#then things got wild for malin

[landgraabbed]

rip to malin’s save but at least they managed to fullfill the bounty

[nearestend]

assigning fragrances to my (canon) muses. for funsies because it's my favourite activity ever, also utilizing my favourite website of all time, wikiparfum. continue reading if you'd like to see me infodump about perfumes. this is completely unnecessary. like many other things on my blog, none of this really matters, but it matters to me.

if you would also like an unnecessary perfume analysis for your muse, go ahead and give this post a like and i will get back to you with a customized presentation.

amanda: i highly doubt mandy is wearing scents at all, i don't think she cares for that. but i'm giving her one anyways because i can. (it was extremely hard to find one i felt suited her though.) inexcusable evil by toskovat. now, i have never actually smelled anything from this brand and i think their bottle design and logo both kind of suck, but based off the description of the fragrance, this might be mandy's. the descriptions i found for this on both wikiparfum and the brand's website are WILD. one of the top notes is gunpowder. heart notes include burn accord, iodine, and blood accord (LMAO???). i mean, i did purposely look for one that has blood accord, but i didn't expect to find any because that's not like, a popular scent. and then base notes are actually normal things like olibanum and sandalwood. also has cypriol, which gives a smoky, woodsy scent, which is the vibe i wanted for her too.

amy: this was also quite hard because amy is most definitely picky. she'd go for something very elegant and classy that is out of her price range, but she saved up all her money for. yellow hibiscus by jo malone is probably her style, which i also love because jo malone makes some of my favourites. it's very femme, but technically unisex, which i think is neat because i could also see laurie wearing it to. (i can see them sharing the same fragrance. they're that kind of couple.) it's very green and floral (hibiscus, rose, jasmine) and quite citrus forward. most importantly, lime! for the most obvious reasons of all (amy canonically loves limes). it's a really bright, fresh, sunny, and radiant scent, all very fitting for her. also my backup option for amy was bergamot by malin & goetz, but yellow hibiscus is way more fitting. i also considered going with something from the brand fragonard because that's a personal favourite of mine (i was gifted a set of them once and they are very nice), but couldn't decide on one in particular.

cameron: yes, i know the best we'll probably get from cam is that she puts on deodorant. i'm still giving her one anyways, because that's the whole point of this post. not going to bother with trying to find era accurate fragrances though, that's too much work for me. i really want to give her spacewalk by demeter fragrance library, both because it's cheap (cam is not spending more than $45, guaranteed) and because it's inspired by space! which according to an astronaut, smells metallic. (shoutout to the spacebike chronicles.) i do feel the need to include a high end option anyways, so odeur 53 by commes des garcons. it's got ozonic notes, which give it airy, metallic, and aquatic elements, as well as chlorine undertones.

camille: okay so i'm realizing that very few of my muses would wear perfume. i mean, camille is simply too depressed to bother, but again, this is not going to stop me. i decided on black vetyver cafe by jo malone. definitely something she would never buy for herself, but maybe she would wear if someone gave it to her. this one's got coffee, which i think she would like because coffee is her favourite ice cream flavour. there's also coriander, which makes it a bit sharper and peppery, while also green and fresh. warm notes of sandalwood, nutmeg, vanilla, ciste labdanum and woody vetiver. overall, very earthy and autumnal.

connell: he probably starts with something inexpensive from banana republic (either classic green or classic acqua). he's a simple dude, mostly just wants to smell fresh. if i'm going to give him something fancier (we can always say marianne got him a christmas present or WHATEVER), then i'm giving him skin by clean reserve. it's described as tender and intimate, with notes of honeysuckle, orange blossom, musk, and skin accord (which is basically just their way of saying it smells like an intimate embrace). it's all about intimacy, babeyyy.

harry: i have to give him rainbow bar by 19-69, for so many reasons. it's not just the name (and you know, the gayness of it all), but that's a huge factor. the fragrance is inspired by the rainbow bar on the sunset strip, which is pretty synonymous with sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. harry's role in adam's story is very much a representation of desire, intrigue, and the seductive nature of all the aforementioned elements. there's a warmth to this scent that's both comforting and mysterious. i really wanted to find something with notes of whiskey (taking into context, not only harry's introduction, but also his death), so this really fits perfectly. this might be the most "character accurate" choice on the whole list.

jess: i'm not even going to bother giving him something fancy because it feels wrong. smoky and earthy palo santo play by hawthorne is like $50 and that's literally like the maximum i can see him spending lmao. it's got notes of oakwood, sage, palo santo, and guaiac wood. very earthy and smoky, hints of tobacco and whiskey. because you know that boy smells like cigarettes and old leather and pretentiousness, but like, in a cheap way.

jia-yi: i chose fresh honeysuckle by fresh, despite the fact that it's discontinued, because fuck it, she can time travel anyways so that doesn't matter. honeysuckle also happens to symbolize nostalgia and memory, which is fitting. there's additional notes of fruit (peach, plum, blackcurrant bud) and florals (cyclamen, magnolia, ylang-ylang). honestly, i'm just kind of hung up on the fact that it's discontinued because this scent was SO good.

kate: there are so many options i wanted to go for with kate, but i think i have settled on realist extrait de parfum by ilk. it's categorized as being both a woodsy and a watery scent, which is primarily what i was looking for with kate in mind. (because like, weather and rain, you know.) it's got a bit of floral (rose, everlasting), a bit of citrus (yuzu, bergamot, lemon), wood (cedarwood, vetiver, olibanum), with the warmth of amber and pepper. it's described with concepts such as crisp mountain air and rain, appropriate for everyday and casual use. she's not formal or fancy and would want something nice, but versatile.

orla: she's a footballer, so i have to go with something athletic. i'm not like a huge fan of most "luxury sport" fragrances and like yeah, it's not about me anyways, but i don't think orla would be either. she's not someone who would care much about that even if she had the means to, so we're going with something pretty simple and affordable like team five by adidas. technically, it's for men, but she also does not care about gender. it's very fresh, fruity (green apple, lemon), and herbal (basil, pine needles, peppermint, clary sage, lavender) which i think are all scents she'd like. absolutely none of these words mean anything to her; she likes what she likes and doesn't overthink its meaning or importance. her other choice was hot wheels dino by jequiti, which she would 100% buy with no trace of irony whatsoever.

sydney: i felt the need to pick something with cherry notes because of course, the cherry donut that marcus named after her. 18-12 by ormaie is just that, as well as notes of almond, sandalwood, florals (rose, violet, heliotrope), fruit (lychee, bergamot, mandarin) and clary sage. it's quite fresh, youthful, and summery. i like her having sort of a fun and bright scent because her job is just so stressful and sometimes depressing, she needs something to uplift and contrast against all that.

[buckdefencesquad]

9 people you want to get to know better!

Thank you so much for the tag @tack-malin

Favorite colour: red! (I love red lipstick)

Currently reading: I like to read a few different things at once, so I’m currently reading; a little life by Hanya Yanagihara, the book thief by Markus Zusak, Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo. Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh, Fourth wing by Rebecca Yarros  and Aristotle and Dnate discover the secrets of the universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Last song: Wild Horses by The Sundays

Last series: The Magicians (I’m only on episode two of season one but I already think I’ve got an obsession. It’s killing me not being able to go on the tags on tumblr but I don’t want to be spoiled!)

Last movie: I had my little cousin over yesterday (I say little but she’s 18) and I showed her this film from my childhood called My Girl. We CRIED our eyes out (me especially, I’m really emotional, my family love watching films/shows etc with me because they like to laugh at me crying, affectionatley of course. It’s funny because whenever I cry at something, even if it’s something silly, my mum starts to cry because she hates seeing me upset so it upsets her lmao)

Currently working on: I’ve been off of work since 29th June due to an operation so I’m working on chapter three of my buddie fic and the first chapter of a thiam fic!

Not sure who to tag because I don’t want to bother anyone so no pressure to do this but @bigassdiaz @jaimetout @yelenasbuddie @thespermdonorstorylineisstupid @kirajockstrap @dromedaryenthusiast @buckleyobsessed @finestoflines @the-gayest-wug and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it!

[allthefakepeople]

Thank you for fulfilling my prompt 💕. Please don't apologize for taking a few days. I can only agree with the last anon. I love everything you have written, thus far and you did brilliantly with my prompt. I especially love this line:

"He’s gone and I’m what’s left. And I’m right here."

I think it is unbearably sad that Wille percieves himself as only the 'spare' and is to a large extent also treated as such. Because I clearly only want someone to take proper care of him, how about "Thank you, mama" as a new prompt. And you decide whether he says it to Kristina, Malin, Linda or even Simon. And how he says it fond, grateful, jokingly...

ok ok ok a few things. one i'm so so sorry this took so long to get out. i just got a little busy but today i was suddenly hit with this storyline and had to write it down. to say sorry i'm pretty sure this is one of my longest prompts haha. i hope it's okay that i combined these prompts i just thought they would work well together. it's definitely pretty fluffy but there is also for sure some hurt/comfort and some minor angst. @eyeofthedrgn i'm so so glad that you've enjoyed all my others.

also i have to admit part of this one was slightly influenced by a scene from the show teen wolf in which stiles calls melissa mom (if you've seen the show, if not then ignore this part of the message)

anywhoooo i hope you all like this one and that you haven't gotten sick of my writing yet haha

-Miels💜✨

Writing Prompts (yes i am still accepting them, though again it might take a bit to get to them)

“Thanks Mama”/“Don’t worry, I’m staying right here,”

Wille doesn’t think he’s ever felt this sick and out of it in his life. To be completely fair, he probably could’ve gotten a handle on this before it got this bad, but his mother had hammered the point into his head that “the Crown Prince should  never appear weak” so what had started as a minor cold had become… hell. It had become hell. His head was fuzzy, he was sure he had a fever, he had chills but was also burning up, his throat felt like he’d just taken up sword swallowing and he wasn’t very good at it. In short, Wille felt like shit. He knows he probably looks like shit too. He curses his past self for not taking it easy and resting but with all the new responsibilities of crown prince and returning to Hillerska after Christmas, with all the stares and whispers and Simon, he instead thought he could just push through it when it was just a runny nose. Fat chance of good that did him now. Deep down, a part of him wondered if he let it get this bad on purpose as a punishment for his behavior before Christmas. He tried to push those thoughts away knowing they wouldn’t do him any good right now. Plus, in a wild turn of events, Wille and Simon had somehow developed a tentative friendship since Wille’s been back. 

When he initially returned to school his first mission was to find Simon and, even if he pushed him away, tell him that August was the one who had posted the dreaded video. He had been almost eaten alive by the guilt over the holidays over not telling Simon on that last day before break but he had just wanted to give Simon the chance to have, at least somewhat of a, joyus holiday. He knew it was pretty unlikely that he hadn’t managed to completely  fuck up Simon’s chance at a happy winter break with all of his drama, but he still hoped it was the case anyways. It was part of the reason he didn’t text Simon the information either, although part of the reason for that was the minor fear that Simon had blocked him and wouldn’t get the message anyways. He knew this was something that had to be done in person, so even if Simon didn’t ever want to talk again after, he was determined to let Simon know who had ruined them beyond recognition. 

He knew the conversation was not going to go well when he’d finally approached Simon on their first day back, looking as beautiful as ever though a twinge went through Wille at the dark circles under Simon’s eyes that hinted at restless nights, and Simon had immediately turned away from him. 

“Wille, please. I can’t do this today. Not yet at least,” Simon practically pleads. Wille hates himself even more for having to push past this boundary that Simon is clearly trying to set, but this is important. 

“I understand you don’t want to speak with me Simon. But this is really important.,” Simon still had his face buried in his locker looking for a nonexistent book, his shoulders had become even more tense the longer Wille stood there. “Look, you don’t have to ever talk to me again after this if you don’t want to. But Simon, please.” He noticed Simon’s eyes flick to him when the word please, softened like butter, had flown out of Wille’s mouth. Wille lowered his voice even more and cast his eyes around. Luckily the hallways were practically empty. “It’s about the video,” That got Simon’s attention. His face snapped. Simon’s eyes darted across Wille’s face, clearly searching for some sort of answer to what this could be, before settling on Wille’s eyes. Wille put all the emotion he could into making his expression as open and vulnerable as possible. Simon let out a big sigh, Wille tried to bite back a small smile knowing that he had him, before nodding slowly. 

“Fine,” Simon then gestured to the open door of the empty music room a few paces down. As Wille led Simon into the room and closed the door, the feeling of deja vu wrapped around him and squeezed at his chest. The last time they had been in here, Wille had never felt more helpless around Simon before. He was feeling that right then. Wille brought his hand up to his lips and bite at his nail but quickly pulled it away again, knowing that Simon’s eyes were on him. Wille’s were on the floor, not quite able to look Simon in the face when he explained who had ruined Simon’s life… Well apart from him of course. It was quiet between them for a few moments as Wille tried to organize his thoughts and Simon, who had always been more patient with him than he ever deserved, let him. However the silence started to stretch and bend, but not yet break, as Wille’s mind raced from how to tell Simon this into… Should he tell Simon this. Especially when he doesn’t have a plan on how to fix it. Eventually it seemed like Simon gave up on waiting for Wille.

“Well? What do you have to tell me,” Wille’s eyes darted up to meet Simon’s quickly, where Wille himself actually entered the room Simon had stayed right at the door probably so he could make a quick exit if things went south, before darting away. Simon sighed again, though this time Wille could tell he was getting frustrated. 

“Wille please. I don’t have time for this.” Simon sounded so defeated and lost that it brought Wille’s eyes back to his. Wille realized he couldn’t drag this out any further. Simon deserved to know even if it didn’t change anything. 

“I know…” Wille started then stopped again, eyes still skittish. “I know who posted the video,” At Simon’s sharp inhale, Wille looked back at him. This time he didn’t let himself look away. Simon looked like he wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or angry or anxious so he settled on an expression  that somehow conveyed all three.

“Well?” Simon insisted. Wille took a deep breath, both quelling his own anxiety as well as his rising anger at the information he had. 

“It was August,” At the expression on Simon’s face over this, Wille almost wished he could take it all back. Simon looked resigned, angry, heartbroken, but also like he should’ve seen this coming.

“August…” Simon scoffed. “Of course it was August. Who else could it have been?” Wille stayed silent as he let Simon work through his emotions. Something seemed to occur to him.

“Wait… How long have you known about this?” Wille was dreading this question. He looked away, and hugged himself with his arms trying for some comfort but being unsuccessful.

“Felice figured it out right before break and told me,” Simon scoffed again, Wille flinched at it being directed at him.

“Before break… and you didn’t think to tell me when you first found out?” Simon’s voice rose slightly. Wille kept his gaze firmly on the floor now, not wanting Simon to see the tears steadily building up at the corner of his eyes. 

“I.. I just…” Wille started out stuttering. “I just wanted you to have a nice holiday. I didn’t want out last conversation to be about that,” Simon let out a harsh laugh at that.

“That wasn’t your choice to make Wille. I deserved to know,” Wille nodded at Simon’s words. He knew he had fucked up. He always just seemed to keep fucking up around Simon. 

“I know. And I’m sorry. It’s why I wanted to tell you as soon as I could after coming back.” Wille looked back up at this, Simon still looked disappointed before something seemed to occur to him. 

“But… wait. If you knew it was August, I’m positive you would’ve mentioned something to your mother.” They were getting to the part of this that Wille hated even more. “So why the fuck do I still see him wandering the halls of Hillerska?” 

“My mom…” Wille stopped to get a hold of himself. “My mother appears to have already known… before I had even made the statement,” At this Simon’s mouth dropped open. “She says the reason she didn’t tell me is she knew I’d ‘react like this’ whatever that means. Nothing is going to happen to him because she’s protecting him. But Simon,” He takes a tentative step towards where Simon is still stationed at the door looking ready to bolt. “ You have to know that if I knew who had posted the video or knew that she had known before I made my statement, I never would’ve made it,” This didn’t seem to be the right thing to say. Simon’s face darkened at the mention of the video.

“I… I don’t know if that makes it any better Wille,” Simon’s voice cracks at the same time as Wille’s heart. Wille nods.

“I understand.” They briefly stood together in their grief. Wille could feel the panic and sadness rising in him again. While he knew this conversation wasn’t going to fix anything, he had hoped they’d at least come out of it less broken. He wanted to be out of this room. He knew it probably made him a coward to want to run from this but he’d never claimed to be brave. He also didn’t want Simon to witness just how broken this all had left him. “That was all I had to say. Now if you want, you never have to speak to me again,” Wille’s voice hitched at the thought of him and Simon going through the rest of Hillerska, practically strangers who somehow knew just how the other person liked to be kissed, tears now making their way down Wille’s cheeks. He squeezed his arms even harder around himself, though it did little to help.

“Wille,” Simon’s voice was soft but broken. Wille interrupted not being able to handle that tone of voice. “Honestly, it’s okay Simon. You wanted space and I’ll give you as much space as you want for as long as you need. I’m sorry I pushed you to talk even now.” At his next words he made sure to look Simon in his eyes even though it broke him in two. “You deserve for everything to be on your terms now.” That seemed to break something in Simon, because tears were now running down his cheeks as he tried to keep them at bay. Wille couldn’t help himself. He walked right up to Simon and hugged him just like he’d wanted to since he’d let go of him before the break. Wille melted into Simon and his familiar smell and his familiar warmth. Simon held on just as tight, hiding his face in Wille’s neck. Wille could feel where his shirt was getting wet with Simon’s tears but there would’ve had to be a natural disaster going on outside for him to have pulled away. They cried against each other for what could have been hours or minutes or years or seconds. Wille knew they’d missed part of a class at least. Eventually Wille slowly started to pull back. He felt his heart clench at the small whimper that managed to escape Simon’s lips before they clamped down. Wille brought his hands from around Simon’s shoulders up to his face, where he gently brushed Simon’s tears away with his thumbs. Wille noticed Simon shiver at the soft touch. In a quiet voice, looking Simon in the eyes, Wille mumbled

“I’m serious, Simon. You don’t owe me anything. You can’t take all the time you want. I won’t force anything from you after this,” Simon’s eyes bore into his, so beautiful and so broken. Wille slowly brought his lips down and brushed them against Simon’s cheek, who closed his eyes and let out a breath at the soft touch. “Just don’t give up on me yet,” Wille whispered against Simon’s ear before slowly pulling all the way back, so they were only connected by a single joined hand. Simon looked him in the eye and opened his mouth. Wille braced himself.

“I could never,” Wille squeezed Simon’s hand and offered him a small but genuine smile that Simon just barely returned. Then Simon nodded once and opened the door. Wille let him. 

That whole conversation felt like a lifetime ago, but since then Wille and Simon had slowly but surely built back up to a friendship. Neither were ready to cross the line into something more yet, but they could both confidently say the other was their best friend. If they sometimes clung to each other a little longer than necessary or Simon caught Wille’s eyes on him lingering longer than strictly friendly, well they didn’t mention it. 

Either way, the second Wille had woken up on this day feeling like death warmed over, all he wanted was to go to Simon’s. A few weeks after Simon and Wille had started up their tentative friendship again, Simon had invited Wille to come over and, although he had originally protested worried that Linda hated him, Wille couldn’t deny the opportunity to spend time with Simon. It also seemed like his worries were for naught because the second he stepped into Simon’s house again, he was being pulled into a warmed, loving embrace by Linda. He melted into it completely and almost missed Simon’s unbearably fond expression at the scene in front of him. So yes, he wanted to spend time with Simon, who was slightly exasperated with him for not taking better care of himself, but what’s more is he wanted to spend time in Linda’s warm company. His own mother had never known how to deal with a sick Wille (or a sick anyone for that matter) so he’d never experienced the loving way Linda cares for her children when they’re even slightly under the weather. He knew for a fact that Simon wouldn’t even be home yet, since he had choir practice and Sara had riding, but Linda had always said that Wille was welcome anytime and right now, Wille was having a hard time resisting that pull. 

He doesn’t even know how he managed it, but somehow he found himself in front of the Erikkson’s door. He was knocking before he’d meant to and then the door was opening and Linda’s angelic face was on the other side. Wille’s pretty sure he even caught sight of a halo over her head but that could very well have been a hallucination from having a fever of 102. 

“Wille!” See, this is why Wille came here. No one was ever this excited to see Wille. 

“Hi Linda,” Wille attempted a smile but it probably came across as a grimace. He’s not sure how Linda didn’t immediately catch on to how awful he felt considering how awful he must look, but Linda had always been too polite for her own good. However she did let Wille come into the house, Wille vaguely noticed that Malin was hovering just slightly behind him. Huh, I guess that’s how I got here. Linda turned to him once he’d entered.

“I’m afraid Simon isn’t here,” Linda looked sincerely apologetic.

“Oh yes… I know that already,” Wille was pretty sure he was going to start swaying pretty soon. He caught on to the slightly confused expression on Linda’s face.

“Sara isn’t here either,” Now Wille was starting to feel a little sheepish at coming here.

“No, I know that too.” Linda studied him for a few more moments and then seemed to actually clock in to the fact that something was wrong.

“Wille, are you okay?” Wille tried to nod his head rapidly but that just made him dizzy and he put his hand out against the wall. 

“Umm. Not really,” Wille tried to look directly at Linda who now looked sincerely worried. 

“Do you need me to call Simon?” Wille panicked at the idea of Linda worrying Simon over something like this.

“No no. I just… ummm I haven’t been feeling too well today and… I just wanted to be somewhere that makes me feel safe… and that’s… well here but also I kinda wanted to be around you since I know you take care of Simon and Sara when they’re feeling sick and I…” Wille could tell he was just gearing up before suddenly he was pulled into some loving arms. He melted into it immediately, feeling the motherly glow of Linda. Even though Linda was significantly shorter than Wille now, he felt just like a kid again in her arms, burying his face in her neck.

“Of course I can take care of you. You shouldn’t even have to ask,” Linda whispered into Wille’s ear. Wille nodded before seeming to realize this close contact wasn’t the best idea. Hating himself slightly for it, he pulled gently out of Linda’s arms, who rubbed her hands down his arms comfortingly. 

“I shouldn’t be hugging you. I don’t want to get you sick too,” Linda waved her hand at this.

“I don’t get sick. Don’t even worry about it,” Then before Wille could protest, Linda’s hand was reaching up to his forehead.

“You sure are burning up though, how would you feel about laying down. I’m sure Simon wouldn’t mind you borrowing his bed for a few hours,” Wille felt entirely too weak to resist the idea of sleeping in a bed surrounded by the smell of Simon so he just nodded, leaning heavily into Linda. She easily took his weight and led him down the hallway into, what Wille knew to be, Simon’s bedroom. 

“Give me one moment Wille,” Linda had Wille lean up against Simon’s desk as she pulled back Simon’s covers and grabbed a pair of pajama bottoms from Simon’s drawers. It didn’t take too long and before he knew it, Linda was sticking her hand out for Wille to take, which he happily did, and led him to the bed. She had him sit down first.

“Do you want to change into something a little more comfortable?” Wille nodded sleepy at those words, before slipping his own shirt off and taking the pants from her. He knew that when he was more aware of it, he would be embarrassed about stripping in front of Linda, but right now he couldn’t be bothered to care about that. Once he was changed, Linda gently helped him lay back in bed. He melted into the pillow and the surrounding smell of Simon before he felt the covers being brought up around him. His eyes fluttered as he felt a gentle hand against his forehead and a whispered

“Sleep now, Wille,” He felt so safe and so comfortable and he was quickly slipping into dreamland but he let one thing slip before he did.

“Thanks Mama,” He didn’t hear a response as he was dragged under. 

                              —--------------💜💜💜—----------------

Meanwhile Simon was slightly panicking. He hadn’t heard from Wille all day, nor had he really seen him. When he had seen Wille, Wille had seemed so out of it he hadn’t even noticed Simon was there. Simon was worried. He knew Wille hadn’t been feeling great all week, had been pushing him to rest, but Wille had been stubborn. Simon had texted Wille a few times to no response, which was already strange because Wille almost always responded. Simon saw a text from Linda pop up at the top of his screen as he refreshed his messages with Wille hoping for some form of response, but he brushed her message away, pretty sure it was about dinner or something. Then Simon had been called into Choir practice and had been able to distract himself for a little while even if Felice had made his worries flare up again by saying she also hadn’t seen or heard from Wille for most of the day. Simon ignored the face Felice made over Simon’s clear distress for Wille. Simon would have felt this way if any of his friends had gone off the raider. I mean, yeah he was pretty sure he was in love with Wille and had been since Wille had said it to him all those months ago, but that doesn’t change the fact that he would do this for any of his friends. 

When he finally left choir practice Simon pulled out his phone but he still didn’t have any messages from Wille. He decided to check Wille’s room once more to make sure Wille wasn’t just hiding away for whatever reason. When he got to Wille’s he was almost immediately sure that Wille wasn’t there because Malin wasn’t stationed outside but he knocked anyway. Not getting a response, Simon yet again started to panic. Pretty soon, Sara would be getting annoyed for having to wait for him so slowly Simon made his way to the stables, thinking maybe just maybe Wille might be there. 

He didn’t find Wille, just a frustrated Sara who he apologized to profusely. He quickly explained why he’d been late and she softened slightly at that.

“Maybe text Mama and see if she knows anything,” Simon thought about that for a moment and realized it couldn’t hurt. He also remembered the message she had sent before choir practice and felt guilty over having ignored it for so long. However a completely different emotion filled up Simon when he actually read her message.

Hi Mi amor. Just letting you know that if you’re looking 

for your boy, he’s resting here. He looked pretty worn 

out and seemed to need a place to crash. ❤️

Simon let out a breath of relief at knowing Wille was safe and then a whole new emotion filled him when he realized that Wille had gone to his house, knowing Simon wasn’t there, because he needed comfort from Simon’s mother. If Simon thought about it too long he might just burst into tears.

Gracias mama I was getting worried

when I couldn’t find him. How is he?

He seemed pretty out of it but he’s sleeping and

hasn’t woken up so I’m letting him rest.

I think he’d probably appreciate it if you

were here when he wakes up

Yeah Sara and I are on our way back now

Now that Simon knew where Wille was, he couldn’t get home fast enough. Sara seemed to notice his change in emotion because she didn’t comment, just let Simon drag her to the bus. By the time the siblings got back to their house, Simon practically broke the door down in his haste to open it.

“Jesus, Simon. He’s not going to disappear,” Sara teased. Simon just huffed and walked through the door. Immediately heading for his mom.

“How is he?” He knew he still sounded slightly panicked but Linda didn’t comment on it. 

“He’s fine, Mi amor. He’s still resting. I was about to bring this soup in for when he woke up but why don’t you bring it up for him.” Simon nodded and took the tray from Linda. He gently opened his bedroom door, setting the tray down on the washer across the way as he softly closed the door again, before grabbing the tray again and bringing it into his room. He couldn’t help but melt slightly at the sight of Wille curled up in his sheets. He quietly walked over to his desk, placing the tray on it before he was surprised by a sound behind him.

“Simme?” Simon’s heart jumped, both at the surprise of hearing Wille’s voice and at the nickname. When Simon turned around, Wille’s eyes were hazy but open, settled gently on him. He kept his own voice quiet when he responded.

“Hi Wille. I brought some soup if you want some,” Instead of answering that, Wille stuck his hand out and Simon couldn’t do anything but take said hand. He gently brushed Wille’s hair off his face as he looked down at the boy in front of him. He felt like he was filled with molten lava over the feelings that were rushing through him.

“Come down here,” Wille gently tugged at Simon’s hand. Simon nodded but released Wille’s hand anyways. Wille let out a sound like a whimper that Simon quickly squashed, bringing his hands through Wille’s hair again.

“I’ll join you in a moment. I’m just going to change into something more comfortable.,” That seemed to placate Wille for now because he let him go and Simon, as quickly as possible, changed into some pajama pants and a shirt. He would brush his teeth later. He slipped back over to where Wille was, who opened his eyes again when he sensed Simon coming closer. Wille grabbed Simon’s hand and tugged again.

“Okay okay Wille,” Simon chuckled lightly. He then climbed over Wille into the small bed behind him. Simon then wrapped his arms around Wille from behind, who seemed to melt into the touch immediately. Simon knew this wasn’t strictly friendly but he didn’t really care at the moment. Not when he had Wille in his arms again. 

“Will you stay with me Simon?” Wille’s voice was barely a whisper and heavy with sleep and raspy from his, what Simon had to guess, sore throat, but Simon heard it just the same. He briefly tightened his arms around Wille before responding.

“Don’t worry, I’m staying right here,” That seemed to be enough for Wille because he nodded, probably more to himself than to Simon, then he sighed. 

“Thank you.” Simon thought that that was going to be it, but as sleep pulled Wille under he uttered one more thing. “Love you, Simme,” Simon freezed. It’s not like this was new information. Even though he hadn’t said it since, Simon knew Wille had loved him since well before Christmas. However, Wille had been very careful with Simon’s boundaries since. He made sure that Simon was comfortable with everything and always made sure Simon knew that he could take moments to himself if things got to be too much, even if they were only friends. It doesn’t change the fact that hearing those words again from Wille, despite it probably being a byproduct of being sick, filled Simon with a feeling that he could only describe as pure, unadulterated relief and joy. 

He waited a few moments to hear Wille’s deepened breathing, making sure Wille was asleep, before leaning down and placing a gentle kiss on Wille’s forehead.

“I love you too, Wille,” Even though Wille couldn’t hear him, Simon still felt insanely happy over being able to voice those three words to Wille. 

He knew that in the morning, if Wille was feeling better and up to it, they would have to have a talk about this and even though Simon was pretty sure he was going to catch whatever Wille had, Simon stayed wrapped up in Wille. He wasn’t going anywhere.

[disasterlesbiansunite]

Just Two Things: A Young Royals Fix-It Fic

His mama had stood over him as she began talking. Wilhelm could hardly focus; the vision of the video (his video, his and Simon’s video, the video of Simon) burned into his brain on a constant loop. She hadn't asked him if he was alright, not yet, but he had stopped expecting her to early on in life. Duty first, he guessed, as usual. She pulled away and off the bed, rattled off the words about the interview he’ll do to protect the royal family et cetera, et cetera.

“I don’t want you to see Simon for the time being,” she said, and he glanced up, suddenly feeling like his world is fell away underneath him. He wished Erik were here, that Erik was still alive. If he were, then maybe this would all go away. He doubted any of it could now.

--

August brought him dinner that night when he’s too exhausted to even leave his bed. He said that Erik would want Wille to be himself - but how is August so sure of what Erik would want him to do to fix this, to just get this whole shitshow over with, when the only person who knows that is six feet under.

“Follow your heart, really.” August said. “Follow your heart.”

If anything his heart only thought of two things at the moment. One is the crumpled up rage he feels that’s been broiling under his skin since he saw the video; the screaming, panicked wild thing that wants to shout at the world and watch it shouts back until no part of him remains, no crown prince, nothing.

The other part of his brain thought of Simon. Holding him, soft and warm until his skin, kissing his neck and inhaling as much of him as possible. Kissing him, kissing Simon, an exhilarating feeling he can’t describe, he won’t ever be able to describe. Almost all of the girls he had kissed had kissed gently and slowly, like they were afraid he would disappear right next to them. It always felt like he was being kissed by air, a ghostly possession that was over in a second and just as uncomfortable.

He would have thought that Simon would kiss like that, he had thought Simon would kiss like that, Simon had kissed like that, before they really truly got to know one another. Now, Simon kissed hard and rough, like he knew Wilhelm wouldn’t disappear but just as quick, aware he couldn’t have him by himself ever. Simon’s kiss had the edge of sandpaper, tough grit and fine smoothness rolled into one. Simon kissed for the sake of it, like there was so much he wanted to do to Wille, do with Wille, that he simply couldn’t function enough to do anything but kiss him. Wille fell asleep soon after that, dinner discarded. He wondered if the last time they would ever kiss would be the time that caused both of him to want to recoil from society and away from the world. A part of him hoped so.

The nail on his thumb was raw and bleeding.

--

As he walked through Hillerska, everyone stared at him in pity. He was used to the stares, used to the way his simple presence shut up people around until all they could do was give him a dumb look. It was pity that was new to him, but he tried not to focus on that as Malin rushed with him to his first class of the day. He knew the things they were saying, drove himself insane as he googled himself over and over again, watching Sweden’s trending page unravel until it felt like it was all over. He watched as Simon walked into their classroom, turning heads for once in his life. Once except for the amount of times he had his, of course. He mindlessly made small talk with his classmate, but all he could think of were two things.

After class he rushed into the locker room to talk to Simon. He looked sullen, his features that were generally framed in a light source of their own were moody and dark, an awkward, ill fitting portrait. He wanted to kiss it all away. Instead, kicked at Simon’s foot, hooking the two into a game of footsie.

“What the hell are we going to do?” Simon asked, wrapping his hands around Wilhelm’s, as if he had any of the answers. Breaking news, he didn’t. All he could do was sit in silence and hold Simon, it felt like the only thing he could do. Unless…

“They’ve asked me to deny it was me in that video.” He could barely get the words out.

“Serious?”

Wille hummed, unable to interpret that reaction. “They want me to make a statement at the castle on Saturday.”

Simon turned, his head moving off of Wille's shoulder in a way that feels entirely unwelcome. Put that back please. Wille had realized that he could only really function anymore in Simon’s arms. As if he wasn’t touch starved enough, but Simon was hot and didn’t mind so it didn’t really matter. “But you’re not going to do it, right?”

“I don’t want to say anything.” Simon doesn’t get it, but Wilhelm doesn’t expect him too; too impossible to explain.

“But, Wille, everyone can see that it’s me in that video,” Wille groaned. He had forgotten that slightly important detail. Simon continued, “What am I supposed to do? But no matter what, they can’t dictate what you say,” Yes, they absolutely can, they’ve done it before.

We haven’t done anything wrong.” He had forgotten that too, spending so much time yesterday going over consequences and contingencies ranging from plan A to Z it made his head bled. But no one had actually told him that they hadn’t done anything wrong. Not even August, with his love is love attitude that came out of nowhere. Not even fucking him.

--

Mama had been waiting for him. Mama had met Simon. She never looked twice at Wilhelm, veiled disdain souring her mouth as she stared out the window.

“What? Why can’t I just have a relationship with him? And not say anything. Just live a normal life.” He knows why. He just wants to hear her say it.

“You’re the crown prince.” And there’s the world crashing back down onto him. “And that’s a privilege, not a punishment.” It’s both actually, but whatever, mama.

“Yes, but I didn’t ask for this!” Erik should be here. Erik would know what to do.

“Well, nobody has ever, ever asked for this,” his mama shot back. He feels like a little kid again, feels like biting his thumb raw. “You’re the only one who can take over the throne after Erik. Don’t you understand that?” He wished she would just look at him.

“You’re so young. When you’re young love feels like the most important thing in the world. When I was your age, I too had an unfortunate romance.” He wants to laugh or cry or release that panicked, clawed, anxious feeling that’s always been trapped underneath his chest, beating his heart faster and faster and faster. Unfortunate romance, she said, like Simon isn’t the best thing to happen to him, like Simon wasn’t the only one holding him together, like Simon wasn’t the only real thing in his world.

He snapped back into the conversation.“Is it worth it,” she continued. “If you feel that the attention you’ve been getting so far is unacceptable, it’s nothing compared to what you will endure for the rest of your life. We have a chance to cover this up. I urge you to take this chance. You may not get another.”

With Simon on one shoulder, and his mama and the world on the other, it turns out he was going to make the statement after all. Fucking great.

--

He felt like throwing up, but, to be fair, when hasn’t he.

“Are you ready?” His mama asked, like he could ever be ready to announce to the world, no that definitely was not me in that tape and that boy is definitely not the love of my life, thank you very much.

He dragged his feet, as he went into the room where Rosenqvists sits. Like Mama said, they only have one chance to not fuck this up.

Rosenqvist smiles at Wilhelm, her eyes hawkish. He musters as much of a smile as he can, playing with the buttons on his suit as the photographer directs the two around.

“It’s good to see you again, your highness.”

His eyes darted around the room. He could hear his mama and papa argue in the room they were in

“You too.”

The interview began then, menial questions about his existence that made him want to bite at his thumb. He resisted, knew that if Rosenqvist saw how his anxiety was surging through him like a freight train and mentioned it in her interview, his mama would be more angry then she already was. The questions are simple really, he barely thought about the answers and more about how Erik would have phrased them. Not like Erik would have been in this situation.

“So, Wilhelm, we both know why we’re here.” She smiled apologetically at him. Here we go. “As you are, no doubt, aware of by now there was a video from Hillerska that is going viral of what is rumored to be yourself and another male student,” she paused for a moment, uncomfortable with the what she’s about to say to a boy she’d been interviewing for most of his life, “being intimate. What do you have to say about these rumors, Crown Prince Wilhelm?” She’s less probing, then. He can tell his mom already prepped her on how exactly this interview needed to go. Fuck.

“That’s not-” his words got stuck in his throat.

“That’s not you in the video?” She filled, looking more and more saddened with each word, more maternal that he thinks he’s seen anyone in his entire life. He wanted to nod, wanted to do what his mama wanted for him, wanted to listen to what she feels is best for their country, because it is theirs now, isn’t it? Erik is dead and gone and never coming back no matter how much Wilhelm wishes he had been able to keep him alive. Wilhelm doesn’t exactly know much about what it takes to be king, not like Erik did, but he’s pretty sure a leaked tape is one thing a king is not supposed to have on his record. Wilhelm should want to deny the rumors, so why does it feel like every time he tries to open his mouth that it’s filled with cotton, that panicked wild thing grabbing hold of his brain and shaking it like his snowglobe. It’s begging him to choose the path of least resistance. And then there was Simon. Simon with his pretty soft voice and his even softer lips. Simon with his kind eyes and hands and just Simon, Simon, Simon. Simon, who has already been broken by the video and if Wilhelm denies their relationship then he’ll only break more. The only things he can think about. Just two things. Two things he can’t seem to choose between.

He took a deep breath. Erik would have wanted him to follow his heart, would have said that that would be how he becomes a great king. By being kind and good, and wholly himself.

He chose.

--

Simon’s mama shouts for a rematch as he laughed into his snack.

Ayub tensed next to him, “Oh, shit.”

“What’s up?” Simon asked, confused. Did his dad ask him to go home or something?

Instead, Ayub read from his phone: an online copy of this week’s Göteborgs-Posten screenshotted and reposted to Twitter. “The Crown Prince addresses rumors of Viral Video.”

“What?” He could have sworn Willie had said he wouldn’t do the interview. His mom and Sara exchange glances.

Ayub read on, “While the Royal Court denies rumors that the Crown Prince appears in the video that has gone viral this past week, his royal highness Prince Wilhelm goes more in depth on his time at Hillerska and the events surrounding the video. He says, ‘I started at Hillerska to focus on my studies and have kept to that.’ At this moment, the prince pauses and grows quiet.

‘That’s not the entire truth. The truth is that that is me in the video. I do not know who took it or why but the facts remain the same. There are many people who would want me to not address the rumors surrounding me at this time, and some even would want me to outright deny them, but I disagree. If I am to be king, and no matter what happens from this I will be king, I want to be the kind of king the people can be proud of, the kind of king my brother would have been, and the kind of king that if he saw me he’d be proud of. And that starts by being genuine and being myself to the citizens of Sweden and to the world.’ ‘Everyone should be allowed to live as gay or straight or whatever they want,’ says the Crown Prince. ‘And I suppose the former includes me, but I would still like this time to decide further who I am and what kind of king I will be.’”

Simon is stunned. Of all things, he didn’t think of this as even an option. He fishes his phone out of his pocket.

To Wille: just read the interview, what. the. fuck.

From Wille: Is that a good “what. the. fuck!!!” or a “bad what. the. fuck?!?”

To Wille: you’re so brave, wille, thank you

To Wille: also according to ayub youre trending as “gay king wilhelm” on twitter rn

From Wille: Fuck yeah, bow down to your king. Meet me before school starts tomorrow, courtyard?

To Wille: see you then, gay king willie

As Simon approached the school - having already been stopped by four journalists, three photographers, two nosy neighbors and one blogger - he could see as Wille nervously paced at the edge of the courtyard, his hand rubbed deep into his chest, shirt creasing around it. Simon couldn't even begin to imagine what had happened in the palace after Wille’s interview. From what he saw the queen didn’t really strike him as the accepting type, but that was one of those things he’d let Wille discuss on his own time. He snuck up behind Wille instead, held his arms and kissed his neck.

“Hello, my prince,” he said and twirled Wille around and into his arms. Wille let out a little sigh of relief and if he could have held Willie there for forever he would. Wille smiles at him and kisses him on the cheek.

“Can we just go one day Simon without having your weird relationship issues making a scene,” Sara huffed past and quickened her pace to the school. Simon hadn’t noticed the stares, it felt like everyone in the courtyard had been watching them from Felice to August to other boarders Simon couldn’t name, but that had definitely called him names. Simon can’t bring himself to care anymore.

“I’m so proud of you, Wille.” Wilhelm let out a little noise, the only amount of negative emotion that being schooled on refinement since before he could talk would allow. He grabbed at Simon’s coat and drew him in for a hug.

“I love you,” Wille said and suddenly Simon’s whole world had shrunk down to three words.

Wille quickly ended the hug and walked towards the school, his bodyguards following quick after. Simon speed walked up to him and grabbed his hand, “I love you too.” Wille broke out into that tiny golden smile Simon loved to tease out and grabbed Simon’s hand.

The stares followed but Simon didn’t care. “Just two things left,” he said, “Get through this last day before break and then find whoever took that video.”

“And then?”

“I haven’t gotten that far yet,”

Wille hummed and played with Simon’s as they settled at the doorway of their first class of the day, “You might want to work on your plans.”

“No, my plan only needs those two things.” Simon messied with Wilhelm’s hair and strolled into the classroom.

Wille followed after one hand fixing his hair, the other clutching at Simon’s hand, muttering, “Just two things?”

Just two things.

[ghostmartyr]

Well, they’re not arcane nor locked tomb, but if you’re game, Luz and Amity for 54, reading a book together?

Reading, Mittens, Amity heard plainly in the back of her head, is to be done silently. If you can't maintain your studies without announcing to the world what it is you are doing, you will find your every deficiency turned into the weapon of your enemies.

The first time she'd heard that, she'd pictured Ed and Em, giggling and prancing illusions of Otabin on top of her head.

They weren't enemies yet.

She wasn't sure she even knew what an enemy was, then. A wild witch? A palisman without a witch? Rain?

But when her mother spoke, she listened.

This is for your own good.

She nodded her head and went back to her book. And it was hard at first, to keep the words inside. It was so hard she wondered if there was something wrong with her. She would watch Em and Ed, scampering around the house, bursting with noise, and think, for a few traitorous seconds, that she didn't care about enemies. She wanted whatever it was they had.

She learned, though.

She liked to think she was good at learning. That was one thing Ed and Em could never seem to manage, for all their talents and joy.

Amity could be quiet, and hide all her flaws away.

She could squash the urge to bounce on her bed when the Good Witch Azura vanquished her foes. Nothing was making her growl in Malin Gael's rasp when a prophecy was revealed. No one needed to know if sometimes the only thing that felt worth anything were those few stolen moments in between schoolwork where her heart tricked her into thinking it could sing it all out and it would be okay.

The library job was only for extra credit.

She was a Blight. Putting on a performance was what they did. An audience full of children wasn't that much different than an audience full of shareholders. The children at least remembered how to smile.

It didn't say anything about her except that she was good at her job.

Then... Luz.

Everywhere, all at once, there was Luz, and there was blushing, and loudness, and being so, so stupid about every little thing in ways she was supposed to have outgrown, or should have been better than, or something. Anything. Luz with her smile, and the twinkle in her eyes, and her glyphs, and her heroic stubbornness and -- reading.

Luz came to the library a lot.

Not her words.

Amity had overheard Emira teasing her at the end of one reading hour.

"What? No, no. No. This is totally the normal amount. Nothing to see here, nothing to tell anyone about, because this is all cool."

Luz had winked and pulled out an ice glyph. Amity had snorted, and blushed, and wanted the demonic hole that was trying to eat aisle 20 to come and swallow her up instead.

It was the normal amount for Amity, but it was a new habit for Luz. Research was part of it, so she claimed, but Amity couldn't think of any type of research that would need her to spend so many hours in the children's section.

Especially when she didn't look at any of the books.

She looked at Amity.

Amity was a professional. She wasn't going to stutter, or miss lines, or forget names just because Luz was there. Staring.

(She wasn't imagining that, right? She knew what staring felt like. Not this sort of staring, where the starer had glitter in her eyes and seemed enthralled instead of judgmental, but it was all -- it was all just looking with eyes, wasn't it? Normal eyes. That maybe had a few extra features because what even did normal mean for a human? Was that where the glitter came from?)

She did go red. Braxus asked for permission to bring her a cup of water, because he was worried.

Luz ran and got it instead.

It was a library, she shouldn't have been running.

But it made Amity's chest feel a good sort of warm, and she managed to pull off smiling when Luz came back with the water.

She always seemed to show up when Amity was reading. Sometimes with an offer to hang out afterwards.

There wasn't any way Amity could come up with to deny it, and most of her wanted the idea to be true: Luz was there for Amity. Whatever that meant.

Today, it meant awkwardness.

Not on Amity's part.

Well, maybe?

Some of it might have been.

But Luz was awkward too. Noticeably so. More noticeably than the red Amity's beating heart was sending into her entire face.

"Could we -- I mean, if you wanted to, no one's saying you want to, but do you maybe want to --"

Amity was dying and more alive than she'd ever been, and blurted out her "Yes!" before Luz had provided any context clues for what she was agreeing to.

Which Luz, of course, noticed. Because the whole stumbling conversation was happening out loud, and Amity was still probably dying. This kind of staring was not the kind she wanted a repeat of.

"I -- I mean," Amity said primly. "Go on."

Luz shuffled her feet a little, but smiled so brightly that it kept it all from feeling horribly hopeless. "I was hoping maybe you'd want a partner for next week's Azura showdown," she said in a happy rush. She cleared her throat and struck a pose with her arms pointing dramatically to the ceiling. In a deep voice that cracked near the end, she declared, "For the one, the only! Tragedy at the Torturer's Terrarium! Hecate and Azura battle it out, on opposite sides once more?!"

Without a trace of embarrassment, she continued grinning up at Amity, hopping a little on the balls of her feet. "What do you think? I'm not the master voice actor you are, but I have been known to know my way around a boom mic or two."

Amity had no idea what that meant. Even if she could have figured it out, her brain felt very stuck. Like it was caught in abomination goo that wasn't listening to her.

"I -- my voices aren't that good," she felt herself say.

"What?" Exclamation points formed in those beautiful eyes. "No, they're fantastic! I'd show up every week just to listen to them." Followed by an alarm that made Amity's heart beat way too fast. "Not that I do! I just would. I'm so used to the way I do them, so hearing you is like hearing the whole story all over again. It's great!"

They were both red, and that did not make it better. Amity floundered. She grasped at the only foothold she could find. "You read to young humans in your world?"

Luz rubbed at the back of her neck. "Uh, no, nothing like what you do. Just -- when I'm on my own," her smile turned quieter, "it's exciting, and acting out everyone's parts makes it even better."

Amity knew, sort of, that she was early on in her life. She was young. Ed and Em were young. There was a lot left, and she whatever she'd seen so far, there would be more later. Just because she was allowed to know it, if nothing else.

But at that moment, she was pretty sure she felt one of her life's guiding truths, and that truth was that she would never, ever meet someone as amazing and extraordinary as Luz.

Without even looking around to see if anyone was there to listen in, Amity took on her Azura voice, quoting straight out of The Field of Deadly Fates.

"'I would be honored to have you as my partner.'"

And Luz smiled, and -- if there was even anything quiet left about Amity's feelings, she wished, so much, that it would go away, and she could shout to the whole island how much the light growing in her heart meant.

...For a second.

She wasn't ready for that, just yet.

But maybe she was ready for one special person to hear it.

[lire-casander]

if hurting wounds would mend (never left that place inside my head)

[teen and up audiences] [title from northern lights by elias] [fluff, angst, mentions of hospitals, kristina's inner monologue is angsty enough to last us a whole eternity] [written for @flufftober2021 prompt #24: caught in the rain]

we're back to our scheduled wille's pov first and kristina's pov second! i hope you're enjoying where this is going, and that you keep leaving comments and kudos. i'm so thankful for all of you!

chapter #19 | on ao3

[1000 words]

The days fly by. New Year’s Eve comes and goes. Wilhelm spends his time between staring out the window, when the doctors allow him to move around a bit, and staring at the door whenever it creaks open and allows someone in.

Simon doesn’t come back.

Wilhelm would be lying if he said he isn’t disappointed. Maybe that's not the correct word for the feeling threatening to choke him into despair. Maybe the correct word hasn't been invented in any language he speaks. Maybe he should look it up in Japanese — he's been told they have words for any feeling out there.

But the truth is, Simon promised he’d be back, and he isn’t. Wilhelm knows that he deserves this — the breaking of promises and the silent treatment, after everything he’s put Simon through — but it stings. He has never felt as alone as he does when the knowledge that Simon won’t be walking through the door anytime soon sinks in.

His mother is there all the time, though. At first it picked on Wilhelm’s nerves, to have her so close, because her presence triggered him in ways he wasn't ready to admit yet. But as the days blend into another week and he's allowed to go home for the remainder of his recovery, Wilhelm finds himself looking forward to making small talk with her. It's a development that he didn't expect, but this turn of events is actually doing him wonders.

Being aware that she’s trying helps him. He’s slowly learning that Queen Kristina is a façade she’s put up for the whole world to see from a very young age. Even though she’s still stiff and severe from time to time, Wilhelm is starting to see through the cracks in her public persona. There are tons of things they need to talk about — mainly about Erik and them as a family and William and Simon — and Wilhelm’s come to understand that impatience won’t lead him anywhere.

He’s also slowly beginning to understand that the Crown has taken more from his parents than he’d imagined.

That doesn’t make up for all the losses he’s got to suffer throughout his life — not just people he loved but also a side of himself that he will never get back, the part of his soul that used to be carefree and wild — but it helps him somehow. Whenever he feels anxiety building up inside, Wilhelm remembers how his father has sat down with him lately and shared with him tales about being shoved into the spotlight unwillingly. Whenever he yearns for a love he cannot have, he remembers his mother’s downward gaze whenever her unfortunate romance has surfaced in conversation.

And conversations, there’s been a lot of them. It seems they’ve done nothing but talk for seven days straight.

It’s also all Wilhelm has ever wanted — for them to behave like normal people who fight and get mad, but also who make up and apologize.

They’re starting to feel like a family.

*~*~*~*~*

She’s pushing the wheelchair across the floors of the hospital the day Wilhelm’s being discharged — ready for his recovery at home — when Kristina realizes that it’s raining outside.

They’re going through a corridor on the entrance floor, one of those places with a lovely window wall facing a private garden. Kristina can see how Wilhelm’s looking outside the window intently as she wheels him slowly through the corridor, followed by Malin and Johan, while Ludvig walks up ahead of them. She can even hear him sigh in earnest.

She’s been working on being more impulsive — she knows that’s not how it’s supposed to be, impulsiveness isn’t worked on — and maybe this is the time to show to the people she loves that she cares about them. It’s a chance to prove that she’s trying.

She moves the wheelchair closer to the large windows and halts. “Do you like the rain, Wilhelm?” she asks.

“It’s so beautiful,” her son replies, one hand lifting and touching the glass where raindrops are splattered. Kristina doesn’t miss the wince that accompanies the motion, how his other hand lands on top of the cast on his leg.

How he seems to be yearning to be outside instead of stuck on a wheelchair.

After everything that’s transpired — no trace of Simon whatsoever, not even after her own efforts to reach out through different anonymous channels to see if she could manage to get a hold of the teenager or his family — Kristina thinks her son deserves a break.

Kristina has distinct memories of a distant time, when they had been more of a family, when Erik and Wilhelm had been both kids. She remembers chasing them under the rain, letting them jump in the puddles. She shares a knowing glance with Ludvig over Wilhelm’s head and watches as he turns around and inspects the window wall. When he finds what he’s looking for, he glances back at her and smiles.

Kristina grabs the handle of the wheelchair and pushes it towards Ludvig. If Malin and Johan are surprised about where she’s leading them all, neither says a word. Wilhelm, however, lets out a squeal when Ludvig opens a discreet door and she takes him outside, where the first droplets of rain fall onto his skin.

It isn't by far the less princely thing he's ever done, but it's the one that brings back a sincere smile to his lips, so bright that it ignites his whole face and reaches his eyes.

She swirls them around the small garden, away from prying eyes as Malin and Johan stand guard and Ludvig joins them. For a moment, while they're caught up in the rain, Kristina forgets about everything. She forgets about Royal duties and the Crown. She forgets about her mistakes and her sins, about the faux leading them to where they are now. She forgets about the pain she's put her son through.

This, she thinks, is finally the right path to mend the family she's broken.

[antigonick]

Out of sight

DISCLAIMER : Everything belongs to Malin Rydén and Fallen Hero, as you must know by now. THERE’S ALSO : I guess this one and this one feature the same idiots, though they all work as stand-alones. WHAT TO EXPECT : Well, I said I’d do a bit of farm-angst for Una, so that’s where we’re at. I’m still trying my hand at their POV, and it’s all very vague and very where-are-you-going-with-this, I have no excuse, I just had a free night and stopped using my brain halfway through.

2013. The Farm.

You’re not closing your eyes now, not in this place, not ever. Blink and you fucking disappear. Things have changed. You’re just biding your time. You’re just crouching low. You look at them straight in the face and if they’re too soft you bare your teeth to make them stumble back. You can smell the fear on them, the unease. They’ve seen you quick, they’ve seen you wild. They can prod, they can slice, they can tear. You don’t care. You lock your muscles and you give them a smile that will turn their dreams to anguish. Oh they know, that they’re threading dark water. 

What did they expect? 

You fled once, and you had no-one then. They don’t stand a chance this time. No slipping away into the night. No fleeing on silent feet. No mercy. You’ll be ready when the cavalry breaks down the door with a quip and a zap. Any day now. Keep your eyes open ’til then.

─────

No windows underground. No clocks in the labs, only watches that the white coats hide under long sleeves. They keep you awake, but you wouldn’t sleep anyway. Your brain left to its own devices tends to spew a bloody-black tar of vertigo. Your eyelids feel vellum-thin and your fingers mauve-cold, and that’s all fucking fine. Jittery means paranoid, paranoid means alert, alert means lethal. Or as lethal as you can be when they tie you to the exam table and inject you with enough tranquilliser to kill a small dog. Guess you shouldn’t have slammed your forehead in a-too-close-nose on—when was it? Day three? Day four? No more than that. 

You can see your synapses blink and flash on their black screens. Their speech is muddied, but it trickles in eventually, molasses-slow; sometimes it comes back quick and sharp when you break the surface of awareness, heart mad with the return of life. 

In the morning (is it morning?) they pin your tongue with a metal probe that tastes like a gun barrel and your name screamed too late.  You’re not worried though. Too late once, but not twice.

─────

It’s not that you can’t do it alone. They’re not stashing you in the same facility, weapon that you are now, but you’re starting to get the hang of the layout, stumbling in blinding corridors between two guards, listening to a stray hint and a whispered conversation. If you take them by surprise—a well-placed elbow when they free your wrists—you might be able to slip and hack your way through those keypads they thumb carelessly. The white coats don’t have guns, but the guards do. You’ve become more than adequate; you should be able to beat one of them up, even if your limbs right now feel like pulp, even if your mind— The dampeners make your telepathy buzz and writhe inside your skull—too long, too long without stretching itself, without extending its fingers to brush at a reality blurry as a nightmare.  Experienced like this, stuck inside your own body, bereft of those mind thresholds that allowed you the grey freedom of liminal spaces, the world has grown unreal. Maybe it is. Maybe you’re not here. Maybe you’re already gone.

Hey, come back. What were you saying? You should be able to beat one of them up and run run run to that metal door you hear shut like a sigh when the white coats finish their shift. Really—it’s not that you can’t do it alone. It’s just good thinking. You’re stronger with someone on the outside. When he comes, you can split this place open like a bruised fruit. 

You just have to hold out a little longer.

─────

Any day now.

─────

You don’t know what’s happening to your eyes. You’re not closing them now, not in this place, not ever—or maybe just a minute, only because the light needles at your optic nerve like a nail—you can feel it shift inside your pupil, nudging your brain with a wet ripe sound, all the way… All the way, far far far down to the back of your throat. 

Stop. 

Where are you? You haven’t seen your face in so long. Behind the mask there’s a mask that hides a mask that hides a mask. No—that’s not true. It was all real, it was, it was. You remember your face, unveiled on a grey-fog night, glimpsed one last time in the glass panes before they shattered into emptiness—it can’t have been more than a week. You know he’s coming for you like you always come for him. They’ll be here. They’ll all be here. They’re heroes after all. You’re heroes after all. None of you would let the world fester like this. None of you would let the tubes leak black, the air turn to rust, the HOWL enter you until it spreads and slashes at your brain, until the trigger clicks. Where are you? You haven’t seen your fa—Wait. Rewind, don’t get lost, he’s coming for you like you always came for him. Shouldn’t you prepare yourself? Get up? Move fast? Cover your bare spine, your naked legs? You wouldn’t want them to see your skin. 

You’re running now. There’s a good chance you’re running. Remember? Remember? Remember the city how the windows reflect the street how the skyscrapers melt into the sky how the sky dissolve into the dark mad sea? The pavement is thumping against the sole of your feet and the heat is swarming up your legs up up up through the tip of your fingers to the root of your hair. Yes you remember the heat. Outside, inside. Heart bursting with it. 

You think you gasp awake.

─────

Don’t forget again, you have to keep your eyes open. Blink and you fucking disappear.

─────

Time is sluggish around here. No clocks, and you miss the toxic purple of the Los Diablos sunset, the velvet cover of the night, you miss, you miss, you miss Anathema, their voice, their hand on your shoulder, that smile you saw melt like too-hot play-doh under their stained fingers—shut up—you miss the heat of the sun on your nape—yes that’s better—you miss coffee rich and dark, you miss the mind-voices weaving in and out of your head, never alone, always alone, you miss the supple cover of the suit, the darkness of the mask, you miss you miss you miss your name so roundly shaped by tongues warm and familiar. 

You remember your name, right? One of the white coats joked about it the other day. Asked you if anybody ever fell for that cardboard Irish heritage you aimed at. They’re growing bolder now; they get in your face, they laugh, they don’t hesitate before they pull at your eyelids, stab at your arm, open your jaw. Too close, too cocky, leaving on your tongue the foretaste of revenge.

One night (is it night?) two of them move around you snake-like in the yellow daze and while they stick their electrodes on your scalp they jeer, they circle, they ask again and again—so did you like it, the glitter, the fame? Say, how was it? Did you party your heart out? Did you touch your heroes? Did you wear a dress? Did you think you could be a person? Did the tattoos turn your little friends on?

As if they didn’t know that what you snatched for yourself back then was only a half-life, hidden and veiled like prey, every opening making you weaker, making you reckless, making you—what? Hopeful?  Still they shouldn’t, shouldn’t snicker, shouldn’t touch, shouldn’t spit. 

You could still bite. You will, won’t you? You were supposed to be crouching low. Feels like you might have fallen to your knees instead.

─────

Time is running out. You’re not stupid. You can feel your palms turn soft, your muscles turn liquid, the mellow ginger fuzz growing thicker and thicker when you slide a hand on the head they shaved—when? A week ago. A month ago. A century ago.

Any day now. He knows you can take it until he’s ready. He must be planning something big. Silly man, always so dramatic. He’s had time to track you down now, to gather what he needs, to convince Steel, even. You can see it now, the bursting in all guns blazing, the brilliant grin, the righteous anger, the flash of blue and white. You’ll be ready, you’ll be ready.

It’s not that you couldn’t do it alone, but you’re a little tired. It’s so much easier when someone’s got your back, right? He taught you that. You should tell him when he gets here. You should tell him a lot of things.

Hours—days—weeks—seconds unfurl like a shroud.

They leave you alone a little sometimes and when nothing moves when nothing hurts it’s difficult not to sleep. Pain soft and hushed has settled at the base of your spine, reminding you where your body starts and stops. You haven’t felt the edges of your mind in so long, you have to cling to flesh. 

Today they’ve settled you in the familiar lab, sitting slightly swaying on the exam table, waiting, useless and empty. Your patient gown is thin and papery, gaping at the back like a hungry mouth. The air is hot and humid, the neon tubes sizzle and pop like bug zappers. On the white boards, they left a few of your scans—lovely colourful waves on translucent black. On the nearest work table, you can see the coffee growing cold, and two library books wrapped in neat plastic covers, and even a trashy tabloid with a cover so crisp and new—  So crisp and new—

You know that smile. Suddenly swallowing is stretching your throat. You know that stupid fancy shirt. You know those camera flashes. You know that lazy hand caught in a cheeky wave, two fingers up. You know that sloping shoulder, that arm wrapped snugly, warm as a secret and light as electricity.  Oh yes yes you know that sun-drenched happiness. You don’t know the girl, you don’t see the venue, you can’t read the title, but it doesn’t matter.

You’ve seen enough.  You close your dry eyes before they burn. He’s not coming. Nobody’s coming. You fucking disappeared. 

[joementa]

The Menta Vinyl Vault - Highlights From The Spring Collection.

I don’t know where you are, but I hope the weather is similar to where I am.  Right now here outside of Philly, spring is in full bloom. The cherry blossoms are INSANE.  The birds are so loud.  I find myself wanting to be outside constantly.  Everything smells so clean outside.  And the feeling of summer being right around the corner has never been more prominent.  That means it’s springtime.  And it means that my spring vinyl albums have started to get a lot more spins.

If you’ve been reading or following my playlists, you’ve heard this before (and you’ll hear it again). I vary what I listen to based on the season.  This week I’m focusing on 20 great songs from my own personal vinyl collection that are sampled from albums that I only listen to in the spring.  Most of my favorite spring musicians are included here: The Shins, REM, The Replacements/Paul Westerberg, Fleetwood Mac, The Jesus And Mary Chain, The Black Crowes, Husker Du/Bob Mould, Social D.  I try to listen to each of their discographies at least twice during the spring.  I’ve also featured a couple of musicians who aren’t necessarily spring musicians but have albums that need to be listened to in the spring.  For example, The Gaslight Anthem is definitely a summer band, but American Slang sounds best in the springtime.  I can’t tell you why, because I’m not really sure myself, but you can trust me that it does.

You may be asking yourself how I determine when the to change my albums for the season.  Sometimes it is the weather but for the most part it revolves around the calendar itself.  I’ll be listening to The Wild, The Innocent & The E-Street Shuffle on the Friday before Memorial Day regardless of the weather.  Memorial Day means the start of summer.  And that album is the definition of summer.  Here’s the calendar of when I change things up.  March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day and I’m always listening to Dropkick, Van Morrison, The Pogues, etc. while I make corned beef and cabbage and drink a Guinness.  The corned beef cooks for hours, so it really warms the house up.  So we usually have the windows open.  Most people, including me, don’t open the windows in the winter. So if the windows are open, it means spring is starting.  And if spring is starting, I need to change up what I’m listening to.

Spring music – March 17 through the Thursday before Memorial Day

Summer music – The Friday before Memorial Day through September 30

Fall music - October 1 through November 30 – Fall

Winter music - December 1 through March 16 – Winter

Christmas music - Black Friday through January 11 – Christmas

I hope you enjoy this playlist and I hope you are able to listen to it the way it was meant to be heard….turn it up loud while the sun is shining!

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/menta-vinyl-vault-highlights-from-spring-collection/pl.u-8aAVzmbHNmrv5R

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/77dnZtVZ9ySbl3Ig0yOmzx?si=CxM8ebQ_SsuA0D0_-XXdHw

The Shins – “Simple Song” (Port Of Morrow)

R.E.M. – “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” (Monster)

Wilco – “Box Full Of Letters” (A.M.)

Dave Hause – “The Flinch” (Bury Me In Philly)

The Gaslight Anthem – “American Slang” (American Slang)

Bright Eyes – “Jejune Stars” (The People’s Key)

Bruce Springsteen – “Shackled And Drawn” (Wrecking Ball)

Social Distortion – “Story Of My Life” (Social Distortion)

Tobias Jesso Jr. – “Without You” (Goon)

The Jesus And Mary Chain – “April Skies” (Darklands)

Fleetwood Mac – “I Don’t Want To Know” (Rumours)

Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social – “St. Mark’s Sunset” (Love It To Life)

Big Star – “When My Baby’s Beside Me” (#1 Record)

Drive-By Truckers – “Hearing Jimmy Loud” (English Oceans)

The Black Crowes – “Struttin’ Blues” (Shake Your Money Maker)

Bob Mould – “Sunshine Rock” (Sunshine Rock)

Husker Du – “Flip Your Wig” (Flip Your Wig)

Paul Westerberg – “Ain’t Got Me” (Eventually)

The Replacements – “Alex Chilton” (Pleased To Meet Me)

The Shins – “Heartworms” (Heartworms)

[zuulosdovah]

The Interview: Drakaina Malin

Year 6

Thanks for the tag @phyl-the-gryffinclaw and @sirfluffig!

————————————————————————————————–

What’s your name -> “Drakaina Malin, but just Kaina is fine! Really, the only people who call me Drakaina are my mum when I’m in trouble, and Tulip. Makes talking to Tulip very stressful by association.”

Are you single? ➔ “No. Yes...? It’s... Uh, it’s complicated. Can we talk about something else?”

Are you happy? ➔ “Like, in general? Sure. Yeah! Someone’s gotta be the eternal optimist, right?”

Are you angry? ➔ “Not right now, but... far more often than I used to be, if my friends are to be believed. I don’t know. I don’t see it.”

Are your parents still married? ➔ “That’s... also complicated. Yes. I think. But my dad moved away when I was nine and we haven’t really seen him since, so... yeah. I don’t think they really know either.”

-

NINE FACTS

birthplace ➔ “Somewhere in England. I think. I’m not sure. London? It was probably London.”

hair color ➔ “Blonde as can be. Dad must have some crazy strong genes, because both me and my brother are blonde, even though mum has black hair.”

eye color ➔ “Baby blue. Got dad to thank for that one too.”

birthday ➔ “Today! 16th of January! Congrats to me!”

mood ➔ “Pretty good! Which is good for you, really, otherwise this interview would probably be very short.”

gender ➔ “Girl. I don’t know what it is about me that makes everyone think I’m a bloke! Is it the hair? It is, isn’t it?”

summer or winter ➔ “Winter. I like basking in the sun as much as the next guy, but there’s just something so good about snow. And christmas! And good food, and piles and piles of blankets, and hot cocoa. And not having to go home over the break.”

morning or afternoon ➔ “Afternoon. Once the classes are all over and you get to do whatever.”

-

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

are you in love ➔ “I... Yeah. Yeah, I think I am, still.”

do you believe in love at first sight ➔ “Not as such. I believe in really intense crushes, for sure. Been there a few times. But love isn’t really something you can just find, especially not at a glance. It’s gotta be made, ya know? Takes time.”

who ended your last relationship ➔ “Remains to be seen, yeah?”

have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ “I sure hope not. Have I? That’d be terrible, considering I wouldn’t know about it. Mum’s, probably. She doesn’t count though."

are you afraid of commitments ➔ “Nah, not really.”

have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ “For sure! I’m pretty sure I’ve hugged all my friends at least once this week, with varying degrees of success and hugs back. They need to know I appreciate them though.”

have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ “If I do, they’ve been very secretive about it.”

have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ “It happens from time to time when you wear it on your sleeve like I do. Don’t regret it, though. High risk, high reward.”

-

SIX CHOICES

love or lust ➔ “Love. Does anyone actually pick lust for this one?”

lemonade or iced tea ➔ “Iced tea!"

cats or dogs ➔ “Cats, for sure. I’m a little biased.”

a few best friends or many regular friends ➔ “Both. What, I can’t pick both? That’s dumb. I guess... a few best friends then.”

wild night out or romantic night in ➔ “Wild! Night! Out! - Wild! Night! Out!”

day or night ➔ “Well, they both have their benefits, but I think I’m gonna have to go with day. Less sneaking about, more people awake, warmer, louder.”

-

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

been caught sneaking out ➔ “Once or twice... a month. There are no animagus powers that can save you when you're stuck halfway through a fake step in the Grand Staircase. Last time, Professor Snape found me, and he left me there overnight as punishment.”

fallen down/up the stairs ➔ “Remember that thing I said just now about getting stuck in fake steps? Yeah, the Grand Staircase is the worst.”

wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ “Oh, you know... I wouldn’t have spent nearly half my life looking for my brother if I didn’t feel like a part of me was missing. It’s fine, though. I have Bill and Orion. The hurt comes and goes.”

wanted to disappear ➔ “Haven’t we all?”

-

FOUR PREFERENCES

smile or eyes ➔ “Can I say both? You know, when people smile so wide their eyes squint together and you know they probably can’t see, because they’re smiling too much? Or when they smile just a little bit, but you can tell it’s genuine, because it makes the eyes crinkle? That’s the best.”

shorter or taller ➔ “Mate, I’m 161. 5′3. I don’t really have a preference, but then again, I don’t have much of a choice either.”

intelligence or attraction ➔ “No love for a kind heart and a good sense of humor? No? Hm. Attraction, then, I s’pose.”

hook-up or relationship ➔ “Relationship, no question.”

-

FAMILY

do you and your family get along ➔ “Me and mum can’t be in the same room without screaming at each other. I haven’t seen my dad since I was nine. And Jacob... Let’s just say things have been better.”

would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ At this question Ms Malin starts laughing uncontrollably, nearly reducing herself to tears. It becomes clear that’s about all the answer we’re going to get, so we decide to move on.

have you ever run away from home ➔ “No. Not for a lack of trying, mind you. I’m pretty sure the Weasleys would take me in if I made it to the Burrow. I could steal Bill’s old room. Or maybe the Khannas?”

have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ “Mum would never let that happen. Locked in, on the other hand? Now there’s an idea.”

-

FRIENDS

do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ “No! What? No. I couldn’t. That stuff festers. I’d be lashing out within a week and then it wouldn’t be a secret anymore.”

do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ “Some friends are closer than others, for sure, but yeah! They’re all good friends.”

who is your best friend ➔ “Rowan, Ethren and Be... Uh, just Rowan and Ethren, I s’pose.”

who knows everything about you ➔ “I think I’m keeping that to myself. They know who they are. That’s all that matters.”

[pestopascal]

so i only just saw the announcement on the fhr server what happened while i was in something else i tried searching and everything seemed to come back to you lol

“comes back to me” LOL yeah so bee posted the blm donation post after people were all like “i need a break from social media” following malins post on the fhr tumblr and like it wasnt mean. it was just a Post with ways to help/raise awareness bc like ngl being all “oh i need a break” when like there is ZERO mention of blm before all this btw. terrible. but the mods deleted it ???? (not a single mod has admitted to being the one to delete it first). and then it got reposted under spoiler tags with like “tw police brutality/politics” which. its a donation post for blm. tone deaf. so then i reposted it again, and quite frankly ppl were chiming in with like why was it hidden under those tw and spoilers and that maybe it should be posted in the announcement channel instead of being lost in genchat (it took 2hrs for it to be a formal announcement still under tws). it RLY didnt dissolve until justaname chimed in with “this server isnt supposed to be leftist fox news” (a classic which will not be forgotten by the masses) and literally like the mods were ??? not here but the mits and cms were like either trying to help or just straight up “this server is supposed to be a safe space” like even MY post wasnt aggressive lol i just gave suggestions on how ppl could donate or stream to donate or if they want more information on first nations (bc everyone seems to believe i left out australia in this...????)  but then mod cheion chimed in with “politics are on the trigger list” AGAIN and its like this is a donation post about blm YKNOW??? so then idk ppl tried to like non-apologise for comments and be all “how are ppl supposed to learn from mistakes from their comments” and encourage ppl to go onto different topics and kept saying that the donation post and blm was a “heavy topic” for a GAME that literally has “heavy topics” as its like core storytelling (which btw numerous people ALSO brought up was incredibly ironic and reminded everyone the server has been like that for a very long time) anyway madcatco literally called the server theirs LOL and was like literally take ur politics somewhere else (this game......... has politics involved btw)

like then ppl left it for maybe idk a lil while i hopped into the au server and snagged some screencaps of ppl just railing on me for literally bringing up racism bc thats bad apparently to point out racism??? also my MO is to be an asshole ❤️ and then it kicked off again as ppl read up and started criticising the mods and famous comment by trob of “we’re aware of smute” LMAOOOO like sry i tried being polite with dms and screenshots last yr to emma that mod who like was sarcastic af and trob and madcat (who also btw Hated smute and rei up until like. august last yr). anyway ppl started DIGGING and posting caps of rei and smutes antics on the server in genchat specifically (also that fucking post from saturn about smute skejfhskjdhf ) and then campaigning for ppl to be unblocked who were blocked like nina (contrary to ur opinion trob dont lie 2 us i have screenshots of u in the vent channel of the au server) and like ppl kept demanding why saturn was blocked and they REFUSED to answer why and still never outright admitted it and it kept GOING it was like absolutely hilarious and sad how many non-answers and non-apologies ppl got and they were like “oh but how do we help the server” and then ppl were like “wow i didnt realise the rot went this deep” bc sooooo many ppl were getting anons as well with just how deep smutes interaction with fhr went and it was like. incredible. also shout out to smute being the pet racist comment that was the FUNNIEST shit i’ve seen. only the mits and cms were actually trying to help btw. mods were nowhere to be seen. PPL WHO LEFT THE SERVER REJOINED like who swore off fhr all those huge content creators came back. wild. at some point i passed out, got banned by lime as a “knee jerk emotional reaction” alongside alex and seagull and i think there were others as well btw idk who and we got unblocked (im so sad that happened like an hr after i went to bed i MISSED it) and just madcatco SPLIT with no apology, idk cheion said smth but quite frankly idk it was words. lime dipped out. a whole bunch of ppl also split, ppl started POURING in again. like there was another non apology which was like ‘my mental health’ and idk man none of them still apologised for being racist mind you like that was the biggest and most absolute thing ppl kept bringing up and NONE of the mods apologised for being racist and wanting to do better. they just peaced out.

anyway now the mits are full mods, the old admin i think split after like being all “huh what i just fix up channels i dont work here” . trob is now just an admin and still being all tw drama LOL so we’ll see what happens with the server. i know ppl kept saying to make a new one but like the basic structure is there. ppl just gotta not be bought off by shitty copied art anymore yknow. who knows whats even gonna happen with the game anymore apparently malin May Return after the completion of the alpha or smth

OH AND smute’s fucking attempt at apology 2.0 sry honey but

[honkingvenom]

What are some good ways of figuring out how venomous a hybrid is likely to be? It's not always easy to tell at a glance what kind of mix is present, or how prominent certain traits might be, at least from what I can tell

If it’s a domestic hybrid sold to you by a registred breeder, you will always have the names of the mixes.

However, in shelters, there can be some pretty diverse mixes, so in those cases, a good thing can be simply to check for venomous glands, as even if they are ineffective due to hybridization, it means an hybrid has the potential of having venom. Here’s a few pics to illustrate how to do that, using my French Horned Malin, who has venom glands, but who’s bite doesn’t affect human outside of a general numbness and swelling on the bite (they don’t use it much, i think it’s a trait that is in the way of disappearing on them), and some mutt we got because of shelter not being able to handle them due to a possibly venomous bite (extreme cases are often given out to us in the region, since we’re the one who have the antivenom for the rare case of exotic dangerous clowns)

Angery trapjaw at the vet.

So trapjaw, who is a female French Horned Malin, has venom, but it’s not the kind that require a lot of intensive care afterward. Moreover, they are one of the biggest size of Jacks but are surprisingly not very inclined to bite hard, they kinda have weak jaw, since they usually just swallow their prey in one go, they don’t have to really apply force. But their size has an advantage : Big Mouth Pics. I use that particular breed for another reason, which is that their venom glands are brightly marked like ocelluses, it’s however not the case with every clown. As you can see here, she has four venom glands that make her saliva have a numbing effect on human and cause swelling. 

Also she has a bit of plexiglass in her mouth bc she throws hissy fits at the vet and that calms her down. Not sure why, so I assume it’s because it makes her feel like she bit down on something and is being Impressive and Dangerous? She does it on her own, with whatever she can grab, so that piece of plexiglass is Hers now.

Now onto mixes, where it’s less visible :

This guy’s name is Toothpaste, and although he isn’t seen completely here, he was quite the case, a mix of scare, mime and god knows what, just a real weird deal. 

He was sent to us due to off color salivating, as well as just his general strange appearance and behavior, and lo and behold, he did have venoms that we tested and categorized as some kind of,,, strange offshoot of a Romanian White Scareclown? Which, if you don’t see the particular breed, are the wild ones with vampire type teeth, they are one of the source of the myth. 

They are not supposed to bred by particulars since they have a very nervous behavior and are pretty endangered. Those have an hemotoxin that disable the coagulation processes and cause intense vertigo. So yeah bit of a strange deal.

But it means that one did have the venom glands (active at that!) that you can see circled. We often use this pic to show newbies what to look for.

Finally, if you do locate glands, or simply want to be sure, just send a sample of the saliva to your nearest vet or, if you have such a thing, some place specialized in clown venoms like ours. They should be able to help you know what to expect from the venom, although that doesn’t always help know what hybrid caused the particular effect of it.

[witharsenicsauce]

Chosen Stories From the War #29: A Day at the Beachside Ruins

“Get that oversized rat away from me!”

“Konnie, come on! He’s been here two weeks! He’s practically family!”

“No! It is a wild animal, with claws and teeth and it eats garbage!”

“So are we, Sister! You can’t hide from it forever!”

Bradford sighed, sipping his coffee loudly as the clunking of angry combat boots filled the ship. He wished for the love of any god out there, that Kon-Mai would just pet the damn possum so Gur-Rai would shut the hell up. Unfortunately Kon-Mai’s fear of koalas seemed to spread to other marsupials as well, and she all but demanded that the thing be put outside. To be honest, Bradford couldn’t really blame her. Having a live animal (and a wild animal at that) was probably a bad idea, but of course Senuna had seen the damn thing and immediately fallen in love with it, so now there was no chance of it going anywhere. 

And thus, poor Bradford walked over to the sink, dumped his coffee and crossed his arms. “Children, I can barely hear myself think over that noise you’re making.”

“Tell him to leave me be, then!” Kon-Mai jabbed her thumb at her brother as he followed her into the common area. She was still favoring her previously broken leg, but Tygan had at least given the okay for the metal splint to come off for short periods.

“Tell her to just pet the damn possum!” Gur-Rai held up Pangu, who was hanging from his grip like a floppy rug.

“Leave your sister alone, Darkstrider.” Bradford said. “Don’t you have a robot to build and supplies to destroy?”

“Soft animals are relaxing, Bradford.” He held Pangu close to Bradford’s face. “Come on~”

Bradford shook his head. “Put him back in his pen.”

“Aw come on.”

“That’s an order, Darkstrider. That or I’ll have Tygan put him in the maze again.”

Gur-Rai gasped dramatically and hugged his possum close. “You monster.” He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Fine. Konnie, don’t go anywhere, I’ll be back.”

As soon as he left, Kon-Mai turned to Bradford. “He is gone, let’s pack up and abandon ship.”

Bradford chuckled. “Come on, he’s your brother.”

“Yes.” She raised a brow and chuckled. “It’s what you were thinking, Central.”

“Got me there.” He stood up. “Need anything? Besides to get away from your siblings?”

“Where are we going?” She asked.

“Itching for a mission already?” He set his dirty cup on the console. “The Commander is stopping by Carthage. Geist wants to renegotiate the terms of our alliance. Again.”

Kon-Mai raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean renegotiate?”

Bradford ran a hand over his wrinkled face. “Geist and the Commander don’t like each other all that much. Nonetheless, both of them realize they need each other to achieve their goal of killing the Elders. Unfortunately, that also means that they keep trying to stab each other under the table.”

Kon-Mai seemed to bristle at that. “The Commander goes behind the back of her own allies?”

“Not if she can help it. But Geist is crafty, and it’s a tough job keeping all the Templars in line.” He admitted. “As it stands, he’s upset because we’ve been diverting extra training to our own Psi Soldiers, like Princess, rather than his Templar warriors. We have limited space for both so the Commander needs to hash out a deal with him, one that ends in this alliance staying together.”

Kon-Mai avoided Bradford’s gaze and crossed her arms. “I don’t see why this needs doing. Should one side not just capitulate for the sake of the war?”

“Which side?” Bradford asked. “That’s the problem, Shrinemaiden. We can’t favor the Templars at the expense of our own soldiers, especially when the Reapers and Skirmishers already don’t like them. Doing that would put more out of balance than would be worth it.”

“Perhaps I am not suited for politics.” Kon-Mai admitted.

“You’re one of our best assets on the battlefield.” Bradford assured her. “Don’t worry about the Templars. You three keep doing your jobs, and we still have an amazing edge on the Elders.”

Kon-Mai nodded and smiled. “I am thankful, Central.”

“Oh I am too. Believe me.”

.

.

“You are tense this morning.” Dhar-Mon’s voice cut into the depths of Malinalli’s mind. It was futile to ignore when they were bonded like this.

She opened her eyes briefly, then closed them again as the bright fluorescent light of his bedroom stung her cornea. “Just thinking about the other soldiers.” She said softly.

“What about them?” And with that, she felt him tense up as well. It made her giggle.

“Getting jealous?” She cooed. “A lot of them have been suffering from psychological ailments, stuff I’m not qualified to treat.”

The anxiety faded from Dhar-Mon’s mind, replaced with a curious twinge of blue.

“We’ve been having a lot more deaths, too.” She added. “I think it’s starting to wear on people but I don’t know how to help.”

“You are a kind and genuine person.” He assured her. “You do not simply wish to better your own life but the lives of others. That is something I have rarely seen.”

“Thank you.” She sighed. “But how do I help them?”

Her connection to Dhar-Mon faded as he let go of her hands, and she opened her eyes. She was once again aware of her surroundings, like the softness of the bed they sat on, and how very warm it was.

He was silent for a moment. “To say I know how to help these poor souls would be to lie.” He admitted. “But there is a way. Perhaps it is for you to find. Perhaps not. In either case, I have full faith in you.”

She nodded. “Thank you, Master~”

He blushed, and she giggled, declaring that a victory.

The ship shuttered just a bit, and they felt the gentle thunk as they touched down on land. Malinalli stood up and stretched. “We’re here!”

“And where is here?” Dhar-Mon asked her.

“Dunno.” She held out her hand. “Wanna come see?”

.

.

The sun was high in the sky, covering everything in a blanket of warmth. The sky was such a bright blue, and the way it reflected in the ocean blurred the horizon line and made it seem as though everything was merged together. Truly, as Dhar-Mon looked out over the ocean, the smell of the salty air took him back to his stronghold, and he breathed in deeply, the tranquility consuming him.

For a moment.

Something slapped him in the back of the head, and as he bristled and turned around, he saw Gur-Rai laughing with Shen as the two of them raced down the platform of the Avenger and onto the sand. 

Kon-Mai and Verge were not far behind, emerging slowly from the Avenger dock, both decidedly curious at the sight before them. Kon-Mai seemed to twist her leg a bit inside the splint, and it held.

Dhar-Mon opted to turn back to his brother. “What have you done to me?”

“I just flicked you. You weren’t paying attention.” Gur-Rai raced up the dock again and took Dhar-Mon’s hand. “Come on, come on, I wanna go swimming!”

“Swimming? We are here on a mission!”

“Bradford gave us the okay as long as we keep our radios on!” Shen called out. “Do you know how to swim, Hieromonk?”

Dhar-Mon scoffed. “Dr. Shen, I am surprised at you. My stronghold was in the center of Italy, and I patrolled the coastal towns on the regular! Of course I know how to swim!” He raised a brow. “Do you?”

“Yeah.” She came up behind Gur-Rai. “And how to surf~”

“Oh, we should do that!” Gur-Rai looked to the two behind his brother. “How bout it you two?”

Kon-Mai sighed. “We are working, Gur-Rai, this is not a vacation.”

“Sure it is.” He smiled. “I bet you just know I can outswim you, Little Sister.”

“Oh?” She raised a brow and smirked. “You are quite mistaken, Brother.”

“Prove it.”

“I do not have swimwear.” She protested. “And if you think I am going to strip to my undergarments, you are sorely mistaken.”

On cue, footsteps came up behind them, and as Kon-Mai turned, Senuna stood there, beaming. She was flanked by Malinalli, Bradford, and Jane, the latter of whom was carrying a stack of clothing in her hands.

“Commander.” Kon-Mai and Dhar-Mon both bowed respectfully, and Verge saluted her. But she seemed to ignore them all.

“The ocean is so beautiful today…” Senuna sighed, her green eyes as wistful as the air. “Reminds me...well.” The Commander looked forward, finally facing her soldiers. “I have gifts for all of you!” She gestured Jane forward, and it was then they saw the officer was holding a few articles of clothing.

“What is this?” Kon-Mai asked. Jane went to her first, pointedly holding up what almost looked like a dress, though it was short enough to be a shirt. With it was a pair of small trunks, both dyed a dark pink, nearly purple color.

“We had your measurements from making your armor.” Jane said. “I...hope you don’t mind, I took some liberties. Seemed like something you would like…” If she was blushing, Kon-Mai couldn’t tell in the sunlight.

“If it fits me, then it is a masterpiece.” Kon-Mai smiled at her. Jane avoided her gaze and kept distributing the articles of clothing.

“Are you guys gonna join us?” Shen asked.

Bradford shook his head. “Unfortunately we have to meet with Geist.” He sighed. “God I wish I could join you guys. Been too long since I’ve been to the beach.”

“You kids have fun for me!” Senuna winked. “There are some wood panels in the garage that would make excellent surfboards~”

.

.

Senuna had to admit, as much as she hated Geist, she loved Carthage and really admired what he had done with the place. The ancient metropolis had found new life with the Templars, who made their way lazily along stone streets, practicing fighting techniques in open arenas, trading goods and services among themselves in front of the stores they had set up. While some of the ancient walls still lay in ruin, they had repaired what they could and replaced even more, and Senuna could feel some of that mysterious, ancient energy returning to the site.

“Commander.” A familiar voice said. “Geist is this way.”

She and her officers turned to glance at the dark-skinned woman behind them, her blue uniform all too familiar.

“Iabet. Good to see you! How’s the wife?” Senuna cried.

Iabet seemed surprised before she smiled warmly. “Tornike is well. And little Siv too, they have recovered from their injuries. Siv is looking at a promotion soon...”

“Oh that’s wonderful!” She clapped.

“Commander, I understand you and Geist do not get along. But he is waiting.” Iabet chuckled.

“Yes, I know. But I’ve waited a thousand years before and it did me so much good!” Senuna laughed as though everyone else was in on the joke, when in reality Bradford was facepalming and Iabet stood there in confusion.

“...I do have one question.” Iabet admitted. “The Warlock…”

“What about him?” Senuna asked. “He goes by the Hieromonk now, by the way, and I think it fits him so well! I couldn’t be more proud of the little-”

“He’s alive?” Iabet gasped. “...I’m sorry, last I saw him he was bleeding out, when they took him away.”

“He’s alive.” Jane cut in. “He made a full recovery too. Can fight again and everything.”

Iabet’s face relaxed significantly. “I’m glad...none of us knew what happened. Geist never told us.”

“Of course he didn’t.” Senuna growled. “Come on then. It’s time I spoke to him.”

.

.

It had been so long since Kon-Mai had been in the water. Well, water that wasn’t from a shower or bath. She had been trained to swim by her priests in her first year, but even that was almost a decade ago. Since those lessons, she’d been confined to the shore for her work, focusing most her efforts around inland China, being ferried by helicarrier when she had to cross the open sea.

Kon-Mai took a breath, remembering the old words Bhandasura used to speak to her. You must be calm, like water. Water does not hurt, it waits, trickles patiently. And that is who you are, how you love. But this? This was different. The ocean was so raw and unhinged, so gentle and forthcoming. It did not hold back; it did not need to. The waves crashed against the shore with a fury so foreign yet so familiar to her, and yet the way the lazy foam hugged the sand was warm and comforting.

She took a step forward into the wet sand. Her long hair was out of it’s unusual braids and hung loose down her back, baby hairs flying wayward in the sea breeze. The water ashed up around her feet and she gasped at the cold. She had removed her splint to keep it from being damaged, and saw yet another badge of honor graced her leg: an angry white mark where her bone cut her skin.

“Heads up, Konnie!” Gur-Rai called from where he was as he smacked the water. Even from his position deep in the water, waves up to his chest, he still managed to splash her all the way on shore. “Come on! Quit stalling and get in!”

“Brother!” She growled. “Stop that!”

Gur-Rai smirked and smacked an oncoming wave again, this time showering his sister with droplets of foam.

She hissed. “You will suffer for that!”

“Make me~” He stuck his tongue out.

“Dude, she’s gonna do it!” Shen cried, backing up away from the  ballistic missile she knew was coming.

“You are right.” Kon-Mai took several steps back, took a breath and dashed forward, launching herself into the waves. For a moment, the sand blinded her, but then the water cleared and she could see where Gur-Rai (or at least his feet) were.

With the grace of a dolphin, she swam along the shallow bottom, keeping low until she was directly behind him, at which point she curled up, tightening her body like a coil, and sprung.

Gur-Rai let out a yelp as his sister grabbed him around the shoulders and pulled him down into the water with her. Shen burst out laughing at the sight, while Gur-Rai struggled to get back to his feet.

“Kon-Mai! Stop! Lemme go! I can’t swim, you bitch!”

“That is a lie!” Kon-Mai popped up once again. “You are Chosen! We can all swim!”

“Can you?” Malinalli asked as she came up beside Shen. Her hair had fallen from it’s bun, and the water had plastered her curls nearly flat, making her hair resemble dark locks of seaweed..

“Of course.” Warlock was wading over through the waves, although he was so tall that they barely came up to his knees. “We have trained for years in many survival skills. Swimming is important in a world that is mostly covered in water.”

“At least the Elders made sure you all could do that.” Malinalli looked over to Verge, who was sitting cross legged on the sand. “Come on Verge! The water is warm!”

He hesitated. “I am fine, Molly! Don’t worry about me!”

“Unfortunately, Sectoids did not get the same treatment we Chosen did.” Dhar-Mon sighed. “Verge, if you wish, I will teach you to at least survive in the water.”

“I am fine here…” Verge seemed to hesitate as he said that, and it prompted Warlock to sigh.

“Are you sure?” Gur-Rai called out when he finally broke free from Kon-Mai’s grasp. “Come on Verge! You can stay in the shallows for now!”

Verge looked hesitant.

Kon-Mai emerged from the depths, wringing out her long, white hair. “Verge, come join us, please.” She flashed him a smile similar to her brother’s when he wanted to be charming. “I promise you, you shall not drown when I am here.”

While Verge did not seem to be swayed by her, he did look longingly out at the waves, and slowly stood. His swimsuit looked like it had come straight from the 60’s, and was more like a full body wetsuit if not for the fact that it stopped at his elbows and knees. He took a few steps into the water.

“Malinalli, you have lied to me.” He said. “This water is frigid.”

She laughed and, like a mermaid, dove back into the water.

.

.

“Commander.”

“Geist.”

The two examined each other in the low light. Seated on opposite sides of the table, a chessboard sat between them, Senuna in white and Geist in black. His robes matched his pieces perfectly, in stark contrast with the Commander.

“We should switch.” She said. “Black isn’t your color.”

“I know.” He said. “I am in mourning.”

“For who?” Senuna leaned forward and plucked her queen piece from the board.

“Three more of my Templars have fallen.” He spat. “One on a mission you sent him on.”

“I’m sorry.” Senuna sighed. “I remember Hassan. They were facing off against a Berserker. He died defending his friends.”

“He is still dead.” Geist stared her down. “Senuna. You have been reckless with the agents I give you.”

“Your agents are some of the best.” She said. “I would never give them a challenge they couldn’t handle.”

“But you did, and now Hassan Apoorva is dead.” 

Senuna looked up, her eyes surprisingly blank and dead. “We are fighting a war, Geist. Remember?”

He glared at her, his eyes glowing purple in the dim light of the room. Any light that leaked inside had to cut through thick curtains and stone walls. Still, a bit of yellow sunshine tickled the edge of the room.

Senuna met Geist’s gaze and did not flinch. He was powerful, but she was even moreso. He was still a baby in terms of his power. He would be no danger to her, even if he tried.

But she took a breath even so, calming herself. “Geist, it makes me sad to see your soldiers die, as sad as it makes me to lose my own.” She tried to assure him. “I never sent Hassan in with the thought that he would die. But deaths do happen. I have lost at least 50 good people in the last six months.”

“To be honest, Senuna.” Geist crossed his arms. “I feel like you don’t take this seriously.” He leaned forward. “You need us. It’s why you’re here.”

���That is true. I do need you.” She stood slowly, her cape flourishing around her in a way so elegant, it would make any Templar jealous. “But let's not forget, Geist, how much work you all put into getting me out. Whatever was the point of that, hm?” She smiled, her teeth glowing white as she circled around the table.

Geist began to lean away, but Senuna’s hand shot out and grabbed him by the arm, her long nails digging into his sleeve. “No, no, no. Don’t go running off.” 

“Let go.” He tried to rip his arm away, but her grip was like steel, and when he looked up, her eyes glowed like blue coals in the hottest fire. Her expression, though blank, held the faintest smile.

“You have no idea what I’ve seen, Geist.” She hissed. “What I can do.”

“You’re no more powerful than I.” His own eyes burned with purple light, and the room was growing hot.

“I wouldn’t place your bets on that.” She giggled. “I don’t want a fight, Geist.”

“Why not? Afraid to lose?”

“No. I’d just hate to accidentally kill you.” She let go of him. “I am not your enemy.”

“You are making a terrible case for yourself.” He muttered, rubbing his arm.

She sat across from him again. “...This world is my home too.” She said softly. “Just like it is yours.”

“Then act like it.” He said. “I want my soldiers to be given better equipment. Better training. I don’t want to lose anyone else.”

“I don’t have anything better than what you already have.” Senuna sighed. “You want me to keep your soldiers from death and that’s not something I can do.”

Geist glared at the chessboard, and Senuna reached out.

“I can’t give your soldiers priority.” She said. “But if, hypothetically, they wanted to join in the Reapers and Skirmishers training, that is a possibility.”

Geist thought for a moment. “More training with guns? ...That is something we need.”

“I have some basic ammunition in the stores as well. I can set up the Carthage militia with some extra equipment.”

Geist nodded. “That’s not what I had hoped for. But it will do.” He picked up his own queen and tossed it aside. “I suppose you’ve beaten me at this game.”

“I don’t even know how to play chess.” Senuna grinned.

.

.

Verge let his head dip below the water, only long enough that the salty wave crashed over his head. The force would have been enough to send his scrawny body flying, had Dhar-Mon not been holding his arms.

“Calm yourself, I have you.” His strong voice reverberated through the water and made Verge feel safe once again. “Kick your legs, Verge.”

Verge tried to say something, but as he opened his mouth he just breathed in a bunch of water accidentally. Jumping up and hacking, he stood there in chest deep water as Dhar-Mon patted his back.

“I’m sorry...” Verge gagged out between hacking coughs.

“Do not worry.” The Chosen chuckled. “It was a mistake.” He looked out into the waves. “It appears the tide is coming in. The waves are growing.”

“Perfect surfin’ weather!” Gur-Rai called. He and Shen had managed to sand down some of the boards into functioning surfboards. While they weren’t completely aerodynamic, they could support their weight in the water. Shen was straddling one while Gur-Rai stood beside another, waving to Dhar-Mon and Verge.

“You wanna join us?” Shen called.

“I shall observe for now.” Dhar-Mon answered. “Come, Verge, let us find a calmer spot.”

“Where is Kon-Mai?” She and Malinalli had gone walking along the beach somewhere, and they hadn’t seen them for a while. As the waves picked up, he heard Gur-Rai let out a holler.

“I am wondering the same thing.” Dhar-Mon looked vaguely worried. ‘And Malinalli, I had thought they would have reappeared by now…”

“I can always practice swimming later.” Verge insisted. “Let’s go-”

“Dhar-Mon!” Malinalli’s voice echoed across the channel. 

“Malinalli?” He called out, his booming voice overpowering the sound of the waves. Verge could not see them, but he could hear.

“Dhar-Mon! Get the others!”

“Molly?!” He cried. “She must be hurt.” He waved to his brother and Shen. “COME! WE ARE NEEDED!”

Verge saw Gur-Rai jump off his board into an oncoming wave and begin paddling over to them, followed closely by Shen. As he looked, he realized that Malinalli’s voice was coming from a sea cave that was a good way into the ocean, along the jutting cliff face. He’d have to swim to get there.

Dhar-Mon had no trouble with that prospect. He dove into the water with the speed and grace of a dolphin, as though he was born in the water. Verge saw him come up for air, and then stared at the Hieromonk as he began to swim, the toned muscles on his back rippling as he did. The water and sunlight made his blue skin glisten…

He looked up as Gur-Rai emerged from under the water too, and Shen followed, dragging her board. “Here.” Gur-Rai pulled it over to him. “Get on this, I’ll pull you over.”

“I’ll just stay here.” Verge insisted.

“I’m not leaving you alone out here.” Gur-Rai gave him a smile that was almost comforting. “It’s okay. Come with me.”

Verge sighed, and Lily held the board steady as he hopped up. It wobbled a bit in the waves, but Gur-Rai was holding it, and Verge knew he would not fall.

They waded out into deeper water, and soon Gur-Rai began a frog stroke, keeping hea head above the water and one hand on the board Verge sat on. Lily swam beside them, doing more of a floppy doggy paddle.

Verge opted to watch Gur-Rai. Every so often he would duck under the water, then come back up, the blue of his skin mixing with the blue of the ocean. He looked and moved like he belonged in the water, his lithe body cutting through the waves like a fish would. Verge could see Gur-Rai’s own muscles as he swam and, while they were nowhere near as impressive as Dhar-Mon’s, his skinny frame paired with the sharp tendons made him look incredibly powerful.

Gur-Rai came up and called out “Dhar-Mon! What’s the-” He broke off with a slew of curse words, practically jumping out of the water and almost knocking Verge off the board. “FUCKFUCKFUCK SOMETHING TOUCHED MY LEG!”

There was a bubbling sound, then a splash, and Verge heard laughing as Kon-Mai came up, struggling to tread water when she was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe.

“You bitch!” Gur-Rai slapped the water, splashing her in the face. “I thought you and Molly were dying!”

“Nope!” Verge turned at the sound of Malinalli’s voice and found that she was now piggy-backing on Dhar-Mon, who was miraculously staying afloat under their combined weight. “We just found a cool cave and wanted to show you.”

“I apologize, Brother.” Dhar-Mon chuckled. “Scaring you was my suggestion.”

“The whole world is against me.” Gur-Rai put a hand to his head and pretended to faint into the water.

“I am not against you.” Verge assured him. “In fact while I cannot swim, I can climb. Somewhat.”

Gur-Rai grinned. “Race you guys up that cliff!” He took hold of Verge and began to paddle.

“Gur-Rai, you are going to get hurt!” Kon-Mai shook her head. “Is there any real point in stopping him?”

“None that I see.” Dhar-Mon held out his hand. “Come on, Sister, we cannot simply let him win~”

.

.

“I’d say that went well.” Senuna mused as she scratched Pangu behind the ears. The possum was nibbling on a piece of jerky Bradford had given him, and her Central Officer was now laid back on the couch. “Bradford, there is still daylight left if you’d like to swim~”

“Nah.” He chuckled. “Doubt I remember how. When you grow up in rural Kansas it’s an awful long walk to the beach.”

“Well, I could always teach you.” She mused, looking out the window as the sun cut across the glassy waves. She saw the Chosen, the children, returning to the shore, playfully splashing and shoving each other into the waves, laughing like there was nothing wrong with the world.

.

.

.

.

.

(Another short one today, but after this, we’ll be getting into some pretty intense stuff, so I wanted one more chapter where all seems to be well in the world!)

Archive: https://chosenstories.tumblr.com/

[chaniters]

Masquerade

The next part of @kruk-art‘s Awan Cormac fic.  Writing the final parts of this finally!

Infiltrating GeniTech’s party, the rangers attempt to change the board’s mind about the riot, but things on the inside aren’t as calm as they initially seem. 

Spoilers ahead for Rebirth, as usual. 

__________________________________

You glance nervously to your left, as a whole platoon of soldiers clad in articulated carapace armors scrambles through the corridors ahead of you.

In your mind, GeniTech’s Arcology is now the Trojan fortification, the rioters are the greek, and the lot of you are a an improvised rebellious third party refusing to let history repeat itself, hidden inside the wooden horse Ortega asked you to build. All you can do is hope it won’t get burnt before crossing the gate.  

“You’re clear.” the guard announces. “Excuse me for the delay, we didn’t think anyone would be joining this late… especially with what’s happening…”

Ortega watches him without a word, before putting his mask back on. 

“...Enjoy the party” the guard states drily, opening the gate. 

All of you walk past, putting your masks back on, not stopping until the elevator’s doors close. It quickly fires upwards, taking you to the upper floor, where GeniTech’s Halloween celebration takes place. 

“Well done everyone,” Ortega says when it seems no guards are listening. 

Elyise disabled the dampeners, Steel used your scrambler to deactivate their retinal scan and you made them think you were legitimate party guests and that everything was in order. Anathema added fake zippers and other details to your suits so they have a Halloween-costume flair to them.   

This would have been pretty standard infiltration were you still at the farm, but it’s blowing your mind for completely different reasons.  Most humans wouldn’t know what to say to their creator if that even existed. That’s no dilemma for you, though.  The farm might have assembled you, but GeniTech came up with the very idea of you. What would you say to them, the people who invented you? What would you even…-

“Be on alert everyone,” you say coming back to earth. “Steel, will use his scanners to find board members. Elyise will deactivate the scramblers in the area one at a time. The rest, distract them with conversation until Ortega can get into position, and then…” you go on explaining. 

You suggested using your powers to change the Boards mind and let the people take refuge in the Arcology, but, it was Ortega who came up with this infernal plan. You have to admit it was a really good one. You still suggested a ton of changes needed for it to actually work, and the Marshall ended up putting you in charge in return. Steel’s glare made It’s painfully obvious everyone now knows you’ve got more experience with covert operations than any of them suspected, a point you had been trying to conceal, but that can’t be helped. 

“We’re here. Remember, mingle and wait for Steel’s word. Ready, Marshall?” you ask looking to Ortega, who gives a quick nod, giving this operation the go signal.

___________________________________

“...We appreciate power

I'll evade the human race, putting makeup on my face…”

You being you, the lyrics are frankly disturbing. At least that’s all you can think as you turn your back on the live band, broadcast via a hologram on the stage.

You take a drink from a passing waiter and walk up to the glass wall. The sight is magnificent from atop the central spire of the arcology, even obscured as it is now, possibly to diminish the sight of the fires and the approaching riot.  As Ortega Explained, Halloween has a different meaning for the genecorps. They created superheroes and their worship. These parties are an occasion to dress up as their creations, bask in their glory, and the profits they bring. There are posters of all of GeniTechs’ sponsored heroes on the walls. Even with the dampeners online, you can almost feel the gigantic egos of everyone inside.

It’s easy to understand why won’t they just call off the party from up here. This whole building is a pharaonic monument to their vanity and pride, and they won’t let Psychopathor, the public or anyone else get in their way. They own the west coast and will prove their power to anyone who dares interfere. If there has to be a war, they have the guns, soldiers and the technology to win it. They will put the rabble back in their place, or at least that’s what they think will happen. 

These people are loaded to a degree you hadn’t even considered could exist.  Their impossibly expensive costumes are sometimes better than those worn by some actual heroes you’ve met. There is an Owl walking by that has a reactive armor piece that the original could never afford. You saw someone wearing your own hero persona in a skintight armored nanomesh that could have taken bullets as if they were candy. She scoffed at your own, by comparison, shoddy suit, leaving you with all manner of questions. 

Are you the knockoff here?!

“Big party, huh?” someone says, holding a drink next to you. “First time to an event like this”

You turn to see The Void, drinking a colored shot next to you, only his lips visible with the mask partially pulled up.

“You too?” you say trying to strike a conversation, as you were taught to do. “I must confess, I’ve never seen a party like this before.”  

“Well, I plan to see many more like this my friend,” he says with a mischievous soft smile. “Many, many more”

As he says that, you notice many things happening at once.

First, you hear Steel on your left ear, confirming a board member is in your vicinity, which means you should pull over. Before you manage a full step back from the glass wall and this man talking to you, you can feel your thoughts relaxing and the dampeners going down. 

You expand your mind, ready to home in the GeniTech executive like a hornet… but instead realizing the man beside you is the real-

“Nath?!” you exclaim before bitting your tongue. 

“Awan?” he says spilling his drink, glowing eyes on his mask fixated onto you in shock. 

Neither of you even think, farm training actings on its own. Your hand reaches forward, trying to bend his arm backward, but knowing you’re better at judo he spins faster to avoid your grab. You took your chance and failed, and there’s no way to avoid the incoming kick that pushes you deeper into the crowd of fancy rich assholes playing armored heroes and villains. 

A false Green Blast and Ophidian both curse ruining their looks, and by the time you get free of them, The Void has banished among the other costumes. 

“Sidestep! Sidestep, come in?!” Steel’s voice in your ear becomes audible again. “We’ve got the executive! Hurry up”

“I… I just saw The Void,” you say 

“What?!” Ortega’s voice floods the channel. “Mierda, who invited that asshole?”

“ I don’t know… He was just standing there and…”

The music goes on.

“Sidestep, are you ok? You’re looking drowsy” Ortega’s question lingers in your ears.  

The room seems to be spinning with all these insane people’s minds clashing against your weak shields. You hold on to a tall table for a moment, trying to get the world back into focus. 

“I’m ok. Void distracted me, and you know I have to prepare around crowds. These people’s egos are immense, taking it all in after the dampeners went off is too much… and the music’s not helping either.”

“Awan, can you still do this?” he asks

“Yes.” you say straightening up. “I’m ok. Just needed a moment, I’m fine now.” 

“Ok… well then I say we go as planned... Everyone keep watch for The Void. We don’t know what’s he’s doing here and…” 

The music, lights, and everything seems to go off at once, along with his communication. 

Shit.

You’re not caught unaware this time and immediately switch to night vision. All the partygoers seem to be expecting something to happen. Maybe some sort of surprise?

“Use the secondary channel!” you hear Ortega’s voice again, and you quickly adjust, as everyone on the team asks what’s going on.

“Maybe it’s a surprise?” Sunstream asks “I hear these parties can go wild…”

“I don’t think so, this is all too much of a coincidence…” Sentinel says “Something is wrong, I can feel it and...”

The lights go back on, the crowd cheering as Reaper himself is now on stage, wearing his dark cloak, hood and trademark glowing spectral scythe in his left hand. Everybody loves a real legend like him, standing taller than life. 

Still, the cheers die off rather quickly, as they follow his right arm, noticing that he is strangling GeniTech’s CEO with his skeletal fingers while his white skull cackles in a decidedly macabre and less than jovial tone. The scream of pain, the skin wrinkling, the hair going white, turning into a husk, a skeleton, and then finally breaking to pieces and disintegrating… It all seems far too realistic. A few people on the front row cough as they are bathed in handfuls of the floating dust, and everyone’s deathly silent by then.

“Sentinel dear, do you ever get tired of being so fucking right?” Elyise asks tiredly.  

___________________________________________________

My Fanfics: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Riden. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero wold. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for her wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.

The song is We Appreciate Power by Grimes, which of course I do not own.

[go-events]

GO Rom Com Spotlight: @caedmonfaith

The most excellent @caedmonfaith​ (also Caedmon on AO3) has claimed 27 Dresses to adapt for Good Omens in the Good Omens Rom Com Event.

For reference, here’s a little background about the source material!

About 27 Dresses: Perennial bridesmaid Jane (Katherine Heigl) always puts the needs of others before her own, making her the go-to gal whenever someone needs help with wedding plans. So when Jane's younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman) snags the man (Edward Burns) Jane secretly loves, Jane finds herself questioning her role as a wedding junkie for the first time in her life. Meanwhile, a handsome reporter (James Marsden) sees Jane's unusual story as his ticket off the bridal beat.

We spent some time chatting about how the adaptation is coming so far, as well as future plans for it! Now, get to know @caedmonfaith​ a little better!

* * *

goromcom: Let’s start with something about you. You know how if you open a Tumblr chat with someone you haven't chatted to before, Tumblr tells you two things they post about? I wanted to tell you that yours reports that you post "#black widow and #clintasha". I love learning about which other fandoms all of you are in! Black Widow is amazing, I really like that character! 

caedmonfaith​: Yep, caedmonfaith is my tumblr, and that's the only social media I have that's not facebook, really. And that's really interesting about the tags I'm associated with! Clintasha is the very first ship I wrote for, the ship that pulled me into fanfiction and started me on this wild journey, but I haven't written for Clintasha in almost five years. I guess maybe I was just more active on tumblr then, and that's why they're like that? I don't know... seems like Doctor Who would be one of the tags, since I wrote 141 Doctor/Rose fics! LOL And yeah, Black Widow/Natasha Romanov is amazing. I love her so much. I miss writing for her, honestly, but Good Omens has sucked up all of my attention. 

goromcom: Oh, I miss Rose so much, too. I really loved that era of Who. But let’s move on to your romcom!  You are adapting 27 Dresses as your romcom. Has this movie been a favorite of yours, or is there some other reason you chose it?

caedmonfaith​: I didn't actually mean to choose 27 Dresses - it wasn't my first choice! My first choice was 10 Things I Hate About You. As soon as I saw the list of romcoms, I decided that was the one I wanted, and started plotting the story. I needed to pick more than one romcom, though, for claims (I believe the number we were supposed to pick was ten), so I picked nine other movies I thought I might be able to do something with without putting a lot of thought into it, because I was caught up in 10 Things. I used a randomizer to sort them, with 10 Things at the top of the list, and 27 Dresses just happened to be second. But due to a laggy connection to google docs, I got my claim form in about sixty seconds too late and my first choice was taken my the amazing Mia_Ugly! I was salty about it for a hot minute, then sucked it up.  I realized that she'd do an amazing job and got really excited to see what she would do. She's such a brilliant writer. 

As far as 27 Dresses goes... I remember seeing it when it first came out and thinking it was super cute. I'm a  sucker for romantic comedies, anyway, especially when they involve weddings, and James Marsden is absolutely beautiful. It's no hardship to look at him. This was my favorite role Katherine Heigl played, too. I remember watching the movie multiple times when it came out, because I enjoyed it so much.

goromcom: What's your favorite moment of your movie, and are you looking forward to presenting it in your adaptation? Any loose plans for that scene that you can share?

caedmonfaith​: My absolute favorite moment in the movie is one that isn't going to make it into my story, unfortunately. It's when Kevin is at Jane's apartment and she's trying on dresses to show him the range of things she's worn for all the weddings she's been in. She comes out in a ridiculous, hokey dress, and he says, "What is that?!"  She replies with a smile, "It was a theme wedding!" And he comes back with, "What was the theme? Humiliation?" I remember being really tickled by that line at the time, and it's the biggest moment that's stuck in my memory. Unfortunately, I don't have an organic place to put that line, so I'm having to scrap it.

goromcom: Do you plan to stick very closely to the beats of the original story, or make bigger changes?

caedmonfaith​: Confession time: I haven't seen the movie in ten years, since I was pregnant with my middle child! I debated about whether to watch it again to refresh my memory or to go ahead without watching, and to be honest, I'm still debating whether to watch it or not. I didn't want to follow the film too closely - I wanted to put my own spin on it, and worried that if the movie was fresh in my mind, I'd be more inclined to follow it too closely. But my beta has suggested that I rewatch, so I'm on the fence. 

I'm keeping the broad strokes of the film, but making some pretty significant changes. Crowley is playing the Kevin character, and he's a reporter who has recently had a 'fall from grace' after publishing some unflattering information about his publisher's wife. That's fairly consistent with the film, as I recall. But Aziraphale is taking the Jane role, and I've had to change him up quite a bit. In my story, he's a very sought-after wedding planner, nicknamed the 'Angel of Love'. In the film, Jane is in love with her boss and heartbroken when her sister, Tess, manages to catch his heart. The movie revolves largely around her turmoil over being a bridesmaid for Tess while watching the man she loves marry someone else. None of that made it into my story. There's no love triangle.

goromcom: Oh, I personally appreciate that change. Love triangles are not my bag, though they must be someone’s, as they seem to make it into lots of media.

Other than that, what's an interesting decision you've made in your planning so far--a notable casting decision, a changing of venue, or some other plan you have to paint Good Omens all over your rom com?

caedmonfaith​: The film takes place in an American city I don't recall, but I've relocated my story to London (and Tadfield). I have Crowley in the Kevin role and Aziraphale in the Jane role, as the romantic leads. Anathema features heavily in the story as a matchmaking American heiress who has made her home in England and writes occult books. Newt is her hapless fiance, a boring accountant who indulges his love's every whim. Madame Tracy is Aziraphale's assistant, and is married to Shadwell. I'm throwing in nods to canon as much as I'm able without shoehorning them: I don't want them to feel forced.

goromcom: I am blatantly stealing this last question from The Good Place: The Podcast, but here goes: Tell me something "good". It can be something big or small. It can be a charity you think is doing good work, or you can talk about how great your pet is.

caedmonfaith​: Oh goodness, this is a dangerous question. I have three beautiful, amazing kids, ages 14, 10, and 8, and they're all three awesome. My husband is handsome, wonderful, and incredibly indulgent of my fanfic writing, and I'm very lucky to have him. I could rhapsodize about any or all of them for hours, but I'll spare you.

I guess the most significant exciting thing on my horizon is that I have a major milestone birthday coming up on March 5. I'll be 29 again! (I'll actually be 40.)To celebrate, my best friend is throwing me a huge party at her house, and I have close friends flying into my town from New Hampshire and Seattle to spend a four-day weekend with my BFF and I. We have tons of plans to do fun stuff, and I simply can't wait. Happy Birthday to me!

goromcom: Indeed! 40 is slightly in the rear view mirror for me, so I feel like I can tell you that I’ve had a lot of fun with the ages that begin with a 4 so far. I hope yours are just as good. :)

And speaking of things that are good, make sure to catch the marvelous GO adaptation of 17 Dresses, coming very soon!

[malinetesyworld]

A WOMAN AGAINST CORRUPTION

        ‘September 12th’ was the date that marked a very special day in ALICE Rugamba’s life. She had just graduated at the top of her class in the University of Kigali. “I am ready to take on another step in my life” she sighed in satisfaction. As a person, and a FEMALE on a larger extent, this was a tremendous achievement that not only accolades her of her long-term hard work, but also gives her a title in society. However, as one wise man said, ‘sometimes the end is the beginning of a greater journey.’ Alice’s journey had just begun.

Alice came from a very conservative family with values. She was the oldest in a family of six children. Her parents had worked so hard to take her to school, which was not so easy because they had to have a roof over their heads, food on the table and most importantly her younger siblings had to acquire education too. Mr. and Mrs. Rugamba never gave up despite the hardship. Blood and sweat they worked tirelessly to take their children to school because they knew the value of education. However, there is time for everything. As for now, Mr. and Mrs. Rugamba were getting outstripped and retired.

This was Alice’s chance to find a way of earning in order to fulfill the responsibilities that awaited her. She had to take over. Her first step was to get a job. “Not a big deal. I have all my papers and qualifications” she told herself.  What she didn’t know were complications and obstacles that lurked within the competitive society of corruption and Cynicism. But Alice knew she could handle it. She was a strong educated woman with a big circle. In fact, she remembered ‘Uncle’ John right away.  John was a man who had always been fond of Alice. He had promised her a job the minute she completed her university.

The next day John was pleased to see Alice in his office. “I heard you completed your education. You are a mature woman now” he says to Alice with a smirk on his face. ‘Uncle’ John (as he had asked Alice to call him although he is not her real uncle had a high rank in the organization he was working with.

Therefore, he had the power. “Now, this job I am about to offer you comes with some small…mini...errm CONDITIONS” Mr. John said with his eyes landing on Alice’s bare chest accidentally. Alice was puzzled and confused but she kept on listening keenly. He went on to tell her that all he wanted was a little SEXUAL FAVOR ‘on a regular basis” that’s all.  In return, she would never get fired. “Instead, you will be getting promotions, and my personal rewards of cause and no one would suspect anything. Trust me” Mr. John told her.

Alice’s face froze and she could even literally feel her stock upset from hearing this. At first, she hesitated but wild thoughts started running in her mind. She really needed this job. Mr. John cut in her thoughts “You don’t have to agree now. Just think about it. And remember, you need this job. I am offering you a good opportunity and you will never get anywhere else. Things are tough out here. Do you know how many jobless people are out there sitting on their Diplomas? When you’ve made up your mind, you can start on Monday”

The following week on Monday, Mr. John was surprised at the same time contented to see Alice at work. Although she did not say anything to him, the fact that she had came meant that she had agreed to his terms. But Alice had a plan.

On the first day, Alice was introduced to her colleagues and showed around on a personal level by the one and only Mr. John. It had been a few weeks since she started working and Alice was doing her job very well. Her co-workers were inspired by her and she had surely made great friends out of them too. She was settled until one day, things started getting queer. It started off with cunning and devouring eyes on her body. Then followed by the brushing on her knees when seated and the next thing she knew were spanks on her behind whenever she took files in his office. 

Mr. John was SEXUALLY HARASSING her because she never enjoyed any of that. “You seem to have forgotten our agreement A lice” Mr. john told her one day as she snatched herself out of his arms in anger. Alice could not look at him let alone responding. That day she went home early from work.

Alice had to remind herself of who she was and what she stood for as a woman in society. Her definition is a strong, educated woman with core values. Not a play toy. How can she let herself be misused and mistreated by lusting men? She had to be an example to her younger siblings and other women. Alice realized that not only does this form of corruption degrades women, it puts them in the vulnerability state, it stands in their full self achievements, hinders their access to leadership, economic rights and on top of that, creates psychological disturbance.

Doing what is right was all she needed to do. This way, she had to come clean about what was going on. Open the minds of her female co-workers on the issue in order to get their full support and get tangible proof of this case so that she can report it. “I CAN’T GIVE UP NOW!” she said out loud on top of her lungs.

At first, she got challenged and discouraged. When she turned to her close female co-workers, they laughed and explained that all women who complain about sexual harassment in that workplace are either fired or they resign and even get hard times finding a new job. Most of them admitted that they have all given ‘the favors’ one way or another to be where they were and that they didn’t want to ruin everything by reporting these men. So they chose to be silent.

 When Alice tried to talk to close friends and family, she got even more discouraged. “How can you file a complaint with such an embarrassing thing? You are going to spoil your self-image. After all, nobody will believe that you did not play any part in it” They said. This did not stop her. “My parents never raised me to give up” she motivated herself.

 That night, she couldn’t sleep. How was she going to take down Mr. John? She did her research on issues like this in hope of getting ways to tackle her own. She then went to different departments, organizations, and other standings focused on combating against corruption.

Whenever she got a chance she asked anyone for any knowledge and information based on sexual harassment in work places and corruption relevant to this issue. Doing this, she gained more understanding about women rights, regulations and their support. This gave Alice the motivation she needed. Then she was off to a great start.

Indeed, Alice was successful in her journey!  She filled a report (along with some proof she had collected) to all the organizations in charge of fighting corruption especially those based on women sexuality. Their administration were quick to respond to her case and with enough follow up Mr. John along with his other office men were found guilty.

They were imprisoned according to the law no. 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 against corruption that states ‘…or any person who uses personal gains, the staff other his or her authority commits an offense. Upon conviction he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term not less than 7 years but no more than 10 years.’ As for Alice, her Journey was not over. She got more and more opportunities.

Did you know that According to Transparency international organization-Rwanda, gender-based corruption is one of the most popular forms of corruption in Rwanda with 84.5% particularly those in search for jobs?  Gender-based corruption exists in private companies (51.4%) and in public ones (43.1%).The perpetrators are mostly men with 83.2%

 My sisters, SOMETIMES IT’S NOT ABOUT MONEY. IT’S ABOUT JUSTICE!

 ~Maline Tesy~