving a red mark on her peach skin. Her scent changed, and she was definitely getting wetter. “The cute rich girl has a spanking kink, huh?""Mm-hm.""What if I spank you while I'm eating you? That sound good, Lucy?""Why don't you see for yourself?" She winked and giggled...but then his hand met her ass again and the giggle became a moan.He nibbled her clit. His fingers kept her lips parted as he moved again, letting his tongue trace over her slit. She was a hot, delicious mess: squirming, tits heaving, biting her lip as she begged for more. Another spank. She made an absolutely feral sound, which he took as encouragement to go on.Not that he needed encouragement...His tongue slid into her slick folds, lapping up her delicious wetness. He had wanted to taste her ever since they had played together on camera, and reality exceeded his expectations. She was a goddess, and her pussy tasted like heaven. He wanted nothing more than to savor her, to satisfy her over and over...He also wanted to carry her up to his bedroom, pin her down to his bed, and bury himself so deliciously deep inside her...Well, that would happen soon enough. She shifted, draping her long legs over his shoulders, spreading to give him better access. He slipped two fingers into her, fucking her with his hand as he licked and nibbled. He hit a certain spot. She shuddered.“Ahhhh!” Aha!He hit it again, rubbing what had to be her g-spot with increased pressure. "Holy shit Natsu just like that....mnnnnh...yes..." Another nibble, another thrust. Lucy didn’t just moan Natsu’s name. She screamed it as her body was rocked by a glorious orgasm complete with a spray of her juices. Never had he ever made a girl squirt before, but no other girl was quite like his Lucy… he smiled at the thought as he untied her, feeling her soft hands fluff through his hair as he licked her clean. “Thanks for the snack, babe.” “Mmm, and thank you for the orgasm. I’ve never cum so hard in my life, love.” It amazed him how she could go from delicious temptress to sweet girl next door so quickly, but he could honestly say he loved both sides of her. With that decided he pulled her into a kiss, one he hoped conveyed every bit of feeling he had for her, one she was happy to return. “Let’s go to bed.” The softest of whispers yet so sensual. He nodded, picked her up and carried her to his room. He lay her on his bed with another oh so tender kiss. In all his fantasies he had imagined playing as rough with her as possible, taking her with animalistic fervor. Now that she was in his bed...it didn’t seem right. His Lucy deserved to be pleasured, savored, worshiped. And Natsu was very keen on worshiping her. She helped him shuck his sweatpants off and he got right to work. He kissed and nibbled her body, caressed her soft skin, taking in every reaction. She had to be exhausted from their ordeals down in the gym, but you’d never know it. She writhed with each touch, moaning with each caress and kiss. He nibbled her collarbone while his hands explored her breasts. Soft, smooth, full. He squeezed and kneaded, all while suckling the tiny berry of her nipple. Every so often he switched, mostly to devote equal attention to both sides. Then she let out a sound kinda like a whimper. “Want it, baby?” “I...need it. Please, Natsu...” “Alright. Gimme your hand...” Nod. He clasped her hand and braced himself over her. She wrapped both legs around his waist, her way of encouraging him to make the next move. When he pushed his hard cock into her sweet, damp, depths, the euphoria both felt was audible in their moans and sighs. “Nnnnnh, feels so good, Natsu...” Words couldn’t describe the feeling of finally being one with her, of making love to this woman who meant so damn much to him… They moved together, each motion accented with kisses that raised in intensity as passion heightened. Her hands wandered. He wondered absently if there was a rhyme or reason, or if she just wanted to explore his skin with her fingers. Either way it felt incredible. She felt incredible. He paused mid-thrust, towering breathless over his goddess, gazing at her and seeing her gazing back at him, her eyes amber with love light. “Love ya, Lucy.” “And I love you. Now shh.” Delicate fingers traced over his mouth. Her hand slipped to his cheek and pulled him into a kiss. He got the hint right away and resumed pleasuring her.  So warm, so inviting. So perfect. Minutes...hours...how long did they spend together that night, entwined in passion? Neither cared about time. Being together was all that mattered. Once passion reached its peak and the waves of bliss subsided they lay together kissing and cuddling. They only paused, reluctantly, when Natsu got up claiming a need to pee...which ended up taking longer than Lucy expected. He came back, scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom, settling her into the warm waters of a bath. Then he got in with her and treated her to a kiss. Later on, dried off and cuddling in bed, Lucy grabbed her phone and took a selfie. Natsu quirked his head at her.“For memories.” “Ohh. We’ll have plenty of those.” He kissed her and she knew he meant it. This beautiful night was just the beginning... (Epilogue coming as soon as I can get it written :) )

[catubarca]

Harry Potter Next Generation Headcanons

im bored. im full of emotions, and am rly missing the HP world... i just want to write down my headcannons for the next gen kiddos tbh.

please remember these are just my opinions? its okay if yours are different. im just bored and want to share my thoughts,,

Teddy Lupin

his name is Theodore Remus “Teddy” Lupin. it’s just what it is

I don’t care what JKR says, to me his name will always be Theodore

i can’t do this “Edward” stuff im so sorry,,,

h u f f l e p u f f

proper school uniform? never heard of it

messy hair, messy clothes

punk rock child

we’re talking like,,,at least two (2) lip piercings ok

absolutely terrible in herbology. do not leave this child alone in a greenhouse, bad things happen

fuckin hoards chocolate

its a problem

dating Victorie Weasley

random bursts of dancing

keeps a lock of hair pink for his mother

lives with the Potters, enjoys pretending to be Ginny to ground his siblings

“Lily, why aren’t you coming out of your room? Dinner’s ready?” “You said I’m grounded! You tell me!” “What? Oh, for the- THEODORE REMUS LUPIN-“

s m i r k s

effortlessly cool,,, but so so dorky,,, in a cool way

Victorie Weasley

ravenclaw!

looks a lot like her mother, Fleur, but inherited those Weasley freckles

a little confused a lot of the time

absolute sweet tooth (teddy abuses this fact a lot)

Mom Friend™

will help you with your homework

always got a book on her

super beautiful and like,,,, the absolute nicest person,,, but

cannot dance

like at all

adores Charms class

a softie you don’t want to cross

“I’m the oldest”

Dominique Weasley

inherited the Classic Weasley Red Hair™

idolises her Uncle Charlie

“I wanna save animals and work with cool dragons, just like Uncle Charlie does!”

Bill almost has a heart attack

always bringing stray animals home

(“is that a lizard in your pocket, Dominique?” “Yes! His name is Blob.” “You know how your father’s afraid of reptiles, sweetheart, you can’t bring it inside.”)

Gryffindor child

favourite class is definitely Care of Magical Creatures, she and Hagrid like to talk about proper care methods for rare creatures

perpetual dirt stains

BIG middle child vibes

doesn’t really label her sexuality… just kinda does what she wants rly

all the pets in Hogwarts love her

rumours are she’s got an innate, natural magical ability to make them all love her

(she feeds them under the table)

it’s a mystery

big advocate for animal rights

f e m i n i s t

willing to throw hands at all times

usually all smiles though

one of those people who use their whole bodies to laugh

kind of an accidental heartthrob

romcoms

Louis Weasley

looks the most like his mother

ravenclaw

absolutely filled with curiosity. always reading or talking or learning

random facts

(how do you even find that sort of information?

you don’t want to know)

coffee boy

sort of musically talented?

he and James Sirius preach the importance of skincare to all who will listen

secretly full of sass and dry wit

vry graceful and fluid

e y e r o l l

awkward smiles? can never smile properly in photos

on the ravenclaw quidditch team

Ravenclaw Prefect

(“You might be older, but I’m taller.” “Fuck off!”)

only watches High Quality™ tv shows/media

kind of a disaster, despite the gracefulness

Molly Weasley

Classic red hair

comes across as a bit uptight, like her father

I don’t care what you think. (She really cares what you think.)

E y e b r o w s

death glares

drinks like 5 cups of coffee in the morning

studies,,, like a lot

definitely a Gryffindor though

mom jeans

always ready to debate a topic. will destroy opponents.

has been trying to start a successful Debate Club for like 4 years now

naturally falls into the position of a group leader

would be a teacher’s pet, if she wasn’t ready At All Times™ to debate the relevancy of the course syllabus or outdated teaching methods

got into a fight with Severus Snape’s portrait in Headmistress McGonagall’s office.

(Dumbledore’s portrait was laughing, until she turned and ragged on him for a bit. Minerva thought it was absolutely hilarious, so she just let Molly go at it for a while).

full of rage towards everything, but wears a very careful mask of aloofness

to calm down, she likes painting her nails

she’s very good at it

she’s also very good at painting and art in general, weirdly enough

Lucy Weasley

G R Y F F I N D O R

adores shitty puns and has a terrible sense of humour

brown hair, not red

loves to prank people, which makes her Uncle George very proud

Percy complains about her behaviour, but makes sure he knows he’s proud too

(charming all the cauldrons in the potions classroom to scream whenever they’re stirred takes a more complex understanding of spell work than one would expect).

a pit of a punk streak

rly loves hip hop

high key drama queen

does she ever stop yelling? we’re yet to find out

average grades in terms of theory, but she’s the best in terms of applying information

especially for her pranks

has allies throughout the castle, from the portraits to the students

the bigger the prank, the better

but is a firm believer in “confuse, don’t abuse”

all her pranks are mostly harmless

is a surprising lover of older literature, like Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, an influence of her sister

a bit rebellious

Fred Weasley II

name isn’t officially “the second”, but it sounds cooler

James Potter, Lucy Weasley, Molly Weasley and Fred Weasley are like the Marauders 2.0

says “squad” and “lit” unironically

niche humour

hipster vibes

avid music lover

smiley sunshine child

takes after his mother the most in looks, just like his sister

a chill type of gryffindor

plays quidditch, and is an excellent chaser, just like his mother

the absolute undisputed King™ of puppy-dog eyes

just,,,, beautiful

the True teacher’s pet

hands in his work on time,, asks lots of questions,,, likes helping students understand their work,, what a boy

can hella nyoom

runs so fast

look at him go

as you might expect, loves a good prank. always down for a laugh

Roxanne Weasley

Gryffindor and pROUD

absolute Queen tbh

was definitely Head Prefect or Gryffindor Prefect at some point

loved by the school

absolute legend

G I R L   P O W E R

infectious laughter

has a soft spot for Louis Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy

these poor disaster children,,,, they need a Mother

M O M

big mom vibes

mothers the hell out of all the first years

a feminist through and through

can be found nodding aggressively to Molly Weasley’s semi-deranged, furious ranting

YAAAASS

loves slang. uses so much slang. always up to date with trends and memes

has all the gossip

becomes a mess around pretty girls

absolute blushing, stuttering disaster around cute girls oh my god

her eye make-up game is killer

sparkly

Distinguished Lesbian

Rosie Weasley

did someone say Weasley™?

red hair and freckles and curls oh my

on the autism spectrum, has trouble socialising sometimes

hella passionate about stuff

hangs out with Scorpius and Albus, the Golden Trio 2.0

f em ini st

her jokes are the best. high quality sense of humour.

Ravenclaw

likes to read. it’s quiet in the school library, which is nice.

abysmal at herbology

surprisingly good at Care of Magical Creatures though? Animals are just,,, so much easier to deal with

overall, really good grades though

bit of a silent type, but she’s actually a riot to hang out with

actually pretty good at quidditch? She’s not on the team, and she’s not super interested in playing, but?? She’s not bad??

She can land a solid hit with a beater’s bat

(eyes you judgementally over the top of a book)

dry wit humour

will throw hands over chess

Hugo Weasley

hufflepuff

unbeatable at chess, like his dad

a lost puppy

someone please help this child

softie

kind of low-key emotional

so supportive!! and loyal!! high-key best friend material

foodie. loves food. please feed him.

takes a bit more after his dad appearance wise

loves to cook. spends lots of time with grandma Molly and his dad in the kitchen

Professor Longbottom is his favourite professor, because he’s more chilled and laidback.

other professors and classes fill him with Distress™

loves astronomy too

maths whizz, so good at arithmancy

(“uh, actually-“)

a little bossy, like his mother

is trying so hard

maybe a little too hard

a bit insecure and nervous, but so soft

please treat this child carefully and with love

James Sirius Potter

Gryffindor

L O U D

a fucking disaster child

what’d you expect, putting “James” and “Sirius” together?

DRAMATIC GASPING

flails his hands around when he talks

s t r u t s

bisexual mess, had a crush on both the Longbottom children at some point

is better than you at everything

including being a different gender

fuck you that’s why

so pretty

he’s so pretty

is thIS CHILD EVER NOT LAUGHING AT SOMETHING OH My god

laughs at everything

all the time

always

high-key emotional

badly timed finger guns

looks like a model in photos? wtf?

gets invited to Girls Nights™

wears nail polish and makeup

loves to yell at people about gender roles and defying stereotypes

TEA SIS

not on the quidditch team surprisingly enough, even though he’s pretty good

prefers to be in the stands, doing A+ commentary on the games

if he can get Fred to stop mid-air due to unbearable, suffocating laughter at least once a game it’s a win in his books

has it OUT for the hufflepuff quidditch team and no one knows why??

definitely makes puns on his name

it drives everyone insane

harry always replies he’s just making his namesake proud

that also drives everyone insane

smug lil shit

Albus Severus Potter

“It’s just Al.”

S L Y T H E R I N

will always find a way to get what he wants, eventually

“dad, why did you name me this way?”

unimpressed

sigh

hella smart. is topping at least five classes

Aunt Hermione is his favourite. She’s the fucking Mistress of Magic! All that power, the ability to make change and improve the Magical World as a whole-

sass master

the reason headmistress mcgonagall keeps a bottle of scotch under her desk at all times

the only potter child to inherit The Eyes™

absolute insomniac

kind of emo, but turns into a fucking softie around Scorpius Malfoy it’s hilarious

adverse to violence. prefers a verbal beatdown method

really tall? despite having shorties for parents??? no one saw it coming

(especially not Teddy. He’s always scared of losing his last few inches of height)

Functional Gay

he’s on the slytherin quidditch team, as a seeker

Lily Luna Potter

Gryffindor

FEMINIST

do not mess with lily luna potter

she may seem cute and sweet, but she will destroy you

inherited her father’s black hair

disaster lesbian

transfiguration is her favourite subject, by far

has no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life.

Existential Crisis Father-Daughter Bonding Time™

do you ever sleep?

takes after Ginny the most in personality

also, kind of the most like James Fleamont Potter in personality, too?

Loves to help her brother out with pranks, laughs at him when he gets caught and she gets away with it

The only one of the Potter Children who hasn’t got into a fight with Severus Snape’s portrait

because she just ignores him instead

loves talking to the portraits around the castle

Super good at Quidditch, is on the team as a Chaser

Quidditch Captain at some point

adores Hagrid, but who out of the Potter children doesn’t?

Idolises Minerva McGonagall

just as oblivious as her father

Scorpius Malfoy

Actually in Ravenclaw, not Slytherin, much to many people’s surprise

abSOLUTE DADDY’S BOY

super close with his dad

Draco is just so supportive of like everything he does (unlike his father)

classic blonde malfoy looks

actually really funny?

a cuddler. loves hugs. always leeching warmth off of someone

he and Rosie sometimes finger-tip-touch which is their version of a hug, because he know’s she’s not super comfortable with touch

was basically adopted by the Weasley’s and Potter’s

James Sirius will murder for this child

booknerd, always rambling to Al and Rosie about new books coming out he’s interested in reading.

has had a crush on Albus Potter since like 1st year

always worried about making his dad proud, and keeping up the Malfoy name

sweet tooth

he’s just,, soft. just a warm, happy child. he wants love, and affection. someone tell him he’s doing okay, please.

needs,,, validation,,,

he’ll tell you out loud that he has no favourite aunts or uncles, but he secretly really likes spending time with his Uncle Ron

they had a talk, once, in like the middle of the night at a sleepover with Rosie and Al, about feeling insecure in comparison to others, and learning to be proud of yourself for your achievements

there were a few tears, but it was nice

Ron was actually the third person he told, besides his dad and Rosie, about having a crush on Al

openly a disaster romantic. trash taste in romance novels.

always welcome in the Potter-Weasley households

[ladyseaheart1668]

Endless Summer Book 4 : Daughter of Vaanu (Chapter 48)

Description: On La Huerta, Estela and Zahra mount a rescue--and make a startling discovery. Tagging: @endlesshero1122 @mysteli @feartheendlesssummer @whatmcsaid @xo-endlessmayhem-xo @tigerbryn11

Chapter 48 : Galatea

Sean

I probably could have chosen my words better. When Lundgren lets go, Jake's knees buckle and he collapses into a heap on the concrete floor. Lungren makes a move toward us. Unfortunately, I feel like he's called our bluff. I'm aiming a rifle I don't think I have the will to use. Michelle and I ended up using the pepper spray canisters on the guards' belts to incapacitate them. And before I can work up the will to pull the trigger on the weapon I'm actually holding, Lundgren is swinging a fist at me. Luckily, this is the moment when instinct kicks in. I drop the rifle, duck under his arm, and twist to throw myself onto his back, catching him in a headlock.

“Michelle! Help Jake!”

I keep my arm firm around Lundgren's neck even at he struggles against me, squeezing in an effort to cut off his air supply. We're almost evenly matched. I've got a couple inches on him, and he doesn't have the high-tech exoskeleton he sported on the island. But he's also spent the last five years in a military prison. And when he throws himself backward into the wall, crushing me between it and his body, I feel the impact. But I'm not letting up. Not until he goes down. I tighten my grip and time slows around me like I've taken the sap of Elyys'tel. Lundgren is starting to sink under my assault. I can feel him losing strength. Then there's a flash of movement on the edge of my vision. Lundgren goes rigid for a moment before his  legs give out and he crumples to the ground. It registers that

Michelle is beside me a moment a moment after the touch of her hands one my arm and shoulder prompt me to let go of Lundgren. I look dazedly down at the groaning, growling pile of ex-navy jackass at my feet. In the dim light, I can faintly see blood collecting beneath him. Michelle puts and hand on my cheek and turns my face towards hers.

“Are you okay, babe?” she asks softly, stroking my face. It takes a moment before I can nod.

“Yeah...what...?” I nod faintly at Lundgren.

“Screwdriver.” I look over at Jake, smirking as he braces himself on a table at the back of the room. “Right in his gut. No one messes with Maybelline's man.”

I feel my stomach clench. The light in the room isn't great, but I can still see how battered Jake is, and the trickle of blood down the side of his head isn't at all reassuring.

“Shit, man, are you okay?”

He nods, even as I can see him swaying. “I'm fine. Not the important issue right now.”

“No, you're not fine,” Michelle says firmly, moving to brace him. “I'm not ruling out the possibility that you're dealing with a concussion, so we need to get you someplace safe ASAP.”

“Not without Mike,” Jake answers flatly, but he doesn't fight her support.

“No one's talking about leaving him behind,” I assure him. “But...what do we do about this guy?” I nod down at Lundgren.

“...We...shouldn't leave him alive, should we?” Michelle asks uncertainly. “He knows too much about the island...”

“But killing a man who's supposed to be dead already and leaving his body doesn't seem like the best option, either.” I meet Jake's eyes. “...Jake? You wanna weigh in?”

I feel surprise ripple through me when Jake shakes his head  “I don't care what happens to him. I care about finding Mike. And Alodia and Diego if they're here. ...We have to figure out where they are. If they're here...”

“...Well...this door locks from the outside,” I point out. “We don't have to decide what to do with him yet.”

“You're right. We don't. Maybelline, if you're gonna insist on being my crutch here, I suggest moving or else I'm going without you.”

“Try it, and my husband gets to carry you.”

“Don't think I won't do it,” I warn, trying to keep my voice light. Honestly, I don't think Jake can make it very far without support. I don't know how we're going to get out of this place. I don't know where we are or how far we are from anyone who can help us. But at least as we leave the room and lock the door behind us, we've got one enemy fewer to get in our way.

Zahra

The plane is about where we expected it to be, on the little-used airstrip near the bunker that I think has been abandoned since well before our summer vacation from hell. Torres makes me and Estela hang back while he and his team search it. As we both expect, they come out of the search empty-handed.

“All clear in there.”

“Yeah, we could've told you that,” I reply peevishly. “Do you really think they're gonna keep our friends on a plane when there are deserted bunkers and compounds all over this island?”

Torres ignores me, looking at his team. “Looks like it's a private jet, but it's probably been converted from a commercial passenger plane. We'll get the tail number and run it later, see if we can't figure out who the owner is.” He turns his eye to Estela. “Have any planes in your company fleet gone missing recently?”

Estela scowls. “If they had, don't you think I or my brother would have included that information somewhere in this investigation?” she asks impatiently. “You seem to keep forgetting that these are our friends you're trying to find.”

“I haven't forgotten,” Torres sighs. “I only have the details I was provided. I need to make sure I'm not missing any information.”

“Well, if you're done wasting time, maybe we can show you to the bunker now? Where they are most likely being held?”

Torres meets her steely gaze steadily, but I can see he's bristling internally. Still, he manages to clamp it down. “...Lead on.”

We're hardly 'leading' anyone, since Torres insists on walking right alongside us. But he does allow Iris's drone to hover ahead at least. Abruptly, Iris's drone stops moving forward, and her hologram flickers into view.

“Zahra, an image discrepancy has been detected.”

Okay, that's a new one on me. I get that she's trying to act more computer-like than usual, but that's just confusing. “...What do you mean an image discrepancy?”

“Your surroundings have been altered since the last known satellite image was taken. Other data cannot account for the change.”

“Uh...okay...can you point out this image discrepancy?”

Iris's hologram is replaced with a red laser light that dances over a boulder, partially covered by some foliage. Through the leaves, I can vaguely make out some markings on the stone that look like they might have been done with white spray paint.

“...The fuck? That looks like graffiti...” I move to push back the leaves and freeze. It's not graffiti.

“Oh, shit...” Estela hisses under her breath.

“What is it?”

How do we explain to the military guy that someone has tagged a rock on La Huerta with two Hadean zodiac signs? And that those two signs are mine and Estela's?

“...It's...code,” I finally say. “...When the twelve of us were prisoners on this island, we came up with a code to communicate in secret if we ever got separated.”

“But this...painting is recent?”

“Yeah. We've been over every inch of this island over the last few years, and this is definitely new.”

“So, what do these symbols mean?”

Estela and I exchange a glance. She clears her throat. “It would appear we are on the right track. We should keep going.”

“Hold on now,” Torres protests, frowning. “Why do you think those symbols mean we are on the right track? And who do you think left them?”

“I am hoping that our friends left them.”

“Really. You think whoever kidnapped your friends just let them have a can of spray paint to make pretty pictures on a rock?” Neither Estela nor I can really say anything to that. And as our silence drags on, Torres' frown deepens. “...What do those specific symbols mean?”

Finally, Estela sighs. “...They mean us. Me and Zahra. A dragon and a crow. Those were our code names.”

“Dragon and Crow?”

“Yes.”

“...So...someone who knows your code basically spray-painted your names on this rock. …Which means they not only know your old code, but they knew that someone else who knew the code was going to be coming. More specifically, they knew it would be the two of you.”

I sigh. “You're no slouch, Torres. I'll give you that.”

“Look...I don't think I can let you two continue with us. It's all just smelling too much like a trap, and I don't want anything to happen to you.”

“Yes.” Estela's voice was ice cold, her gaze colder. “It might be a trap. Or it might be that our friends knew we were coming because of all of us, she and I were the ones most likely to come when everything was eventually traced to the island. Because the twelve of us know each other intimately. Better than we know or will be known by anyone else, including our own selves, in our entire lives. Because for six goddamn months, we went through hell together. We had no support from the outside world. And even after we were finally freed, our Alodia spent five years trapped in stasis here. And who eventually found her? We did. Our little family. Not the Coast Guard. Not any authority. Us.

“It was people in authority who threw Jake McKenzie and Michael Darwin in prison when they were innocent, and it was we who fought for their freedom. It has been the people in authority who have failed us time and time again, and it has been our family that has prevailed. So tell me, Torres, why you believe for a moment that Zahra and I will leave this entirely in your hands?”

Torres is silent. I can tell he is digesting her words. I can also tell he isn't totally moved by them. In the end, he's still an authority figure, and she and I are civilians here by his leave.

“Listen, Torres,” I chime in. “This island is legally Estela's property. Hers and Aleister's. You're really here on her invitation.”

“Pretty sure probable cause is in play here,” Torres counters.

“Yeah, sure. Probably. You could probably get away with forcibly escorting us back to your boat and placing us under guard, too. ...But then you'd be down a few men, and the guidance of our drone. And meanwhile, we'd be doing everything we could to get out and get back in the search because we want our friends back. Do you really want the extra hassle and headache of trying to fight us on this? Or wouldn't it simply be easier to make us promise we'll hang back when the shooting starts?”

Torres rubs a hand over his face, swearing under his breath. “Fuck me. This is insane. I don't know why I'm even trying to negotiate. Why am I even considering this?!”

“Because you're not an idiot. You know we're right. Or at least, you accept that you might be wrong.”

“You have to swear you'll stay out of the way if things get violent!”

“We won't make your job harder.”

“You already are.”

“No,” Estela says firmly. “We're not. And I am pretty sure you're smart enough to realize that.”

Tahira

I'm getting tired of the endless, unchanging landscape. Mile after mile of dusty, barren land lacerated by giant, jutting crystals under a vast, cloudless sky, and everything some shade of purp,'le or pink. In spite of how long I have been hiking through what looks like a desert, I'm not thirsty—except maybe for the sight of something blue or green. My legs aren't tired. All I feel is the same fiery pain in my side and the cold over the rest of my body. I can't seem to shiver, though. But while I cannot say the pain lessens as I continue on my way, it does seem to get easier to ignore. Possibly because frustration is starting to distract me. What the hell am I actually looking for?

“Vaanu? Vaanu! Are you there?! Can you hear me?!” There's no answer but the wind. Or...whatever passes for wind in this weird head space.

The first change in the environment comes on subtly. So subtly that I don't perceive it until I am actually in front of the deep red outcropping of stone in the side of a mountain that wasn't there before. Now, I'm not what you would call a gamer. But I have played video games before. Typically, when something changes in your environment, it's a pretty strong hint that there's something important there. This certainly feels like a video game. No matter how I turn my head, I can't seem to see how big the rock wall is, or how high it goes, as if nothing has been rendered but this wall of stone in front of me. ...And now the smooth, sloping path that begins under my feet and winds around the edge of the mountain's face. Okay. So this crystal headspace isn't going to actually let me see where I'm going. I attempt to take off, just to see if I can, but clearly it's not going to let me do this the easy way, either.  In frustration, I slam the side of my fist against the rock wall. The vibrations go through me in a vaguely painful wave. I don't think I do any real damage to myself, but I also don't do any damage to the stone. Out in the real world, a blow like that would have left a dent in the stone. In here, I'm basically the same as I was before I encountered the Prism Crystal.

What changed that day?

Vaanu's voice barely startles me, but the question gives me pause. “...I got my powers. I claimed my birthright.”

And in what way did that change you?

“Well, after that I could fly. I had super strength. I was more resilient.”

So your body changed. Not your spirit.

“Well...fundamentally, I guess not.” I pause for a moment. “...I'm not exactly in my body right now, am I. I mean, I am, but...this body that's walking through the crystal dimension isn't my physical body.”

Vaanu doesn't reply, but he doesn't really need to. This body I'm walking with doesn't have the powers my physical body does. I'm going to have to do this the hard way. But I'm not giving up now. One foot in front of the other, I make my way up the winding mountain path.

Jake

I think Michelle was right about Lundgren knocking something loose in my head. I'm finding it a little difficult to follow her and Sean's logic as they lead us through the unevenly lit corridors of whatever compound we're locked up in. I know we're looking for Mike. I know we don't know if Alodia and Diego are here. I keep wanting to ask if I'm remembering that right, but I've also got enough presence of mind to know Michelle will get concerned if I admit I'm feeling foggy, and then she'll waste time trying to assess me when it can wait until we're clear.

Sean has to take out a couple more goons along the way. I'm not much help, but I do manage to get a pistol off one of them. There's fewer guards than I would have expected. I don't know if it's because Rourke and Lundgren are working outside the law and therefore have fewer resources, or if the four of us just don't register as important enough prisoners to Rourke for more than a handful of guards. It's probably a little of column A, a little of column B. Limited resources means he's probably got less of his resources on us, and more on Alodia. ...Oh, god...Alodia...

“Jake.” Michelle's voice is soft, but firm as she briskly pats the arm that I've got draped over her shoulders. “You still with us?”

“Y-yeah,” I manage to stammer. “Still here.”

“Good. ...You're breathing pretty hard. Are you feeling tired? Any pains when you breathe?”

I don't dare shake my head. “Nah,” I lie. “I'm fine.”

“You're absolutely sure?” She sounds like she doesn't believe me, which doesn't surprise me, but it does annoy me.

“I'm fine enough to keep going,” I reply with an edge in my voice. “I'm worried about my wife. I'm worried about Mike.”

“...Guys?” The tremor in Sean's voice distracts her from whatever she was going to say in response.

“What is it?”

“...Are either of you seeing what I'm seeing?”

I force myself to focus and follow his gaze toward a patch of grubby concrete on the wall bathed in a harsh, florescent glow. ...No, toward the half-illuminated metal door in the wall. ...And the three familiar symbols carved crudely into the door's metal jamb, one on top of the other. Aquila. Pavo. Lupus.

“...What the fuck...?” I hear myself mutter.

“Are those the only signs?” Michelle asks. Sean steps up to the door, squinting as he runs his hand over the shadowed surfaces of the door frame.

“No other signs that I can make out. ...Just ours. Just the three of us.”

“...Is that so weird?” I ask. “You don't think they kidnapped the three of us together just coincidentally, do you?”

“Coincidentally, no,” Michelle concedes. “They clearly planned it. But I did figure there was an element of convenience there, too. I expect of the three of us, you were the one they really wanted secure, and Sean and I are just a bonus they grabbed because it was most convenient to get you when you were picking us up.”

I don't know why I am annoyed by her assessment since I think she's probably right, but I am. It takes willpower to grit my teeth and resist the urge to say something smartass in response.

“Well, clearly, there's something for the three of us behind that door. I don't think we should ignore it.”

“I agree,” Sean says, pulling out the ring of keys he nabbed off Lundgren. “You two stay back.”

For once, no one's arguing with Sean's hero antics. I may have a gun on me, but I'm not very confident in my aim at the moment. Best thing I can do for everyone right now is hang back and let Michelle be my crutch until I've got more of a hold on myself. But then Sean finds the right key and the door swings open. When I see what's inside, that good sense goes out the window.

“Mike!”

I pull sharply away from Michelle, ignoring the way my vision bends as I stagger into the open cell and drop to my knees beside my friend. He's alive. I can tell that right away. He sucks in each breath through clenched teeth, and each exhale comes out as a moan. Sweat runs down his ashen face in rivers. The acrid, metallic stench of fresh-spilled blood is turning my gut. I don't dare look at the source. I got enough of a glimpse at his thighs to know that his bionic limbs have been violently removed—either cut off or torn out—and the wounds crudely cauterized to keep him from bleeding out. Michelle is already at his other side, examining the damage. I grip Mike's hand. It feels wet. From sweat or blood or both, I don't know. And I am not keen to find out.

“Hang on, buddy. We gotcha. You're gonna be okay.”

Mike's eyes flutter open, and he focuses on my face. His lips part in a painful, forced smile. “C-course I am,” he murmurs tightly. His voice is painfully hoarse. “You know me. I'm like a cockroach. Can't be killed.”

I can't help but snort. “You know, Mike, I can't keep using the Captain America nickname for Sean when you keep Bucky Barnse-ing on me.”

“Hey, fuck you, Grandpa. I have two arms.”

“I stand corrected. Now let's see if we can find your legs.”

“Trying to find them would be a waste of time,” Michelle says grimly. “He's going to need new ones anyway, and it's more important that we get him to a hospital as soon as we can.”

Mike winces as he turns to look at her. “What's the damage, Doc?”

“Hard to know the full extent of it at a glance, but their method of cauterizing is frankly medieval. It's keeping you from bleeding out for the moment, but you've still lost a lot of blood, and the extensive tissue damage presents a significant infection risk.”

“Yeah, I don't think they were real concerned about minimizing damage when they ripped my legs off,” Mike says wryly.

Sean suddenly stiffens like a gazelle that's caught the scent of a lion. Michelle and I are immediately at attention.

“What's wrong?”

“...Footsteps,” he murmurs. He gets to his feet, moving to press himself flush against the wall beside the door and peer through. I put my hand on my stolen pistol. I'm not in my best shape at the moment, but like hell I'm gonna not fight if it comes to that. But then his face lights up. “Estela!”        

Sure enough, Estela's voice answers him. “Sean!” And in the next moment, she's come barreling through the door, followed by a handful of guys in Coast Guard uniforms. Sean and Estela catch each other up in a fierce hug before Estela pulls back and rushes over to the rest of us to kneel at Mike's other side.

“What's the situation? What does everyone need?”

“Mike and Jake need medical attention,” Michelle informs her. “Jake may have a concussion, and Mike's lost a lot of blood. Where are we? Can we get an ambulance? How did you find us?”

“...I think I have a guess at the answer to the first question,” I murmur, not taking my eyes off the uniforms. “U.S. Coast Guard. Not cops. ...We're on the island, aren't we.”

Estela nods. “Specifically, one of the compounds in the south eastern jungle, near the older airstrip. They were apparently buried and patched over with data or something, but Zahra eventually found the blips in the security that meant someone other than you had crossed the security field. And given the timing of those blips, we had to investigate.”

“'We'? Is Zahra here, too?”

“Yes. She...she's investigating another part of the compound. At a fork in the hall, we found my sign etched on one path and hers on the other.” She turns to meet my gaze. “...Andromeda was etched beside hers.”

Zahra

From the start, I had a feeling our Hadean zodiac signs showing us the way wasn't actually the work of our kidnapped friends. From Draco and Corvus being the only symbols drawn to the way they were perfectly placed to guide us to an entrance where there weren't any hostile forces, it was all just too...neat and orderly to have been done by anyone actively being held prisoner. And if it wasn't done by our friends, that means it was done by someone else with a connection to the island and the Catalysts, and I'm really just blindly trusting that they're friendly at this point. The Endless supposedly died almost nine months ago, but who the hell knows with her. She might have known all this was going to happen. She might have known since Alodia first reappeared that some of her Catalysts would be kidnapped and held on the island, and that Estela and I would go hunting for them. She might have set this all up before her death. And for all that she's annoyingly cryptic, and for all that Alodia seems to hate her, I'm quite affectionately inclined toward the crazy old bitch version of Alodia.

So, now I'm wandering the abandoned halls of the compound, following my Hadean zodiac sign with Iris and about half of the Coast Guard crew that originally accompanied us, in hopes that the path I'm on leads to Alodia. Hers is the only other sign besides mine and Estela's that we've found etched here so far, which has me a little concerned. Four other Catalysts plus Mike have also gone missing. But maybe Alodia's being held separately from the others. Maybe she's in some high-tech prison cell that needs an expert hacker to get her out of.

“Zahra, I am detecting unusual amounts of electrical activity ahead,” Iris informs me.

“Well, good. Unusual is kinda what we're all looking for here. Iris, can you trace it?”

“Affirmative.” The hologram disappears and the drone goes whirring down the hall with a soft beam of light emitting from the front to illuminate the dim corridor ahead. When she finally slows down and stops in front of a door, I feel a knot growing in the pit of my stomach.

The door has Alodia's Hadean zodiac sign on it, all right. But the door is ajar, which doesn't give me a good feeling about what might be on the other side. Alodia might not be there. She might never have been there in the first place, or she might have escaped. ...Or worse, she is in there, but there was no reason to think she could get out under her own power. I brace myself and push open the door.

Thankfully, I don't find Alodia's mangled corpse on the floor. What I do find are a computer terminal and a bunch of monitors flickering with blue static.

“...Ooooookaaaaaaaaay....” I puff up my cheeks and blow out a breath. “Right. Iris, help me out here. What am I looking at?”

“This terminal was manufactured by Rourke International in 1995. Model V@N8091CH@2139. Serial number one-six-six-eight--”

“Okay, not really what I was asking. How about this: Iris, can you access the hard drive?”

“I'm sorry, Zahra. But this console is incompatible with my system.”

“Right. Well. It's all up to me, then. Iris, are the computer and monitors connected?”

“...Affirmative.”

“Is the console on?”

“Affirmative.”

“Great.” I crack my knuckles and flex my fingers before resting the pads on home row. I press a key, and the static disappears from the monitors, replaced by a blank home screen. Right. Let's do this. Blank home screen. No password. Obviously bullshit. No way I won't have to work for it. And sure enough, all the files are locked behind layers of encryption and code. I let my fingers dance over the keys feeling sweat beading on my forehead as I dig through the data like an archaeologist.

“...What are you looking for?” one of the Coast Guard asks hesitantly.

“I'll know it when I see it,” I snap. “Now shut it and let me work.”

It takes awhile. Longer than expected. Long enough that when I finally feel like I can take a breath and turn around for a second, Estela is there, supporting Jake, who looks a good bit worse for wear. I frown.

“Jake, you okay? Were you alone? What about the others?”

“Torres and his guys took Sean, Michelle, and Mike back with them,” Estela explains. “Mike's really bad off. They've already radioed for a helicopter to take him to a hospital. They'll radio someone in this group when they need the clearance code.”

“What about Alodia?” Jake asks. “Estela said you found her sign...”

“Yeah. And it led me to this room here. No sign of Alodia yet, but I'd bet money there's something on this hard drive that'll clue us in. In fact...” I turn back to frown at the screen. “I think I might've found something. ...'halcyon.exe'...”

“...'Halcyon'?”

“It means 'idyllic', I think,” one of the Coast Guard sailors says. “It's generally used to describe a time in the past that's regarded as preferable to the present. ...I think it's also a bird.”

“Well, whatever it is, it's the first .exe I've hit on digging through this hard drive. Might as well see what it does.”

I open the file and hear the ancient console whir and grunt like it's clearing its throat. The screens all go dark, save for the brief flicker of an hourglass wait icon on the main monitor. Then a familiar face fills the screen and I feel my heart stop.

“...A-Alodia...?” Jake whispers, his voice breaking.

Yeah, it looks like Alodia on the screen, but there's something way off about her. She looks more like a video game character version of herself than a person. A really well-rendered video game, to be fair. Like, complete mocap, expert rendering and all. Detroit: Become Human-level graphics on a computer from the same year as Toy Story. The still image suddenly blinks, and the mouth spreads into a Stepford wife-like smile.

“Welcome,” she says pleasantly, grinning like the robotic lady in the airline safety videos. Her voice sounds like someone took a voice sample from Alodia and built a text-to-speech voice out of it. “I am Galatea, Artificial Intelligence. Observe the flashing light on the console below and present Rourke DNA beneath the scanner.”

We turn towards Estela, who has already passed Jake off to one of the sailors and is making her way to the console. “I hope mine is enough...” She holds her hand underneath the scanner for a moment. Galatea blinks and smiles.

“DNA sample accepted. Welcome...Estela Montoya.”

“Wait, what?!” I yelp. Estela snatches her hand back like the scanner burned her, turning to look at me.

“What? What is it?”

“This computer console is from 1995! Did Rourke even know you existed that early? Let alone that you were his kid?”

Estela frowns, answering me with the suspicious way she eyes the Alodia-looking image. We've all probably got theories about Galatea and this old-ass computer console, but like hell we're going to discuss them in front of the Coast Guard.

Galatea's images freezes for just a moment, like her program is having some trouble loading on the ancient operating system. When she speaks, her voice skips like a scuffed CD. “Vooooooooooice mmmmmmmmessssssssssage for...Top Gun. Available. Voice recognition activated. Please say password clearly into the microphone provided.”

Jake has already stumbled over to the console and begun searching desperately for the microphone. I find the bulky desktop microphone on its side behind one of the monitors and hand it to him.

“Have any idea what the password is?” I ask. The way he stares at the microphone makes it pretty clear he doesn't.

“...The message is to Top Gun,” he says slowly. “Not Wolf, or Lupus, or Jake...”

“Maybe try--”

“Princess!” Jake says into the microphone before Estela can finish. Galatea tips her head like a confused puppy, and smiles again.

“...Password accepted. Playing message for...Top Gun. ...The Hydra is a myth. Look for the triumvirate. Crassus has betrayed Caesar and Pompey. ...JAKE!” The sudden emotion in Galatea's voice makes us all jump. Even weirder is that her face suddenly shifts from Stepford Wife to genuinely looking scared.

“Alodia?!” Jake cries, trembling. Just as quickly as it came on, the genuine emotion is gone, replaced by the Stepford smile, and text-to-speech voice.

“The roots of the great tree run deep. My father was not alone...” Galatea's expression starts to distort, her mouth twisting into a grimace. I swear I can see tears in her CG eyes. “...It hurts...”

“Princess!” Jake grabs the monitor, shaking it in frustration. “Alodia! Can you hear me?! Answer me!”

“Jake!” Estela and I pounce, dragging him off the console.

“What's happening?! What the fuck is happening?! Is that her?!”

“Calm down!” I order sharply. “Give me a chance to figure it out, will ya?! Iris, I'm gonna need to get take that hard drive back with us, see if we can't work out what this message actually is!”

“In the meantime,” Estela says, firmly taking hold of Jake and slinging his arm over her shoulders, “we're going to get you out of here.”

Jake looks back at the screen. “...No...”

“Jake, listen to me. Even if that is somehow her, she isn't physically here. And if she were here, she'd agree with me that you're hurt and you need to be taken care of.”

“...Jake...” Galatea whimpers. “...I love you...”

I feel myself tense. I just know that's gonna send Jake into a frenzy again. But to my surprise, he just dissolves into quiet sobs. He seems to have lost his will to fight, because he allows Estela to lead him away without any further fight.

I turn to glare at the computer screen. “Okay, Galatea, you CGI bitch. You're going to give up your secrets to me one way or another. Because as far as I am concerned right now, whoever sent you can go to hell.”