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blues824 · 9 months

Note

hi!! if your requests are still open, may i request the twst third years with a s/o based on la muerte from the book of life??

i absolutely adore your works btw!! ( ˘ ³˘)♥︎

La Muerte is so beautiful bro. Gender-neutral reader who is not Yuu and is a second-year in Heartslabyul. Xibalba is your friend and not your husband here.

Trey Clover

He is as sweet as sugar, and you are literally made of sugar. As an immortal deity, you are not used to such trivial things like baking for yourself. You typically used your magic to whip up some food quickly that would supply the entirety of the realm you ruled over: the Land of the Remembered. Yeah, you were kind of abducted by the carriage and taken here from your realm about two years ago. Luckily, you trusted Xibalba to rule over both realms, as he was your friend.

The way you dressed was definitely different than most of the Twisted Wonderland inhabitants. You had a red outfit infused with orange and yellow marigolds along with a fancy and big sombrero with tiny skulls dangling off of the brim. On top of the sombrero was a candle along with a few feathers, more marigolds, and more tiny skulls. You once whipped up a replica sombrero for Trey and he really liked it. You even did his face paint on both November 1st and November 2nd for Dia de Muertos, which was a rather intimate affair (I mean romantic, not where your filthy minds went to lol. Take that to my other blog).

You informed him that you would have to go visit your realm during the two days, and he placed a kiss on the back of your hand to bid you farewell. If you were being honest, you weren’t expecting such a gesture, and you pulled him in by the lapels of his dorm uniform jacket and placed a rather passionate kiss on his lips. He started reciprocating when someone walked in on you two, which was when you quickly pulled away and headed to your room to prepare for your departure.

When the whole ordeal with Azul took place and you heard that he was giving Yuu trouble, you were absolutely pissed off. You were baking something with Trey when the Prefect of Ramshackle as well as Jack Howl rushed over to you and pleaded with you for your help as the cecaelia tricked their friends and about the unfair deal proposed by the Housewarden of Octavinelle. Trey, having known you for two years as you were a year behind him, warned them to cover their ears.

In a flash of blinding light, the four of you all were teleported to the office as you shouted Azul’s name at the top of your lungs. Even with everyone’s ears covered, they felt as though their eardrums would burst. The unfortunate cecaelia felt a bit of blood trickle from his ear, but that was the least of his concerns at the moment. He had a borderline murderous deity in his office, after all. You demanded that the octopus break the contracts or you will make sure that he ends up in the Land of the Forgotten faster than he could say ‘deal’. Your baker boyfriend was definitely surprised and tried to calm you down, but you weren’t having it. You even slapped him for having the audacity to make a wager that you knew they wouldn’t have any chance of succeeding in.

It wasn’t until the eventual battle between Azul’s overblot and everyone else where Trey finally understood the extent of being a deity and how much it took out of you. You were not allowed to interfere with the affairs of mortals, so you had to stand by helplessly. The Vice Housewarden of Heartslabyul heard about your feelings when you came back to the dorm. You broke down in tears and he pulled you into his arms to comfort you.

Cater Diamond

It was pretty much love at first sight for him. When he saw you in the Mirror Chamber that day when you came to NRC and you got sorted into Heartslabyul, he was captivated. He wanted so very much to take over introducing the first years just to be able to see you, but he knew that someone else was in charge of it. However, when you were getting settled in your room, there was a knock on the door and Cater came in to check on you. That started a friendship that would last until it turned into a relationship.

His Magicam as well as his normal camera roll was filled with pictures of you, and you were beautiful in every single one of them. I don’t mean this in a creepy way; he had your consent. You’ve even made a matching sombrero for him and you both posed for a picture. He didn’t post it, but he made it his home screen. His lock screen was a picture that Ace took when you were doing his face paint to look like yours on November 1st.

When you told him that you would have to leave that night to make sure that the Land of the Remembered was alright, he was pleading with you not to leave and he followed you around like a sad puppy. Eventually, you got kind of fed up and just pulled him into a kiss on the lips, catching him by surprise. You pulled away with a giggle before leaving to go to your room, and you left a stunned Cater behind. It wasn’t until he met up with you in the Mirror Chamber where he returned your kiss with one of his own, giving you a surprise before you headed back to your realm.

The first time he saw your less-nicer side was when you were both doing your makeup in his room to get ready for a photo shoot in your second year and his third year. Yuu and Jack burst into the room, asking for your help because Azul cheated in his deals with the students who got his study guides. Oh, you were livid. You took a deep breath in anger and roared Azul’s name. There was a blindingly bright light, but then there was an unsettling silence.

Everyone now found themselves in the Housewarden of Octavinelle’s office within the Mostro Lounge, and you were yelling at him. You had a vice grip on his tie as you threatened him and demanded that he end the contracts lest you end his life much earlier than it was originally intended to. The poor social media influencer had no idea how to calm down his significant other, but he definitely started recording so that others could be aware what happens when you make a deal with the cecaelia. Suddenly, a loud smack resounded, and it knocked the octopus merman to the wall as you walked off.

Then there was the battle with the overblots that you had to sit through. With Riddle’s, with Leona’s, with Azul’s, with each of them, you couldn’t do anything. Cater asked why you couldn’t, and you had tears in your eyes as you explained that you couldn’t interfere with the affairs of man. The pain in your eyes as you feared for not only Yuu’s life but also the overblot victim’s was a pain that Cater never wanted to see in your eyes again. Once it was reported that everyone would be alright, he quickly wiped the tears that fell and assured you that everyone made it out alive.

Leona Kingscholar

He’s somehow a more tsundere version of Xibalba. When he first met you, he tried so hard to convince himself that you looked weird rather than gorgeous. However, it was all in vain because he felt surprisingly grumpy and jealous when you got sorted into Heartslabyul rather than Savanaclaw. It was a few moments later where you walked up to him and told him that you had gotten separated from the group and needed assistance. In reality, you knew where your group was, you just wanted to talk to the grumpy-looking lion. That started both a humorous and an infuriating relationship between the two of you.

In November of that year, you walked into his room as gracefully as you usually did with a trail of marigold petals behind you. Leona was, surprisingly, wide awake and he watched you walking to his side of the bed. When you sat down, you let out a sigh as you told him that you would have to depart at midnight to make sure that Día de Muertos ran smoothly in your realm. To say that he didn’t want you to leave would be an understatement, but he knew that you needed to leave. Now, this did not stop him from pulling you into his bed and using you as a pillow, savoring the time left before you had to go home for an entire two days.

The day you came back was the day to rejoice for many, especially if they were in the Spelldrive Club. During the entire time, Leona was grumpy and made everyone run more laps, making a few of the members throw up because of dehydration in the heat that Savanaclaw had to offer. You heard about this, and when you walked up to him, you leaned in close and pretended like you were going to give him a kiss, when you suddenly slapped him with some magnolia petals and walked off in anger.

He started off strong, not chasing after you and trying to convince himself that you were in the wrong… but he grew restless. From what he could see, you were living your best life at Heartslabyul and with the Ramshackle group, often acting as a parental figure. He eventually came crawling back (not literally, but he was close) and apologized with a bouquet of flowers and a fancy picnic in the Botanical Gardens. You, being a sucker for romantic gestures, found it in your heart to forgive him.

This peace was short lived, however, because you eventually found out about how Leona planned on sabotaging the Spelldrive tournament. You were fiddling with one of your marigold flowers that went behind your ear, chilling in your dorm room, when Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce told you everything that they discovered. They also told you the fact that Leona may or may not be overblotting at the moment. You were angry beyond belief. You roared your lover’s name as a bright light shined throughout because of your candle, and everyone was teleported to the colosseum.

Everyone was shocked at how angry you looked, including the overblotting victim. The slap you gave him drained him of all the ink, and made him fall. They all prayed to whatever higher being was up there that you had mercy on the man because from the looks on it, you would leave him within an inch of death. You did visit him in the infirmary, and you gave him the silent treatment which made him feel even shittier than he already felt. Eventually, he recovered a bit and promised that he wouldn’t try and cheat in the game ever again. You gave in, and you placed a kiss on his lips and stayed by his side until he was cleared to leave.

Vil Schoenheit

He was in his second year when he met you, and it was during the sorting event. Your makeup was so strange but so beautiful, as was your sombrero. You would think that the candle on top would go out, but no. Anyways, he couldn’t explain the sudden sadness that filled him when you were assigned to the Heartslabyul dorm, as he thought that you would definitely be in Pomefiore. It didn’t matter in the long run, because after about an hour, you walked up to him and asked if he could put you in the direction of your dormitory. He volunteered to walk you there, and you both learned a lot about each other.

The two of you can often be found in his room, and he would sometimes ask if you could do his makeup like yours. The first time he did it, it surprised you, but you gladly got everything ready. As you were doing his face paint, you told him the meaning behind the calaveras, and how they symbolize smiling at death and happiness and the sweetness of life, making him smile since you were made of sugar. Once you were finished, you used your magic to whip up a sombrero of his own, identical to yours but in purple, and you both posed for a picture taken by Rook Hunt. However, Vil still had a surprise up his sleeve; when the picture was done, he placed a kiss on your cheek before going to reapply his lipstick.

Unfortunately, this was all to lead up to you telling him that you would have to depart at midnight to celebrate Dia de Muertos with your realm, the Land of the Remembered, for two days. He knew the responsibility that resided on your shoulders, so he placed a kiss on the back of your hand to bid you farewell. However, that wasn’t enough for you, so you pulled him into a kiss on the lips. You apologized for ruining his lipstick before going through the mirror, but that kiss was unforgettable. He thought about it every second of every minute of every hour that passed by until you returned, where he was able to return it.

This sweet side of you did slip a few times, giving way to an angrier you, and Vil got to see it almost every single time. You were arranging a bunch of magnolia flowers into two vases, so you and Vil could each have one, when Yuu and Jack Howl burst into the room. The Housewarden of Pomefiore was annoyed, but you placed your hand on his shoulder to calm him down… only for you to grip it in anger once you heard what Azul Ashengrotto had done to Ace, Deuce, and Grim; basically your children. Vil shouted for them to cover their ears as you were trembling. Then, at the top of your lungs, you screamed Azul’s name in pure rage as there was a blind light emitting from the candle atop your sombrero and everyone was teleported to the cecaelia’s office.

They eventually all snapped back to reality because you were yelling at Azul. You were slapping him like Edna Mode slapped Elastigirl, and Vil had to pry you off. You were fighting against him, but you didn’t want to hurt him so you calmed down and just demanded that his victims be let out of their contracts. Unfortunately, the contracts are binding, so you couldn’t do much. You did, however, spread the news about his shady deals and everyone believed you because you were their parent away from their actual parents. It was honestly the worst curse or poison that Vil couldn’t compete with, and that’s what he really loved about you.

Let’s not forget about the multiple overblots that you just had to watch through because you were not allowed to interfere much with mortal dilemmas unless it was Dia de Muertos, in which you were given a bit of leeway. However, it just so happened that none of the overblots landed on either of those days, so as Vil overblotted and went on a rampage of rage, you could only watch on while Yuu and Grim fought each one. It was unfortunate that you were in a current bet with Xibalba and couldn’t take the Medal of Everlasting Life and give it to Yuu.

Rook Hunt

This man felt Cupid’s arrow pierce his heart in his second year at NRC once he saw you being sorted into your dormitory, and his heart broke and turned cold as a lifeless body once you were sorted into Heartslabyul instead of Pomefiore. However, you took him by surprise by coming up to him and asking for assistance to get to your group as you got separated. On the way, he was very bold and straightforward about how he was a connoisseur in all things beautiful, and you were absolutely pulchritudinous. To say the bombardment of compliments flustered you would be an understatement, but you loved it.

He loved having you pose for pictures, much like a very formal portrait. You had become his muse, and you didn’t mind it. Many people back in your land have images that they conjured of you, so it was really no different than normal. The marigolds worked well, and he would have someone on a ladder, delicately dropping petals so that it would make for a good photo effect. Then, you asked if you could do his makeup like yours and take pictures, and he felt another one of Cupid’s arrows pierce his heart.

November 1st came quicker than you wanted, and you had to depart after the Halloween celebrations to the Land of the Remembered to celebrate Dia de Muertos. By that point, you had grown very comfortable with physical affection between the two of you, so it did not come as a surprise that he pulled you into a kiss so deep that it was bordering on making out. You had to stop him before it progressed, but you knew that he would miss you, and you knew that you would miss him as well. However, you had a realm to get to in time for the festivities, and you made sure to take pictures of your time back home and post them on Magicam.

Your happy-go-lucky self was not around to stay for very long, though, because one day, as you were being bombarded with serenades and such by your lovely boyfriend here, Yuu and Jack suddenly burst in to plead with you for your help. Azul had used his cunning to persuade Ace, Deuce, Grim, and a bunch of other people into a shady contract that they had no chance of meeting, and this pissed you off to no end. Rook warned the two First Years to cover their ears as you took a deep breath, and then you screamed Azul’s name in anger. There was literal fire in your eyes, and it was burning as bright as the flame of the candle that was on top of your sombrero, which was burning at a blinding brightness.

All of a sudden, everyone found themselves in Azul’s office, your hand grasping his tie as you got in his face and started yelling at him. No one had ever seen the cecaelia so pale as he was trying to scramble away. His strength, however, could not even begin to compare to yours since your strength was boosted by your wrath. Jack, Yuu, and Rook all tried to pry you away, and it wasn’t until the last person where you let go of the scared-to-death Second Year. As you held your beloved hunter’s hand while he led you out, you turned to give Azul a death glare and called him a “misbegotten son of a leper’s donkey”.

Every time there was an overblot, Rook had to see how sad you were, and he hated it. You were helpless, as you couldn’t do much to interfere, especially after Leona’s overblot where you intervened. After each one preceding that incident, you gradually got more and more upset, and your lover was here to hold you as you wept. You believed that there was good in all mankind, but they were doing too much, which in turn put too much on your shoulders because you felt guilty. Rook would always be there for you, no matter what, because he loved you so much that he never wanted to see you sad.

Idia Shroud

He was there, physically, during your orientation, and he almost fainted when you stepped up to the mirror to be sorted. You were just so gorgeous, he didn’t feel like he could handle it. Then, you glance in his direction, as his fiery hair was very hard to miss. His hair went pink, and you smiled at him?! He could die a happy man at this point, but he had to focus on the new members of his own dorm, which you did not get sorted into. After the sorting, however, you surprised him by going up to him and asking for directions, and he just froze. You smiled again before grabbing your hand in his and asking if he was alright, and he fainted.

It was a rather rough journey, but you somehow both ended up together eventually. He does still get shy around you, but you make it known that it is quite alright for him to mess up in front of you because you didn’t mind. In fact, you loved his rather clumsy behavior, as you thought it was endearing. He finds comfort in you, as you do with him, especially since you were a deity and he was the Housewarden of Ignihyde. Once, you did his makeup to look like yours, and he was so flustered by the close proximity that his hair went red. But once you were done, you placed a kiss on his cheek which left a lipstick mark… and he fainted again.

Anyways, a few days later, you had come with the unfortunate news that you had to leave for the Land of the Remembered for two days. Idia did not want you to go, but he knew that you had a responsibility to celebrate with your people. He FaceTimed you (yes, FaceTimed; not just a voice call) and you showed him a few people you were celebrating with. Now, was he jealous of Xibalba being so close to you? Yes. Could he really do anything about it? No. That aside, he was counting down the hours until he would see you again, and when you returned he summoned the courage to greet you at the mirror, which surprised you. You placed a kiss on his lips, and a dopey smile stretched across his face as he followed you back to his dorm like a lovesick fool.

The happy moment wouldn’t last very long, as Yuu and Jack Howl both burst into Idia’s room to plead for your help. You stood up in surprise, tossing your sombrero onto your boyfriend to make sure that he was hidden from view and thus didn’t need to communicate. However, the surprises kept coming, as you were just informed that Azul dragged people into his shady dealings, and you started shaking in pure anger. It went silent until the entire earth started to rumble, and you screamed Azul’s name at the top of your lungs.

In a few seconds, they were all teleported to the cecaelia’s office. You got in his face and started screaming at him, and he and Idia both had the same fearful expression. However, the latter was glad that your wrath was not directed at him. He instead felt pity for his Board Game Club member, as there was no strategic move that he could have predicted. Emotion wasn’t foreseeable, and neither was the end of your one-sided screaming match. Then, a slap resounded throughout the room and even the Lounge, as everyone went silent. The hand print that was imprinted on Azul’s face was redder than a STOP sign, and you let out a frustrated groan before marching off.

When Idia overblotted, you had never felt a fear so harrowing. You had interfered twice before; with Riddle and Leona; but you couldn’t any longer. It was against the rules within the Book of Life. Sure, there were other overblots up until this point, but your beloved flame was being taken over by an energy-drinking ink. When you slapped Leona a few months prior, some ink resided on your hand, and you had to employ the professors’ help because sugar is very absorbent and the ink spread up your hand. Even if you could interfere with mortal affairs, you couldn’t interfere with the overblots (canon event??)

Malleus Draconia

He met you in his second year at NRC, and you were a first year. It was your orientation, and he caught your gaze, and there was a nearly instant connection. He felt hopeful when you were getting sorted, and made sure to keep his eye on you lest you slip into the crowd. Luckily, your sombrero (Malleus did not know what it was called at this point in time, but thought that it was a lovely and unique hat) gave you away and he went up to you and introduced himself as Malleus Draconia. You, being the deity of the Land of the Remembered, already knew who he was because there was a very long line of Draconias celebrating there right at this moment.

From that point on, you both completely fell in love with each other. One day, you both had extra time, and you knew that your departure was coming up in a few days, so you asked if you could do his face paint to spend some more time with him before breaking the news. He, not knowing anything, agreed and loved the close proximity that it brought between you. Your hands as you positioned his face felt soft and sweet against his skin, much like powdered sugar. As you were putting everything away, you let out a sad sigh before just ripping the bandaid off.

To say he was upset the first time would be an understatement, but your second year was a bit easier for him. Now, if any of the other guys were jealous of Xibalba, Malleus was on a whole other level. He saw a picture you had posted on Magicam (with the guidance of Lilia), and he was angry. When you got back, he was distant before asking who he was, and you realized that you had a jealous dragon on your hands. You laughed before placing a bunch of kisses on his face and assuring him that you held no romantic interest for your dear friend and that you much preferred him anyway. It made him feel a bit better, but you still owed him attention.

When he got to experience your anger was before Leona’s overblot. Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce each made the trek to Diasomnia just to ask for your assistance. In the relatively short time that the dragon prince had known you, he had never seen your hands start to shake, and suddenly the entire ground started to shake as well. Malleus reached out, but had to cover his ears as you screamed Leona’s name at the top of your lungs and the candle atop your sombrero burned to a blinding degree.

Everyone aside from the Crowned Prince of Briar Valley found themselves at the colosseum. He wasn’t too shocked that you were gone, as he knew about your abilities, but he quickly grabbed a mirror and used his magic to see what was going on. It was clear that you were angry, and the nice clean slap that you delivered even made Malleus flinch. He had no idea that his beloved was capable of such a thing, as you were always kind, polite, and loving to all of those around you. However, when he saw the ink drain from his rival’s body, he couldn’t help but try harder to remain on your good side so that you don’t slap him.

Unfortunately, there were many more overblots to come, and when you went back to the Land of the Remembered for the second time, Xibalba as well as the Candlemaker warned you that you could not interfere with them. You came back crying and running into your lover’s arms, explaining your situation through tears. He held you, knowing that you needed comforting, and he removed your sombrero to place gentle kisses on the crown of your head. If he was here, no one could hurt you. You felt safe in his embrace.

Lilia Vanrouge

When he saw you, he knew you were familiar. You were one of the gods above watching over the war he fought hard in, and you were the one who kept the bloodshed limited. You recognized him too once you met his gaze, and you were a bit surprised before you smiled and politely nodded your head. Then it was your turn to be sorted, and you ended up in Heartslabyul. It wasn’t the ideal dormitory, as Lilia did want to thank you for everything you did, but you were nowhere to be seen, despite your large hat. It wasn’t until classes started when he found you. A trail of magnolia petals trailed after you, and you went up to him directly to ask him where one of your classrooms was. He extended his arm out for you to take, and he led you to the door, at which you gave him a kiss on the cheek before entering.

Since then, you both have been together. You have taken over the role as co-parent of the Diasomnia dormitory, despite already being a parental figure in the Heartslabyul dormitory. You definitely can whip up better food than he could, and it was delicious. When you heard that your beloved was feeding these poor students something akin to garbage stew, you knew that you needed to interfere and you showed them the cuisine from back in your land. They all fell in love, and they never wanted you to leave.

However, life as a deity meant that you would have to leave back to your home every once in a while, specifically November 1st-2nd. As you were helping Lilia set up the Halloween decorations, you explained that you would be departing later that night so that you could arrive back home early. The former general understood, as you had done the same thing the year prior, but he wanted to see you off before you left. At the mirror, he placed a kiss on the back of your hand to say farewell. You just pulled him into a very passionate kiss in response, and he was not complaining in the very least.

During the entirety of your trip, Lilia kept himself updated by texting you and keeping up with your Magicam page. He wasn’t very jealous when he saw you posing with Xibalba, as he knows that you are very loyal, and he was glad you were having fun celebrating your holiday. You left behind a bunch of recipes that the other members of the dormitory tried recreating, but it just didn’t hit the same. They never wanted you to leave again once you came back, but the bat fae knew you would be going on the same trip next year as well as the one after that.

Let’s get to the topic of your anger. Lilia has faced a small ounce of it once, and it was when you found out that your poor ‘children’ were being fed garbage. You glared at him every single time he entered the kitchen. When Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce all came to report that Leona was sabotaging the Spelldrive games, Lilia heard it all. The candle that sat on the top of your sombrero burned brighter and brighter until everyone found themselves at the colosseum. Lilia was already there, but he knew that shit was about to go down. You were yelling and screaming at the overblot victim, until a slap was heard and all the ink was drained from the Housewarden of Savanaclaw’s body. Anyone present just sat in shock as you stomped off in anger, but your boyfriend chased after you to try and calm you down.

A few days later, you had received a letter from your friends back in the Realms of the Dead, and it said that you could no longer interfere with the overblots. You showed it to Lilia as you were in tears, and he was surprised. He knew how much it meant to you when you were able to help, especially when it came to the magicless Yuu. But the rules were clear, and he made a promise that he would help out with each overblot as much as he could on your behalf, and you pulled him into another kiss to express your gratitude.

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a-small-batch-of-dragons · 2 years

Text

The Power of Storytelling: A Role to Play

listen nonny i wanna put the full ask here but it's so long so i'm just gonna link it here

Read on Ao3 Masterlist

Warnings: near-death situations in a magic show (everyone is fine)

Pairings: anxceit, can be platonic or romantic you decide

Word Count: 2746

“For someone who insists he knows nothing of social customs,” Invoq remarks as he plucks a flower from the bush, “you certainly know how to make a man feel special.”

Tobias grins, letting the flush from his cheeks guide his hand to steer Invoq away as he reaches for another bush. “Best not get too close to those ones, the thorns can send you straight to old Agnes for a month.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’ve got a sellsword to protect me, isn’t it?”

“If only to make sure it’s your coffers that get depleted for your mistakes, not mine.”

Invoq turns to him, mouth open. “Are you insinuating that I’d make you pay for my treatment? Out of what, some horrible spite?”

“You wouldn’t, no, but Agnes would.” He rolls his eyes. “Something about her teaching me things to make sure I help people, not stand idly by while they screw their lives up.”

“I would set her to rights.”

Tobias scoffs. “You can try. I think everyone short of the King has tried to sway Agnes from a decision she’s made and not a one of them has succeeded.”

“I haven’t tried yet,” Invoq sniffs, “and I can be very persuasive.”

“Hmm, you’d be much less persuasive if you were lying convulsing on the ground.”

“Your lack of faith astounds me.”

“My common sense grounds me.”

“You should be a bard, that rhyme was a damn sight near better than the drivel most of them spout as they beat out their music.”

“I doubt very much there’s a merchant in the five neighboring counties that’d be willing to sell me an instrument.” Tobias holds up a hand. “I’m much more suited to swinging a sword than playing a tune.”

Invoq looks up from where he’s crouched next to the riverbank and takes Tobias’s hand in his gloved ones. “You have fine hands, Tobias, I’m sure the merchants would agree.”

He chuckles, shaking his head and sitting back to watch the water. “I’ll stick to what I can do for a living before I try and sprain my dignity doing something I can’t.”

“Come on, it’ll be fun!”

“For who, for you or for me?”

“Alright, I won’t deny that I would like to see it—“

“You just want to get back at me, admit it.”

“My dear fellow, that was ages ago—“

“Hardly.”

“—and I already told you, I’ve forgiven you entirely.” Invoq sits next to him. “I think you’d enjoy it.”

“My voice is fine for tavern singing, filling the silence, and when children need to sleep. I don’t need it to be anything but.”

Invoq perks up. “Does that mean I may hear you sing?”

“Are you a child, in need of sleep?”

“I could be.”

Tobias laughs. “You may be younger than me, but you’re not a child. Even if you pout like one.”

“I do not pout.”

“No? Then what do you call that?”

“A…polite expression of disagreement.”

“Really? Well, your ‘polite expression of disagreement’ is getting worse. Hey!” He barely catches himself as Invoq pushes him toward the river. “Don’t start a fight you won’t win.”

“Ugh, fine.”

Tobias chuckles as Invoq flops onto the ground. The man really can be a child. He lies next to him, staring up at the clouds through the trees. “Is that how you started?”

“Started what?”

“As a magician.”

Invoq is quiet for a moment. “No. I think I saw too many magicians getting away with all their tricks when I could figure out what they were and no one would believe me.”

“What, when you told them how they did it?”

“Yes. Something about ‘ruining the magic for everyone else.’”

Tobias rolls over. “So you decided to become better than all of them?”

He snorts. “Yeah. Just about.”

“And are you?”

Invoq smirks and looks over. “My dear sellsword, if you still have to ask, then clearly you haven’t been paying attention.”

“Well, in the time that I’ve seen you perform, the only trick you did was a card trick that, uh, didn’t go exactly as planned—“

“Because of you!”

“—and you said you’d forgiven me.”

Invoq sniffs. “That was a practice show. Something I do when I’ve just arrived in town to gauge my audience. It wasn’t for real.”

“Oh?” Tobias pushes himself up on an elbow. “And what exactly do your ‘for real’ shows entail?”

Invoq smirks up at him, reaching to brush some of his hair away from his eyes. “I guess you’ll have to come along and see, my dear sellsword.”

Which is how Tobias finds himself outside of a spectacularly decorated tent on the edge of the festival grounds, watching a pennant in the breeze. A few children bump into him and squeak out apologies as they barrel inside, darting past the golden seal of Invoq and his snake.

“He certainly does put the effort into looking the part,” he mumbles to himself as he ducks inside, keeping close to the exits and blending into the shadows. Experience has taught him that shows inside crowded tents can get far too overwhelming the closer you push to the center stage.

As the sun dips lower in the sky, the inside of the tent darkens and the crowd hushes, buzzing with anticipation. Just as it gets too difficult to see, candles flicker to life, bathing the tent in an amber glow. A murmur kicks up. People elbow each other, wondering how someone did that. Tobias leans against the base of one of the seating stands.

“Good evening, gentle viewers,” Invoq’s voice rings out, “and welcome.”

Another murmur as people try to find him. A few children shriek and point as a small plume of smoke appears in the center of the ring. It grows, swelling into a larger and larger cloud. A soft swoosh of fabric and Invoq appears, the glittering cloak once again over his shoulders as the crowd applauds.

Tobias folds his arms and sits back to watch.

“Thank you, thank you, for such a warm welcome.” He holds a hand to his chest. “I confess, it’s been a while since I’ve seen such an inviting crowd.”

He raises his hands to the roof of the tent.

“Within these walls, I invite you to…consider the notion of possibility. What can be, what can’t be, and what we could do if we just pushed.”

He holds his hand out in front of himself.

“It can be easy,” he says, as the crowd begins to whisper and gasp as his arm seems to vanish behind his hand, “to view things as firm and solid, lines we cannot cross. But, if we simply…push…”

The crowd applauds as his arm emerges from the darkness.

“You see? Possibility.”

A box suddenly appears behind him. He sweeps a cloth off of its surface and knocks twice.

“As anyone who owns a cat will tell you, there is a massive difference between someone putting you in a box and putting yourself in one.” A laugh goes up. “And, as such, a difference between someone taking you out of a box and getting out of one yourself.”

He sets the cloth to the side and opens the box, revealing an empty space inside. He steps in and closes the box.

“Now, if I myself try and exit this box,” he says, opening the door and waving, “I can do so without much difficulty. But if someone else were to try and open the box…”

He closes the door and lets the silence hang. Eventually, one of the older children gets excited and dashes forward to yank the door open. The crowd gasps at the sight of the empty box.

“You see,” the empty box speaks, startling the poor child backward a few paces, “the possibility is always there, but sometimes it is hard to see. You must focus on it.”

The child closes the door again and squeezes their eyes shut. They open the door again and gasp as Invoq smiles at them.

“Please,” he encourages, lifting the child’s hand as the crowd applauds, “thank you, my dear.”

The child nods and runs back to their seat. Invoq spreads his hands and takes a bow himself as the audience applauds.

Tobias has to admit, as he allows himself to get sucked into the performance, he doesn’t mind it as much as any other entertainer who’s made a show of doing things an audience can understand. It doesn’t feel as though Invoq is lauding it over them that they can’t understand, he’s just inviting them to consider the, well, the possibility of it. It’s…refreshing, to not be so focused on trying to figure out exactly what’d going on. Judging by the noise of the crowd, they don’t seem to be too bothered by it either.

Towards the end of the show, Invoq brings out another box. This one, however, does not stand up with some glittering decoration on top of it. No, this one looks like—well, it looks almost like a coffin. The crowd grows quiet as they see it revealed.

“Now,” Invoq says softly, as if implying the audience’s reaction is the correct one, “sometimes, possibility can be very, very difficult to see. So, you must look hard, be focused, and see the reality you want to make.”

He points upwards and the crowd gasps.

A sword, sharpened and gleaming in the candlelight, is lowered into view. Tobias’s chest clenches. Invoq directs their attention to the side of the stage, where a simple pulley system is rigged.

“In order to demonstrate my point, I’m going to need some help.”

The children begin to clamor, but Invoq’s eyes find Tobias in the dark. His hand outstretches and Tobias shakes his head, stepping back. Something flickers across his expression but it’s gone too quick to name as he reaches for another man in the audience. He instructs the man to pierce the sandbag once he is inside the box.

“The sand will seep out slowly, lowering the sword. When the sand fully runs out, the sword will fall.”

A gasp goes up around the crowd as the trick is laid out and Tobias’s hand finds the pommel of his own sword. He understands that this is a trick, that Invoq has probably planned exactly what’s going to happen down to the last detail, but still. He’s been on the wrong end of too many swords to take this lightly.

Invoq vanishes and the sandbag is pierced.

The sword begins to lower.

The box is still.

Then it rocks. Once. Twice. Three times.

Someone bangs on the inside of the lid.

No one dares move.

The sword lowers.

Tobias’s grip on his sword tightens and he crouches, prepared to run forward if he needs to.

The candlelight glints off the blade.

The box jostles once. Twice. Then falls still.

The crowd screams as the sword falls and pierces the top of the box, burying itself halfway to the hilt.

The tent holds its breath.

Tobias’s blood runs cold.

And Invoq stands up, brushing a gloves hand along his jaw. “Well, it’s a good thing I shaved this morning.”

The crowd erupts, several people on their feet as the magician takes a bow. Tobias lets his hand fall away, shaking his head and taking a deep breath. Invoq is fine, in fact, he’s more than fine, reveling in the success of his performance. Tobias steps backward as the din of the crowd begins to overwhelm him, letting the cool night air wash over him. He tips his head back and breathes it in, moving toward a nearby tree as the crowd begins to file home.

When the tent has emptied and the night begins to come alive on its own, Invoq appears, out of his show costume, looking around. He spots Tobias leaning against the tree and comes over, grinning.

“Well?”

“If you can do all that, you’re selling yourself short by starting out with card tricks.”

“That’s a street performance, not a proper performance.”

“I feel like I should be offended on behalf of all street performers.”

Invoq huffs, folding his arms and not-pouting. “Is that all?”

He squawks indignantly when Tobias hits him lightly on the shoulder.

“What was that for, you brute?’

“For making me worry,” Tobias says, “with that sword trick.”

There it is, Invoq’s smile that makes the night as bright as the day, as he laughs. “So you did enjoy it?”

“I just said you made me worry,” Tobias grumbles, looking away, “didn’t I?”

“Aww, thank you for worrying about me, my dear.” Gloved fingers lift his gaze back to Invoq’s. “I’m touched that you’re concerned for me so.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“What,” he chuckles, “you can dish it out but you can’t take it?”

“I’ve just gotten freaked out for no good reason, leave me be.”

“No good reason? My dear, I’m hurt.”

“Oh, bite me.”

Invoq’s grin sharpens. “Ask nicely, my dear sellsword, and maybe I will.”

When he notices that Tobias is still avoiding his gaze, his hand twitching toward the pommel of his sword, he softens.

“Hey,” he coaxes, making him look again, “I’m fine. Really, I am. Thank you for worrying so, though I do regret that it worried you.”

“Isn’t that the point,” Tobias asks, a little sore, “to scare the audience?”

“Yes, but there’s a…there’s an inherent promise with a magic show that everything will be alright. It can be worrying, yes, but the show happens because the impossible happens, that everyone’s always going to be okay when it ends. That’s why people like them.”

“I guess so.”

Invoq tilts his head, worrying his bottom lip. “Are you…sorry you came?”

“What? No, no, Invoq, I’m not, I…” He swallows. “I did enjoy it, really, I did. I just…my job…”

Invoq nods. “You’re supposed to worry all the time, I know.”

“It was amazing, Invoq.” Tobias smiles. “You’re amazing.”

There’s that smile again. “I do believe my dignity has fully recovered, yes.”

“So I don’t have to buy you another drink?”

“Have to, no,” Invoq purrs, “but if you want to, my dear, I’m hardly opposed to stopping you.”

Before they can move away, however, another figure blusters up to them under the tree. “Invoq! I must say, it’s been a while since this town has seen such a masterful performance.”

Tobias recognizes the town alderman as Invoq sweeps into another bow. “You honor me, sir, with your words.”

“Are you staying in town long?”

“That depends on how long my fortune lasts, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, but you must stay for the ball!” The alderman claps his hands. “More people will be coming, your audience will be much larger. And perhaps some of the royals will partake!”

“Well…after such an invitation, I will consider it.”

“Please, do.” The alderman nods to Tobias and bids them good evening.

Invoq turns back to him. “There’s a ball?”

“Every few months or so, yes.”

“Well, I can hardly say no to the possibility of performing to royalty.”

“I’m sure they’d enjoy you.”

Invoq quirks a brow. “Why, my dear, you almost sound jealous.”

“Hardly.” Tobias grins. “They have to wait until the ball. I can enjoy your company right now.”

“There’s a good man.”

Virgil smiles as he gets into bed that night. Invoq was right, there was something nice about being nervous but…the good kind of nervous. Nothing bad could ever truly happen to him, not when he was that good, but still…the thrill of it. And now that it was over and he’d been assured Invoq was alright—thoroughly—the worries were gone. He can’t remember the last time his mind was so quiet.

It’s…nice.

Janus turns off the light and spends several seconds just grinning into his pillow. The thrill of the show, the way the audience had responded so eagerly to every trick, every movement, and the sweetness of the final bow…precious.

Speaking of precious, his dear sellsword’s reaction had been adorable. Playfully scolding him for worrying him so, even if he’d been a little ashamed of it afterward. What was he supposed to do, not tease him a little? Oh, but it had been wonderful to have someone admit that he cared about his safety so freely, even when he knew it was just a performance.

He drifts off to sleep with the memory of Tobias’s hand protectively on his shoulder.

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#dragonbabbles #fic #sanders sides #janus sanders #deceit sanders #sympathetic deceit #virgil sanders

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caesar-meow · 14 days

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Finally i have managed to draw this amazing family I have talked about them but never really showed them. I tried. But the design just wasn't good. Now, i have finally got them and BOI do they have a bunch of lore...

Let's start with the beginning; Felix Peregrine, born in the Romanian-like countryside, by the name of Răzvan Șerbănescu, had been cursed with vampirism, killed his whole family (which he hated anyway), let some rich dude by the farm, killed the dude as well and burned the place; jumped on a ship all the way to Khaladius (largest empire's capital city), started doing business and join the civil war, earning military points; bit the crown prince turning him to a vampire, so he could have the royal family at his finger and also to hopefully start a revolution and normalising supernatural creatures into day-to-day life (which succeeded) ; move to the countryside, trick some local estate owners into giving him their manor while throwing them in jail for misconduct; becoming a Lord by the 1730s and building a new house from scratch, bringing revelation to the vampire communities with blood plants and crops, living for the capital as industry and railroads were growing and he wanted a piece of that while leaving in charge the vert family he threw out but still controlling them; creating a whole company and businesses across the capital becoming a very recognised business man; engaging in late victorian murder mysteries "which he had nothing to do with. nah-uh" (not like he spent the entire 17th century hunting houses, killing people, steal their money and burn the place), found a heir left orphan after his parents' house burned down (the first ever noble house to burn and felix was NOT involved) and fished him out to be his vampiric slave; save the local noblewoman, Evelyn Greenford (which later finds out she's a witch because apparently her parents decided it's not an important detail), from a horrible abusive marriage and life of misery by helping her killing the husband, which then went on to marry Felix just for the facade as they were both gay and ace and live happily ever after with their 3 kids and one heir, up until another war ravished the kingdom bringing new diseases which will kill the poor kids leaving them alone once again. Spending the entirety of the 20th century in the capital helping people recover from war while they also battle a huge economical crisis; using advanced magic and technology to gain 2 more kids, twins, Damien and Pandora, as they needed a purpose or heirs having the place country threatened by a war AGAIN, which eventually forced them to go back to the countryside where they currently reside, help the villagers, help the surrounding area and gain the title of counts. Pandora joined the Uni to study Psychology and robotics (which is why she aint in the pic) but also becomes a werewolf and joins the Lopez pack, and Damien as he did not got into any uni, he joined the military (eboy in the army... that's new) as there was a close base nearby (the same felix attended back in the day) and is now training to become one of the special ops while also trying to figure out his feelings for the local grocery boi. They got a huge manor with a castle like exterior, 20 bedrooms for guests and 80 for servants, featuring a great hall, family drawing room and royal drawing room where they greet the other nobles or members from the local country club, they got a butler (the orphan one) which act also as a footman and valet from time to time, maids, gardeners, chauffeurs and tutors (which some tend to keep "disappearing" when Felix want to see them alone in his office) and the family is also dealing with tenants, around their estate... FYI, you can see that felix changed his when he got to the capital and i would like to address that: "Felix" is from a Roman cognomen meaning "lucky, successful" in Latin, and "Peregrine" is from the peregrine falcon, a traveling bird, usually around the shores, known for its speed and excellent hunting abilities, highly successful example of urban wildlife in much of its range, taking advantage of buildings as nest sites and an abundance of prey ... sounds like a good metaphor for what Felix had done across the centuries, right?

pfew... that was a lot ... as i said. but yea! fucking love this family, they been my favorite ever since created and their my versions of the Addams.

#furryart #furrycharacter #furryanthro #vampire core #furry #anthro art #furry oc

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glapplebloom · 9 months

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It’s amazing how you don’t notice those Red Flags until after the fact...

The episode begins with the Crusaders wanting to join the School of Friendship. But because they are already awesome at Friendship, Twilight refuses. They tried their best to get in: not doing chores to convince them they need to go, asking repeatedly, disguises. And the best plan of the lot: faking a fight.

It was going so well too. They find Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, the two most likely to be convinced, pretend to fight and get them to convince Twilight they should go to the School of Friendship. It was working too until their Friendship kicked in and they congratulated on succeeding right before they crossed the Goal Post. So they’re out of ideas until they hear crying...

It’s Cozy Glow making her first appearance in the series proper. Now before we continue, here’s something from the review I made when it was a week old...

There’s something off about Cozy though. She seems very manipulative, seemingly tricking the girls into helping her. Like recently with helping her study for a test about the Elements of Harmony. And despite acing it during study, she failed the test.

I KNEW IT! SHE WAS EVIL THIS ENTIRE TIME! And now seeing this episode again after the fact, you see so many more Red Flags... Either way, because she’s afraid to fail her classes, Cozy Glow convinces the Crusaders to help her. After all, helping with Friendship Lessons is probably the closest they’ll get.

First is helping Cozy with her homework: do something nice for these three ponies. First, to help Bon Bon carry a cactus safely, Cozy Glow STEALS Scootaloo’s Helmet to put on the cactus. You first see this and think “Oh, she just acted on her own” but this shows Cozy’s willingness to do anything to achieve her goal you’ll see later in the series.

Then we got Sweetie Belle helping Cozy Glow give Mrs. Cake separates colored sprinkles so she doesn’t have to rely on just Rainbow Sprinkles. When Mrs. Cake saw the gift and used it to make Rainbow Sprinkles anyway, you could see Cozy Glow was seconds away from going off with her anger. And the third was helping Big Mac with the chores so he can be with Sugar Belle.

She passes her homework and now needs help studying for a Test and the girls put her through the ringer. But here’s more Red Flags you may have missed the first viewing...

Cozy Glow: Um... intelligence?

This is her answer to Rarity’s Element of Generosity.

Cozy Glow: Is it... control?

This is her answer to Twilight’s Element of Magic.

This is her face when she said the correct answer for Magic. We should have seen this coming...

Anyway, on the day of the test Cozy Glow fails and Twilight takes this as the Crusaders teaching her to fail on purpose. But then Cozy Glow confesses. Why would she do that if she was evil? Well, someone will eventually figure out something is not right. Fluttershy was a witness to their lessons and saw them teaching her well. So all it would take is for a witness to notice a contradiction.

Thus, why she confesses to Starlight Glimmer: the last introduced bad guy before she comes in as the new face of Evil. After all, she’s the one most likely not to punish her for lying and getting the Crusaders in trouble. Heck, Starlight was impressed with such a tactic.

Starlight Glimmer: That's devious. I-I mean, I see. [sips cocoa]

So with Starlight making things smooth over, the Crusaders are officially the first graduates of the School and are now on the clock tutors. And Cozy Glow gets away with everything, ready building up relationships to reach her end goal.

It's a fun episode, especially after knowing the Cozy Glow twist. You can go back and see the Red Flags you didn’t pay attention to and the Crusaders are as fun as ever. This is basically their Greatest hits record: from trying everything to achieve their goals to helping others with theirs. Give this a rewatch if you already saw the series through.

Also check out the old review for the rewrite and how it fits in GLAB canon.

#green lantern apple bloom #mlp review #mlp revisit #season 8

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smells-like-mettaton · 3 years

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thick fog and papyrus? srsly tho what is up with his battle room lmao

Worth Fighting For

Rating: G Word Count: 1535 Read on AO3: here

---

“Are you sure you want to do this, brother?” Papyrus asked, even though he knew what the answer would be. Sans was the most stubborn monster Papyrus knew.

Sans would probably say the same about him. Their collective stubbornness led to month-long face offs over a discarded sock. Or to Papyrus cooking spaghetti three times a day, waiting for Sans to crack and tell him what was wrong with it.

Or to them standing at the edge of town, shrouded in thick fog.

“I’m sure.” Sans’s voice felt almost muffled by the mist.

That was part of the point. Anyone could train when they could hear and see their opponent. It would take a skilled fighter to battle under these conditions.

And Sans wanted to be skilled. Papyrus could hardly deny him that, after all the time he’d begged to train under Undyne.

“Right.” Papyrus gave a sharp nod, though Sans probably couldn’t see it. “Don’t expect me to go easy on you, br—”

A bone collided with his exposed spine. He yelped, though it was more from surprise than pain.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Through a gap in the fog, Papyrus caught his brother winking.

“Sans! That move is unsportsmanlike!” Papyrus rubbed his vertebrae. Of course, Sans could hardly injure him. Each of his attacks only shaved off one point of damage.

“Good thing fighting’s not a sport, huh?”

“Fighting is more than a sport! It is a way to express the hopes and dreams of your soul!!”

Sans sighed, disturbing the fog enough for Papyrus to see him again.

“Look, bro. I just want to be able to keep myself from getting dusted. I’ll save the dreams for when I’m sleeping.”

Papyrus’s brow pinched. Listening to Sans talk, you would think he never wanted to fight. But he did. Papyrus could see it in the darkness of his eyesockets, in the way his jaw set whenever something upset him.

Something had made Sans angry. Maybe even… frightened. None of Papyrus’s attempts to draw the truth from him succeeded, however.

Papyrus wanted to help Sans channel that anger into something more productive. Fighting could be productive! It could bring monsters together in ways nothing else could! But… not the way Sans went about it.

Maybe Papyrus just needed to show him.

A row of bones—carefully calibrated not to do damage—sprouted from the ground towards Sans. Papyrus couldn’t see him dodge, but he didn’t hear the telltale crack of bone on bone.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t go easy on me.”

A beam of light shot through the fog, and Papyrus sidestepped, his boots crunching in the thick snow. Several more beams followed it, but the pattern was easy to predict. The few times when Papyrus failed to dodge, the lasers barely tickled.

A muttered curse came from his left. Papyrus turned towards it, but didn’t ready another attack.

“Starting with your strongest attack is—”

“Bad sportsmanship?” Sans snapped.

“No. It’s just bad strategy.” Papyrus approached the sound of his voice. He bumped into a few of Sans’s blasters on the way and gave each of them a quick pet. “It’s safer to let your opponent underestimate you. Once you have them lulled into a false sense of security, you can secure your victory!”

“I don’t have time for that kind of strategy!” Sans sounded even angrier than Papyrus had expected. Maybe Papyrus was the one doing the underestimating. “I’m not like you! I don’t have hundreds of HP to spare! I’ve got one shot, and if I can’t—if I can’t win, then I’m…”

Papyrus’s eyesockets widened at Sans’s muffled sob.

“Oh, Sans.” He knelt down by his brother, feeling him rather than seeing him. He wrapped him in the tightest hug he could. Sans slumped in his arms, like all the fight had gone out of him.

“No one is going to hurt you. I promise,” Papyrus murmured. “I’ll protect you, brother.”

Sans tensed, and the moment shattered.

“You shouldn’t have to.” Sans pushed him back. His eyesockets had gone pitch black, two empty holes in the sea of white. “I’m—I was always supposed to take care of you, and I can’t—if I can’t stop the…”

Papyrus didn’t know what he was talking about, but expecting answers from Sans was like expecting Undyne to go a month without burning down her house. It wasn’t going to happen.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, ignoring the hurt that Sans’s shove had caused. Hurt that went deeper than any bone attack or laser.

Perhaps he deserved it. Even if he didn’t know everything, he knew he had messed up.

“You’re right,” Papyrus admitted, making Sans’s head tilt in confusion. “I want you to be strong and great, too! In fact, you're already very strong and great! But we’re safe here, brother. Undyne and the Royal Guard will protect us when a human comes.”

He didn’t bother saying that he would be joining the Royal Guard. It was a matter of when at this point, surely. But the thought wouldn’t comfort Sans at the moment.

“‘M not worried about humans,” he muttered.

“Then… what are you worried about?”

Silence. Like the fog had stolen away even the slight sound of Sans’s rattling bones.

“...Doesn’t matter.” Sans’s eyesockets closed. “Forget it.”

For once, Papyrus decided to face his brother head-on. The way Undyne would.

“I cannot just forget something that is bothering you, brother.”

“Heh. We already have, though. Over and over and over again…”

“Then this time, we should help each other remember!” Papyrus reached out and felt for Sans’s shoulder, then gave it a comforting squeeze.

“Nah. Too much effort.”

Papyrus felt Sans shrug. Annoyance bubbled up in him, but he forced himself to let it go. He should’ve known better than to expect Sans to face his problems head-on. He wasn’t Undyne.

Papyrus blinked. “You’re not Undyne.”

Sans’s sockets cracked open in a confused squint. “Uh, yeah? Did I hit you too hard earlier?”

“No!” He shook his head quickly. “I mean! You don’t have the stats that Undyne and I do!”

“You don’t gotta rub it in.”

“Ugh, brother!” Papyrus sprung to his feet, his hands on his hips. “I’m trying to say, we need to train you differently! I’ve been doing this all wrong!”

“Nah, I’ve just been making it hard on you.” Sans sounded guilty. “Sorry. I’m not a real good student.”

“False! I simply need to recalibrate your curriculum! Nyeh heh heh!!”

A short time later, they again faced off in the dense fog. But this time, Papyrus encouraged Sans to use every underhanded trick in his arsenal.

“Don’t forget your shortcuts!” Papyrus called into the white void as he hurled another wave of bones.

“No good,” Sans huffed, presumably while dodging. “Can’t use ‘em... while anyone’s looking. Magic’s weird... like that.”

“Well, I cannot look with all this fog in the way! And whoever has a bone to pick with you will surely blink at one point or another!”

“...Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

And he did. Lasers blasted at Papyrus again. Blue attacks mixed with regular attacks mixed blue soul magic mixed with strange platforms that Papyrus discovered he could jump on without being harmed.

Until the platforms slid out from under him, dropping him into a spike-trap of bone attacks.

“Clever!” Papyrus called out, escaping with a blue magic-assisted leap. With that many attacks at once, his HP had actually taken a dent. “I bet you could create a maze with those! Any enemy would surely be confounded, then blasted to their senses!”

“Huh, that’s not a bad idea…”

Eventually Papyrus announced the end of the training session. He may have an abundance of HP, but Sans had kept him on his toes during the entire sparring match. There had been no time to sneak a bite of his cinnamon bun.

“So how’d I do? Think I’ll be joining you in the Guard any time soon?” Sans winked as they strode out of the fog.

“You want to join the Guard too?” Papyrus beamed until Sans looked away awkwardly.

“Nah, that was just a dumb joke. I’ve got enough to look out for with bein’ a sentry.”

Papyrus’s eyes narrowed. That was a pun, but at least it was of better quality than usual.

“Very well! It’s important to know your limits! If only so you can more effectively push them! Nyeh heh heh!” He clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “And you certainly did so today! I’m very proud of you, brother.”

Sans’s head snapped up, his eyelights glowing brighter than Papyrus had seen in ages. He quickly schooled his expression into something less expressive, though.

“Geez, bro, all this sweet talk’s gonna go to my head.” He rapped on the side of his skull.

“Good! You need something to fill up all that empty space!”

Sans laughed out loud at that. “Thanks.”

Papyrus knew he wasn’t being thanked for the joke. Still, he played along.

“Of course! That’s what brothers are for!”

As long as Papyrus was around, Sans would never have to fight. But if Sans could feel more confident in himself…

That was something worth fighting for.

#fic tag #papyrus #sans #skelebros #tali writes #prompt requests #this was a fun one to do characterization wise

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twsthoodstar · 3 years

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Bungou Stray Dogs Inspired MC 🌑

Fem! MC

What if the MC was from the world of Bungou Stray Dogs? And gifted an extraordinary Ability?

Heartslabyul 🌹

Now this would be interesting! You and Riddle would probably clash heads from time to time, either because of some utterly ridiculous rule you refuse to follow or simply because of rising tempers. You could honestly care less about a pompous lady in some kind of balloon dress. However, this is something you two have in common and often turn to each other as a way to vent, even if neither will admit. As similar as you two appear, you both have different beliefs and are quick to stick to your guns.

Despite being dorm head, you find Riddle’s behavior quite irritating. Yes, it’s not his fault, he was raised this way, but he has become similar to that he despises. As a way to put it. He’s a bit of a rival in some way, but it’s not that you hate him. His magic is powerful, and he’s had years of perfecting it to a tee, but you’ve learned how to control your Tainted Sorrow as a means of self defense and honor. However, it’s so much fun using your gravity for party tricks.

Savanaclaw 🦁

Leona honestly finds you quite amusing: a little tiger who never learned to roar, it’s almost laughable. Although, Leona knows better than anyone what it’s like to be hung up on your past. It’s not an easy thing to let go of, and it’s not like neither of you can just forget it any time soon. You two have somewhat of an unspoken connection, and he even offers to train you to help control your strength. If you can keep up.

It honestly amazes him how someone who’s been treated so horribly for so many years can be as trusting and compassionate as you. However, if your trauma comes back to bite you and your low sense of self-worth starts to kick in, Leona will immediately get you to snap out of it. Your Moonlit Beast is a power to be proud of, coming to accept something you hate is not easy, at least you’re trying to work hard.

Octavinelle 🐚

Oh man, are you gonna give Azul a run for his money! You’re just a thorn in his side teasingly poking away at him without care. It’s just so hilarious seeing him get so riled up because you’ve once again found a loophole in his contract. You’re both on equal level, a battle of the brains always goes down when you two are with each other. Always trying to one up the other, even succeeding.

Azul claims you’re cheating, that Ultra Deduction of yours is just downright irritating! However, Azul is a calculating and observant young man, of course he’ll notice the one indistinct detail in your schemes: you’ve used your ability before without wearing your glasses. Azul can’t help but feel a bit jealous, as even with nothing you’ve been gifted brilliant skills. For that you have his respect.

Scarabia ☀️

Someone give Jamil a break! He did not sign up to babysit, especially two bumbling idiots who like to cause trouble where ever they go! You’re honestly just in for the ride, either encouraging Kalim’s schemes or joining him, because it’s all in just good fun to you! Teasing Jamil is also a highlight, however, you encourage him to loosen up more. He may be a servant but he’s still just a kid too.

No Longer Human has proved more than once to be life saving, often saving Kalim if his plans get too chaotic. As cheery as you appear, you do have a sinister side. Jamil is good at reading others: whether it’s a sensitive topic relating to experience or just a drastic situation involving a friend, he’s curious. Kalim can tell what’s bothering you as well, and always offers to lend an ear if you ever need it. As thankful as you are, you prefer keeping that part of your heart to yourself.

Pomefiore 🍎

Such an interesting little thing you are, glancing at him with emotionless eyes and a cold expression. It wasn’t unheard of for a person to not flaunt and fawn over Vil’s beauty, but you didn’t show any signs of feeling at all. Shrouded in mystery, your skills rivaled that of his precious huntsman and he was highly impressed. Adding a cool sense of justice to your dark demeanor. You peeked his interest; like a beautiful flower blooming in the darkness.

Although, he had to admit he was a tad bit wary of you. Your Demon Snow was an essence of sheer beauty and grace, but gifted with a poisonous twist. He pondered on how a child like you could be so fearsome, but he could see the light in your eyes gleam when you with your friends. As distant as you appeared, you had a warmth inside he seemed to understand. Once the time was right, Vil might just invite you over to Pomefiore.

Ignihyde 💀

Idia never knew how scary one person could be until he met you. Not only were you a sickly and shrewd hermit like him, but your tongue was sharp as a knife, sharp enough that it could cut anyone down. And your icy gaze could freeze his hair and the flame-stricken underworld over if you see fit. As long as you stayed away from him Idia didn’t care about you, but he’d be lying if he didn’t find you an interesting specimen. You were like a dark, angsty character out of a video game.

An outcast just like him, you sought to be admired for your strengths yet loathed being close to others. It problably had something to do with that ghostly beast that lived inside your body: Rashomon, as you called it, appeared to be a very powerful ability and Idia can’t help up admire someone as unique as you. As creepy as you both appear on the surface, maybe you two could become friends. If either of you would allow that.

Diasomnia 🐉

What a quaint child of man you are. Malleus marveled at how you saw the world: how light and dark can coexist with one another, protecting those on both sides. What a strange accusation. You’re like a gallant knight with your noble ideals, although, he senses a sort of pain when the topic of your ideals comes to conversation. You two were somewhat close as you had similar traits in common despite being having different reasons: you both desired peace yet knew it wouldn’t happen.

Malleus wondered if your vision of the world had to do with Flawless. A wonderful gift such as seeing the future would of course shed some light on one’s own fate. Whether you could change it’s course or not you accepted either outcome. If only you could stay in this world forever, if it were up to him you could. Unfortunately, fate would not allow that, and it was your choice.

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spritewrites · 3 years

Note

Hi! I love your writing! I was wondering if I could ask for prompt 30 with lee!Essek

oh, anon, if you only knew how much you absolutely can.

this got away from me so far it’s not even funny. like i can’t even see it on the horizon. expand at your own risks, this boi is beefy

30. “I’m not ticklish, who do you think I am?”

“Caleb?”

“Scheiße—” Caleb jumps.

Oh. Essek.

It wasn’t that he… forgot the man was there, that task would be nearly impossible. It’s only that Essek hasn’t spoken in a few hours, and Caleb had been wondering… well. Maybe he isn’t enjoying the book; recommendations for people you don’t know very well can be tricky. Maybe he simply has to go home. Maybe he got a Message from the Bright Queen, announcing that all of the Nein were to be executed immediately.

All were possibilities.

That is why he is surprised to see Frumpkin’s tiny owl form perched on the drow’s shoulder, investigating a studded ear with nimble precision. The shoulder in question is hitched up quite high, seemingly trying to protect the thin skin but only succeeding in giving the owl further access to the pointed tip.

There’s some kind of quivering tension playing around Essek’s lips. Caleb consciously stops himself from staring. It wouldn’t do to offend his research partner.

“He is—ah, he is nibbling me, Caleb,” Essek hisses. His ear flicks, and Caleb watches his fingers twitch, tracing half-beginnings to a number of spells that he seems to reconsider mid-cast before squeezing his hand into a fist.

Oh, dear.

“Frumpkin,” he says sharply, and snaps his familiar back to his own shoulder. Frumpkin immediately chirps and nuzzles the side of his own rounded ear, and Caleb huffs fondly and gives him a little scritch on his head. “Be a good cat. I apologize, he should know better than to attack anyone ticklish. I believe Fjord taught him that lesson rather well.”

He’d hoped the quip would smooth things over well enough to continue their study. Instead, Essek… bristles. “I’m not—I’m not ticklish, who do you think I am?”

Fuck.

“I do not mean to offend,” Caleb says quickly. Frumpkin gives a skeptical quirk of his head, clearly indicating his thoughts on the matter. Well. We can’t all go around rubbing up against attractive wizards, now can we? “I only thought… well, no matter. I am sorry that he bothered you.”

He shoots the drow a look that he hopes comes across as generally respectful and amiable—he is their liaison, after all, and they’ve worked far too hard to jeopardize such a relationship—but Essek’s eyes aren’t on him. They’re off, just slightly, trained on the spot where Frumpkin’s feathers are brushing the crook of Caleb’s neck. “It’s quite alright. You are… not, I suppose?”

Caleb swallows the “No, Nott is the goblin” that wells up in his throat. “Hm? Not what?”

“Not…” Essek gestures vaguely in the direction of his own recently victimized ear. “Not ticklish.”

After several months of dealing with tieflings, the way he stumbles over the word is not lost on Caleb. A flush begins to rise in his cheeks, and he can only hope his scruff hides the full effect of it. “Ah. Ich verstehe. Ja, but not…” He casts a sideways look at Frumpkin, who blinks. Bastard. “Well, a long time with fluffy animals on one’s shoulder builds up a certain tolerance in the area, I suppose.”

Essek also blinks, unreadable. His face is perhaps a bit more violet than it had previously been, but it may also be a trick of the light.

And Caleb could certainly blame that for making him bold, or something pent up inside from sitting across from Essek for two hours and forty-seven minutes without talking, or something else, but...

“It is funny,” Caleb continues before he can talk himself out of it, “that you say that you are immune. You seemed quite ticklish a moment ago.”

Essek goes still. Scheiße, if Caleb could just maintain enough composure around this man to talk about magic and research like a normal person, and not ask personal questions, they might manage to get out of Xhorhas alive.

“You are…” Oh, Essek’s speaking. “You are not wrong, Caleb Widogast. I suppose it has been… a while. I was under the impression that I had grown out of such things.” He clears his throat, and his ear flicks again. Must be involuntary. “It appears I was mistaken.”

Oh.

Well, that wasn’t what Caleb was expecting at all.

“I see.” He manages a small smile. “I will be sure to keep that information away from the others.”

Essek looks alarmed. “Would they… I mean…”

Oh, dear, the Shadowhand might be in greater trouble that even he realizes. Caleb’s smile pulls harder at his dimples at the thought, but he stifles it. “They can be a bit mean, if they know too much. Not to worry, I will keep them at bay for you if anything were ever to… come up.”

The anxiety in Essek’s gaze fades, but his ears are still fixed in Caleb’s direction. It’s rather difficult not to feel like an insect under a glass, with the way his dark blue eyes seem to see far deeper than they should be capable. “They subject you to this as well?” he asks.

“Sometimes.” Caleb had not anticipated how difficult this would be to say out loud. “When they can.”

Essek tilts his head. “But not your neck, you say?”

“My, ah. My ribs tend to be a bit more… productive. If that’s the sort of thing you’re after.” The flush is back. Fuck.

“I’ll have to keep that in mind.” Essek looks… curious, almost. Studious. The way he looks when they’re researching, but he’s eyeing the fabric underneath Caleb’s book holsters instead.

Caleb fights the urge to squirm.

“Well,” says Essek, catching Caleb off guard with the breeziness of his tone. “We have work to do, yes? Frumpkin seems to agree with me.”

Indeed, Frumpkin is hopping off Caleb’s shoulder to peck at a bit of blank parchment. Honestly, Caleb wouldn’t put it past him to be doing it on purpose. Probably for the best, either way.

“Yes, yes of course. Apologies, if I overstepped—”

Essek waves him off. “Nonsense. After all,” he grins, “I find it useful to learn the weaknesses of my friends along with my enemies.”

Hm. “It goes both ways, Herr Thelyss.”

He seems to consider this for a moment, glancing between the owl on the table and the blushing wizard sitting across from him. For a moment, Caleb swears he sees something in the smooth lines of his face—something darker, perhaps, or just deeper—but then it’s gone, and the drow is smirking again.

“Yes. Yes, I suppose it does.”

#critickle role #head empty only shadowgast #ask meme #these are closed!!!#anon #this is over 1k i'm so sorry #these are supposed to be drabbles #finn the nott pun is for you #credit to chock for giving me the guts and inspiration to FINISH something #hope you all enjoy #also props to you if you catch the foreshadowing and themes at the end. we love writing huh

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yostresswritinggirl · 3 years

Text

Scholars’ Chit Chat Submission

Cyno x Reader (actually platonic, in a way I guess, study partners, but possibly romantic in the future)

*Lore dump warning; Spoilers for all the Archon Quests and speculations of Teyvat; Really it’s all serious talk

XXX

“Hey Cyno,”

The said male turned away from the book he was reading, and focused his attention on you instead.

“What’s the matter?”

“Do you believe in eternity?”

Surprised at your sudden question, the male went quiet for a few moments.

“You want my own opinion or an objective one?”

“As much as I would like to hear both, it’s almost lunch time. So I would like to hear your opinion first.”

Sighing at your carefree reply, Cyno closed the book he was reading shut.

“Well, I simply don’t. After all, all living things will come to an end, it is the law of the universe and the reason why they say time is money.”

“Well yeah, I mean, our former archon did die five hundred years ago...”

Puzzled at your deflated mood, Cyno realised that this question didn’t simply popped out of your mind, but rather something that you had been thinking hard about for quite some time.

“Why’d you ask, by the way? You worried about the future?”

“It’s normal to be worried or even sacred okay? This is the very reason why we seek knowledge in the first place. To survive is the natural instinct of humans, and curiosity stems out of it as we can predict the future with more known about the world...”

“And yet the world is so vast, and our lives are so short, but we can pass down our knowledge through our legacy... That is the most basic right of humanity...”

“Yet don’t you think that it is strange? The fact that it has been thousands are even more years that we humans had been existed, there isn’t much we know about the pre-archon war era?”

Cyno looked down as he realised what you said was true.

“Indeed, but there isn’t much we can do about it isn’t there?”

“That’s the problem!! Nobody questions about it and that’s what makes it fishy!”

You are... Quite the special type of student at Sumeru Academia, even though you do seek knowledge about the world you all reside in. Due to the lack of Mysticism studies you didn’t take part in, you were the type to question everything, even the principles that had been decided by the Academia for centuries.

But that’s what allows your breakthroughs in your findings in the past few years here. Rather than focusing on a particular study or field, you tackle anything that comes in your way. Becoming one of the people who had read the most books in this grand library of Sumeru Academia.

Cyno liked that part of you, new perspectives shed more light to the field and it never gets boring when you suddenly throw questions at him for no absolute reason.

“The part where you go ‘seeing is believing’ is the easiest way to deceive someone?” He guessed, letting out a small chuckle.

“Exactly!! ‘Show not tell’, because people believe in what they see so when they try to deceive someone they show what they want them to see.”

“Illusions, mirages... People get tricked so easily without asking their own rationality!”

“So what you’re trying to say is-“

“That we should question this world in the first place!”

‘Here we go again...’ Cyno thought, but he didn’t actually mind your rambling.

“First! Why do we have to trust the gods in the first place? *All we can do is observe the chess game that the gods are playing, we don’t know the rules of the game, but as soon as we speculate it long enough, we’ll be able to guess what the rules are.”

“But in the end, we won’t know if we understand all of the rules cause who can predict what happens in the future anyways?”

“But with Astrology-“

“Do. not. interrupt me.”

Ah, you were getting heated up.

“With enough information, anyone can predict the future, they say. But can we actually do it? We can’t! We’re human after all.”

“Which leads to the question of, why don’t the gods spill the beans if the really care about us so much? But they didn’t.”

“I know it’s hypocritical to judge gods through mortal standards, but I have evidence.”

“If the gods truly care for each single human being of Teyvat, then shouldn’t everyone have a Vision if they’re supposed to be the grace from the gods?”

“You’re saying that those without Visions are not important in the eyes of the gods?”

“Hah, as much as I prefer that they care for both, my instincts tell me that they don’t care for either of them for some reason...”

Cyno narrowed his eyes at your slightly hesitant answer.

“Is this about you not able to obtain a Vision for yourself?”

“Cyno, how many times have I told you? If I were to receive a Vision, I would have went all the way to the archon responsible and politely give it back to them.”

“Politely?”

“Alright, maybe throwing it in their faces before telling them off that I don’t need it.”

“Violent as always, my dear.”

“Elemental energy is not magic anyways, we all know that, and the Hexenzirkel doesn’t often share their findings about Irminsul either...”

“Your point is…?”

“What’s ’free’ is the most expensive, even hilichurls are a problem for normal humans, yet Vision holders see them as eyesores more than anything… Everything comes with a price, Cyno, and I believe that you understand that well.”

“Indeed,” he agreed with a sigh. “For knowledge, we sacrifice time and our energy for it. And the culmination of many scholars forms this very library we are in.”

“The crystallisation of human knowledge, or so I recalled,” you agreed with a huff “but what if that’s the gods want us to believe in? Away from their true purposes in order to keep humanity under the reigns?”

“…”

“You angry? Sorry, I know that it’s disrespectful to judge on people’s faith like this, but I just can’t help but worry about the future when something big is about to happen…”

“N-no, I don’t mind, it’s just-“

“Explaining is concealing and concealing is the truth, go on.”

Cyno realised something, despite you knowing he has a Vision himself, you had come up with theories about the secrets about Visions, mostly concerning ones actually. But he understands it is a way of you caring for him, there are rumours about those who have Visions would one day disappear from the world.

You were scared that one day he would go somewhere that you cannot follow.

But as your partner, he has no intentions of it until you finally seek the answers you had longed for.

“The Geo Archon’s passing, Mondstadt’s Knights of Favonius incapable of fully stopping the Fatui, the electro Archon Baal stopped giving out Electro Visions since last year… Not to mention the Fatui following the Tsarista’s orders by any method of sort…” Cyno listed out. “Yes… It is all quite alarming…”

“But that promise we made the day we met, I have no intention of breaking it.”he reminded with a soft smile on his face.

“I am, your partner in crime after all.”

…

“Here you are again, saying things like that so easily…” you huffed, trying to contain your happiness from his words.

“Until the day I make the gods confess their intentions, I’m not letting you go anywhere without me!”

Seeing you back in your normal mood, the male smiled in relief, all that’s left is to lift your spirits up a bit more.

“I’ll treat you something sweet for lunch, what do you want?”

“W-Wha?! Umm…”

Seeing you flustered at his sudden question, Cyno knows that he had succeeded as you mumble under your breath about what you should pick.

‘Don’t worry too much about the future, try focus on what we have right now, alright?’

‘We are raging treason against the very laws of this world after all, so please allow me to enjoy such little time with you, my dear.’

XXX

I don’t know what I’m writing… QAQ

Exiled, if you want I can make a few more short dribbles about this (well mostly about how they meet and other stuff they think about-)

-lies on ground-

-and dies out of embarrassment-

-snowdrop, out

ANY CYNO CONTENT IS GOOD CONTENT, BUT THAT LORE DUMP WAS NICE AND REFRESHING. YES SNOWDROP, I DO WANT EM GIMME

#snowdrop anon #exile.flower #exiled community #Cyno x reader #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #gender neutral #good shit #meaaaal #submission

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itcameuponamidnightqueer · 3 years

Note

fake dating 10, any pairing you want

damie + “please just hold my hand, that person’s basically undressing me with their eyes.”

trope prompts

It’s not that Jamie doesn’t want to be at this school function, it’s just that—

No, that’s a lie. She definitely doesn’t want to be here, and wouldn’t if she weren’t part of the staff. Wouldn’t be here if Dani hadn’t tricked her, really, because Jamie’s usually pretty good about saying no even at work.

“Rebecca’s back from traveling,” Dani had tried, and Jamie said no because who knows how long that’ll last.

“Owen said he’s gonna ask Hannah out,” she’d tried next, and Jamie had actually laughed in her face.

“Someone is actually going to have to physically force those two together,” she’d replied, and Dani’s eyes lit up, prompting her with a quirk of an eyebrow.

In no world does Jamie want to be that person.

Dani had sighed. “Free booze,” she’d grumbled, desperate. Jamie had rolled her eyes and opened the door to her well-stocked liquor cabinet.

Dani had pursed her lips together and turned her face away, almost quick enough for Jamie to miss the grin she was failing to suppress.

If Jamie weren’t constantly on the lookout for that smile, she might have succeeded.

Dani had sighed again, raked a hand through her fluffy, perfect hair, and flopped back on the couch.

“Okay, fine,” she huffed. “You win, don’t come, we’ll hang out over the weekend and I’ll just tell you all about how lonely I was at the party—my first party without Eddie, which everyone will probably be asking me about and I’ll have to field awkward questions all night—”

Jamie scoffed. “And you think I’m going to magically make them not be awkward?”

“No,” Dani answered, a little too quickly. “I think you’d glare at them so hard they wouldn’t even ask me in the first place.”

“I think I’ve just been insulted!”

“No,” Dani laughed, “you just have that whole—” She scrunched her eyebrows together and set her shoulders, curled her lip upwards into an unmistakable hint of a sneer. Her voice, when she spoke, was half an octave lower and at least six countries away from Jamie’s accent. “—’Don’t fuck wiv’ me’ vibe going on,” she finished.

Jamie had taken a few long moments to blink away the urge to kiss her.

“You’ve gotten worse,” she’d finally said. “Almost a year and a half working together and you’ve gotten worse.”

“Come to the party and you can spend the whole time teaching me.”

“Dani.”

“Jamie.”

Her eyes weren’t wide anymore; they’d shrunk back to being shy and vulnerable, the stormy kind of blue that Jamie didn’t ever see unless they were alone. Jamie had spent the better part of a year not acknowledging her feelings for Dani, and she was good at it. Not always good enough to escape Hannah’s shrewd gaze, but enough to where it was a genuine friendship, and she only felt the roar of devotion flare up in the quietest, most private of moments.

Jamie was excellent at controlling her emotions. She’d spent an entire lifetime honing that skill, protecting herself from the surprisingly large amount of people who seemed destined to hurt her.

Jamie had nothing on Dani Clayton.

Dani could suppress any negative feeling until it almost ceased to exist; she had an incredible way of just...willing things not to happen. It had taken months for her to reveal the cracks in her relationship with Eddie, and even then Jamie sat by and watched, completely blown away, by how quickly and how sincerely Dani put the mask back up around people who only wanted to see silk and porcelain. The crazy thing about it was that Dani meant it; Dani gave all of her attention to everyone who asked for it. She didn’t have an insincere bone in her body.

But, god—Jamie’s life had been shit before, and still nothing made her sadder than watching Dani perform.

If all it took for her not to do that was one party, well, she could table the rest of it for later.

She’d picked up her phone and opened up the group chat they had with Hannah, Owen, and Rebecca.

“Right,” she’d groaned, “guess we’ve gotta coordinate who’s driving because the only way I’m getting through this is if I’m very, very drunk.”

And so Jamie finds herself at the not-yet-Christmas, ambiguously-winter end-of-semester party, sticking to Rebecca like a leech while she regales groups of coworkers with the same six stories of her very impulsive, wildly successful trip around the world. Dani, meanwhile, hasn’t been answering any awkward questions, from what Jamie’s heard, and is instead relaxed and popular as she chats with all of their friends.

Jamie almost turned around ten minutes in, once it became clear what the tone of the night would be. But there was no sense in bailing when she was already there and hadn’t driven herself, and—

Who would be there for Dani to look at, every twenty minutes or so, just for reassurance or to check in or whatever kind of comfort she might be seeking. (Jamie doesn’t know for sure what it is. She knows what she hopes it is. But that’s something else for the ‘later’ bag.)

She stays. Jamie stays and drinks and laughs and eventually gets sucked into the party of it all, which is why she’s five minutes into her best story of youthful shenanigans that didn’t end in a visit from the cops, and absolutely doesn’t notice the anxious blonde rushing at her from across the room.

“Hold my hand, hold my hand, hold my hand,” Dani urges, arm outstretched as she speeds closer. She hits Jamie’s elbow when she gets close enough and finally manages to wrestle Jamie’s hand into an iron grip.

Jamie, sufficiently interrupted, stops talking and looks down. “What’s going on here, then?”

Dani takes a deep breath and plasters on the worst attempt at a smile Jamie’s ever seen, which is still pretty good by most peoples’ standards. “Remember all those awkward questions I thought I’d get about Eddie?” she says through clenched teeth.

“Yep.”

“Thought they’d be full of pity, not flirting.”

Jamie’s head shoots up, trying to pick out the offenders, but Dani slaps her elbow again.

“Don’t look!” she hisses. “We have to make this convincing.”

“Make what convincing?” Jamie narrows her eyes and takes a long sip of her drink. “You’re pulling me into some kind of scheme, Poppins, and I know I’ve told you what happened the last time somebody did that…”

Dani laughs, high and fluttery and nervous in the back of her throat. “Please just hold my hand,” she implores. “Nathan is basically undressing me with his eyes but I think you can scare him off if he sees us together.”

“Nathan?” Jamie starts to scan the room again, a little less obviously this time. “Nathan Ford, the school’s sluttiest social studies teacher?”

“Mhm.”

“The same Nathan Ford who’s walking over right now?”

“What!” Dani straightens up, rigid and spooked like a deer in the road. “I can’t believe—I was so careful; is he stalking me?”

The anxiety is short-lived and replaced very quickly with anger once Jamie can no longer hold in her laughter.

“You,” Dani says, prying Jamie’s drink from her other hand, “tricked me.”

“You tricked me first,” Jamie winks.

“I don’t even think he’s in here anymore.”

Jamie shrugs. “Probably not.”

“You made me think I was in so much trouble…”

“You’re always safe with me, Poppins.”

Dani finishes the drink.

The funny thing is, neither of them lets go.

Nathan Ford isn’t the only slutty teacher and it doesn’t take Jamie long to get a glimpse of what Dani’s been dealing with, the men—single and married—who look at her just a little too long, a little too presumptuously. Dani, of course, handles it with grace and charm, and Jamie thinks that maybe she didn’t need her grumpy buffer after all.

She holds tight anyway, just in case.

It’s a dangerous thing to do, parade a fake relationship in front of all of their coworkers, but it doesn’t feel wrong or forced. They’re going on a break soon, Jamie rationalizes. School is going on a two-week break and everyone is drunk and no one is going to remember the scandal of the fourth grade teacher clinging all night to the newest member of the art department. If they do...well, everything can be laughed off or pushed down or forgotten eventually.

So they cling and they talk and Jamie expertly lets every too-interested man know, with absolute certainty, that their efforts should be directed elsewhere. She tickles her fingers against Dani’s, throws in a few isn’t that right, love’s every once in a while, rubs a hand on her back when the moment feels right. And Dani—

Dani invades her space—presses their shoulders together, scratches at the inside of Jamie’s wrist, wipes a stray bit of liquor from the side of her mouth after an untidy sip. Jamie feels all of this and lets it wash over her, lets it sink under her skin and warm her body until she feels like she could start a fire with her hands.

The night winds down and people filter out and eventually there isn’t anyone left to fool. But Dani’s hand is still in hers and Jamie is more than happy to be slow and soft with her. She stays, for the tenth and fifteenth and hundredth time.

It’s just the five of them left, eventually, and they migrate to the bar when the party room in the back seems too large for such a small group. They situate themselves on stools in the corner, and the conversation flows without a hitch. It always has with this group—Owen, Hannah, and Rebecca first, then Dani, then Jamie. She’d tell them all how much it really means to know them if anyone got enough drink in her.

Until then, she’ll scoff at group texts and drag her feet to parties and settle into the fact that they all know it’s for show anyway.

She props her head on her hand and listens, quickly approaching the sleepy part of drinking. She tries not to watch Dani too much while they all talk but it’s difficult—Dani is noticeable at a distance and absolutely striking up close. The curl of her lips as she smiles, the way they overtake her entire face if she means it enough (and she usually does); the laughter that pours out of her and directly into the hearts of anyone lucky enough to be listening; the way her ears look bigger when she hooks her hair behind them, how she only does that when she’s in very comfortable company.

After about thirty minutes, Jamie gets up to retrieve their coats before she does something stupid, like playfully tug at Dani’s earlobe or reach in to straighten the collar on her shirt.

She returns shortly, holding her leather jacket and Dani’s very puffy winter coat, and sits down without a word, content to wait for a natural break in the conversation. She folds the coats over her lap and fiddles with a coaster on the counter.

Dani absently reaches back to still her fingers after about a minute. A simple gesture—resting her hand atop Jamie’s, perhaps swiping her thumb across the back of her hand. Nothing like the displays they’d been putting on earlier. So unlike them, in fact, that Jamie doesn’t notice it at all.

Owen, Hannah, and Rebecca can’t take their eyes off it.

“So, what, were you waiting to tell me until I got back?”

Jamie nurses the dregs of her beer. “Tell you what?”

“This, what is this!” Rebecca exclaims, fluttering her fingers in the direction of Jamie and Dani’s still-clasped hands. “I go gallivanting around the world for an entire year and neither of you mention that you’ve shacked up?”

Jamie and Dani look at their hands, look at each other, and start speaking at the same time.

“We’re not dating, it was just a stupid thing for tonight—”

“Jamie’s doing me a favor since Eddie’s gone and men are creepy—”

“Right, sure.” Rebecca squints and fixes both of them with a sly glance. “It’s just for tonight, to ward off creepy men, which is why you’re still doing it since there are so many of them around now.”

“Must have just gotten used to it,” Dani offers weakly.

“Of course, which is why you still haven’t let go.”

Jamie lets go and tries not to telegraph how much she misses the weight of Dani’s hand.

“You’re definitely not dating,” Rebecca continues, “which is why Jamie got up and got her coat and Dani’s, and left the rest of us hanging.”

Dani looks down and finally notices the coat in Jamie’s lap. “You got my coat?” she asks, furrowing her brow.

“Yeah,” Jamie shrugs. “Seemed like you were ready to go.”

“Yeah, but I was—I was still talking.”

Jamie waves a hand. “You were telling the piano lesson story; you always tell that when you want the night to wind down.”

“No, I—” Dani frowns and retrieves her purse from where it’s hooked around the stool; she rummages through it frantically, her movements loose and messy. “How did you get my coat check ticket?”

“Took that from ya ages ago, Poppins,” Jamie answers. “You were so nervous you were gonna rub the number right off it, and then we’d both be shit outta luck.”

Jamie watches as the expression on Dani’s face morphs, unfurls from stern, puzzled ridges and relaxes into fondness, into twinkling eyes and soft cheeks, a mischievous affection that floors Jamie every time she sees it. Every time, she wonders how many people have been lucky enough to have been on the receiving end of this look, and hopes that the answer is ‘very few’.

“We should, um, probably go,” Dani whispers.

Jamie smiles. “We all drove here together,” she reminds Dani, just as quietly.

Dani slumps back. She reaches for her coat but instead of grabbing it, simply rests her hand on top, like she’s waiting.

Jamie breathes deeply and avoids looking at Rebecca.

“Owen, mate,” she says, daring him to tease her, “maybe you could drop off Dani and me first.”

#the haunting of bly manor #damie #dani x jamie #dani clayton #jamie taylor #can't believe it's taken me this long to jump on the bly manor bandwagon but #here i am boys here i am world!!#as usual: this got out of hand!!!#tumblr fic #long post #anonymous #carments

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s-lily · 3 years

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Loki in Thor

So I decided to watch Thor's MCU movies (again), this time paying special attention to Loki's POV, and oh boy! You know, I've always had a problem with Thor (2011), aka Loki's First Existential Meltdown, but this time it was too obvious and painful to watch (especially with access to all deleted scenes).

Spoiler ahead (but you know... from the 2011 Thor movie)

Let's take just a second to acknowledge that after he's told he was adopted, Frigga is the only one who validates him. She goes >>You are my son, and I love you. Here is Asgard, it's yours until Father awakes, my King<< he was so confused at the moment, and he didn't even want to take the scepter! A very important piece in Loki's journey, so what the studio decided to do? They deleted it! They justify everyone's (mostly the Warriors Three and Lady Sif) suspicion about him being evil. Well, he's not!

Honestly, Thors' friends are a little dense. Even without the deleted scene, let's recap the events: The King is indisposed (Odin is having his beauty sleep), the firstborn unavailable (Thor's has been exiled), and the apparent Regent unwilling (Frigga is worried for Odin and wanted to stay at his side), but somehow making the second born, Loki, the acting ruler is so treacherous. He must have surely stolen the throne! (note the sarcasm here)

Ok, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt because he didn't want to undo Odin's last order (although it's not like they need Thor back. Asgard was not in imminent danger or something. Basically, they are just unhappy that their best friend can not go out to play because he was grounded). But - insert frustration mannerisms here - Seriously? What did they expect? It's not like Odin is dead. He is going to wake up, and when he does, who will be the one in trouble because Thor is back? Ding! Ding! Ding! Exactly! Loki.

Not to mention the emotional turmoil in which Loki is at that point. He's not Odin's son, plus he's telling himself he is unworthy, a monster, a relic waiting to be used. He wants to prove him wrong, that he is worthy. He even goes to Earth and tries to lift Mjölnir, but he can't, and again he is reinforced with the idea that he is unworthy.

Now that we're are on Earth, let’s talk about why did he tell Thor that Odin is dead because of him? Surely he is evil, isn't he? Well, not really. I admit that telling Thor that was mean, but I think he is merely projecting his own feelings. Remember, Odin fell asleep meanwhile he was arguing with Loki. It's Loki's fault Odin is vulnerable, he feels guilty, but at the same time, Loki hasn't had the opportunity to overcome his existential crisis when talking to his father, and Thor is the only one who is available to work it out.

What about Frigga? You may ask. Frigga already validated him. She loves him, and he loves her. There is not more unfinished business with her. On the other hand, he has a lot of issues with Thor.

Sibling rivalry is normal, even Disney's perfect duo (Elsa and Anna) has some of it. Do you remember Anna's song about being like a little extra button? Probably not, because it's an outtake song - insert frustration mannerisms here - but look at it, and you'll know what I'm talking about. (More Than Just the Spare is the title). The point is that all the unspoken brother rivalry has multiplied it with the revelation of his true nature. Every single favor Odin had with Thor over him, no matter how minimal, now it's an open raw wound. He's envious more than ever.

Funny thing. Loki is the most sincere in this movie. In the deleted scene before the coronation, he said to Thor that sometimes he is envious, but never doubt he loves him (why delete it! it was only 3 minutes long! and the brotherly banter was great). He said to Thor in the final battle that he never wanted the throne, that's clear as crystal in the deleted scene when he is made King (again! why deleted such important 4 minutes!), and it's proved it again when he told Laufey he only showed them the way into Asgard to protect it from Thor's idiotic rule for a while longer. Please pay attention to the "a while longer" it means he has accepted Thor would be the king, he was at peace with that (even when Odin has told them both were born to be king), but he knew his brother was not ready, so he put that stunt with the Frost Giants in motion to prove himself right (he never intended to put Asgard at risk, he knew, as Odin said, it was the act of a few doomed to fail, he only wanted to ruin Coronation Day). He is sincere and confesses to his brother's friends he is the one who told the guard to go for dear daddy to stop them (which backfires because now Hogun and Sif think of him as a traitor. Just because he did the right thing to do! Even when all of them knew that going to Jötunheimr was a bad idea).

The sad thing is that Thor doesn't even know what is happening. He's on Earth having his Hero Journey until his friends find him (and gave him their version of the facts) and now his little brother suddenly turned vicious, and he doesn't know why.

Now, I want to rant about Heimdall. I understand the Warrior Three dislike for Loki (he is Thor's annoying little brother who always tags along, most likely to be the snitch, and who to Asgardian standards is not a skilled warrior because he prefers to use magic and tricks instead of brute force). However, Heimdall is supposed to be this wise man, yet he treats Loki, a Prince (don't forget about it), with disdain and disrespect. He has watched all of Loki's life. He's watched him grow. He knows he is a mischief kid, probably a little spoiled. (who would blame him? If someone messed with him, here comes big brother Thor at the rescue. If the thing turned serious, he is the second born of All-Father Odin. I would like to see somebody fight that. And hell sure, he's mommy's little boy, so he probably got away with a lot of things. Actually, that's probably what made him the Good of Mischief. Ok, I'm rambling now, back to the main issue) Heimdall knows he is clever, and honestly probably more apt for political affairs than Thor at this point, but when Loki is named king, he seems unable to show a little bit of loyalty. He's blind because Loki bypassed his all-mighty sight. Yikes! Chill out!, now he knows how everyone else feels.

Finally, the last blow. Loki said to Odin (and still refers to him as Father - I'm not crying, I'm not crying) that he could have succeeded. Wipe out all the Frost Giant, he could have eliminated all trace of his monstrous side. He said "for you" as in for you to be my only father, for you to accept me as your son, and not a relic to trade with, and what Odin said? No. (I'm well aware Odin said "No" more in like >>that's no the way, you're my son no matter what<<, and not like >>I don't accept you<< ) Loki is in a lot of emotional distress here, and he is hanging off the Bifrost's cliff, he feels rejected, he feels unworthy, so he let himself go. He drops loose from his father's scepter lets himself consume in the void of space.

And the hope of surviving wasn't on his face.

#marvel #loki meta #loki #thor #loki series #post: mine #// PS I don't include the genocide attempt on the Frost Giants as a villainous act because later on we learned in Thor Ragnarok from Hella #that Odin's morning tea was made just of that.

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singledarkshade · 3 years

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Scarred By Time

Author’s Note: I'm procrastinating writing something else so I ended up picking this up once more. Another chapter will hopefully appear at some point. Hope you enjoy. Part One can be found here. ********************************************* Part Two The building sitting at the edge of the city loomed above them as they walked towards it from the parking lot.

Everyone had heard of TM Consultancy these days. It was a think tank which had a reputation for creative brilliant solutions to problems most people would dismiss as unsolvable. They had appeared from nowhere about two years ago and quickly built their reputation.

Sara Lance looked at the three people standing with her at the entrance, Ray Palmer, Nate Heywood and Zari Tomaz, three people who didn’t normally work together. She knew them through some mutual friends and the bar she hung out at some weekends.

“What do a scientist, a historian, a hacker and a martial arts instructor have in common?” Sara asked thoughtfully.

Ray grinned at her, “I think we’re about to find out.”

Sara watched the main doors open before them. Swapping confused glances, they walked in and looked around the spacious comfortable almost empty reception area.

“Good morning,” the woman who stood waiting for them said as they moved closer, she had long chestnut brown hair with storm-grey eyes. Her face had a pleasant but neutral expression while she held a tablet in her hand, “Miss Lance, Dr Palmer, Mr Heywood and Miss Tomaz, it is a pleasure to meet you. Dr Hunter is waiting for you. Please follow me.”

They stared when she turned and walked through the wall behind her. Looking at one another again, they shrugged and followed the woman. All cried out in surprise and pain when they walked into a solid barrier.

“Gideon,” a man’s annoyed voice came making them turn to see Rip Hunter, owner of TM Consultancy standing inside an elevator. He was tall, with sandy hair, neatly trimmed beard, intense green eyes and was dressed head to toe in black, the only part of his body uncovered was his face despite the fact it was the middle of summer but the thing that especially caught Sara’s attention were the leather gloves he wore.

The woman reappeared asking innocently, “Yes?”

“Stop it,” he stated before turning to them, “My apologies, she has currently developed a rather childish sense of humour since her recent upgrade.”

Sara could see the others as bemused as she was, “What?”

“Gideon is the AI who runs the building,” Hunter explained, obviously trying not to laugh as Gideon crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him before disappearing back through the wall once more, “Follow me and we can discuss why I’ve asked you here.”

“Thank you for coming,” Hunter said as they filed into an office decorated in neutral colours with a long dark wooden desk in the middle and the sun shining through the wall of windows, “I’m sure you’re all busy so I’m not going to waste too much of your time. The reason I asked you here is to offer you a job.”

“What?” Sara spoke up.

He gave a slight smile, “All four of you have very specific skills which would be useful in order for us to expand our business.”

“What work exactly?” Ray asked thoughtfully.

“We find solutions for problems that others can’t,” Hunter replied, “Each of you have the skills I am looking for to expand the team.”

Sara frowned before challenging, “Considering my skills, what job do you expect me to do?”

“You’re a leader, Miss Lance,” he said, “I want you to manage this team.”

“What wages and perks are you offering?” Zari asked, “Because we all currently have pretty good jobs.”

Hunter smiled slightly again, Sara wondered if he knew how to smile properly, before he told them, “Gideon has emailed you a copy of your contract as well as details of all monetary compensation.”

“And you can’t give us any specific details of what we’ll actually be doing?” Nate demanded.

Hunter mused for a moment before nodding, “I’ll send you some write-ups of our previous cases, but there is information that you will not be privy to unless you are working for us. I will say that your days won’t ever be able to be called boring.”

With that the meeting was over.

Rip stood in his office watching from the window the people, he had hopefully just hired, leave the property to consider his offer, stunned that he’d made it to this stage. ‘Time’ had confirmed that all those that were needed would be in the right place when required and Rip had been concerned that something would go wrong. It had been a long five years, three of which he’d spent alone and two more building up a business so that he had a way to bring the team together.

“I still do not believe that hiring them is a good idea,” Gideon’s voice made him turn to find her standing at his side.

“We need Sara to recant her wish now John and Mick have managed to capture the Djinn,” Rip reminded her, “But in order for her to do that then she must know about the fact she made it. If she’s working here, then we can ease her into the information. The other three will help with finding the information to convince her it’s real and not some kind of joke.”

Gideon rested her hand on his shoulder, the sensors in his clothes letting him feel her touch, “Then we need to get back to work.”

“Yes, we do.”

“Although,” Gideon noted, “You have not yet eaten this morning.”

Rip rolled his eyes, “I will get something just now.”

Gideon nodded, “Excellent. I will have something waiting for you in the dining room. I’ll meet you there.”

With that she disappeared, and Rip looked out the window once more at the four people walking away.

Part of him hoped this worked but he also knew if it did, then he would leave Gideon again.

And he hated that thought.

*********************************************

Gideon had been watching her Captain carefully over the past few weeks since he’d made the decision to contact the Legends in this version of the world. John had managed to track down the Djinn who had tricked Sara into making the wish that created this reality, trap it and it was currently being stored in the Waverider under several layers of security both technological and magical.

Although she knew that this was what Rip had been working towards for many years, she feared him succeeding because Gideon would lose him once more.

She never used her hologram and turned her cameras off whenever he was in the shower or changing because Gideon knew Rip hated anyone, even her, seeing the scars that covered every part of his body.

The reminder that to give the Legends time to defeat Mallus after they had blundered in without a proper plan, he had been ripped apart by the energy from the time core.

“Gideon,” he called, letting her know he was dressed.

Turning her camera and hologram back on, Gideon smiled to find him dressed and heading out the room.

“Yes?” she asked as she followed him to the elevator.

“Have we received a reply from anyone yet?” he waited as Gideon sent the elevator down to the sixth floor so he could have breakfast.

Gideon shook her head, “I’m afraid not, Rip. However, it has only been a few days and the remuneration package you are providing may be giving them pause.”

“Should I have offered more?” Rip frowned concerned.

“From what Mr Constantine has said,” Gideon noted as they walked the corridor to the dining room, “You may have offered them too much.”

Rip rolled his eyes, “Money has never been something that has meant much to me, not since I was a child, and I stole whatever I could get my hands on. The Waverider always provided what I required. I probably should have had Mr Rory work out those details.”

“His economic knowledge is quite surprising,” Gideon noted.

Gideon gently touched his hand and Rip took a hold of it. She was relieved he had agreed to let her put the sensors in his clothing, Rip needed physical contact of some kind and would never accept it from Mr Constantine or Mr Rory.

Gideon knew from when Rip and Miranda had been together how much just a simple touch of his hand or kiss on his cheek from his wife, comforted and made him smile.

Rip turned to her and rested his other hand on her cheek, “I’m fine, Gideon.”

“I’m not,” she whispered, leaning into his touch, “Because the closer we get to fixing the mess Miss Lance made with her wish, the day I lose you again draws ever nearer.”

Sighing, Rip shook his head, “I’ve been dead a long time, Gideon. It’s just going to take this time.”

“Captain…”

“I’m at peace with my decision,” Rip told her, “I only wish it didn’t mean leaving you once more.”

Gideon closed her eyes and turned her face to press a soft kiss to his palm, “We have time before that moment comes, Rip and I will treasure each moment.”

“Have you found anything, Mr Constantine?”

Swearing John jumped, “Make a noise, Gideon before you appear.”

“I am constantly monitoring all parts of this facility,” Gideon noted with a roll of her eyes, “I am always here.”

Shaking his head and muttering under his breath, John pulled over the book so she could see it properly.

“I think I can summon the corporeal version of ‘Time’,” John told her, “But what do we do then? We can’t threaten him to keep Rip alive after we’ve fixed things.”

“I am aware of this, Mr Constantine,” Gideon replied sharply, “However, I will not allow Rip to die again without trying something to save him. This way we have a chance to find out what we can do.”

John shook his head, “I know, Gideon. Look,” he closed the book, “I need to collect some stuff to do the summoning so I will start gathering them up. And we can work on what we offer.”

She nodded, “Thank you.”

“He’s my friend too,” John reminded her, “And I won’t let him go without a fight.”

Gideon gave him a soft smile before she tilted her head, “The Legends have replied to the job offers. I will leave you to work while I report this to Captain Hunter.”

As Gideon disappeared again, John mused over everything. It was only a few hours after he’d been resuscitated into this world that Gideon asked him to find a way to help her save Rip after he saved the world.

He knew Rip and Gideon were close, but the past few years a lot of the time John could see how close they truly were. Gideon had implanted every piece of clothing Rip wore with sensors allowing her to physically interact with him. John had been a bit weirded out by it at first but realised after a while that it was good for Rip.

John smiled slightly, thinking back to anytime he saw Rip and Miranda together. How she would always place a hand on his arm, or lean into him to look at something, she’d brush a kiss to his cheek whenever she left the room or would simply sit on Rip’s lap without even acknowledging him.

It always made Rip smile and relax, Gideon knew this too so, as always, was looking out for her Captain.

*********************************************

Sara stood with her arms folded as she stood just outside the TM Consultancy building.

“You know,” Zari said as she walked up to Sara’s side, “We only get paid if we go inside and work.”

Shrugging Sara asked, “Don’t you think this is a little odd?”

“A little,” Zari agreed, “I nearly passed out when I saw the salary we were being offered. Not to mention the bonuses for completed jobs.”

Sara nodded, “I know what you mean. It…” she hesitated, trying to find the words, “The job is amazing and so much better than the one I was doing but there is just something odd about it and Hunter.”

“His dress sense screams that,” Zari laughed, “Do you think he knows the all black outfit makes him look like a stick-insect?”

Sara chuckled, “It’s the fact every part of him was covered other than his face I found odd.”

Zari shrugged, “Maybe he just doesn’t like the cold.”

“We’re in the middle of summer,” Sara sighed, “Never mind. We’re due in ten minutes and I don’t want to be late on my first day.”

They started towards the gates and Sara mused over everything. There was something strange about this entire thing and she intended to find out what reason this guy had for hiring them. The money he offered them all was incredible, far more than she expected ever to earn with her qualifications.

Reaching the reception, they found Ray and Nate were already there, sitting on the plush couch just to one side of the desk.

“We were told to wait,” Nate told her, “I don’t think the computer likes us much.”

Sara and Zari took a seat as Zari asked, “Why?”

“Just the look she gave me,” Nate replied.

Ray shook his head, “You’re imagining things. She was very pleasant, and this time didn’t make us run into a wall.”

Zari chuckled, “Come on, that was a little funny. And the fact she’s an AI with a sense of humour, this job won’t be boring.”

“Boring is something I’m not expecting,” Sara mused.

“Are you ready for this, Captain?” Gideon asked softly as he stood in his office watching the video screen showing the four people waiting in reception.

Rip shook his head, “Honestly, no.”

Placing her hand on his back, Gideon whispered, “You don’t have to do this.”

Turning Rip took her hand, “I do. This world isn’t real. It is missing those who will step in and save it from dangers that normal people cannot.”

“Why is there no other way?” Gideon asked.

Sliding his arms around her, Rip drew her in for a hug, “Because there isn’t. Sara recants her wish, the world goes back to how it was…”

“And I lose you again,” Gideon sighed, her head resting against his shoulder, “Only this time it will be forever.”

Rip closed his eyes before he reminded her, “I made my choice, Gideon. I never wanted to leave you and I don’t but…”

“But?” she pulled back and looked at him with large eyes.

He let out a slow breath, “I can’t be selfish, Gideon as much as I want to. The world is wrong, and I made a deal to fix it. I made a promise.”

“You are far too honourable sometimes, Captain.”

Rip sighed, “You are probably the only one who has ever thought that.” He gave her a smile and rested his hand on her shoulder, “Let’s go meet our new employees.”

“I hope you ensure to remind them that I don’t take orders from them,” Gideon told him, turning on her heel towards the elevator.

Rip smiled and followed her.

The ding of the elevator made Sara jump to her feet along with the other three.

“Good morning,” Hunter greeted them, wearing basically the same outfit as he had been on the day he’d ‘interviewed’ them, except his polo neck was blue not black, “I’m glad you all decided to take up my offer.”

“Well,” Sara spoke for the group, “It was a hard offer to say no to.”

He gave a slight smile and handed Gideon who was waiting at his side the tablet he had been holding. Sara stared, feeling the others stunned looks as well, when the AI took it.

“How did you do that?” Ray demanded.

Hunter glanced at Gideon before replying, “Executive level clearance.” He turned and headed to the elevator frowning as he turned back to find them staring at him, “Please join me and we can start the tour.”

Sara took the lead and walked into the elevator with the other three joining after a moment.

“Before I show you your offices,” Hunter said as the doors closed, “I want to confirm to you the areas that are off-limits no matter what. These are the top two floors which house the apartments used by myself, Mr Rory and Mr Constantine. None of us will be happy if you wander into our private rooms. Secondly is the basement.”

“Keeping the bodies down there?” Zari asked with a chuckle.

Hunter gave her one of his slight smiles before replying, “Just filled with so much junk it’s dangerous and I don’t want any of you to get lost down there, it could take days to find you.”

*********************************************

John went through his checklist for the summoning spell. It had taken him a month to get everything together with Gideon constantly checking on him.

He had avoided the Legends since Rip had brought them in, it was just weird that they didn’t know him, and he knew Mick was also avoiding being around them. The former thief and Bounty Hunter had taken to working in a Think Tank, amazingly becoming their security expert with enthusiasm. When they’d joined Rip and started creating the business, Gideon had gone about reorganising the building so that it worked both for their business but also for a place for the three of them to live.

“Please tell me you’re ready, Mr Constantine,” Gideon’s exasperated voice preceded her hologram appearing.

John smiled to himself at her irritation, “I take it one of our new recruits has annoyed you.”

“Mr Heywood insists on calling me ‘computer’,” she snapped, “Honestly it is only due my promise to Captain Hunter that I have not retaliated.”

“Sorry, Gideon,” he sighed, “I’ll talk to him. Because the last thing we need is Rip to deck him for disrespecting you.”

A sweet smile touched her lips and John, not for the first time since he’d been woken in this new world, realised how little he’d understood just how self-aware and ‘human’ Gideon was.

“Before that though,” John pulled out the spell book, “Lock the door and we can try the spell.”

Gideon nodded and John heard the click of the lock as he pulled out everything he required for the summoning.

“Okay,” he took a breath, “Are we ready?”

“Whenever you are.”

John started the summoning spell, feeling the enormous power he was bringing into the room but it wasn’t the first time he’d interacted with something powerful and held his nerve.

Finally a man stood in front of him, or it looked like the shape of a man but John couldn’t quite see the features or anything other than a slightly grey shape.

“Not many people are brave, or powerful enough, to summon me,” the voice echoed off every corner of the room meaning John was in no doubt this was ‘Time’, “Why have you done this?”

“Rip Hunter,” John said, “I want to know what is needed so that he will survive once he gets the wish recanted.”

‘Time’ tilted its head, “Rip Hunter is dead. I was only able to return him to life because of the wish. He knows this.”

“He does,” John replied, “But he deserves something more than to die again once he fixes things for you.”

“He does,” ‘Time’ agreed, “But I could only give him life in exchange for another.”

“Then take mine,” Gideon spoke suddenly.

John spun to her, “What? No?”

“You are an AI,” ‘Time’ mused, “Offering your basic immortal life for a human?”

“For him,” Gideon replied, “Yes.”

‘Time’ moved to her, “Do you understand what you are offering?”

“I do,” Gideon nodded, “And I want to ensure if I do this then he is completely whole once more.”

“Gideon,” John snapped, “Rip would never agree…”

“Your offer is accepted,” ‘Time’ interrupted John.

John frowned, “No, wait.”

“The offer was made without guile,” ‘Time’ told him, “Without deceit. It was given freely and has been accepted.”

With that said ‘Time’ disappeared.

John spun to Gideon, “Rip will never agree to this.”

“He does not need to know until after Miss Lance has recanted her wish,” Gideon told him.

“And you think I’m not going to tell him?”

Gideon nodded, “I know you will not.”

Bright light filled the room and John blinked.

Looking around he frowned, before checking the book, “It didn’t work, did it?”

“No, Mr Constantine,” Gideon replied, “What you intended did not happen.”

Sighing John said, “I’m sorry, Gideon. I know how disappointed you must be. I can try again.”

Gideon gave him a sad smile, “It took you almost two years to track down that spell. It is doubtful you will be able to find another in time.”

John sighed as Gideon disappeared and he began to tidy up, disappointed that he’d failed.

#fic #legends of tomorrow #rip hunter #gideon #john constantine #sara lance #zari tomaz #ray palmer #nate heywood #alternate universe

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dragon-fics · 3 years

Text

DOS: A Princely Predicament (Male Human x Dragon/Reader)

Chapter summary: For years the only interaction you hade with humans was pillaging their villages. So when a king comes to you with a scheme on how to kidnap what would later turn out to be your greatest treasure.

F/C = Favourite colour

* = means (my) father

I hated humans. I just hated them. You could hide your quiet, solitary self, high in a mountain, away from all the drama of the world and somehow one would still scurry its way up to jab at you with its tiny metal handheld spike.

And the worst ones were the ones that dreamt of greatness and glory, and killing a great dragon such as myself seemed to be the most popular way of doing it. Obviously, none of them had succeeded.

So, when this visitor arrived, let’s just say I almost bit his head off before he had even spoken. But I’m glad I didn’t; I got some fine treasure out of it.

“You want me to do what?” I spat, peering down at the king who stood in front of me.

He held his pale face calmly, staying stoic and proud. “To kidnap Prince Lansa and keep him here until I send someone to fetch him,” King Darius said. He and King Alo were rivals. And from what I understood, Darius was desperate for an alliance. But he hated doing things civilly, so he figured that this way was the most convenient way.

“And what’s in it for me?” I hissed, flicking out my tongue.

Darius smirked, scratching his black beard. “Why, treasure of course.” He threw his hand back to a knight stood at the mouth of my cave. He led forward a horse-drawn carriage, piled up with gems and gold. The treasure caught the morning light beautifully.

A grin caught my face. So much treasure for babysitting a prince? I almost laughed at the thought.

“And there’ll be more when you capture the prince, and much more will be given once I send someone to pick him up—for the inconvenience.” He grinned. A few of his knights glanced at each other. “So, do we have a deal, (Y/N)?”

I looked up, focusing on the sky outside. The dripping of water from the man-made pond in the other room filled the silence. Darius stayed completely still and silent. “Very well,” I said finally. “We have a deal.”

He offered his hand to shake. I offered him a claw and shook it. “I look forward to working with you, Darius.”

*~*~*~*

“Let go of me! You foul beast!” Prince Lansa yelled. He wriggled in my front talons, punching my claws.

I chuckled and flew higher. “I’m not going to do that, Princess. You’re much too valuable to let drop.”

Lansa groaned, irritated. “I am not a princess. I am a prince.”

I snorted amusingly. “I’m well aware, Lansa.” I looked ahead at the twinkling stars and the spire that pierced the clouds. The spire that was my home. I flapped my wings harder, putting on a burst of speed.

“What do you want me for?” he demanded, hitting my claws again. I felt something tickle my digits.

I chuckled. “Magic will not free you, Princess.”

Lansa scoffed and held himself still. “Well, what are you going to do with me?”

I smirked. “Eat you, of course. After a good game of cat and mouse, or rather, dragon and human.”

He flinched in my hold and looked down. “Wonderful,” he murmured.

I soared towards my cave, seeing its opening and landing just in front of it, by the smooth, round pillars, holding my wings out for balance as I teetered on my rear legs. I placed Lansa on the ground.

He stumbled forward, gathering his balance. I looked down at him in his red evening suit. I picked up a torch on the ground and blew a plume of fire onto the tar at one end, its warm light illuminating his face as he stared up at me in quiet awe. He had several gold pieces and gems embedded in his ears, a delicate gold chain and ruby around his neck, and bands of gold and silver around almost every digit.

I would hate to admit it, but he had quite a handsome, pointed face with light brown skin and long, dark hair in a long plait.

“What?” Lansa spat, noticing my face. “I thought you said you were going to eat me.”

I cocked a brow. “Well, I lied.” I picked him up by the back of his clothes.

“Hey! My garments are very expensive!” he yelled, throwing his hands all over the place.

I growled and walked on the smooth, straight-line cracked floor. I walked passed the stone, seated human in its chair. Its shattered head lay in rubble by its feet. I hit one of the bigger pieces with my tail, shattering it into smaller pieces.

“How dare you?!” Lansa seethed. “Broella did not give you life just so you could smash her head into such small pieces no one would ever recognise her!”

“I washn’t aware see wash shomeome speshial,” I said between clenched teeth.

“This entire temple is littered with paintings and statues of her. How could you not know about the most important deity to ever exist!” he lectured, crossing his weak rope arms.

I hummed and ignored him, making my way to the back of this so-called temple. In the centre was a man-made pool of water with some other human standing with a bucket of water. Once upon a time, water flowed from the bucket in some magical way, but it no longer did. Surrounding the stone pond were piles upon piles of gold and gems and my soft bed made of goat, sheep and oxen hides.

I dropped Lansa on the hides and pinned him down with my rear leg. He uttered a sound of mild discomfort. “Don’t even think of moving.”

He scoffed and rested his head in his hands.

I rolled my eyes and put down my torch in a stand, rummaging around in a pile of gold, remembering what I’d robbed from a town a few years ago. They had kept a fire phoenix in a cage, so naturally I took the cage and released the fiery bird. The cage itself was silver—whether it was actually silver was another thing—and embedded with gems. So, I kept it.

Finally, I pulled it out from beneath its pile of gold. I shook it, getting rid of any loose coins and gems. I placed it on the ground with a clang. Opening the wire door, lifted my paw from Lansa.

He pushed himself to his tiny feet. “You must be joking,” he said in a flat, yet irritated tone. He scowled at me. The cage was just big enough for him to stand and lie in comfortably.

“In. Now.” I growled, slamming a paw down onto the floor beside him.

“What do you actually want with me?” Lansa said with a penetrating gaze.

“Does it matter?” I lowered my head to get a better look at him.

His brown eyes stared deep into mine. He lifted his suspicious look. “You have beautiful eyes,” he commented.

I raised my head, baffled.

Lansa looked at the cage. “I suppose not. Either way, I’ll either end up dead or you’ll trade me for treasure or a feast,” he answered. He stepped into the cage. “But if I’m expected to stay here, I wish for some pillows and some blankets.”

I peered down at him, closing the door with a soft clatter. “And what happens if I don’t provide things for your comfort?”

He smirked. “I can be very aggravating. Plus, I’ve got magic.”

I barked a laugh, making him jump. “Magic? I’d hardly even say you’re capable of a simple card trick.”

Lansa scoffed, clearly offended. “I promise you; I can be very aggravating.”

Continuing to laugh, I walked away. I went over to my bed of hides. I picked up a bundle of sheep’s wool, a deer hide, a blanket and a cushion, all from raids. Opening the door, I tossed in the soft belongings.

“There,” I said, shutting it. I lay down on my bed, yawning widely.

Lansa got to work quickly. I observed him. Placing the wool down first, he made a mattress. He draped the deer hide over the wool and then set up the cushion and blanket on top. He removed his jacket and lay beneath the blanket, dozing off quickly.

I waited a few moments before coming closer to his cage and lifting it up. I studied him for a moment and hung him from the chandelier high above my bed. As I smothered the light, my eyelids grew heavy, and I dozed off.

*~*~*~*

“Get. Me. Down. From heeeeere!” Lansa bellowed.

I cracked open my eyes with a groan. “Shut up!” I groaned, reaching for a piece of gold. I launched it at him, eyes closed, and missed.

He groaned. “Well, I need to get out of this cage!” he whined urgently.

I lifted my head groggily. “And why exactly to you need to leave the cage?” I asked. I yawned and stretched out my wings.

Lansa sighed. “I have an urgent need,” he mumbled.

I forced myself to my feet, exasperated. I looked at him. He was holding his paws over the fork of his legs, his knees together. I sighed and lowered the cage onto the ground. I opened the door. “Just remember that I’m faster,” I warned.

He jogged out of the room to the entrance of the temple. I plodded after him, stretching my legs. Settling in front of the giant statue of the deity Lansa had lectured me on yesterday, I looked at its robes and narrow figure. I stared at it for a long time, unsure why exactly he had taken so much offense to the rock being broken.

“So now you take an interest, dragon,” Lansa said, emerging through the entrance.

“(Y/N),” I corrected. “That is my name.”

He echoed it quietly and stopped by my talons. “I’ll remember that.”

I hummed. “Who is she?” I asked.

“That is Broella,” Lansa said, “the Goddess of Life. She created the world and everything in it. She is the mother of all gods.”

“Huh,” I said, looking down at him.

He looked up at me with another penetrating gaze. “How do you know my name?”

I looked back at the pale stone statue. “I’ve been watching you for a while.” That was partially true.

“And why have you been watching?” he asked apprehensively.

“Because,” I started, “you’re handsome.” That too was only partially a lie.

Lansa looked away from me. “So, is that why you kidnapped me? To make me your…?” he trailed off, uncomfortable.

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

He looked away. “Wonderful,” he sighed.

I hit him with the end of my tail. “Right. Back into your cage, I have things to do.”

Lansa yelped, stumbling forward. “Ow! Alright. Alright.” He walked back to my hoardroom with me. I locked him back into his cage and left the temple, keeping an eye out for Darius.

*~*~*~*

There had been no sign of Darius all day.

I snorted, frustrated, as I walked into the dark temple. I spared the statue of Broella a glance and walked through to my hoardroom. Lansa was sitting on my bed of hides, reading a book with an orb of yellow light hovering above his open palm. It surprised me he hadn’t just left.

“Still here?” I called, lighting the tar torch and placing it in a stand by the hides.

He shrugged. “Did you bring something to eat?”

I snorted, amused. “You ate last night.”

“But I’m staaarving!” Lansa whined. He was already aggravating, and I’d only spent a few spare moments with him.

“Fine,” I huffed. “I’ll get you a rabbit or something.”

He rushed to his feet. “Can I come with you?”

“Fine. But don’t make a sound.” I was willing to do anything not to risk hearing him whine and moan.

Lansa grinned and went for my leg. He gripped my shoulder, and I tossed him back. “What… are you doing?”

He held his hand to his head. “I was trying to get onto your back.”

“And why would you do that?”

Lansa got to his feet. “How else was I going to keep up with you?”

I sighed. How did this tiny thing with needle-like limbs think of everything? “Alright. But no poking or kicking or anything like that. It is a privilege to ride a dragon, Princess.” I raised my nose.

He huffed. “I promise I won’t poke or kick you.”

I nodded, bending my leg for him to clamber up onto my back.

Lansa got up quickly and settled into the spot between my shoulders and neck. “Alright, let’s go.”

Scoffing, I walked out of the temple. I treaded along the path I had made for myself, staying low to the ground. I avoided low-hanging branches and other obstacles for Lansa. It made me feel ridiculous.

Finally, I glimpsed some movement along the trees. “Off,” I whispered.

Lansa slid off my back without a moment’s hesitation, and I pounced on the movement. A rabbit landed between my claws. I swiftly cut its throat and picked it up. “On,” I ordered. He got onto my back, and I walked back to the temple.

“That was quick,” Lansa commented. “Did your parents teach you to hunt?”

“Yesh,” I responded, entering the temple, my jaws clamped shut. I stopped in the hoardroom and dropped the rabbit on the floor.

Lansa slid off my back and looked at it. “Can you cook it?”

I eyed him. “Cook it?”

“Yes,” he said. “Humans can’t eat meat raw.”

I sighed and blew a plume of flames onto the rabbit. Its skin and fur were burnt away, leaving bare, smoked brown rabbit meat. “There,” I said, walking over to my bed.

Lansa picked up the cooked rabbit and scrambled after me. He sat opposite me on the animal hides. He graciously ate the rabbit. You’d know he was a prince.

“Is it to your standard?” I asked, not truly caring if it was.

He nodded, taking another bite. “Yes. Thank you,” he responded after swallowing.

I looked out of the room, towards the statue’s room. “Of course. Can’t let my Princess have food that’s not up to his liking.”

*~*~*~*

It took two weeks before Darius showed up. And unfortunately, Lansa had grown on me. A lot.

It was ridiculous; I know. But I had developed a bit of a crush on him. He taught me a lot about the statues at the temple; he read to me most nights, and he really enjoyed flying, making him an excellent company.

And I’d rather not bring up about how often I thought about him when I was away. I wondered if he was alright, whether some nasty pest might hurt him, or if Darius had sent his knight and snuck past me. At this point in time, I was honestly questioning whether I was going to let Darius take him away.

“Hey, (Y/N),” Lansa said, touching my foreleg.

I stilled at his touch, coming out of my thoughts. “Princess,” I responded, looking down at him.

He looked up at me. “Are you ok? You’ve been out here for a while. Just… sitting.”

I looked back out at the rising sun. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just thinking.”

“Thinking? Since when do you think?”

I snorted and hit him with my tail.

“Ow!” he hissed. “Okay, sorry.” He rubbed his lower back. “So, what were you thinking about?”

I hummed, wondering if I should be honest. I drew in a breath. “Lansa,” I started.

He tapped my leg, interrupting me. “Eh, (Y/N), who’s that?” he pointed to the rocky trail that led to the base of the mountain.

I followed his gaze. It was Darius, making his way up with three wagons filled with gold and seven knights. I stood up and spread my wings. I tightened my jaw. Add to my piles of gold or protect Lansa? That was what was running through my mind.

Finally, I said, “Get on my back.”

Lansa looked from me to the king and his knights. “(Y/N)? What’s wrong?”

“I’ll explain later. Just get on my back.” I bent my leg for him to get on.

He glanced at the group getting closer and climbed up onto me. As soon as he was settled, I leaped up into the sky, my wings catching the wind. Lansa gripped my neck as I rose into the sky. Behind me, I heard king Darius yell and swear at me.

Finally, I levelled out over the clouds. Water droplets clung to my scales as I skimmed the clouds. Lansa sat up and looked around. He admired the view before looking at my head.

“(Y/N)? Who were those people?”

I faltered, my wings beating irregularly. “That was King Darius,” I replied, ashamed.

“And why was he coming up to you? And how did he know your name?”

“Because… I made a deal with him,” I sighed. I looked up at the horizon, where the sea of clouds met the bright blue sky.

“What sort of a deal?” Lansa asked suspiciously, leaning over my shoulder, trying to catch my eye.

I stayed silent, unable to respond. We had gotten so close; I couldn’t let that fall apart now.

Lansa sighed, exasperated. “What. Sort of deal. Did you make. With Darius, (Y/N)?” he said, his patience waning.

I looked at the rolling cloud beneath me. “I made a deal… to kidnap you, and guard you. In exchange for treasure,” I admitted, my head dipping sombrely.

He took a moment, cooling off before he spoke. I could tell it outraged him with how his heels dug into my shoulders and his finger clenched my spike. He drew in a large breath and looked up, his face still and regal as his limbs relaxed. “So why did you fly away with me?”

I raised my head. “Because…” I took in a breath, mustering up every bit of courage I had. “Because you mean a lot to me, and I don’t want to lose you. So, I’m going to return you home and fight off Darius or move somewhere else, depending on my mood.” I glanced down; we were almost on top of King Alo’s castle.

“My father won’t just let you leave,” Lansa said.

“Then I will fight my way out. No king has ever captured or imprisoned me.” I snorted out a plume of smoke.

He spluttered and coughed. “That’s not what I m—AHHH!” he was cut off as I dove.

They built the castle in a niche of low-lying canyon, so it was almost out of sight to dragons who couldn’t see it. A longer, more hidden niche was close to it, with tiny houses pointing up from the pale rock. Farms made up the bed of the valley, with a meandering river separating the animals from the vegetable patches.

I slowed to a stop by the castle, landing in the cool courtyard. The walls and roofs of the castle were the same beige colour as the rocks and were at almost ninety-degree angles to each other, as were all the other houses’.

Lansa slid off my back as guards came rushing towards me. I growled and spread my wings.

“No!” Lansa hissed, touching my leg. “Stay, please. My father will want to see you.”

“Why?” I hissed back.

Not a moment later, King Alo appeared through the large wooden doors. He wasn’t much taller than Lansa, with long grey hair in an even longer plait than Lansa had. His skin was slightly paler than his son’s. White robes hung on his body and a necklace made of black bone and white beads decorated his chest. He was in fine health, one of the healthiest older humans I have ever seen.

“Oh, Lannie,” Alo cried, wrapping his arms around Lansa.

The guards pointed their spears at me. I shot them deadly glares, wishing I could hit them with my tail, or bat them away with my wings, or lash at them with my claws. But I didn’t. I lashed my tail in irritation and glanced at each one or their painted faces.

Lansa held his father close. “It’s good to be back, Nòsh*,” he whispered.

I looked away from the two. Such a sappy view made me uncomfortable. I shifted on my feet, monitoring the guards.

Lansa released his father, giving him a smile that said, “I won’t admit it, but I missed you”.

“And who might this be?” King Alo asked in the same suspicious tone Lansa used.

I inclined my head to him. “I am—”

“—Nòsh. This is (Y/N).” Lansa introduced, cutting me off. “He/She/They rescued me from the terrible dragon that stole me away.” He put his hand to his heart and looked up at me with the awe-inspired and grateful look. He looked back at his father. “He/She/They brought me back here to make sure I got home safe. Apparently, King Darius wanted to buy me off (Y/N) to make an alliance with you. But of course, he/she/they couldn’t let that happen, now, could you?” He looked back up at me.

I shook my head. Playing along seemed like the best option right now. “N-no. No, I couldn’t.”

A small smile flashed across Lansa’s face. “So that’s why he/she is/they are here. To ensure Darius didn’t capture me and make a fool out of you.”

Alo looked up at me and pinched the triangular stone dangling from his chain of beads between his fingers. “Well, you have done me a great service, (Y/N).” He came closer, touching my shoulder. “Lower your weapons,” he ordered. The guards obeyed, standing at attention. Alo dug his finger into one of my (F/C) coloured scales. “Come. I’ve got so many questions to ask you.” He spun around, striding towards the doors into the castle.

I lowered my head to Lansa’s eye-level. “What does he mean?”

“let’s just say that Nòsh is a huge dragon nerd,” he whispered to me.

“Oh,” I said in understanding. I raised my head again and walked after King Alo Lansa, walking beside me. “So,” I started, once the guards and the king were out of hearing distance. “Why did you lie?”

Lansa smiled at me. “Because I don’t want to lose you either.”

Like I said, I got some fine treasure out of making a deal with Darius.

#dragon #dragon one shots #x reader #fantasy #writing #short story #one-shot #one shots #prince x dragon

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murdereraisuha · 3 years

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Classpecting TWST: Savanaclaw

Time to classpect the dorm that deserved better writing-wise. I’m gonna start tagging these “twst analysis” now too cause I am basically using the classpect stuff as a vehicle for getting a better understanding of the characters

Spoilers for chapter 2 and some of the trio’s personal stories. No knowledge of Homestuck required to read.

[Image description: A banner containing a picture of Leona, the symbol for the hope aspect, and the words “Leona Kingscholar: Prince of Hope”]

Before we get to the reasoning, I just want to say, Leona I am so sorry you have to share a classpect with Eridan. Okay now I’ll hand the mic to past me.

Throughout his personal stories, we see that Leona is fine with resorting to underhanded tactics, but he specifically values cleverness and creative use of resources. Leona looks down on those who don’t exhibit those things (ex. the Savanaclaw students in Leona’s dorm uniform story who tried to beat up Jack using sheer numbers).

Leona tends to only expend effort on things that benefit him in some way.

Leona is a powerful and intelligent magic user; he could have easily graduated already if he wanted to, but it seems he doesn’t want to.

Despite Leona’s strengths, those around him criticized him and constantly compared him to his brother due to Leona being the 2nd born prince. No matter what he did, he could not sway those opinions. He could never become number 1.

Because of this, he developed the belief that life isn’t fair and he gives up on things rather easily.

Based on this, I have 3 aspects in mind: rage, hope, and doom.

Rage and hope go hand in hand as opposites: rage is negative emotions, rejection, and doubt, while hope is positive emotions, acceptance, and ideals. For Leona, his story seems to be about him having given up on his hope and dreams of ever succeeding. In its place he has become quick to deem efforts worthless. He acts antagonistic to people like Vil and Malleus, and he seems to disapprove of some of Jack’s honorable ideals. All of these things connect to the parts of rage/hope.

Doom is also a possibility, as it represents negativity, decay, and limits. It is the opposite to life, the aspect that I picked for Kalim. Therefore, I think doom is plausible since Leona shows the opposite side to the luxuries enjoyed by Kalim and Farena as first borns.

Now for classes. I don’t think Leona does much stealing, he doesn’t suffer from indecision, he doesn’t put up any masks, and he’s not a very healing focused person. I think that narrows it down to witch, heir, mage, prince, and bard.

If it’s prince or bard it would have to be hope, in which case prince of hope fits Leona best due to his destruction of hope being focused more than just happening naturally. Though Leona has suffered, it seems to have more hampered his potential than gave him useful knowledge so now I’m kicking out mage. Heir seems to fit best if it’s as a heir of rage. Finally, I’m also kicking out witch since he he doesn’t do much manipulation of any of the 3 aspects.

Between prince of hope and heir of rage... it’s prince of hope. Since Leona says that nothing he did could sway people’s negative opinion of him, we can assume that Leona had hope earlier in his life that he could change those opinions. He did stuff like studying and improving his magic until he finally realized that that wasn’t changing his image at all. Rather than preserve his hope, he choose to destroy it, making his class the active destroyer class, prince.

In chapter 2, he rallies Ruggie the rest of his dorm against Diasomnia, using their hopes as a tool for destroying the other teams. In 2-24 Leona then tries to destroy their hopes once he deems their plan useless. At one point he says 「じゃあ本当のことを教えてやるよ」, translated by Shel_BB on youtube as “Let me give you a dose of reality.” This and the other things he says this episode really connect to the hope/rage themes of reality vs fantasy and stop vs go. Therefore, quite ironically since he is an actual prince, Leona's classpect seems to be a prince of hope.

[Image description: A banner containing a picture of Ruggie, the symbol for the Life aspect, and the words “Ruggie Bucchi: Rogue of Life”]

Ruggie grew up in a poor environment with food insecurity. Many of his clothes are hand-me-downs, he’s fine with eating odd things like dandelions, and before holiday break he raids the cafeteria for food to bring back for the others in his town.

Ruggie’s official hobby is part-time jobs. From working at Mostro Lounge to selling mandrakes, he’s really focused on earning money however he can.

His skillset, which includes pickpocketing and haggling, lets Ruggie pull off plenty of clever and underhanded tricks.

However, like Leona, Ruggie still has standards: in one of his ceremony robe voice lines, he says that he prefers his lot in life over that of a spoiled, rich person without any problems.

His dorm uniform personal story, where he teams up with Trein’s cat to get magic history help and catch rats, is about using the power of others instead of relying solely on himself.

There were 3 paragraphs of stuff here that I deleted because I was getting absolutely nowhere. I didn’t expect Ruggie to be this hard.

Like, Ruggie's problems kinda seem to stem from just poverty and Leona being an asshole. Well, hm, actually if we combine the moral of his dorm uniform story and Ruggie acting like Leona’s maid, perhaps Ruggie’s problem is something like he keeps taking on burdens? Out of everyone who lives in his slums, he’s likely the only one going to a prestigious school like NRC. He’s likely well-known there because of that and him bringing back food a lot. Are Ruggie’s ambitions for a good job not only his own ambitions, but that of the whole community? I’ve always been a bit confused about why Ruggie helps Leona out outside of the magift tournament stuff. Is he... so used to having to help others and constantly take on jobs that his standards for what’s reasonable work are gone? I just went through the chats and in Jack’s one with Ruggie, Jack is telling him about having to find something to draw for a homework assignment and Ruggie immediately offers to go get his warthog piggy bank. Bruh?? Doesn’t that have your money? Why are you just lending it out like that????

Alright, because Ruggie is a guy who needs to chill and have some me-time, I’m narrowing his class down to rogue, maid, or knight. For aspects, I’m thinking life (energy & luxury), time (action & death), or blood (community & responsibility).

On second thought, I’m kicking out maid and blood. Rogue & knight and life & time seem to fit Ruggie better. And now my best guess is rogue of life. First, he obviously fits the stealing aspect of the class through his skill at stealing. Like how a rogue redistributes things, Ruggie obtains money/food to redistribute to the others in the slums. He also injured the people in chapter 2, basically taking life from them, which resulted in Savanaclaw's chances of winning the tournament getting stronger. For the tendency of rogues to have a hard time coping with having their aspect, Ruggie has a hard time accepting luxury/relaxation time. He funnels all his resources into efficient causes and his community. Also, in Jack’s dorm outfit personal story where Jack tries to help him out with stuff, Ruggie is distrustful of him and goes out of his way to avoid him.

I didn’t have any sort of eureka moment with this one like I had with the twins, so I’m still unsure about it. However, considering that TWST characters obviously weren’t meant to get crammed into the classpect system, it makes sense that some might not fit perfectly. So, with what I do have, I think that Ruggie is a rogue of life.

[Image description: A banner containing a picture of Jack Howl, the symbol for the mind aspect, and the words “Jack Howl: Page of Mind”]

Jack values honor, strength, and hard work. He believes that people should accomplish things through their own efforts rather than lowly tricks.

Therefore, Jack disapproves of Leona and Ruggie's method of doing things.

In contrast to how Leona and Ruggie use others, Jack sometimes refuses help, like in chapter 2 when he claims he can handle his dorm by himself.

Jack is quite intelligent and insightful, as shown by his comments throughout chapter 3 and his scary outfit personal story.

Jack respects social/group hierarchies and takes care not to disturb order, as shown in his dorm outfit personal story.

Also in his dorm outfit personal story, Jack says that he wants to become someone with a single true purpose.

So, I'm already kind of stumped. He doesn't have any big moments in the spotlight during the main story, so there's not much to go off of there.

We have to start somewhere though. So, first off, I’ll eliminate the destruction classes and theft since he doesn’t do much of either. I’ll also eliminate the knowledge classes since I don’t think he holds any special knowledge of anything.

For potential aspects, after eliminating the ones that seem mostly irrelevant to him, I’m left with mind, heart, hope, rage, or blood. The 2 that particularly stick out to me are mind and heart.

Mind is the aspect of logic, unbiasedness, morality, and blending in. For Jack, his strong focus on justice even when it means going against someone he once admired seems very mind-like. His care in not stepping out of line in social situations also relates to blending in. Of course, we should still keep mind’s opposite, heart, in consideration.

Now that I’m pretty confident his aspect is mind or heart, we’re left with 12 possible classpects. I still can’t narrow it down well, let’s go back to Jack’s traits.

What challenges does he face or have to overcome? In the main story, the problem he faces is trying to correct the injustice in his dorm by himself. In his dorm outfit story, the problem he faces is being over zealous about helping Ruggie. Wait, actually, that’s not right. Though that is a problem, it seems like the main growth/realization for Jack is about his motivation for helping Ruggie. When questioned by Ruggie in part 1, he mainly cites the group hierarchy as the reasons for his actions. However, later on, Deuce deduces (haha) that Jack looks up to Ruggie like a big brother. Though Jack denies it, at the end of the story he asks if Ruggie would let him call him big bro.

It’s like he is concerned about justice and social harmony (mind stuff), but in reality he does stuff according to his impulses and emotions (heart stuff). This doesn’t feel like a prince/bard situation though, it isn’t dysfunctional or destructive enough for that. I thought that the pages of the cast might be Epel and/or Sebek, but it seems that Jack may be a page.

Pages, the passive exploitation class, are characterized by a deficit in their aspect that they try to hide and overcome. Like how Jack takes his service of Ruggie too far, pages often overshoot in their efforts to correct their weakness. However, as they grow and learn from their mistakes, pages become masters of their aspect, like in Jack’s scary outfit story where he starts out with a bad idea then at the end develops it into a sound plan to scare the tourists. That also fits well with mind, since smoke and mirrors is another big part of that aspect.

Therefore, with how well this class seems to fit with Jack’s actions and motivations, I think that he is probably a page of mind.

#twst #twisted wonderland #classpect #savanaclaw #leona kingscholar #ruggie bucchi #jack howl #homestuck #twst analysis

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ready-to-obeyme · 4 years

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[OM!] All Demon Brothers + Undateables as Babysitters (Part 2)

Scenario: For the sake of the exchange program (probably), the entire cast is now in charge of taking care of kids ranging from infants to pre-K children at a daycare with you. Headcanons on what type of babysitter they would be + whatever cute shenanigans that may occur

Note: Baby fever!! Inspiration is the entirety of Gakuen Babysitter/School Babysitter, as previously mentioned.

why do i always make my headcanons so long

[Part 1] has the 7 Demon Brothers

Part 2 will have all Five Undateables

Solomon

“Kids are just so funny, don’t you think?”

Similar to Satan where he acts very casual and is actually very casual, but… the kids are scared of him LMAO

They can’t vibe him out so every time he tries to help them, they’re a little nervous and would prefer to just latch onto you, so if anything he helps the kids bond with YOU

He doesn’t seem to bothered by the cold response, and if anything, seems amused by it and encourages the fear for a little since it lets the kids listen to him immediately, but you’re quick to suggest that he please drop the sus front and help you

Solomon uses magic to appeal to the kids-- real magic but also magic tricks mixed in there as well and the kids are fascinated

“Is that magic?”

“Yup!” Solomon says, summoning dozens of birds from a random hat he found. (The clean-up was horrendous.)

It’s so easy to win them over after that with his sleight of hand-- pulling out a coin from your ear or a flower from your nose-- and overall using his skills to dazzle the kids into forgetting they were ever afraid of him

Likes to tease the kids though, which sometimes results in them crying if he accidentally takes it too far like if he says “I’ve got your nose!” and then proceeds to ‘poof’ it out of existence by pretending to put it into a hat and disappearing it-- like Solomon, c’mon they’re three years old, they’re not going to be able to tell whether or not you’re joking so put that nose back where it belong or so help me--

On the other hand, Solomon is adept at cheering kids up when they’re upset by doing silly antics like continuously pulling out coins from the kid’s ears and being (fake) surprised by how much is coming out so the kids giggle

Solomon is quite fond of kids so he actually doesn’t really mind this episode of babysitting

He’s basically just acting like an older brother to all these kids

Quite efficient with diapers and feeding babies

Diavolo

It was definitely his idea to do this, and like everything that’s new to him, he’s excited to see how he can handle it and whether the kids will like him

Spoiler alert, they do

Diavolo tells so many dad-jokes, and it makes the kids giggle every time; they love his energy and how he lets them do whatever they want (to an extent) as long as they stay safe

The kids probably disappointed them once by doing something they weren’t supposed to or by not listening to you, and his sad ‘i’m not mad, just disappointed’ look is enough to make them not want to do anything bad ever again

You probably think Diavolo lets the kid run wild, but he’s actually very attentive to each kids-- sensing whether they’re upset or not and keeping an eye on the kids whenever they’re outside playing

The kids probably know it too, inside, that Diavolo will keep them safe, so they like hanging out with Diavolo and trust him a lot, which is honestly the highest praise to Diavolo who beams every time the kids are comfortable enough to nap around him

Similar to Beel, uses his strength to appeal to the kids, lifting them up and carrying them around-- but in the most chaotic way possible; you’re not worried he’d drop them, but seeing him carrying a kid by the leg behind his back or having two kids on each of his shoulders makes your heart leap to your throat every time (for more than one reason)

At this point, you’re not sure if Diavolo is the dad or the funny uncle

When Diavolo talks to the kids, he is so gentle with them-- if any of the kids ever do something bad, the best person to talk to them is Diavolo because he sounds so understanding and tbh getting chided by him feels like you’re being scolded by your dad

When you ask him why he’s so good at handling kids, he just gives you a smile; he’s fascinated by kids, mainly because they grow up so fast and learn so much from the world around them, and he wants to encourage that sort of positive outlook for them

Simeon

He’s the type of babysitter that everyone tries to be good for because making him sad is the Worst Thing you could possibly do

Simeon knows that all the kids love him to the point that they’d be good for him, but he doesn’t like them know that and he definitely uses that to his advantage when trying to convince them to take their nap or be nice to each other

Surprisingly strict when it comes to keeping schedule and cleaning up; makes sure everyone has a role and that they’re all being fair to each other-- so he has that good balance of being super nice that he’s well-liked but strict enough so that they listen to him

Probably helps the kids put on a play reenacting either their favorite book or even something that Simeon wrote out for them

You’re a little worried having him direct, but Simeon assures you that he knows that they’re kids and he won’t hold them to the same standards as he did for the RAD School Festival

He’s actually gentle and very nurturing-- some kids probably accidentally call him mom (but he’s really nice about it and laughs, brushing it off so the kid doesn’t get too embarrassed)

if you encourage it the entire daycare might end up calling him mom at least once

Simeon really encourages their expression and praises come easy to him so the kids are always eager to learn more and do better while also having fun; also what he doesn’t know is that the kids are super in love with his smile

He’s quite used to mentoring kids and likes to see kids explore their environment and learn from experience rather than have him tell them what to do-- he’s the type of babysitter to ask them what they learned and ask whether or not that was a good/bad idea so that they can formulate their own world view and grow

Definitely gives the kids ‘tasks’ to complete or their first errand to run and watches over them as they do it just to make sure they don’t get hurt while doing them; then rewards them whenever they succeeded

Barbatos

Something about butlers being very similar in every story, but Barbatos is definitely a diligent and extremely efficient babysitter-- and the kids are fascinated with him

They follow him around, eyes wide open, as if doing so will help them see and understand how Barbatos can clean up the room in five seconds tops and change a diaper with a sweep of his hands

He definitely notices this, and if he’s using more dramatic motions just to put on a show for them, no one comments on it

Barbatos is like those enigmas where you don’t really know how strict he is, but you’d rather not find out

It’s in the way he speaks and in his tone of voice that the kids pick up the fact that they should probably behave when Barbatos is babysitting them-- and it’s further amplified when Barbatos tells a kid to not do something without even turning around to look and now the kids are convinced Barbatos has eyes at the back of his head

He definitely bakes goods and cuts up fruits for the kids to eat during recess or break time, so if the kids weren’t won over before, they definitely are now

To be honest, when you have a babysitting shift with Barbatos, you’re hard pressed to get him to let you work since he gets everything done so quickly and without prompting

Luke

Is literally the biggest kid in the playground

Sweet and tries to help you wherever he can when it comes to the kids, but is a little lost when it comes to comforting an upset kid-- and he’s very distraught that he doesn’t know how so he ends up baking and giving cookies to kids who did well or to cheer them up, so honestly that’s perfectly good on its own

Carried a baby once and now he doesn’t ever want to let go because… you mean to say all humans were this small once? You mean you were this small once? He’s a little in awe because he’s never been exposed to much outside of the celestial realm, so this very well may be the first time he’s seen human children

Some of the kids definitely do have a fun time teasing him though, pulling on his apron or shirt and then running away when Luke gets mad at them, but the kids do love Luke though-- he really is like their older brother and they follow him around like ducklings as long as Luke doesn’t notice

He learns really quickly and gets really good at taking care of the babies and interacting with the kids, and you’re really proud of how he’s grown during this time

Luke is very sad when they have to leave and stop babysitting because he got really attached to the kids and actually really liked being needed and taking care of them; if the kids start crying at him leaving, he WILL cry with them

#obey me #obey me headcanons #obey me diavolo #obey me barbatos #obey me simeon #obey me solomon #obey me luke

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