#Gilgamesh is the one that finds them first and he gets out of there upon realizing the two are conspiring in causing chaos

[mrwavellswaps]

Rejuvenation

Read the first part of this story: Taking Back Youth ⬇️

“What to do, what to do” Mr Wavell thought as he floated around town, looking down at all the potential test subjects. Half the time he likes to pick a man (usually a gay one) out of the crowd and just follow them around for awhile, learning a bit about their life as a simple observer before making his move. Though as his gaze scanned across the people, he noticed one man in particular that stood out. Not because of his looks or what he was wearing but rather because his soul and body didn’t match.

Curiously Wavell floated over to the man as he walked through the street with a confident smirk. He was a tall, relatively broad man. Handsome features with a short beard and ginger hair. Not to mention he was shirtless due to the hot weather and showing off a generous amount of red chest hair. A hot piece of meat for sure but how the hell did he acquire this body? Wavell couldn’t sense any magic emanating from his soul meaning he wasn’t a warlock himself nor could he sense the magic residue of another witch or warlock that may have done it. Which could only mean he used some sort of magic item or spell… interesting.

“Now let’s see what kind of body you gave up for this one shall we.” Wavell placed an invisible hand on the oblivious man’s shoulder. The ginger stud felt a shiver across his body as Wavell used it to find a link back to its original soul. Within seconds he sensed the matching signature not far from where they were. After that he didn’t waste anytime, teleporting away towards the signature.

Upon arrival he found himself in a small apartment a few blocks away. There was an old man who looked to be in his early 60’s sat with his head down on a desk, surrounded by masses of empty beer bottles. It was a sad sight to behold. This guy was in the prime of his life before it all got stripped away from him.

“Tell me. How exactly did you end up in that body?”

“HOLY FUCK! HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE AN-… wait… what did you say?!” Evan was startled by the sudden voice behind him as Wavell undid his cloaking spell.

“I asked how you ended up with that body. I found the man who was piloting your real one so I used him to find you.” Wavell stated simply. Evan of course inquired this odd man on how he even knew about that to which Mr Wavell responded by informing him of his magic abilities. To prove such, the Warlock used his power to rid the apartment of all it’s mess. With a wave of his hand, beer bottles were gone, clothes were clean and folded, bed sheets were made and so on. Evan was completely dumbfounded but at least now he knew this guy was serious about that magic stuff.

“It happened about a week ago… I was getting drunk at a bar after a bad breakup when this old dude started hitting on me. I accepted his advances and the next thing I knew I was absolutely smashed out of my mind and fucking this dude in his apartment. After we fucked I blacked out and when I woke up, he had my body…”

“Do you know how exactly he was able to do it?”

“I’m not sure. He just said something about a ritual I think and that the last component it needed was for us to swap sexual fluids?”

“A ritual huh? He must’ve used some sort of magical item given to him to enact it. I wonder if Gilgamesh had something to do with that…”

“Gilga-who now?”

“He’s a friend of mine with similar interests, not that it matters to you. Anyways I’m off. I was just curious about your situation. That’s all.” With that Wavell floated up into the air once again. He was about to teleport away when the man grabbed his leg. Evan begged Wavell to stay, pleading with him to use his power to fix this and give him back his old body. With a sigh, the warlock lowered himself down to the floor once more. “Look, Evan is it? Swapping souls, changing bodies, shifting minds. It’s what I live for. So why would I use my magic to correct something that would’ve happily done myself in the first place?”

Evan’s eyes sunk as he looked back down at the old, chubby body that’d been forced upon him. The last glimmer of hope he’d gained slowly fading as he sat himself down on the bed. Mr Wavell was about take his leave again but as he glanced at Evan again, he couldn’t help but feel some sort of pity for the man. Rolling his eyes he said to the man “Fine. I’ll help you out… but I’m not going to put you back in your old body.” Evan was confused, proceeding to ask how the hell it’d be helping if not giving back his body. “Well from what I can tell, your soul is about 27 years old. How’s about we have your current body match that.”

The warlock gets Evan to stand more towards the centre of the room. Upon doing so he conjured up a full body mirror from thin air, allowing Evan to see his reflection before waving his hand to get rid of the old man’s clothes. “Just so you can have a good view of this next part…” Wavell whispered while place his hands on Evan’s shoulders. They began emit a warm violet glow that pulsed into Evan’s body, filling him with a strange sensation. A pulsing heat that surged it’s way across his body, forcing it’s way into every part of his being. It was as if he were being embraced by a warm aura of pure energy. But it got better. It took a few seconds for him to notice but as he looked into the mirror Evan saw how the grey hairs on his head were beginning to regain their colour while his wrinkles faded. The fat across his body gradually began to melting away as he got leaner while his body hairs darkened and his skin became more tanned. Evan’s receding hairline began fixing itself, pulling forwards as his hair grew thicker and healthier, now completely dark brunette. The mustache on his upper lip became less pronounced, fading into a full face of stubble while his aged eyes regained a youthful glow. Lean muscle began to grow and define itself in places where fat had disappeared, forming strong and tight.

“How are you feeling so far.” Wavell murmured, wrapping an arm around Evan before grasping his member. “Does the heat of rejuvenation feel good?” He added. Evan could only groan in response as his dick was flooded with newfound youth, growing hard as a rock at Wavell’s gentle touch. His body continued to regress back through its 30’s. Skin looking younger, hair looking thicker, testosterone increasing. His cock bucked with excitement as his balls began to churn, feeling so sensitive as Wavell continued to pump him gently. Then at last the heat began to subside as Evan reached his late 20’s once more.

“I-I can’t… believe it.” Looking into the mirror he could tell this was still Carl’s body but now he looked like he could be a Men’s Fitness Model.

“Mhmm, this body was quite the looker in its younger days it seems. Perhaps not as muscular as your old body but certainly a few inches taller and I don’t doubt you’ll grow into it some more… unless you want me to grow it for you.” Wavell leaned in, kissing Evan’s neck while squeezing that excited cock a little before letting go.

“R-really?!” Evan pondered those words for a moment. Was Mr Wavell really offering to just hulk out his body right here and now? Evan had no doubt it was within the warlocks power after what’d just transpired but… he declined to Wavell’s surprise. “As fucking amazing as that sounds, if I’m gonna make this body just as if not buffer than my original, I want to do it myself.” He stated confidently as he spun himself around a couple times, inspecting all his newly invigorated assets.

“Are you sure? Doesn’t have to be your entire body. Perhaps just one or two little things you want improving?”

Evan thought hard for a moment, checking himself out from multiple angles. He had to say, one of the things he was missing the most from his previous body while looking at this one had to be his former bubble butt. Just the thought that Carl was now flaunting that ass around town and getting a bunch of dick was pissing him off. Speaking of dick, his current one was seemed about average at what looked to be around 6.5 inches yet his old one was certainly over 7 inches. He thought it over for a second but soon decided to ask if he could get a slight improvement in both areas.

“Oh that’ll be no problem whatsoever but how’s about we make it just a tad bit more interesting.” Wavell stepped around in front of Evan, having to look up slightly at the man before getting down onto his knees and taking Evan’s already excited cock in his mouth. Murmurs of satisfaction slipped from Evan’s mouth as Wavell worked his bearded lips around the shaft like a pro. It felt odd though, like a similar heat to what he felt while regressing was now emanating from inside Wavell’s mouth and embracing his cock. After that Evan felt what he could only explain as a second erection. As if his cock had only at half mast before and was now somehow growing even further! Veins bulged across the growing appendage while Wavell continued to bob his head generously, gradually having to open his mouth wider as the cock inside thickened. Wavell grabbed hold of Evan’s balls in the process, massaging them as he felt the leaking member slowly push itself further down his throat. Evan grunted, feeling his balls pull up slightly before dropping back down with a bit more heft than before, repeating this cycle a couple of times until he had nice fat balls that were teeming with cum and testosterone. After that, all Wavell had to do was go deep one last time, swallowing the entire cock and that was enough to send Evan over the edge. Warm nectar came flowing out, coating the inside of Wavell’s throat white before swallowing every drop.

After taking a moment to savour the taste, Wavell pulls himself away from Evan’s crotch. An audible pop could be heard as his lips released the wet member to swing down between Evan’s legs with a new weight to it. Looking down Evan could see the clear difference in size. Before this body had been average in the dick department but now it was longer and thicker than ever! Especially the fat mushroom head it now adorned, still dripping cum. It had to be at least 9 inches! Probably a little more! Well it was certainly bigger than his original cock that’s for sure. Not to mention the heavy balls he was swinging now.

“Woah! I can’t believe how huge it is now! Fuuuuck.” Evan gripped his new and improved manhood. The length was amazing sure but god did the girth feel phenomenal. Not being able to wrap his hand fully around his cock was an almost euphoric experience. It made him feel superior in a way though that could’ve just been all extra testosterone talking.

Wavell chuckled as he pulled himself back up. “Now… time for that ass of yours.” Smirking as he pulled Evan towards the bed, pushing him down onto the sheets. Evan laid himself down on his stomach, his ass served up and ready to be bred. Wavell kicked off his shoes while unzipping his pants, soon pulling out his own monster cock. He pumped a little for a moment as he pressed a finger inside Evan’s hole. Yup, that was gonna be far too tight for his cock but it certainly wasn’t something a little magic couldn’t fix. Just then Evan felt a shiver pulse through his body as his hole suddenly loosened and relaxed. “Perfect.”

The neighbours could only wonder what the hell was happening in ‘Carl’s’ apartment as through the thin walls they could echos of deep grunting and groaning. How could Evan not groan when he felt Mr Wavell’s fat rod slide inside him. Even after having his hole loosened, Evan still felt himself being stretched slightly while Wavell pressed his entire length inside. After that initial penetration, the warlock began to work up a gentle pace. Pump after pump filling Evan up as he started the feel that warm magical sensation once last time spreading throughout his backside. Purple energy pulsed from Wavell’s dick like a constant orgasm, slowly but surely causing Evan’s ass to inflate. Both cheeks bubbled up with fat and muscle that began to jiggle with every thrust. Seeing that only made Wavell hungrier, pounding in with more and more intensity. When the growth subsided, Evan was left with a juicy bubble butt that any gay man would die for. To have and to fuck.

Of course just because the change was complete didn’t mean they were gonna stop. Ooohh no. They were both having way too much fun. Wavell continued to pound down into Evan for awhile first before they switched positions. Wavell then laid on his back while Evan bounced on his dick as best he could. Obviously Evan couldn’t see the change that’d been made to his ass but he could most certainly feel it. All that extra padding rippling every time his ass smacked down against Wavell’s crotch. He was absolutely loving it. Not to mention his new, fatter dick jumping up and down with him was certainly a sight to behold.

They must’ve been making a ton of noise because a couple of position switches later they heard a knock at the door followed by a voice on the other side angrily telling them to quiet down. The pair only laughed at this of course, barely even stopping before getting back into rhythm. If anything Evan made an effort to moan even louder simply to piss them off.

After a good while longer however, The Great Mr Wavell was finally hitting his high. By this point they were doing doggy style with Wavell speeding up his thrusts, his full balls smacking against the bubble butt before his as they began to tense. Evan knew exactly what was coming as he heard Wavell let out a deep groan swiftly followed by an intense pulsing inside the welcoming hole. Next thing Evan knew, the flood gates had opened and Wavell was pumping load after load inside him. Thick, sticky cum drenching his insides and even spilling out due to the sheer quantity.

Wavell must’ve stayed on top of Evan for a good 5 or 10 minutes with his cock lodged inside the seeded hole. Sighs of relief could be heard however when Wavell finally decided to pull himself out before hoping off the bed. Evan on the other hand needed an extra couple more minutes before gathering up the strength to stand after that onslaught, determined to get one last look in the mirror at his newest change. And boy was he not disappointed.

“Ooohh yeah… I’m gonna rip half the pants I own now.” Evan grinned, looking over his shoulder into the reflection as he placed his hands beneath each cheeks and bounced them. “Definitely gonna have to buy myself a new wardrobe to wear.” Masses of dudes were gonna be drooling over his ass now! He played with the huge cheeks for a bit longer until he had the throw himself back onto the bed again out of soreness.

Wavell tucked his cock away into his pants. Of course knew he could rid Evan of that pain from being stretched but he loved leaving the men he’s bred with a sore ass for a day or two.

“So, before I leave, I’m curious about something.” Wavell stated while sniffing the sweaty pit stains on his dress shirt. “What are you going to do about the man who has your original flesh? I believe you said his name was Carl. Though he’s probably going by ‘Evan’ now.”

Evan had to think for a moment. Before he wasn’t sure if he’d have ever wanted to see his old self again. He thought it’s be too painful for him to see that young beautiful body he had while he was stuck with an old flabby one. Now though? Things were very different. “I’m not sure right now. I’m still pissed at him for using me when I was at such a low point just to steal my life and body. Until you came along I’ve been nothing but miserable. I should hate him but… thinking about my original body is making my dick twitch…”

“Heheh well I guess I’ll have to keep an eye on you and check in every once in awhile to see how you’re getting on. In the meantime I’ve made a minor adjustment to reality so all of Carl’s identification fits your new look. Nobody should suspect a thing.” Wavell slipped his loafers back on before floating up into the air.

Evan turned to thank the man for all he’s done but when he did, Wavell was already gone. As if he were never there to begin with. Despite that, Evan knew he was still being watched.

“Thank you Mr Wavell.”

#magic #male body swap #male body theft #identity theft #hairy #mr wavell #age regression #cock growth #ass growth #middle aged to young adult

[akampana]

18. "we have just met and yet it feels like i have known you for a lifetime." - Nebuchadnezzar II x Artoria

Prompt: "we have just met, and yet it feels like I have known you for a lifetime. Pairings: Nebuchadnezzar II x Arturia Pendragon, slight GilArt Tags: Mild Angst

Confusion wasn’t what he wanted to see when he first opened his eyes. The feat of magic that his feet stood upon was named after his dynasty, after all, he expected a warm welcome. However, it was the only emotion that filled the silence as he materialized, awkwardly followed by a triumphant greeting from the young Master that called him here. He berated the humble magus, spouted proud statements urging her to prove to him she was worthy of his presence and then–  

“See, Saber? I told you using you as a catalyst would get us someone strong!”

The king turned his head, smirking at his new Master’s praise. What sort of swordsman could have aided his passage here? A worthy rival, perhaps? Ha! He doubted it. A soldier? Another ruler?

A breath, as he took in her small figure, the torturous gentle line of her cheek. Somehow, his eyes knew her every edge, her every corner, her every nook and every curve. Somehow, he recognized the constellations dotted across her porcelain skin, wherever it peeked out from that regal, foreign dress.  Somehow, his fingers remembered the softness of her hair, longed to run through those hay strands, and never had the chance.

Envy latched onto him like a predator, tearing its ugly teeth into his neck. The ghost of her scent flitted through his memories, while presently she stood just far enough out of his reach. It made no sense why she starved him of her touch now when his memory reveled in her. Why did she hesitate to run to him? Why deter from their reunion?

Emerald eyes more beautiful than anything he's ever seen locked onto his, bringing the king to his knees before their stormy sea. He sank into the sand, bowing his head as he’d never done before as the violent waves came upon him. He knew then, that it mattered no longer what accolades he’d earned, what crown sat on his head, what achievements he had below his belt. He was just a man; a man who wanted to hear her call his name and taste the sound of it on her lips. He wanted her. He needed her. He craved her like no one else before. 

But why?

"Gil—" 

His eyes snapped open as their lips touched. No, that wasn't…he wasn't…

Her rejection burned against his chest like wildfire. He didn’t even realize he’d crossed the room to meet her till he felt her armored fingers on his skin and the rush of air rapidly filling the space she created between them. Anger burned across his cheek, smearing his—not his— body with a small streak of red. Then there was a vaguely familiar blade at his chin, held up by one delicate hand as she swiped the other against what remained of his kiss.

"Give me one reason I should not send you back to the Throne, Gilgamesh!" swordswoman warned, rage—so familiar on her face—igniting her countenance such that even their Master's commands did not deter her.

As his heart continued to beat for her, crushing itself against its unwilling ribcage in its adamant longing, the Chaldean king finally understood. Against all laws and logic the avarice of this body seeped into his very soul.  Every part, every sliver of his resurrected shell thirsted for everything she was and will be. It was like Gilgamesh's ghost was breathing down his neck, clawing at his throat with jealousy.

"My name is Nebuchadnezzar II," he worded carefully, watching those damning green eyes search for answers within his amber ones. He wondered if she’d find them. After all, here he stood, lost as a navigator on a cloudy night. His body told him she was the true way. That all roads led to her. That she was the light at the end of the long tunnel, but he didn’t know why. 

“This form tells me I am a Caster, though without this masquerade, I would present myself as a Ruler. As King of Babylon, that class ought to have been more fitting, but I suppose I should not complain of the power a body from the Age of the Gods grants me,” he explained. 

She tensed like a string pulled taught. The lines between her brows moved as she sought in him a lie. He wondered how it would feel to know her eyes in a gentler light, without mistrust or apprehension or even anger. He wanted to see in her gaze the kind of potent longing like that of his wife for her homeland. He wished for a day he was no longer at the sharper end of her sword. 

Meanwhile, the shorter king’s fingers faltered on her grip, dissuaded by vexation. A body from the Age of the Gods? What could he have possibly meant by that? She’d never known Gilgamesh to joke, but the alternative was to believe this man told the truth, and there was no conceivable way the King of Heroes would ever permit this to happen to him, even in death. 

Impossible. It had to be. This “Nebuchadnezzar II” spoke like him, moved like him—she pursed her lips—acted like him, and yet…

Arturia looked deep into his eyes, discerning if this truly was not the supercilious king that she once decided the fate of the world with. Eyes like amber struck with sunlight stared back at her just as intensely, dilated black circles drawing her in with a strange gravity Gilgamesh’s snake-like, ruby gaze used to have. 

No matter how tempting her prejudice was, slowly, her sword sheathed itself, and she turned to her shell-shocked Master with a hesitant nod of approval. Then, she made for the door. The woman king could permit a lookalike if it meant another strong ally for Master’s cause, but that didn’t mean she had to stay here, or anywhere near him for that matter. Especially when that lookalike thought he could get away with handling her. She could apologize to Master for her conduct later, but she would not stand another minute in this room.  

“Arturia.”  

The Earth stopped turning. 

Nebuchadnezzar didn’t even realize he’d spoken ‘til the sound had left his mouth. He voiced it with such ease it was like his tongue had yearned for eons to call out her name. Now her eyes clashed with his again, and though it had only been seconds since their gazes last met, it felt like a long-awaited reunion. His heart beat faster, harder, in his chest. He couldn't breathe. He wanted her to stay. 

But she, with her eyes wide as dinner plates and a quivering lip that tasted like disbelief, ran.

Run, she did, for the most grueling months Nebuchadnezzar had ever lived. Ritsuka offered to help, but he was a proud king, the architect of Babylon's most prosperous city, a god to his own people. Requesting her assistance reduced him to common folk. 

Besides, he ought not to have such troubles as those of the heart. He put his hand over his chest, trying to soothe it in vain. How humbling to think an organ the size of a fist could cripple him so, especially when this body didn't even belong to him. 

Nebuchadnezzar was by no means weak. However, considering this demigod shell hijacked his own sense of being twice now—with Enkidu and now with Arturia—whispers of thought entertained the notion he wasn't entirely himself, not anymore. Perhaps he was someone else, someone with borrowed feelings so strong they persisted long after their owner entered his tomb.

Nonetheless, even if they were borrowed, they were undoubtedly real.  

Just when he was about to retire for the evening, he heard the familiar commotion that accompanied Master's return from a successful mission, and felt the overwhelming rush of feelings that was her.

Once again, their eyes locked in a dance of ice and fire. Once again, she turned immediately away, rushing down the hallway to avoid him. Once again, he contemplated giving chase, only this time, he gave in.

"Leave," she insisted, trying in vain to get him back out her door. "Your presence is unwanted here, King of Babylon."

Her words stung like a whip, but they were nothing compared to the hurt of being shunned for weeks on end. He’d had enough of that. 

"I did not believe you a cruel king when we met, Arturia, but if you must avoid me when I have done nothing to warrant your ire, then I have grossly misjudged."

She stopped suddenly, the wrists he held in his hands going slack before she tore them from his grip. Though she put some distance between them, he felt relief that she no longer fought to drive him out. 

"Don't," she hissed, her green eyes igniting as she glared up at him. "I never gave you my true name, Nebuchadnezzar. What on God's earth makes you assume you have the right to use it?" 

He didn't answer.

Arturia inhaled sharply, massaging her temples as she tried to manage her temper. Perhaps she was being cruel. Part of her knew she was being irrational but really, there couldn't be anyone in the world who understood how she was feeling because how was she to treat someone who lived in Gilgamesh's body? 

And the kiss? Where had that come from? They were strangers so far removed in time that weren't blessed to be enemies in a Grail War. It wasn't Nebuchadnezzar who harassed her with promises of marriage. It wasn't Nebuchadnezzar who waited ten years to do it again. It wasn't Nebuchadnezzar who smiled so gently after their battle, telling her he had fun as he faded to nothing. He was merely the inheritor. 

The older king gave in, his irate gaze faltering in the heat of hers. A long, hard breath danced across her eyelashes, as he once again dared to venture into her personal space. She took a step back. Another. And suddenly, she was between the wall and a familiar face with a different name.

"Why do you know my name? And…how?" she interrogated, searching his golden eyes. They were distracted, every so often fluttering down to her mouth. She couldn't even tell if he'd heard her, the bastard.

She slapped away his hand before it could cup her cheek, banishing the confusing memory of the King of Heroes' goodbye from her memory. She knew she couldn't possibly have harmed him, and yet Nebuchadnezzar stared at her, betrayed, with her knife through his chest.

"I don't know," Nebuchadnezzar lied. 

Every inch of his very existence screamed her name at him whenever they touched, loud like war and just as deafening. It was like his body demanded he speak it, her foreign moniker a mantra maddeningly echoing in his mind. But it wasn't Nebuchadnezzar's voice that spoke it, it was—

"Then I see no reason we should associate at all—" she started and stopped, her back hitting the wall as Nebuchadnezzar held her in place. Before she could retort he was cupping her face, forcing her to witness the grief she'd just inflicted.

"Have some empathy," Please. He hadn't said it, but she could hear it in his voice.

"You—" 

He cut her off with a breath, trying not to lose himself in her scent. 

"When I first laid eyes on you it was as if I had waited several eons to see you again. I had my ambitions, my accomplishments. If I wished for anything it was more power and now that seems so terribly foolish because you exist. I was never a stranger to life's great luxuries. I never wanted beyond my own ambitions, and yet one infinitesimal moment with you in the same room made me feel as if I had nothing."

He stroked her cheek with his thumb, bittersweet nostalgia flooding his senses. Arturia stiffened, then relaxed, recognition and confusion in her eyes. 

"I was…" he sighed, mirroring her vexation "jealous of the dress that touched your skin, the floor beneath your boots, the air that left your lips—imagine how I felt when the name you spoke was not mine."

Arturia bit her lip til it went pale, her eyebrows knitting as she stared into the unfamiliar gold shade of his eyes. Gilgamesh's were red. 

"How can you claim such things?" she asked, struggling to comprehend what she was hearing. Arturia had never been the most in touch with her feelings."You do not know me, Nebuchadnezzar."

"Don't I?"

Two words, and all her common sense jumped out the window. A hitch in her breath. She feared staring at his eyes too long. She feared he'd see her waver. She feared she'd believe him. Because if what he said was true…what did that mean for his body's original owner?

"We have just met," she reasoned weakly, her voice a mere whimper.

"We have just met," he repeated, in that familiar voice yet unfamiliar tone. "and yet it feels like I have known you for a lifetime.”

She pursed her lips, pulling away from his touch. "You haven't. He hadn't. You couldn't possibly—"

His lips landed on her fingers. It was such a slight and gentle touch, she wondered if she would've minded letting them find their original target. Slowly, she untangled herself from him, weaving herself out of his arms.

"We are strangers, you and I. You must understand," she said, detaching her hand from fingers that tried in vain to keep her. 

His heart wrenched in his chest, clawing for her retreating figure, but his head kept him in place. Deep down, he knew the heated longing he felt wasn't truly his. Even if it were, he doubted he had the right to act on it, not in this form. Alas, she'd doomed Nebuchadnezzar to live his second life jealous of every mongrel that dared seek her attention.

Like hell. 

Arturia spun back around, her hand gently wrapped in his. 

“I do not wish to be strangers, Arturia,” Nebuchadnezzar declared with conviction. She stared back at him, lips pursed and jade eyes unsure. The king released her slowly, dreading that she’d run once more, but she stayed where she was, her mind still warring with itself.

Arturia looked down at the fingers which only moments before were in his hold, then back at his eyes. They were gold, like honey struck by sunlight. Meanwhile, the neo-babylonian king drank up the sea in her gaze. The expression she wore was one neither he nor this body’s original owner had ever seen before. 

Nebuchadnezzar smiled softly to himself. They wouldn’t be strangers for long.

_____________________

I've always wanted to write these two. Ain't nothing I love more than confusing feelings ahahaha.

-akampana (im alive btw, law school just made me busy for a bit)

#rcdp #artoria pendragon #arturia pendragon #arturia #nebuchadnezzar ii #fgo #gilart #fate #akampana asks

[martianbugsbunny]

Martian’s Masterlist!

Figured it was about time I collected all of my fics into one area, will ofc be updating it as I write more. It’s sorted by ship, including wherefrom they originate, with a brief description of what type (one-shot, chapter fic, same-universe if I’m feeling saucy) and a short summary of what happens. V proud of myself for figuring out how to link these tbh, but if any of the links isn’t working for the love of Pete please let me know. Fics with more than one chapter will be linked to the first chapter because...logic.

For the tags, I have chosen to only use the ship names, not __ x __ format, for the sake of trying to keep the tags somewhat in hand. I have, however, tried to use what I’m aware of being the most popular/common names for ships, as well as the alternate ones I’ve seen for more niche stuff. Also tagged are the shipped characters. If I add new ships, I'll have to reblog bc of the tag limit.

*Hands you the rabbit hole* Have fun going down!

CaptainCroc/GoldenHook (Rumplestiltskin x Killian Jones {Once Upon A Time}):

Is This Love Persevering? (It Feels More Like The End of the World): One-shot. Established CaptainCroc mourning the loss of Baelfire. Canon-divergent for the sake of Rumple actually getting to attend his son’s funeral.

Who Makes You See Color: Chapter fic, 14 total. CaptainCroc soulmates AU where one person sees color earlier than the other. Extends from pre-Dark One era to the First Curse being broken.

The Truth Echoes Darkly: Short series; part 1 for The Truth Echoes Darkly. Echo Caves AU where instead of Emma, Hook confesses that he loves Rumple for maximum awkward.

The Echo Goes On: Short series; part 2 for The Truth Echoes Darkly. Back in Storybrooke, Rumple finds himself obsessed with Hook and realizes that he’s fallen in love as well.

My North Star: One-shot. Established CaptainCroc vow renewal, featuring Hook’s inner thoughts about how much he loves Rumple.

Better Than Blood: One-shot. Pretty racy, but the point is thinking about the poeticism of having sex with your ex-nemesis.

Cherik (Charles Xavier x Erik Lehnsherr {X-Men Movies}):

Sweetheart Will You Sleep With Me: One-shot. The night before they fight Shaw, Charles and Erik make the most of the little time they know they have left together and sleep in Charles’ room. Fluff, don’t get too excited by the title lol.

Baby While You’re At It: One-shot. Based on a Jessie Murph song. Angst with a happy ending. Charles is furious when Erik crashes a party at the school, so they have it out in the kitchen and get more-or-less back together by the end.

Espionage Husbands (Talos x Nick Fury {Captain Marvel/Secret Invasion}):

Locked In This Embrace: One-shot. Focuses on the forehead-touching scene from Episode 1, plus an original scene or two afterwards. Mostly Talos pining for Nick with a happy ending.

If You Are Gilgamesh And Did These Things: One-shot. Angst without a happy ending because the author was very upset and sad when Talos died. Nick is grieving Talos; Sonya isn’t helping.

Frankenwolf (Ruby Lucas x Victor Frankenstein {Once Upon A Time}):

Den of Blankets: One-shot. Ruby’s wolf instincts kick in during pregnancy and she builds a blanket-fort den. V fluff.

She Deserves To Have Your Name: One-shot (possibly same-universe as Den of Blankets). Victor has doubts about whether or not their child should have the name Frankenstein, but Ruby wouldn’t hear of anything else.

It’s Just A Dream: One-shot. Ruby has a nightmare spawned from her fears of being a bad parent; Victor comforts her.

As The Storm Blows Through: One-shot. Victor has anxiety during a storm because of what happened with Gerhardt, and Ruby comforts him.

Secret Admirers Are For The Subtle: One-shot. Victor anonymously sends Ruby flowers at the diner so he can drop by, “notice” them, and stick around to sketch them, all so he can spend time with Ruby. She’s on to him the entire time.

Blue Skies Smiling At Me: One-shot. Utterly fluffy beach fic. Ruby is having a good day relaxing with her friends, and it only gets better when her handsome husband joins them.

Frankenberry And The Fruit Brute: One-shot. Fun little Halloween fic where Ruby and Victor discover the General Mills cereals that match their fairytale identities.

Precursor To A Love Song: One-shot. Hyperion Heights AU where Ruby and Victor meet and feel an instant connection, even though they don’t know why. She’s a fashion designer and he’s a piano player/freelance artist. Potential springboard for a full chapter fic if I feel like it.

HatterHare (Mad Hatter x March Hare {Adventures In Wonderland}):

The First Kiss: One-shot. Just a fluffy lil idea about what their first kiss might’ve been like.

Every Bit Of You: One-shot. Projection’n’stuff about food issues basically.

Kalluzeb (Garazeb Orrelios x Alexsandr Kallus {Star Wars Rebels}):

Don’t You Know It’s Because He Loves You?: One-shot. Kallus discovers that Zeb is in love with him via a Lasat Honor Guard tradition.

To Convince You That I Love You: Chapter fic. Kallus does risky things to prove he would do anything for love of Zeb, or that he’s worthy of him, and ends up getting hurt. Angst with a happy ending, hurt/comfort.

Lokius (Loki x Mobius {Loki}):

The Man Of My Dreams And He’s Just Out Of Reach: One-shot (with a very long name lol). Mobius stands there across the street from Don’s house and misses Loki. Author was having some Feelings™.

Outlaw Queen (Regina Mills x Robin Hood {Once Upon A Time}):

A Slice Of Life: One-shot. Regina spends the day with her boys and thinks about how awesome it is to have them. V fluffy because the OQ family didn’t get enough of that.

Paxe/AxePaz (Paz Vizsla x Axe Woves {The Mandalorian}):

We Are Mandalorians: Our Love Must Be Forged: Chapter fic, 11 total. Axe and Paz slowly fall in love as they engage in the battle to retake Mandalore, more or less a fix-it for Paz dying in S3 canon.

PloKit (Plo Koon x Kit Fisto {Star Wars: the Clone Wars}):

Reader, Plo Married Him: One-shot. Plo and Kit share some quiet time just after their wedding.

The Tender Daily Ritual: One-shot. Basically just fluff; Kit helps Plo with lotioning his skin because it dries out in oxygen atmospheres.

Scogan (Scott Summers x Logan Howlett {X-Men Movies}):

Torn Between Love And Fear: One-shot. Scott wants to stay after sex and sleep in Logan’s room, but Logan is terrified of hurting him during a nightmare. Angst with a happy (and sort of spicy) ending.

You Scratch My Back, I’ll Scratch Yours: One-shot. Logan and Scott discover they have a mutual pain kink and indulge in it together for the first time. Incredibly spicy, I'm so proud of myself.

Spones (Spock x Dr. McCoy {Star Trek TOS}):

I Could Drink A Case Of You (I Would Still Be On My Feet): One-shot. Based on a Joni Mitchell song; angsty with a happy ending.

#martianbugsbunny writes fic #masterlist post #masterlist #captaincroc #goldenhook #rumplestiltskin #Killian Jones #Captain Hook #ouat #once upon a time #frankenwolf #ruby Lucas #victor frankenstein #hatterhare #mad hatter #March hare #adventures in wonderland #kalluzeb #Garazeb Orrelios #Alexsandr Kallus #paxe #axe woves #Paz Vizsla #Star Wars #plokit #Plo Koon #kit fisto #spones #spock #leonard mccoy

[redheadspark]

I was wondering if I could request either a small fic or even headcanon of Druig or Clío, Melody gets sick for the first time as a baby and one of them is kinda freaking out about it but the other is like “its fine honey, just a small head cold.” I would really like to see this with Drío please! 🥰💗

A/N: AWWWW This is beyond cute and perfect! Thank you SO much for requesting this, my dear!

Worry

Summary: Who knew the stoic and always cool mind controller would loose his mind when his infant daughter gets sick. Clío did of course.

*This is a cute picture of actor Barry Keoghan (who plays Druig) with his son Brando, I HAD to use this since it looked perfect as an image of Druig and baby Melody.*

Warnings: Angst and fluff rolled into one.

Part of the Melody Series

Druig never thought he would be worried.

No, petrified was a better word.

It started with sniffles and a few coughs here and there, Druig noticing it when he held her first thing in the morning. She would usually be happy to be held by her father, opening her crystal blue eyes at him and having a sense of peace on her infant face. Druig loved seeing her eyes on him the first thing in the morning, it made his day already ten times better.

But on this morning, he could see she wasn't herself. The fussiness was evident, not finding the perfect way to hold her to calm her down from the sniffles and tears as she wiggled in his hold. He saw it in her face too, contorted in uncomfortableness and uneasiness. Melody was always an easy and happy little baby, so seeing her in such a state made Druig feel petrified.

His daughter was sick, and he had no idea what to do.

"I got ya, baby girl. I got ya," Druid hummed over and over, walking back and forth along the living room floor with his daughter fussing in his arms and crying with a whimper on her lips. Clío was on the phone with the doctor, it was better to call ahead than to drive into town which seemed so far away. Druig was focusing on trying to ease his little girl, who was red in the face and wiggling so bad in his hold he was afraid he would drop her. He felt as though he was being tortured from the inside out since he didn't know what to do or how to help her. She had no temperature, they checked already when she started to fuss. But she did sound congested from how she was breathing, making Druig panic not know what to give her.

When he was back in the jungle with Clío, there were healers that were present to help anyone and everyone who got sick. Neyli, the head healer of the village for about 40 years, knew just how to ease any fevers or colds that came upon the young and old. Druig never having to lift a finger to help since she knew anything and everything when it came to natural medicine. But those were natural remedies from herbs and roots, nothing too modern unless it was intense to extreme.

Now he was here, out in the middle of nowhere, and it was his daughter who was ill.

His infant daughter.

"I know, baby. I'm so sorry, Mel. It's gonna be okay," Druig hummed to her over and over like a mantra as she was letting out a new sniffles and sneezes against his chest. He felt useless, only being able to hold her to give her some kind of comfort. She was far too young for him to do some kind of mind control, and he swore he would never do that to his child in the first place. Maybe he could cal Thena, she might know something that could help since Thena and Gilgamesh fended for themselves for some time out in rural Australia. Or maybe Sersi, she might know a thing or two about healing children since she was good with them.

If only Ajak was alive and there to help...

"Alright, I just got off the phone with Dr. Morris," Clío glided into the room over to Druig and Melody, Druig shooting his eyes to her in panic as she gave him reassuring smile and placed her hand under Melody's head and the other along his arm, "I told him what's going on with Mel and he thinks it's a head cold."

"What in the hell is a head cold?" Druig asked in worry and in a panicked tone.

"It's very common, Druig. Especially this time of year since the weather is getting colder," Clío calmly replied to him, looking down at their fussing daughter who had fat tears in her eyes, "He's going to get some antibiotics together and come here to the house within an hour,"

"An hour?!" Druig seethed, his eyes almost bulging out in shock. Clío moved instantly, framing his face in her hands to have him focus on her and her bright eyes.

"He's coming with the medicine, sweetheart," Clío reassured him soothingly, "All we can do is wait, okay? But you need to take a breath before you work yourself up. Come on and breathe for me, babe,"

Druig paused and took in a forced breath, trying to calm himself down since he was still holding his daughter within his arms. Clío kept her stare at him, taking a long breath to almost show him how to breathe. Druig tried again, this time it was a bit better and calmer as he tried to re-center himself. All he could think about was panic, panic of not knowing if this head cold was serious or mild. Panic of waiting a full hour for the doctor to come with the medicine.

Panic over his little daughter, the light of his world.

"You good?" Clío asked, seeing how Druig's shoulders were a bit relaxed and his eyes were no longer rigid. He nodded his had slowly as he looked from his wife down to Melody. She was a bit calmer too, looking between her mother and father and the fussing was dying down a bit. Almost like she was mirror what her father was doing. Druig sighed, pulling her up to kiss her head over and over and keep her close.

"You need to be calm for her, Druig," Clío reminded him as she rubbed Melody's back and rang her other hand in Druig's hair, "I know you're scared, I am too. But honey, she's going to be okay. I know she will be, but Melody needs you to be calm for her so she can feel better,"

Druig could do that, he could be calm for the sake of his child. Melody was everything to him, nothing else mattered to him than the baby he was holding close and his wife who bore the same baby. Those two were his world, and when one was in pain, he was in pain. Anything he could do for either one of them to ease their worries or pain, he would do in an instant. So if he had to be calm, if he had to hold her close for the next hour while they waited for the doctor to arrive, he would do it.

He would do anything for his daughter.

"Thank you again for coming out and for the medicine, Dr. Morris,"

"Anytime! Give the antibiotics a day or two to kick in and she'll be good as new before you know it. Just give her lots of rest and let me know how she takes to the medicine. I'll call in the morning, take care!"

Clío waved as the trucked rolled away down the paved road, Dr. Morris waving his hand out the window as he went back towards the main highway. The cool air that was signaling the evening picked up. Clío sighed in relief, feeling a bit better was she walked back into the house over to the study where she knew she left Druig and Melody.

The doctor arrived within the hour, coming a bit earlier than expected with a big bag with medicine and antibiotics for his sick patient. Druig was still holding Melody, almost protectively until he had to release her over to Dr. Morris, watching with worried eyes as the doctor examined his daughter. Clío was still cool and calm, holding Druig's hand in a sense of comfort as the prognosis was in fact a common Head Cold.

Dr. Morris too was calm, even laughing as Melody sneezed and scrunched her nose at him as he gave Melody the medicine along with the antibiotics while he checked her temperature. Druig felt a wave of relief off his shoulders, hearing it from the doctor himself that Melody was going to be okay. Perhaps he too overreact a bit, hearing that plenty of babies would be sick and get over it within a day or two with the amount of rest and medicine.

Clío poked her head into the study, seeing none other than Melody and Druig. Both fast asleep with Druig leaned back against the loveseat he was in and Melody in his hold, no longer fussing or crying but at peace. She was snoring even, which showed Clío she was in a deep sleep finally for the first time all day. There was peace along Druig's face too, his hair disheveled and the bag under his eyes were evident enough to show all he went through.

But all Clío could think about was the immense love her husband had for their daughter, for the little light of his world, that he would do anything and be anything to bring her happiness and safety. She never saw him scared to that caliber before, and it showed in his love for her and how he wished to take those woes away.

She took a picture on her phone of her husband and daughter asleep, sending it to the group chat and getting some responses moments later:

Phastos: Damn, someone had a rough night.

Clío: We got a sick little one on our hands, and a worried daddy too :)

Sersi: Oh no! Is Melody alright?

Makkari: What happened?!

Thena: How sick is Mel, Clío?

Clío: It's just a head cold, guys. She's okay now. The doctor gave her medicine and she'll be well before we know it. Her dad, however, is another story.

Kingo: Druig looks like hell.

Sprite: Way to be supportive, Kingo!

Kingo: I state the truth!

Sersi: I think he looks like a worried father. How is Druig holding up?

Clío paused from her texting, seeing Druig hum with a small smile on his face and a look of peace there etched along the smile. Such a small scare would bring the mind controller to his knees, to have him feel useless in caring for such a little one. But now that fear was gone, that worry dissolved in the air and all that was left was peace again. Clío grinned widely.

Clío: He's got his little girl safe and sound now. He'll be alright.

The End.

Tagged: @heartofwritiing @a-lumos-in-the-nox @botanicalbarnes @basicrese

#daddydruigandmelody #daddydruig #daddy druig #druig fluff #druig x reader #druig x oc #druig eternals #druig x female reader #druig x you #druig x eternal!reader #fanfiction #writing #barry keoghan #my love #druig #eugene roe #mcu writing #mcu fanfiction #marvels eternals #marvel fanfic writer #marvel fanwriting #marvel fanfiction #marvel cinematic fanfiction #marvel cinematic universe fanfiction #druig x clío #drio #drío #eternals #marvel #eternals fan writing

[softquietsteadylove]

can i ask for a reunion fic please? with tears and hugs and kisses and can't stop touching each other 🥺 i can never get tired of those (especially the ones written by you) and because their reunion on screen can't come soon enough :<

Earth is a distant little marble from the window of the Domo. They're headed back there from the World Forge, all members of their family in tow, safe and...relatively unharmed. Himself included.

Since coming back online, memories and all, the others have been...cautious. They were gentle, at first, slowly feeling out how strong the memories were, what was still fresh from their last lives lived and what might be pushing a little too hard too soon.

Gil sighs. He can hear them in the control room--joyous reunions still going, fading into soft words left unsaid from their past lives. They took extra care with him--he was the last 'death' they had really experienced, so he supposes he understands it.

But he wants to see Thena.

He knows she's here. He can feel her Cosmic Energy calling out to his. His heart - even restarted twice, now - knows hers is close, aching to beat to the same rhythm.

This is exactly the kind of thing she always said made him a sappy romantic.

She would call him that in their home, back in Australia. He remembers--he remembers waking up with her hair pooled around her shoulders beside him. Soft mornings with eggs frying in a pan and her, looking at him to express everything she can't put into words. Evenings under the stars in a hammock, just them and the galaxy they were calling home at the time.

He wants to go home.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

He didn't hear her walk in, because of course he didn't. He smiles and looks to his left, seeing her there just like he did more than 7000 years ago, now. That sunshine coloured hair and eyes like oceans he remembers but has never seen. But he doesn't need to see them with her here--they won't compare, so why bother?

She gives up on light chatter, which wouldn't be very like her anyway. She looks at him, questions upon questions in those eyes of hers. But he can see warmth washing over her, like mist over a river in the morning. Her shoulder brushes against his next to it, "how do you feel?"

Gil turns to face her more properly. She's wearing clothes he doesn't recognise, but they're nice. Everything is nice on her. "I guess it's a lot to take in. I feel good, though."

Her eyes run over him, and he's sure she can see things in her head that he doesn't want to be able to. But he also does, because he's never been one to let her bear her pain alone. "Good."

That's enough small talk.

Gil reaches out, pulling her in and kissing her. And there it is--that comfort he has been aching for since opening these eyes. The cold of the domed metal walls seeps away. His arm wraps around her, and her hands run over him, finding a home with her palms on his chest.

There are their hearts, falling into the same rhythm.

Thena pulls away, intent on asking him things. But he keeps kissing her, no matter how small, no matter how light. "Gil."

"Sh," he whispers, his lips chasing hers and clinging on when they meet. "I'm trying to kiss my wife."

Her lips bend against his and he finally pulls back just to see that smile. The planet and the stars and the whole galaxy just outside have nothing on this sight in front of him. "You remember getting married?"

"Every time," he whispers, their heads circling each other as they lean and tilt, lips meeting clumsily and eagerly and tentatively. Their teeth click together as their smiles grow and he moves the tip of his nose against hers. "We're due for another, I think."

"I think we're owed it," Thena says softly before one last kiss. He can tell her questions won't wait and lets her lean back that agonising distance, however small. "Gil."

"Thena," he whispers, and the name rings in his head like a vow.

Every time he has awakened, he has had a few things in his head.

He is Gilgamesh. He is the Strongest Eternal. He was chosen by Arishem to be an Eternal assigned to Earth.

And Thena--just Thena. She's there, somehow already in his mind, and more importantly in his heart. Her name is like a concept he can already feel, like life, or love, or fear, or joy.

"There is," she pauses, and he knows she's trying to get the words out. But there's so much, and that's not even just things he as to be told about when he was 'away'.

He holds her cheeks in his hands, gentle and soft with her. As he always was, and always is, and always will be. "Take your time."

She shakes her head, and he saddens as she buries her face in his chest. She only does that when she needs him, and she only needs him when she isn't strong enough to face whatever is happening by herself. And there is very little his Thena can't handle on her own.

"I'm scared to."

He can't even imagine it. He never could imagine what it would be like to lose Thena in his time on Earth. It was something he could intellectualise but not fully grasp. Because it was far, far too painful for him to try and imagine on any real level.

He would rather die. And then he did.

Gil runs his hand over her hair as she shakes in his arms. He's not lying down, but he remembers distinctly how she had held him on the floor of the jungle, his last breaths leaving him and his skin becoming etched with the lines of his energy signature.

But he had no regrets about dying, back then. Because he could see Thena there, smiling at him, holding his hand, even if there were tears in her eyes. But she was alive, and he had meant it when he said: "I'd do it again. On any planet."

Thena pinches his arm, as if he's teasing her lightly. But he still means those words, although he guesses they have somewhat of a different meaning for her, now. "No more planets."

Gil sighs, moving his arms from around her back to sit on her hips. He tilts his head at the soft cardigan she's wearing, and the tight skirt that just kisses below her knees.

Thena tilts her head at him, already sensing that she's lost him to her wardrobe, "Gilgamesh."

"I like it," he volunteers eagerly, his thumb pushing up hem of the sweater and under it to brush against her bare skin. He leans in for another kiss. "This new?"

"I suppose," she murmurs, although she doesn't stop him from kissing her again, and again.

"Wedding dress number...whatever--what do you say?" he smiles against her cheek, nestling himself in against her locks of hair as he holds her closer.

Thena sighs blissfully, letting him express enough affection for the both of them--to get started, at least. She leans her head back to let him kiss from her cheek to her earrings. "I think I'd rather just go home."

Home. Australia--just him and Thena. That's where he belongs. "Sounds good to me."

#Thenamesh AU #the reunion scene we dESERVE #something sweet #to balance out the suffering #because I'm not out here to hurt my own feelings #I really tried to get this out yesterday #and then I didn't actually manage to #but the vibe #the vibe is the same #and I agree #I need to see them reunite #and I need it to be #say it with me now #soft and quiet and steady #but really #I'm sure the movie will be what it will be #but these two don't need the canon #I stop rewatching the movie halfway through every time #because the only 'them' I need is here with all of you

[healingagoddess]

Is this forever? (Run part 3)

Request(?: @the-camiluchaa​ said “Great writing! Do you think is gonna be part 3? I would love that, full of action😍“ and I miss Ajak, so of course I did!

Note: I had written this and had more action in it! I was so inspired and then it got deleted!! I don't know how it happened, but it just didn't save after I saved it! So, here's a quick chapter i came up with just right now. I felt really bad after it did not save, that i just wanted to post something tonight since I had planned to do so. T-T

Warnings: English is not my first language.

Pairing: Ajak/F!Reader

Tags: @fivemillioneyes <3

Part 1 Part 2

The ambiance upon arriving to the Peruvian Amazonia in your search for Druig was heavy. You kept close to Ajak, avoiding Ikaris as much as you could. Sersi tried to keep her distance and remain composed around him. She was doing amazing and you were so proud of her. On the other side, Kingo and Sprite had been at it for hours. You had forgotten how much Kingo liked to tease everybody, and it was getting to Sprite leaving her in a moody state. It was better to keep close to Ajak, who was looking after Thena along with Gilgamesh.

It was strange to see a village stuck in time, clearly under the influence of Druig. It didn’t take long to find him. And the awkward silence of the first two minutes in that chapel felt like an eternity. Until he spoke, and then Ajak revealed everything. He took it far better than you did, but it was going to take some time to convince him to join you.

“I’m not going to say anything other than I knew you were wrong.” Druig states directly to Ajak.

Ikaris gets up and gets on Druig’s face

“You have no idea what you are talking about.”

“You always wanted to be mother’s  favorite. Yet, it seems she has chosen someone else.” Druig nods towards you.

You close your eyes in annoyance, but say nothing to avoid upsetting Ajak some more. If only Druig knew the whole truth, if only everyone else did like Sprite and Sersi do. Ajak was still protecting Ikaris.

You disperse to cool off after Druig, Kingo, Ikaris and Ajak got into a heavy discussion that had nothing to do with Tiamut.

“Do you think he can do it?” you ask.

Both you and Ajak were sitting against a tree not far from Gil and Thena.

“I believe his power is strong enough to put Tiamut to sleep.”

“What happens if he can’t do it?”

“He will. I think he-”

A distant screech cuts her off, and you both immediately stand to your feet. You look at each other for a moment focusing all your senses on the distant sounds. Suddenly, you watch Ikaris being dragged by a deviant and your fighting mode activates as you begin to duplicate.

“Go with Thena!”

You shout before both you and Gilgamesh go to Ikaris aid.

You slam against the deviant and send it a few meters far away from all of you. You try to go again with a kick,  but the deviant senses your cosmic energy and charges back to Gilgamesh and Ikaris. You and your replicas end up colliding into thin air. You are quick to respond and charge back to help them both, but Gilgamesh intends  to take the deviant himself in a one on one match. You try to help, but soon are distracted by Ajak’s voice.

“Thena… remember who you are.”

You hear her soothing voice and turn to find her with her hands up in the air channeling cosmic energy. Similar to the lights forming on Thena’s face. You worry as you send your replicas after the deviant, and making your way back to Ajak. It is difficult to control both your main power and your focus on helping Ajak. You can feel it wavering as you get closer to her, slowly as to not scare Thena.

“Ikaris…” you say never looking away from both Ajak and Thena. “Help Gilgamesh.”

You see him debating for a moment and you start to lose patience.

“Go with Gilgamesh.”

You repeat yourself noting how Thena is struggling against her illness.

“I follow no orders from you.”

He says before getting in the middle of Ajak and Thena, finally getting her to act out and lose herself. They start fighting each other as Ikaris tries to stop Thena, and she tries to murder him. You feel your cosmic energy expand out your body as your replicas disperse into two directions: to help Gil and to help Ajak as you try to keep both Ikaris and Thena to stay alive as well. And it is chaos.

Your head feels like breaking into three different sections, and you are everywhere at once trying to make sense of every situation. You notice that at least five replicas are helping Gil, and three are taking Ajak further into the forest hiding from the spot that has now turned into a battle camp. You mediate between Ikaris and Thena. Suddenly, he hears something and takes off. Leaving you now with the death stare from Thena. And she comes at you at full speed with sword in hand. You have no time to think and your replicas come back to you as you try to keep Thena from hurting you and hurting herself. You barely make it the first time, but the second time she gets you with her sword piercing your stomach. And you feel the air leaving your body as the thrill sends a shiver all over your body. Pain and panic take over as you try to stay focused everywhere.

You prepare to die as Thena dematerializes her sword, expecting her to summon something bigger to end you. It never comes, instead she stands there blinking several times trying to remember something as she stares at something behind you. And in a matter of seconds she turns around with tears in her eyes, lights still forming in her eyes. Then, you see Gilgamesh being held by the deviant as it drains his cosmic energy. You try to rush to his aid, but stumble on your feet before a single replica takes after him. But it’s too late, and you watch as Thena kneels in front of Gil. In a matter of seconds, everything turns black.

_ ✽ _

The first thing you notice upon waking up is how humid your surroundings feel. Your senses spread to the rest of your body as cosmic energy still lingers there. Ajak is holding you, her face is stained with tears, and you can feel them on your face as well. She is not looking at you, instead, her broken gaze lies elsewhere. Sitting up the first thing you notice is a platinum shape; it is Thena. You get up immediately, as you remember the final encounter with the deviant. Thena sobs on the ground with her forehead pressed against Gil’s, and you confirm that he has in fact passed. No. He was murdered. Looking around you take notice of everyone else's presence with the exception of Druig. Your eyes search for that one eternal in the crowd, and when you find him a fire is set ablaze within your core. A new found rage fills your soul, and you march towards Ikaris before slamming him into a tree. This catches Thena’s attention.

“Y/N! Don’t!” Ajak rushes in your direction with pleading eyes.

“This is all your fault!” You yell out as you place your hands on his shoulder with a tight grip keeping him from escaping.

“I was just trying to help everyone else.” The words slide out his mouth with bitterness.

“No. You know what you did. It is your fault that that deviant got what it wanted.” Your furious eyes look into his icy cold ones. “Why don’t you tell them the truth?” You whisper the last part.

Ajak looks away as Sersi steps closer with tears forming in her eyes. Nobody else knows the truth other than Sersi and Sprite.

“Tell them… tell them how you tried to kill her!” The sound of your voice pierces through the forest like a thunder. “Tell them how you took Ajak to that lake with your big lies only to try to get her killed by the same deviants. How you planned for us… for ME to find her body there. All because she changed her mind about this mission.” You press him harder against the tree.

Nobody talks for a moment, but you notice everyone has gathered around keeping some distance from the both of you.

“Is this true?” Kingo asks.

Ikaris remains in silence giving the confirmation that Kingo needs.

“You don’t do that.” He says in all seriousness. “You don’t do that to family. Even if we don’t agree with their newfound plans or beliefs, we don’t harm our family.”

“He plans to get rid of everyone that comes between Arishem and his mission. He is just waiting for the right moment. And Gilgamesh was the first to pay for this.”

As you say the last part Thena gets up summoning her weapon. Ikaris pushes you away with force before taking flight. And you swear that for a moment you saw his beams forming in his eyes.  

“Coward!” Thena yells out after him.

“Wait! Take me with you!” Sprite says before materializing into an illusion of hundreds of bees as they both escape.

“They’ll come back.” Thena states.

“And when they do.” You reply.

“We’ll be waiting.” She finishes.

You go towards Ajak, who in the middle of the argument left to kneel beside Gilgamesh. Thena returns as well, and they both weep for him. The others remain talking about Sprite’s sudden betrayal. Your arms come to wrap around Ajak from behind as you place your head on her back offering support. She turns in your embrace and cries into your arms as you rock her gently in soothing and consoling motions. The sight is heartbreaking and as soon as Druig shows up a funeral is prepared.

_ ✽ _

Nobody sleeps that night as thousands of questions and thoughts from the events of the day swirl in their minds. Somewhere during the night, you find Ajak staring at the ceiling wide awake, unable to sleep just like you.

“Have you spoken to Arishem?” You ask softly.

Ajak turns to look at you slightly taken aback. “No.”

You keep staring at her waiting for an explanation.

“Every time he just informs me when the emergence will occur… and there is nothing else he needs from me. My deed is done… and that’s it.” She says lost in thought.

“Have we ever been like this?” You finally ask. “In our past lives?”

She looks at you for a moment choosing her words carefully. “No. This is the first time I experience this.”

For some reason you don’t feel sad about your past life knowing you didn’t have to suffer for Ajak at the end of times.

“But,” she continues “You are new to my missions.” She manages a gentle smile.

And you can see how she tries to smile through her tired eyes as well before you fully digest the new information.

“Wait… do you mean what I think you mean?”

Ajak nods. “This is the first time we met… so, it’s really nice to meet you.”

Tears cloud your eyes at the realization of how much Ajak has changed thanks to you.

“What was it like for you?”

“It was different… from all the times I had done this. Some come and go, and that’s alright. But you have a passion that is so unlike everyone else’s.”  She makes sure to stare deep into your eyes. “I told you this before; you make your own rules. And also,” she pauses to give you a flirty look. “You are the first one to look at me like this.”

You chuckle before getting closer to kiss her lips.

“Do you think this is our last night like this?” You ask her.

“No, I know it’s not. I have faith in Druig.”

“And then what will happen?”

“And then… we wait.”

“For what?”

“Arishem.”

“Do you have any idea-”

“We’ll sort this out. And we’ll warn everyone else in this whole universe.”

And you take her word seriously putting all your trust in her, so you nod once and kiss her sweetly before trying to rest.

_ ✽ _

As promised, during the emergence Ikaris and Sprite show up. You duplicate as soon as you see him, you launch at him with your replicas surrounding him and taking turns in puching him around. The look in his face when he corned Ajak in that cliff, her face at the realization of what was happening, Sersi's tears for him, Druig's and Gilgamesh's death, all of that is coming back to you. The pain he has caused you and your family is all coming out at this moment in the form of revenge.

After he takes down the domo, and Thena joins in the fight. You are sure that you will get him this time, at least the satisfaction of seeing him in this position is almost enough. You want more, and so does Thena as she goes for the last deviant. You have no idea how many times all of you have taken Ikaris down only for him to get back up and attack you. Ajak has been holding on her own very well, with Phasto's techonology you've been able to fight beside her. But the fear you feel as Ikaris goes after Sersi is huge, some part of you knows that he is incapable of hurting her. And it is confirmed when she completes the final puzzle and is able to continue with your plan; killing Tiamut with her bare hands and your power convined.

The glorious victory against them only makes the promise of being with Ajak forever more real and emotional. You embrace her as soon as Tiamut remains frozen in time. Your lips reach for each other and seal your forever with a passionate kiss in the presence of the celestial as you still feel its power connected to you. It feels like nothing but pure bliss, you have not just gained your ever after with Ajak, but you have saved this world and all its wonders. You celebrate your victory with the love of your life and your family. And soon you find yourself in another adventure with Ajak as both of you leave to explore the universe in search of others.

“Will you miss this world?” You ask before you leave the planet Earth’s atmosphere.

“No, I have everything I need here with me.” She smiles as she pulls you close.

“I feel the same way.” You grin with your eyes. “I’d follow you ‘til the end. Whenever that is.”

#ajak x reader #ajak #ajak fanfic #hgrequest

[ultraericthered]

Anime Update V2 63

Vinland Saga S2 - Everything that happened to Thorfinn back in the first season finally gets addressed and brought up to Einar, who is understanding but direct with his friend and gives him some words of advice. Thorfinn's newfound humility and steady growth as a person is really reflected here. But then when Einar and Thorfinn find their wheat field has been completely razed, rendering all that hard, long work they put in meaningless, Einar flies into a fury and is quick to assume the farmhands who look down upon them were the culprits. When happening to run into the farmhands that night, Einar's rage forces Thorfinn's hand and he finds himself right back in the realm of violence and bloodshed he'd wanted to leave behind. At the end, his nightmare seems to be coming true: he's falling into Hell once more.

Hunter x Hunter - Gon fights Knuckles while Killua fights Shoot. At this point this plotline has wore out its welcome for me and I just want to move on already. Which we thankfully might be able to do soon since back at the hive, the King is about to hatch prematurely!

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works - Got some Caster focus at this time as she recalls how she'd initially been summoned for the Holy Grail War by a different mage who ran his own lab that extracted mana and thought he could treat her like garbage even though her magic control exceeded his own. She immolated him to death but got injured by a hit on her from Assassin that Kirei had arranged. She was saved by Kuzuki, who became her new Master. In the present day, Illya's manor is breached by Shinji and Gilgamesh, who uses his Noble Phantasm to kill Illya's homunculus maids. An enraged Illya calls upon Berserker to crush the intruders! It is ON!

Re:ZERO - Very scary and distressing shit in this season's eleventh episode! Beako reveals for just how long she'd been awaiting Subaru to arrive in this world and that she wants him to kill her so that she doesn't have to keep living a slave to her Tome with her spirit tethered to the library. Elsa attacks once again and we meet her co-conspirator, a child from the village named Meili who's a Mabeast controller and wants to kill Subaru and all her fellow villagers (which suggests she was behind the events of Arc 2). Beako gets killed by Elsa and dies in Subaru's arms, using Frederika's crystal to send him back to the Sanctuary, where he finds Emilia has gone mad from the trial's failure and is half possessed by Satella. Roswaal shows just how evil he really is by skewering Garfiel and Ram, and revealing himself to be in possession of the second Tome and that he has been aware of Subaru's Return By Death looping this entire time. And then the goddamn Great Rabbit attacks, kills Roswaal, and nearly kills Subaru again. Subaru dies from all his wounds in the arms of the envious witch, awaiting when it's his time to start over again. Damn.

Symphogear AXZ - I really didn't want to ever have this experience with this anime, but this one pushed it for me; I had to stop watching an episode and not finish it. And I was liking what I was getting up to that point - more cool moments from best girls Kirika and Shirabe, more HibiMiku tenderness, getting to meet the cold and cruel Fudou Kazanari in person, even a posthumous guest appearance by Dr. Ver, which at first I wasn't sure I was going to like but the man is so damn bombastic that he won me over in seconds. But the entire subplot of Maria and Elfnein delving deep into Maria's mind and memories culminated in something that's not just reminiscent of how badly GX botched the arc with Hibiki's father, but reminiscent of that fucking episode of Your Lie In April. Yeah, it pulled the exact same "whitewashing of child abuse" bullshit, insultingly having Maria realize that the physical abuse, experiments, and emotional torment Dr. Nastassja put her and other children through to shape them into child soldiers for a terrorist group wasn't really bad not only because "Mom" felt bad about doing it, but because raising her in a harsh environment made her stronger, ensured she was toughened up and fully ripened and not soft and are you fucking with me right now, Symphogear? Just like with Hibiki's dad, there was a conclusion the character should've been drawing here, one that would've much more interesting and appropriately nuanced and fair to Nastassja's character while still condemning her actions, yet the character is written like a dumbass who takes away the absolute wrong lesson and we're supposed to just be fine with that. Fuck off with that garbage, Symphogear! I expect better from you and am immensely disappointed, my enthusiasm for the rest of this season diminished.

Eureka Seven - Wait, it's fucking recap episode? With not just Renton recapping things but Stoner and Dominic??? Consider me immensely disappointed in you this week too, Eureka Seven!

#Anime Update #Anime Update V2

[voidsentprinces]

Maybe make Lunafreya be the first half of the game or an intro to the combat system with Leviathan being a boss fight at the end. She is literally the protagonist pushing the plot forward while the Boy Band is wandering around aimlessly for 95% of the story. Have the game start after the Leviathan fight, you don’t know Ardyn knifed Lunafreya, but the Empire was there so get back to Insomnia to warn your dad only to find it has already fallen. Forcing you to work through the continent and make connections with the locals to force alliances while avoiding the Empire’s soldiers and running into Ardyn throughout the story. At that point each of the characters have their own little arcs going on.

The loss of the Oracle being one of the main points as to the spread of the Star Scourge as it gets heavier and heavier with the completion of every Boy Band’s story arc. Until you finally have no choice but to head north to Niflheim to deal with what the characters believe is the Source of it all.

Gladiolus has to put his words to action by ensuring the protection of Noctis and maybe you run into Gilgamesh for Gladiolus to pit himself against as you’re going through the continent.

Ignis has lost his sight during the Leviathan battle and has to deal with serving Noctis and the group, working through his new found disability and relearning how to fight and in turn teach Noctis how to cook and how to drive properly. The situation out of his hands. But he rises to the challenge and it’ll be a constant issue he eventually figures a way he can be useful in combat and every day life.

Prompto’s arc is to look into the background the Empire’s armies, stumbling upon the clone project and thus making every besiegement of an Empire base on the continent both a hamstringing operation and a way from Prompto to learn more about his origins and how he can go from being a plant for the Empire to an asset for Noctis.

Noctis in turn has to still go around collecting the King’s Weapons which gives him a brief glimpse into the past, where we get vague details on Ardyn’s betrayal by his brother, the line Noctis descends from, the source of the Starscourge, but while also aiding his friends in each of their arcs. Leading to boss battles with Gilgamesh, Ravus, and Verstael respectfully for each of the boys until finally they’re on a train to Nilfhiem where you take a covert mission to take on the Empire. Actually get to fight the Emperor only for Ardyn to show up and do his whole dramatic reveal, killing the Emperor and leading the Boy Band on a chase through the facilities of the Empire before they get to the center shoving Noctis into the Crystal. Allowing for a brief period where you play as the Boy Band as they locate the various Astrals based on tips from the allies you made along your journey with the aid of Aranea picking up the slack as the Fourth Member of your group.

So when Noctis wakes up, you take a final road trip awakening each Astral so Noctis can finish his ascension before heading into Insomnia to face Ardyn and actually have a little more weight to the Finale.

There are other areas that might be better to execute but for an outline, I think it would be better this way.

Alternatively, alternatively, have Noctis run into Lunafreya as he is collecting the King’s Weapons. Leading the to the end of Gladio, Noct’s initial arcs with the Leviathan fight leading to the midway point of Ignis and Prompto’s arcs and using the train trip through other regions as a way for them to continue to progress their arcs up until the finale.

#{ replies from beyond }

[theherosreturn]

Bradley: Wha…what have you become?!?

Sadistic…no, Cosmic Sam: Is it not obvious? *grabs the Collector by the throat* This is when I ascend! When I become what I desired for so long…a GOD! With this truly Cosmic power…all that I, Cosmic Sam, have desired shall be mine…but first…

(As the newly entitled Cosmic Sam kept choking the Collector…he made a sudden major move: Remove the Warrior of Light and anything he brought over from the equation. Suddenly, portals started to pull all but the soon-to-be-unusable-anyways Aetherlyre crystal that Bradley had brought over, be it Landerwaffe, Ratha & Joan, or anything else…even Bradley himself, though not easily in every case)

Bradley, spear in the ground and fighting against the portal: I take it…you are banishing me? *is punched by Sam and pushed closer to the ever strengthening portal* Oof…it won’t matter in the end! I will find a way back, even if I must break down…whatever you put up…to stop me! *glances to his unable-to-help friends, a horrified Jackrow in particular* Don’t worry about me…just do all you can to survive and save as many…as you can…I will return, I promise. I wouldn’t be the Warrior of Light…if I didn’t fulfill this promise…

(As all else that was fighting against them was pulled into these portals to be banished…Cosmic Sam sent Bradley in with one last swift kick, to finish off what he started here…and though Bradley couldn’t see what happened, it seemed like the Collector’s fate was…grim, but nothing else could be determined…until he was dropped in the original place he took off from for this merged universe, with Ratha, Joan, and every other entity he brought over also there. The portal soon showed a few layers of magic barriers before finally closing…their meaning was obvious)

Bradley: It seems…we’re back here, and unable to return to there for a while…

Joan: Yes…this is Nyoman good. We meowst find a way back! Everyone there need us!

Bradley: True…though it seems we need to break some barriers to do so…let’s look into that while dealing with what happens here.

(Thus…the Warrior of Light went to deal with the happenings of his world as he went to work on these barriers at the same time…and with the will to find a way burning strong)

(A.N. That…is the Adventureverse pre-Cosmic Sam. Now…let’s have some baseline stuff for what’s to come with this…Cosmic event, maybe what’s implied to be visions of what’s to come. The Echo would show what had happened, after all, even if only after it’s happening)

(Note: By visions, you mean showing Bradley what's going on in the new world while busy dealing with the happenings of his world or just showing Epilogues of what happened after Bradley was banished)

*Gilgamesh himself had been banished by Cosmic Sam as well and landed directly on his head*

Gilgamesh: That...hurted a lot...

(Meanwhile within the newly merged universe)

*As Cosmic Sam began raining his Sadist Crystals upon everything that was considered a Planet and galaxy, he began taking more and more universes and fusing them with the already merged universe...But that wasn't enough for him...He wanted more...He had decided to create vessels by using captured individuals and fusing them together to create his own husks that were used when he didn't feel like invading a planet personally...He had also decided to not only build a castle within the center of his universal kingdom (or rather a close proximate of what the center was) but had "gifted" his four children with the status of a Demigod and dubbed them "The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse"*

====

*After hearing that Cosmic Sam had achieved his goal, Enchantress Pink and Lightshow Yellow attempted to assist the heroes...only to discover that the massive barrier was capable of blocking them out as well...Serial designation Alpha was the first to discover that there was a way of getting rid of the barrier but The E.C.H.O Agency had to go through...The Maze of Corrupt Memories...*

====

*With Gray Matter and Emperor Belos dead, Gray Monitor had evacuated all remaining Gray Horde troops through one of his portal devices that lead them to...The Backrooms...They would at first struggle to survive within these endless halls but would soon thrive with the newly crowned Gray Monitor's guidance and adaptability...They would also gain new recruits in the form of desperate survivors that were willing to do anything in order to see the real world again and The Gray Horde-No...The Null Order had the key of freedom on a stick and would only let them see the world once they joined them*

====

*After being resurrected by his faithful followers, Victor Hex had become a Demigod of Necromancy and Black Magic and would continue his quest of bringing ascension to all within this expanded universe*

====

*After hearing about the death of Emperor Belos, Master Xero had decided that now was the time to takeover The boiling isles and forced many witches to leave their homelands...The unlucky witches that couldn't escape in time were used as slaves for The Savage Scavengers and Master Xero would grow in strength after finding a God Box shard and turning it into an amulet...And would dominate its power instead of being enthralled/consumed by it like those would assume would happen*

====

*King Hive-Nay! King Xeno Blight was Reborn after bursting forth from the chest of a Xenomorph Queen...The Weyland Yutani staff that were watching the queen would've laughed at the irony...Had the Reborn King spared them but had not only killed them but had injected the eggs into their corpses to create the first of his many loyal children/Soldiers*

====

*After the destruction of the Sweet Jazz City Factory, Code Stringer had went into hiding but would soon discover and fuse with many alternate versions of himself to become Insync and would many more bodies and vessels to possess and would now rule over a Syndicate of Steel converted Copper 9 with an iron fist*

====

*After his ascension to Godhood, Cosmic Sam had decided to toy with the heroes and split them all apart in various places to make them suffer...Some would more than others...Jackrow was especially empty inside after what he saw and considered walking into the Fatalis cave before him and never returning...Only to see a random...soldier? Charge directly into the cave like a madman...Jackrow realized that the lunatic was planning on fighting that thing and decides to save his soon-to-be ally and new friend...Habits die hard he supposed...*

#Multiversal Fusion #Adventureverse: Cosmicverse #Cosmicverse #Chaos-verse

[followthestars]

Some more information on the Solis AU involving Ardyn.

It takes him until the twins are 17 and Solis puts himself in danger to shield his older brother, to shield Ardyn with his own body at the risk of his father’s shield killing him For Ardyn to really start on forgiving and realizing that Solis was serious about atoning for his sins as Somnus.

He starts using old nicknames he used when his younger brother was Somnus after that.

Until that point, they do start to bond over pranking Gilgamesh in the Tempering Grounds, Nif nobility, the Lucis council, and a few others.

Noctis and Prompto get dragged into pranking the council.

Ardyn warms up to Noctis in a few months, jokingly calls him ‘littlest brother’ since Solis is the older twin.

Solis actually told his brother the truth after his talk with Ardyn, so Noctis and Prompto both know he’s a reincarnation.

Noctis did punch him for hurting Ardyn like he did.

Solis knows he deserves it.

Ardyn 100% snuck past all the trials and planted as many glitter bombs around every place Gilgamesh will be guaranteed to set them off.

He also manages to break Gilgamesh out of there just so he can watch the pained look on Solis’ face as Iris has a stare-down with this undead warrior over who is his shield.

Gilgamesh is slightly intimidated.

He ends up reluctantly asking to be Solis’ sword instead.

Solis is just silently sobbing because he knows exactly who is behind this.

Cor has to do a double take at seeing Gilgamesh in the citadel trying to act as a sword to the elder prince.

He is torn between fighting and informing Regis.

He reluctantly tells Regis about this.

There is PANIC

And they return to see Gilgamesh just staring hard at Solis.

“You’re the one that taught the Adagium to make glitter bombs.”

“Don’t call him that and yes, also told him where to find you to hit you with them.”

Regis actually sobs, his oldest son met the Adagium.

Noctis just grins and adds “I helped teach him how to make them.”

“Do you randomly set random objects on fire by accident like Somnus did as a teen.”

Gilgamesh calling out his King as revenge about all the stupid stuff he did in his past like as a teen.

“Noctis warps by accident, his friend Prompto has learned to dive out of the way if anything is thrown after the first time.”

Solis is 100% banned from council meetings until he stops accidentally setting things on fire.

Several of the more irritating members have been unfortunate victims.

After Ardyn starts forgiving Solis he 100% sneaks him into Niflheim and only leaves Noctis a note saying they’re gonna bond over tormenting some Nif nobles.

Ardyn 100% introduces Solis as his Little brother Somnus

They have fun pulling pranks and causing Chaos.

Solis gets his own blond clone by accident. The Defective MT imprinted on him when he saved him.

Prompto does not know how to feel about having a twin he didn’t know about.

#somnus lucis caelum #ardyn izunia #clarus amicitia #regis lucis caelum #noctis lucis caelum #cor leonis #prompto argentum #Solis AU #starry thoughts #No idea what to name Solis' Prompto #He's so confused why this MT he prevented from being burned is clinging to his back like a Koala #Ardyn is just laughing #Gilgamesh is the one that finds them first and he gets out of there upon realizing the two are conspiring in causing chaos

[softpshycopath]

can you do prompt four and do it for druig?

Summary: the other eternals coming by to visit you was supposed to be a happy occasion, Druig disagrees.

Warnings: none, just jealous Druig, but that's what you're here for.

Word count: 1156

Prompt: “Wait a minute, are you jealous?’

Authors note: I hope this is what you were looking for!

2021

Happiness, relief and uneasiness all washed over you after finally being reunited with your fellow eternals. It had been 500 years and while you knew each of them could fend for themselves, you loved them too much not to worry in their absence. You began to feel uneasy when you realised some of your friends were missing, Ajak in particular, because you doubted that any major undertaking of the eternals would escape her presence. Your worry was justified when you heard of her death, the true meaning of your mission and the return of the deviants.

Just this morning you had woken up with a content and safe feeling, tucked away safely in the depths of the Amazonian rainforest with Druig, it seemed like nothing could hurt you. Turns out you were very wrong.

Druig had been quick to react and decide that he was not going to help, and as much as you wanted to run after him and change his mind, you decided staying, and helping come up with a solution for your problems would be the better option. You quickly reconnected with all your friends and realised that, despite your happiness here, you had missed them awfully.

Not long after Thena and Gilgamesh left to get some air, the rest of the eternals disbanded and went on to explore the village. You figured that finding food and a place for them to stay was better than giving a tour, so of you went to find snacks.

In your house you found Druig, he seemed calm and acted as if nothing happened earlier, as if the rest of the eternals weren't even visiting. He greeted you and watched you as you went around the house trying to find if you had any quick food to serve your friends. Upon realising the house was entirely snack-less, you wanted to see if you could find anything in the mess hall but before you finished putting on your shoes, you heard Druig coming up behind you.

“So, are you going to leave me then?” he said, and you turned around to face him, one foot still shoe-less. “That's a very loaded way of asking whether I will be helping save humanity and this planet.” You wanted to reach for his hand, but he held them behind his back. “But yes, of course I will.” His cold stance didn't escape you; it was the way he acted towards the villagers. “You're free to join, they don't show it, but I know the others have missed you too,” you grabbed your other shoe and hopped to a stool to put it one.

He turned to you again but before he could say anything cynical, like you knew he would, you told him, "and after we save the world we'll come back here and live in peace and quiet.” You knew that wishful thinking wasn't going to convince him but at least it lifted the grim ambiance that had been surrounding you since the others arrived. Or so you thought.

He couldn't put a finger on the strange feeling that overcame him, but Druig was not satisfied. Maybe it was the fact that you had been together for over 2000 years and now you were leaving him to maybe never come back. Or that when you followed him on those stairs in Tenochtitlan you chose him and chose to the others behind and now you were choosing them and leaving him behind. Whatever it was, he didn't want to lose you and, as selfish as it might be, he would do anything to make you stay.

You made your first steps towards the door and as you did, Druig grabbed a hold of your hand semi-spinning you around until you were in his arms. To stabilise yourself you put one hand on his chest and when you realised how close you were to him, you giggled a little. “What?”, he asked. “Well, it's just such a contrast, all day you've been closed off and cold, not just towards me but towards our friends. Who, mind you, we haven't seen in 500 years! And now, here you are spinning me around and holding me so close, like you haven't seen me in 500 years.” A smile still played on your lips but when you saw his serious face your mind finally decided to do some thinking. It didn't take long; the puzzle pieces fell together almost instantly.

“Wait a minute, are you jealous?” you said, far too amused for your own good. “No, absolutely not,” he stated in the same tone as when he denied your friends his help, but you knew better. “Um, I think you are, and it is adorable really, in 2000 years of us being together I have never seen this and my oh my what a shame.” Druig could feel your glee and before being able to form any coherent sort of protest you added, “and it looks really good on you.”

“I am not jealous, I am worried.” He looked directly at you and seemed completely unfazed by your entertained look. “You could get yourself hurt or even killed, and then what? I would be completely alone forever, wallowing in grief.” “And self-pity,” you added.

Despite playing it of for laughs, you had been worried about dying and how, if Druig didn't come with you, you would never see him again. Never be able to look into his eyes again and never be able to tell him you loved him so very much. Your face darkened but Druig knew you would never voluntarily stay and leave the others to fend for themselves. “And maybe,” he continued, “just maybe, I am a little jealous.” He waited for you to say something, but you remained quiet. “When you followed me down the stairs in Tenochtitlan,” he started, a little insecure about how you would feel, “you chose me, you left the others behind to follow me and live god knows how, god knows where.” He lifted his hand, the one not holding you and held your face. “And now, you're running of to god knows where and leaving me.”

You didn't know what to say, you understood his feeling and had even been worried this might come up. You tried opening your mouth to say something but decided it much better to just kiss him instead.

For a little while it seemed that there were no problems, no deviants, no end of the world, just you two, close together. He held you tightly, if it were up to Druig you would never be farther away from him than this, but in the end even eternals need to breathe, and you pulled away.

Before either of you could say anything, you heard a loud noise and turned your heads towards the door in shock. Hearing an all-too-familiar roar, you spoke quicker than you could think. “Deviants.”

#druig #druig x reader #druig fanfic #eternals #eternals fanfic #no y/n #barry keoghan #druig x you

[elenarodriiguez]

day twenty five: muffled screams | d & m

summary: death when you’re an immortal being is a strange concept to think about.

pairing: druig x makkari

warnings: spoilers, canon typical violence, themes of death

word count: 1060

read it on ao3

Druig can’t tell if he died at Ikaris’s hands or not. It’s a strange thing to dwell over, death that is, because before Ajak’s murder and Gilgamesh’s untimely death it had never occurred to him before. One day he hadn’t existed (didn’t remember his previous existences) and then the next he’d woken up on the Duomo.

He’d witnessed death - senseless deaths, peaceful deaths, bloody and violent deaths - a thousand times over, each time chipping away at his heart, but never once had he applied the principle to himself. The apparent immortality which they’d been bestowed had been something of a curse in his eyes, he was never like Sprite, wanting to grow older and experience the world like a human, but he hadn’t cared much for eternal life either.

Not when he felt children die as their parents mourn the loss, witnessed genocides enacted upon innocent people for the sake of power and influence and little else, heard the villagers curse his godly nature when their loved ones passed. But had he ever wanted to die, did he ever wish to be released into death’s loving embrace? He couldn’t honestly say the thought had ever crossed his mind.

As he floated between consciousness and the endless darkness, he heard a muffled scream coming from far away, almost missing it with how far away it sounded, how quickly he was fading. His ability to stay awake, to carry on breathing, wavers, and he finds his eyes drifting shut, not knowing how long it had been when he awakens. While the sun is still shining brightly, and pain pulses through every atom of his body, he can’t hear anything going on near the crater Ikaris had tried to bury him in.

Despite his body’s cries for him not to move, he forces himself upright, his ears ringing loudly enough that it’s the only thing he can hear. Once he’s heaved his way out of the crater, he sees another one of Sprite’s illusions popping up around her and Sersi, another attempt at trickery so that they can die for Arishem’s cause and lose one another forever.

His movements are slow, trying to keep himself steady enough to make it over to Sprite without garnering her or Ikaris’s attention, but he manages to get to them just in time, knocking her out with a rock midway through her spiel. He helps Sersi off of the ground, his body protesting as he helps heave her up, informing her that he is not the right person to stop the Celestial from rising, but that she is.

He watches as she turns the knife Sprite stabbed her with into water, a proud smile tugging at his lips as she finally owns her powers. For years he’d watched her struggle from afar, her own feelings of uselessness and insecurity being projected onto him like a tsunami crashing onto the land, but finally, after breaking free from Ikaris’s shadow those feelings were gone.

She rushes off to finish what they started, and he allows himself the courtesy of slumping to the floor the moment she can no longer see him, nudging Sprite’s body to see if she’s still breathing. Not five minutes later, the bracelet which Phastos made for them is radiating golden light, the patterns on his armour flaring out in front of him as his body is lifted towards the sky, his power being shared with Sersi.

The icy feeling of the Celestial’s death brought on by Sersi courses through his veins, and he briefly wonders if the others can feel it too. For the first time since he was flown into the crater, he allows himself to think of Makkari, the grief stricken look on her face as Ikaris flew away with him, Druig unable to do anything except hold on for dear life. He begs the world to have kept her alive and safe, and in that moment he decides that once they make it back to the others, he will never leave her again.

As his body is carefully placed on the ground, he takes one look at Sprite, who quietly groans nearby, before deciding to leave her there, knowing Sersi would come back looking for her in no time at all. The walk across the beach isn’t long, although his body makes its protests against the exertion known, and soon enough he sees her. Thena’s the one to notice him first, Makkari’s gaze staring off into the distance, but when she turns her head to look at him, he can’t help the smile that he sends her way.

As she runs over to him, her powers momentarily forgotten, he lets his arms fall to his sides, tugging her close to his chest as soon as she’s in arm’s reach. Not wanting to part from her, he rests his head against her forehead, staring into her eyes and smiling at her, even when a stray tear rolls down her cheek. He tries to convey through his eyes that he’s okay, that he loves her, that seven thousand years of pining is too long, that five hundred years without her was torture, but in the end, he settles for pulling her into his side and holding her close.

“I’m okay.” He signs as she carefully drapes her hand around his waist, fearing him being fragile enough to shatter into a million tiny pieces. “I love you Makkari, I never want to spend another lifetime without you in my arms.”

She turns her head and smiles at him, pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips in response.

“Me neither, my beautiful, beautiful Druig.”

His cheeks flush as he rolls his eyes and tries to play off his embarrassment from the compliment as an effect of the heat, but she knows him too well. She turns his head towards her, mouthing the word beautiful at him and signing it emphatically, not allowing him to look away. Tilting her chin up, he ducks his head down and kisses her on the lips, smiles forming at both ends of the kiss, and Druig can practically taste the joy and relief coming off of her.

It’s then that he realises that Death wouldn’t take him from her, couldn’t take him from her, because they’d both fight tooth and nail to be reunited, no matter what it takes.

#febuwhumpday25 #febuwhump #marvel #eternals #drukkari #druig x makkari #druig #makkari #eternals oneshot #eternals imagine #marvel oneshot #marvel imagine #daisy writes

[megashadowdragon]

Lancelot had a (b)romance with the half-giant king, Galehaut. Some fun stories about them

Galehaut's forces were laying siege to king Arthur's and looked as though they may prevail but before clinching victory, Galehaut offered surrender on the condition that the mighty black knight who fought so valiantly (Lancelot) become his friend. Arthur accepted the terms then Lancelot and Galehaut adventured together.

Galehaut helped cover for Lancelot and Guinevere, allowing them to use his castle for secret meetings.

He later encouraged Lancelot to move somewhere else where he could be with her even though it meant they'd never see each other again (his giant blood and own kingdom meant he couldn't leave).

Upon (false) news that Lancelot had died, Galehaut is said to have died of either loneliness or heartbreak (Lancelot had been kidnapped then driven mad so it wasn't completely implausible).

When Lancelot died, instead of being buried next to any of his three-ish wives, he chose to be laid to rest in the grave Galehaut set aside for the two of them so that they could be side by side for the rest of time

Gilgamesh is an architect nerd

Heracles madness and invulnerability isn't just due to his labours and being too strong to control

He had an actual moment of pure madness due to his invulnerability, his wife gifted him an undershirt that had been soaked in the blood of a centaur that tried to rape her, Heracles killed the centaur with an arrow coated in hydra blood, the hydras blood was deadly to all living things except those of divinity, the centaur knowing why it was dying told her if she felt her husband was cheating on her all she had to do was make him wear the cloth and he would fall completely in love with her and she gave him it as a gift

The hydra blood poisoned him but due to his inability to die he was stuck in perpetual pain and death with no cure he was eventually driven mad, during his madness he hit one of his friends so hard he sent them hurtling into the ocean, during his madness he commanded the building of an enormous pyre which once completed he threw himself on top of and set it on fire, hoping to burn his body into nothingness before it could heal and release him from the poison

I've never heard of a telling of Atalanta's story that has her die in that incident. Every version I've seen that includes that incident says that the two of them were transformed into lions.

As has been mentioned in other comments, FGO did address the existence of Chrysaor in Gorgon's Bond CE, and Mordred proposing to Guinevere, IIRC, is brought up in Fate/Apocrypha.

As for others...

While only addressed in the FGO Materials (and said materials note that it's unclear if this applies in the Nasuverse), some tales say that Medea and Achilles were once married.

There's one tale that happens before Heracles' labours, where he is tasked to hunt a supernatural lion (not the Nemean one). One version has him be rewarded for his success by being allowed to sleep with all 50 of the local king's daughters - Heracles beds and impregnates 49 in one night, and the only reason he didn't go for a full 50 is because one of the daughters wasn't DTF like the other 49. The other version has the hunt take 50 days, and each night Heracles is permitted to sleep with the king's eldest daughter... except they've plotted such that in the darkness, each night a different sister would crawl into bed with him, resulting in all of the sisters getting pregnant.

Heracles spent a couple of years as a lover to a snake-woman (who may or may not have been Echidna) during one of his labours (she was keeping Heracles' horses captive, and wouldn't let them free until she'd had three kids from him). One of their sons, Scythes, became the serpent-woman's heir, and is said to be the king for whom the Scythians were named. The other two sons either joined or founded other neighbouring tribes.

Going by Le Morte d'Arthur, Gareth gets really violent with cock-blockers (or, I suppose in the Nasuverse, clam-jammers). The first time, the intruder got their head cut off, but Gareth ended up being stabbed in the thigh and that ruined sexy-times. The second time, Gareth cut the intruder's head off, broke the skull into itty-bitty pieces, and threw them all into a moat... but sexy-times got ruined again because the fight re-opened the previous thigh-wound and the blood-loss nearly killed Gareth.

solomon and sheba

It varies depending on which version of Arthurian legend it is, but in Thomas Malory’s version, upon learning that mordred is an incest bastard, and Merlins prophecy that mordred will destroy Arthur and his kingdom, Arthur puts every baby born on the same day as mordred on boats and sends them away in hopes they all die, which obviously doesn’t work. I enjoy it because it makes mordreds hatred of his father a bit more understandable, and while he’s still a pretty bad dude, I feel for him a bit. Although in fate, mordred is my favorite character so I’m a little biased towards both her, and her actual counterpart

Arjuna

- "Endowed Hero" is a bullshit title. Arjuna and his brothers, due to being son of Pandu, was forced to be exiled and live in poverty for 14 years.

- Among Drona's student, he is the bravest among them. Even Karna's reason to study more under Parasurama was due to his jealousness toward Arjuna.

- Yudhistira is strong in using chariot and spear, Bhima in using mace, Arjuna in archery, Nakula and Sahadev in using sword. Despite all of that, Arjuna is better in technique than all of them in their respective forte.

- He got his astras by doing wrestle with Mahadev himself

- Among the youngling during Kurukshetra war (it means excluding Drona, Parasurama, and such. Oh, excluding Krishna as well), only Arjuna have fought non-human enemies and won.

Karna

- He's always the one with the obsession to beat Arjuna, not otherwise. Always want to be acknowledged.

- It's true that his armor is immune to everything thrown by Gandiva and even Chakra Sudharsana itself, but doesn't mean Karna is unbeatable. What impossible is to kill Karna, not beat him. Karna already loses 2 times against Arjuna before Kurukshetra war, either fainting or fled.

- Once Karna fought against Bhima. This battle happened years after Karna trade his armor with Vasavi Shakti. Both participants fought with normal weapon. No astras. No gods interference. No blessings. Bhima beat him so hard that Ashvattama needs to carry him.

In Greek mythology, Heracles was given another trial for some reason and he was given to a queen for said trial. The queen tried to humiliate him by making him dress up in women’s clothing and do knitting while she would dress up in his Nemean lion pelt and go into battle, essentially reversing gender roles. Well it turned out that the plan backfired on the queen as Heracles actually came to enjoy knitting. He said it was a calming exercise for him, so he actually found a new hobby out of this trial instead of humiliation. Needless to say that I would find it hilarious if we found berserker Heracles knitting a sweater for one of the children and ritsuka and mash catch him in the act. Just imagining a hulking behemoth like that knitting would be a hilarious image.

#fgo #fate grand order #fate/grand order #queen medb #fate medb #fgo medb #medb #edmond dantes #fgo edmond dantes #fate lancelot #fgo lancelot #lancelot #saber lancelot #astolfo #fate astolfo #fgo astolfo #fate heracles #heracles #heracles fgo #fgo heracles #fate achilles #fgo achilles #fate medea #fgo medea #medea #achilles #fgo solomon #solomon #fgo sheba #fgo queen of sheba

[softquietsteadylove]

05 - Soulmates

Your skin will have a peculiar colour to it, which will only clear up when your soulmate touches there for the first time.

What utter horseshit.

Thena didn't - and had never - believed in the whole 'soulmates' thing. And she was in the minority for it, considering the actual physical evidence of them filling the world around her.

She had seen people find love without the need for their soulmate. Some results were good, like when Sersi and Dane found each other, despite their lack of soul pairing. Sometimes it didn't work out, like when Sersi and Ikaris had been together for years before that.

Makkari had successfully found her soulmate in a dour little gremlin, as Thena liked to call him. Druig was a little sour upon first meeting, but he was as soft as a marshmallow at his centre, especially for Makkari.

She had described 'the moment' as if her entire world had shifted in that one instant. Things were brighter, clearer, her head felt light and quiet for the first time.

Thena had joked that maybe her real soulmate was an antihistamine.

She never let anyone see her mark. She claimed it was on an area of skin that didn't need showing off anyway, which always raised some eyebrows. She was happy to let people imagine what they wanted of her and her supposed 'other half'.

She didn't need anyone's soul linked with hers. Some people didn't have soulmates at all! Some had platonic soulmates, some had multiples. Good for them, but she wanted no part in any of it.

"Oi, T!" Druig shouted despite the crowd in the restaurant staring at him for it.

"Sit down," she glared at him as she joined them in the booth, next to Sersi and across from Makkari. "Your boyfriend has terrible manners."

That's actually why we wanted you two here, Makkari beamed with all her usual exuberance. She looked at Druig for a second before slapping her left hand down on the table (just as loud and unmindful of the atmosphere as Druig). That's fiance to you!

Thena and Sersi's jaws dropped. They looked between themselves and then back at their friend, now a bride-to-be. When did this happen?!

Last night! Makkari laughed silently, looking as if she'd won a drinking game as opposed to gotten engaged. I was going to text you two, but Druig wanted to tell you in person.

So sentimental, Thena smirked at him.

He blushed and ruffled his mop of dark hair. "Well, you're the most important people in Kari's life, I thought it'd be important."

"That's very sweet, Druig," Sersi smiled, willing to be the one with any social grace if no one else was.

"Well, let's get started then," he chuckled, his arm settling around his beautiful Makkari's shoulders.

"No shots," Thena pointed specifically at Makkari, who shrugged as if she were the picture of innocence. Thena rolled her eyes; Makkari could out drink an elephant, and they all knew it. "Maybe just a bottle of sparkling, like normal people trying to celebrate."

Druig called over his shoulder, "since when are we normal?"

Thena continued up to the counter, digging her wallet out of her purse. "Can I leave you my card? My friends got engaged and I'd like to pay for us at the end of the night."

"Oh, wow, congratulations!"

Thena looked up. Sound vanished, the light from outside became brighter, casting a golden glow over everything. All that existed was the man behind the counter, smiling at her like she was the source of the light and not the sun itself.

Shit.

He seemed stunned as well, and Thena almost hoped that he didn't. Because then maybe it was a mistake, and she could go on disbelieving in all this. But no, he was staring at her, slack jawed and grinning like a maniac. A cute maniac.

Dammit.

Thena inhaled, pulling her frayed nerves together. This was not 'the moment'. There was no 'moment'. Because she didn't believe in soulmates, or 'the moment', or the idea that a single person could alter the course of your whole life. She was no half a person, thank you.

"I'm Gilgamesh--Gil, actually."

"Gilgamesh," she repeated mindlessly, but it tumbled off her tongue, as if she were holding a diamond in her mouth and it slid from between her lips. It was a hell of a name--it was long and unwieldy and cumbersome. But it sounded so beautiful.

Fuck.

He continued to smile at her. Hearing his name off her lips made him seem to glow from within. His hands, previously preparing an appetiser of some sort, went still. He wiped them on the towel over his shoulder before offering it to her.

She looked at his hand - no discolouration - before shaking it. But her hand in his felt like the most natural thing in the world. She had to get away from this man. "Thena."

No, she had to get away from him, not tell him her name and stay rooted on the spot staring at him.

He blinked a few times, as if she had told him something amazing. "That's a beautiful name."

It was a line she'd heard plenty of times before. But distressingly, she knew that he really and truly meant it, from the depths of his sizeable heart. And how would she knew how big a heart he had? She just met him!

"Are those your friends?"

Thena inhaled again, dragging her eyes away from Gilgamesh to where he was pointing. Sersi and Makkari were leaning all the way out of their seats to watch them. Druig was kneeling on the seat, peeking at her from over the back of the bankette. Dread filled her chest (she would take it over the bizarre fluttering feeling that had started). "Yes."

"Uh, listen," Gilgamesh started quieter, and more sheepish. When she looked at him again, he was drying his hands in the towel needlessly. Was he shy? That was adorable. No, it wasn't. "Don't worry about it. I'm happy to pick up your bill for you--my gift to the couple."

"You don't have to do that," Thena frowned, determined to stand her ground on this. She didn't need him doing her any favours. "Just because we're-"

Gil's brows raised; he waited for her to finish the thought. She refused. His smile returned slowly, "because we're...what?"

Thena's shoulders raised and she set her jaw stubbornly. Her cheeks were not burning hot (at all). She turned away from him, toying with the ends of her hair idly, and not just to distract herself. "Nothing--because we are nothing."

But Gilgamesh was back to staring at her as if she were brighter than the sun, the moon, all the godforsaken stars in the damned sky. "Well, we're at least acquaintances, right?"

Thena sighed as she saw him wave past her. "They're waving you over?"

"Sure are," he grinned at her, setting his towel. down and untying the apron around his waist. Why were his arms so big? He walked out from around the counter with a much more confident stride. "Shall we? I should meet the couple who I have a feeling are about to drink me out of house and home."

"You could just not let them if you took my card," she glared as he walked beside her.

He shrugged though, as if it were nothing for him. "It's my restaurant. I can pick up the tab for the friends of my new...acquaintance."

A shiver ran up her spine as he said it, low and deep, close to her ear.

She hadn't even realised his hand had come up to the small of her back as he said it. But the tingling there gave her a terrible feeling.

#Thenamesh #Thenameshweek #Thenameshweek2022 #Obviously I think they're soulmates #and I think Thena would hate the idea of soulmates #just some stranger waiting for her #but then she meets him #and she tries to deny it #but literally one second into meeting him she's like #he's undeniably my soulmate I just don't like it #meanwhile Gil is just happy to be here #and frankly #if Gil has to court his soulmate into liking him #he's gonna court the living daylights out of her #Thenamesh AU

[secret-engima]

I was thinking about what might lead to LC Birbs Ozpin to finally go 'Enough Is Enough' and break out his (hideously OP) magic, and - well. It's suitably ironic. (brace for long set of asks)

hamelin-born

said:

So - on the Roadtrip? The twins are collecting a new Royal Arm to drop at Ozpin's feet, as they do (Ozpin has long since resigned himself to this, even though he doesn't really *need* an Armiger). And everything is proceeding as 'normal' - except for one thing. It's the Blade of the Mystic. ghost!Somnus takes /one look/ at Ozpin, and reacts - poorly. Namely, he manifests himself in full-on ghost form and - not even /Somnus/ knows what he's going to do, but his initial reactions (cont)

hamelin-born

said:

(cont) are *very* threatening. Leading Qrow and Raven to pretty much *throw* themselves at the ancient ghost who is also-sort-of their many-times great grandfather - only to get faced with the wrath of a full-on Lucii, who, depending on how you like to characterize Somnus, is *not* taking it easy on them - and who is absolutely determined to go *through* them if needed to reach Ozpin. Faced with the specter of - well, a specter willing to strike at his own kin (cont)

hamelin-born

said:

(cont) Ozpin proceeds to lose his temper. Just a little. And unleashes Lucis Caelum Magic, Oracle Magic, and Ozma magic on the ancient ghost who *scorns* all concepts of friends and family. (The only thing that would make it better would be Ardyn *somehow* seeing video footage of *his son* blasting Somnus's ghost within an inch of his un-life. It's one of the most transcendent moments of his EXISTENCE).

Me: My word this would be AMAZING.

And yes, YES to the twins finding the Mystic blade and not realizing who’s it is. They just bring Ozpin new sword. Except when Ozpin touches the hilt to assimilate it into armiger, instead there’s a flash of magic and light and horror-outrage-disbelief-guilt-horror and a GHOST with a ghost armiger that nonetheless cuts is suddenly standing there, bellowing at Ozpin with his own ghostly blades spinning around, once clenched in his hand.

The twins naturally Throw Hands without thinking, and Somnus turns on them too. And who knows what Somnus thinks is happening, but we are never given evidence in canon that he reacts reasonably to stressful situations. Whether he thinks they are traitors to the line, or stains upon it as “illegitimate children bending the knee to a monster’s spawn” or what have you, he fights and he does not play nice.

Idk where Gilgamesh is in this, probably scouting a Nif base with Summer and Tai, but either way they aren’t here for the initial response-confrontation-battle. Their attention is definitely caught by the resulting magic pulses though.

And then Ozpin, who sees his Swords in danger from a ghost, a relative who spits venomous words and who Ozpin might already know a bit about? Depending on if he’s learned about Ardyn’s story and had it confirmed by a reliable (non-Ardyn) source. He hears all this verbal venom and sees the danger and just-

Lets go.

Lucii magic rises first, the newest of the lifetimes, then Oracle magic layers into it, healing any wounds before they can finish forming as he throws himself at the ghost with his own armiger and a shout. Then, as ghost blades clash and struggle with ghostly blades, Ozpin’s eyes burn eerie green and he orders Qrow and Raven to get down.

The following shockwave of green magic (his oldest, his STRONGEST, the one he knows most intimately how to use) can be felt for literal miles.

And you know what? For the Drama™, let’s say Gilgamesh, Summer, and Tai were scouting a Nif base and encountered ARDYN, who may or may not be stalking his son and his son’s Retinue from a safe distance out of a desperate desire to get to know Ozpin (without scaring him off, they are probably still on majorly thin ice because of all the Salem flashbacks he triggers). But Ardyn planned this confrontation because HOW DARE Gilgamesh go near his son, his CHILD. What is Gilgamesh planning hmmm? To stab Ozpin in the back like he did Ardyn?

And then in the middle of THAT whole drama, they feel first one spike of LC magic, then two, then SOMNUS’S magic roars and they are already whirling back in that direction in alarm.

Then Ozpin’s triple-layered magic howls and they are all running back toward it’s source, Ardyn outstripping them all in raw terror because his-son-his-son-Somnus-is-near-is-fightingHISSONNONONO.

But when he arrives on the fringes of the scene, it is to find Ozpin needs no one’s help. Ozpin looms over Somnus, magic of three colors swirling around him in a storm, eyes glowing green and cane sparking like lightning. He is forcing Somnus, The Mystic, The First King, Ardyn’s brother and betrayer-

to kneel.

#SE asks #hamelin-born asks #Secret Engima Rambles #LC Birds verse #Shadowed Wings verse #Ozpin vs Somnus #not even a contest #long post

[scottymcgeesterwrites]

ScottyMcGeester Plays Every Final Fantasy Game*

*Okay, all the main games except 11 and 14 since they are online only, and also no spinoffs or sequels.

THE INTRODUCTION

Years ago, I had a goal to finish every Final Fantasy game. As of December 30, 2020, I finally reached that goal. I originally started posting these reviews way back in 2017 on VGF(VIdeo Game Forums), and posted one review after another as I completed each game. I had already finished a few before I started reviewing the series, such as Final Fantasy I, II, VI, IX, and X.

Final Fantasy X was my very first Final Fantasy game, way back when it first came out on the PS2. It took me years to finish that game, mostly because I was still a novice at RPGs and I didn’t quite know what I was doing. Still, the world and concepts of Final Fantasy gripped me. As a sci-fi/fantasy writer, they inspired tons of elements in my stories. The series spans a multitude of genre-bending stories – sci-fi, fantasy, some steampunk, modern fantasy, space, traditional fantasy with knights in armor – and a whole lot of crystals. I wrote these reviews as if you have no idea what Final Fantasy is – whether you are a gamer or non-gamer. This first post is a general introduction to the series as a whole, but even if you are a die-hard fan already, there are some things that I explore that I hope you'll find interesting. What is Final Fantasy? Final Fantasy is a roleplay video game series that started back in 1987. The first game was reminiscent of Dungeons and Dragons, where you could choose one of six roles for a team of four: White Mage, Black Mage, Red Mage, Thief, Monk and Warrior. Square, now known as Square Enix, developed the game. A legendary rumor about the title “Final Fantasy” comes from the story that they were on the verge of bankruptcy. They only had money for one more game, a fantasy game. They dubbed it “Final Fantasy.” This apocryphal story is nowhere near true. Square had made video games before and they didn’t do well, but the company itself wasn’t on the verge of bankruptcy. What happened was that the developer, Hironobu Sakaguchi, had planned to retire. He didn’t see any foreseeable future in video gaming with Square’s mediocre performance. He wanted to make a fantasy game and dubbed it “Final Fantasy”, since it was to be his personal last work. He also wanted the game to be abbreviated as “FF” – they originally had “Fighting Fantasy” in mind but that name was already trademarked by a board game. Final Fantasy initially sold 400,000 copies in Japan and became and instant hit. Nintendo of America approached Square to release a localized version for the states. Final Fantasy became far from Sakaguchi’s last game. What’s Final Fantasy about? Every main Final Fantasy game has a new story with new characters and even new gameplay. Some games have direct sequels and are recognizable with a subtitle, or an additional number following a dash. For example, there is Final Fantasy VII, and the direct sequel to that Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. There's a direct sequel to Final Fantasy X titled Final Fantasy X-2. But even though each Final Fantasy game is different, there are still central elements that make them a Final Fantasy game. You can’t just write up a random fantasy story and slap the Final Fantasy name on it. The following elements are what make a Final Fantasy game. Some are obvious while others not so much. Chocobos:

Chocobos were first introduced in Final Fantasy II, but have been present ever since. They are cute, large birds that the characters often ride across fields or sometimes call into battle. They have practically become the mascot of the series. Moogles, Cactuars and Tonberries – oh my!

Moogles (pictured above) are telepathic creatures that help the players, or sometimes they can be a playable character. They debuted in Final Fantasy III.

Cactuars (right) and Tonberries (left) are cute, unassuming enemies that are actually highly dangerous, killing you in one shot if you are not careful or fast enough. The former debuted in Final Fantasy VI while the latter debuted in Final Fantasy V. Summons:

Sometimes they go by different names, like eidolons or espers. Summons are massive, fantastic beasts that you can call upon to aide you in battle to fight the enemy. Summons became a staple ever since Final Fantasy III. In some games, they are merely there to call into battle, while in other games they are central to the story. Airships:

Airships have been present since the first game. They are massive boat-looking airplanes. In the more recent games, airships look almost like spaceships.

Cid:

With the exception of the original Final Fantasy (except in later remakes), every game has a character named Cid. Cid is typically the character who owns an airship.

Items and Magic Spells:

Each game shares virtually all the same items and magic spells. Antidotes. Eye drops. Maiden's kiss. Holy water. Phoenix Down is well-known for reviving knocked-out characters in battle. The spells follow a hierarchy of levels. For example, Cure is the basic spell to heal somebody. The second level spell for healing is Cura. Then Curaga. Then finally Curaja. Most other spells follow the same format. The same high-level spells also frequently appear throughout the games, such as Holy and Flare.

Crystals:

With a few exceptions, crystals appear in nearly every game. They often serve as plot devices, whether they be the force that protects the planet or powerful objects coveted by the enemy. They also oftentimes have a consciousness of their own, communicating with the characters and calling them to their destiny.

Mythological References:

Final Fantasy is riddled with mythological references. Many summons and creatures take the names of mythological creatures or deities, such as Shiva, Bahamut, Leviathan, Behemoth, Odin, and Ifrit. Certain villains share the names of mythological figures or they are derived from certain mythological concepts, such as Gilgamesh and Sephiroth. Many of the games have legendary weapons you can find near the end of the journey. These are typically named after legendary Japanese figures, such as Masamune and Yoichi, or other world mythologies, such as Thor’s hammer Mjolnir. Saving the World:

Final Fantasy isn’t about saving a particular princess, or person for that matter. The ultimate goal is to save the entire world, or even the very fabric of reality. Evil spreads in many ways, such as a sealed darkness trying to break free, empires with ambitious goals, villainous subordinates who pull the strings of politics, or empires destroying the environment. Typically, the main cast consists of characters from all walks of life. They all have to learn to work together and get through their personal struggles to save the world. Existential Crisis (or Startling Revelation):

By the time you reach the third act of a Final Fantasy game, some startling revelation forces the characters to question their very existence. A villain is revealed to be a hero’s family member, a main character realizes they're a clone, another realizes that they cannot live without magic, etc. Typically, the main character questions the nature of their soul, if they die like regular beings and become part of some greater life force, or blink out into oblivion. Whatever the revelation may be – it serves as a final crisis that the characters have to overcome. The Descent into Hell:

Every third act of a Final Fantasy game ends with what I like to call a “descent into hell”. The final dungeon is always some kind of bizarre world. In Final Fantasy II, you literally descend into hell to fight the Emperor. Throughout the series, hell is more metaphorical. The final dungeons can be a massive, sprawling tower or dreadnought, or a strange dimension that appears to have no rhyme or reason. Sometimes I'm reminded of M.C. Escher’s work, “Relativity”, or sometimes it reminds me of some cosmic horror featured in the Cthulhu Mythos. These final dungeons can be inter-dimensional rifts between space and times, pockets in reality, subterranean depths, insane worlds that the villain created, and worlds of darkness. (Final Fantasy IX's Memoria)

(M.C. Escher's “Relativity”)

These stylistic approaches for the final dungeon represent the oncoming battle with the forces of chaos. Fighting God:

After venturing through the surreal and hellish final dungeon, you face the main villain. The main villain always achieves godlike status or the characters actually have to defeat a god in order to save the world from its oppressive reign. Many stories appear to throw in a last minute ultimate god who was pulling the strings of the plot the entire time. The purpose of dealing with gods and goddesses represents the characters’ desire to control their own fate and alter their destiny. Most of these bosses are strange and grotesque, definitely getting a Cthulhu vibe from them. I looked at them and thought, "Christ, what the hell is THAT supposed to be?"

It always feels like THE final fantasy:

Each game, no matter what happens or how it happens, feels like the be-all-end-all of its story – its fictional universe. Direct sequels were unheard of until Final Fantasy X-2, which while fun, was wildly different in tone from the original game, and critics pointed out that it ruined the finality of Final Fantasy X. This is one reason why I think direct sequels to Final Fantasy games fail – what else could the main characters possibly face that is more dangerous than the one they just encountered? Anything else would feel like child’s play to them. NOTABLE PEOPLE Aside from the characters, stories and games themselves, the people behind the series have achieved legendary status. Nobuo Uematsu:

The original composer of Final Fantasy. Uematsu single-handedly scored the first 9 Final Fantasy games. Uematsu surprisingly never had any formal training in music – a trait that would ostracize any composer, such as Danny Elfman. I find that the those who haven't had any formal training usually break the mold with music. Uematsu started working for Square at around 25 for the first Final Fantasy game, starting out with nothing and never suspecting his job would lead him where he is now. His music is unique for incorporating elements of classic and progressive rock, specifically in the battle themes. Uematsu’s themes for each game have achieved instant recognition in the gaming world, as recognizable as the theme to Star Wars or James Bond. Tetsuya Nomura:

Tetsuya Nomura is a video game designer and director who started at Square in 1990. He rose to prominence when he was given full control of designing the characters for Final Fantasy VII – arguably the most popular Final Fantasy game to date because of its characters: Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, Vincent Valentine and Sephiroth. Nomura went on to create more legendary characters for Final Fantasy VIII, X and XIII. Yoshitaka Amano:

Amano is the artist whose work is most known now in Final Fantasy. He has done concept art and design for every game in the series. His style is instantly recognizable. He has also drawn for many anime shows, comics and mangas, such as Vampire Hunter D and Sandman: The Dream Hunters.

And last but certainly not least - THE MUSIC Final Fantasy has left its mark in the musical soundtrack of video games. Each game more or less shares three of the same memorable tracks.

The Prelude:

The Victory Fanfare:

The Final Fantasy Main Theme:

THE REVIEWS

Each review I post will critique major aspects of each Final Fantasy game, such as its gameplay, graphics, story, and music. Today is currently January 3, 2020 (technically the 4th when I post this because it’s past midnight), and I will be posting one review per day so as to not lose my sanity editing and formatting everything at once here. So look forward to the very first review tomorrow starting with the very first Final Fantasy game.

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