#and it’s worth it Now. she knows a lot more about magic now she has people who can help her now but. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

doughliciousfrosting · 10 months

Note

Your tmnt au meeting Monkey kid and the gang?

I think you're talking about my 2012 TMNT designs? Which I understand, theyre really far from canon HELPP but they're not really an au 😭 or they were never really meant to be. Anyways I have a lot of thoughts and I could explain why I picked each character and paired them up with each other and if I can I'll definitely draw the rest of them!!

I'll explain right now why I paired Mei with Donnie and Tang with April

First and foremost though,

⚠️ NONE OF THESE ARE SHIPS ⚠️

With that out of the way I'll start with why I paired Mei and Donnie. I like to think that Mei is a super good builder and tbh, this is actually pretty canon. We see her rebuild her bike in S1 Ep 3 and in S1 Ep1 she's also the one who builds their secret fortress which is INCREDIBLY made. With this information in mind it can be quick to assume Mei is a pretty good mechanic! In S3 of 2012 TMNT we know that Casey and Donnie spend a lot of time in the small barn out back working on stuff both seperately and at times together! While I do think Casey can understand some of the tech jargon Donnie talks about (as long as it relates to car parts) I don't think Casey can really understand the technical stuff. I think Casey's knowledge probably comes from self taught experience, as a result he can identify each part and what they do but not the technical terms for them and professional blueprints for things and stuff. Which is why I think Donnie would be absolutely ecstatic to have someone able to read his work!! And like I said earlier Mei is really good with tech as we see a lot in the earlier seasons before they delved hard into mystic magic and stuff. I would have paired Mei with Casey but I have other ideas grrr!!! If people are interested I'll explain more.

Moving on to why I paired Tang with April! I kinda rewrote April a lot HELP I think her writing had a lot of problems so I just changed stuff lol. I like to think that the reason April tried so hard to prove herself and stuff was because she doesn't want to be useless. I feel like she gets sorta babies a lot (mainly by her father) and it makes her want to overachieve to prove a point, prove that she's grown and that she's perfectly capable of handling herself. The problem though is the years of fighting experience she lacks. In a normal situation April can 100% take care of herself but in ones where she faces opponents with a lifetime's experience in combat versus her measily 1 and a half years the difference is huge. And on top of this April has to figure out her psychic powers, which in S4 literally blew up in her face. I just think she struggles with feeling inadequate, when she does something she wants to be the best and it's hard for her to feel like she has a place in the team when everyone else seems not to struggle the way she does in battle. She just tends to forget the difference in fighting experience even though they're all the same age. Anyways, being unsure of ur worth on the team and struggling with your powers seems like it would be right up Tang's alley!! Tang in S3 Ep8 has a huge tipping point where we see he struggles with self doubt and feeling like he isn't needed. Then later when he discovers he has powers he struggles to control them and get them to do what he wants. I think Tang reassuring April is just a really nice gesture!! Especially since Tang and April are like the most human out of the rest of the group (excluding Casey but he struggles in a different way). I think in a group full of spectacular talents, it's easy to feel ordinary which is a thought I think plagues Tang and April's minds while their characters develop. I tried to keep this short so I hope it makes sense ahhh if you're still reading you're totally awesome and cool!!!

499 notes · View notes

sssammich · 7 months

Text

day 2: romance

you can also read the fic on ao3

the rest of sctober prompts: crepe AU: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 day 19: hazy, day 22: art, day 24: enchanted, day 30: magic

Now, here's the thing. Lena is a reasonable woman. She's a woman of many, many means and has more money that even God knows what to do with. So she doesn't expect much, save, perhaps, for some respect and authenticity.

But even that seems like asking for a lot tonight. Especially when she peers over her wine glass over at her date in front of her—a man who sounded perfect on paper (which, in retrospect, was probably where this slow demise of a date began): great job, good looks, decent upbringing—and knows there's clearly been a miscommunication of sorts.

His nervous energy, she can understand. His overcompensation, even more so. Yet that manifests in rude manners as he interrupts her, arrogance in not-so-subtly considering her position as a CEO, and his tired misogyny in his expectations of what his paying for dinner truly affords him.

So she waits for him to finish talking, as he's monopolized the last ten minutes talking about some financial tech start-up for fish or something or the other. He FINALLY glances at her, flashes what she can only assume is his most winning smile. Which is the only thing she was waiting for, frankly, before she scoots her chair back and subtly waves at a server who already seems to have her coat at the ready.

"Whoa-wait, where are you going? They’ve barely served us the apps."

She smiles down at him, though her eyes are sharp and narrowed. "Riveting as you may think it is to listen to you, I'm going home and having a very lovely evening with my vibrator. I believe I'll have a much more fulfilling time with it than with you."

His jaw drops slightly, sputtering out sorry excuses for words, his face going through a roller coaster journey of expressions—a considerable improvement from the smarmy smile he'd been presenting her since she first saw him. She can even see how his cheeks and ears redden at her comment, could have possibly considered it cute if he was even an ounce less of who he was. The look on his face is almost worth the stress of what little of this dinner has already cost her sanity and time. She turns to the server beside her just as he helps her shrug on her coat, his face the poster of professional decorum, except for the slight twitch from the corner of his lips that betrays him slightly.

And just because she can, Lena rummages through her clutch and pulls out a few hundred dollar bills, where she throws a couple on the table and rolls one to insert in the server’s breast pocket.

She leaves without a single glance back despite feeling all eyes on her.

When she exits out of the restaurant, her driver is already waiting for her at the front. She takes a deep breath and exhales before walking up to him and dismissing him for the night, telling him that she’ll find her way back just fine. She walks away with a final greeting and heads towards the direction of the park.

Lena reaches the edge of the park where she finds a slew of food trucks lining the curb. Most of them have some customers in line waiting except for the bright yellow one parked at the very end. Typically, Lena would hesitate approaching a food truck without customers as that is surely cause for concern. Yet the name ‘Love is Crepe’ seems to call to her, perhaps fitting of the night she’d just endured.

She stands just to the side of the awning with a gaze towards the menu, determining if she should treat herself to both sweet and savory crepes. She decides she deserves to indulge herself.

Yet when she walks up to the front counter, she realizes there’s a handwritten sign that notes:

SOLD OUT

THANKS AND SORRY :(

-crepe mgmt

She can’t help the amused smile on her face even if she finds herself disappointed in not getting any crepes, after all. She’s just about to turn around when she jumps at the sound of someone yelping in surprise behind her.

“Oh!”

She turns around and stops in her tracks when she finds the most attractive woman she’s ever laid eyes on carrying three different bags of food from what appears to be the other food trucks. It takes her a second to process that she should speak, yet her eyes can’t help but glance at the blonde hair pulled into a ponytail, the sharp jaw, the perfect curved lips, and the blue of the woman’s eyes behind black rimmed glasses. Her gaze dips to the womans’ biceps, the t-shirt sleeves folded up to her shoulders, straining slightly under the weight of the bags she’s carrying.

Lena clears her throat. “I—I thought you were open, but I see you’d sold out of everything.”

Despite being the one to have been caught surprised, it’s the blonde woman who’s standing stock still in front of her, surprise slapped on her face. “You’re Lena Luthor.”

This time, it’s her turn to be shocked. “Oh, um, yes.”

The woman shakes her head and quickly drops the bags on one of the tables parked right in front of the truck. “Oh my golly, I’m so sorry, that’s—well that was very impolite of me. I’ve just–I’m a big fan. I, wait-no. I mean, I am. I totally am, but like, you’re you, I mean—hang on. Um, wait.” The woman then puts her hands on her waist, and positions her body so she’s properly facing Lena before taking a deep breath. “You want crepes?”

Lena’s brows furrow in amused confusion even as she slowly nods. Something about the way this woman stumbles through her words and her movements has Lena endeared, and so she responds, a slow smile already forming on her lips. “Yes, but I see you’re sold out.”

“Oh, right. I am, but I—” the woman pauses and puts a finger up, a frenetic energy about her, before rushing to the back of the truck. Lena hears rummaging and movement, until the woman pops her head out of the front window, crumpling the piece of paper notice as she slides the window to the side. “I can—I can make you one crepe. Like a malnourished crepe because it won’t have as many strawberries or Nutella, but I can make it. Do you still want it?”

She’s poised to decline, not wanting to interrupt this woman’s night, but the expectant and almost eager way the woman is staring down at her from the window, hopeful and anticipating, has Lena nodding her head before she can even gather her wits about her.

The woman is overjoyed, so Lena believes she’d given the right answer. Something warm buzzes inside of Lena when she witnesses the woman’s bright smile before she disappears from the window.

Lena takes a seat right by where the woman’s food is, a small frown forming when she realizes she’s more than likely interrupted this woman’s dinner. Yet, the woman seems more than happy to work in her truck, so with hesitant resignation, Lena just waits.

Before long, the woman comes out and personally puts her plate right in front of her with a set of plastic utensils wrapped in a napkin. “You didn’t have to do that,” she comments, even as her mouth salivates at the smell of the dish in front of her.

“It was no trouble at all.” Then the woman’s eyes widened. “Oh, unless you wanted it to go. Oh man, I didn’t even ask. Did you—”

But Lena just shakes her head. “Here’s fine.”

The woman beams at her, and Lena briefly wonders how it feels for people in this woman's life to constantly be on the receiving end of such a bright and warm smile. Lena’s frown forms as she watches as the woman then takes her bag of food off the table.

“Won’t you join me? Since I so rudely interrupted your dinner.”

“But you’re Lena Luthor.”

She smiles at that. “And you are?”

The woman’s mouth opens, shock evident on her face, before it transforms into a smile. “Kara. You can call me Kara.”

“Well, Kara. Won’t you join me?”

There’s the smile again as Kara wordlessly nods, and sits herself directly across from Lena. She waits until Kara empties out all of the food from her takeout bags, the spread fully taking over the table they’re sitting on. Kara nudges the containers her way, prompting Lena to quirk a brow.

“Please help yourself.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

She responds with a smile in kind and digs into her crepe, enjoying the flavors of her sweet crepe. “This is really quite delicious,” she offers, meaning every word.

Kara shyly ducks her head even as she smiles proudly. “Thanks! It was slow going for a while, but my friend Nia mentioned that I should put myself in the videos so they could connect with me and not just the crepes. So I guess they’ve been able to see that I really care about the food I make and the videos have been going viral.”

Lena tilts her head in observation, thinks to herself, I don’t think it’s just the crepes they’re looking at.

Suddenly, Kara’s mouth drops and her cheeks redden. Belatedly, and much to Lena’s horror, she realizes that she’s said her thoughts out loud. This time, it’s her turn to cover her face. “Oh god, I’m sorry. That was—”

“Thank you, Lena.”

“You dropped the Luthor.”

“I realized I’d said it twice already, I feel like I’ve hit my quota of full naming you for the day.”

She laughs at that, though a sense of self-deprecation leaks out despite her best attempts. “Thank you for not shunning me away even knowing who I am.”

A crinkle of concern appears between Kara’s brows and Lena wonders, not for the last time that evening, how it feels to see that regularly.

“The only Lena Luthor I know is the one who has tirelessly made the Children’s Hospital the best one in the country so my niece Esme can get the care that she needs. So, I’d say you’re the last person I’d shun away.”

Kara’s stares at her intently, gratitude written all over her face.

“I’m glad to hear that,” is all Lena says, not wanting to overstep by asking more questions. She and Kara are basically strangers, and she wouldn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

“Besides, who shuns away pretty ladies?” Kara says with a shrug before popping an entire potsticker in her mouth. The two of them sport identical rosy cheeks when Lena catches up to Kara’s words just as Kara seems to realize exactly what she’d said.

“Well, thank you, Kara.”

Kara tilts her head and smiles, making a show of swallowing the potsticker that Lena giggles at, and shifting her glasses back up on her face. “Anytime, Lena.”

She can’t help but compare the woman in front of her to the man who’d attempted to wine and dine her earlier tonight. How their eyes shared the same shade of blue, yet Lena thinks she’d happily lose herself in staring at Kara as she listens to the other woman talk about food.

She does just that when they spend the rest of their time in companionable conversation, Kara urging her to try the dishes that litter their table. Before long, the first hour rolls into one, then two, until she glances up and finds that the other food trucks are beginning to break down for the night.

“Oh, I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time,” she says when she wraps her coat tightly around her. “You now have to stay longer to clean up.”

But Kara waves her off just as she finishes cleaning. “No! Please! You’re the one all dressed up tonight. I hope I wasn’t keeping you from anything.”

“God, no. If anything you were saving me.”

Lena thinks she notices Kara standing up a bit taller. “Bad date?”

“Terrible. Perhaps romance is simply not in the cards for me.”

“I don’t believe that,” Kara says, with a shake of her head. “You’re too amazing to not find someone who’ll appreciate you for who you are, Lena Luthor.”

“Careful, you’ve exceeded your full naming quota.”

“Forgive me just this once?” Kara bows her head slightly, a teasing smile on her face.

“Only if you take this.” Lena then proceeds to take out a couple hundred dollar bills and tries to offer it to Kara. But Kara covers her hand and closes it for her, the bills clutched in her fist. She is now fully aware of the warmth of Kara’s hand on top of hers, the softness of it on her skin. Now that she knows this, she’s not sure she can go back to not knowing. To not knowing who Kara is, really.

“Absolutely not! Tonight’s on me. Plus, that was not a true trademark Love is Crepe crepe, okay? I can totally do better. No, I will totally do better!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Why don’t you come back tomorrow, and I’ll prove it to you.”

Lena’s heart flutters at the idea of seeing Kara again. “I suppose I can settle for that.”

“Good, it’s settled. So see you tomorrow?”

“See you then.”

She doesn’t linger for too much longer, hailing a cab and staring out the window until a waving Kara disappears from view.

When she gets home, Lena opens her phone and calls her best friend.

“Oh, Sam. I think I’m in love.”

“The date went well?” Sam asks incredulously from the other end of the line.

“Oh god, no. The date was a disaster, I never wanna see that guy ever again.”

Sam laughs. “Okay, then if not him, who? Start from the top, babe. What’s his name?”

Lena closes her eyes, images of Kara’s beauty filling her mind. Of their dinner together, of the meandering and rich conversation they had tonight. Of the way Kara laughed with her whole body, and smiled with her whole face.

“Well,” she begins, unable to wipe the large excited smile on her own face. “Her name is Kara.”

#supercorptober 2023 #supercorp #supercorp fanfiction #thanks for reading and commenting

321 notes · View notes

formulaorange · 7 months

Text

2023 Fall Anime

This is honestly a loaded season full of new shows based on relatively new manga. Lots to look forward to

Spy x Family - Season 2 One of the most fun SJ series that have come out in a while. Season 1 was killer, high hopes for season 2.

Goblin Slayer 2 I didn't realize they were even making a second season. This was such a killer series. I'm really hoping they don't fall into the many mid-tier fantasy tropes out there in anime right now. I thought the appeal of the show was really Goblin Slayer himself and less about the lackeys along the way. So we'll see how it goes.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End This is definitely one of my highly anticipated series. It's about an elf who was part of the Hero's party and her life after he dies. (Since elves live longer) Definitely a darker take on fantasy but has some really solid fantasy and adventure vibes.

Rising of the Shield Hero - Season 3 Season 2 was pretty disappointing and slow. While this looks like it'll be more fast paced, it does look like a tournament arc of sorts. I know some aren't a fan of that kind of arc, but honestly I think it's exactly what this series needs to pick things up again. We'll see.

The Faraway Paladin - Season 2 This was legitimately one of my favourite fantasy series. I thought it was really well written and didn't rush things like other series. I'm looking forward to this season.

Sequels/Continuations: Eminence in Shadow - Season 2 killer series with an anti-hero main character. Definitely worth checking out. After-School Hanako-Kun Hanako-kun spin off Dr. Stone Season 3 - Part 2 One of the best novel concept series with nothing else in it's genre to compare to. Definitely didn't drop the ball on the recent seasons and still worth watching. Dead Mount Death Play - Part 2 One that I didn't particularly enjoy, but has a decent sized manga following. Tokyo Revengers - Tenjiku Arc The continuation of the series. Might be just me but it feels like the series fell off after the first season. The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent - Season 2 A more mature take on fantasy isekai that just started to get into romance at the end of last season. A solid combo of shoujo genres. The Ancient Magus' Bride - Season 2 Part 2 One that I haven't had a change to check out yet but have only heard good things about. Hypnosismic - Season 2 a weirdly addictive musical/rap series. Unique characters and honestly solid rap battles. One I'll be enjoying. -- Related - Paradox Live - Music battle with what looks to be the same style of animation and solid character design. Definitely worth looking at if you're a fan of Hypmic. The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse A sequel of SDS. Looks like it could be a fun watch for the fans of the series. New:

Shangri La Frontier A new manga fantasy series. This may be a horrible way to describe but it is what it is - a new age SAO- full dive fantasy game. A gamer who only plays shit games, gets into a new massively popular MMORPG and is op. One that I'm excited for because it ticks all the fantasy game boxes I like.

Undead Unluck A relatively new manga series that gained a lot of traction in the last year or two. A gory action comedy that's super chaotic and a lot of fun.

Shy Brand new hero manga series about a shy girl and her anxieties and struggles going into the hero world who grows and gains confidence as she becomes a better hero.

Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions This is a manga series that I have kept forgetting the name of so never got a chance to read but all the covers for the manga look phenomenal. Likely the anime doesn't do him justice but it is what it is. Essentially sherlock in anime form. A PI with issues and the wholesome police detective work together to solve crime. Other New Series: Green - Fantasy Pink - Romance Red - Action Purple - Drama The Kingdoms of Ruins A world where witches were hunted down by humans as science surpassed magic. A kid who was raised by a witch swears revenge on mankind. This honestly looks solid. The animations are very cool looking and the mc seems to be an anti-hero. Will be looking at this one. Under Ninja A well known manga series about modern ninjas. Definitely a unique series for this season. The Apothecary Diaries A historical medical mystery show. I've heard the name before and I've also only heard good things. Will be worth a watch. A Girl & Her Guard Dog The granddaughter of a crime syndicate goes to highschool out of town and the current young boss lies his way into the same school. Would be cute romance if it weren't for the fact she's 15 and he's 26.. Butareba - The Story of a Man Turned into a Pig What the title says. A girl finds him and the story goes from there. I'm Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness The usual light novel title. Honestly, doesn't seem as yikes as I initially thought, might just be harmless breaking the rules kinda thing. Could be fun, also a Capybara that strikes fear into people's hearts. My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer Looks like a wholesome series where an adventurer finds a baby, raises it and she becomes so strong she's busy working all the time. Just a cute father daughter relationship in a fantasy setting about her wanting to come take time to see him but being caught up in OP fantasy battles. Ragna Crimson Dragons vs Humanity - a human and a dragon team up to destroy all the dragons. Action fantasy series. Berserk of Gluttony I honestly added this because I thought it was hilarious. Looks like a combo of knock offs - the Gluttony skill from Tensura (reincarnated as a slime) and the mc being called Fate with the main girl who looks exactly like Sabre. I'll be skipping but its' here so you know.

303 notes · View notes

saccharineomens · 1 month

Text

well, I was thinking about Falin and Chilchuck teaching Laios how to do Marcille’s hair, and then it turned into a spontaneous fic. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Spoilers for the ending of Dungeon Meshi. (<700 words)

—

“No, I think it looked a little more like this.” A pen scribbled against the parchment.

“Like this?”

“Yeah, just pull it a little tighter.”

Chilchuck tugged on the blonde locks until they were snug against Marcille’s skull.

“Yeah! That’s it!” Falin clapped in delight, and Chilchuck leaned back with a smug smile.

“There. Laios, you see? Easy. Now you try.” Chilchuck pulled the ties loose from the braids, and the entire hairdo collapsed. Marcille shook her head to get some of the wisps out of her eyesight, then turned the next page of her book.

A large presence settled behind her, and Marcille could feel his uncertain hesitation. “Don’t forget the comb, Laios,” Falin piped up.

“Ah, right.” A pause, and then a moment later Marcille could feel Laios’ hands awkwardly pick up her hair. He handled it like he would a newborn, anxious and delicate, but the way his sweaty palms would occasionally snag on her hair became too distracting for her to keep reading.

“You don’t have to be *that* gentle about it,” Marcille said, closing the book and setting it on her lap. “Just treat it like you would if you were healing somebody. Be practical.”

Chilchuck groused from where he observed a few feet away. “You better pick this up quick, Laios, I’m leaving for Kahka Brud next week.”

“Neither Chilchuck nor I will be able to help Marcille with her hair,” Falin said, her tone still soothingly soft despite the agitation of everyone else in the room, “so it’ll have to be you.”

Marcille flinched with a sound of surprise when Laios tugged her head sharply to one side. “Sorry!” he exclaimed, freezing up.

“It’s fine,” Marcille sighed, turning her attention to the paintings adorning the walls. She just had to be patient. This hair was getting to be more trouble than it was worth.

It felt like just a few minutes more before Laios’ hands left her, and she turned to see his arms pulled tight to his body in defeat, a grimace on his face like a student watching to see if their dungeonium survived the teacher’s grade. “That good?”

Falin and Chilchuck tilted their heads simultaneously, giving small hums of consideration. Chilchuck heaved a sigh and shook his head, and offered a hand mirror to Marcille. “Look for yourself. What do you think, Marcille?”

Marcille held the mirror up and moved her head left to right, searching for a feeling to rise in response. Satisfaction? Apprehension? She thought, and considered, and hoped, but all that answered her was an inky black nothingness in her stomach. “I don’t know,” she said. Hollow. She used to feel something there, when she looked at her hair. A sense of comfort, and a sense of pride. Her hair was like her mother’s, it connected them. And now all she could feel was…nothing.

Lowering the mirror revealed Laios’ face struck with despair, and she stammered. “Uh, I mean,” she raised the mirror again. “It’s a little…crooked?” Was that a good word to use? “It looks nice!”

“Here,” Chilchuck offered, reaching up, and Marcille turned her head toward his hands. He gripped the end of her hair and tugged on the tie holding it together. “If you take care to make sure all the strands get into the braid, it’ll look less sloppy.” The comb pulled through her loose locks again, and Marcille sighed. This all seemed like such a hassle.

“I could just cut it off, you know,” she said. “Falin has short hair! Lots of mages do!”

“No!” Laios exclaimed. “You love your hair! I mean, you used to! I’m sure if we get this right it won’t interfere with the way it helps your magic, like you said it would.”

“There are other ways to meditate,” Marcille mumbled.

“I’ll get this right. I *will*.” Laios’ voice was firm and stubborn. “Falin and Chilchuck are even drawing me instructions! I won’t waste their efforts!”

Marcille turned back around and picked up her book again, “Alright, have it your way.”

The tie pulled free from her scalp, and her hair tumbled down around her shoulders once more.

#When was the last time I wrote fic that wasn’t for my ocs????#Dungeon meshi #dunmesh #delicious in dungeon #dungeon meshi spoilers #dunmesh spoilers #marcille donato #laios touden #falin touden #chilchuck tims #dm laios #dm marcille #Dm chilchuck #dm falin #My writing #laimar #.........lbr this is part of a long slowburn laimar fic i want to write. let me cook #Op

98 notes · View notes

vitanithepure · 8 months

Text

Can we talk about Gale again? And Mystra, one last time? Or at least let me vent? I know it seems like I can't shut up about it, but deal with me this one last time?

It's a long one, an fervent one, and possibly the last one on their relationship because there isn't much to tell for me after this. I just want to lay it to rest on my part, it's too emotionally draining, but I wanted to do this.

Spoilers for them ahead.

It was some time ago I did the talk with Mystra and Gale as an origin character and I needed some time to process this and gather my thoughts. Because I was left reeling with how personal it felt for me and I hated seeing that to bo honest, even though I think whoever did write this scene did it... very well. I feel a lot of thought went into it, so even though it does touch a delicate subject it does it as tastefully as possible.

Okay, let's begin with a real banger.

Why? This will forever read as "I gave you a solution, explain yourself why you didn't die when I asked you to." for me. What kind of messed up question is that to ask someone?

But can I say how there is absolutely no wrong anwser to that asinine question? You can roleplay however you wish, but none of them are bad anwsers. Some of them are more heartbreaking then the others, but none are in any way making excuses. There is nothing to excuse and I'm glad whoever wrote this dialogue recognized this.

I chose the "I have someone else to live for" one here, because I felt that Gale, at this point, really found that special someone, be it a friend or lover, to live for. It's gut-wrenching that he needed someone to keep him alive in the first place, but this is what having an abusive ex does to you.

But the other choices here? All of them fair. She absolutely had no right to ask that of him, no matter the crime, that's just a fucked up thing to expect.

Being afraid to die? Valid, this shouldn't be put up to question.

Two last ones? Pure gold. I treat the fourth one as a direct jab at her own teachings, on how all magic needs to be preserved and studied? It's like him saying "Hey, I did what you expected and now your mad?".

The very last one is poetic justice. "I owe you nothing." and if that were me this would be the absolute end of this discussion. Mic drop, I'm out of here.

And okay, I did take he self-pity route with "I let you down." here becuase this is what I believe is closest to how "canon" Gale feels about this. That's the most heartbreaking thing about it, that he believes he was not worth enough before and is even less now and doesn't deserve love, of any kind.

What are the other options? Well, all in character and each seems like a valid way for Gale to feel. But me, the player, who is fortunate to know some meta knowledge? Oh boy.

"I was a danger to you." No you weren't. She is the goddess of magic, one of the most powerful out here. She is magic. All you could do is make her day worse.

"I disobeyed you." Yeah, you did. And she sentenced you to a slow death for it.

"You were threatened." Eh, not really. But what comes after that statement? "You realised you couldn't control me."? Yes, that is the only thing she felt threatened about - loosing control.

"Our relationship bored you. The orb was just an excuse to end it." I mean... maybe? Not enough is known about it but seeing how all reincarnations of Mystra are fickle lovers at best I would say it's a possibility. Even if it is just his ego speaking here - damn, what a way to end a relationship.

She has the audacity to tell him "he only thought of himself". Pot calling the kettle much?

Oooh, but I love what we can say here. The amout of vicious call outs here is superb.

We get to call out how much of a control freak she is. Then we can say how out of place was her punishment. Because I feel like it was a fucking equivalent of throwing a child into a dark cellar for breaking your favorite cup, while all they wanted to do was wash it for you. That is how imbalanced this whole thing is and I'm not taking criticism on that.

We also get to straight up ask what was the lesson if she never let him know what he really did and left him without means to make things right?

Then my favorite. Straight up ask her how many lives was she willing to sacrifice to get rid of the problem?

And last but not least - call her out on her lies. That's what she did. Why? I don't know. Was she afraid? Possibly, because the Karsite Weave + Crown of Karsus combo could potentially threaten her. Potentially, because as we saw in one of the Gale endings, she has no problem with just getting rid of a newly ascended god wielding them. That leads me to believe she is not afraid of loosing power as much as just being rivaled with. The indignity she has to suffer, truly.

Hit a nail on the head here. Who cares about mortals, if they live or die and in how many droves? Competition comes knocking, so all gloves are off. And that is what I believe to be the crux of the matter. Mystra wants to remove the Absolute (because that's the new upstart god breaking the status quo), the orb containing he rival Weave, the Crown which threatens her rule over magic all in one swoop. Oh, and that one guy who tries too hard and refuses to die. No biggie. Who cares, she has a line of followers who would replace her Chosen at any given time.

I'm a salty bitch over the fact we can't keep the Crown of Karsus, but instead of using it - just hide it away again. Stablize Gale's Karsite Weave and keep that thing around, hidden away. Let her sweat over the idea someone else might find it one day and rival her rule.

I know I'm way too emotional about it, but like I said, it's very personal - I been there, done that, and never recovered in full after it. I'll die defending anyone and any pixels who are struggling with their self-worth and trying to get over an emotionally abusive relationships.

"Be the better person, die saving the world and I'll 'forgive' you." Fuck. You.

And a bonus, for those of you who stuck around till the end, because I was totally naming the screens and yelling at my monitor while doing this.

#sorry if it's too personal can't really be helped on that matter #that analysis cost me a lot but I'm so happy I got it out there #bg3 spoilers #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #mystra #bg3 #baldur's gate 3

340 notes · View notes

brittle-doughie · 1 year

Note

Hello, I have a request: Reader who pulls several all-nighters in a row on subjects/things that interest them. Can we have the reactions of the Ancients please?

Allow this one to humbly call themselves 🎪 Anon :)

Btw, hru today?

We’ve got a circus anon now, lads. Welcome to the list!

Hearing about your all-nighters made Dark Cacao Cookie wonder if wanting to learn magic was really worth losing sleep over. He’d be more of the stern type when confronting you about these habits, he’d ask that you get a few days rest once he saw how negatively it impacted you. He’s not hearing any of it if you try to say you’re fine, your health mattered more above all else!

Pure Vanilla would be curious on the subjects you were learning over the many nights you’ve studied. He knows what it’s like to dedicate your time to something you’re passionate about! He’d even join you on these nights to help you feel not alone! Keep this between the two of you about these study nights together, okay?

Hollyberry may not be an expert into whatever you’re learning, but she’s willing to listen to whatever you have to say! She admired that you’d stay up many nights on something you’d love. Don’t go completely wild on your research however, or she’ll drag you to bed and cuddle you until you’re well asleep!

Golden Cheese, like Dark Cacao, would be stern with you about these nightly study sessions you were having. Why weren’t you sleeping in bed right now, you can study in the morning! She’ll even take away any book you’re reading to and nudge you to bed. She has a death grip when she’s hugging you, so good luck trying to get out of her sleeping hold.

White Lily sticks to you the whole time like glue, she already does a lot of research herself, so to share this with a very close friend like you means a lot to her. Don’t bother trying to shoo her away, she’ll just return shortly after, promising that she’ll just sit beside you as you researched, just being a presence to you. She even brought you snacks and coffee to help! There’s no getting rid of her once she finds out of your habits, hope you’re fine with a study buddy!

457 notes · View notes

darth-ted2745 · 3 months

Text

Started an Astarion origin playthrough and I've been trying to play him as close to his "canon" as possible in terms of how he interacts with others. In doing so I've been thinking about who on earth he would romance out of the other origin characters as there is obviously no Tav to seduce and manipulate. Who would he latch on to for protection? My first thought was Shadowheart, since both of them have their secrets. But thinking further, my mans is nosy as fuck and would want to be all up in her business. If he found out from the rip that the artifact she was carrying was what was keeping him from turning into a mindflayer, I think he would steal that shit so fast and dip out. If he didn't know it was what was keeping them from turning, I think he'd probably try to at least figure out what it was and if it was worth anything. I don't think he'd care about her following Shar, but I do think he wouldn't be convinced she would protect him if Shar demanded Shadowheart abandon him. I think she would see through his bravado if he tries to seduce her and not fall for it. Next thought was Lae'zel. She's strong, fierce, good in a fight, and closer to morally grey like Astarion. She doesn't care about helping others over herself, and actively disapproves of it. I think it's possible he could worm his way under her stony exterior, but unlikely that he could keep her on the hook. She seems much more interested in something casual romantically and (in my experience) will choose to sleep with either Astarion or Wyll at the tiefling party if Tav rebuffs her. I think Lae'zel would view Astarion as an asset, but she gets real spicy about his vampirism. They're also inherently at odds as she will stop at nothing to rid herself of the tadpole, but Astarion wants to control it. In my personal headcanon, Gale and Astarion bicker constantly, so trying to imagine them together at all doesn't really make sense to me, but for the sake of the thought experiment let's do it. I think Astarion just finds Gale insufferable and can't get past it. Having to find magical items to feed to Gale would annoy him since they're now completely useless to the party at a point where Gale's damage output is pretty low. Additionally, Gale is a slowburn romance and Astarion is tryna FUCK. Gale has a lot of emotional baggage (and this isn't me saying Astarion doesn't because we all know he does), and Astarion doesn't have time to sort through all that if he's trying to secure an alliance with seduction. I think Wyll is a top contender. He's such a do-gooder that I think he would protect Astarion no matter what, even from the rip. I do, however, think Wyll's desire to help people would grate on Astarion, as we see it does in a "good" Tav run. That may not put Wyll out of the running, but I think his need for a more "traditional" romance would. Once again, Astarion needs to seduce or his plan won't work. I think it's possible Wyll might still fall for that seduction, even without the sex, but Astarion's tried and true methods will not work. Karlach is the other top contender in my mind. Yes, the seduction would physically not work since he can't touch her at the beginning of the game, but we know she's satisfied with just words for a while. Karlach is so starved for touch and affection that I think Astarion would pick up on that right away and use that to his benefit. I think in trying to keep her on the hook without being able to touch her, he would absolutely fall for her. She's so endearing and the second she gets her engine fixed and he can touch her, I think he would TRY his typical "seduce to protect me" tactic but at that point he might be in too deep. She's also v strong, BIG, and always warm, and we know our baby boy is always cold!!

#baldurs gate 3 #baldurs gate astarion #astarion #karlach #lae'zel #shadowheart #wyll ravengard #gale dekarios #astarion needs a hug #this is just for fun #this is just me rambling #bg3 thoughts

100 notes · View notes

midnightfox450 · 3 months

Text

I think I'm finally ready to elaborate on my conclusions from my last post about Figayda & Fig's warlock power source.

I think it's pretty obvious that Fig's conversation with Ms. Sool in episode 4 is meant to remind us of Ayda and implicate her as a source of Fig's powers. The specific use of the word "paramour", the talk of contracts, the similarities to Figayda's last conversation in fhsy, etc. Plus I don't think they would modify one of Fig's warlock spells to be Ayda-themed just for flavor.

BUT!!! I don't think it's quite as simple as "Fig's patron is Ayda". Fig's relationship with Ayda could be a source of some of her powers, yes, but I don't think it is the only source, nor do I think Fig has fully deified Ayda herself (if that makes sense).

Ayda being Fig's "patron" would imply a power imbalance that seems a little intense for high school girlfriends and isn't what I think Brennan & Emily are going for. I think the bond between Fig and Ayda acts almost as a generator, creating magical energy that is mutually uplifting and beneficial to both.

The beauty of Figayda is that both girls have become more self-confident now, but not because they define their self-worth by their appeal to the other. They put in the work to be good people to each other, and in turn, realize that they are already good people just the way they are. Ayda "gets" as much out of their relationship as Fig does (whether that manifests mechanically as warlock magic on her end, we don't know).

And there's a lot of stuff around Fig's warlock magic that isn't Ayda-related at all. The bad luck & dairy stuff is clearly Gilear. The stomach stuff could be indigestion (Gilear) but could ALSO be insatiability (Gorthalax, the one source we already know she gets warlock powers from). And I'm betting (hoping) we see some possibly Sandra Lynn-related hints in the future. I also find it interesting that Brennan specifically mentions the fact that Fig, being an archdevil, could source some powers from herself.

I don't think Fig has "a warlock patron", in the sense that there is one deity she intentionally made a pact with. I think she derives her powers from the bonds she has with all of her loved ones. Fig likes to think of herself as a closed-off loner, but in reality, she loves other people so intensely. She also has a habit of adopting other people's traits (her disguises).

Like Ms. Sool said, relationships are a series of contracts, conscious or not. Fig has made many promises to Ayda, Gilear, Gorthalax, etc., and they have made many promises to her back. I think Fig shows her love and commitment to others by integrating them into herself and using that love as a source of her magic.

#figayda #figueroth faeth #ayda aguefort #zara sool #fantasy high meta #fantasy high theory #fhjy theory #fhjy spoilers #fantasy high spoilers #dimension 20 #fantasy high #fantasy high junior year #d20 #fh #fhjy #fig faeth #figayda meta #fig faeth meta #ayda aguefort meta

91 notes · View notes

randomshyperson · 1 year

Text

Wanda Maximoff Needs a Hug - Chapter One

Summary: Since joining the team, Wanda Maximoff has captured all of your attention, even if she has no idea about this. In a six-part story, you'll do your best to give her everything she needs and maybe she never thought she deserved it. Along the way, you two might end up realizing you were in love with each other the whole time.

Warnings: (+18), Friends to lovers, smut in the last few chapters, slow burn, conversations about self-love and individual worth, mentions of anxiety, past trauma, avengers being a family, canon-fix, a lot of magic. Words: 3.484k.

General Masterlist || Series Masterlist || AO3 || Wattpad

--//--

Chapter One - Wanda Maximoff needs a friend

You had a cold.

It was unusual, given your abilities, so it made sense that you insisted that the Avengers do not change the mission schedule because of this, and consequently made you more vulnerable on a mission that should have been easy.

The result was that you now had a cold and a bullet mark on your waist. Everyone was extremely worried, but you assured them that you were fine and that none of them needed to worry about someone literally unshakable, and this alone explained why you had a high fever all by yourself in a tower.

Well, all alone was not correct. There was another avenger, the new recruit, who was not yet on the mission list, and well, she was the one who found you stumbling around in the kitchen at dawn.

Wanda was sure that you hated her. It was a very forward first impression, of course, but she couldn't help but assume that you had some sort of problem with her by the way you behaved around her. Because of this, even though you were sick, she hesitated to approach you.

"Are you okay?"

You hum, forcing a laugh and ignoring all the pain that was spreading throughout your body like needles. "Of course. I just wanted to get something to eat." It was not your intention to be harsh, but the response made Wanda lower her gaze.

"Right." She murmured, her gaze watching your clumsy movements as you moved to get some water. "Are you sure you...?"

But her question was interrupted by your momentary loss of consciousness.

There was something else about Wanda that she hated - her powers. And you couldn't understand why, since that scarlet energy was warm and prickly on your skin and sure was more comfortable than slamming against the counter or the kitchen floor. Her magic held you upright, and suddenly there were soft hands on your face. "Y/N! Hey! sranje (shit)! You're burning up with fever." You heard her words loosely, not having the strength to resist even a little being carried to the couch in the living room.

Wanda used her powers to lay you down, and you only blinked away the fever when cold towels were placed on your head.

"Maybe you should see a doctor." She suggests clearly concerned, but you giggle.

"They wouldn't know how to treat a god."

Wanda snorts softly. "Is that what you refer to yourself as? So presumptuous." She teases, and you smile with your eyes closed, the attempt to shrug makes you whimper in pain and brings a worried expression to her. "I'll call Thor, maybe he'll..."

"I'll be fine, Wanda." You interrupt her, with difficulty, bringing a hand up to her wrist that holds the towel against your neck. "It's just a cold. I haven't caught one of those since childhood, that's probably why I'm so miserable." You explain, and Wanda gives you a small smile.

You struggle to stay conscious with the high fever, and Wanda takes advantage of these moments to call Natasha.

"She's burning up with fever, Nat. I don't know what to do, is there any medicine in this place?"

The widow sighs on the other end of the line. "Damn, I swear she is the most stubborn person I know. I think there's something in Bruce's lab, made for her. Look up her name."

"Thanks. Good luck on the mission. Come back safe." The widow smiled affectionately, saving the teasing about Wanda's gentleness for another moment before muttering her goodbyes.

Wanda gave one last check on your figure - your face covered by a wet towel as you grumbled in pain - before leaving the room. She didn't linger long in the lab, and also took some aspirin from Tony's cabinet.

But when Wanda tried to make you take the meds, you pushed her hand away.

"Oh, oh, what's that?" She rolled her eyes impatiently at your question.

"This is to ease your fever and pain. You need-"

"I'm not taking any pills." You retort seriously, and when she sees almost the panic in your eyes, Wanda hesitates.

"It's just aspirin..."

You force yourself to sit up, complaining a little. "I don't use medicine. Leave me alone to die."

She chuckles incredulously. "That's so dramatic for a god." She teases, but you pout. Wanda thinks it's unfair that you look so adorable.

"I don't need medicine." You insist. "I just need a good night's sleep and food. I'll be brand new."

But once you got back on your feet, your body failed you again. Wanda sighed in a complaint, scarlet magic working on instinct and keeping you from falling to the floor before bringing you back to the couch.

"I'll get blankets for you." She mutters to your delirious figure, before leaving the room.

When she returns, you have taken the aspirin she left on the table, and it makes her smile slightly.

"Here, dorogoy." She says as she covers you, and you blink tired eyes at her.

"That's sweet." You say, to which Wanda mumbles confusedly, "The nickname. Natasha taught me Russian, you know."

Wanda can feel her face heat up, but she manages to laugh it off. "Sorry." She murmurs, and it's your turn to look at her with confusion.

"For what?"

Wanda sighs lightly. "I shouldn't...I don't know. You and I, we're not really... close." She tries to put it into words, it's a bad job, and maybe that's why you're so indignant.

"What? What are you talking about?"

Wanda huffs impatiently, feeling her face warm up even more. "You don’t need to be nice about it, I know you're not exactly a fan of me." She blurts out then. "I understand. It took everyone a while to trust me after Ultron."

You ignore the pain to sit up straight, gesturing in denial. "Wanda, that's ridiculous. I think you're the coolest Avenger here! Excluding Nat of course, otherwise, she will break my face." You declare, and she widens her eyes in surprise.

"What...? Really?" She asks unsurely, and you give her a reassuring smile.

"Where did you get the idea that I didn't like you?"

"B-because you're always tormenting me! And you're so...direct..."

"Yeah, I'm sincere!" You retort with a laugh. "I'm sorry if I... come off as too abrupt for you. I don't have a very good social cue. War veterans don't care much for it, and Tony, well, deserves to hear some raw truths. I'll try to be sweeter with you. And well, about tormenting? You're too easy. And I do that with all my friends."

Wanda giggles nervously, twiddling her fingers. "Do you see me as a friend?"

You chuckle again, raising an eyebrow at her. "And how else would I see you?" You tease suggestively, and she feels her face warm. You chuckle at her shyness. "See, too easy."

She huffs, pushing you away gently, and grimaces apologetically at the grunt of pain you let out. But you laugh it off, assuring her that you're fine.

"Now that we've made it clear that we're friends, can you put on something for us to watch? I've been dying to invite myself over to watch sitcoms with you but you've been avoiding me..."

Wanda blushes at the attention and clears her throat. "You could have joined me whenever you wanted. I wouldn't mind...I would have enjoyed the company. Vision does that sometimes."

You grimace softly. "That nosy old can."

She chuckles confusedly. "What's your problem with Vision?"

You make a grumpy face. Adorable, Wanda would say.

"He's annoying, that's all." You say. "I don't trust machines. You wouldn't trust them either if you had been raised by one."

Wanda bites her lip hesitantly. Everything she knows about your past-all the Hydra experiments and your unusual childhood with what was once Dr. Arnim Zola - came from reports and television. You were more than Captain America or the Winter Soldier ever were. You were the Hydra's Angel of Steel. Unyielding, unstoppable, and immortal.

The last part, Wanda wasn't sure was true. Especially since you are burning up with a fever on the couch.

"Vision is not like Hydra. He's not like anyone I know really." Wanda comments, but your grimace increases and she doesn't understand why.

"Okay, I get that you and he are super friends." You sneer, and she laughs, shaking her head.

"I wouldn't say that." She mumbles suddenly half sad, looking down at her lap. "I wouldn't...I wouldn't say I have any friends."

You frown immediately. "What, but what about the Avengers?"

She chuckles humorlessly, looking at you with a certain irony. "We're co-workers, Y/N. We barely know each other, and I'm only here because I literally don't have a home country anymore. I think it's all more out of convenience, or pity."

"It's not pity." You insist by shrugging. "You're young, but you're no innocent child. No one feels sorry for someone as strong as you. It would even be disrespectful. I think everyone is kind of grateful and relieved that you fight with us and not against us."

Wanda stands thoughtfully over your words, an indecipherable expression on her face. You haven't lied, you really are sincere. She appreciates that. You shudder briefly, the fever still lingering.

"I think you need friends, Wanda." You murmur then, half drowsy. Wanda thinks it's the medication. "I would be your friend if you wanted me."

She smiles warmly. "I would love that." She murmurs, and you smile with your eyes closed. But you struggle to stay awake, and your hand searches for Wanda's on the couch.

"Keep me company. Put something on the TV, to entertain you."

"You're kind of bossy, aren't you?" She teases, and you chuckle lightly, feeling exhaustion catch up with you. But Wanda only releases your hand when she's sure you're completely asleep.

–//–

When you wake up, it is morning.

And you know that Wanda has slept on the couch next to you from the blankets and pillows. There is a sitcom paused on the living room television, and the smell of food invades your senses all at once, effectively waking you up.

"Good morning, Wanda." You greet her in a gruff tone, in a half yawn, and she would have been startled if she didn't have telepathy and couldn't feel you awake from the first second.

She turns her face away from the stove and smiles at you. "Good morning, Y/N. How are you feeling?"

You shrug, moving closer to see what she was cooking. "Better, I guess. A little sore still." You murmur, leaning over her to spy the pan. "Hmm, that looks good. And it smells wonderful." You rest your chin on her shoulder. "So does the food."

Wanda drops her spoon in shock, completely flushed, and you burst into laughter, stepping away at once to get juice from the refrigerator while muttering "too easy."

Her face remains hot for a good ten minutes. You pay no mind to it and thank her for the food when it is ready.

"I think I'll go back to sleep, my head is hurting." You comment, and Wanda nods.

"Take more meds, they help with the fever." She instructs, but you grumble. She raises an eyebrow. "Please?"

That makes you smile. "Since you asked so nicely." You tease, grabbing the medicine box her magic brought to you. Wanda twitches her nose and hesitates softly before asking.

"What's your problem with pills?" You lick your lips, taken aback by the question. She swallows dryly. "Sorry, I'm being nosy."

"No, don't worry about it." You say quickly, smiling at her. "It's just that Zola used to keep a strict pill diet with me. No real food, you know? I was a weapon, a soldier, not a person to them. I don't like the feel of swallowing pills, it reminds me of... those days."

Wanda reaches out for your wrist, stroking the skin lightly. "I'm really sorry, Y/N." She says, and you nod. She feels the need to confess something, too, and murmurs, "I don't like needles these days. Because of Hydra. Before, I couldn't wait to turn eighteen and get tattoos. But now, just the thought of piercing my skin reminds me of their tests, and I just-"

You interrupt her monologue by raising her hands to the height of your face. Her breath hitches as you kiss her palms, staring into her eyes.

"They took a lot of things from us, but we got something powerful in return." You murmur, kissing her left palm again. "I'm really sorry for all the pain they caused you, Wanda. But this here is a beautiful thing about you now."

She knows you are talking about her magic, and she feels her ears chatting fire like her cheeks. Her instinctive action is to retract her hands, but you firm your grip gently. "I don't see it as a blessing." She mutters, avoiding your eyes. "I just... hurt people."

You interlace your fingers, and Wanda swallows dryly, looking down. You don't look away from her. "Hurting others is what they taught us, but we are more than that. You need to trust that you can be more. I see that you are already."

"I'm not sure about that." She confesses in a soft snort, but you don't shy away, holding your hands together.

"It's okay, I can show you." You assure her with a soft smile. "That's what friends are for, right?"

She relishes the possibility of not being alone anymore but somehow feels that her smile is almost forced. She doesn't understand what bothers her. It's nice to have friends.

You let go of her hands suddenly, because you both hear the sound of the quinjet outside the Compound.

Offering a farewell wink, you leave the room to go rest as you promised, and Wanda is left to explain about the sketchy of a slumber party in the living room to a curious black widow that came back from a mission.

–//–

You feel better in a day or two and are annoyingly charming when you brag about your quick recovery to the team. Wanda doesn't back down and jokes around about seeing you whimpering in pain on the couch, eliciting a few laughs from the other members.

You do not mind - You are happier to see her comfortable and friendly with the rest of the team to care about the teasing.

Wanda's training is different from yours, her powers are more unstable, and she lacks confidence in using them. And since you are the stronger member to take the damage, you offer to practice together.

"That's not a good idea. I don't want to hurt you." She declares with training gloves and an unsure expression as you appear in the outer courtyard, dismissing Natasha with a nod as if the whole story has already been talked over between you two.

You chuckle indignantly. "That's quite unlikely, darling. Relax, take a deep breath, and bring it all on. I want to see how much power you hold back."

Wanda looks at Nat unsure, but the widow shrugs, nodding in encouragement and taking a few steps back to stay out of range. Good thing you guys are on the outside.

"Come on, Wanda. I trust you." You say looking into her eyes, a few feet in front of her, waiting for the impact.

She swallows dryly, trembling hands raised toward you. "That's a terrible idea." She murmurs again, though she throws a small blast against your chest. It makes you chuckle.

"It tickles." You comment smugly. "Come on, Maximoff. You can do better than that. Again."

She sighs and tries. It's bigger, but still, you don't get out of place. And to irritate her, on your next attempt, you hold the energy ball with one hand.

"You call this an attack, princess? I'm almost disappointed." Wanda knows that you are just trying to get to her, and you are succeeding because the next one is strong enough to shake the yard and make curious Avengers leave the building to watch the training.

You, however, just adjust your feet on the ground. Her power has hit you hard, and your eyes are the same color as her magic.

"Damn, that was... better." You praise with a breathless laugh, and Wanda swallows dryly, adjusting her position. You let her magic flow through your body until you are controlling it in your hand as well. "If I give it back, would it hurt you?"

"I don't think so."

"Get ready then." You ask, and she takes a deep breath, nodding in permission. You strike, returning her energy, and Wanda braces herself for pain, but it does not come. Her magic doesn't hurt her, even if it comes from you. It makes you smile. "Lovely. Are you taking notes, Nat?"

The widow, who Wanda had forgotten was present having been so wrapped up in the training, rolls her eyes slightly. She has a tablet in hand. "Of course I am, boss." Ironizes Nat, making you laugh.

"Wanda, your power doesn't hurt you. That's interesting because it could mean that it's not purely stone magic like mine or Vision's. If we get hit by our energies, we get hurt. Maybe your abilities are innate, and the stone just has awakened them. It's too early to tell, however."

Wanda shifts the weight of her feet, half uncertain of what to say. She is honestly, quite surprised that simple training provided such an important insight. Natasha whistles impressed.

"Sometimes I forget how smart you are, Y/N. It must be because you're a pain in the ass most of the time." Teases Romanoff, receiving a giggle and a middle finger.

"Fuck off! " You retort laughing before assuming a fighting stance again. "Wanda, how about you try to take me down now?"

She sighs, fists in the air. "You may be annoying, but I still don't want to hurt you." She taunts, managing to make Nat laugh and you let out a cute gasp of exclamation.

"See, Nat? She likes me." You scoff, and Wanda knows she's blushing, so she forces her magic against you, this time at your feet. You lose your balance, but only for half a second before you effectively absorb her spell. Wanda finds the scarlet color in your irises oddly attractive but pushes the thought away immediately. "No, no. Use the setting to your advantage, Maximoff. Knock me down, without bewitching me."

She sighs but looks down at the ground. Her next attack is on the ground, but just when she thinks you are going to fall, you float before using the rubble as steps and spin majestically in the air before falling in front of her, standing up.

Natasha rolls her eyes. "Show-off." She mutters, but You don't pay mind to her, giving Wanda's shoulder a gentle pat.

"Great move, Wands, but your response time is bad." You say. "I made all my way to you and you kept looking at me with that cute little face. You can't do that on the battlefield, yes?"

She blushes, but she giggles and pushes you away gently. She's not thinking about the nickname, and she's not thinking about the compliment, she's not.

She tries to fight for real after that, following your instructions and ending up out of breath with her hands on her knee after almost three hours of training.

You are sitting on the floor now, as sweaty and out of breath as she is, but with a proud smile on your face that makes her stomach churn with anxiety.

"You're a talent, Maximoff." You compliment her sincerely. "We'll make you an Avenger yet."

"I'm already part of the team." She recalls stubbornly, only to see your expression twitch adorably.

"You know my point."

"I think you're being a bit of a patronizer. Don't you agree Nat?"

The widow hums in agreement immediately, only to torment you as Wanda is doing, both of them reveling in the almost desperate expression on her face.

"What? No, I'm not!" You defend yourself indignantly until you realize it's a joke. "Ha-ha, very funny. You two are hilarious. I'm here being a good teacher and you're making fun of me."

Wanda chuckles, dismantling your whole moody posture as she helps you stand with a tug and doesn't let go of your hand, face way too close for someone with an audience.

"Thanks for the help, detka. I really appreciate it." She thanks you by looking you in the eye, and you swallow dryly, nodding stupidly. All too aware of the proximity and Nat's presence with a teasing smile for the scene.

Wanda gives you a wink, muttering something about lunch before letting you go. You barely register her words, scolding yourself for noticing how pretty she looks in her training uniform.

Stupid thoughts, honestly.

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x reader #elizabeth olsen x reader #wanda maximoff needs a hug

518 notes · View notes

dizzyhslightlyvoided · 4 months

Text

Based on previous feedback

Ramona, trying to be subtle: What do you think your name would be as a girl, Scott?

(Thought cloud above Scott with "Ramona" and "Roxie")

Scott: Uh, "Rhoda", maybe. Why?

(there's a panel without any dialogue where Ramona just exchanges a look with Wallace and Kim)

Kim: ... Scott, have you ever wondered if you might be trans?

Scott: Haha, absolutely not! I'm definitely a guy! Uhhh totally a manly man here!

Caption on Scott: Just happened to have a feminine name for himself off the top of his head

Ramona: ... You're sure?

Scott, deflating, but only a little: I dunno, Ramona. Like. I mean I've wondered if I was trans like you and Roxie, but I mean. I ... think it'd be more obvious, right?

Wallace: To yourself, you mean?

Scott: ????

Ramona: Scott, I'm just gonna come out and say it ...

Scott: Yeah?

(whole entire wide panel showing everyone in the room, including a surprised Scott)

Ramona: I think you're trans.

(a catgirl speedrunner (whom I've named Susan Smalls) noclips through the wall, fist swinging at Ramona. The panel is otherwise identical to the previous one to indicate that time has gone backwards.)

SFX: Netcode Rollback!

Ramona: I think ywhoa!

Scott: Huh!?

(Scott and Ramona, in perfect sync, block the punch and knock Susan back.)

SFX: Perfect Tean Parry! Team Counter!

Susan, landing with catlike grace and glaring at Scott: And you are?

Scott: I'm ... Scott??

Susan: Nice name! Did your mom pick it out for you?

Character intro caption: SUSAN SMALLS, Age 32, Enforcer for the Canadian High Council of Trans Women, Also She's A Trans Woman

Ramona: Susan Smalls!?

Susan, pointing: You know the Prime Directive, Ramona Flowers!

Ramona: The Prime Directive has been twisted! It's gone beyond it's original purpose of stopping us from being so pushy it drives someone away!

Wallace, casually: Oh, is Scott about to ...?

Kim: Yeah, I think so.

Susan, leaping towards her: That's not your decision to make, Ramona! The Council has spoken!

Scott, blocking: What is she talking about???

Ramona, also blocking: I think you're trans!!!

Susan, horrified, hands on her head: NOOOOOOO--

Susan: --OOOOO‌oh?

(Scott undergoes an entire magical girl transformation. When it finishes, there is no visible change whatsoever.)

Character intro caption: RHODA PILGRIM, Age 24, Also She's A Trans Woman

Kim, to Wallace: You owe me five dollars.

Wallace, deadpan: Darn it.

Susan, now grinning: Ooh, magical transformation sequence, huh?

Rhoda: ... What? That's it? I just decide I'm "Rhoda" and then ... nothing?

Caption on Rhoda: No Change To Appearance Or Voice

Ramona: Yeah, sorry -- figuring yourself out is just the first step.

Susan: Yep! It's gonna be tough-tough, not gonna lie, but I hope you find out that it's worth it!

Susan, threateningly wrapping her arm around a suddenly-nervous Ramona's shoulders with a sarcastic grin: But in the meantime, regarding someone's breach of the Prime Directive ... ^u^

Rhoda, threateningly wrapping her arm around a now-somewhat-nervous Susan's shoulders with a similar sarcastic grin: Oh, you sure you wanna be playing that game? ^u^

Kim: Yeah, Susan, right? Sc-- Rhoda's the best fighter in the province, y'know.

Susan: [angry cat noises]

(that is, the speech balloon literally says "[angry cat noises]" in brackets)

Susan, noclipping away back out of the room: You haven't heard the last of me! ... I mean seen the last of me!

(There's a moment where everyone just processes all this.)

Rhoda: Ahahaha ... uhhh wow!

Ramona: Yep!

Rhoda: So, uh, what now?

Ramona, putting her hands on Rhoda's shoulders: Lots and lots of bullshit.

Rhoda, nervously: ... will it be worth it?

Ramona: You have to be the judge of that. But it was for me!

Rhoda: ... Are you still my girlfriend?

Ramona: Of course!

#shenanigans #scott pilgrim #trans stuff #trans scott pilgrim #trans ramona flowers #trans roxie richter #ramona flowers #wallace wells #kim pine #rhoda pilgrim #wlw #my stuff #my writing #my fanfiction #long post #susan smalls

130 notes · View notes

oliversrarebooks · 1 month

Text

The Rare Bookseller, Part 44: Alexander's Vain Hope

Prev > Masterlist > Next

tw: conditioning, captivity, blood drinking, toxic possessiveness

September 1925

"So Fitz is visiting soon? Well, now, no wonder you've perked up! And here I thought it was just your new thrall," said Ruth, laughing. "So when is your lover boy arriving, hm?"

Lex groaned. "Please don't call him that. And he'll be here in about a week and a half. He won't be staying long, unfortunately."

"If I don't get to see him, please send Fitz my regards, then," said Ruth. "I remember back when he was your favorite thrall..."

"Mmm." Lex remembered too, all too well. He'd had Fitz as a thrall for such a short time, and as a vampire for so many years now, but in the cold remains of his heart, he still thought of Fitz as human -- warm, delicious, bursting with life.

"Your new thrall is quite an excellent choice, though," said Edith, seemingly noticing Lex's malaise. "Lily was quite right. You needed a decent thrall. This Oliver will be very good for you, I can tell."

"I certainly think so," said Lex, dragging his thoughts back to the present. "That is, if I can protect him from my sire. I'm sure you know how he -- "

"Oh, that's right! I remember what I wanted to discuss with you, Lex," Ruth interrupted. "Remember how you were looking for witches?"

"Yes..."

"I've heard a lot of rumors lately of a vampire hunter new in the city. She's only staked a few vampires, and no one worth mentioning, but she's been raiding thralls from a few of the more established manors." Ruth leaned forward dramatically. "Apparently, this hunter has witch heritage, and has the power to resist a vampire's aura and avoid enthrallment."

Lex's eyes widened. He'd been looking for something like this for years, in the hopes that he could gain the power to defy his sire's power over him and free himself once and for all. But the fact that he'd been looking for so long with little success made him temper his hopes. "Do you believe that? That's what every two-bit vampire says after a narrow brush with death -- that the hunter was a witch, that their enthrallment just didn't work. Nine times out of ten, they're just ashamed of their own weakness."

"What if I told you I heard it from Evelyn? One of her thralls was taken from her servants' quarters a week ago."

"Evelyn? A hunter stole a thrall from Evelyn?" She was one of the oldest and most formidable vampires in the city, almost as old and as feared as Alexander's sire. She most certainly wasn't the type to lose easily to any hunter, or else she'd have been turned to dust long ago. "And Evelyn believes the hunter had witch blood?"

"She said she could smell the witch all over her manor, and that when she used her powers, they had no effect on hunter."

"Witch blood has been incredibly rare in this region for decades now," said Edith. "Are you sure?"

"All I know is what I've heard through the grapevine."

Edith was right, of course. Witch blood was rare in the region because they had all been mercilessly hunted by vampires in the years before Lex was sired. His sire, it was said, was a major part of these hunts, and some of the thralls Lex remembered from his sire's manor in the early days were witches. The smell of magic in their blood was intoxicating, almost impossible to resist, but the one time he'd given into his urges, he'd been starved for months as a punishment.

But their blood quality was not what primarily interested Lex. No, he was interested in the ability, rare even among witches, to defy a vampire's power. If this hunter truly had the secret...

"Lex?" Lily shook him gently. "What are you thinking?"

"Hm?" His thoughts returned to the sitting room, where his guests were looking at him. "Ah, my apologies. I seem to have been rather in my own head."

"When are you not?" said Lily.

He should turn the subject to more cheerful matters -- after all, it wasn't every night he entertained company. "Oh, Ruth, I wanted to ask -- did you look into the matter I wrote you about?"

"Oh, yes, I did!" She rummaged around in her large bag for a moment, pulling out a manila envelope tied with string. "I have some papers you'll find interesting."

"Thank you, I appreciate it. I'll write you a check for the time spent before you go."

Ruth waved him off. "No need. I'm fine with you owing me a favor."

"Very well," said Lex, smiling as he opened the packet and rifled through it.

"Would it be intruding if I asked what this was?" said Edith, leaning in.

"My thrall, Oliver, ran the most charming bookshop before he was taken. I'm taking steps to ensure it transfers into my name once he's formally declared dead." He closed the envelope, satisfied. "In better days, I'd like for him to be able to run his bookshop. It's his passion."

Edith nodded approvingly. "That's very sweet. You're so generous with your thralls."

"I do try. I really do."

----

"You're planning something reckless, aren't you?"

Ruth and Edith had both gone home, but Lily had hung behind to chat with Lex in the library. He already knew why.

"No, not at the moment. But if the rumor is true, if there is a witch who knows the secret to nullifying a vampire's power..."

Lily groaned. "Are you a glutton for punishment? Do you yearn for our sire's dungeons? You know what he'll do to you if you try and fail to kill him. Again."

"So what's the alternative, then?" Lex said, temper flaring. "Never trying? Don't you want to be free?"

"I don't want to see you get tortured just as you're getting back on your feet!" Lily was getting equally heated. "Maybe encouraging you to take Oliver was a mistake. I foolishly thought you had learned your lesson."

"Oh? And what lesson is that?"

"Not to fall in love with thralls!"

Lex nearly choked on his breath, his chest tightening. "I'm not in love with Oliver."

"And yet you're already planning to risk everything for him. I remember the last time you acquired a thrall and immediately started coming up with schemes to kill our sire -- when you fell for Fitz."

"And again I'm going to ask you what you think the alternative is," said Lex, not so subtly dodging that line of thought. "Remaining under the Maestro's whip forever?"

"The alternative is to try and be content with what you have," she said. "You have so much, Lex. You have the manor and the library, you have a perfect thrall, and need I remind you that you have a very handsome and eager vampire lover."

"And that's exactly the reason why I need to kill my sire, because Fitz will never be safe as long as he's alive. And I can't bear to go through the same thing with Oliver, Lily, you know I can't take it."

Lily sighed, relenting. "God damn you, Lex. I know I can't talk you out of this when you get this stubborn. Even if I did, Fitz would talk you right back into it. Neither of you have any sense of self-preservation."

"I'm plenty preserved. I'm 132, and I've spent most of that time locked away in this manor or our sire's, marinating in my feelings like a pickle in a jar, every day the same." Lex looked out of the window at the stars, just barely visible above the glare of gaslights. "I want to live with my own thoughts, and not a dark shadow pulling at them as he pleases. I want to travel. I want to have my precious lover and my precious thrall all to myself without having them yanked away from me at my sire's discretion." He turned back to Lily. "Don't you? Don't you want to be free, too?"

Lily looked so small, less like the confident conditioning expert striding through the halls of the auction house, and more like the terrified but still defiant human she was when she first met Lex. Chained to the wall in the Maestro's manor, feet bleeding from her body being forced to dance, knife and whip marks marring her skin. Somehow, her spirit wasn't broken then. Lex didn't think it was broken now. Not truly. In his experience, anyone who underestimated Lily would be swiftly put in their place.

"You know that I do," she said. "But I also know how this story always ends. That's why I've made my peace."

Lex pushed a hand through his messy hair. "Look, I'll make sure this is all on me. You won't be pulled into this. He'll never know you knew a thing about it."

"Of course he will," said Lily with a sharp laugh. "He always knows."

"I'll be careful," he insisted. "This is all just a rumor anyway, even coming from Evelyn. It's probably nothing. But if it isn't -- if there's really a power I can use to get past our sire's defenses -- I could never forgive myself if I didn't find it. We might never get that kind of opportunity again."

Lily threw up her hands, relenting. "You're right, fine, Lex, you're right. Just don't let all of Oliver's rich blood get to your head. Don't invoke our sire's wrath because you went all soft-hearted over a thrall."

"I'll try not to."

"You won't, but I'm glad you're at least pretending you will." She smiled. "And when Fitz gets here, we'd better all go out on the town together, for old time's sake. Don't forget."

"I won't forget. Consider it a deal."

---

Oliver was bustling about the kitchen, cleaning the dishes and putting the remaining sandwiches in the icebox. Lex couldn't help but watch him silently from the kitchen door. He could smell the delicious blood from there, and after all that socializing, Lex was hungry.

But he didn't want to interrupt Oliver while he was in the middle of something. Besides, it was nice to watch him. Nice to have a thrall in the house once again.

...But Lily was out of line. He wasn't in love with Oliver. He just wanted to protect what was his.

Fitz was probably going to be a tad jealous of him anyway, even though he had nothing to be jealous about. The only solution, naturally, would be to share Oliver with Fitz -- he just knew Fitz was going to love him if he gave him a chance.

Fitz was the only one Lex would willingly share a thrall with, and the thought was so much sweeter than the nightmare of having to share Oliver with his sire. He could just imagine how lovely Oliver would look as Fitz's enthrallment took hold of him, how gorgeous Fitz would look when he was satisfied from feeding.

And Lex's mind supplied him with another fantasy, one that was impossible and wistful. Fitz as he was as a thrall, so warm and so delicious. Lex possessing them both, filling their minds with enthralling song, feeding from them and watching them curl up on the couch with him in a pleasurable daze. The dream long lost, because as much as he loved Fitz as a vampire, he was far superior as a thrall.

His heart's desire, if he still had a heart.

Thrall or vampire, Fitz and Oliver both belonged to him. And he was absolutely sick of his sire violating his rightful companions and possessions.

Lex shook his head. He had to get a grip. His need for blood was driving him too far into his darker impulses. Thankfully, Oliver was finishing up and could very well provide relief.

As Oliver drained the dishwater and dried his hands, Lex came up behind him, loosely pinning him against the sink. "Did you have a nice time tonight, Oliver?"

"Oh, yes, sir," he said, somewhat flustered. "It was very good to talk to other thralls for a while. I hope to get the chance again."

"You will," said Lex, his control slipping now that he was so close to Oliver. Oliver could certainly tell, as his eyes were already starting to go glassy from Lex's aura. Lex nestled into the space between his shoulder and neck and began to sing quietly, a simple song of pleasure and obedience.

"Sir..." Oliver's muscles began to go slack as he relaxed and fell easily under Lex's spell. "Master..."

The mesmerized bliss on Oliver's face was a sight that Lex doubted he would ever tire of. "I wish to feed from you now," he said, moving in closer to the soft skin of his thrall's neck. "Would that be all right?"

"Yes, master," said Oliver. So eager, so willing. "Please, sir, I'd love for you to feed."

Lex wove a promise of protection into his song, hoping to reassure his dear thrall as he sank in his fangs and lapped at the blood.

Prev > Masterlist > Next

@d-cs @latenightcupsofcoffee @thecyrulik @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @wanderinggoblin @whumpyourdamnpears @only-shadows-dwell-where-we-are @pressedpenn @pigeonwhumps @amusedmuralist @xx-adam-xx @ivycloak @irregular-book @whumpsoda @mj-or-say10 @pokemaniacgemini @sowhumpshaped @whumpsday @morning-star-whump @shinyotachi @silly-scroimblo-skrunkl @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @pirefyrelight @theauthorintraining @whump-me-all-night-long @anonfromcanada @typewrittenfangs @tessellated-sunl1ght @cleverinsidejoke @abirbable @ichorousambrosia @a-formless-entity @gobbo-king @writinggremlin @the-agency-archives @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @enigmawriteswhump @foresttheblep @bottlecapreader @whump-on-a-string @whumpinthepot @cinnamoncandycanes @avvail-whumps @tauntedoctopuses @secret-vampkissers-soiree @whatamidoingherehelpme @strawbearydreams

#whump #whump writing #vampire #mind control #blood drinking #rare bookseller #alexander #oliver #lily #edith #ruth

78 notes · View notes

natjennie · 4 months

Text

I said something along these lines when s5 came out too but I'll say it again in hopefully a more coherent way. I think the christmas special finale was beautiful. who knows maybe I'll change my mind later but for right now I think it really perfectly highlighted something that I think a lot of people in the fandom don't acknowledge, which is that the ghosts exist without alison.

robin has been alive for thousands, tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of years. the ghosts' story was never just about alison. we were introduced to them before we were introduced to her. she was our "main character" as much as she was because she was alive, but what the fuck is the title of the show. they "lived" for decades and centuries before her and will continue to decades and centuries after her. the show opened on them living their.. deaths. fairly happily. they had clubs and talks and sat together and played chess and lived. without her. if it had just ended with them all relying on her for everything for the rest of her life in that house, it wouldn't have meant anything.

and if you think of alison as a personification of the audience, of fans, and the ghosts as a personification of the show, it is literally directly a goodbye. alison leaving button house was not an end, just as her inheriting it wasn't a beginning. the ghosts' yknow. lives. didn't begin when she walked in the door, and they're not over just because she's gone. we just stopped getting a peak into their story. I mean for god's sake, we didn't see them when she went to her room and started talking to them. she closed the door on us. we as an audience aren't privy to their world anymore. that doesn't mean they're not still there.

and also development as people, kitty's jealousy, thomas' infatuation, fanny's judgement, it didn't all magically disappear because that wasn't the end of their story. they didn't miraculously become perfect people, that's what the whole fucking show has been about. that you can be loud and obnoxious and fuck up and not be there when you should have been and be overbearing and lose your cool and forget something important and it'll all come out in the wash. that you're always constantly growing and learning and trying to be a better person, for yourself and the people you call family, and they will still love you because how can they not. that saying goodbye doesn't mean the love wasn't worth it and that endings are never really endings. that the love lives on. it's what the whole show is built on. she visits them. and they live. that's it.

#that's all it needed to be!!!!!!!#and. not to say that im a genius. but.#if you think about that post i made about the house as a symbol of her relationship to her family #they completed the cycle. she has her own family now. biological and otherwise. and the house has completed its transformation #bbc ghosts #anyway #ghosts spoilers

89 notes · View notes

lokiina · 8 months

Text

I wasn't gonna do it. But I'm gonna do it.

I'm gonna kjhdkfjghdkfjg

If you don't want character spoilers I'm slapping this under a readmore but I need to cry a lil about Gale.

So many people just think he's annoying or Solas 2.0 and that's kdghdfkjgh

if it's not coherent I apologize I need to word vomit.

!! also some mental health related TWs ahead as a warning !!

THIS MAN IS SO DEEPLY DEPRESSED. His self worth is so low and it's so heart wrenching to listen to and the writing is incredible.

(A lot of the characters in this game deal directly with like Gods and the abusive relationships they have with them but this is for Gale specifically. Everyone's got their own mess that's it's own thing. )

Holy fucking shit. I don't know if you get some of the dialog options I have gotten if you don't actively romance him but omfg. Man openly admitted to being suicidal so you talking him out of blowing himself up while everyone else including the last love his life is saying "kill yourself" is such a big big deal. Even if the end result is being framed as help. It's not. It's more manipulation and down right fucking EVIL.

His relationship with Mystra is messed up, the power imbalance is fuckin wild and if anyone out of this is expecting a goddess to be the victim when she was clearly a manipulator is unreal. Their situation he was just trying desperately to prove his worth to her and her essentially stringing him along until he wasn't of any use anymore. He wanted Mystra to see him as equal to her, and nothing he ever did was enough for her. Cuz she did not care about him. If it was a proper relationship and she actually loved him back he wouldn't have had to try to continuously prove himself.

He was taken advantage of through his relationship and his entire self worth has been shattered. Now he's not entirely without fault through some of it and acknowledges where he screwed up himself.

When you offer to find another way for him that doesn't end up in him exploding, you kick a lil spark back into him and as someone who's fuckin struggled with self worth and depression. I feel for him so hard. Sometimes it does take another person simply acknowledging your worth to be that lil spark. It doesn't even have to be in a romantic sense.

This man is high key autistic coded. Everything about the way he loves so purely, misses cues on certain things and misunderstands and needs direct clarification on stuff. Ask him about his special interest, magic. The gloom drops in these moments. It's fuckin precious as hell to see him light up.

The writing in this game is fucking phenomenal and I just. I have a lot of deep feels on this whole thing. Every character has so many lil layers to them and I wanna just smooch the whole dev team.

Anyway. He's my fav character out of this chaotic game and I just. I will protect this silly wizard with my life. He deserves good things. Fuck his haters.

I wanna go get some comfy fluffy art of him and my boy.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 spoilers #bg3 spoilers #his haters can cancel me

152 notes · View notes

iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia · 9 months

Note

So I’m mostly curious about this for Muriel’s sake (he’s my favorite) but I have an HC request for if the M6, whether through a dream or magic, got to talk with their past selves from the darkest point in their lives, what would they say? Try to comfort/cheer themselves up? Assuming everyone got their Upright endings.

The Arcana HCs: M6 talking to their past selves

~ this is such an interesting one, @httyd-chocolate! thank you for the request, I hope you like what I do with it! (for hc purposes, this occurs as a magical dream where past and present selves interact) - brainrot ~

Julian

The dream is so vivid that he doesn't realize what it is until it's over

But right now, he's staring down at this gangly, scared, insecure almost-teenager, and every heroic bone in his body is telling him that this boy deserves all the safety and support in the world

It's weird to hear his young self saying the same deprecating things that he still does, but the jokes that normally make him laugh don't sound funny at all coming from a kid

And before he knows it, all the words he's heard you and Portia and Mazelinka say to him are spilling out of his mouth

"You're not alone. People are fortunate to be around you. You only drag everyone around you down when you refuse to let them lift you up. Sticking around to see the future is worth it."

At the same time, seeing himself in that kid's eyes is world-altering

Because to that younger self, the man he is now is smart, and heroic, and important, and somebody worth growing up to be

They stroll down to the seaside, at one point, as Julian listens to tiny Ilya's frustrations with his sister, and himself, and not knowing who he is or what comes next besides a call away from home

"You're pretty cool, mister," Ilya says at one point, "who are you?"

"I'm you," Julian says, and the look of hope and surprised delight he sees on Ilya's face makes him wake up with tears in his eyes

Asra

They know where they are as soon as the back alleys of the South End swim into view. They don't expect to see themself though

He's caught glimpses of the past once or twice, with you by his side, but those were moments of a childhood of wonder and escape. The kid in front of him hasn't found that magic yet

Little Asra is hiding in a corner behind a trash heap, clutching their lost mother's shawl and trying to hide the sniffles that shake their thin shoulders. Though all that disappears when they spot Big Asra

Suddenly, he's being scrutinized with the most curious gaze, and there's no hiding who he is. So he joins hands with him and starts wandering around, paying for lots of street food along the way

They'd forgotten how many questions they used to ask people

Until one hits him out of nowhere: "what's it like for us now?"

They don't want to leave that scared, lonely kid without something to look forward to, so they play with the dream a bit and lead Little Asra to a familiar magic shop a few streets away from the town square

In the dream, you're dozing by the fire, tea and snacks waiting on the table, and Big Asra watches his child self gaze at you in awe and remember what home feels like

It's sobering, to lead that child back to the docks and tuck them in to sleep under the pier, but it's a glimpse of warmth they're glad they got to share

Nadia

She has a suspicion of what's going on when she opens her eyes in her childhood bedroom, and that suspicion is confirmed when her 14-year-old self storms in and slams the door shut

She's ready to provide a haven. A listening ear. Ready to tell the young woman in front of her that she's right, that she's ready for more, that being held back and dismissed like this really isn't fair

Until the 14-year-old opens her mouth and starts to unload her day

For the first time in years, Nadia's not sure what to say. Does she want to tell this young woman that she's right, her parents and older sisters are being overprotective and unreasonable? Yes!

But does she find herself agreeing that a 14-year-old should not be allowed to go off to the battlefield her older sibling is serving as a medic on to lead the army to victory herself? ... yes ...

Does the embarrassed, hurting, angry teen in front of her need to know that? Absolutely not. So Nadia listens and nods instead

There are other things she sees that she realizes she remembers correctly. The fear of not measuring up. The frustration of having to wait to meet the milestones her siblings have already passed

So she tells this precocious, prickly young woman what you've been seeing in her all along: she is strong. She is smart. She is someone worth having faith in, and she doesn't need to be afraid

Muriel

He doesn't have to think twice. As soon as he sees that big, bony lad that was himself in his early twenties, huddled in a cell under the Coliseum after his first fight, he's breaking him out of there

He starts to wonder if this is a dream, when the iron bars give way under his grasp, but he's focusing on wrapping his cloak around those shivering shoulders and leading him out of the city

He's forgotten how scrawny he'd been before he bulked up on the meals provided for Lucio's prized fighter, and seeing spatters of his first opponent's blood on such a boyish face breaks his heart

They're both silent on the way through the woods. The younger him is still in shock, and the older him isn't sure what to do next

When the reach the clearing, the hut is more like what older him is used to. He helps young Muriel into the outside bath and begins putting together a hearty stew for the two of them to share

They both stay quiet. Older him watches every flinch and start and quiet pause of happiness and safety and keeps realizing that he deserves better. He deserves good things. I want him to have that.

They both turn bright red when younger him notices that the bed has two pillows on it, but they both know that that's a good thing

When the time comes for them to wake up, Muriel wraps that kid up in his arms. "... it gets better. Promise. You deserve it."

Portia

This is trippy, but after what she's been through with you, Portia guesses this is just par for the course. Why is she in Nevivon?

Her question is answered when a nine-year-old girl comes careening around the corner, fiery curls flying, just in time to collide with her and go sprawling in the dust by the road

Oh, Portia thinks, I remember being like this. I remember her.

Portia watches Pasha pick herself up, lower lip trembling with rage and eyes full of tears, getting ready to lash out at whoever just ripped her dress and made her day go from awful to terrible

And she pulls that little girl into the tightest hug she can manage

Once Pasha's made good use of the handkerchief she's been handed, she takes Portia's hand and shows her around town

She tells Portia all about her life right now. About the grandmas who take care of her, and the parents she doesn't remember

And she talks and talks and talks about her amazing older brother, the last family she has, who left several months ago to explore the world and find adventure and save people - without her

Portia listens and comments, but she keeps getting distracted looking at the strong, clear-eyed, purposeful little girl next to her

So she spends the rest of her visit telling that kid that she's strong, she's interesting, she's exciting, and she is so, so very important, even when it's just her

Lucio

He's back in the frozen woods. He doesn't like the frozen woods

And neither, apparently, does the six year old boy across from him

At first he's just concerned. Why is a small child alone in the freezing cold? He needs to help them get safe and warm

Then he recognizes the golden head of hair, and the big, silver eyes staring up at him, and the nose red from cold, and he has to bite his tongue to keep from yelling as he starts a fire and asks for a name

He likes having a different name, he realizes, when he gets to introduce himself as Lucio the Adventurer to little Montag

Montag, he learns, is alone on a quest to hunt down a bear per his mother's instructions, but he's cold and hungry and frightened

To Montag, Lucio is a hero. He's big and strong and has a cool arm and builds a fire to keep him warm and listens to him talk about how he wants to be a leader when he grows up, without scoffing at his dreams

So the two of them huddle together by the fire under one of the trees, sharing a cloak and talking about who they are

Lucio hears the beginnings of his downfall already in Montag's stories about growing up stronger than everyone so the people in his family and his tribe will have no choice but to praise him

And Montag hears humility and hope from Lucio, about the importance of recognizing mistakes and learning to love and be loved

#ask arcana brainrot #the arcana #the arcana headcanons #the arcana hc #asra the arcana #julian the arcana #nadia the arcana #muriel the arcana #portia the arcana #lucio the arcana #the arcana game #the arcana fluff #the arcana angst #asra alnazar #julian devorak #nadia satrinava #muriel of the kokhuri #portia devorak #lucio morgasson

258 notes · View notes