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yaeggravate · 3 months

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Unraveling Princess Fischl

So I recently finished studying Princess Fischl in a lab and the results I got were kinda crazy.

As a disclaimer, I do this just for fun. I like connecting dots and solving puzzles. But I'd rather you draw your own conclusions. In this post I will try to dissect the mysteries surrounding the Prinzessin. And you really can't talk about Fischl without including Kaeya. I've even got a surprise guest star for you.

WARNING: this post is VERY long, click on that Read More at your own risk, otherwise you'll be stuck scrolling forever.

For simplicity's sake Princess Fischl will be referred to as Fischl while playable Fischl will be demoted to F.

PART 1: MIDSUMMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

Most of this will use the books Legend of the Shattered Halberd and Flowers for Princess Fischl as a source. These books are authored by someone named Mr. Nine. The books are published by Yae Publishing House. So keep in mind there's a non-zero percent chance Mr. Nine is actually just a certain Nine-Tailed Fox.

F's alternate outfit is called Immernachtstraum. This is a reference to Shakespeare's play Midsummer Night's Dream. In German the play is called Ein Sommernachtstraum. So you can see the similarities (Immernachtstraum means Eternal Night's Dream.)

Kaeya is in part based on the Indian changeling prince from the same play. The character Oberon, the Fairy King, is the french derivative of Alberich. The play itself is basically about people getting into Shenanigans so absurd it might as well be a dream. Oberon and his wife Titania are actually key players in quite a bit of different media… But as much as I want to delve into that, this isn't a Kaeya post.

Just remember for now that Titania is the Fairy Queen.

In the book Flowers for Princess Fischl, there is a mention of a Sommernachtgarten. It is described as a Domain possessed by someone highly skilled in the magical arts. Sommernachtgarten seems to have existed in Teyvat. The domain Midsummer Courtyard, which has the Thundering Fury set, tells us the Sommernachtgarten was buried underground.

The domain is located in Starfell Valley. It's nearby Starfell Lake and Starsnatch Cliff. Starfell Lake is said to have been formed by a fallen star.

Fischl is also equated to a star that fell down. Notably, in F's birthday letters, and in Legend of the Shattered Halberd.

Birthday Letter: Day of Destiny… On the day of a sacred star's descent from the depths of the night sky into this realm, I, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, have asked Oz to cross the ocean and bring, me exotic treasure.

LotSH Vol. 1 The story was that an iron meteorite had fallen from the sky five or six years ago, and convention dictated that as nature's treasure it belonged to the imperial family.

Starsnatch Cliff is the only place where Cecilia flowers grow. These flowers have a triquetra shape, which is similar to Kaeya's passive talent Glacial Heart. Kaeya has been featured with these flowers in his birthday arts, and even invites the Traveler to go see the flowers with him.

Alice: With enough bombs placed in proper positions, even huge cliffs like Starsnatch would crumble into dust in a second. With flatter terrain, Mondstadt would surely look much nicer. But that unctuous Cavalry Captain rejected my proposal instantly. He even asked me to stay away from Starsnatch Cliff.

Furthermore, when Alice proposed to blow Starsnatch Cliff up, Kaeya denied her request and warned her to never go near there again… Starsnatch Cliff also overlooks the Nameless Island which is shrouded in mist and invisible on the map.

菲谢尔 = Fischer = Fischl

Fischl's name might be a reference to the Fisher King from Arthurian legends. One name of the Fisher King is Amfortas. In the game Anfortas is the name of the Knight Marshal of the Schwanenritter; he's thee Alberich who stepped up as Regent King when Irmin was indisposed.

Perhaps Fischl was the original "Fisher King" and the kings who came after her, like Irmin and Anfortas, fulfilled her role. …But this would imply Fischl was once the ruler of Khaenri'ah. That would be crazy, right? Right, guys?

PART 2: THE PRINCESS OF JUDGEMENT

When I was analyzing the 8-pointed star, I discovered these 8 points could actually correspond to the Guardians of the Eight Directions in Hinduism.

For some reason, ascension gem stones are named after Hindu gods (with the exception of Electro). This isn't the case in the original Chinese naming however.

Still, I tried to mix and match the gemstones to a direction.

North: Kubera, The God of Fortune -> GEO

South: Yama, The God of Justice and Death -> ???

East: Indra, The Lord of Heaven and God of the Weather, Sky, Rain, and Storms -> ELECTRO

West: Varuna, God of the Seas, Oceans, and Rain -> HYDRO

Northeast: Ishana, God of Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Time -> DENDRO

Southeast: Agni, God of Fire -> PYRO

Northwest: Vayu, God of the Winds and Air -> ANEMO

Southwest: Nirṛta, God of Death, Sorrow, and Decay -> CRYO

Hydro (Varunada), Pyro (Agnidus) and Anemo (Vayuda) gems already have the same names as the Hindu gods so that was easy. The Electro gemstone Vajrada is named after a sword but it belongs to Indra, God of Weather, Rain and Storms.

That just left me with Cryo (Shivada), Geo (Prithiva) and Dendro (Nagadus). Ishana is the God of Birth, so I'll assign him Dendro. Kubera is the God of Fortune which is Geo because Mora.

Now Cryo is a bit puzzling, because it's named after Shiva, who in Java and Bali Hinduism is actually the direction in the center. Some crazy implications here for our buddy the Tsaritsa because Shiva is the God of Destruction within the Trimurti, a trinity of deities. The other two are Brahma, God of Creation and Vishnu, God of Preservation.

In Java Hinduism, Brahma and Vishnu would correspond to the directions Zenith (South) and Nadir (North). Whether this is hinting at something about the nature of the Tsaritsa is unclear. When you see Three Deities you think Moon Sisters, right? However, we can't rule out the possibility that Genshin decided to mix these deities up. Let's just spare ourselves the headache for now and forget about this. This is a Fischl analysis after all.

So instead, let's have a look at the Cryo gemstone's original name in Chinese. The stone is simply called Grieving Ice.

哀叙冰玉: Grieving Ice

Since Nirriti is the God of Sorrow, I decided to assign them Cryo. Now we are left with one deity, Yama: The God of Justice and Death. Well, it can't be Hydro, because we already assigned them to a God. So it has to be someone else.

Fischl's title is the Prinzessin der Verurteilung. Which translates into Princess of Judgement. According to Legend of the Shattered Halberd and F's voicelines, Fischl's role was to act as a judge.

More About Fischl: I To condemn the guilty, to sanctify the just, and to draw all castaway dreams into the embrace of the infinite Immernachtreich. This is the birthright of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, and her burden. None may gainsay it.

What's interesting is that Fischl uses magical arrows to shoot down the "enemies of fate".

About Us: Shooting Down the World Beast Should this world, like a beast prowling in the night, covet your dreams, then I, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, shall fell it with my ensorcelled arrows of judgment!

Feelings About Ascension: Intro My magic arrow cries out my holy name as it streaks through the night, praying that the violet lightning of retribution shall strike the enemies of fate down from the skies!

On the 8-pointed star, there's an arrow pointing upwards. Kaeya, Clothar and Halfdan's stars on their outfits and even F herself have the arrow pointing downwards.

The achievement you get when you find this door is called "Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here". Which is a reference to the entrance to Hell in Dante's Inferno.

The Immernachtreich is described as a place where all things will eventually flow into. Immernachtreich literally translates into Eternal Night Realm…

Flowers for Princess Fischl: Phantasmagoria Every good, bright and noble thing must eventually fall to inexorable entropic destruction, and the final destination of the universe is the realm-in-waiting of the Prinzessin, Immernachtreich. This is the fate of all worlds, of the universe, and all who live in it.

In the Immernachtreich Apokalypse, Leon calls Fischl the Soteria.

Soteria means salvation, preservation. It's used as an epithet for Persephone and Hecate. Persephone was forcibly made Queen of the Underworld, and Hecate is also known as the Goddess of the Underworld and Witchcraft…

Look, I don't want to claim Fischl was the secret 8th Archon or anything, because lest we forget Khaenri'ah was a godless nation who would've been Fischl's enemies. But why then would Khaenri'ah have this giant star referencing the 8 deities as their emblem in the first place? Seems a bit counterintuitive. I don't have the answers for now, and perhaps the 8th "archon" was simply Irmin. Or maybe it's not even representing a god but an element or a direction.

Regarding Oz, he is a not so subtle reference to Odin/Irmin but is also a reference to the Wizard of Oz. In the first book, it was revealed this wizard was literally just some guy pretending to be powerful. Eventually Oz starts working as an advisor for the true ruler of Oz, Princess Ozma, who is the inspiration behind Fischl. We'll get back to that later.

This Oz's full name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs. OZ is actually short for Oscar Zoroaster. Zoroaster is referenced in Flowers for Princess Fischl.

In a distant causality, if the philosopher Zarathustra was not chosen, then the opera writer would have gained victory in the contest over the will of the world.

This does make you wonder if Irmin really was the true ruler of Khaenri'ah and if he even existed the way we believe he did. Perhaps Fischl got Irminsnapped and now everyone believes Irmin was always the One-Eyed King.

Of course this is all my personal speculation and I could be way off here.

Wait, before we move on to next section, I want to point out something that always gets ignored:

Kaeya and Mona, when they cast their bursts, summon the same 8-pointed star. This is unique to them alone. Could there be a connection between Khaenri'ah and witchcraft? Or is either Kaeya or Mona an outlier?

PART 3: HEXENZIRKEL

In the trailer Mage's Teaparty, there are eight witches shown. However, we only know the names of six witches, and there is a chair missing at the table.

There is a slideshow where the figures of the eight witches are shown, minus Andersdottir who is represented by the book The Boar Princess.

Observe the witch on the broom and the little witch. The design of the little witch is similar to the design of a famous fictional character who got pulled into another world: Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz books.

Dorothy is illustrated as having twin tails and wearing a farm girl dress. Dorothy's character was influenced by the character Alice, from the Wonderland books.

Originally I assumed Alice Genshin might be based on book Alice. However, it's the Narzissenkreuz quest that's based on the Wonderland books and Mary-Ann who takes the role of Alice.

With that in mind, could Alice Genshin actually be more of a Dorothy inspired character instead?

Now, Dorothy had a very good friend, called Princess Ozma. Ozma seems to be the inspiration behind Fischl.

So who is Ozma? I only have the Wiki to go on because I'm not about to read 40 books, but by the sound of it, Ozma is the current ruler of the realm of Oz. She is the daughter of a human king and a Fairy Queen. Her mother Lurline was the one who created Oz and turned it into a Fairy country.

Ozma took it one step further and separated Oz entirely from the outer realms making it invisible to outsiders. Everyone who enters Oz never ages.

If you're an F main I'm sure you know by now Fischl created another universe and founded paradise.

Now I want you to take a look at the witches portrayed in these circles. There are two witches holding a sphere. In F's cutscene from the Summertime Odyssey event, she is also holding a sphere which contains the Immernachtreich which you can see in the header image of this post and below.

You might think a glowing sphere represents a crystal ball to scry in, but that poses a problem since known prophet Barbeloth is probably represented by the witch holding a waterdrop, which is Hydromancy. So the glowing sphere might not necessarily mean a prophetess.

As for the identity of the other witch with the globe, I believe this could be Alice, since she was the one who created the domain/dreamscape of the Veluriyam Mirage. It could also be Rhinedottir who is creating something in a flask.

So Orb = Domain/Realm/Creation

Furthermore F's specialty food is Die Heilige Sinfonie, which has a Magic Hexagram painted on top… (Die Heilige Sinfonie translates into The Holy Symphony.) As mentioned before, the Sommernachtgarten could only be created by someone with great magical powers…

Magic Circles is Ceremonial or Arcane Magic, and according to a note left by Master Ruggiero in Bravais' study, Arcane Arts originated from a pre-Remurian civilization.

So someone must have taught humans magic. Might sound obvious, but it begs the question of WHO?

PART 4: FREYJA

To answer this question we need to dip our toes into Norse mythology. As you know, Odin is Irmin.

There was a war between two groups of gods: the Aesir and the Vanir.

Eventually they had enough and decided to exchange hostages as a peace offering. The goddess Freyja, originally part of the Vanir, joined the Aesir which would be Odin's group. As a sacrificial priestess, she was the one who taught the Aesir dark magic, which included seeing into the future. The implication here then is that Odin was taught black magic by Freyja.

This magic is known as seiðr. Seiðr is derived from *soi-to- which means rope/string. The distaff, a tool used for spinning wool, is associated with dark magic. There are images of women riding distaffs as a broom, similar to a witch riding a broomstick. To quote the Wiki: "In any case, the string relates to the "threads of fate", that the Nornir spin, measure, and cut. " Wait, that sounds familiar:

F, joining the party voice line: The threads of your fate lie in my hands!

Scholars suspect Freyja is the same person as Gullveig who was involved in the Aesir-Vanir war. Gullveig was attacked by the Aesir with spears; she died and was reborn three times. When Fischl tried to visit the Kingdom of Eternal Twilight she was also attacked by its people and "shed her blood on the sacred emblem" whatever that means. It was Oz who saved her, pledging his loyalty to her.

Freyja sometimes is conflated with another goddess named Frigg. There has been much debate whether or not these two goddesses stem from the same deity. Frigg is part of the Aesir and usually Odin's wife.

I mention this because in the book Hex and Hound, one of the characters is named after Frigg: Nottfrigga. This book is about two twin witches sharing the same body. In the book we find out that they were the daughters of a powerful witch, but witches are unable to keep more than one offspring of the same generation. This led to Nottfrigga's twin sister Magdalene eventually dying, and her using magic to sustain her sister inside a magic bracelet.

In Norse mythology, Nott is the personification of night. Nott's father is named Narfi. This really got my attention, because Fischl's full name is Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort. (Fischl of the Castle in the Sky Narfidort.)

In the Hexenzirkel teaser, every witch is represented by a teacup (or in the case of Andersdottir, an inkbottle) but the saucer next to Nicole's teacup is empty. Since this saucer belongs to the same teaset this could mean one of the missing witches is Nicole's twin sister or a relative.

So what could Fischl's role be in all this? Perhaps she's one of the twin sisters, or their mother. Perhaps she's even an ancestor. ...Or completely unrelated to them and I'm full of shit.

PART 5: THE HARBINGERS

F's theme shares a leitmotief with the Fatui Harbingers theme.

F's theme: Sieh an, mein Sommernachtgarten! Signora's theme: Saltatio Favillae

Obviously this means Fischl is Capitano.

Composers don't do these things by accident. This is hinting at something. Either Fischl is connected to the Harbingers, was/is one of the Harbingers, or she is indeed the Tsaritsa.

Which is not as crazy as it sounds.

In Legend of the Shattered Halberd, Fischl possessed someone else's body. And if she is Freyja's equivalent, who died three times, then it's possible she could've been reborn as someone else. In the book, it was Mir who summoned Fischl into Weiyang's body and sacrificed his eye to appease her. Pierro is working for the Tsaritsa and has his right eye covered for reasons unknown. Having been a royal mage who would have had access to Khaenri'ah's restricted library, perhaps it was Pierro who summoned Fischl into the Tsaritsa's body.

The Tsaritsa is collecting the seven Gnoses, Fischl had to collect seven of the nine Ominous Swords to repair the Divine Halberd, which would be herself. She already had two of them in her possession… Could also be that the Tsaritsa is trying to revive her. This would imply Fischl is the Third Descender. Since she came from another world, this is not impossible.

The Fisher King, Fischl's possible namesake, was struck with a wound that could only be healed by a "pure fool" who would ask him the right question. ...Fatui is Latin for fools. If the Tsaritsa really is/is possessed by Fischl, then creating an organization of fools starts to make sense: the fools are her saviors.

This could also connect to the empty 10th seat within the Harbingers. The vacant spot could be a reference to the Siege Perilous, which was an empty seat reserved for the one successful in obtaining the Holy Grail by way of saving the Fisher King.

Usually this is accomplished by Percival, who later finds out his mother is the sister of the Fisher King. In the story, Percival keeps failing to return to the kingdom of the Holy Grail since it is an otherworldly place. Does that not remind you of Kaeya trying to find Khaenri'ah but failing halfway through?

Going back to Princess Ozma, an evil witch cast a spell on her that turned her into a little boy named Tippetarius. This was done to prevent Ozma from ascending to the throne. Tip was unaware of his true identity until he was transformed back into Ozma.

tippet /tĭp′ĭt/ noun A covering for the shoulders, as of fur, with long ends that hang in front.

As noted in The Marvelous Land of Oz, Chapter 23, Tip has brown colored skin.

…Kaeya, blink twice if you need help.

As a staunch hater of things that don't make sense, I highly doubt this means Kaeya is Fischl; the game would never go there. Perhaps being "Fischl" is simply hinting towards the fact that he will become one of the Fisher Kings.

That would certainly explain this random hangout ending.

Now, here's where things get really crazy.

Remember Anfortas? The Knight Marshal of the Schwanenritter who took over as regent after Irmin became indisposed? At the time of writing, Anfortas's fate remains unknown.

As said before, Anfortas is the name of the Fisher King in Arthurian legends. Fischl's name might've been a nod to that.

But it gets weirder.

T.S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land combines Arthurian legends with the legend of the Fisher King. In it, he associates the Fisher King with the tarot card Three of Staves.

The Man with Three Staves (an authentic member of the Tarot pack) I associate, quite arbitrarily, with the Fisher King himself.

…We have seen this symbol somewhere before. On the constellation wheel of the Fatui Harbingers. By process of elimination this constellation belongs to Il Capitano.

👏🏽👏🏽CONGRATULATIONS CAPITANO YOU ARE KAEYA'S NEXT TOP GRANDPA 🎉

Kidding of course, but I doubt this is a coincidence. This doesn't necessarily mean they are the same person, maybe Capitano simply mindmelded with Anfortas. It's a fantasy game, everything is possible at this point.

Wait a minute… three nails, three deaths… Uhhh maybe Fischl really did turn into Capitano.

👏🏽👏🏽CONGRATULATIONS CAPITANO YOU ARE PRINCESS DIANA'S NEXT REINCARNATION 👸🏼

PART 6: THE THIEF AND THE MAGE

Alright, for this section I want us to keep in mind the following things:

Fischl is a fallen star

Fischl may have been a mage

Fischl could be connected to Irmin and thus Khaenri'ah

The play of the Veluriyam Mirage is written by Zosimos. This play stars Kaeya as a Thief, Klee as a Mage and Idyia as a last minute heroine added to the story.

You see, Zosimos originally wanted to write a story based on rumors he'd heard about a thief and a mage. This means the play might not be entirely fictional. The problem is that Zosimos combined Idyia's backstory with the story of the Thief and the Mage, making it hard to tell which bits belong to Thief's story.

We know at least that Alice was the mage who helped Idyia. But what about the Mage who helped the Thief? Who was she? Could it have been Alice or someone else?

For that we need to consider the character Kaeya was playing. It's unknown who he is, but if Klee was playing her mom then it stands to reason Kaeya must've been playing someone connected to him. Before you get excited, this does not necessarily mean someone related to him by blood. Could also just be someone from Khaenri'ah. Heck, we don't even know the gender of the mage, for all we know they could've been a man.

Now, the soundtrack that plays during Kaeya's part is called Towers of Afrasiab. This name has come up before. In the play of Kaeya's hangout, the character he plays opposite of is called Frasiyav. The location of the Khaenri'ahn door is called Hangeh Afrasiyab.

I personally suspect Afrasiyab is either Irmin or the founder of Khaenri'ah.

Afrasiyab is a character from the Persian epic, the Shahnameh. Afrasiyab lived in an underground iron palace held up by hundreds of columns. (If you look at the architecture in Hangeh Afrasiyab, you'll see little reliefs of men holding up a ceiling above them.) Afrasiyab lacked the divine royal glory known as Khvarena and was obsessed with obtaining it. In the play they say Frasiyav lost because he lacked the blessing of god…

I mean it can't get any more obvious than that. So this could mean the dude from Kaeya's hangout was Irmin. Which does raise a bunch of questions, such as who is the identity of the Prince in this play? And why were they at war?

Should be noted in the hangout's play, Frasiyav offered hostages as a peace offering. Kind of reminds me of the war between the Aesir and Vanir… Also, Kaeya's character Prince Qubad is based on Siyavash who eventually married into Afrasiyab's family…

Towers of Afrasiyab then could refer to Khaenri'ah. In the Veluriyam play, the Thief is also from a dark realm. I hesitate making the assumption that this guy is Irmin or Kaeya's pirate grandpa so I will refer to him as simply the Thief.

In the play, the Thief witnesses a shooting star falling from the sky and follows it. However, what he finds is not a star but a young woman. Well, we know Fischl was also a star that fell down. And we know Fischl visited the Kingdom of Eternal Twilight and got bodied for her efforts. Oz took her under his wings and saved her life.

If the Thief encountered the Mage this way it would explain why the Mage helped him as a way to repay him. Perhaps the Mage taught him Arcane arts or helped him protect the "Dark Realm", who knows?

If this Mage really was Fischl and the Thief someone connected or related to Kaeya it would explain why Fischl and Kaeya seem to be connected.

About Kaeya F: His nature is obscure, his fate a mystery, and his speech a vexing tapestry woven of both fact and fiction… Perhaps he and I share the burden of mystical sight…

About Fischl Kaeya: Hmm? You think Fischl having one eye covered is very fitting given her title of Prinzessin der Verurteilung. Hahaha, if that's the case, that must also make me a descendant of some kind of former royal lineage, no?

Furthermore, in Legend of the Shattered Halberd, Fischl's partner in crime, the man who summoned her, is named Mir. This is a reference to Mimir, the severed head from Norse mythology who acted as an advisor to Odin.

Mr. Nine states Fischl was attracted to Mir… and that Oz was more of a familiar of Fischl.

In Wagner's opera Der Ring des Nibelungen, Mimir is known as Mime, the brother of Alberich.

....😮‍💨

Well, I have to say, even after all of that, I am completely stumped. If anyone knows what's going on, let me know, because I for one would love to know WHAT'S GOING ON FOR ONCE. GIVE IT UP FOR KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON

#genshin impact #princess fischl #kaeya alberich #lore bytes #.txt

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ivycryptid · 6 months

Text

Logan Sanders' totally, 100%, surely, completely, absolutely normal Halloween

…except for that part where everyone but him and Remus were turned into mythical creatures. That was, maybe, possibly, a bit out of the ordinary.

A fic of chaos, candy, and one out-of-the ordinary Halloween celebration. Word Count: 2385 [AO3]

This is a for @just-some-gt-trash, written as part of the @tss-october-ghostwriters gift exchange. Sorry for posting it late! I've been really unexpectedly busy. I really hope you enjoy it.

I used the prompts: Witch, Midnight, Costume, Magic, Transformation, and Potion

October thirty-first, a day of (as Roman would describe it) costumes, candy, and chaos.

There were many ways that the sides celebrated the holiday. Costumes, for one, and often some elaborate scare-age on the dark side’s parts, though in the past few years, with the conflict having mostly settled down, persuading the lights to join in wasn’t very hard. Patton quite enjoyed the parts of the holiday where he got to spend time with friends (and bake themed cookies), Virgil loved the well, everything, Janus quite enjoyed the costumes, Remus had always loved the opportunity to be allowed to be a bit more unhinged than usual, Roman had always enjoyed making and designing costumes and decorations and all sorts of things (although I would be remiss in not mentioning both twin’s interest in the subject) and Logan? Well, the holiday was certainly not his favourite, but it was certainly interesting.

And if this particular occurrence of the day wasn’t just that then this particular narrator would be very surprised to hear it.

But enough waffling on about this particular day of spooks. You were here for a story, correct?

——————

Logan Sanders, awake, for some ungodly reason that not even he could really explain, seeing as it went against the majority of his advice on sleep schedules, at six am on the particular date our story occurs, looked down at two perfectly timed schedules for the day.

One, the page of a pink notebook covered in sticky notes of various colours and sizes, perfectly laid out in a (fruitless) attempt to keep Thomas organised, was the one containing his centre’s schedule. In the case of today, Thomas really didn’t have a ton planned. Just a few halloween movies with some friends and then, if Logan got his way, adequate sleep.

The other schedule was contained within a well-decorated indigo journal, covered in all manner of scientific stickers and wonderful drawings, courtesy of Roman, Virgil, and Patton. It had been gifted as a birthday present some time ago, and whilst he wouldn't let anyone know it, Logan used it incredibly regularly. Definitely not for any sentimental reason though, surely not. But, if we may return to the topic of that peskily busy schedule. As, contrarily enough, Logan’s was much more hectic and packed than Thomas’. He had to help Patton finish the baking in preparation for the Mindscape’s “first annual Halloween celebration bonanza of fear” to quote Remus, and then he had to prepare his costume for the holiday’s event. Which he totally wasn’t doing because it was fun. Just to fit in, for that exact reason, definitely no other, and he had most surely not had any fun at all putting it together.

Of course, the giant (practically blinding honestly) smile Logan had sported last time he worked on it might have given his lies away… if he had let anyone see it.

Either way, he very much had to get ready if he was going to be done with all of this preparing before three pm (the ordained ‘start time’ for the party). So it was down the stairs (and off to breakfast), he went.

He looked at the time. Six fifteen am. Forty-five more minutes of sleep certainly wouldn’t hurt.

——————

At seven o’ five am, Logan had made his way down to the kitchen and eaten some Patton-prepared breakfast to the sound of the other sides’ excitement around him.

“So you see padre, you have to swing the sword like this,” explained an incredibly awake Roman, gesturing wildly across the table and narrowly missing the other sides, “and have you checked the balance? If the balance is wrong it could swing weirdly and-”

“Being on fire is a very interesting experience and very hard to get right.” Remus illustrated his words with a handy illusion.

Roman yelled some unintelligible reply from halfway in his conversation with Patton. But Remus seemed to understand its meaning in some twinly secret codex as he instantly replied. “Of course you need to-”

“I’m pretty sure every character you’ve ever been has committed some form of tax evasion,” laughed Virgil from his position near Janus, “which certainly isn’t- well- oh come on Jan! Unfair conduct!”

Logan sunk into his chair comfortably. He might have been tired and a little silent, but he had always been like that in the mornings if he was honest, and he quite enjoyed the others’ enthusiasm for the rest of the day they were going to have.

But he’d finished his breakfast, and getting ready was of utmost priority, so he stood up and brought his plate to the sink, washing it off and waving goodbye to the other sides.

——————

By nine-thirty, Logan had prepared the remaining elements of the costume. Some stitching on the skirt, the last ‘potion bottle’ to slip into the belt, the final pieces of decoration being placed on the hat. Mostly small details and things, but vitally important nonetheless. And he’d finished! He was done! Able to actually wear the thing! Well, later, when he wasn’t liable to get it dirty while baking.

——————

For the second time that day, Logan made his way down the stairs. As he finished his journey to the kitchen, Logan was hit by the sound and smell of, if he was correct (which he obviously was) candy apples. And also Patton, barreling towards him at an incredibly fast pace.

Logan yelped. “Patton! Please detach yourself!”

With that, the fatherly side untangled himself from the impromptu hug, hanging his head.

“Sorry-” he began.

“Don’t be, I was just- surprised, that’s all.” Logan replied. “Now, what are you making?”

“Candy apples!” Virgil yelled from the couches.

“We’re all gonna get cavities!” exclaimed Remus.

Logan smiled a little, he had been right.

And that was when Patton burned himself on hot sugar.

"God dammit- it was still hot- fuckin-"

“Patton are you okay-”

——————

After that incident, which luckily hadn’t resulted in a large injury, and only a tiny burn, and the pun-filled few hours following, Logan stood in front of the mirror.

He now (finally) wore the costume he’d prepared. That of a witch. The skirt was a navy blue and covered in embroidered stars in different colours and arranged as constellations, the shirt was plain and white, though it also had hidden embroidery around the collar and sleeves, the hat also confirmed (check for word later) to the star theming, having its own stars perched in the brim.

Logan had also decided to wear a messenger bag, modified to have places in which to store ‘potions’ around the bag strap. Other than the potions, Logan had backed a giant book of astronomy and constellations he had found rather useful (and quite pretty). As well as a small telescope, which hopefully wasn’t going to be destroyed.

Either way, with his pair of very sensible shoes, he was ready to help transport the baked and candied goods over to the place Roman and Remus had prepared for the party in the imagination.

So,for the third time that day, Logan made the trip between his room and the kitchen.

——————

Patton had instructed him in which boxes to carry, and thus, at four pm on a Tuesday afternoon, Logan wandered into the imagination, following behind the other side.

Pat was dressed as an adventurer of some sort, sporting a large glowing sword with a blue gem in the hilt, some simple adventurer’s clothes, and a flowing blue cloak. In Logan's opinion, it looked quite nice.

As they neared the clearing, Logan began to spot Roman, Virgil, and Janus. Roman sported clothes that seemed like they’d come from the nineties, and also was on fire. That at least explained the twin’s conversation from that morning.

Virgil was wearing a leather coat, there seemed to be fake burns across his hands as well. Interesting.

Janus was the oddest of them all, he wore a waistcoat, fedora, and long flowy pants adorned with snakes. He also held a tax form? Odd.

Logan continued into the decorated clearing, continuously attempting to puzzle out the meaning and/or origin of the outfits. Just as he’d given up and decided to just ask them himself, beginning a beeline over to the trio. His ‘sensible footwear’ failed at their job, and Logan tripped.

Dear reader, I have something to confess. The imagination is not the most, let’s say, stable, in terms of reality, and on a day such as this? The ability for an idea to become just a bit more real was as strong as it ever was. Logan, of course, did not know this. The idea for a piece of costume, a fakery, to become suddenly real was barely a murmur in his mind. Which, in this case, was unfortunate for him, as that truth was going to be revealed in a slightly explosive way.

Now, back to that fall.

Logan fell downwards, grabbing his bag and pulling it away from the ground so as to save the telescope from certain destruction.

Of course, he’d forgotten about the half-open potion pouch, and as Logan fell towards the ground, a teal, glittery concoction was launched towards the three sides on the rock, and Patton, who had come to stand near them.

“Watch out!” Logan warned, just a second too late, as it exploded onto them with an almighty splash.

And then, the sides weren’t human anymore.

Well, depending on the semantics they never technically were. But they sure looked human!

But now, standing in place of Patton, Roman, Virgil, and Janus, were four giant beasts straight out of mythology.

What had happened to his friends, and why?

As Logan sat there, confused and worried, the one other side unaffected by the sudden change appeared behind him.

“Where are the others? And how did those get here?” Remus said abruptly, swinging a… giant test tube around? That was new. So was the scientist’s coat. And that incredibly prevalent slime.

Logan did not want to know where it came from.

Whilst he had reflected on the state of Remus’ costume, the other side had continued talking.

“-the mythical creatures are kept on the other side of the imagination. Why bring them here?”

Logan paused. The silence was only about a minute long, but from an internal viewpoint, as subjective as that was, it felt as if it had taken hours. How was he going to explain this?

“What, cat got your tongue?” Remus asked impatiently, holding up a cat eating a tongue as if to illustrate his point.

The logical side remained startlingly silent at the metaphor.

Until, finally, he spoke.

“Neither I, nor Roman, Virgil, Patton, or Janus brought the ‘creatures’ from the imagination. In fact, if I am correct in my observations, they are, in fact, Roman, Virgil, Patton, and Janus”

Remus looked at the conglomeration of chaotic creatures again.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Silence (save for whatever the mythical being buds had been doing in the meantime, that was making quite a bit of noise) ensued.

“So, how do we make sure our friends and family aren’t mythical beings forever?” Logan began.

“Wait till midnight. They’ll be back.” Remus replied calmly

“It’s that easy?” the other side said mistifiedly.

Remus raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I’d appreciate an explanation”

“An explanation? Really? Life might be infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent, but it doesn’t mean it’ll always be consistent enough for someone of your tastes. Plus, ‘till midnight’ gives us plenty of time to-”

“We won’t have any time at all, seeing as they’ve already got themselves in trouble.”

One of the four creatures, a particularly colourful eagle and deer hybrid of some sort, had gotten his antlers stuck in a tree. The incident seemed to have been the cause of some of the noise from earlier, and it didn’t seem to be getting any easier for the being (which Logan had a hunch was Patton), or anyone else, to extricate him from the tangle. As Logan and Remus walked up to the quartet, they found a purple-scaled, winged figure flying near the branch worriedly. The other two transformed sides, one a wingless combination of lion and eagle, the other also possessing a leonine body, horns (for some reason) and a snake tail ending in a cluster of spikes. Soon, all four of the non-winged of the group stood around the tree, concerned for their friend.

At some point possibly-Patton had somehow flipped himself completely upside down in a doomed attempt at freedom. The purple one (who was probably Virgil) had nestled himself in a higher part of the tree, curling into himself like a charging cable left in a bag too long.

Suddenly, the tree perching figure unfurled himself. He let out a hacking cough, once, twice, thrice, then, finally, expelled a putrid smelling (and looking) liquid, which hit the branch, but thankfully not the peryton tangled in it.

The branch disintegrated, freeing the creature that, seeing as his immediate response was to drag the anxious wyvern to the ground for a hug, was most definitely Patton.

Two sides figured out.

The griffin, opinicus if Logan was being specific, bounded over to the other two dramatically, joining in on the hug, whilst the probable manticore, walked there at a slower pace.

Make that all of them figured out.

And then Patton startled Janus, causing him to let out a volley of dangerous spines.

“Why can't you all be calm for once?”

——————

After six straight hours of cleaning up and stopping the others’ chaos, with intermittent Remus-led breaks for unethical science, the chaos was finally over, ten minutes left till midnight, Roman, Janus, Patton, and Virgil were sleeping soundly.

A giant clump of limbs and wings draped over it like blankets sat in front of a frankly tired Remus and Logan.

“Are we-” Logan fought a yawn, “Are we going to wait for them to-”

Remus snored from his perch on Logan’s shoulder.

“It seems we are not,” Logan said to empty air.

He picked up Remus, walking past the rest of the sides, to a large tree with a sizable patch of moss underneath.

“Goodnight everyone,” he murmured, finding a place for him and Remus to settle down till morning, “goodnight.”

#fanfic #sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #ts logan #ts remus #ts janus #ts roman #ts virgil #ts patton #Patton gets to swear #for funsies #that isn't even really relevant to the plot #but my bud Chaos convinced me to put in #so there it is

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mercerislandbooks · 10 months

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Thoughts On Summer Reading

As someone who's on social media—specifically the book part of Instagram—a fair amount, I hear a lot about how different people read. Some read the next book they plan to read, have five more books lined up after that, and for the most part they'll get them read in that order. Others read whatever strikes their fancy whenever it strikes their fancy. I am a mood reader at heart, but one who wedges in that library book that she's had checked out for months which she DID really want to read at the time so now she better stop in the middle of her other six current reads to rush through it in time to return it tomorrow... which is exactly what I'm going to resume doing once I finish this blog post. So maybe I'm a mood reader with "obligatory books" hanging over her head.

Part of being a mood reader is the fluctuation of what I want to read each season. For the fall, witchy books like The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Spells for Forgetting, Wild Is the Witch, and The League of Gentlewomen Witches. In the winter it was mostly science fiction by Becky Chambers. But the most talked about season in the reading community has to be summer. Summer reads, beach reads, vacation reads. Light books that you fall into and out of like a summer fling. This fits the traditional idea of summer reads that we all know and love, but the genres included in summer reading lists have expanded over the past few years. We at Island Books put together a shelf full of summer books for every reader, surrounded by sticky notes with suns and right next to our Staff Picks shelf.

Last summer, all I read was romance. Intense feelings crammed into a book I could read in a day. The happy ending, the guarantee of peace and satisfaction. I picked up several fantasy books and put them down again immediately—any effort to learn about a made-up world felt like too much. This summer, rather than a specific genre, I've been catching up on my backlog. I finished the Anne of Green Gables series for the first time and found it delightful. I listened to The City of Brass and all of its sequels while traveling. I read the first two books of The Borrowers, finished the Seafire trilogy, and sped through books two and three of The Thursday Murder Club. I finally pulled out my two-year-old copy of Red, White & Royal Blue and devoured it in twenty-four hours (just in time for the release of the movie on August 11). Although it's a completely different path than I took last summer, it's been so fun to discover these books for the first time and then discuss them with everyone who already loves them. I look forward to seeing where my mood reading takes me next summer.

Things that make a good summer read (one list does not fit all):

Not too heavy (physically); needs to be light enough to bring on vacation

Not too heavy (content-wise); needs to be light enough to read on a beach

Characters that draw you in

A plot that grips you

Romance

Intense action

...And the list goes on and on.

Bonus points for reading a book that's set on a beach...on a beach. The perfect summer read is so varied from person to person that the most important criteria is to pick up a book that interests you. I look forward to hearing about what you loved as we talk books over the counter.

—Becca

#island books #becca oman #summer reading #thursday murder club #red white and royal blue #becky chambers #anne of green gables #tbr #spells for forgetting #city of brass #the borrowers #wild is the witch #league of gentlewomen witches #very secret society of irregular witches

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tellhound · 2 years

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For the asks - all of them 💖

Hi there, nonny. Thank you for this! It was really fun answering all these questions, but I have to admit that this will be both the first and probably last time I'll answer all questions in an ask game. Also, sorry if I missed any of the questions! 💖

To all the people that was tagged, feel free to ignore this post. The question I tagged y'all in was just "Tag 5 of your favorite blogs" ❤️❤️❤️

Without further ado, time for the "q and a"!

1. Do you have freckles?

2. Do you drink tea or coffee? How do you take it?

I drink both, but prefer coffee. For coffee I prefer one sugar, just a little milk. And tea I usually drink black.

3. What was the last song you listened to?

I Am - Jamie Bower

4. Do you sleep on your back, stomach or side?

Side usually

5. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?

Nah

6. Do you prefer drawing or writing?

Writing

7. What’s your ideal number of blankets to sleep with?

Just one

8. What’s your favorite band/artist?

I've got so many, but the ones I've listened to the most lately are The Amazing Devil, Djo, Autoheart

9. When is your birthday?

August 14

10. How tall are you?

173cm or about 5'8

11. What color are your eyes?

Green

12. Who are five (or more) people you want to hug right now?

At this very moment? No one. Actually, please don't touch me at all today.

13. Fears?

Yes. I have some

14. What’s your favorite color?

Green

15. What’s your favorite season?

Autumn 🍁🍂🥀

16. Want any tattoos? What of?

Already got six, but there's three more I want. Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh, a tad inspired one that I haven't figured out yet, and one I won't reveal until I have it, but what I can say about it is that it's a tribute to my grandpa and the dog he had when he was alive.

17. Want any piercings? Where?

I really want a helix. Have had one twice, but I just keep having bad luck with it.

18. Who is the last person you texted?

My brother.

19. Do you have a best friend? How long have you been friends?

Pegasus. We became friends in 2009.

20. What/who do you miss?

So many people. So so many people.

21. How was your day today?

It's been a good day. Just hanging out with my parents and my brother.

22. How much sleep did you get last night?

Around 6 hours I believe

23. Do you believe in aliens?

Yes! 👽🛸

24. When was the last time you cried? Why?

A couple days ago when I listened to music I haven't heard in years. It brought back some painful memories.

25. What’s your favorite decade?

The 80's and it have nothing to do with Stranger Things. Just ask my parents.

26. What are some seemingly childish things you like?

Soap bubbles! Lego. 🫧

27. What’s your favorite book? Or just one you’ve read a few times?

My point... And I Do Have One by Ellen Degeneres is the only book I've read more than once. Wouldn't call it a favorite anymore though.

28. How are you, really?

You want the truth? Not good. But I'm better than I used to be. And I'm just trying so hard to get to a point where I can honestly say that I'm happy again. It's gonna take time though and it's hard and frustrating, but I hope that in the end it will be worth it.

29. Does it take you a long time to make decisions?

Depends on what it's about. But most of the time it does take me a while.

30. What are you looking forward to in the near future?

Autumn, so I can finally start using all my scarves and beanies again!🧣

31. What are you looking forward to in the distant future?

Streaming on twitch again.

32. If you could go anywhere right now, where would you go?

London

33. Do you sleep with your door open or closed?

Closed

34. What’s your favorite flower?

🌻🌻🌻

35. Do you currently have a squish?

Maybe, maybe not. I'll leave that as a mystery.

36. Do you like your middle name?

I do, but I'm glad it's not the name I go by.

37. Do you prefer dogs or cats?

I love both so incredibly, much. But I do slightly prefer cats.

38. Do you have any phobias?

Astraphobia which is the gear of thunder and lightning 🌩 ⛈️⚡

39. Do you stay up late?

Unfortunately, yes

40. Do you like the beach? Do you prefer it sunny or cloudy?

I don't really have a strong opinion on beaches. They can be nice when there's not too many strangers there I guess. And I prefer it sunny.

41. What’s your favorite cartoon?

Avatar the last Airbender? I don't really watch cartoons

42. Tag 5 of your favorite blogs

@dreamsoffilm @seidenbros @jesskier @gabetheunknown @dancingwiththefae

43. Do you have siblings? How many?

Yes, one.

44. Who was the last person you said “I love you” to?

I think it was Lou 💖

45. Is there anyone you would die for?

Not sure. Maybe. Probably.

46. What do you need when you’re sad?

Someone who'll just hug me and listen to me, or someone who'll just sit there in silence with me if I don't wanna talk.

47. Have you memorized your phone number?

Yes!

48. Who’s someone you can trust with your life?

Idk

49. What does your last text say?

"Okej" which is the swedish spelling of 'okey'

#anonymous #Anon #The a to your q

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magnificentdreamlandblizzard · 16 days

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I do apologize for not posting again yesterday. I ended up using my free time to watch all of the music freaks and was going to post this night, but my friends ended up going out to dinner with me so I stayed out till like 11 pm lol. So because I ended up not having time yesterday, I'll do another double post today! :D

Today, on Saturday April 13 2024, I'm going to tell you guys my favorite female anime character. Though I can't mention one without mentioning the other, and they both happen to be from the same band. Yes, band is right because the two happen to be Ena Shinonome and Kanade Yosikai from project sekai!

Growing up, I had my parents divorce at an early age of 5. I can't really remember much, but it still is a sort of trauma for me. But that's not the only trauma I have. At an age of 12, I ended up getting mental hospitalized, also causing me to miss Valentines day.

So you may be wondering, what does this all have to do with the two anime characters?

Well growing up, not only did I have mentally abusive parents but I had around five to six mental disorders. (Dont worry my mom has stopped and my dad and I are working on things.) I won't reveal them because I don't fell comfortable since I've already told you guys so much personal information, so please don't ask me as that won’t end up well.

Anyway, I’m still trying to find my gender and place in the world, but that's not the point.

One of my friends has called N25 (my favorite group) an emo band before and I think that's one of the worst insults you could give them.

All of them have very meaningful and lore built backgrounds even though I may not have a full understanding of Mizukis.

But, my adoration for Kanade came before Ena actually.

It's very obvious that she's with depression, but she still tries very hard to get past it. Her work for a song to save Mafuyuu is honestly heartwarming. Throughout the story she shows strength and even in the story called “(something) discord”, she fights to save Mafuyuu so N25 doesn't lose her forever.

Her strength has been an inspiration for me, since I was hospitalized for being suicidal and self harming. During that time, I couldn't see my family which was honestly one of the biggest wounds someone could inflict on me. Sometimes I feel like her songs are meant to save me too.

Even though she doesn't actually “write” the songs because they're all covers, all of the songs are imbeded with deep lyrics. The one I think I can relate to most is “Bitter Choco Decoration” sung by everyone in Nightcord. Though the whole band is in a deep spot in my heart, because there songs are something I can grasp onto and they give me hope and perseverance to continue living.

And even when they're all not doing deep things and just hanging out, its still fun to watch there silly antics. Ena and Mizukis banter are fun to watch, it's nice to see Mafuyuu getting a much needed break, and overall there group interactions.

Plus Kanade is really pretty. (Looks are always a contrubiter to my simp qualifications lol.)

Now to Ena. Kanade isn't the only one whos strength inspires me. For example, some of my favorite events have these Ena cards:

(Idk this event :’))

On this black canvas I paint.

Also, I love the event where she teaches Honami how-to draw and paint.

Lets start with the first event that I don't remember, but it's one where Mizuki is the main person you follow. The picture is from where they talk on the rooftop, and Ena tells Mizuki that she can vent to her when she's ready, and that Ena won't push her. To me this shows how kind Ena is because she's demonstrating that she's here for Mizuki. She went up to the rooftop, and didn't stop in the story at all to support Mizuki, and made sure she knew she was supported and loved even if she didn’t feel like she could tell anyone.

Even though there in highschool, this is an amazing amount of maturity. It sure how kind she is, caring for her friend and being able to tell when something is off. My friend was wrong when she called N25 an emo band. What they really are is a group of friends who have gone through tough things, and they try to support each other throughout life. It's something one could really admire, and consider there family that isn't there by-blood-related-family.

Now the one where Ena teaches Honami how to paint is registered in my favorite stories. It's on the light-hearted side, where you can see Honami, Ena, and Emu, hangout and see there fun and warm-hearted interactions.

Through the storyline you can see Honamis insecurity with her art, and anxiousness to painting on the wall of a kindergarten. It's a fear I can understand, as every human is worried if being made fun of, yet even though Honami is a stranger, Ena agrees to help her out and even meet in person.

Throughout helping Honami at Emus house, Ena is worried about changing Honamis art style because everyone paints in a different way. It's because beauty and art has its own style, and she doesn't want to change here because it's unique. So instead, she teaches her how to assemble basic shapes into animals and it works, but when Ena goes home, she still wonders if that was the right thing to do.

This shows how much she appreciates others things, even if something may not look understandable from first glance. And I say first glance because she ends up looking at it more, and eventually makes out Honamis drawing of what she first sent to Ena - an elephant.

So when Emu and Honami are finally painting the kindergarten wall, Ena rushes back over just when Honami is finding a girl getting upset for being bullied for having the same style of art that Honami had. So Ena walks over to the girl and points out the parts of the animal to the others, and even suggests things the girl can add.

She also encourages Honami to draw how she normally does, because now she sees that it isn't just blobs of paint or whatever, it's something if you squint hard at it. So even though the kids laugh at Honami, Ena continues to encourage it and even paints on the wall with everyone!

This shows how she encourages people and helps defend others. This adds even more qualities to the other kind type of person she is. But that isn't the main reasons why she has a deep place in my heart.

It's a reccouring thing where Ena tries to encourage Mafuyuu to break free or stand up against her mom, providing Mafuyuu a bit of strongwill. I've gone back into the log and even screenshoted some of her quotes to Mafuyuu, because they were really inspirational to me. Especially since even though my friends say I'm like Mizuki, I feel like Mafuyuu sometimes. Her quotes help me feel like no everything is lost, and that there's hope yet, just like Nightcords songs.

Also in the event “this black canvas I paint” I feel really bad for Ena. She is trying to be like her dad who's a famous artist but he's said things like “you'll never be a great artist” and what not that brings her spirits down. Hearing that from a parent can be extremely hurtful, especially since she has a really harsh art teacher. So harsh in fact that she gave up, but she eventually does gi back because she wants to get better at art.

And her going back eventually produces the card where she's crying in the classroom, one that makes me feel sad for her every time I look at it. Though she continues and eventually her art teacher takes her aside and tells her that she actually has a really good talent for art, and that she's always welcome.

Despite the pain and people telling her no, she continues on being persistence and pursuing her dreams. It's an admirable trait, and I feel that her and I are the same in a way. Both trying to improve and worrying about our art, even getting some harsh feedback that brings our spirits down. After all, my dad is one of those brutally honest people, and there are many times in my life where I wish that I had Ena and Kanades bravery.

They both are strong and beautiful women despite there circumstances, helping each other and friends and pushing forward on steadfast resolves. They both and their songs have set many foundations for parts of me to build on, and have been inspirations and things for me to cling onto when I'm in a bad mood. I truly do not have enough words on how I appreciate both, and will continue to love them until the day I die. These reasons are why that if you ever seen my profile on colorful stage, I not only have both an Ena and Kanade card in my main party, but also there fan and partner titles in my status. I wish both of them as much blessings as they've given me <3.

*Cough cough.* Everyone ignore how long that was and I'm going to move on to question six, asking me what anime I've watched that in ashamed I enjoyed.

Honestly, there isn't really any. There are certainly some games I've enjoyed that I'm ashamed to admit that I had, but if I had to say an anime, I'd say No Game No Life. I like it because I also want to live in a game world like they do, but am ashamed because the anime also contains nudity and sexual stuff sometimes.

I even have a memory where I brought a book from the series to school where I didn't look through the photos, and oh boy did I regret it. And I still do today, so much so that I'm never bringing it to school again.

I pulled it out to read and one of my friends caught the sight of a character um… not wearing clothes. So my friends quickly stole it and looked through the pages. It wasn't pretty but it was especially embarrassing since they were loud enough to let the whole class know.

And let's just say, naked wolf man is a joke thats been stuck against me for a while. And that I've also learned an important lesson to check books before I go to school. Never again will something like that happen. Hopefully.

#no game no life #nightcord at 25:00 #nightcord ena #nightcord kanade #kanade yoisaki #kanade pjsk #ena shinonome #colorful stage #pjsk #n25 #n25 kanade #n25 ena #shinonome ena

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capriciouscaprine · 28 days

Text

happy new month to everyone!!!

I have SO MUCH to do for my coursework, but I wanted to take the time to write a post about what I'm up to currently, what this month holds for me, and what my goals are for the future as we all head towards summer

currently, I just hit a goal # this morning, although it didn't feel all that impactful, and I'm pretty sure that's bc I both didn't get enough sleep last night and bc I don't have any rewards set up for myself besides the emotional reward of hitting that goal; obviously, I need to be consistent about getting enough sleep and have rewards ready for myself, but both of these are uniquely tricky right now bc I have an absurd sleep schedule (6 pm-2 am), no time, and even less money

I'm coming out of a six week full time unpaid internship, so my hours were drastically cut at my actual job; instead of five days, I was down to just two, and they were the two days the least amount of work and thus fewest available hours to get paid; I got a boost from cat sitting for my neighbor, whose cat needs careful monitoring and specific medicine on a pretty strict schedule, but this pay cut was on top of paying tuition for the semester, so I currently have negative money aka am carrying a balance on my credit card, to the tune of $3.5k (oof)

the good news is that with spring pollen comes increased hours, as my job is on a farm with both plants and animals; we've got seedlings to water and plant, babies to feed, and field trips to prep for and manage, so I've jumped from 3-4 hour days to 5-6 hour days, five days a week; I get paid pretty okay ($16/hr after taxes), but I still typically get less than 30 hours a week, so my monthly pay is only around $1.5k (rounding down for safety, especially since this a very recent jump)

looking forward to things happening this month, I have my final paper for my most important class of my entire masters degree, due WITH a presentation and handout on April 10th, and then two weeks later (less than or exactly 14 days, iirc) I must give a comprehensive presentation (and possibly turn in some other stuff??) about myself, my internship, my previously mentioned final paper, and a problem from our final exam, which will determine if I get my degree or not

oh, and I need to plan and record another internship observation, which I had been under the impression that I wouldn't need to do, which is due by the 15th, right in between all of these other things being due

I am under immense pressure right now, and it's definitely having a negative impact on my mental health; I'm managing not to burst into tears constantly or run away to the woods (a very short distance for me, so particularly tempting) thanks to both succeeding at other goals and knowing that their are specific dates for all of this to be over by; all I have to do is turn everything in on time (even if it sucks), and I'll be done with this degree by the end of this month and officially graduate in early May (ugh, need to order and pay for my cap and gown this week (~$200))

heading into next month, after everything is turned in (seems impossible to imagine, tbh, which is why I'm writing this post), I'll be free to PLAN and SET GOALS

(I'm so excited!!!)

like I said before, my pay isn't high and I've got debt I need to address on top of more bills coming in the future (six months of car insurance D: ), but I have to believe that I can get everything paid for and still have enough money to have a tiny bit of fun, too; I need to still down and draw up a budget, ESPECIALLY for food since I'm going to finally have time to make more things for myself!!! which will absolutely be cheaper than all the pre-made and pre-portioned meals and snacks I've been buying

the last time I had a big goal, I had a bar and a line graph to track my savings (my house down payment! ty 2018 mini recession, you made home ownership possible); now it'll be the double whammy of 'saving' for bills and paying down the old debt, plus I'm genuinely at the point of needing a new phone WITH a case, and all the actually functional phones with enough storage space, etc run just under $350, so with accessories that could be $500 aka NOT an impulse purchase!

otherwise, my big goal is to clean up my house: it has been TRASHED by consecutive roommates, but particularly by the most recent one; I have bits of stuff taking up space from everyone who's moved in and then out again over the past 5+ years, but the last one (who I made a whole rant post about) was so filthy when it came to using the kitchen that they left me an infestation of MULTIPLE types of insects, some of which I've never even seen before!!!

here in the southern US, we already deal with some insect trouble bc it doesn't get cold enough to fully kill them off, plus they can always be brought into a clean house from our great outdoors, which we have lots of; it isn't unusual for even the shiniest of mansions to get a roach sneaking into a bathroom or a line of ants running into the kitchen

in comparison, my house is genuinely disgusting, and I haven't been able to DO anything about it since classes and thus deadlines started back in August; the good news is this project won't take, relatively, that much money, and I even have a pretty good idea of what all I need to do to almost completely fix this! the only real problem is that it'll take a fair bit of physical labor and thus energy, which I don't always have a lot of, so I'll need to be strategic and get things done in phases and also not give up!

there are a lot of expensive things that have gone wrong and need fixing around the house, and there are even more expensive changes I want to make; I need to remind myself that all of these will happen in time, and I need to not obsess over them or let them demotivate me as I'm working towards addressing the issues that I can

in the far-flung future (it feels like), getting my degree means I am qualified for teaching jobs!!! math and teachers in general are in pretty high demand in my area (where aren't they right now?), and the pay is relatively high, as in double the highest I've ever made before in my entire life; once I've got my degree, I can dedicate myself to getting one of those jobs at a nearby school, and at that point, once I start getting those paychecks (fingers crossed), a whole new world will open up for me!!!

#cc og #goals

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gludgenbell · 2 years

Note

Thoughts? Not on anything in particular just thoughts in general? don't force yourself you might become a puddle!

Here comes the ramble:

I should draw my character in monster hunter- and on that note I should draw more monsters from monster hunter

And on that note I need to improve my art skills

And on that note I wanted to study the faces in Arcane- and maybe the backgrounds too, I need to work on those

I did study the faces when I was watching it before- you could argue I paid more attention to the way the noses were shaped, and how some faces formed a rhombus in the mouth area- especially when smiling

I wish my friends were interested in league of legends, because I can't play valorant with them and they keep showing me all the cool things they're doing on it

I think it's similar to ca ll of duty? But the game somehow vanished off the Xbox a while ago and I've been mourning it ever since

I've played that game-not that one in specific- since I was four and it's always been a lotnof fun

I remember the nights I'd spend with my family sleeping in the living room on a big blanket because we all wanted to see Robin hood

I remember my shirts that didn't fit-especially my light blue leotard with a golden crown on the center of the chest

I wanted to be a ballerina, but I'm never gonna hit the weight requirements so I stopped hoping for that-

And on the topic of weight I'm roughly 180 lbs (I don't know how much kilometers that is) which my doctor is not happy about because I'm short

According to the bmi scale I'm

Too heavy

which, alright, sure, but my legs are also well built from rugby and I don't have much of a stomach

I've been working out five days a week for six months now

But if I'm still obese then there really is no hope for me, is there

I got bullied once in sixth grade

Or rather made fun of, but my teacher said it was bullying

This girl poked my chest and made fun of me because compared to most of the other girls my breasts were big

Uh, they're not

I have a few scars on my legs, all of them from rugby- specifically from the Saturday games against our older team and not from practice

So that's good

I am also dadada~ the slowest person on the team!

It's been grating on my mind

There are infants faster than me

I mean to be honest I don't think I was sprinting during our punishment runs, and I've got great stamina actually

I've been faster.. I can pick up speed and chase down someone

I'm very good at tackling, I have a lot of power

But yeah I'm just

Slow

Despite my efforts but that's okay! I'm more concerned about being immensely slower than my cousin, and being the slowest player to exist rather than being slow in general

I wish

I had a team to play monster hunter world with

My friends should get into monster hunter world, I need the company I've been physically separated from them for months

And I don't have any friends this side of the island

I call my friends some nights, we play minecraft and sky together

but I wanna do more than just minecraft

#heres my thought process and how it bounces from thing to thing to thing #all connected by a thin line #hope you enjoyed #thanks for letting me ramble nonnie #I need to figure out how to draw cute rats + how to drae them breakdancing #gludgen responds!#anonymous

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marvelatthetwilight · 3 years

Text

Dark Minds

⬅️ Part five: Lonely Minds

A/N: This was a long one, but I've cut it in two so I was able to include the detail I wanted to, enjoy!

It had been nearly six months since Bella Swan came bounding into your life and turned it upside down and inside out. Life was very different with Bella in it. You barely saw Edward. Spending most of your days tagging along with your siblings; avoiding spending time with Edward and Bella as best you could.

He drove Bella to school, sat with Bella at lunch, drove Bella home, spent evenings and afternoons with Bella, the list goes on. It was only when he needed to come home to hunt that you spent any time together at all. After the James fiasco he didn't want to leave her side "just in case", and despite your guarantee to support and trust him, he still didn't fully trust you, and you weren't sure you could ever trust him either.

On the day of Bella's 18th birthday, you made a promise to Alice to be on best behaviour. Smile Y/N, look happy, look like you want to be there, that's all I'm asking of you.

She was looking at you seriously across the table as you sat in history together. Neither of you needed to pay attention; having both sat through the exact same lesson many times before. You shrug your shoulders at her in response and she rolls her eyes.

Please Y/N. Just for an evening.

"What will that achieve?" You ask her as the bell rings and you begin packing up your stuff.

It'll be fun. I've seen it.

"You know that doesn't work on me. I know you haven't"

SMILE. She draws a smile on her face as she leaves the room, beams at you, then walks down the corridor.

Great.

Today was Bella's 18th birthday.

You had agreed to smile this evening. That was it. No one said anything about needing to smile all day, pretending you were happy. Edward knew that. He wasn't expecting anything else from you.

"Happy...birthday Bella!" Alice starts then whispers in Bella's ear when Bella looks panic stricken at the thought of everyone knowing it's her birthday.

She glances behind Alice at you and Jasper, and you both offer her a small smile and a nod in acknowledgement of her birthday.

Smile!

You fake a bigger smile towards Bella and Edward, the latter frowning at you.

Why are you looking at us like that?

Promised Alice I would smile.

I see. So not actually happy then?

Don't start.

"Is this something I need to get used to?" Bella asks laughing, referring to your silent conversation with Edward.

"Not anymore, don't worry." You reply, before walking off towards your next lesson, blocking out your siblings' voices.

You drove home from school with Emmett and Rosalie in an attempt to avoid any more Bella birthday drama. Sitting in the back seat you look up at the rear view mirror as you hear Rosalie and see her looking at you smiling.

We can protest against Alice's demands to make us smile, I'll back you up. We can just stand in the corner scowling.

This makes you smile as you turn to look out of the window at the trees passing. Now would be an ideal time for this supposed mate to appear; to stop the loneliness, the awkwardness your family felt at always trying to make sure you were involved. You needed an escape.

Once everyone is back at the house, dressed and ready for the 'party' that Alice had planned, you hear her calling you from downstairs.

"Y/N, Rosalie, Emmett, quick, Bella's here!"

The three of you make your way to the living room to find it filled with candles and rose filled bowls.

Wow, this is a bit much. You look at Rosalie and smirk, Alice has really gone all out with this one. Before you have a chance to respond you hear Edward.

Please don't make this awkward.

I think you're forgetting who you're talking to. I don't care any more Edward. Happy birthday Bella and all that.

As they make their way into the room, Bella winces at the sight in front of her.

Told you it was a bit much. Rosalie glances at you sideways.

"Sorry about all this. We tried to rein Alice in." Carlisle says as he hugs Bella.

"Like that's even possible. Happy birthday Bella." Esme moves forwards, opening her arms to hug Bella.

You move backwards to stand at the back of the room, observing your family closely. Rosalie hands over a silver wrapped package quickly, muttering something about it before moving away. Bella smiles awkwardly at the attention as Alice drags her towards a table full of presents.

Bella opens an empty car radio box from Emmett for the radio he installed in her truck earlier that day, before Alice hands her the next box.

The next few minutes pass by in a blur. You remember suddenly smelling blood. Before you can fully acknowledge what is going on, Jasper is flung back at the wall next to you before he attempts to lunge at Edward again.

"Y/N!" Carlisle calls out, his eyes darting to Jasper, and you realise what you need to do.

"Jasper, look at me!" You call out, and Alice quickly realises what needs to happen. Emmett and Carlisle tackle Jasper down and you climb on top of him to look into his eyes.

"You don't want to hurt Bella, Jasper. You don't want to..."

You slowly look up towards where Edward is standing; Bella sat on the floor behind him on the broken table, holding on to her arm which is streaming with blood.

“Carlisle I…” You look up at him, a pained expression on your face as your siblings all realise the same thing and struggle to control their thirst.

Carlisle rushes to Bella’s side and holds some fabric to her arm. Edward has paled slightly but he rushes to Bella’s side, putting himself between your siblings and Bella. He looks at you desperately.

Y/N get them out.

You take a deep breath then look at Emmett who is struggling to hold himself together.

“Em, look at me.” He turns to look at you, his eyes dark and hungry. “Get Jasper and leave, take him outside, stay away from this room.”

“Rose.” Rosalie forces her gaze away from Bella. “Go with Emmett, get Jasper out of here.”

You watch as Rosalie and Emmett drag a snarling Jasper out of the house. Esme sends an apologetic look to Bella and pinches her nose as she leaves.

Only you and Alice are left. Alice looks at you and shakes her head. “I’m sorry Bella, I can’t…” she whispers before leaving the room.

You share a look with Carlisle.

Edward. Carlisle can look after her. Go and speak to Jasper. He is going to need to hear from you.

I’m fine.

I’m not asking for you. I’m asking for Jasper. You need to check on him. Let’s go.

“I’m fine Y/N.” He says again, out loud this time so he can reassure Bella, but as he looks to give her a reassuring look, his eyes focus on the crimson blood running down her arm.

Her blood smells so good.

Edward. NOW.

With that Edward rushes to the door. He glances back at Bella one last time before leaving. You nod at Carlisle, offer Bella a small smile before rushing out of the room after him.

3 days later

"Hold on. We're leaving? But I don't want to leave." You tell Carlisle, he turns around to face you, a frustrated look on his face that you normally only see reserved for your siblings, you've never had it directed at you. This wasn't the escape you wanted. Not like this.

"We have to leave Y/N, you know this." He pleads with you as he packs away some clothes into a bag then walks out of the room.

Please just pack Y/N.

You stare after him, mouth open in shock. "No I don't know this. I don't understand why this has come as a shock to anyone. Rosalie warned us all of this from the very beginning."

Rosalie comes to stand beside you. "Welcome to my life Y/N." She drapes an arm across your shoulders and leans down to rest her head on you.

None of them are going to acknowledge that this is what I said. Edward is playing the saint like he's suddenly doing us all a favour by forcing us to leave.

You turn to look at her, frowning.

Don't even get me started on poor Jasper.

"I'm not playing the saint Rosalie. I didn't think this would happen, was naïve that this would work but...it's just too dangerous for me to be with Bella." Edward says quietly as he stands in the doorway.

"And that's exactly what I told you would happen." Rosalie stands up straight and moves towards Edward, her face contorted in anger.

"You chose this. You were warned but you chose this. You abandoned Y/N. All of this for Bella, and now you're abandoning her now it's too difficult. You're pathetic Edward."

"Rose" Carlisle warns as he returns to the room.

"No, Carlisle. No." Rosalie looks around at her family before her eyes land on you.

"Carlisle, do we really have to leave? Does it really need to be like this?" You ask him again, your face pained and mind full of thoughts.

"Alice said this is the only way. We have to trust in that." You look down at the floor.

"It'll work out Y/N. I promise." Alice says softly from the doorway. "I've seen it."

Mexico, 3 months later

You missed your life in Forks. Whilst you had been desperate to leave, it wasn't really Forks you wanted to leave; the life your family had created there was comfortable. You had been happy.

Now you were miserable. You all started off together in New York for a while until Carlisle suggested everyone split up, each of the couples desperate for some alone time. As usual you ended up with Edward. But it wasn’t the same. It wasn't like before when you went travelling together. Your relationship was fractured. You were hurt, you felt abandoned, he didn’t trust you and he was depressed, missing Bella so deeply he felt numb inside. His thoughts were dark, your thoughts were dark, and neither of you could keep out of each other’s heads. You were bringing each other down.

You needed to escape. Again.

You sigh as you drop your book into your lap and look out at the view from the balcony of your room. Mexico City was busy and bustling below you. You loved the smells, the noises; it was lively and felt so...human. But you yearned for the calm and quiet of Forks; something you never thought you would say. Edward looks up from his position at the desk in the corner of the room and looks at you quizzically.

He had been writing letters to Bella, pouring out his heart, then burning them, in an attempt to stop feeling. He thinks it's helping, but you disagree. You aren't sure of what you want in life, but this wasn't it. You love Edward, of course you do, he's family after all, your brother, your best friend, but...

Edward I can’t do this anymore.

He frowns.

What is ‘this’?

Us. This life we’ve ended up with since we left Forks. I’m miserable. You’re miserable. It’s dangerous for both of us. Someone is going to snap.

So what? What can we do about it?

I can leave.

Edward gets up from his seat at the desk to sit next to you on the balcony.

“You can’t leave.”

“Yes I can. Perfectly capable of it.”

He rolls his "I mean, you can't leave me."

"I know that's what you meant. But it's still not true."

“Where will you go? Somewhere on your own? You’ve never been without any of us Y/N. It would be too dangerous for you.”

“I know Carlisle thinks that I’m delicate and need to be protected at all costs because of my power but I had hoped you knew me better. That I am in control of it, you’ve seen it. I don’t need protecting anymore.”

“So that’s your mind made up?”

“Yup.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know yet, I just need to get away.”

“Get away from me you mean.”

You look up at him as he looks down at his hands, twisting the material of his bedsheet between his fingers.

“We were good for each other for a while. Our abilities helped keep each other sane. But now…it won’t be forever. I promise. You’ll always be my brother.”

With that Edward rubs at his eyes and storms out of the room. You hear his thoughts fading as you take a deep sigh and look out to the window. Where do I go? You consider joining your parents at Isle Esme, then shudder at the idea of being a third wheel to Esme and Carlisle on a romantic island. At that moment your laptop pings with a notification. Carlisle had ordered you all to change phones and deactivate any methods of contact, but you had kept one thing. One piece of your life in Forks. Your email address.

Y/N. I know this is probably weird for me to be emailing you, but I don’t know what else to do. Alice won’t talk to me; all my emails to her fail, and her phone number doesn’t exist anymore. Things are so strange here, like none of you ever existed. Like you were never here, like her was never here. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore. – Bella

That's it. Mind made up. I need to go back to Forks.

As you drive past the Forks sign, you feel anxiety building in your chest. You hadn’t replied to Bella, you weren’t sure what to say, you weren’t close, but you felt responsible. Your family had done this to her and you felt responsible to make it ok, since no one else was going to.

You slow as you approach the Swan residence; Charlie’s police cruiser was missing so you knew he was at work, and as it was the weekend, Bella wouldn’t be at school. Pulling up on the other side of the street you take a deep, but unnecessary breath to calm your nerves. Just as you are about to open the door, the front door of the house swings open and Bella emerges wearing a hoodie pulled over her head.

She looks happier than anticipated, a skip in her step maybe. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all.

As she walks over to her truck she catches sight of your car and stops.

Her eyes widen as you open the door and step out.

“Y/N” she whispers, before running towards you and enveloping you in a hug.

“Woah, that was unexpected” you laugh, reciprocating the hug before holding her at arm’s length to study her face.

Now she was closer you could see that the happiness you thought you saw before wasn’t real: the bags under her eyes are deep and dark from lack of sleep, her skin is patchy, her eyes red rimmed from crying. She watches you carefully as you study her face, then sighs.

“I know I look like crap.” She says softly, pulling away from you and rubbing her face with her sleeve.

“I wasn’t going to say that.”

Bella rolls her eyes at you and you both laugh.

“Ok, maybe I was.”

“We can’t all be beautiful for eternity vampires Y/N. Humans look like crap when they’re sad.”

You nod your head slowly. “I know that too well Bella, don’t worry. Can we go inside? I don’t want it to be a big deal that I’m here…no one else knows.”

Bella considers this for a moment. You can see she wants to ask you, but can’t summon the energy or confidence to enter into that conversation.

“Not even him.” You say softly, putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her back towards the house.

“Where did you go?” She asks after a moment of silence. You are both sat in her living room, the TV playing to itself, whilst Bella fills you in on what she has been doing. She has been better, happier even, thanks to her friend Jacob.

“Everyone is all over the place. Carlisle and Esme have gone to Isle Esme to work on the house there, Alice and Jasper went travelling around East Asia, Emmett and Rosalie are off on another honeymoon…” You pause and wince as you think of Edward and what he must be feeling now you are gone.

“And…him?” She whispers, not wanting to make eye contact.

“We travelled together for a bit. I left him in Mexico.”

“Left him? To come see me?” She looks up at you confused.

“Not quite. I wanted to leave anyway. Your email just gave me a prompt to come back to Forks. It was needed.”

She nods her head before pausing. “Why did you want to leave him?”

“I’m not sure we want that conversation, Bella.”

“I want to know.”

You sigh at her persistence.

“Our gifts are extremely helpful most of the time, and our gifts together up until now have made life bearable. I’ve never been very good at opening up, always hated it, but being with Edward meant I didn’t need to, he knew. Same goes for him. We helped each other. But now his thoughts are dark, he is sad, depressed perhaps, and that has an impact on how I feel, makes me feel the same. I couldn’t stay around that. We can't help each other anymore."

Bella doesn’t reply, just looks up towards the window as she hears a door slam.

“This is going to be awkward to explain.” She says quickly before heading to the front door.

“Whose car is that?” You hear from the front door; from a voice you don’t recognise.

“Y/N is here.” Bella replies.

“Y/N Cullen? His sister?” The voice spits back angrily.

“Yes, but she didn’t do this, she didn’t want to do this…” Before Bella has a chance to reply, you can put a face to the voice as Jacob comes storming into the living room to argue with you.

He pauses in the doorway as you stand up to greet him. Your presence has put him on edge, but he doesn’t know why. He feels protective towards Bella, like he needs to protect her from you.

“Why are you here?” He asks angrily.

“To be here for Bella.”

“She doesn’t need you. She hasn’t needed you. If you wanted to be here for her, you wouldn’t have left.”

“I didn’t have a choice. My family…they made the decision for me.”

“And now? What’s different now?

“I’ve had the courage to know that they’ve made the wrong decision, I’m making the right one.” You turn to Bella now as you speak. “Bella, what happened wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair on you. I tried to argue with…dad…but…I just didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry…”

Bella goes to interrupt you, to tell you it’s fine, that everything is ok.

“No, it’s not fine. That shouldn’t have happened. But I’m here. I know I’m probably your last choice of Cullen to be here with you but I’m here, and I’ll stay here as long as you need me.”

Maybe she isn’t so bad.

You smile at Jacob, and he looks back at you confused before shaking the thoughts from his head and turning back to Bella.

“Do we want to try out these bikes or not?”

“Bikes? What bikes?”

“You want to come with us? Try them out too?” Bella asks you, gesturing towards the truck at the front of the house. You hesitate for a moment. Edward would want me to look after her. You nod in response and Bella's face brightens.

Jacob looks unsure, but seeing how happy your presence has made Bella he gives in.

Maybe she's different to the others.

“Are you scared?” Jacob asks teasingly as he walks towards the front door with you.

You roll your eyes in reply.

“I don’t think Y/N is scared of anything.” Bella replies for you.

Jacob laughs, “Ha, we will see!”

Taglist:

@volturidoll13 @volturiwolf @wallwriterstuff @like-rain-or-confetti @moviequeen51 @raindancer2004 @officialfictionalwreck @megzdoodle @slasher-sweetie @reclusive-chicken-nugget @holl2712 @icarusinstatic @imdoingathingmom @fanfic-love-show @volturiwolf @awesomebooklover17 @cole22ann @amortentiaaaa @gurl-ly @mytwilightimagines13 @develin13 @volturi-stuff @kpopgirlbtssvt

➡️ Part seven: Lovesick Minds

#cullen imagine #twilight imagines #twilight x reader #y/n cullen #cullen sister #jasper cullen #esme cullen #rosalie cullen #the cullens #edward cullen #alice cullen #carlisle cullen #edward cullen x reader

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helloalycia · 3 years

Text

the new recruit [six] //wanda maximoff

summary: the aftermath of your mission with Wanda changed the dynamic between you, and you're still trying to figure out if it's for the best or not.

warning/s: mentions of suicide, terrorism and death.

author's note: first day in my new job today so super exhausted but didn’t wanna leave you guys hanging. hope you like where this is going! also, side note: Y/H/T = your hometown

Returning to the compound after Wanda and I's mission was stranger than I expected. I hadn't realised how attached I'd grown to our stupid tiny apartment and little routine we'd created, even if it was only for five and a half days.

I also didn't realise how much my feelings for the Sokovian would change just from spending time with her within close proximity. Though, I tried not to dwell too much on that last fact since admitting what I definitely didn't want to would only make things complicated. Much more complicated.

So, I revelled in our friendship instead.

When Wanda and I got back, it was about a week in when I was already getting post-mission depression and decided to look through all of the photos we took on my phone. It brought a smile to my lips immediately, seeing how much fun she was having and how excited she was to see all of the sights. And that's when I got the idea to do what I did.

Wanda had mentioned how she had sadly lost all of her family photos when her home was destroyed back in Sokovia, the physical ones that you can flick through and smile at without having to go through a phone or laptop. And that idea, though not my initial one when it came to browsing through photos, was a nice thought. So, why not do it for her with these?

Because I'm too gay for my own good and definitely very stupid, I went to get all of the photos on my phone printed and had plans to put them in a photo album to give to her. Hopefully she'd appreciate it and I wasn't being too weird. I mean, they were just photos and she'd like it, right? God, I hoped so.

One afternoon, I'd just finished collecting the rest of my prints from a store in the city and also bought the album to put it in when I was walking back to my room to sort it out. Of course it was just my luck to bump into Tony in the hallway outside my room and so I immediately tried not to draw attention to the pack of photos being held to my chest.

"There you are!" he exclaimed upon seeing me. "I've been looking for you everywhere! Where have you been?"

I swallowed hard and pointed a finger over my shoulder. "Oh, y'know. Just... errands."

He pulled a face at that. "I have employees for this very reason. Use them." I rolled my eyes and he continued, "Anyway, I wanted your opinion on my new suit. I've asked almost everyone and you're next."

I quirked a brow. "Don't you, like, pay people to love everything you do?"

He narrowed his eyes with no humour present. "Hilarious."

I smiled to myself, proud of my little joke. "Yeah, I thought so, too."

He rolled his eyes and looked to me impatiently. "Well? Is that okay? Meet me in my–"

"Your study, okay, I got it," I finished for him, before getting impatient myself. "I'll drop by later. I gotta go right now."

He squinted his eyes with suspicion, deciphering my sudden impatience, then his gaze fell to my arms. "What's that?"

I straightened up and shook my head casually. "Nothing, just some photos."

"Photos of what? Let me see."

I shook my head nonchalantly, moving away when he tried to grab them. "I'm allowed privacy, aren't I? Don't worry, it's none of your concern."

He hummed in response, not saying anything, so I took that as my chance to walk past him and to my room. But as I stepped forward, he suddenly made a move to grab the photos, making me drop my new photo album on the floor.

"Tony!" I shouted with disbelief, before moving to pick up the photo album and attempting to get my photos back.

He was already flicking through them, having removed the elastic band and grinning as he went through each one.

"Oh my god, you went sightseeing with the witch?!" he asked with surprise.

I stopped trying to get them off him, realising it was too late since he already knew our secret now.

"Yes," I admitted nervously. "Just please don't tell Steve."

He laughed and shook his head. "I won't. But why are you printing them and putting them in that old thing?"

I hugged my photo album tightly when he motioned to it.

"This old thing is new," I defended my purchase. "And no reason."

He paused, glancing at me with knowing eyes. I tried to stand my ground, having been trained in veiling what I was truly feeling, but I must have been in too deep because his eyes widened with a revelation.

"Oh my god, you did this for Wanda."

When I didn't reply, he laughed and slapped me on the shoulder, making me frown with discomfort. Out of all the people to know this, Tony was the last I wanted.

"You like her, is that it?" he asked, continuing to look through the photos. "You really think printing some photos you took is gonna show her that? C'mon, Y/L/N."

I clenched my jaw, annoyed at his unwanted opinions but also feeling a little judged at his words. "I never said I liked her."

He smirked. "Sure you didn't. But it doesn't look like that... you're seriously putting in all this effort for her? Bit lame, isn't it? What's she gonna do with a photo album? Look through it once and then lose it? C'mon."

Well, shit. Was he right? Was this actually the dumbest thing I could think of? Oh, God...

"But never mind my opinion," he started, and I was only half listening because I was still revelling in self-pity. "Let's ask the witch herself."

Again, I wasn't really listening until he suddenly started to shout Wanda's name down the hall, knowing her room was only at the end. My eyes widened and I immediately tried to get the photos out of his hands.

"Shut up, Tony!" I shouted, going to grab them, but he pushed me out the way and continued to yell for Wanda.

Panicking, I tried to slap him to shut him up, but he dodged and my hand hit the stack of photos in his hand, flinging them across the hall and to the floor in a giant mess. I glared at Tony before racing to pick them all up before anybody could see them. It was very unfortunate when Wanda finally emerged from her room and approached us, confusion written all over her expression.

"What's up?" she asked, eyes falling down to me.

I managed to scoop up the last few photographs before standing up, suddenly really embarrassed at the fact she'd almost seen them. And then Tony's words rang in my head and I felt like an idiot.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked, eyebrows furrowing together with concern.

I turned to look at Tony, who was hiding a smile and attempting to be apologetic.

"Y/N?" Wanda asked again, resting a hand on my shoulder. "Did Tony do something?"

"Nothing, forget it," I mumbled, before leaving the scene and fleeing to my room without giving either of them reason to continue the conversation.

Humiliation was an understatement. I felt dumb, stupid, moronic and any other synonym one could think of. Photos? Seriously? What would that achieve?

"Stupid Tony," I muttered harshly as I threw the photos and album in the bin by my door.

I found the framed photo of Wanda and I that I'd already printed and threw that away, too. This whole thing was dumb. And I was adamant on sulking in my bed until I felt better.

—

It was a few nights after that incident when Wanda confronted me about it.

I'd hoped she would have forgotten as she hadn't brought it up since and neither had I, instead deciding to just ignore Tony otherwise I'd probably end up strangling him. So, when I was sulking in bed and trying to figure out if I wanted to watch TV or not, a knock sounded against my door. It was strange since it was pretty late, but I allowed it.

"Come in," I called halfheartedly whilst hugging my cushion and staring at the wall.

"Hey, it's me," Wanda's voice said as she opened the door. I didn't bother turning around as she continued, "I hope now isn't a bad time... I wanted to–"

She paused suddenly and curiosity got the better of me, so I turned around in bed and saw that she was looking in my bin with a saddened expression. Remembering what was in there, I panicked.

"Er, what are you doing?" I asked with restrained nervousness.

She bent down and pulled out the photos and album before standing up and looking to me with a hurt expression. "You threw them away?"

I sat up awkwardly, feeling both confused and embarrassed. "What– how did you know about that?"

She pursed her lips, glancing down at them again. "I saw them the other day when you dropped them."

Looking down uncomfortably, I nodded. "Oh."

"I pretended not to see because I thought it was a surprise and I didn't want to spoil it," she explained, and it didn't help that she sounded really cute right now with her accent making more of a show. Goddamn pretty girls and their cute voices.

"Yeah, it was going to be," I said, avoiding her eyes and forcing a small smile, "but I realised it was kind of stupid and changed my mind."

She set the photos down on my desk and sat beside me on the bed. "It's not stupid."

I gave her an are you serious right now? look. "It kind of is, Wanda. What exactly would you do with them?"

She smiled a little at my words. "Keep them?"

I breathed out through my nose and looked away, hoping she wasn't pitying me right now. Because that would be even worse than getting found out in front of her with Tony.

"I love it," she said gently. "It's the most thoughtful thing anybody's ever done for me since... well, since I lost my family."

Swallowing the awkwardness down, I risked glancing her way and saw she was already watching me with bright blue eyes, instantly making me nervous. I felt even more like an idiot – how was the person who I was once happy to glue to her chair now capable of rendering me into a speechless, awkward fool?

"It's not stupid?" I asked, expecting her to turn around and say otherwise.

But she didn't. She merely shook her head and smiled softly. "No. Definitely not stupid."

I nodded, unable to stop a smile from tugging at my lips as I looked away. "Well, in that case... d'you wanna maybe pretend you didn't see it so I can finish putting everything together and give it to you properly?"

A quiet laugh flew from her lips as she nodded. "Agreed."

Sighing with relief, I scratched the back of my head and suddenly realised she came in here for a reason. Turning to face her, I rose an eyebrow.

"You wanted to ask me something or tell me something," I reminded her. "What's up?"

Realisation crossed her expression as she nodded, instantly losing her smile. "Right... it's stupid. But I just– everybody's worried about Rumlow and what's happening next and, well, their thoughts are really loud. I can't really sleep..."

I frowned, feeling bad and being unable to imagine how frustrating that must have been for her. She wasn't wrong in the sense that everyone was on edge since our last mission. I knew Steve, Sam and Natasha had a particular vendetta against Rumlow because of their experience with him over a year ago, and now that they had a rough idea of where he'd be in three months, they were stricter than usual. Thoughts must have definitely been too loud for Wanda to cope with.

"Well... wanna watch TV with me?" I offered with a small smile. "I'm always down to stay up for a while."

As if this was exactly what she wanted to hear, she nodded and smiled adorably. I motioned for her to follow me and the two of us got under the duvet as I turned on the TV at the end of the bed. She pulled the duvet close to her chin and leaned on the many pillows behind her, sinking in without concern. I smiled to myself before doing the same, flicking through the channels and deciding on Howl's Moving Castle which was halfway through playing. I waited on complaint from Wanda, but she didn't say anything, so I left it on.

It was quiet as we watched, myself getting lost in the film and trying not to overthink how close Wanda was to me. If you forgot about the fact that we were in the compound and not spying on a scientist in the middle of Paris, it was almost like we were back on mission. And I didn't mind one bit.

"That looks so pretty," Wanda commented quietly, referring to the field of flowers on the TV.

I hummed in agreement. "Yeah, it really does."

She was quiet, and I thought she'd finished, but then she spoke up, barely above a whisper. "Before Sokovia was a warzone, it used to have the prettiest flower fields I'd ever seen. In photos obviously, but they always looked so beautiful. Kind of like that."

"You'd love Y/H/T then," I told her with a nostalgic smile. "It had some lovely gardens and flower fields like that."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah, definitely," I said with a nod of certainty.

We were both looking at the TV, but it was merely background noise as I spoke to her with a comforting feeling in my chest.

"Spring was the best time to visit," I recalled. "The flowers were coming in and it was beautiful. Full of colours, like a giant bouquet just for you. There were these cute bees flying around and the sun would shine down and it was clear blue skies and–" I sighed contently, shaking my head. "Descriptions aren't enough. It's not the same unless you see it for yourself in person."

She chuckled a little. "It sounds wonderful. I wish I could."

I thought about it, the idea of Wanda seeing it for herself warming my heart. And then I remembered she had powers that gave her access to people's minds.

"You can get into people's memories with your powers, right?" I asked curiously.

She sounded confused as she said, "Yeah, but–"

I sat up with excitement, turning to look at her. "So you can see what I'm talking about! You just have to go in here–" I knocked on my head, "–and take a look for yourself."

She pushed herself into a sitting position, nervous frown on her lips. "Y/N, I'm not so sure about that. I don't like doing that unless I have to. It feels really intrusive."

I gave her a knowing look. "It's not intrusive if I'm giving permission, right?"

She scrunched her nose adorably, still unsure. Now that I thought about it, letting the girl I had a crush on roam about in my mind probably wasn't the best idea. But I trusted her to only look at what I wanted to show her and if it made her happy, even for a moment, I wanted to do it.

"C'mon, you'll love it," I said with an encouraging smile, tapping her knee.

She chewed on the inside of her cheek as she thought about it. Finally, she sighed. "Okay, I guess. Just tell me if something hurts or goes wrong or–"

"I trust you," I reassured her, finding her hand and squeezing it. "Now. I'm ready. Do whatever it is that you do."

She rolled her eyes playfully, cheeks turning pink, probably from the pressure, before she sat directly opposite me. Raising her hands, she rested her fingers on my temples and looked me in the eyes. Okay, maybe this was a little more intimidating than I thought.

"Close your eyes," she instructed gently. "Focus on the memory you want me to see."

I nodded and did as she said, trying to picture the field of flowers as I'd last seen it many years ago. I was by myself, standing in the grass with the flowers tickling my legs as they grew up to my waist. The sun was hot, I could almost feel the heat even in this dreamlike state, and shone down on me, making me squint to see. It smelt like home, just as I remembered it, and I almost didn't want to leave.

Whether Wanda could see or not, I wasn't sure. It didn't feel as intrusive as she'd made it out to be – it didn't even feel like anybody was with me at all now that I thought about – and I assumed it was because I'd openly let her in rather than her having to pry her way through.

Looking around one last time, I appreciated the view and the familiar calm it brought upon me. My hands brushed past the flowers – reds, violets, blues, yellows – and I smiled to myself, glad to have visited again, even if it was just a memory.

When I was done, I opened my eyes and was instantly met with Wanda's, turning from red and back to blue-green. She lowered her fingers and I tried to ignore the way my heart rate sped up a little at her sudden closeness.

"How did you like it?" I asked, unsure if she'd even seen it.

She cracked a smile, nodding gently. "It was just like you said it would be."

I pressed my lips together, acutely aware of her knees touching mine and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she took breaths. She was so close that I could smell the remnants of the perfume she'd worn that day – a much better smell than the one I'd just experienced in my memory. It was definitely the wrong time, but my eyes drifted down her face, past her nose and to her lips.

Perfectly shaped, full and glossy from her lip balm. Yep, definitely should look away. But I couldn't, and a thought that had never crossed my mind before suddenly did.

I really wanted to know what it felt like to kiss her.

And she didn't seem to move away, despite our ever-growing closeness. Was she expecting me to? I couldn't tell. And I definitely didn't want to project my feelings onto her and ruin whatever friendship we had. So, with that unexpected realisation, I cleared my throat and moved back subtly, hiding my nerves with a casual smile.

"Maybe we can take an actual holiday someday," I said, getting back under the duvet to face the TV. "Maybe I could go home and take you with me. Show you the field in person."

I heard her sigh quietly, making me nervous, but she followed suit and got comfortable under the duvet again.

"I'd like that," she agreed softly.

Certain that my heart was back to its regular pace, I relaxed under the covers and focused back on the TV. "I'm sure we can plan something eventually. Maybe when all of this Rumlow business calms down."

I felt her nod beside me as she hummed in agreement, and I was glad I was out of any compromising situations with her. The last thing I needed was to think about kissing her.

But I'd be lying if I said it was gone from my mind after that moment.

—

As time got closer to the next mission which involved a handful of the Avengers going to Lagos, Nigeria to stop Rumlow from whatever he was planning, things around the compound got tenser.

I understood that it was a dangerous situation and Rumlow was a high-level target, but it was no excuse to overwork everyone, including me who wasn't even set to go on the mission. But I could handle it. What I couldn't handle was seeing Wanda deteriorate from each time I saw her to the next.

We were sat in the kitchen eating lunch together, but Wanda was leaning into the palm of her hand and her eyes were barely open. I frowned, noticing how exhausted she was looking as of late. If I didn't see her sleeping on some random piece of furniture, she was training with Steve or Nat. I couldn't actually remember the last time I'd seen her take a break.

"Wanda...?" I prompted, touching her foot with mine under the table to get her attention. "You were saying something about your powers?"

She sighed and rubbed her eyes before leaning back into her seat. "Right, yeah, sorry. I was saying how Nat has been teaching me how to manage my emotions better because my powers are linked to them. I'm getting the handle on it, but sometimes I freak out and it's not good."

My expression softened as I noticed the pressure she was putting on herself. It was obvious in her self-deprecating tone of voice.

"You'll get the hang of it, I'm sure," I said with certainty.

She winced, shaking her head. "I'm not so sure. We've been at it for a while and all it takes is one thing and I just– I snap. I could seriously hurt someone and that isn't..." She frowned, avoiding my eyes. "That isn't what I want."

"You're not going to hurt anyone, Wanda," I said, trying to find her eyes but she was focused on her untouched plate of food. "I think... I think Nat and Steve are overworking you because they want you to be okay when the time comes. But you should talk to them if it's too much, which it clearly is."

Wanda sighed, leaning into her palm and massaging her head slightly. I knew she was listening, but now clearly wasn't the time to be piling on top of her orders.

"Forget about that for now," I changed the subject, before nodding to her plate. "Try to eat."

"I'm too tired," she mumbled with her eyes closed.

"I know, but you need to have something," I said in an urgent tone. "Please, Wanda."

Reluctantly, she opened one eye and glanced at me. Probably seeing how concerned I was, she gave in and nodded before beginning to pick up her sandwich.

"Definitely tell them to take it easy on you," I said as I watched her take a small bite. "It's what's best for your health."

She hummed, finishing chewing her sandwich, and said, "I will. Thanks."

I nodded, digging into my own sandwich, but my concern never wavered. Overworking us all wouldn't get Steve and Natasha anyway. I wish they'd see that.

—

The Lagos mission approached a lot sooner than anyone wanted. With Wanda, Natasha, Steve and Sam going on it, I was left behind and kind of glad that I didn't have to suit up. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to help, but not with how much pressure Steve was putting on this whole thing.

Unfortunately, that did make me nervous to how Wanda would take things. She'd been training nonstop since we came back from our own mission three months ago, and even before that she was extremely capable so I had no doubts she couldn't handle herself. But all of the pressure couldn't have been easy and I was hoping she'd be able to handle it.

Just once I'd have liked to be proven correct.

It didn't take long for the failure of the mission to be aired on pretty much every news programme on TV. According to the headlines, the Avengers had made a mess of Lagos, particularly when Wanda attempted to contain an explosion that only ended up destroying a nearby building and killing several innocents. It was a terrible sight, as was the look of disbelief on Wanda's face when she'd realised what she'd done. I couldn't help but feel bad for everyone – all of the news anchors were blaming Wanda, calling her out as too young, too powerful, too dangerous. But it wasn't her fault.

When they all returned, they looked battered and bruised and the worst I'd seen them in a long time. The only one to explain what the hell happened back there was Sam. Despite being shaken up, he caught me up and I had no doubts he'd done the same with the others.

Turns out Rumlow was working alone and had planned this whole thing from the start. He'd known since three months ago, sewing the seeds that led us to believe he'd be in Lagos looking for a bioweapon when, in fact, he was just looking to get his revenge on the Avengers. Him committing suicide and killing innocents in the process was all he'd wanted – a final act for a cowardly terrorist. Now, everybody was shaken up and peeved, for valid reason.

After being caught up with the mission, I reluctantly brought up the topic of Wanda, hoping to get some insight to how she was feeling. Though it didn't take a genius to know.

"She's not doing too great, Y/N," Sam said regretfully. "It was hard on her. And the news isn't helping."

I frowned. "Yeah, I saw..."

"You should check on her, but be careful," he advised. "She's still shaken up about it."

"Thanks." I nodded at him one final time before leaving.

Since they'd just gotten back, I thought it would be best to give her a few hours before bombarding her with my presence. The hours felt like forever as my worry for the Sokovian only grew stronger with each passing second. Finally, when I deemed it acceptable, I headed to her room to see how she was.

"I'm not in the mood," her voice answered from her side of the door when I knocked.

Ignoring her, I let myself in and tried not to react under her harsh glare. Closing the door behind me, I lingered by her dresser as she sat on the bed and watched me.

"I said I'm not in the mood," she repeated lowly.

"I know," I said, before taking a leap and saying, "I heard what happened."

To my surprise, she stood up instantly, clenching her fists to contain her anger. "Really? Did you see it on the news like everyone else did?"

Realising she was snappy, I decided to take it slow and not get offended. "I'm sorry that it happened like that, Wanda. I really am. But it's not your–"

"Don't say it," she interrupted quickly, flinching at my unspoken words. "It is my fault. Those people, they... they died because of me. Because I didn't practice with my powers enough and I– I lost control and– and look what happened?!"

Her eyes were teary as she shouted, her anger only acting as a barrier for how guilty she felt. But the guilt was plastered all over her face now, eating away at her and leaving no room for logic.

I swallowed hard. "That's not on you. You couldn't have known."

Her eyes darted to mine, a mixture of frustration and hurt in them. "You're the one who told me to take it easy with training."

It took me a moment to realise what she was implying, and that's when I raised my brows with surprise.

"Surely you can't blame this on me," I said defensively.

She clenched her jaw. "No. But I shouldn't have listened to you. If I had kept working hard, this wouldn't have happened and those people wouldn't have–" She stopped, lips trembling as she looked the other way. "They wouldn't have died..."

I wanted to tell her that she couldn't have prevented the inevitable. That this wasn't on her, it was merely an accident. That overworking herself with training or not wouldn't have made a difference because she tried her best and it was all a horrible mistake.

But as soon as I stepped forward to try and help, she raised her hand and a red wisp of energy opened the door behind me.

"Just get out," she muttered, still not looking my way.

"Wanda, please–"

"I said get out," she repeated firmly, her accent thicker than ever as she held in her anger.

Knowing it was too soon to make any attempt at talking with her, I nodded reluctantly and turned to leave.

In hindsight, it was probably stupid of me to talk to Wanda first thing when she came back from her mission. So, I gave her some space and focused on doing the best job I could as an Avenger. Technically there were no immediate missions scheduled, so my days consisted of training, working out and trying not to get in the way of the underlying tension between everyone as an aftermath of the mission.

The only times I saw Wanda were when we'd occasionally bump into each other in communal areas or sometimes in training. But even then, it was barely a conversation as she was clearly still beating herself up about the whole incident in Lagos.

As much as I wanted to be of some help, I didn't want to piss her off any further, so I kept my distance. It was the better choice, since she came to me when she was ready. It was about a week after the mission when she found me in the gym.

I was running on the treadmill when I saw her motioning for me to take my earphones out. Being the eager beaver I was, I instantly listened and slowed down to an eventual stop before removing my earphones and wiping the sweat from my face with my sweat towel.

"Hey, is everything okay?" I asked with furrowed brows, stepping off the machine and catching my breath.

She nodded, stood uncomfortably still and rubbing her arm. "Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your workout."

I shook my head. "It's okay, I can get back to it. What's wrong?"

She looked up, meeting my eyes with apologetic ones. "I just– I wanted to apologise for the other day. Well it was a week ago now, but yeah. I shouldn't have snapped at you after the mission."

Up until now, I assumed we wouldn't talk about it, since it was clearly a moment of weakness for her and I knew she didn't mean it. So, I was definitely surprised.

"It's okay, don't worry about it," I assured her. "It was tough what happened and I shouldn't have got in your face like that."

"You don't need to apologise for anything," she said with a dry smile. "I shouldn't have snapped. End of. You were just trying to help... I'm just not in the best place right now. Sorry."

I nodded, still concerned but trying to dial it down for her sake. "Well, I've got your back if you need me for anything, remember? No matter what."

A small but appreciative smile appeared on her lips in response. Then her eyes fell to my wrist as I wiped my face and her smile widened.

"You're wearing the bracelet," she noticed, before raising her own wrist and showing me her matching one. "You're committed, I'll give you that."

I let out a small laugh. "Yeah, well, I've never been given a friendship bracelet before so I'll take it."

It was her turn to laugh and the sound warmed my heart. It had been a while since I'd heard it because of all the stress and pressure she'd faced lately; it was definitely worth bringing out again.

"Anyway, I'll leave you to it," she said, her smile lessening but eyes still glowing. "Thanks again."

"Anytime," I said with a nod, before watching her leave.

I could only hope things could better from here, but oh, how wrong I was.

#marvel #elizabeth olsen #wanda maximoff x reader #marvel imagine #wanda maximoff x you #mcu #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff imagine #scarlet witch imagine #scarlet witch

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fitzs-trained-monkey · 3 years

Text

Chapter Thirty-Six: How I Did It - By Jack The Ripper

Rated PG-13: For dark themes and language

Masterlist

~We'll never get free Lamb to the slaughter What you gon' do When there's blood in the water? The price of your greed Is your son and your daughter What you gon' do When there's blood in the water?

Beg me for mercy Admit you were toxic You poisoned me just for Another dollar in your pocket Now I am the violence I am the sickness Won't accept your silence Beg me for forgiveness~

"He's here."

Crossing the Event-Horizon

That's what that's called. I've always thought that's the most beautiful way of putting it. The words have a certain ring to them.

Crossing the Event-Horizon

It means crossing the point of no return. That itself - the point of no return - could mean a lot of things. It could mean the beginning. It could mean the end. It could mean the infinite. It could mean life. It could mean death. It could mean war, peace, happiness, sadness, or anything in between.

But it means one thing for sure.

Crossing the Event-Horizon means there's no going back.

If I had to identify a beginning to the end of my story, then I think that little red dot on the map of time is where I'd stick my proverbial pin. That one little sentence, those two little words.

Yes, it was that moment, I think.

That was when it all started to go wrong.

"Felix is here," I said quietly, "He's outside."

I didn't know what I was going to do to get my revenge from that point. All I knew was, in order to kill Felix, I would need to get to him. And that meant getting away from Jack. Getting away from the son of the devil is something certainly easier said than done.

I would have to do it in a manner which would compel him and the Winchesters to come 'save me'. Of course, I could just knock Jack out and ditch him, but then I would have no back-up if things with Felix went sour. Now, if there was one thing I had learned in the five years leading up to my presence in that lighthouse, it was redundancy. It never hurts to have a safety net. Mine just happened to be a Nephilim.

"You remembered to lock the door, right?" Jack joked. I huffed a laugh. "We're safe in here. Don't worry, Marty. I'll protect you."

Isaac shook his head. "Felix has hostages. Two of 'em." He informed me.

"It's not me I'm worried about," I said to Jack, "This is a hostage situation."

The Nephilim's expression darkened and Isaac rolled his eyes.

"Personally, I say we go on the offensive. I mean, ya boyfriend here has more than enough juice to disintegrate seven dudes, right? Just waltz out there like we own the place, boom, clap, poof, TA-DA!"

"Ya know, that's actually not that bad of a plan," I said, nodding. I relayed the message to Jack who nodded.

"I could do it." He seemed confident.

"Felix brought six helpers. Have you ever dusted that many guys before?" I asked.

"I have, yes. Many more, in fact."

Well, that was... thoroughly disturbing. He seemed so calm about it. As if anyone who stood against him was nothing more than an obstacle. That could be me one day. That could be me tomorrow.

"Alright then, lead the way," I said, smirking.

Is it bad that I hoped something would happen to Jack? Nothing deadly, of course. Just something that would stop him from using his powers to take my revenge for me. Felix was mine. I needed to be the one to kill him. If Jack did it then what had been the point of it all? So, was it bad of me to hope that the quickest, cleanest solution wouldn't be the one that played out?

Was that wrong?

Did that make me evil?

Did I care if it did?

"Everything's going to be fine, Marty. You'll see." And Jack smiled at me softly and I wondered how long that would last.

I found myself standing beside him at the door to the lighthouse. My blood was boiling for a fight because this was it. Felix was on the other side of that door and in a few hours, I would be free, one way or another. Jack turned the handle.

Across the Event-Horizon.

A vampire, a ghost, and a Nephilim stepped out into the muggy night air. It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it was more the beginning of a new era, at least for me. I stayed mostly hidden beside Jack, maintaining my air of powerlessness. Isaac stepped into place at the Nephilim's other side to match. I could feel the heat of Felix's presence bleeding through the space between us. He carried with him the foul stench of burning tar and just his scent made me want to wrinkle my nose.

He stood about ten feet away from Isaac, Jack, and me, flanked by six other vampires. There was no army, not that I had expected there to be - that wasn't how Felix worked. He didn't need an army, he'd brought two hostages. Two humans knelt on the ground in front of each of Felix's lackeys, poised to die.

Felix's lips stretched into something that approximated a smile but his little ruse was transparent. I could see the hate simmering in his eyes.

"This little game of ours has been fun but a score still stands to be settled and its resolution, I do believe, is long overdue. There is no place left for you to run, child. Are you finally ready to face judgment for your crimes, Martina?" He said. A smile spread across my face to match his.

"Are you?" I challenged, leaving all human emotion out of my voice. I had been so afraid of him before, but that fear was in the past. I had come to witness true power, I had seen it up close and Felix Ashton Monroe was nothing in comparison. I wasn't afraid of him anymore.

"I suppose you'll just have to find that out," He said. "Now, I've just had a rather unsavory chat with one Samuel Winchester. Barbarians those boys are - him and his brother. I do so hope you'll remember the manners I taught you and come along like a civilized being."

"Ready when you are," Isaac reported. His Darth Vader figure was tucked safely in my boot and I counted the fact that Felix didn't know about him as one of the few advantages I had. Both Isaac and I knew that in order to keep that advantage my brother would have to suffer through being dragged behind a car via his attachment to the figure to prevent Felix from noticing his presence. We had decided a long time ago that I wouldn't face Felix alone. Isaac had protested against us facing him at all.

It was ironic, really. He was the ghost, yet out of the two of us, I was the vengeful one. See, Isaac had never sought revenge against Felix. The only person Isaac wanted vengeance against was himself. He sought punishment for his failure to keep me safe, to keep any of us safe. I suppose he got his wish. Ever since that night, Isaac remained trapped on earth with what was less of a mission and more of a duty. To keep me alive. If one looked at it properly, that was another advantage. Isaac had been formidable when he was alive, but as a vengeful spirit and with a threat on my life to power him up, Isaac was alarmingly deadly.

I didn't need to send him a discreet nod to acknowledge his words. The two of us had been preparing for this moment for five years. We knew our roles. We knew what we had to do.

"Marty isn't going anywhere with you," Jack cut in, his voice firm.

"You're Jack Kline I presume," Felix said in his usual drawling tone. His voice too reminded me of tar with the way it oozed lazily around his words. Everything about him was so clean and sharp yet somehow it was all horrifically revolting.

"I am, yes." Jack nodded. He was trying to sound confident and authoritative, mimicking Sam or Dean or Castiel. But he wasn't like them, it wasn't in his nature. Jack was too soft. Felix regarded him with a smirk, studying the boy in a calculating manner as if Jack were merely a rare antiquity he was appraising in an effort to determine its value.

"The boy born to rule..." He hummed, drawing out the words almost reverently. "Yer smaller than the rumors describe ye to be."

"So are you," Jack replied, standing up straighter and lifting his chin confidently.

"Oh, I'm afraid not." That slime ball cracked a smile. "I'm much too careful to allow for rumors of my physical appearance to drift beyond my reach."

"Really?" Jack challenged. "Because it seems like Martina found us. She told us everything about you."

Felix just laughed like he was talking to something as insignificant as a flea.

"Do ye never listen, young one? I said I don't allow rumors to drift beyond my reach. Seeing as Martina is standing directly ahead of me, I'd say she is well within my grasp. That which is mine does not escape me, laddie. She knows that better than anyone," Felix said.

"If you're so careful, then why come here yourself?" Jack asked, struggling to remain impassive. He didn't really have a poker face.

"Why, because unlike an amateur I actually quite enjoy getting my hands dirty every now and again. Especially with a vendetta this personal. Isn't that right, Martina?" Felix taunted. "Will you be coming willingly or not?"

"I said you can't have her," The half-angel forcefully growled. Jack pushed me behind him, shielding me from my creator's gaze.

"Is that so? I was unaware you had a choice in the matter," Felix accosted, seemingly amused. "Were your circumstances not clearly implicit in the situation? No? Very well! If you insist against using so much as a modicum of intelligence, I suppose I'll have to explain this situation to you. See, these dirty, pathetic excuses for intelligent life forms you see trembling before you are called humans, dear boy. I hear you're quite fond of them, and today they are playing the role which we in the criminal world usually refer to as the hostage. Now, their miserable little lives are in your hands, Jack. I am a man of my word thus I will gladly release them, alive and well, upon the prompt return of my property. However, I will not hesitate to rip them both to shreds right in front of you if I don't get my way. Do you understand that , boy?"

Jack didn't respond. He appeared torn between protecting me and saving the lives of the hostages.

"Good," Felix droned, "Now, are you ready to leave, Martina dear?"

" You don't get to speak to her ," Jack snarled. His teeth snapped together with an audible click as he threw his arm out in front of me, not quite ready to give up. Felix rolled his eyes.

"Must we really do this the hard way?" He asked, boredom evident in his tone.

"Yes."

Felix tilted his head and his gaze flicked to me. I could see a hint of amusement in his expression.

"Tell me, lassie. Have you kissed him yet?" He chuckled. Then, abruptly, his expression darkened. "Or is he just that stupid? "

"Who says I did anything?" I replied evenly. Felix huffed, rolling his eyes.

"So you have?" He turned his attention to Jack who just seemed confused. "Did you enjoy it, me boy? If you'll recall, I did wish you a very exciting first, did I not?"

"Marty, what's he talking about?" Jack asked, doubt wavering in his voice. I didn't answer him. Felix was taking a chisel to the wall I'd built in that boy's head. Not causing enough damage to send it crumbling, but planting enough doubt for it to hurt even worse when it did.

"Ah, my devious little Martina," Felix sighed, shaking his head dramatically. "You're as predictable as you are appallingly cruel."

"Guess I learned from the best," I hissed, glaring at him.

"Does that mean you'll be sensible?" He asked, raising a brow.

"You're not taking her!" My angel boy yelled. "She's mine. " A shock ran through my bones as Jack's powers ignited and his metaphysical wings spread out in front of me in a terrifying reminder of what he truly was.

Felix didn't flinch. Instead, he chuckled.

"That's cute," He said, gesturing to Jack's massive wings. Then, he straightened the cuffs of his suit and sighed. From out of his pocket he retrieved a box of matches, pulling one out and striking it. He tossed the match lazily in front of him, the reflection of its tiny flame dancing in his eyes.

The match hit the sand and flickering orange flames erupted from where it landed. The fire spread outward in a ring that encompassed the entire lighthouse, trapping me, Jack, and Isaac inside.

Jack hissed through his teeth as he watched the flames die down. They were low enough to pass easily through, so how were they supposed to contain us?

"In case ye can't tell, that there is holy fire," Felix informed, tucking the matches back in his pocket. "Any angel who finds themselves encircled by holy fire is rendered powerless, and if one tries to step through those flames, one will be instantly vaporized." He looked up again, unimpressed. "Don't get smart with me, boy . I am thousands of years your senior. I'll do with that disgusting whore whatever I damn please."

"No, you won't !"Jack yelled. His wings flared out and a blazing golden light poured from him like molten metal. The air buzzed with a divine power that burned my skin from standing so close. He was like sunlight, and it burned. I cowered away but watched in awe as Jack's veins lit beneath his skin as if gold were pumping through them instead of blood. Because that's what Jack Kline was. He was power. With a sudden ferocity, the flames leaped up, roaring around his body in an effort to keep him trapped inside. But Jack did the impossible and stepped beyond the ring with a cry of effort.

Felix did not cower away as his underlings did; he merely tilted his head with slight interest.

"How intriguing," He mused, folding his hands in front of him. "Tell me, lad. How did you manage that?"

Jack glared at Felix, his chest heaving, for I could tell that act had caused him pain.

"I'm not an angel."

Jack raised his hand, poised to snap the monsters all into dust.

"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Felix half-heartedly warned.

"Why not?" The Nephilim ground out.

The vampire smiled coolly. "Because these fine specimens here are not my only hostages." Of course, he had more. He was always prepared.

"Where are the others?" Jack demanded, eyes flaring.

"They're safe and sound, I assure ye. Unless, of course, you try to do somethin' stupid, such as kill me. If that's the case, and I do hope it's not, then my people have orders to do some rather unsavory things to a room full of children." Felix raised a brow, daring Jack to make a move against him.

"I can save them," Jack said, confident.

"Please! Ye don't even know where they are!" He scoffed. "Do what ye must, Jack Kline. But I really do fear for the children." Jack gritted his teeth but said nothing. He knew he was beaten. "That's better." Felix turned his attention to me. "Give up this pitiful act of yours, Martina. Come on out. You know this is checkmate."

I stepped away from Jack and stood tall, allowing the thing that had made me to see the steel in my eyes. I passed Jack and planted myself in front of Felix.

"This isn't checkmate, Monroe. This is merely check. I'll be damned before I walk into something with no way out, you know that better than anyone." My voice was calm and cool and I let it chill him. It was my real voice, not that other one I always used to put people at ease. My real voice was the one that makes people do what I want.

The corner of Felix's mouth twitched up. "Oh, yes. I know." He leaned down, his face merely an inch away from mine. "I'm looking forward to it."

"So, where's the car?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Right this way, m'dear." He gestured towards the dirt road a ways away and started toward it. I began to follow but Jack's voice made me stop.

"You're a monster," He spat, shaking with rage. His pained expression had morphed into one of hatred and his glowing golden eyes fixed on Felix.

Felix twisted around, mildly amused more than anything.

"Empathy, humanity, and morality make you weak, boy. Alas, weakness is a bitch , isn't it?" He smirked, basking in the pain he caused.

"I SWEAR I WILL KILL YOU!" Jack screamed. His power flared with his anger but there was nothing he could do. The absolute helplessness and hopelessness of his situation finally dawned on him. He never could stand feeling helpless.

"Hold on, I'm confused. Is that not what you do ?" Felix jeered, lifting a brow. Jack froze, his eyes going wide and puppy-like as the vampire's words hit him in the heart. His rage and power dimmed.

"W-What?" Poor thing. His voice sounded so small. He had never been made for this.

"You're the Winchester's attack dog, are ye' not?" Felix clarified. "Playing judge, jury, and executioner for anything you deem a monster."

"You are a monster," Jack scowled, clenching his fists.

"Oh, I know that!" Felix laughed. "But I like to think I've done quite a bit to earn me that title. There are, however, six quite innocent and quite human patients in critical condition at a Manhattan hospital. Six patients, who you put there. Those weren't monsters now, were they?"

Jack's face paled. Sam and Dean had said everyone was fine. Sam and Dean had lied. "H-How did- How did you-"

"That was some stunt you pulled in Times Square, boy," He mused. "Did you really think I wouldn't know about it?"

"Th-that w-was... I-it wasn't... I didn't mean to I-" Jack shook his head in denial. "It was an accident!"

"Why, of course it was!" Felix laughed. "You've not a malicious heart nor the disposition to take an innocent life. Dear boy, you are but a loaded gun for the Winchesters aim at anything they don't like."

Jack shook his head. "T-that's not true! I kill things that are evil because they hurt people." His words sounded hollow like they were something practiced. Like something that had been pounded into him.

"Do ye now? Because as I recall, you killed your own mother and ye' don't even know why. Sad, that." Felix smiled. "You kill because you were bred to; it's your purpose. It's almost cute, the son of the devil thinking he's a hero."

"I am ! I'm a hunter!" Jack insisted.

"You are not a hero," Felix sneered, shaking his head. "You are a murderer, Jack Kline. What else could ya be?" The Scottish man turned on his heel, not caring much to hear what the Nephilim had to say.

"Y-you're wrong. You're wrong about me!" That was all Jack could force out. He tried so hard to keep the tears at bay. I shook my head and turned away from him to follow my creator. "M-Marty?" Jack called out from behind me, his voice laced with desperation and confusion.

I stopped.

In that moment, I finally stripped away the final pieces of the human girl I'd made for him. The girl I'd designed for him to love. Jack would never see her again. That girl was gone now. And good riddance to her; I hoped she'd never come back.

Because she was weak.

And I was not.

Because she was human.

And I was a monster.

Because she was kind.

And I was cruel.

Because she was innocent.

And I was insane.

Because she was honest and grateful.

And I was a deceitful manipulator.

Because she was the blissful mirage.

And I was the horrid reality.

Because she was perfect.

And I never could be.

Because Jack Kline loved that sweet girl.

But that girl wasn't ME.

She never had been.

Of course, I still loved him which only made this harder. But I supposed that in a few hours that would be of no consequence. He wouldn't care. And that fact hurt like a needle to the heart, but pain only brings power to those with nothing left to lose. So, I threw my head back and I laughed as I embraced that pain, just as I did for every other cut and bruise I had ever received. That needle was one in a million and all that pain was what made me real. So, I sighed and turned back to where my angel boy stood, staring at me like some lost puppy.

"I'm sorry, Jack," I said sweetly, "Thanks for getting me this far, I don't think I could have done it without you. Unfortunately, this is something I have to do on my own. This is my last page and nobody can write it for me."

"You can't go," He said, shaking his head. There were tears in his eyes but none in mine. I smiled at him and that was the first he'd seen from me that was real, because, for the first time, Jack was talking to me.

"Why are you worried, Jack?" I was surprised at how smooth and pleasing my own voice sounded, now that I took notice. My real voice was why I was dangerous; when I used it I could make anyone do anything. But there was a reason I had been masking it for so long. It was what had gotten me into this in the first place. "I know you'll come to save me."

"What if I'm too late?" He asked, his voice breaking.

"Then I'll be there waiting for you," I answered.

"You'll die," Jack whispered. I laughed lightly, shaking my head.

"I'm not going to die today, Jack."

"You don't know that!"

"I've known for longer than you think," I said. I watched his teary, desperate expression and copied it to my memory as best as I could. It was the last time he'd look at me that way. At least for a while. "Just do me one last favor?"

"Anything," Jack promised.

"There's a girl you haven't met yet, try not to hate her when you do." I smiled and Jack nodded, trying his best to stay strong.

Then I left him there.

Alone in the sand, he watched a stranger he thought he loved going to what he thought was her death and vowed to save her from it.

Was it wrong for me to deceive him?

Did I care if it was?

***

Sam paced back and forth along the length of the lighthouse as he waited for Dean and Castiel to return. Every few minutes or so he would check his watch anxiously and run a hand through his hair, muttering something unintelligible under his breath before he resumed his pacing.

But Jack wasn't paying attention to that. He was busy staring at his hands. There were too many thoughts racing through his head for him to focus on any one of them. It had all happened so fast and there was nothing he could have done, but it didn't feel that way. Jack felt responsible. Martina was going to die because of him. It was his fault.

It was always his fault.

The door of the Lighthouse burst open, revealing Dean and Cas standing there in the driving rain that had come on before anyone had time to notice. Dean threw himself inside and Cas trailed after him, taking the time to close the lighthouse door while Dean shook the rain off like an oversized dog.

"What took you so long?" Sam was immediately questioning. "Where were you?"

"Gettin' information," Dean smirked. "It took a while, but one of the bloodsuckers squealed. What happened here, Jack?"

"I kissed Martina," Jack blurted out.

"What?" Sam, Dean, and Cas asked in unison, sharing the same disbelieving expression.

Jack hadn't meant to say it but it just sort of came out. It probably wasn't his fault, though. Jack simply couldn't stop thinking about every detail of his time with the girl in the lighthouse. He wanted to focus on what had happened after, but his brain simply wouldn't cooperate.

"I, um... I kissed Martina..." He repeated, somewhat nervously. "And I think I liked it..."

Had he liked it? Jack thought so; he was pretty sure. But something about it felt off.

Why had he kissed her in the first place? What had compelled him to do that? Jack didn't know.

His memories of the kiss were strange. He remembered clearly the emotions he'd felt, and the intensity of them. Yet, for some reason, Jack couldn't seem to recall where those feelings had come from. He had wanted to kiss Martina, but not like that... Or... maybe he had? It felt to Jack as if the decisions he'd made weren't his own. He couldn't even remember making any decisions, really. All he remembered was those feelings and acting on them. Something about that seemed off to him but Jack wasn't sure. He supposed it wasn't that out of the ordinary for him to behave impulsively. On the contrary, he tended to do that quite a lot. So, what was bothering him?

"Wait..." Dean paled, "You and Marty... You- You two didn't, like... do it in a lighthouse, right?"

Jack tilted his head, brows furrowing. "Do what?"

"C-Cas?" Dean's face whitened another shade as he turned to the seraph. "Please tell me your son didn't-" Castiel gave a long-suffering sigh.

"No, Dean. I really don't think they did anything," He said, rolling his eyes.

"Not everyone is like you," Sam added. Dean waved him off.

"Yeah, okay, but why am I the only one gettin' weirded out by this?" He exclaimed.

"Because we have bigger problems, Dean!" Sam pointed out, exasperated. Sam seemed anxious and Jack wondered what he wanted to tell them.

"Well, I think this is pretty big!" Dean insisted, turning to Jack. "Dude, what the hell?"

"I don't understand what you mean. Martina and I kissed." Jack said simply.

"Dean, seriously. I-" Sam tried. Dean held up a hand, sighing.

Dean sighed. "Jack... Y-You don't do that."

"Dean! Listen-"

"Not now, Sam!" Dean cut him off again.

"Why not? Jack asked, frowning.

"Look, ya just- Ya gotta wait a little while, man!" Dean said, running a hand over his face. "I mean, Marty's like, twelve!" He insisted. By then, Sam had decided he'd had it.

"No, Dean! She's really not!" The younger Winchester yelled, throwing his hands in the air.

"What?" Dean was shocked by his brother's sudden outburst. Sam took a deep breath to calm himself now that he had everyone's attention.

"Martina's not as young as we think she is. I-I think she's older, m-much older." Sam said, stress leaking into his tone.

"What are you saying, Sam?" Cas asked.

"I'm saying we've been played."

***

The car ride was smooth and it was the first time I'd been in a limo, so naturally, I took the comforts offered me. I stretched out across the seat, lounging as I stared out the tinted window. I didn't worry about Felix sitting directly across from me. I knew he didn't want to kill me. Not yet anyway.

"I'm curious, how did you manage to fool them?" He asked, watching me with a comfortable expression.

I shrugged. "Long story, lots of boring details."

"Indulge me," He insisted.

"Why should I?" I asked. He shrugged, mimicking me.

"I'm simply curious."

I hummed. "I bet you are."

He smirked. "Well, what can I say? It's just my nature." I nodded vaguely, continuing to stare out the window. We both knew how this would end. There was no real reason not to tell him.

"Sam Winchester and Dean Winchester and the angel Castiel..." I said their names thoughtfully, allowing the corner of my lips to twitch up into a sly smile. "They seem so simple at first glance. You have the poor unfortunate soul who lost so much yet kept his kindness, the perfect killer who spent his whole life at war, and the fallen angel who found a home. But if that was all there was then I never would have fooled them. However, for men who claim to be so faithless, there's so much they want to believe in."

"Whot do ye mean?" Felix asked, tilting his head. I smirked lazily. T

"I'll start with Sam. Sam is kind because he's damaged, but the last thing he is is a fool. When someone's good at unraveling lies, the last thing you do is give them a really big one to unravel. If you do that, then they'll cut right through and they'll figure you out easily. So, what do you do? You give them distractions. Hide puzzles within puzzles and Sam will stop to solve each one because he loves it. But how do you get him to ignore the big picture?" I stopped and grinned.

"It's easy really. All I had to do was appeal to his hate. Sam Winchester is so extraordinarily full of such raw and powerful hate, that if you simply aim it at a conceivable target, he can ignore anything else. And of course, with his hate blinding him to the truth, Sam can't figure out the lie. All one has to do to fool Sam is give him a puzzle to solve and something to hate.

"So, I made him hate you."

***

"How?" Castiel asked, tilting his head.

"It's Marty. We can't trust her," Sam said. Dean scoffed

"After all that lecturing earlier? Why the hell not?" He demanded. Sam took a nervous breath.

"Because she's been lying to us, Dean," He said. "I-I think she's been lying to us this whole time."

Dean's jaw clenched and he crossed his arms over his chest. "What are you talking about, Sam?" His voice was tight and guarded.

"I talked to Felix after I saved the little girl," Sam admitted.

"You just stood there and talked to that son of a bitch! He's a sick, messed up, psychopath! Sam, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Dean yelled. Sam held out his hands in a peacemaking gesture.

"I know w-what he is, Dean. A-and, believe me, I thought the same things you are now and I swear it was over the phone a-and all he did w-was tell me things. But-" Sam hissed through his teeth and tugged at his hair, seemingly at war with himself.

"But what, Sam?"

"I don't know. He- he just-"

"You don't know?!" Dean interrupted accusingly.

"H-He said things, alright! Felix told me things. Things about Marty. A-and they- they made - They just made so much sense! And I hate him just as much as you do and I don't wanna believe him but-" Sam's voice faltered and he shook his head seeming lost.

"What did he tell you?" Castiel pressed, gentle but still firm.

"He told me Martina killed his wife."

***

"Now, Dean? Dean's a little harder," I said as the driver made a sharp left-hand turn. "Dean's not just a hardened killer, though that's mostly what he wants people to see. He wants people to see the machine without a heart so no one will see how horrifically broken he really is." Thinking of what Dean was really like made me laugh and I flicked my gaze at Felix. "And believe me when I say that there's nothing that could fix him by now."

"But there's so much more to him than the killer and the brokenness. Dean's the righteous man who's never known a day away from war. There are so many things he wants so desperately. Dean dreams of walking peacefully along a beach yet he's never even been to one. For all he's never had Dean tries to give it to others. For all the blood and death he's seen he's remarkably full of love. Love is the key, really. Dean Winchester loves more powerfully than anyone I've ever met. If Dean loves someone he'll do anything for them.

"He sees my age and sees in me the child he never was. He sees me afraid and wants to provide me the protection no one gave him. He sees me flinch when someone yells and wants to offer me the security he never knew. He sees an orphan and wants to give me the parental love he never had. All one has to do to fool Dean Winchester is give him a child to love.

"So, I made him love me."

***

"And you believed him?" Dean scoffed. "Marty is a kid, Sam! She's a kid! Just a scared kid who needs our protection! Marty never could have done something like that."

"Why not?" Cas spoke up. All eyes snapped to the angel.

"BECAUSE SHE'S A KID!" Dean roared. Jack flinched away from him, he'd always hated when Dean yelled. It scared him. Though, this time Dean sounded less angry and more desperate. As if there was something he didn't want to believe. As if yelling the words would make them true.

"T-that's what I thought too. But what if we're wrong?" Sam asked.

"How could we be wrong?" Dean demanded.

"What if Marty's not a kid?" Sam carefully spoke, "What if she's not human?"

Dean shook his head. "No," He said, "No, you're wrong. I know what you're thinkin' and you're wrong." Jack shook his head too. There was no way... was there? Something itched at the back of his mind. He didn't know what it was. Did he want to?

"Dean, I know this is hard to accept, but we need to think this through," Sam said, holding his hands out beseechingly.

"We don't have time for that!" Jack spoke up. "Felix is going to kill Marty! We can't just let her die!"

Sam held up a hand. "He's not gonna kill her, not for a while. We have time."

"No, you don't get it! I promised I'd save her!" Jack said.

"Exactly!" Sam pointed out. "Jack, that's exactly what she wants! She's been planning this the whole time."

"What do you mean 'the whole time'?" Dean inquired, crossing his arms.

"Think back to the beginning, w-when we first met Marty," Sam said, walking them through it. "Why were we in Copper Harbor?"

"For a ghost hunt," Jack answered, impatience leaking through his tone.

"You're right, but there was another case there. What was it?"

"Blood was being stolen from the hospital..." Cas said slowly as if remembering.

"Exactly! Exactly." Sam took a breath. "Now, that ghost in the viral video, who was it? Was it whoever's bones we burned?"

"No, it was..." Jack made the connection. Why hadn't he noticed that before? "It was Isaac."

"Okay, so that means..." He trailed off.

"That Marty was lying about the hunt and the bones," Cas finished.

"Right, now why would she do that?"

"I dunno, professor. Maybe so we wouldn't torch her brother?" Dean rolled his eyes.

Sam pursed his lips, sighing. "Well, yes, b-but no! This isn't about Isaac, this is about Marty. What would she have been hiding?"

"The blood theft," Cas said decisively. Dean shook his head.

"That's a coincidence. Marty can't be - She can't-" He couldn't even say it. He could hardly think it. "Marty can't be a vampire."

***

"Castiel was harder," I continued. "Aside from the fact that he's a multi-billion-year-old cosmic being, Castiel also lacks a soul. That made tapping into his emotions significantly more difficult, but once I did that it was quite clear that I could never fool him. At least, not directly. He's intelligent, not easily deceived, and he always tries to do what he thinks is best. Whatever that course of action might be, more often than not, it hasn't been the right one.

"Castiel is, primarily, a screw-up. There's a lot of history and even more drama involving his fellow angels and the Winchesters, and he has consistently attempted to fight for both sides of the war between them. His torn loyalties have caused a great many more problems than they've fixed and it seems as though any attempt to fix one of said problems breeds yet more chaos. Castiel is rebellious. He can never seem to do what he's supposed to. So, naturally, that makes him the most dangerous piece on the board.

"When Castiel sets his mind on something, there isn't much that can sway him. His actions have proven, repeatedly I might add, that he is even willing to go behind the backs of the Winchesters if he believes it's for the greater good. But his destructive pattern stops only for the one person he's never betrayed. Thus, to fool Castiel one has to fool his son.

"So, I got my hands on Jack."

***

"Why not?" Cas snapped.

"'Cause she just can't!" Dean's voice broke.

"She single-handedly killed five vampires, Dean! Remember?" Cas pressed. "There's no way a mere child her age could have done that."

Jack shook his head, refusing to believe it. "Marty can't be a vampire. Dad, she just can't be."

Castiel sighed, his eyes soft. "I know you want to believe that."

"Why shouldn't we?" Dean challenged.

"Because she killed five vampires single handedly! What part of that escapes your understanding?!" Cas repeated with frustration.

"We don't know what happened in there!" Dean persisted.

"Exactly! WE DON'T KNOW!" Cas yelled.

"THEN WE CAN'T ACCUSE, CAN WE?" Dean shouted back. Jack flinched again and Cas took notice, forcibly relaxing his posture in hopes of reassuring his son.

Sam groaned. "Look at the facts, Dean. The research!"

"Damn the research, Sammy! This is Marty! We know her!"

"We know she's an empath!" Sam spat. "She's been playing with all our emotions, we know that! We need to look at this objectively and, as hard as that might be, it means looking at the facts!"

"What about the facts?" Dean asked reluctantly.

"Think about it," The younger brother said. "W-we did the research, remember? Remember how none of it lined up?"

"Yeah, because Felix messed with it!" Dean tried.

"Not all of it," Sam pointed out, "Marty said she was nine when she died, but her youngest brother was ten. Remember that? How could she have been younger than her youngest sibling?"

"Sam, that-"

"Because she wasn't, Dean," He hissed, "She wasn't nine. Marty was sixteen."

"I-I remember..." Dean froze, his eyes flicking up to meet his brother. "Sammy..." He said, his voice tense and shaking, "How did I forget that?"

Dread coated Castiel's tone as he answered instead.

"I think she wanted us to."

***

"Jack is a very special boy," I said, sarcasm lacing my tone. "Although, he is the offspring of a fallen archangel, so I'd assume that 'special' comes rather naturally. Thanks for that clue, by the way. It would have taken me much longer to figure him out if it wasn't for that itty bitty little detail."

"You would have gotten it regardless." Felix shrugged.

"Of course I would've!" I snorted, shaking my head. "I didn't think my abilities were of any question."

"They weren't," Felix replied. "I know what you're capable of, lassie."

I smirked devilishly. "You should." Felix's hand clenched into a fist and he sent me a tight smile.

"Indeed." He forced the word through his teeth. "Which is why I'm surprised you enlisted to lie to that boy so completely. Doesn't that violate whatever moral code of Donoghue's it is that you've adopted?" I nodded and shrugged with a sigh.

"You're right, it does. Jack is in many senses young and vulnerable and on top of that, he's dreadfully naïve. He could never deserve what I did to him." I huffed out a humorless laugh as my face twisted into a sneer. "But you do. So I made an exception."

Felix shook his head as if disappointed. "Now, now, Martina. When one has a goal, one does not make exceptions. Lest they desire to fail, of course. Only hypocrites make exceptions. Did I teach you nothing?"

"I'm not like you," I spat.

"Is that what it looks like from where you sit?" He mused quietly. I flashed him a barred toothed grin and continued.

"There's only one that Jack Kline truly wants in this world. He wants to be good - to prove to himself and those around him that despite his parentage, he can be good. He's been told that there's something wrong with him, so he wants to find a way to somehow purge it. But he can't because there's nothing wrong and there never was. Yet, he can't believe that. So it leaves him with an insatiable desire to please.

"It's pathetic, really. He seeks validation in everything. He thinks he has to be useful to be loved. Otherwise, he's just a burden, one that nobody wanted. Jack doesn't want to believe that; he wants to be told that isn't true. Jack Kline may be powerful but he's also soft - moldable if you will. See, he's so haplessly needy that it's honestly sickening. He'll do anything for you to tell him what he wants to hear. And he'll do anything to keep hearing it.

"Jack is a combination of his three guardians. He's desperate. Like Dean, he doesn't want to see what's right in front of him. But he's not stupid. I had to erase his memory more than once. Then, like Sam, I simply distracted him and, much like Castiel, I had to keep him in line by appealing to that insatiable need of his. To fool Jack Kline one has to give him someone to save.

"He thinks he's saving me." I smiled fondly when I'd finished, glancing up at Felix with a challenge in my gaze.

"Well, we both know that's impossible," He said, eyeing me with a smirk, "There's nothing left in that cold shell of yours worth saving." I grinned, showing him the insane thing he'd created.

"You're damn right."

***

Then, like a memory, there were words running through Jack's head. Words and voices, but he didn't remember hearing them.

'You said you were nine then! But y-you - you weren't!' That was his voice in his ears. But Jack couldn't remember saying those words. 'You haven't aged a day... Five years and you haven't aged a day.'

'I aged about a month, actually.'

The other voice was Marty. The words buzzed like static, making his headache. Jack shook his head. It was like Deja Vue but entirely more vivid. Sam, Dean, and Cas kept talking. It was hard to hear them through the ringing in his ears.

"Cas, are you saying she can wipe memories?" Dean asked.

"I'm not sure," Castiel replied, shaking his head. "But she can certainly suppress them."

"But it-it must only work when she's around b-because when she's gone - I know for me - When Marty's not around I-I start to remember," Sam said.

The ringing in Jack's ears intensified, making him groan and grasp at his head. He clamped his hands over his ears but the ringing only grew louder. It was like angel radio, but instead of being surrounded by fire, Jack felt like he was burning from the inside out.

"Jack?" Cas was calling his name. "What's going on?"

"I-I don't- I-" Jack gasped, the pain growing stronger. "It hurts! Dad, please make it stop!"

"Jack? JACK!"

He stumbled into Cas's arms as another blurred memory hit him like a train.

'I'm gonna need you to forget that,' Marty's voice whispered in his head. She sounded so gentle, so inviting. She sounded like a spider.

'I wish I could,' His own voice shook as Jack listened to himself say words he couldn't remember speaking. It felt like a memory that didn't belong to him.

There was more to it this time. There was a picture frame, but the picture inside was out of focus. There was an image. It was Martina. She had fangs. And there was something else too. Jack could feel it like a phantom pain. It was terror. The paralyzing kind. The feeling of being trapped. Jack felt the shadow of limbs and he couldn't move. He was trapped. Jack couldn't get out. He was trapped like a fly in a web. Marty was the spider. He couldn't get away. He couldn't get away from her.

She wouldn't let him.

'I can make you forget,' She was going to hurt him. ' Take us back to the night we met. '

'What do you mean?' His voice asked cautiously. He was scared. He was so scared. He couldn't get out.

'I'm going to talk to you, and then you're going to forget, and everything will be back to the way it was.'

'You're a monster.' He'd said

The ringing in Jack's ears faded and he bolted upright, gasping and shaking as panic set in. He needed to tell Sam, Dean, and Castiel what he'd remembered but he couldn't seem to find the words.

"S-She lied." That was all he could force out.

"Jack, what happened? Are you okay?" Castiel worried, checking over him. Jack just shook his head.

"She did something to me," He choked out, shaking. "I don't know. I can't remember. Why can't I remember? She did something to me!" He felt sick. There was something wrong with him.

No.

There was something wrong with Marty.

She was sick.

"What? What did she do?" Dean demanded, eyes wide.

"She-She made me forget. I knew. I-I knew and she made me forget!"

"Forget what?" Sam asked.

"I figured her out a-and she made me forget but I remembered." Jack stopped and only then did he realize he was crying. "She's one of them."

Because she had betrayed him. Marty had betrayed all of them. Jack didn't even know what to believe anymore. Had any of it been real? Or was it all some twisted lie?

"I'm sorry, Jack," Cas offered quietly.

"You were right, Sam," Jack whispered. He couldn't stop his voice from shattering. "Martina is a monster. A-And she lied."

There was silence for a moment. Then, Dean spoke up. Because someone had to take the lead and it was always him. It wasn't fair, but it was always him.

"We gotta go," He said, struggling to make his voice sound cold and firm. But he'd lost a daughter today.

"W-Where?" Sam asked.

"Me and Cas know where Felix is taking Marty. That kid's got some answering to do," Dean answered, his green eyes darkening with his tone. Castiel stood, helping Jack climb to his feet.

"Martina is dangerous, Dean. Are you sure you're willing to do what may be necessary?" Cas asked, watching Dean with a somber expression.

"It's not gonna come to that," Dean said.

"And if it does?"

"I will." Jack's voice was quiet but it caught the adult's attention.

"Jack, are you- Are you really sure?" Cas asked gently. Jack shook his head.

"I don't want to kill Martina. But you're right, she is dangerous." His voice faltered. "I can't let her hurt anybody else."

***

Felix's limo pulled into the garage of what was easily a multi-million dollar home. It was four stories and it reminded me of a castle with its dull grey stone and tall windows. The interior of the garage was constructed simply of polished cement and was entirely empty aside from the car now parked within it. I sent Felix a smirk and climbed from the vehicle, slamming the door shut behind me. The car was surrounded. Twenty or so of Felix's vamps stood guard but I knew they were more for display than anything else. Some of them I recognized, some I didn't.

"And here I thought this little girl's night was just gonna be you and me," I huffed dramatically upon seeing them, "You had me feeling all special."

"Sorry to disappoint, Lassie," Felix drawled. "But don't worry, I invited some of your friends too. Well, just one to be exact."

I shot him a curious glance but shrugged before sauntering my way past Felix's lackeys like I owned the place. I supposed I had, but that was so long ago. Were his minions really still so afraid of me? I surveyed one of the vamps as I passed him, taking notice of the bead of sweat dripping down his neck. He was clearly terrified.

So, they remembered who their queen was. Good.

Spinning on my toe like a ballerina, I let a bubbling laugh escape my throat. All of Felix's soldiers turned to face me, watching with careful eyes.

"Hello, Lovelies!" I called, grinning. A few of them shifted nervously. "Just thought you all should know, both your beloved Prince and Princess are dead! I killed them!" Murmurs spread around the empty garage, echoing off the polished grey walls. "That's right! Boyd's head I ripped off with a tractor, though I'm sure your leader was glad to finally be rid of his bastard son." I glanced at Felix who stood there stoically and winked. "I knew about that, by the way. As for Elwyn, I had the Devil's son snap her into dust like Peter Parker in Infinity War. 'Cept she ain't comin' back!" I giggled in reaction to the horrified expressions of Felix's soldiers and send the man himself a smirk before whipping around again.

"Ye know, Martina?" His voice made me pause though I kept my back to him. "I look at you and I don't see anyone looking back..." He trailed off, his tone thoughtful. "Where is that soul you used to have?"

"Just like I told your daughter, I lost it in the woods in favor of something else. You wanted me to learn something and I learned it!" I eyed him over my shoulder. "You never should have sent me there."

"I know that now." Felix sounded almost solemn. "Whatever Sampson brought back with him wasn't the girl I tossed in, was it?"

I shrugged. "That's where you're wrong. It's still me. Like I said, I just learned something over there is all."

"And what did you learn?" He wondered.

"That you were wrong."

"It doesn't seem I was," He said. I chuckled softly.

"You said I was made to be a queen. You were wrong."

"Aye?"

"I'm not a queen, Monroe." I turned to face him. "I'm a damn Empress." I grinned. "And, honey, you should see me in your crown."

I didn't bother to watch his expression. I just turned and walked.

Pushing my way through the garage door, I skipped down a long, dark hallway decorated with dark wooden pieces that I was sure had cost more money than they were worth. I smirked upon hearing Felix's footsteps trailing behind me. Whirling around and walking backward, I grinned at my former torturer.

"Got anything you didn't wanna say in front of your minions?" I taunted.

"I do, actually." He huffed a laugh that held no humor. "For the record, I'm sorry."

My expression soured. "No you're not."

"I am, truly." He placed his hand over his heart in a gesture of sincerity. "I apologize for my greed and my stupidity. I unleashed you upon this world; that will be my greatest regret, I think. I made you into a plague and I lost control over you."

"You never controlled me," I hissed.

"And I the second I realized that I should have put you down," Felix said. "I just hope the Winchester's don't make the same mistake."

I shook my head. "That's the think, Felix. They will."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not." He shrugged.

"I guess I'll find out, won't I? So! Where's this friend of mine?" I asked, rubbing my hands together.

"Two doors down on your right," Felix answered. I glanced at the door he was referring to then back to him.

"Ooh, goodie. Before I open it, why do I get a present?"

Felix shrugged. "Call it a joke."

I nodded. "Dope."

Then I skipped over to the dark wooden door and grasped the handle. It wasn't locked, of course, so I pulled it open. I didn't look for traps. I knew Felix would never stoop that low. The room was pitch black and there were no windows, but I found the light switch easily enough. Bright fluorescent bulbs flicked on and washed the space with light.

Sitting on a wooden chair in the middle of the room, was a rather muscular man. His arms and legs were tied to the chair and his head was tilted down. I may not have been able to see his face, but I would have recognized that old, grungy cap almost anywhere. I crossed the space between us and tapped him on the shoulder. The man inclined his head, squinting against the light, but when he caught a glance of my face, his usually bright eyes filled with terror.

I had forgotten how fun it was to instill that level of fear. I smirked.

"Hey there, Benny! I haven't seen you since the Hunger Games!"

~We'll never get free Lamb to the slaughter What you gon' do When there's blood in the water? The price of your greed Is your son and your daughter What you gon' do When there's blood in the water?

Beg me for mercy Admit you were toxic You poisoned me just for Another dollar in your pocket Now I am the violence I am the sickness Won't accept your silence Beg me for forgiveness~

Lyrics from: Blood In The Water by grandson

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tothelasthoursofmylife · 2 years

Text

6th (!) Anniversary

A Schultüte ("school cone"), also known as a Zuckertüte ("sugar cone") in some parts of Germany, is a large cone-shaped container made of paper, cardboard, or plastic.

When children in Germany and in parts of the Czech Republic close to the German border, in parts of Poland (Greater Poland, Upper Silesia, Warmia), in Austria and Belgium set off for their first day of school upon entering first grade, their parents and/or grandparents present them with this large cone, attractively decorated and filled with toys, chocolate, candies/sweets, school supplies, and various other special treats. The cone is given to children to make this anxiously awaited first day of school a little sweeter. (Wikipedia)

When I pondered over what I could do for Watchdog of the Queen's 6th anniversary, the thought could not leave my mind that the fanfic would reach "primary school age." I was six when I got into school (nowadays children get enrolled when they are four/five which I think is a little young but well); thus, for me "six-year-old = first-grader." I also loved the idea of a family (?) photo :) And because I couldn't do this in the actual setting, I'll give you this Modern AU (of an AU, double AU?).

Also, for me, the first day of school is also strongly associated with school cones - even if it is a very German tradition and not a British one! To make it make sense, let's say that Vincent's and Francis' school cones are gifts from a very doting uncle :)

I had the most fun drawing this and I hope you like it even if it's not much^^

Six years. I cannot believe that it has already been that long!

I started this fanfic as a grouchy 16-year-old eleventh-grader and now I'm a grouchy university student (please don't do the maths for my age *cries*).

I'm very grateful for those who have stuck around with me and this fanfic for all these years and for those who have found it later^^ It's such a niche story but it's such a cosy little niche. I never got any mean comments, just the loveliest words. What little engagement I get is the sweetest, and all your kindness really helped keeping WotQ alive for so long. I do very much enjoy writing it, but I'm not sure if I was still writing it would it not be for the knowledge that there are people out there who enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!^^

And you are also so very patient! I do my best to write as much and as fast as I can, but updates are still not regular or often. Especially last year when I only managed two chapters :( It was a chaotic year, and I'm glad I did (a bit) better this year. I hope next year will be even better (or just a bit better! let's move forward bit by bit).

Thank you a lot for all your lovely words and friendliness and patience!^^ I cannot thank you enough.

I've also never been that active in a fandom for such a long time before as well! Almost everyone I met/have something to do with in the Kuroshitsuji fandom are surprisingly nice and I made some good friends^^ No matter how things will be years and years from now, WotQ and the Kuro fandom will always be very special to me. But that thought is for the future :)

When I first started writing WotQ six years ago, I spent a few months planning it out, trying it out. Many of those initial plans have since been thrown out, replaced, reworked, but a lot stayed as well! And while the story took its "main course" in 2018 with one very major rework (but that does not mean everything beforehand has become "irrelevant" or "unimportant" with that!), there's still a lot I have and which I keep "open" whether to ultimately include or not. Watchdog of the Queen is an iceberg: There's a lot in the underground (little details, backgrounds, side stories, etc.), but you will only see what's floating above - though I'm not 100% set yet what it will contain. But the end? The end has never changed in the past six years. The epilogue has long been drafted and only needs to be fixed and polished when the time comes.

And I hope its time will eventually come. Fanfiction is so uncertain (and this story so long, omg), but I want to keep on going for as long as I can. I want to get as close to the end as I can - and try my best to reach it. Bit by bit. Let's see how long this will take :)

To more years and chapters!

- Momo

#my drawings #cloudia phantomhive #undertaker #francis midford #vincent phantomhive #under the cut is a uh fairly sappy rambly text #(and somewhat repetitive)#it's a mess but well^^'#there's a comb in Francis' cone #Vincent won't have the last laugh

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dahtwitchi · 3 years

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Hello there! I absolutely adore your art style, it's clear enough that even when scribbly you can tell who everyone is and simple enough that you probably don't need to spend hours doing a single pose. Any tips for how to speed up how long it takes to draw characters? Or just drawings tips in general? Thank you for your time and for getting me thoroughly on the MadaTobi bandwagon, I've been coloring some of your coloring pages for them and they're always adorable.

When it comes to speed, there is only one way. Do it over and over and over again. Get familiar with the character, draw them in different situations, different clothes, different moods. Sometimes to hit just the right expression, I have drawn (when it's eluding me the most) upward twenty versions of the same expression and then still picked attempt #2. I've drawn Tobirama and Madara well over a thousand times by now. Doodle doodle doodle away without intent to make grand images, sketches you can be ready pick out one or two and throw the rest away, because they were just training for your hand and brain for when you actually do make those drawings you want to be the more refined ones.

(unrefined babbling under cut)

When I make sketch studies I often do so with a timer, and, important to me personally, a pen that can't be erased. What ends up on the paper ends up on the paper (spending too much time with digital tend to slow me down overall, way too easy to stop to fiddle with everything and make it into a habit x'3 for example go in and change the angle of an arm individually for half an hour, instead of having to draw the image all over again). Trying to get sketches down under five minutes, three, single minute, is a horror, but oh so useful and can be a real fun challange. The feeling when you finally manage more than just a head and an arm during the time is such a reward! I spent six very stubborn months a couple years back making speed studies every day. I barely had energy for any other arting, but built skill in a way that make me grumpy about not having done it again, but it is so exhausting and a chore... :p (I mostly made not humans, though. I chose weird things, objects placed together that weren't usual, emptied a penbox on the table, and so on, no pre-concieved ideas how it should look when you have some potatoes on a glass jar.)

Things like inktober or huevember or dogaust are good, too. To within a contained timeframe sit down every day with a very focused theme or excersise make a good difference. If one has little time, just make sure to pick something small enough to focus on that you can do it as many days as possible. A five minute sketch every day for example. Or just doodling, but always with the same tool. Or, as you mentioned characters, make something with the same character over a month. Drawing patterns help the penmanship, drawing dogs or cats every day will make a difference over a month. Arting a big full drawing everyday because a few fulltime or very very experienced artists do, when oneself tend to take a week or at least a cuple days and rarely make one on top of another? That's setting oneself up for failure. Set yourself up for success, it's more fun and better for the mental health <3 All the small repeated things matter a lot in the long run for putting tools in your skill toolbox for when you want to level up :3

The only times I spend hours on a pose, is sometimes for the elaborate full colour drawings. But, with those, I'm usually refining a sketch by redrawing it with small iterations of changes many times over before having a basis I'm pleased with.

Complete rambles, hope some made sense, and it wasn't too tiring hearing the same old omg DO EEET AGAIN AND AGAIIIINNNNNN x'p

#how I art #how long ago was this ask I don't know?#the phone app is SUPER stingy telling me about the ask inbox #tumblr peak performance :thumbsup:#I forget to check few times I'm on a computer x'D #maybe I should make sketch studies for inktober this year #it's about time #it was ages since last I regularly kept that up and it's noticable x'p

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thewidowsghost · 3 years

Text

The Unknown Muggleborn - Chapter 10

3rd Person POV

Quirrell, however, must have been braver than Harry, Ron, and Hermione had thought. In the weeks that follow he did seem to be getting paler and thinner, but it didn't look as though he had cracked it.

Every time they pass the third-floor corridor, Harry and Ron would press their ears to the door to check that Fluffy is growling inside.

Whenever Harry passes Quirrell he gives him a small smile, and Ron started telling people off for his stutter.

Hermione and (Y/n) had more on their minds than the Sorcerer's Stone. Hermione had started drawing up study schedules and the two had been color-coding all their notes. Ron and Harry watch in amazement as (Y/n) launches into some complicated Potions thing at Hermione's request and the brunette begins jotting down notes.

Harry and wouldn't have minded, but Hermione kept nagging them to do the same.

"Hermione, the exams are ages away."

"Ten weeks," Hermione snaps.

"That's not ages," (Y/n) pipes up, "that's like a second to Nicholas Flamel."

"But we're not six hundred years old," Ron reminds her. "Anyway, what are you four studying for, you all ready know it all!"

"What are we studying for?" (Y/n) exclaims. "Are you crazy? You realize we need to pass these exams to get into our second year? They're very important, we should have started studying a month ago."

"I don't know what's gotten into me," Hermione chimes in.

Unfortunately, the teachers seem to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione and (Y/n). They pile so much homework on them that the Easter holidays weren't nearly as much fun as the Christmas ones. It is hard to relax with Hermione and (Y/n) next to you reciting the twelve uses of dragon's blood or practicing wand movements. Moaning and yawning, Harry and Ron spent most of their free time in the library with them, trying to get through all their extra work.

"I'll never remember this," Ron bursts out one afternoon, throwing down his quill and looking longingly out of the library windows. It is the first really fine day they'd had in months. The sky is a clear, forget-me-not blue, and there is a feeling in the air of summer coming.

Harry, who is looking up "Dittany" in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, didn't look up until he hears Ron says, "Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?"

Hagrid shuffles into view, hiding something behind his back. He looks very out of place in his moleskin overcoat.

"Jus' lookin'," he says, in a shifty voice that gets their interest at once. "An'what're you lot up ter?" He looks suddenly suspicious. "Yer not still lookin' fer Nicolas Flamel, are yeh?"

"Oh, we found out who he is ages ago," says Ron impressively. "And we know what that dog's guarding, it's a Sorcerer's St —"

"Shhhh!" Hagrid looks around quickly to see if anyone is listening."Don' go shoutin' about it, what's the matter with yeh?"

"There are a few things we wanted to ask you, as a matter of fact," says Harry, "about what's guarding the Stone, apart from Fluffy -"

"Don't rope me into this," (Y/n) says, not looking up from her potions notes.

"SHHH!" says Hagrid again. "Listen - come an' see me later, I'm not promisin' I'll tell yeh anythin', mind, but don' go rabbitin' about it in here, studens aren' s'pposed ter know. They'll think I've told yeh-"

"See you later, then," says Harry.

Hagrid shuffles off.

"What was he hiding behind his back?" says Hermione thoughtfully.

"Do you think it had anything to do with the Stone?" Harry wonders.

"I'm going to see what section he was in," says Ron, who'd had enough of working. He comes back a minute later with a pile of books in his arms and slams them down on the table. "Dragons!" he whispers. "Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons!Look at these: Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland; From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keeper's Guide."

"Hagrid's always wanted a dragon, he told me so the first time I ever met him."

"But it's against our laws," (Y/n) comments, still gazing down at her notes, Snape had told her that he was giving her a more advanced exam than everyone else's. "Dragon breeding was outlawed by the Warlocks' Convention of 1709."

"Everyone knows that," Ron agrees. "It's hard to stop Muggles from noticing us if we're keeping dragons in the back garden - anyway, you can't tame dragons, it's dangerous. You should see the burns Charlie's got of wild ones in Romania."

"But there aren't wild dragons in Britain?" asks Harry.

"Of course there are," says Ron. "Common Welsh Green and Hebridean Blacks. The Ministry of Magic has a job hushing them up, I can tell you. Our kind have to keep putting spells on Muggles have spotted them, to make them forget."

"So what on earth is Hagrid up to?" wonders Hermione wonders aloud.

. . .

When they knock on the gamekeeper's hut an hour later, they are surprised to see that ll the curtains are closed. Hagrid calls, "Who is it?" before he had let them in, and then shuts the door quickly behind them.

It is stifling hot inside, and (Y/n) rolls up the sleeves of her shirt and Fang jumps into her lap.

"So - yeh wanted to ask me something?"

"Yes," says Harry, seeing no point in beating around the bush. "We were -"

"Not me, just to be clear," (Y/n) interjects and Hagrid glances gratefully at her.

"Wondering," Harry continues, "if you could tell us what's guarding eh Sorcerer's Stone apart from Fluffy."

Hagrid frowns at him. "O' course I can't," he says. "Number one, I don' know meself. Number two, yeh know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if I could. That Stone's here fer a good reason. It was almost stolen outta Gringotts — Is'ppose yeh've worked that out an' all? Beats me how yeh even know abou' Fluffy."

"Oh, come on, Hagrid, you might want to tell us," Hermione begins."But you do know, you know everything that goes on around here," she finishes in a warm, flattering voice. Hagrid's beard twitches and they can tell he is smiling."We only wondered who had done the guarding, really," Hermione continues. "We wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you."

Hagrid's chest swells at the last words and Harry and Ron beam at Hermione, (Y/n) scratching Fang behind the ears.

"Well, I don' s'pose it could hurt ter tell yeh that . . . let's see . . . he borrowed Fluffy from me . . . then some o' the teachers did enchantments . . .Professor Sprout — Professor Flitwick — Professor McGonagall —" he ticks them off on his fingers, "Professor Quirrell — an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course. Hang on, I've forgotten someone. Oh yeah, Professor Snape."

"Snape?" Harry asks.

"Yeah — yer not still on abou' that, are yeh? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not about ter steal it."

Harry knows Ron and Hermione are thinking the same as he is. If Snape had been in on protecting the Stone, it must have been easy to find out how the other teachers had guarded it. He probably knew everything — except, it seemed, Quirrell's spell and how to get past Fluffy.

"You're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy, aren't you, Hagrid?" asks Harry anxiously. "And you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Not even one of the teachers?"

"Not a soul knows except me an' Dumbledore," says Hagrid proudly.

"Well, that's something," Harry mutters to the others, (Y/n) rolling her eyes. "Hagrid, can we have a window open? I'm boiling."

"Can't, Harry, sorry," says Hagrid. (Y/n) notices him glance at the fire, and she looks at it, too.

"Hagrid — what's that?" But she already knows what is. In the very heart of the fire, underneath the kettle, is a huge, black egg. She nudges Fang off her and crouches in front of the fire.

"Ah," says Hagrid, fiddling nervously with his beard, "That's — er . . ."

"Where did you get it, Hagrid?" (Y/n) asks, studying the black egg.

"It must've cost you a fortune," Ron pipes up, crouching beside (Y/n).

"Won it," answers Hagrid. "Las' night. I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest."

"But what are you going to do with it when it's hatched?" wonders Hermione.

"Well, I've bin doin' some readin'," says Hagrid, pulling a large book from under his pillow. "Got this outta the library — Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit — it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here. Keep the eggi n the fire, 'cause their mothers breathe on 'em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An' see here — how ter recognize diff'rent eggs — what I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them."

Hagrid looks very pleased with himself, but Hermione doesn't look pleased at all. "Hagrid," she exclaims, "you live in a wooden house!" But Hagrid isn't listening. He is humming merrily as he stokes the fire.

. . .

So now they have something else to worry about: what might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he's hiding an illegal dragon in his hut.

"Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life," Ron sighs, as evening after evening they struggle through all the extra homework they were getting. Hermione had started making study schedules for Harry and Ron, too. And it was driving them nuts.

Then, one breakfast time, Hedwig brings Harry a note from Hagrid. He had written only two words: It's hatching.

Ron wanted to skip Herbology and go straight down to the hut, but Hermione wouldn't hear of it.

"Hermione, how many times in our lives are we going to see a dragon hatching?" Ron asks.

"We've got lessons, we'll get into trouble, and that's nothing to what Hagrid's going to be in when someone finds out what he's doing -"

"Shut up!" Harry whispers.

Malfoy was only a few feet away and he had stopped dead to listen. (Y/n) turns to give him a glare and the blond scampers off, reminding (Y/n) of a little ferret.

Ron and Hermione argue all the way to Herbology and in the end, she agrees to run down Hagrid's with the other five during morning break. When the bell sounds from the castle at the end of their lesson, the three of them drop their trowels at once and hurry through the grounds to the edge of the forest. Hagrid greet them, looking flushed and excited.

"It's nearly out," Hagrid ushers them inside.

The egg is lying on the table. There are deep cracks in it. Something is moving inside; a funny clicking noise was coming from it.

The five draw their chairs up to the table and watch with bated breath.

All at once there is a scraping noise and the egg splits open. The baby dragon flops onto the table. It isn't exactly pretty, Harry thinks. It's spiny wings are huge compared to it's skinny jet body, it has a long snout with wide nostrils, the stubs of horns and bulging, orange eyes.

It sneezes, a couple of sparks flying out of it's snout.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid murmurs. He reaches out a hand to stroke the dragon's head. It snaps at his fingers, showing pointed fangs. "Bless him, look, he knows his mummy!" exclaims Hagrid.

"Hagrid," says Hermione, "how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow, exactly?"

Hagrid is about to answer when the color suddenly drained from his face - he leaps to his feet and runs to the window.

"What's the matter?" (Y/n) asks.

"Someone was lookin' through the gap in the curtains - it's a kid - he's runnin' back up ter the school."

(Y/n) bolts to the door and looks out. Even at a distance there is no mistaking him.

Malfoy had seen the dragon.

. . .

Something about the smile lurking on Malfoy's face during the last week made Harry, Ron, Hermione and (Y/n) very nervous. They spend most of their free time in Hagrid's darkened hut, trying to reason with him.

"Just let him go," Harry urges.

"I can't he'll die," Hagrid says. "He's too little."

They look at the dragon. It had grown three times in length in just a week, smoke furling out of its nostrils. Hagrid hadn't been doing his gamekeeping duties because the dragon was keeping him so busy. There are empty brandy bottles and chicken feathers all over the floor.

"I've decided to call him Norbert," says Hagrid, looking at the dragon with misty eyes. "He really knows me now, watch. Norbert! Norbert! Where's Mummy?"

"He's lost his marbles," Ron mutters in Harry's ear.

"Hagrid," says Hermione loudly, "give it two weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house. Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment."

Hagrid bites his lip. "I — I know I can't keep him forever, but I can't jus' dump him, I can't."

Harry suddenly turns to Ron."Charlie," he says.

"You're losing it, too," said Ron. "I'm Ron, remember?"

"No — Charlie — your brother, Charlie. In Romania. Studying dragons. We could send Norbert to him. Charlie can take care of him and then put him back in the wild!"

"Brilliant!" exclaims Ron. "How about it, Hagrid?"

And in the end, Hagrid agrees that they could send an owl to Charlie to ask him.

The following week drags by. Wednesday night found Hermione, Harry, and (Y/n) sitting alone in the common room, long after everyone else had gone to bed. The clock on the wall had just chimed midnight when the portrait hole burst open. Ron appears out of nowhere as he pulled off Harry's Invisibility Cloak. He had been down at Hagrid's hut, helping him feed Norbert, who was now eating dead rats by the crate.

"It bit me!" he says, showing them his hand, which was wrapped in a bloody handkerchief. "I'm not going to be able to hold a quill for a week. I tell you, that dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met, but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit. When it bit me he told me off for frightening it. And when I left, he was singing it a lullaby."

There is a tap on the dark window.

"It's Hedwig!" (Y/n) says, hurrying to let her in. "She'll have Charlie's answer!"

The six of them put their heads together to read the note.

Dear Ron,

How are you? Thanks for the letter — I'd be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy getting him here. I think the best thing will be to send him over with some friends of mine who are coming to visit me next week. Trouble is, they mustn't be seen carrying an illegal dragon.

Could you get the Ridgeback up the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him away while it's till dark.

Send me an answer as soon as possible.

Love, Charlie

They look at one another.

"We've got the Invisibility Cloak," says Harry. "It shouldn't be too difficult - I think the cloak's big enough to cover three of us and Norbert."

It was a mark of how bad the last week had been that the other five agree with him. Anything to get rid of Norbert - and Malfoy.

There was a hitch. By the next morning, Ron's bitten hand had swollen to twice its usual size. He didn't know whether it was safe to go to Madam Pomfrey - would she recognize a dragon bite? By the afternoon, though, he had no choice. The cut had turned a nasty shade of green. It looked as if Norbert's fangs were poisonous.

Harry, Hermione, and (Y/n) rush up to the hospital wing at the end of the day to find Ron in a terrible state in bed.

"It's not just my hand," he whispers, "although that feels like it's about to fall off. Malfoy told Madam Pomfrey he wanted to borrow one of my books so he could come and have a good laugh at me. He kept threatening to tell her what really bit me — I've told her it was a dog, but I don't think she believes me — I shouldn't have hit him at the Quidditch match, that's why he's doing this."

The other three try to calm Ron down.

"It'll all be over at midnight on Saturday," says Iliana gently, but this didn't soothe Ron at all. On the contrary, he sits bolt upright and broke into a sweat.

"Midnight on Saturday!" he says in a hoarse voice. "Oh no — oh no —I've just remembered — Charlie's letter was in that book Malfoy took, he's going to know we're getting rid of Norbert."

The others didn't get a chance to answer. Madam Pomfrey came over at that moment and made them leave, saying Ron needed sleep.

. . .

"It's too late to change the plan now," (Y/n) murmurs to the others. "We haven't got time to send Charlie another owl."

"This could be our only chance to get rid of Norbert," Harry adds. "We'll have to risk it, and we have got the Invisibility Cloak, Malfoy doesn't know about that."

They find Fang sitting outside with a bandaged tail when they go to tell Hagrid, who opens a window to talk to them.

(Y/n) crouches beside the large boarhound, scratching behind Fang's ears.

"I won't let you in," Hagrid puffs. "Norbert's at a tricky stage — nothin' I can't handle."

When they tell him about Charlie's letter, his eyes fill with tears, although that might have just been because Norbert had just bitten him on the leg.

"Aargh! It's all right, he only got my boot — jus' playin'— he's only a baby, after all."

The 'baby' bangs its tail on the wall, making the windows rattle. Harry, Hermione, and (Y/n) walk back to the castle, feeling as though Saturday couldn't come quickly enough.

. . .

They would have felt sorry for Hagrid when the time came to say good-bye to Norbert if they hadn't been so worried about what they had to do.

It was a very dark, cloudy night, and they were a bit late arriving at Hagrid's hut because they'd have to wait for Peeves to get out of their way in the entrance hall, where he'd been playing tennis against teh wall.

Hagrid had Norbert packed and ready in a large crate.

"He's got lots o' rats an' some brandy fer the journey," says Hagrid in a muffled voice. "An' I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely."

From inside the crate comes ripping noises that sound to (Y/n) as though the teddy is having his head torn off.

"Bye-bye, Norbert!" Hagrid sobs, as Harry, (Y/n), and Hermione cover the crate with the Invisibility Cloak and step underneath it themselves."Mummy will never forget you!"

How they managed to get the crate back up to the castle, they never knew.Midnight ticks nearer as they heave Norbert up the marble staircase in the entrance hall and along the dark corridors. Up another staircase, then another— even one of Harry's shortcuts didn't make the work much easier.

"Nearly there!" Harry pants as they reach the corridor beneath the tallest tower.

Then a sudden movement ahead of them makes them almost drop the crate. Forgetting that they were already invisible, they shrink into the shadows, staring at the dark outlines of two people grappling with each other, ten feet away.

A lamp flares.

Professor McGonagall, in a tartan bathrobe and a hair net, has Malfoy by the ear. "Detention!" she shouts. "And twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night, how dare you —"

"You don't understand, Professor. Harry Potter and (Y/n) (L/n) are coming — they've got a dragon!"

"What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on - I shall see Professor Snape about you, Malfoy!"

The steep spiral staircase up to the top of the tower seems the easiest thing in the world after that. Not until they'd stepped out into the cold night air, did they throw off the Cloak, glad to be able do breathe properly again. Hermione does a sort of jig.

"Malfoy's got detention! I could sing!"

"Don't," (Y/n) smiles warmly at her sister. "You know that's my thing."

Chuckling about Malfoy, they wait, Norbert thrashing about in his crate. About ten minutes later, four broomsticks come swooping down out of the darkness.

Charlie's friends were a cheery lot. They show Harry, Hermione, and (Y/n) the harness they'd rigged up, so they could suspend Norbert between them. They all help buckle Norbert safely into it and then Harry, (Y/n), and Hermione shake hands with the others and thank them very much.

At last, Norbert was going . . . going . . . gone.

Harry and Hermione slip back down the spiral staircase and (Y/n) grabs the Invisibility Cloak. She darts down the stairs when she hears a noise coming from the end of the hall and throws the Cloak over Harry and Hermione.

As the figure steps out, Filch's have looms suddenly out of the darkness. "Well, well, well," he leers at (Y/n). "You are in trouble, aren't you.

Harry and Hermione watch in shock and horror as Filch grabs (Y/n)'s upper arm and begins dragging her down the corridor.

Word Count: 3574 words

#hermione granger x sister reader

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settersprouts · 3 years

Text

꒦ ikanaide : chapter four ! ꒦

半神

. . : oikawa is the son of athena, while iwaizumi is the son of ares. both godly parents are known to be rivals, but what does that mean for their children ?

or, hq + percy jackson au, where oikawa is not the son of aphrodite for once, but people still think he is because he's pretty, and he's flattered and confused.

. . : okay hear me out, oikawa is known to be strategic and analytical, which is perfect for a descendant of athena. that is my reasoning for this alr dont attack me pls also, vv sorry this was late, i was feeling like shit all week and couldn't finish m sorry :((( hopefully you guys didn't wait too long :((

iwaizumi's about had enough of his bullshit.

his fists were shaking as he stood in front of his divine cabin, the front door ajar and an absolutely horrid smell wafting out from the cabin. he stepped closer to the cabin, stiffening even more as he pushed the door open the rest of the way. the whole place was absolutely trashed- both his and his other roommates' clothes mixed together in many piles on the floor. he could tell just from the strategically placed items all around the room that the place was definitely rigged with mediocre traps. nothing would kill him, but it would most likely maim him.

the demigod growled, stepping over the tripwires on the floor and grabbing his khopesh. it was charged with electricity, thanks to yū nishinoya from cabin one. in exchange for the many weapons the son of ares' crafted, the son of zeus would help charge a select few and give them back to him.

the added energy would definitely be helpful for when he beat the absolute shit of a certain demigod.

he was seething with bloodlust as he stepped out of his cabin, walking towards the beach, where he knew the person he was looking for would be.

and there he was. sitting in one of the little tide pools, talking with one of the sea nymphs. she was way too close to him, but oikawa didn't look like he minded in the slightest. or he didn't notice, one of the two.

she bent down to whisper in his ear, his pupils growing smaller in his brown eyes, and he let out a laugh. it was really melodic, which was common for a son of aphrodite. their beauty was immaculate, and they were practically irresistible to everyone, unless you had a decent sense of self control. iwaizumi knew that oikawa had the whole camp under his fingertips. except for him.

iwaizumi let out a groan, clenching his fists. fuck morales. he knew that his father and oikawa's mother were on really good terms, but he couldn't help but feel attracted to the absolute need to punch the brunette in the face. with a concrete slab. or choke him with aphrodite's famous scarf. one of the two.

he let out an animalistic growl, drawing the attention of oikawa and the unnamed sea nymph. oikawa blinked at him, unimpressed, while the nymph shrieked and dove back into the ocean with a splash. oikawa glanced at the bubbles where the nymph had disappeared, and let out an unamused sigh.

`oh, well, she was kind of boring anyways,` he said nonchalant, stepping out of the pool, buck-naked, without a care in the world. iwaizumi's eyes widened as he turned away almost immediately, his face flushing completely.

`what the hell do you think you're doing?` he seethed, his usual bark lacking no bite, since oikawa really couldn't see his facial expression.

the latter let out a chuckle. `calm down, you can turn around, now. i'm decent.`

forest-green eyes slowly darted back to the brunette's figure, pupils growing bigger in relief, as he realized that he really was decent. he was dressed in the atrociously bright orange camp half-blood shirt, and bleached denim jeans, rolled up to just above his ankles. his bead necklace was still wrapped around his neck snugly. it was extremely tighter than iwaizumi's, which hung down just over the scar on his left pec. he must've tightened it like a choker. it was kind of smart- usually, monsters with half a brain used those necklaces to pull demigods towards them if they couldn't grab their limbs. this tactic limited the amount of things they could grab on him.

iwaizumi would've never thought of that.

`so,` oikawa mused, folding his now damp towel. he must have used it to dry himself off while iwaizumi was looking away from him. `what do you need from me?`

the other demigod blinked, mouth forming an 'o' once he realized his reason for being there. he totally didn't forget that he wanted to sock oikawa in the face just because he saw him naked. `right. i have a bone to pick with you, oikawa.`

`oh? is that so?` the brunette smiled sweetly at him, his eyebrows furrowed in an act of confusion and innocence. disgusting.

iwaizumi stepped forward, whipping out the khopesh he had stuffed in his pocket. with a simple flick of his wrist, it extended. the contraption was thanks to someone in cabin number six, with the help of cabin nine- apparently, iwaizumi had saved someone dear to them, and he was given the khopesh as a thank you. however, the person never did reveal themself to iwaizumi. it was an athena cabin secret.

oikawa's brown eyes widened at the sight of the weapon, but that expression was quickly replaced with an amused sneer. `oh, what's this? you want to fight?`

`no, you're going to let me maim you in silence, i refuse to fight someone as weak as you.` iwaizumi retorted, fists clenching. the brunette gawked, his mouth agape in a silent shout.

`weak? excuse me? i'm far from weak. just because you come from cabin five, doesn't mean you're higher than everyone else.` he replied, sticking his nose high up in the air. `i'll have you know, i've won many tournaments against your cabin.`

iwaizumi rolled his eyes. `yeah, because you always cheat and sneak over to athena's group.`

`i don't cheat! and i don't have to sneak over to athena's group, i have a place there you know!` oikawa shrieked, whipping out a dagger and pointing it at iwaizumi threateningly. however, the latter remained unphased, which pissed the brunette off even more.

`yeah. sure, and what's that?` iwaizumi said, letting one of his eyebrows raise. if rules served him correctly, there was no teaming allowed in any game at camp half-blood, unless stated otherwise. however, he always saw oikawa with athena's group, but he let it slide, thinking the ares' cabin would win anyways. he was, unfortunately, very wrong.

oikawa blinked. `are you stupid? athena's my mother.`

`huh?` the son of ares' stepped back a bit, glaring at the other. `you- athena's son? but- you're-`

`pretty? yeah, i get that a lot.` oikawa sheathed his dagger, stretching out his muscles. `people mistake me for the son of aphrodite way too much. it's kind of annoying, actually. there's a lot more to me than my face,` he mused, glaring at iwaizumi. `looks like you're no different from the rest of them. shame. i actually took a liking to you.`

the other stood there, unmoving, confusion lining every forehead wrinkle. `what are you saying? there's no way-`

oikawa sighed. `i should've known you were going to be hard to convince. look, i'm the son of athena, and the current ruler of the cabin. if you don't believe me, ask my cabin mates. they'll tell you.`

`then who the hell's trashing my cabin?` iwaizumi seethed, still not convinced by oikawa's truths.

the latter let out a melodic laugh. `i thought that was obvious. i saw some of hermes' cabin sneak out to yours during lunch. makes sense, they're always trying to pull pranks on everyone and see their reactions. yours was most likely the best one of them all.` oikawa smiled, his eyes twinkling as he walked away. `well, while it was fun talking to you, i have to go. it's getting dark, and i'd rather not get caught being out past curfew.`

iwaizumi looked up to the sky to find out that he was, in fact, right. the sky was slowly darkening, the sun almost disappearing at the horizon. the green-eyed demigod let out a sigh, turning to glare at oikawa, to find out he was long gone.

`..damn it!`

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

`can you believe he's even athena's cabin ruler?` takahiro hanamaki muttered lowly to his fellow cabin mate, issei matsukawa, who also stood in front of a very emotional toorū oikawa. he had been ranting about how he was sick of everyone mistaking him for a son of aphrodite, and when his cabin mate shigeru yahaba said it could've been a compliment, the hysterics had gotten even worse.

fortunately, the 18-year-old had tired himself out, and was now resorting to laying on his bed and blinking the tears out of his eyes.

matsukawa sighed. `no. i can't. not when he's like this.`

`i can hear you, 'ya know.` oikawa muttered, tear-filled chocolate brown eyes turning to them accusingly. `you can't even act like you're tired of me, you just got here.`

`true,` hanamaki replied, kneeling down next to his dear friend. `but according to yahaba, you've been complaining about this for the past forty-five minutes. don't you think that's a tad bit excessive?`

oikawa sat up abruptly. `no! well- maybe. but it's so stupid!` he exclaimed, fists furrowing in his fluffy brown locks. `i don't act like aphrodite at all! i don't even look like her, but i'm pretty and that's the only reason people need to lump me in with that cabin. i actually liked iwa. of course, he's just like the rest.`

`oh.` matsukawa snapped his fingers, pointing at oikawa. `he's the guy who rescued kiyo and takeru, right?`

the brunette shuddered. `right. that memory just gives me chills.` he thought back to that day, where a gorgon had came across oikawa while he was taking his sister and nephew shopping. the gorgon smelled him, and realized he was a son of athena, and attacked the group, leaving oikawa bruised and bloodied while he took kiyo and takeru as prisoners. however, a group of demigods from camp half-blood on a quest sensed the violence occurring, and rushed to the scene as quick as possible. iwaizumi was amongst the group, but he had taken off after the gorgon, and didn't get a good look at oikawa's face.

when the group returned to camp, oikawa had made the khopesh iwaizumi had sported, and left it on his bed while he was out training with his cabin mates. he also left a thank-you note, but didn't sign it, hoping to leave his identity anonymous.

`yeah, why don't you just tell him that you're a relative to kiyo and takeru? the whole camp knows about that quest, so if iwaizumi knows your identity, everyone else will too. people won't mistake you for a descendant of aphrodite anymore,` hanamaki supplied, reaching into the tupperware of ambrosia oikawa was given (he had started a fight with kyōtani from ares' cabin to relieve his stress- both parties sporting the same amount of cuts and bruises) and popping a bit into his mouth.

oikawa shrugged, snatching back the tupperware before hanamaki could steal any more. if a demigod ate too much of the sweet, healing treat, they could get extremely sick. `yeah, maybe. but,` oikawa grinned, turning to his two friends that stood by his bedside, `beating him at capture-the-flag tomorrow sounds way more fun.`

the two boys sighed, smiling at the sight of their best friend with a much happier mood. capture-the-flag with demigods was always a very violent and extreme sport, but all cabins ended up having a lot of fun playing the game. and, no matter what side the athena cabin was on, they always ended up winning. no one could remember a time where they lost.

beating the ares' cabin was going to be a piece of cake for oikawa.

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

`you seem on edge, iwaizumi.` ushijima had muttered to the demigod, taking a seat beside the other. they were currently stationed in the middle of the forest, with the job of guarding the red flag. `do you want to talk about it?`

iwaizumi glanced at his companion. under the absolutely atrocious battle helmet was a look of concern and worry for his friend. the dark-haired demigod let out a sigh, nodding slightly. `yeah. i'm just.. shaken up, i guess.`

`how so?`

`well..` iwaizumi pondered, trying to figure out the best words and phrases to lay his point across. `i pissed off one of the sons' of aphrodite here, because apparently, he's the son of athena, and not aphrodite. like, what the fuck? the dude even acts like the deviled spawn of her, so i don't understand why he's so pressed.`

ushijima nodded, listening intently. `you mean toorū oikawa, right?`

iwaizumi gaped. `how the hell did you know that?`

`i made the same mistake you did, thinking he was a descendant of aphrodite.` ushijima mused, looking up to the sky. the clouds reflected in his olive-coloured eyes, but were less noticeable than the clouds reflecting in oikawa's eyes. `when he had first came to camp half-blood, he was called weak by one of our cabin-mates. he challenged him to a duel and won. i then told him he should have been a descendant of ares, not one of aphrodite. he would have a rightful place here, with us.`

`oh? what'd he say, then?`

the olive-haired demigod shuddered. `he slapped me. very hard. and then yelled at me, saying he was a son of athena, not aphrodite. he apparently doesn't like being addressed as a child of aphrodite.`

a sharp wolf-whistle came from the trees. ushijima and iwaizumi stood up, quickly switching to a fighting stance. iwaizumi clenched his khopesh as the figure who was listening to their whole conversation emerged from the trees.

and of course, it was fucking oikawa.

`y-you?` iwaizumi shouted, almost dropping his weapon. `how long were you there?`

the brunette stretched, calm despite the fact that a sword and a khopesh were both aiming at his chest. `i heard the whole conversation. i've been watching you two for quite some time, now.`

ushijima stepped forward as to greet oikawa, but faltered. his eyes widened, and he turned around. leaning on the flag they were supposed to protect was a silver-haired male holding a celestial-bronze axe. his honey-brown eyes met ushijima's olive-green ones, and a corrupt smile split his face. `finally. you noticed me. i was wondering how to get your attention.`

iwaizumi turned around to see the second attacker, letting out an almost animalistic growl. `it's a fucking ambush.`

`correct~` oikawa mused, taking out his dagger and smiling at the other. `however, suga-chan isn't allowed to touch you. i wanted to do all the dirty work myself.`

the silver-haired demigod nodded. `my only purpose here is to take the flag once oikawa defeats you. he requested to fight you both at the same time.`

oikawa nodded, flicking a little switch on his dagger iwaizumi hadn't noticed before. as soon as he did so, he dropped the dagger, and it extended into a much longer weapon. the other demigod scanned it, recognizing the weapon to be a scythe. 'suga-chan' smiled at the sight, meeting iwaizumi's questioning eyes. `you guys better be prepared. he hasn't lost a duel since he came here.`

the brunette nodded, pointing at ushijima with a smile before lunging at the demigod. before the latter could even react, oikawa had connected his foot with ushijima's abdomen, sending the demigod flying. he landed on his back with a gasp, having the air knocked out of him. iwaizumi's eyes widened- he hadn't even been able to react either. that was how fast oikawa was.

ushijima sat up quickly, blocking oikawa's attack with his sword. the other demigod smiled sweetly, twisting the scythe and yanking ushijima's sword out of his hand. it landed in the dirt a couple yards away.

iwaizumi growled, running at oikawa with his khopesh up high. the brunette turned around, unamused, sidestepping iwaizumi's attack and tapping at the end of his weapon. the khopesh hissed and groaned, a net pooling out from the back end, trapping iwaizumi in the knots. the demigod gasped, writhing around in the trap. `wh-what the hell?`

`you seem to be confused. could it be,` oikawa laughed, `that you didn't even know that was there?`

`s-shut up! how the hell did you know anyways?`

oikawa deadpanned. `i made the stupid thing. i think i would know every little thing there is to know about it.`

the dark-haired son of ares stared at his attacker, watching as he stalked over to suga and ripped the flag out of the ground. the brunette turned and smiled sweetly at his victims, waving. `well, see you.`

the two demigods sprinted off, laughing at the shouts coming from behind them.

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

`i can't believe him!` iwaizumi kicked the boulder, ignoring the pain from doing so. `he's so fucking insufferable! but i can't even do anything about it, because apparently he made this stupid weapon-` he waved the khopesh in the air, `-and i have to be grateful, but he's making it so goddamn hard!`

kyōtani glanced at the demigod, popping another piece of ambrosia in his mouth. he was still recovering from his fight with oikawa earlier. `you didn't know he made that for you? i thought it was obvious.`

the other glared at his cabin mate, confusion in his eyes. `what do you mean?`

`well,` kyōtani chewed the left over ambrosia in his mouth and swallowed, before continuing. `i'm pretty sure he has a crush on you, or something. he's been watching your duels ever since he came back with your group.`

`what group?`

`the quest you had a while ago.` kyōtani muttered under his breath, probably ridiculing iwaizumi. `you saved his sister and nephew from a gorgon. remember that?`

iwaizumi deadpanned, the memories all but flooding back to him now. `that was him?`

`that was him.`

`so he really is a son of athena?`

kyōtani nodded.

`..fuck, i'm an idiot.`

`i know.`

─── demigods.

#oikawa tooru #iwaizumi hajime #kyotani kentaro #yahaba shigeru #sugawara kōshi #sugawara koushi #ushijima wakatoshi #takeru oikawa #oikawa's sister #percy jackson au #demigods #gorgon

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