#bUT i mean he can escape the coven for other reasons. like they gotta be totally EXTREME so that he doesn't see any other way out but like

[astrolavas]

Head canon hunter finds the book about the grim walker like in your post and tries escaping the coven with rascal

TBH i've actually been thinking abt it and like ✌️😔

imo whenever hunter finds out about the truth (either abt him being a grimwalker, if that's the case, or just abt belos' plans for him for the day of unity), the "how" of how he finds out is gonna be crucial.

cuz if he found out accidentally, on his own, (like if he found the book or eavesdropped or deduced it or sth) he'd probably Take It Badly and panic on the inside but, well, he'd probably still fear running away and he'd try to convince himself that even if it LOOKS bad, it might not be true or that belos means well, that he'd never lie to him abt sth like THAT, but he'd be more likely to have conflicted thoughts, and maybe he'd even get the courage to do sth abt it, with li'l rascal's influence. and HOPEFULLY, he'd decide to run away, before the day of unity actually comes, before WHATEVER bad thing belos is planning happens.

but if he talked abt it to BELOS (or even found out abt it FROM him), then the guy would probably say sth like "yes, this makes you special, hunter, you're the only one who can help me with this, the only one who can fill this important role. can i count on you?" etc. etc., manipulative bullshit like that, and then. yeah hunter would..... probably still be conflicted on The Very Hidden Inside but he'd try to ignore all that and just gladly play along and want to help belos. cuz hunter WANTS to help belos, he wants to be useful and validated, and subconsciously he also fears the repercussions of what would happen if he acted insubordinately, AND as far as he's concerned, he just doesn't have any other realistic options other than serving the emperor. and it's super hard to break free from sth like that, especially while said manipulative person is still manipulating you.

SO LIKE, YEAH, i feel like if he found out from belos, it'd be MUCH harder for him to break out of that "loyal act" of his, but if he found out on his own he'd more likely have uncertainty and doubts abt belos' plans or his own fate/loyalties (which, would be GOOD)

but. truly, whatever happens, i just hope that he DOES find out about belos' plans before the day of unity at ALL, like. OOF. PLS find out. it'd be BAD if he never found out in retrospect and just got to see what belos has planned for him first-hand, cuz c'mon it cannot be anything good so i TRULY hope it won't come to that. so just GET OUTTA THERE boy.

yea

#nicole answers #quirky-pegasy #bUT i mean he can escape the coven for other reasons. like they gotta be totally EXTREME so that he doesn't see any other way out but like #if he feared for rascal's life or got accused of treason or whatever.. like that could also do it #or maybe even rascal will help him get to his senses like this bird is TRYING lmao he's a good influence. so. Hopefully

[nuclearnerves]

INCOMING VAMPIRE AU THOUGHTS

Don't mind me I'm finally getting the ideas I had on this shit out so I can actually go forward with developing it as an AU. It's my usual mixup of fps protags, Gordon Guy and John, but I'm starting with Gordon as the Vampire and Guy as the Vampire Hunter.

absolute beast of a wall of text under the cut

What If Being A Vampire Literally Sucks All The Time Forever like chronic pain sucks. like THAT level of sucks. Like Here's what I was thinking of. Being a vampire isn't just "being alive forever but you need to drink human blood" It's like Oh man I have some lore you look at vampires and their main thing is that they're blood suckers right so lets start with a corpse dead body. cadaver. no longer with us. just some rotting meat. The brain needs oxygen as fuel. The blood supplies the oxygen through blood. The blood is pumped through the heart. The blood is made by your bone marrow. You die. Your heart stops beating Blood stops pumping Brain no longer has oxygen to think marrow stops making blood thats standard! Now, becoming undead, as a vampire, is a little more complicated. The long and short of it is: your body is FIGHTING ACTIVELY to be alive against all odds and wins every time (immortality), but it hurts the whole way

I have the gist of it. It's like. Your heart stops. By all means, you should be dead. but the magic kicks in, and you're still thinking. Your brain is still sending signals to your muscles to move. But using what oxygen to move? whats burning in you? You don't know but you know it's just enough to get to your next meal. So you ferociously eat something, and then find you can't swallow. You can't make saliva. You barely have the energy to chew, and once you DO get something in your stomach, it immediately comes back up. Why can't you feel your pulse? What's going on? You're out of options so you figure you might as well just lie down and die. You're too tired to keep going anyway. So you do, you lie down, and you close your eyes, and you quietly hope that death is as peaceful as sleep. You realize you've actually been moving around without breathing, which makes sense because you can barely flex your diaphragm for more than a shaky wheeze. How are you thinking with such little oxygen? But as you fade from consciousness, you can feel something in you, and it's so upset, it's crying, it's filled with grief, and you instantly can tell it's your skeleton. It's your bones. You're distraught down to your marrow. You're dying. You're dying! Your heart stopped and you have no more blood! You need blood! You need blood to move! To breathe! To think! You try to breath deep again for the voices in your bones, trying to comfort them, to sooth them with the repetitive motion in your lungs, trying to fill yourself with anything but grief, but they keep wailing. We make the blood, our creation, our child, what we put all of our work into is gone! gone! gone! We need it back! Anything! All of it! Find it! Bring it back to us! We're hungry! WE'RE HUNGRY!

and once you find yourself too exhausted to listen, to think, how badly you wish just to die already to cease hearing this wailing, you find your body moving without you. And it's hungry and it's searching and it's crawling on all fours and it misses its beautiful red life that made it feel so full before and it needs it back, and the next thing you know you're desperately grabbing anything with blood in it and shoving it in your mouth in a desperate attempt to sooth this cry for life, you don't want to die, you don't want to die, you worked so hard to keep up this body and craft it and LIVE with it and you're not going to go, and even when you try, even when you try to lay down and die, your body refuses, it takes the reigns, and it keeps up the work itself with or without your help. And it's not until your stomach is full and your teeth are stained and you feel a pulsating burning in your bones that you snap back awake, completely conscious, just fine. You're lucid, you don't feel any more pain. Everything around you is dead and drained and messy and your heart still isn't beating. but you can breathe now and holy shit you guess you literally need to kill to survive and the less you eat and the more you starve yourself the worse it gets when your body finally decides to take recourse.

my idea was like. "the vampires curse is actually stored in the bones, thats why the teeth get so sharp and also theres a connection between blood and bones with the creation via bone marrow" its literally like i was sitting there thinking "no no no, whats it like to be a vampire. what neurosis would you develop. How would you panic? What are common mistakes beginner vampires make" which, by the way, gordon is a beginner vampire

so now you gotta factor, what blood lasts for how long? how long can you go between meals? not only that, but what creatures satisfy the urge? How long can you go avoiding human blood? Does it work like drugs where you develop a resistance to the high, or is it like food where it will keep you moving until you eat again? How the fuck are you gonna get your hands on blood? Can you just eat raw meat? Does that count? and thats where im at lol

OKAY now. now thoughts on beginning scenes of vampire au

So my idea was this Doomguy is a vampire hunter independent and one of his buds says that some freak scared and almost attacked his daughter when she got too close to his old abandoned laboratory up the hill and hes like “he might be… you know… a problem. if you needed a lead” and guys like yeah i fuckin hate the undead ill kill this dude so he busts into old lab space and sees so many dead animals its actually mostly Bones and pelt that hes seeing piles of feathers etc so hes like yeah this is all telltale signs of vampire uhhh hes introduced to gordon SOMEHOW im not totally sure of the details but the working idea i have is guy falls into a trap gordon devised that restrains him suspended in wire or something and gordon like. limps/stumbles into the room and this dude looks haggard he’s breathing heavy, his cheeks are hollow, he’s bug-eyed and shaking while looking at this massive wall of meat in his trap and he bares a bunch of hideous teeth and grits them and looks like hes really struggling with somethin... Like if these dudes don't know each other then Gordon might give in and try to drain Guy, and Guy would absolutely do anything in his power to turn this new vampire into ash, im thinking the inclusion if g-man as a coven leader can fix both issues.

i like the idea of guy falling into gordons trap and gordon thinking about what to do with him before gman shows up and whisks gordon away for a “meeting” while complimenting him on his good work catching the most feared vampire hunter in the country and gman just leaving guy suspended in wires that he has to fight his way out of. Instant situation defuser.

Guy ends up needing to take care of other monsters before going back to Gordon, and he DOES plan to go back to gordon, because no vampire is a good one, especially not one associated with the fucking head of a coven, but next time he sees Gordon, Gordon helps him out of a scrape by attacking and draining a combine who was going to take Guy out or something and escaping before Guy can catch him, or otherwise seeing Gordon do something good with his insane undead powers and like, the third time he meets up with him is when they can actually talk, and Gordons fuckin SO haggard, he’s not even fighting back and he’s even going as far as to say “just make sure theres nothing of me left when you’re done, I don’t want anyone else getting hurt”

Side Note: Guy has a bunch of scarring on his body from dealing with vampires, cops, ghosts, werewolves, anything violent that kills people. I'm playing with the inkling of an idea that he has Divine Blood in him, so that any time something undead bites him or tries to drink his blood, it burns. We'll see.

Side Note 2: now i really like the idea of the combine actually being an organized faction of vampire hunters that are WICKED crooked and exploit people for all their worth in exchange for their “safety” when they kill a vampire They’re essentially loansharks and Guy fucking hates them and hates the name theyve given to vampire hunting

Side Note 3: You've probably noticed that I haven't said anything about John yet! He's in this too. His species is a surprise but I need to get to him later I have an idea for where he came from (Cortana too)

I still need a good reason for Guy to not instantly kill this vampire, if not it's just gonna be "Gordon Freeman escapes the countrys best vampire hunter like a seventh time" every time they meet and they end up being rivals. And it gives Guy enough time to look past the whole "undead monster" thing and start looking at the "Oh this dude figured out how to fight his ridiculous craving for blood in a way more humane than most and is actually staying out of peoples way and keeping to himself. Guess he's not that big of a threat but I still need to keep an eye on him in case he loses it. Turns out he's got a family (Probably Alyx, Eli, Issac and Barney) who's been lookin for him and cares about him as well, don't wanna hurt them". I like the idea of them ending up needing to team up to take out undead together.

And that's what I got so far!!!

#freeguy #gordon freeman #doomguy #vampire au #freeguy117

[spade-riddles]

Fabulous Submission:

I didn’t intend to write this (I had a thought about something and it ballooned into this post), but here’s my interpretation of the Cardigan and Willow music videos. It’s an optimistic and chronological look at Taylor’s entire story up till now, and what I think/hope could come next. It’s really long, sorry.

I think the Cardigan and Willow videos are symbolic of Taylor’s career and personal journey over the last 15 years. So in Cardigan, she starts at the beginning of her career where it’s just her and her music. She follows the gold bubbles (representing fame?) and finds herself in this beautiful utopia, symbolizing her early career– she was famous, but not like she is today. She was wildly successful and talented, but wasn’t facing as many of the downsides to fame (intense scrutiny, safety concerns, privacy, etc). I’d say this period was maybe 2006-2010, when her career was fresh and fun and she was overall pretty happy.

I think she got a little swept up in her fame after that. She lost herself in a lot of ways. Her PR was a mess, her real relationships seemed to implode, and I suspect her relationship with SB started to deteriorate toward the end of this period (2010-2013 or so). Her reputation was “boy crazy/man-eater/serial dater.” This is where she was trying to stay afloat in the water in the music video. But she managed to hold on. The journey changed her, but she was on solid ground again. So that’s Cardigan– it covers 2006 to fall of 2013. She’s not in a great place, but she’s planning to make some changes.

Willow picks up where we left off, only this time, Taylor is following a gold string. She’s officially on the path to meet her soulmate. She plans to move from LA to NYC and seemingly has a plan to change her public image.  See: “I’m perfectly fine, I live on my own. I’ve made up my mind, I’m better off being alone. We met a few weeks ago…” So Taylor’s plan at the end of 2013 was to stay single. This is the dark, lonely scene with the willow and reflection pond. Of course, we know what happens next. When she least expected it, the string led her to Karlie. They met and had an instant connection– “have I known you 20 seconds, or 20 years?” This is the scene with the children in a tent. 

Suddenly, she finds herself in a glass closet. There’s no way out. She can sing and see and interact with her lover, but they can’t be in a public relationship. This is 2014-2016, the Kaylor BFF years, where we saw them together as “friends” all the time. We know Taylor was in a pretty bad place in 2016– this isn’t really depicted in the video, but I think she needed some time out of the public eye for her own wellbeing. So she left the glass closeting behind and made her relationship private, to escape some of the constant scrutiny around her life.

This is the dancing witches part of the video. Taylor is in hiding. We don’t see her in public anymore. We don’t see her with her friends. We don’t see her with her alleged boyfriend. She makes it impossible for the public to tell who is still in her life. The cloaked witches (Taylor’s close circle) are working together to give her privacy. I think they represent the people who know Taylor’s real story– her friends, family, close business associates (including Toe), and Karlie.

This is where she first says, “Every bait and switch was a work of art.” Around 2:22-2:26 in the music video. Then she dances with the other cloaked witches. I think this is 2017, when the biggest bait and switch of them all showed up: Toe. Taylor hired him so she could keep her real relationship private. The public thinks she’s with the most boring witch on the planet, but whoops, she’s actually dating one of the other witches.

Then, Taylor leaves the witches and wanders off, following the gold string away from the coven. Her love story isn’t over because she hasn’t made it to the end of the gold string. As in, Taylor’s end game is not secrecy and hiding and being closeted. Anyway, we can’t tell which witch is Taylor’s lover, since they’re all cloaked and masked. By design. But when Taylor walks away from the circle, one of the witches takes off their mask, and it turns out her lover was there the whole time. Much like we think Karlie and Taylor have been together this whole time, but publicly, that’s not what we see. 

Anyway, Taylor is still following the string, but she’s distanced herself from her lover (at least publicly). Her lover looks like he’s afraid he’s going to lose her as she walks away. What does this mean for Kaylor, publicly and privately? Are they going to be reunited? Is it possible someone else will be at the other side of the gold string? Why did Taylor wander away? We don’t know at this point. I think the entire dancing witches/snowy forrest scene is 2017 to sometime in 2020.

Taylor ends up back in her cabin, where she finds the other end of the gold string. For a second she’s confused, because she thought the string was supposed to lead her to her soulmate… and she thinks she’s alone in the cabin. This is where we are now, in my opinion. It looks like all hope is lost, that Taylor and Karlie are never going to publicly reunite. That maybe they aren’t even together– maybe Karlie was just another girlfriend, and the gold string leads to someone different. 

But then? Taylor sees her lover. Somehow, some way, he ended up back in the cabin with her. It’s the same person she saw in the reflecting pond, and on the other side of the glass closet, and danced with in secret. The guy in the cabin is the soulmate, after all. Making me think that the girl in Taylor’s story has always been Karlie.

We don’t know how they ended up together again. We don’t see the lover leave the dancing witches. He seems to have arrived before Taylor. I guess she took the long way back to the cabin? “I take the long way home” from DBATC? At 3:22, Taylor sings, “Every bait and switch was a work of art” again as they walk toward each other. Maybe this bait and switch is how the gp thinks they’re feuding… but really, they reunited recently. (I think they’ve been together the entire time, but this is the public narrative– they were together on and off before 2016ish, then they ignored each other and dated other people, then they privately reunited recently.) 

Here’s what gives me the most hope, even when things look bleak (like now): After reuniting privately, they walk hand in hand out the door, into the golden daylight together. The question is, is this Taylor’s fantasy? Or is it foreshadowing? Does she just want to publicly reunite with Karlie, but can’t (or won’t)? Or are they going to ACTUALLY reunite publicly in the near future?

I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. I know we’re all feeling really cynical right now because we’ve been burned so many times. I’m choosing to be optimistic for a bit longer– I think they’re about to reunite publicly. It’s okay if you disagree. I get it. None of us know what they’re up to and I could definitely be wrong. But I think Taylor singing, “Every bait and switch WAS a work of art” in past tense is interesting. If they have no plans to change anything, why not sing, “Every bait and switch IS a work of art”? “Is” would indicate to me that the games are ongoing. “Was” indicates to me that they’re over or will be soon. Also, why remind us of Daylight, the song about not hiding who you are and who you love? The song that she almost used as an album title but decided it was too on-the-nose? Why remind us of Daylight and the Lover album for the first track/music video of Evermore, the album where she DID name the album after its last track?

Cardigan’s final verse ends with, “I knew you’d come back to me.” Will Karlie publicly come back to Taylor? Willow ends with, “I’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man.” Which is exactly what happens in the video. Evermore ends with, “Floors of a cabin creaking under my step / This pain wouldn’t be for evermore.” Like the cabin floor in Willow? Is her pain almost over? Daylight ends with Taylor saying, “You gotta step into the daylight and let it go” and, “I wanna be defined by the things that I love.” Again, that’s how Willow ends. It’s also similar to the second ending of Evermore, It’s Time To Go– “So then you go/then you go/you just go.” To me, this all looks like they’re still planning a public reunion and that we’re almost there.

I don’t know what’s happening with the baby and the beards. I don’t know what the plan is, and I don’t know if I’m going to like it. But everything else is giving me reasons to stick around a bit longer. I don’t think we’ve made it to the last page of the story quite yet.

#this submission is amazing! #everyone must read this!!! #I mean everyone #this is so good I had to add all of the pictures to do it justice #OMG #I love this so much #taylor swift #submission

[poisonheadcrabsalesman]

Black Pear Tree

Partially inspired by @bellygunnr ’s fic and descriptions of the atrium on the Infinity, have a bunch of words that came from me listening to Black Pear Tree on repeat for a week. It got sad and also somehow turned into 1500 words. This is between Canon halo 4 and 5 before the Argent Moon mission and Something has happened Offscreen, that may be revealed later. Very early in the au timeline.

-

The stars visible through the atrium window of the UNSC Infinity look nothing like the ones that shone above Reach. 

The constellations are wrong and the branching arm of the Milky Way lights up the sky in warm hues. Reach was different. Clear skies and a deep ocean of space as the backdrop for pinpricks of light sparkling through the rich tapestry of blue-black. 

Reach had mountain ranges and wind and so much greenery. Here there was no wind, just cycled air, mimicking the feeling of a breeze on his naked face. The bench beneath him creaked under his weight as he leaned back and took in the view. Stars overhead and greenery around him, yes, but the cold gray walls that enveloped the space reminded him where he was. Another ship, another steel coffin. The Infinity was massive. The lead ship of her class and called the culmination of human achievement. John had hesitantly begun to think of her as home. But that didn’t change the lessons he had learned again and again. Spartans didn’t win in space. Equipment could fail.

The unfamiliar constellations winked at him, distant and cold. He wondered if the stars above Reach would fade from his mind like the stars he saw as a child had. John couldn’t remember much from before the coin toss, and he had told himself that was fine. 

There was the mission, and the next one. He had his orders and would follow them and complete his missions his own way before marching back into cryo and waiting for the next time they needed him. He’d face down the cold, claustrophobic embrace and dreamless darkness. Mendez had pushed him to lead his Spartans to victory. He was fine to keep moving. Insurrectionists, Covenant, Flood, Forerunners, Banished. There was always a new threat, never a moment’s rest and he needed to be ready. John was a Spartan and team leader. He was the first to try the armor, first to jump into battle, and now he’s always last. Out of place and out of time, years and people gone that he could never get back. His own teammates were almost strangers.  

He was an aging spartan, a relic compared to the new blood. They may be undisciplined and cocky, but soon they’d have to do. 

Too many fast thaws and hard landings. Ceramic bones didn’t stop joint pain. A huff escapes him as he comes back to himself, incredibly aware of the bench beneath him digging into tired muscle and aching bones. He’s slowed enough that introspection caught up. John has tried to shove it all back down, but this isn’t an enemy he can beat. It’s him. His body and mind catching up and taking stock. Apparently constant repression of trauma and loss does not lead anywhere good. He’s listless and agitated when they don’t let him go on missions and after the altercation, he’s shipbound. 

Some days he wants to scream and break things, and other times he wants it all to stop. 

Most days, he just wants the familiar back. Even when he knew deep down it was bad, he knew how to get through it. He has to beat this somehow. It’s hurting his team and making him lose control and confidence. So he sits in the memorial park and hopes that he can breathe and ground himself. John lists the names he can remember in his head, feels the earth under his feet, and imagines the cycled air is a breeze and not recycled air from a pump keeping them all alive in this metal coffin. 

He wonders if his therapist would call what he’s doing processing or moping. Their next session is still a few days away, and he isn’t cleared to use the gyms yet. Roland is kind enough to check on him during his nightly patrols when he can’t sleep, but the atrium is his space. Even Blue Team knows to let him be when he comes here. Kelly will still be nearby, planning her runs so she can keep an eye on him without smothering him. 

He’s about to leave when he hears quiet cursing and rustling branches off in the distance. 

As he stands he spots two gardeners struggling with a large sapling, and he heads over without really thinking about it.

“Move it, Harris, but be careful of the root cluster! I swear if--” They stop as they notice him approaching. Harris still has their back to him, but is quick to set the tree down in the freshly dug hole and turn and salute, for some reason. “Harris, what the hell are you doing?” Harris has left them with all of the tree’s weight as it tips back towards them. “What’s it look like, Murphy? I’m saluting! You never know who’s on a ship this big, gotta show respect.” Harris spits over his shoulder, before realizing he’s left Murphy wrestling with the weight of the tree. John watches him turn and jump to help Murphy, and moves closer as they both attempt to move the sapling. 

“Need help?” He asks, voice rough and quiet. The gardeners pause, and share a look before answering at the same time.

“Sure!”

“No, we’ve got it, sir.” 

Harris and Murphy scowl at each other, but before it goes any further, John reaches over and lifts the sapling. He straightens it with ease, before lowering it slowly into place. They scramble out of the way to secure it and fill in the gaps with soil. He breathes in the scent of growth and damp earth and relaxes slightly. It’s a little overwhelming without the filters from the armor. Once again he’s struck by all the green, and the new growth he has clutched in his grip. Its bark is thin and young, but digs into his palm all the same. 

“What kind is it?” John asks them as they finish filling the hole and set up a support stake near the sapling. He’d been on so many planets and seen so many trees, they all blurred together, but this one was sticking out. Old memories blur like static on a corrupted message with flashes of afterimages burned into his brain.  

“It’s one of those cedars from Reach, bit like Earth’s trees, but hardier.” Harris answers as he dusts himself off and Murphy collects their gear. “Got several different species from Reach.”

He points towards a copse of trees near where the path forked. Harris hasn’t noticed that John froze at the mention of Reach, but Murphy had. They had finished gathering the gear, and walked up to grab Harris before he started again. “Thanks for your help, Uh--” Murphy hesitates.

“John.” He chokes out. He’s still staring at the tree. His hands still touching the bark.  “Thank you, John. Harris and me will be on our way. Take all the time you need, sir.” They drag Harris away by the elbow. Harris shoots one more confused look over his shoulder and waves before they both disappear around the bend. 

John inhales and holds it for a moment. He traces the bark, eyes falling on the patterns of the bark and the faded augmentation scars. Reaching up, he touches the fragile young leaves with unsteady hands. New growth from a dead planet. A swell of complicated emotion rises in his gut and he huffs a breath through his nose. 

Growth and change. He was sick of those words being thrown at him. Progress slipped from his grasp and felt no closer to leaving this prison of a ship than when he started. Confined to the Infinity and pacing his newest cage left him both claustrophobic and exposed. No missions meant no armor, and his access to hangars and other access points was restricted so he couldn’t even watch his marines come and go on missions. 

Blue Team had stopped accepting missions in some twisted sense of solidarity. They weren’t under the same orders, the same punishment. Of course not, they didn’t --, he didn’t mean--

They didn’t put themselves in the infirmary. He did.

John pulls his hands away before he damages the sapling. He’s shaking and his heart is pounding in his ears.

It’s a small thing, probably only a few years old, so it never saw Reach itself. Never stood near the tree where Blue Team stood and Sam carved their mark. 

They had been so young. 

And then decades later, they returned with one missing. A new mark carved into the glassed wasteland that was once their home.

Will you trust me now? Will you follow me?

He had asked them that, and then he almost killed them all. Working himself to death and dragging them down with him. 

How could he ask them to follow him now? 

John couldn’t. Maybe Master Chief could, but he hadn’t been seen in weeks. 

John sat next to one of the last living remnants of his home and looked up at unfamiliar stars. 

#my writing #Infinity Sitcom au #I swear it gets happier there are shenanigans in my google drive #infinity tag #also yes another title from a mountain goats song #I've had the EP on loop a normal amount #John 117 #this is not a halo blog #GOD I'M SORRY IT KEPT GETTING WORSE DON'T LOOK AT ME #I KEEP READING THE TEXTBOOK AND LOSING IT #uh oh John uh oh #halo fanfiction #i guess i could use real tags instead of hiding

[charlettebffxiv]

Prompt #12 Excuse (Extra Credits)

Knowing how all this works is frustrating. That is a sad part of becoming more and more familiar with just how the systems work. Once you’re aware of the bits and pieces of the clock that ticks along your time it gets really, really hard to not hear it. To feel like you’ve made your own choices, and that you are forging your own path. “That is bullshit.” Ogi Nogi was a man of few words, but even for this first outburst from him in a long while, Charlette chided him “Ogi, try and be a little less crass, will you? It’s frustrating, yes, but don’t lower yourself.” The lalafell crossed his arms, looked way, way up at Charlette. Staring her dead in the eye. “No.” Well, she wouldn’t appreciate that, but she could at least understand where it was coming from. As, in the back of her mind, she had a few choice words of her own. That was bullshit.

The Archive, for all its secrets, systems, oaths and rituals, was a fairly simple beast. The firstborn of every family to settle permanently in Willow’s Heart is inducted. The only exceptions are for only children, and those that are already parents or bonded. If this was too much to offer, you left Willow’s Heart and settled elsewhere. Harsh, yes, but everyone had to be bound to the purpose. Once inducted, you took your Oaths, you swore to take no charges, no quests, no ambitions other than the Orders. You were no longer an heir, a spouse, a youngling filled with dreams or ambitions. You became an Apprentice to the Order, and that was your dream and ambition. Breaking these oaths, taking on a new purpose that the leaders of the Order judged had become higher to you, and it was exile. It was upon this precipice that Charlette stood now, with only a hearing between her and said leaders to decide where her future would be going. It could be the disciplinary hearing that set a warning in her histories and left a permanent stain on her record, but saw her returned to the Orders fold and able to continue what had been her life since she was thirteen. Or, it could be the very last time this system made a decision for her, and it would be to send her out to start over, without any chance to redeem herself. Her home would not be her home anymore, her friends and family remain bound to Willow’s Heart. She had been standing on this line for a full twelvemoon by this point, in a grey area of existence that had left her uncertain about either path. That system chafed now, its limitations and it’s injustices hung around her neck each time she sat with her fellow Order members, all of them wishing her a swift return. Exile, though, sat on the horizon each time she was attending to her temporary position with the Botanist Guild. Utterly unknown, terrifying, lonely. Who was she, without Willow’s Heart and the Order? She did not know. Likely nothing. “And that’s bullshit.” Ogi Nogi sat next to Charlette, and poked her in the side. It was a sun of rest, and she was surrounded by her friends in a booth at the Willow’s Heart tavern, The Scholar’s Blush. What else do you call an alehouse that is down the road from a library? “Was I thinking aloud?” Charlette asked, a poor habit she had recently developed in the more isolated moments of her Botany work. She looked up at the people surrounding her. Maxim was holding back a laugh, Chloe was giving her a look that suggested she was questioning, once more, how they could be siblings. A’nidreah looked up from her drink, licking foam from her lips like she had heard nothing unusual. Loash and Alistair, at the same time, did the thing men who fancy themselves stoic do. A shrug, and a quick nod to the side. They very nearly butted heads. “Sorry, but it is something I do wonder about. I, we, have dedicated so much of ourselves to this place. Order or Botany guild, or otherwise. What. What do I do if they decide I have breached the code? Crossed the line? What if I have to go?” the words struggled from her, crawling up her throat and making it twist and pull at them like she wanted to swallow them back down. Once spoken, though, they existed. Can’t take that back. “They won’t. Not if they know what they are doing.” Alistair reassured her. “And they do, you’ve met Emillie. Not a man alive that knows more of what he’s about than him.” Loash’s nod came with a firm grunt too “S’true. He only does clever things.” Loash rarely had a bad thing to say about his appointed guardian though. “I mean you’ve given them no reason to think of you as more than a dedicated Willow’s Heart-ian? -ist? What would you call us? Willow’s Heartdians? Anyway, you’ll be fine. Bobocufu’s probably only got glowing things to say about you.” Maxim flicked his hand, danced around Charlette’s worries and dismissed them like they never even deserved to be said. “Bobocufu only has nice things to say about everyone. She could talk-up the Emperor of Garlemald if he planted a sapling in his front yard.” Ogi Nogi speaks again, though being less helpful this time. Charlette held up a hand to stop anymore reassurances coming her way, taking the time it required to gulp from her cup to think before she spoke. “Thank you everyone. That does help. But we won’t know until it happens. Until then I just need to keep making the best impression I can, if I want to avoid being sent away.” A solemn series of looks fell over the group with the silence. Then Chloe and A’nidreah glanced at each other. The Miqo’te shook her head, but Charlette knew Chloe had made up her mind. “Does it matter?” Chloe asked, getting a few quick looks from everyone but Maxim, and A’nidreah who had decided to look down and focus on her drink. “What do you mean? Of course it does. I don’t want to be sent away from everything.” Chloe leaned forward, and looked at the others around the table. “Everything? Everything is not in Willow’s Heart alone Charlette. I just do not think it would be the end if the world if you, well, went outside for more than a demand from the Order.” Tension gripped the Order members at the table. “You know what I’m talking about when I say everything. I grew up here, this is home.” Chloe squared her shoulders, sat up straight. A mirror of Charlette when she was not willing to back down. “People make new homes all the time.” “Our family is here. Mother, father, the others from the coven.” “They can take a trip, see you and a bit of that world too.” “My botany work was all done here.” “And a lot of it was done out there too. Maxim will make the trip.” Chloe patted the blonde on the chest. He looked between the two, then dipped his head to Charlette “Working with us isn’t based on where you live. We could call on you, when we’re outside of bounds.” “My friends are all here, members of the Order. A’nidreah, Alistair, Loash, Ogi.” She was not balking, and neither was her sister. “There are no other taverns out there? I do not see anyone here so selfish they would never make the time to see their friend.” the others nodded, but it was without looking directly at Charlette. “I do not want to leave.” She finished, firm as she can be, the conversation needed to end. “Maybe you need to, maybe you are lying.” Chloe was not done. “I do not lie.” Charlette had started to feel a tightness in her chest. “That’s a lie.” “What do you want from me Chloe?” Her tone was harsh, it snapped. “I want you to be honest, and I want you to make a choice for yourself.” Chloe was irritatingly cool and calm. “How is ‘I do not want to leave behind my friends, family and home forever’ not honest enough for you?” Was she shouting? She didn’t feel like she was shouting, but her words were coming harder, A’nidreah’s ears were twitching downward. Alistair reached out a hand “Okay, anyone need a refill?” several hands went up, Charlette and Chloe continued to stare at each other. Chloe’s hand went up. Charlette’s followed, slowly. “I’ll help!” Loash was standing as soon as Alistair had escaped his seat. “Me too!” A’nidreah followed. Maxim was trapped at the far end, between the two sister’s, Ogi did not seem to care. Though he did make his escape via the classic. “I gotta pee.” The lalafell slipped out his seat and made his way to the back. The sisters squared off, Maxim tried to busy himself with folding a swan out of his serviette. “Stop lying to yourself Charlette.” Chloe finally ended the tense silence. “Stop acting like you know everything, and know better than everyone.” She felt angry, why was Chloe doing this now? Why did she always have to do this? “I do not know everything, or better than everyone. But I know my sister.” Did she though? It felt, to Charlette, like Chloe was constantly confused by her. “Then why do we fight more than we talk?” It was a good question to ask. It had been this way for a long, long time. “I do not fight you Charlette. You fight yourself, everytime you come close to this. I am just on your side, so you fight me too.” Charlette rolled her eyes, shaking her head and looking away from her Sister. “Come close to what?” she asked, near spitting it. “Choosing what you want, first.” Charlette watched out the side of her eye as Chloe placed her cup down, and leaned forward, elbows on the table, reaching across to try and meet Charlette’s touch halfway. “Be honest with me. Why is being out there, for your own reasons, such a terrible thing?” Charlette swallowed. Her friends had scattered around the tavern, Maxim’s swan was so poorly folded it looked mangled, and Chloe was pushing, like she always did. She didn’t want her to push now. Not here. She felt Chloe’s hands reach the rest of the way, pulling her hard grip from around her cup, and holding on. Her eyes felt warm. “I will not be able to see him any more.” “He is already gone, Charlette. He has been gone for twelvemoons.” “What is left of him is all here. Under Willow’s Heart earth, in our home, in his locker. In the Hall of Honour.” Chloe stood, walked around that table and sat herself next to Charlette, hugging her around the middle with one arm. “That is not what mattered to Fred, you know that. What mattered is how we saw him, you know this better than any of us. You know him better.” Charlette almost smiled, but Chloe saw the little curl of her lips. “Yeah. Maybe.” “Does he still make you laugh?” Charlette thought of him, and she spoke through a tearful chuckle. “Yes.” Chloe just smiled, and held on. “Then he is here.” It was a nice moment, right up until Chloe finished where she was going with this. “No stop using him as an excuse.”

#ffxivwrite2021 #ffxiv writing #ffxiv rp #ffxiv roleplay #elezen #duskwight

[zamoimagines]

requested by: no one i’m just a dumb bitch and wanted to write this lol enjoy, this is the first thing I’ve written in a while so forgive me if it’s rusty, also song used in this oneshot is Bad Luck by Neko Case

Word Count: 1,819

Ally left early this morning to take Oz to school and to go work on her current campaign. You’d been dating the senator for nearly a year now. You never thought you’d fall in love so fast, but both of you were closer than ever. You knew almost everything about her. She knew most things about you too, but there were some secrets that you weren’t sure about sharing with her yet. Like the fact that you were a witch. 

You’d studied at the academy before you moved to Ally’s town. After graduating, the council sent you out to this part of the country to keep an eye on things. Sort of like an undercover spy. Your job was to warn them of any supernatural problems, and so far, this town was clean. It got boring lurking around by yourself. It didn’t help that you weren’t allowed to use any magic around others. That was when Ally came along. 

Life had become a little less dull since you met her. You vowed to never tell Ally about your secret, for you knew that she was already skeptical about the witch community.

On days like this where no one was home, you happily used your powers. As you made your way down to the kitchen, you flicked your hand in the direction of the speaker that was on the counter. In an instant, it began to play an upbeat Neko Case song. You grinned to yourself. You snapped your fingers at the coffee pot. Coffee began to brew as you waved a cup to sit underneath the nozzle. Humming along to the song, you closed your eyes gently and exhaled. A flame appeared upon the gas stove in front of you. Laughing a little, you turned around to get eggs from the fridge. Still got it, you thought. 

“Woke a dog from a running dream, and that’s bad luck,

Ate a black fly in the cream, and that’s bad luck...” you sang aloud. 

Taking out the carton, you opened it gently. Two eggs hovered over to the pan on the stove and cracked by themselves. With a look, the shells were thrown into the trash can. 

The eggs began to cook as you closed the fridge. You took your coffee cup into your hands and poured cream and sugar inside. You continued to sing as circled your finger above your cup to stir everything together. 

“So I died and went to work,

It’s not as bad as I thought it would be, 

But it’s still pretty bad luck-”

All of a sudden, you heard a loud thud. You glanced up. In the entryway of the kitchen was Ally. She’d dropped a grocery sack on the floor. Her eyes were wide, her mouth dropped open. You frantically scurried to turn off the radio and tried to find a spatula. 

“Oh, uh, hi honey! I thought you were out for the day.” you laughed nervously. 

“Well, I was going to, but my meeting got canceled,” she replied. “What... What in the hell just happened in my kitchen?”

You paused for a moment. You weren’t entirely sure how much she’d seen, so you tried to play it off as if you were completely unaware of what was going on. 

“What do you mean, baby?”

“I mean you- the stereo turned on by itself! Which, okay, maybe that’s Bluetooth or something, but no... You came in here to start waving your hands and the coffee started on its own, eggs started flying through the air- hell, you started a fire by just looking at the stove!” she exclaimed. Ally took a step toward you, looking a little horrified.

“What was all that? Are you trying to prank me or something, because that shit isn’t funny.”

“Ally, no, that’s not what I was trying to do-”

“I’m going crazy! Again! I thought I was over this.”

“Ally, please, just listen to me!”

“I can’t have this happen, not now-”

“Ally!” you shouted over her. “I’m a witch!”

There was a slight pause from her. 

“You’re joking, right?” she scoffed. 

You rolled your eyes before replying, “Of course not. Why would I lie about something like that?”

She took a seat at the dining table and held her head in her hands. “You know all that stuff is bullshit. What’s that bitch’s name... Cornelia? Caroline? Whoever runs that stupid academy in Lousiana. It’s not real, Y/N, none of that shit is real.”

“Her name is Cordelia Goode and I don’t think you should speak so ill of the Supreme of my coven,” you growled. Ally went silent, a little dumbfounded. 

“You’re crazy, you know that?” 

“Ally, I went to the Robichaux Academy. I was taught under Cordelia, hell, I graduated last year!”

Your girlfriend stared back at you blankly. “So, you were taught by a cult and think you have magic powers or something?” She shook her head. “Y/N, we need to get you into a therapist or something.” 

“I’m not lying to you!”

“Then show me proof!” she yelled. As if catching you cooking breakfast wasn’t enough proof for her. 

“Fine, give me your hand.”

“What?”

“I said, give me your hand.”

Reluctantly, she held one of her hands open to you. She didn’t dare to blink in case if she missed something. Perhaps you were just trying to mess with her mind, and she had to make sure that you weren’t feeding her horse shit. 

You didn’t touch her hand, but instead, stepped back. Waving your hand once again, Ally’s favorite coffee cup began to levitate above the counter. Her eyes widened in disbelief. You flicked your finger and the cup slowly floated over to the coffee maker. Dark liquid began to fill the mug then made its way over to where Ally was sitting. You folded your arms in front of your chest.

“Cream and sugar?”

All the politician could do was stare down at her drink. 

“Uh... No thank you,” she muttered. You leaned on the edge of the counter. 

“Well? Is that enough proof for you?” 

“I... I...” Ally couldn’t find words whatsoever. “I’m dating an actual witch?”

You nodded, a little annoyed. She remained silent as she gazed at you in awe.

“I’m dating a witch!” she exclaimed. You couldn’t tell if the look on her face was from excitement, from horror, or maybe a bit of both. Ever since the start of your relationship with Ally, you’d done your best to hide your magic because you weren’t sure how she would react. You had a terrible feeling that this was the end of the road for you two. 

“I mean... Yeah.” You replied. You weren’t entirely sure of what else to say.

Ally couldn’t even drink her coffee. She just stared into space in utter disbelief. Both of her hands covered her mouth as she didn’t dare to look at you. Your heart sank. 

“Look... I’ll get my things packed up. I’ll be gone by the end of this afternoon. I-” you had to pause as tears welled up in your eyes, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I didn’t want to scare you, because I love you and Oz so much and... Oh, I don’t know. I’m sorry Ally.” Teardrops hit the tile of the kitchen floor. You wiped your eyes with your fingers and bit your lower lip. As you walked past where Ally was sitting, you tried hard to keep more tears from escaping while you attempted to make a swift exit. Perhaps Cordelia would let you stay back at the academy for a while. Or maybe you could move to a new town. You weren’t entirely sure what you were going to do, but you knew that you weren’t welcomed here anymore.

“Wait, Y/N,” Ally called out. 

You glanced up in her direction. 

“You understand that this a lot for me to take in right now, right?” 

You managed to nod at her. 

“But do you also understand that... the fact that you’re actually a witch? Y-You know that is absolutely badass!” 

You stood there a little dumbfounded. 

“You mean.. You mean you don’t have a problem with it?”

“No! Why would I?” Ally laughed before standing up from her chair. “I was definitely a skeptic before, but... but this is incredible, babe!”

Her arms wrapped around you as she pulled you close to her body. You felt a little paralyzed. Here you thought that Ally would want nothing to do with you after this. That wasn’t the case at all.

Your frown quickly turned into a flustered grin. “So, you’re not leaving me?”

Ally scoffed. “Are you kidding? When am I ever going to date a real-life witch!”

“I hope that’s not the only reason you’re deciding to stay with me.” you joked.

“No, no, no! But I gotta say... it is a plus.”

You both laughed together as the politician hugged you tight. She pressed a small kiss to your forehead. It felt amazing to be held by her, and you realized that you never wanted to be held by anyone else. 

“Y/N, I’m sorry I freaked out. I’m stubborn, but I don’t care what you are. I’m always going to love you because you’re the woman I fell in love with. I can’t imagine my life without you. Hell, I’d still love you even if you were a zombie!” she explained.

“You’re pushing it.” you giggled. “But I’m glad you feel that way. I love you so much, Ally.” 

“I love you too, my witchy woman,” she replied with a wide smile. You rolled your eyes. You were never going to hear the end of this. The two of you stayed standing for a moment, enjoying the feeling of being embraced by each other. 

“So... Sex is going to be much more interesting, hm?” Ally said. 

“Ally!” you exclaimed as your cheeks turned bright red. 

The brunette shrugged as she chuckled at your reaction. “Just saying. Also, Oz is going to lose his mind when he finds out. He’ll think you’re way cooler than I am.” 

“That’s because I am.”

“I can still kick you out, you know.” 

You playfully hit her arm as you pulled away. Making your way back to the kitchen stove, you put your eggs on a plate and grabbed some silverware. 

“Do you want breakfast?” you asked.

“Only if you make it the way you were doing it.” Ally replied. You smirked to her. You flicked your wrist once again and a new song started up on the radio. As you cooked and used your magic, Ally just watched happily while she sipped on her coffee. This was the life you had been dreaming of; being able to finally be yourself in front of the person you loved the most. You had to admit, it felt better than you could’ve ever imagined. 

REQUEST MORE IMAGINES HERE!

#ally mayfair Richards x reader #ally mayfair richards #Sarah Paulson x reader #ahs imagine #ahs x reader #character x reader #ahs #American horror story #american horror story imagine #ahs cult #ahs cult imagine #requests are open!

[downbythewater-beachblondee]

24 | Part Two

Aaliyah

I couldn't put my socks on. My belly was too fat. I wasn't able to reach the shampoo placed high in the bathroom cabinet. Everything was a chore. Sometimes I contemplated ending it all. What difference would it make? I'm not one of those new mothers either, strutting on about how I'm living for two now. Screw that. Right now, all I see is Aaliyah in the mirror and I'm sick of it.

But then, there's this other side of me that begins to embrace who I am and how far I've come- me being so young with this whole pregnancy thing. And I really have to give myself credit for-

"Open up, baby. It's me."

I exhaled, remembering that I called Titus to come pick me up after my little 'marathon' with my sister. She was such a prick.

Enough of that. I needed no negativity right now. That's why I chose to go on this trip. No negativity, or so I thought.

I smirked at the light skinned god after cracking the door just enough.

"You gone let me in, or what?"

My loins were soaking wet at the sight of him.

"You ain't even have to answer that one," He quipped, letting himself in the abode with two swift arms coated around my waist. "Damn, girl. You fillin these pants,"

"Boy, shut up." I gushed.

He bit his lip, slightly exposing his golden grill on his bottom teeth once he lifted me on the bed.

"Titus, what are you doing?" I giggled, allowing him to attack my neck with sweet kisses. And believe me, it felt the best with a bun in the oven. Pain and pleasure had the best of both worlds.

"I been missin' you. Ain't you miss me?" He asked rhetorically, continuing his much needed assaults.

"Well...yes..." I stuttered between moans. "But...baby, I called you up here for a reason."

He stopped. "What's up?"

"Can you let go of me so we don't get carried away?"

He did so, smoothly facing me from the side as I sat criss cross apple sauce.

"I need to get out of here."

He raised a brow. "Okay. But you know I gotta bring you right back, right?"

"Titus...no. I'm pregnant with your child-"

I was cut off by the kiss of his teeth.

"Don't you think you should tell your parents about me, given these circumstances?"

"Aaliyah, I'm not finna keep arguing with you about this. You already know wassup and I got a plan, remember? All in due time."

"When is time, Titus?"

"Shit, not now. That's for sure. Besides, what's so different from now and every other time you've asked me to take you home?"

"I shouldn't have to explain myself but if you must know...I'm stressed and depressed and being around my sister is bad enough. I just want to go home."

"Ain't that where you at now?"

I scoffed, really taking a look at this dumb ass nigga in front of me. I swear, if I had a penny for every time he said 'aint'...

"Fine. Just get out. You're unbelievable."

"No, baby. Wait." He pleaded, grabbing my little arms as I attempted throwing him out of the room. "I'll take you home. I'll take you home! Wherever you wanna go."

The commotion of my movements halted as I became full with the dexterity of his eyes. He was in control of me now.

I let him carry me back on the bed softly. The way he took in every inch of my body with his eyes drew me closer to him. Like water, I was attracted to him.

He turned the radio up, smoothly turning on the r&b station.

"I love you," He lied.

"I know."

_______________

"Oh shit,"

The sound of the van doors closing woke me up from my midday slumber. Titus still lay in a deep sleep with his arms wrapped tightly around me, making it hard for me to stand up.

"Titus...Titus, baby. I need for you to get up."

"Huh...what." He snorted, unlocking the padlock he had around me.

"Titus...get up!"

"What the hell?" He whined.

I pulled his arm closer towards me, guiding him towards the restroom.

"I really need you to hide in here for a bit. Please. My sister's back."

Titus, being the dumb ass he was, humped his shoulders and spread himself on the bathroom floor to continue his nap.

Good. Now I didn't have to hear Sanaa's mouth about anything. Unless she had to pee.

I stalled around the window, trying to see what they were all up to. Peaches strolled in the room first, muttering only a few words before collapsing on the twin bed.

Sanaa came in about twenty minutes or so after that. I ignored her, pretending to use the restroom so she didn't go in there.

"Fuck, there are no windows in here." I cursed. We could only escape through the front. Rats.

I walked out of the restroom, sitting on the bed. Hopefully if me and Peaches were fast asleep, Sanaa would shut her damn eyes and I could escape with my man through the front door.

But her ugly ass wasn't letting up.

Fat ass started eating cold wings.

"Jee, thanks Sanaa for thinking of me despite our differences, and saving me some wings." I admitted, honestly annoyed she didn't get me anything.

"You shouldn't even be eating wings."

Pretentious whore.

"Don't tell me what I can and can't eat!"

Okay, I was really annoyed now. I just wanted to go home. This didn't turn out to be the adventure I expected.

"Can you turn that garbage off? I'm trying to sleep." I hissed, growing impatient with her insomnia.

And what did she do? She turned it up. By now, I was really impatient. And Lord knows how impatience catalyzes the anger within. Plus, I was pregnant. So I had an excuse.

I hauled my pager at her shoulder expecting her to storm off and leave the room like she usually did when we fought. But she didn't. She responded by throwing that big ass remote back at me.

I caught it before it hit me, damaging my nails in the process.

"Ahh!" The pain was unbearable. Didn't I say sensory was on 8 more than 92 with a bun in the oven? Pain and pleasure were bitches.

"You really wanna have a fight?" She huffed, standing up.

"Turn the tv off!" I yelled, growing more upset because the rage of the speakers was louder than I was.

"Then you need a weapon." She hissed.

"What?"

"There's one in the drawer."

At this moment I wasn't sure if she was for real or not. I didn't quite care. But I thought it was strange of Naomi to provoke me like that. I mean, yeah she was haughty by nature but this was something new. Weapons? That wasn't a vocabulary word of hers. She had to be joking.

"Check if you don't believe me." She said, clarifying my doubts.

"I'm not gonna fight you, Sanaa."

"Exactly, bitch. You won't even try it because I would end you with or without a weapon."

She sounded comical like the laugh track playing ominously in the background. The cheshire grin etched across her lips, her friend snoring louder than the volume, my baby daddy napping in the restroom were all hilarious to me, contributing to my slapstick attempts at getting the fuck out of this Circus.

Naturally, I needed to know what was in that drawer. What was really eating Naomi. Or is it eating this new 'Sanaa' persona she had going on.

I opened it. It revealed a knife. Classic. But I still couldn't believe she was dumb enough to kill me so it was still comical.

The knife wasn’t the only thing that caught my attention. There were pictures; pictures of the girls in her little coven. It was quite odd to me but even more odd as I thought about it later on. I didn’t pay much attention to them.

I still wanted to know what point she was trying to prove, though. This change in character made no sense unless she was bipolar.

"Wow...you'd really threaten to kill me...over a television set?"

"I don't make threats."

"Wow, real clever."

"Why don't you just get the fuck out since you want to start shit all the time?"

"I will!"

"Good!"

I made it out the door before realizing I had precious cargo lingering in the bathroom and I needed to grab him real quick. That and...my sister needed me. If any, she needed my words if nothing else registered.

I knocked on the door several times before she bothered answering it with the chain still attached to the door.

"I know you're sick." I blurted.

"What the fuck?"

"Listen, you don't have to hide around me, okay? Mama told me everything."

"Shut your fucking mouth," She snorted, attempting to lock me out again.

"Wait-" I interrupted. "Mama also told me...we sisters. And she not our real mama."

She glowered, time standing still as the night air passed between us.

She shuffled with lowered eyes, saying "W-what?" in a language only her and I knew how to communicate with.

"I been meaning to tell you. You've just been so...so busy and affiliated with this new life you've created for yourself."

"New life?"

"Yes, Naomi. A new life. A better life."

"...better?"

"You sound so surprised."

"So...who's my real mama?"

"Not just you, Nay. It's both of us. Both of us ain't got no mama."

"We got a mama," She stated confidently.

She was sure of it. Everything she said was sure.

"And she's at home in Mississippi cooking collard greens right now,"

She gleamed, matching my hopeful expression before engulfing me into a tight hug.

Taking in the expression dazzled on her cheeks and the flesh between her nose and lips, I reminded myself that my sister was an extremest. She was extreme with her movements, her motives, and even what slice of pie she wanted before everyone else got to it. Maybe by now, she had created her own side to the spectrum of extremities. A new her. A new extreme. She didn't mind sacrificing all that she knew before the new her. The old her.

No, I didn't stay that night. I left with my cranky boyfriend around 2 that morning, holding my stomach the whole ride home.

My sister and I needed each other. I realized that loving her from a far might not have been a terribly bad thing.

#Sza #ryan destiny #lucas coly

[goforwardgreenwriter-blog]

The Worm Reads: Empire of Storms, Ch 3 - 4

Last time we learned that SJM has an unhealthy fascination with describing the breasts of her female characters. I wonder what else this book will throw at us.....

Manon Blackbeak stood at attention by one end of the long, dark bridge into Morath and watched her grandmother’s coven descend from the gray clouds.

MANON MY QUEEN!!! I’ve seen so many antis praise Manon and I totally agree, she’s a refreshing and just plain bad ass character in a cast of stale personality lacking cardboard cut outs.

[Manon’s] grandmother had come to Morath. Or what was left of it, when one-third was nothing more than rubble.

Oh yeah, that happened. Uhh evil stuff and villain plotting was happening at Morath until a minor character from T0G blew it up or something? Can’t remember but it probably won’t be that important after this chapter because SJM has smut to get to, ain’t no room for plot on this boat!

So Manon takes her grandmother to see the duke and we get this fragment.

At the Matron’s accusation—and the line her Thirteen were drawing. Had drawn for some time now.

I don’t know why SJM does this constantly. I suppose to put emphasize on what is being said, but when you do that every other paragraph, it loses its effect. Just have the first sentence there and boom, there you go.

Manon assessed the exits, the windows, the weapons she would use when they fought their way out. Instinct had her stepping in front of her grandmother; training had her palming two knives before the golden-eyed man could blink.

Hell yeahhhhh Manon is so awesome. See. this is what Aelin should have been! Bad ass, but not strutting around flaunting it 24/7.

The duke has changed forms and reveals his true name, Erawan, and Vernon is there too. So is Maeve the main villain or these two guys?

And with the fiery queen now gone, Dorian Havilliard and his city were defenseless. It mattered little to [Manon]. It was war.

Riiight, because nobody can possibly get anything done without the amazing Aelin there to defend them... I’m not saying a bunch of magic-less humans could stand a chance against the witches, but do you have to make it all about how powerful Aelin is?

Perrington—Erawan—shrugged his broad shoulders.

Even the villains aren’t safe from SJM’s obsession with broad shoulders.

“Damage the city enough to instill fear, show our power. But that wall … Bring it down.” [Manon] only said, “Why?” [Vernon’s] golden eyes simmered like hot coals. “Because destroying a symbol can break the spirits of men as much as bloodshed.”

Not gonna lie, that’s pretty bad ass in a twisted, villain way. Not only does he want to destroy the city and no doubt kill countless people, but he’s gonna destroy a symbol of their city to break their spirits? That’s a good threat for a villain to make.

Manon leaves the meeting and tells her witches to suit up for battle.

She found the mute blacksmith by his usual forge, sweat streaming down his soot-stained brow. But his eyes were solid, calm, as he pulled back the canvas tarp on his worktable to reveal her armor. Polished, ready.

(...)

It fitted easily, its interior cool against her hot skin. Even with the shadows that hid most of her face, she could see the blacksmith with perfect clarity as his chin dipped in approval. She had no idea why she bothered, but Manon found herself saying, “Thank you.”

The sweet, sweet taste of character development that sadly, if you haven’t read the books might not make sense out of context.

Onto chapter 4!

Aedion and Rowan did not let Darrow’s messenger go ahead to warn the lords of their arrival. If this was some maneuver to get them on uneven footing, despite all that Murtaugh and Ren had done for them this spring, then they’d gain the advantage whatever way they could.

You just said yourself that Murtaugh and Ren owe you a debt and want to be your allies. You can trust them, I’m pretty sure they aren’t planning anything against you.

Aelin and her court go to a tavern, and I gotta admit, I’m pretty hyped. I know tavern scenes are a cliche in fantasy but honestly, I love them! I love the atmosphere, the blend of comedy and drama, whispering secrets over the table and noticing suspicious figures across the room. Or maybe I just played too much D&D.

Inside the inn, there were no rooms to be found for rent, and the taproom itself was crammed full of travelers, hunters, and whoever else was escaping, the downpour. Some even sat against the walls—and Aelin supposed that it was how she and her friends might very well spend their evening once this meeting concluded. A few heads twisted their way as they entered, but dripping hoods and cloaks concealed their faces and weapons, and those heads quickly returned to their drinks or cards or drunken songs.

See, this is imagery I love! 

Lysandra had finally shifted back into her human form—and true to her oath months ago, her once-full breasts were now smaller.

Aaand SJM ruined it. Though I guess the focus of breasts has a point here...? I don’t know why Lysandra vowed to have smaller breasts next time she transformed back to human form but whatever.

Fleetfoot brushed against her calf, tail wagging, and Aelin smiled down at the hound, who shook herself again, flinging droplets of water. Lysandra snorted. Bringing a wet dog into a covert meeting—very queenly.

At least SJM is honest about Aelin not giving a fuck about appearing like a proper queen.

Aelin squared her shoulders as Aedion stepped into the room, already speaking to those inside: “Just like you bastards to make us trudge through the rain because you don’t want to get wet. Ren, looking put-out, as usual. Murtaugh, always a pleasure. Darrow—your hair looks as bad as mine.”

Jesus does it run in the family? Aedion this kind of banter is not proper in a meeting that’ll determine the future of your kingdom and your lives!

Aelin didn’t know how she hadn’t recognized Murtaugh that night she’d gone to the warehouse to end so many of them. Especially when he’d been the one who halted her slaughtering. The other old man, though … while wrinkled, his face was strong—hard. Without amusement or joy or warmth. A man used to getting his way, to being obeyed without question. His body was thin and wiry, but his spine was still straight. Not a warrior of the sword, but of the mind.

Ohhh please don’t tell me Darrow is gonna be a villain please please please

“Lord Darrow,” she said, inclining her head. She couldn’t help the crooked grin. “You look toasty.” Darrow’s plain face remained unmoved. Unimpressed. Well, then.

Yeah it’s almost like this is an important political meeting and there’s no place for shitty one liners in them....hm...

Humility—gratitude. She should try; she could try, damn it. Darrow had sacrificed for her kingdom; he had men and money to offer in the upcoming battle with Erawan. She had called this meeting; she had asked these lords to meet them. Who cared if it was in another location? They were all here. It was enough.

Aelin becoming self aware once again of her frankly shitty attitude. Will she keep it up and try to improve though?

Aelin began counting to ten at the tone. But it was Aedion who said as he claimed a seat, “Careful, Darrow.” Darrow interlaced his gnarled but manicured fingers and set them on the table. “Or what? Shall you burn me to ash, Princess? Melt my bones?”

DARROW CALLING AELIN OUT ON HER SHIT TEMPER! I love Darrow he is my new favorite.

“And what bloodline,” Darrow asked, his mouth tightening at the brand across Lysandra’s tattoo, the mark visible no matter what form she took, “does Lady Lysandra hail from?” “We didn’t arrange this meeting to discuss bloodlines and heritage,” Aelin countered evenly.

I get that you don’t want Darrow being an asshole over Lysandra’s past, but..... you kinda did arrange this meeting for that reason, though? Aelin’s heritage is going to be examined in this meeting so....

Aelin cocked her head, choosing each word, forcing herself to think it through for once. “Is there a skill set that you would prefer I possess?” Darrow smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes. “Some control would do Your Highness well.”

Darrow, it’s illegal to roast someone this badly.

Darrow reveals that in order for a ruler to claim the throne of Terrasen, they must be approved by the ruling families of each territory, meaning that Aelin can’t just strut in and demand the throne. Big fuckin’ shock, Aelin, this is how shit is done!

Darrow didn’t so much as flinch. “You can hardly expect us to allow a nineteen-year-old assassin to parade into our kingdom and start yapping orders, regardless of her bloodline.”

DARROW IS THE BEST CHARACTER IN T0G 2K18 FIGHT ME ON THIS YOU WON’T WIN

Admittedly, Darrow does refer to Lysandra as a whore, which isn’t cool, but damn other than that he is spot on! Maybe SJM won’t force him to be a villain and let him be an obstacle and challenge that forces Aelin to stop her shitty temperamental ways!

But Rowan leaned back in his chair with a faint smile—and it was a horrifying, terrible thing. “I have known many princesses with kingdoms to inherit, Lord Darrow, and I can tell you that absolutely none of them were ever stupid enough to allow a male to manipulate them that way, least of all my queen. But if I were going to scheme my way onto a throne, I’d pick a far more peaceful and prosperous kingdom.” He shrugged. “But I do not think my brother and sister in this room would allow me to live for very long if they suspected I meant their queen ill—or their kingdom.”

Trying not to let myself have feels over him calling Aedion and Lysandra his brother/sister..... I love the “misfits become family” trope, what can I say.

But Darrow went on before Aelin could speak or incinerate the room. “Perhaps, Aedion, if you hope to still gain an official position in Terrasen, you could see if your kin in Wendlyn have reconsidered the betrothal proposition of so many years ago. See if they’ll recognize you as family. What a difference it might have made, if you and our beloved Princess Aelin had been betrothed—if Wendlyn had not rejected the offer to formally unite our kingdoms, likely at Maeve’s behest.” A smile in Rowan’s direction.

SJM, are you... are you suggesting incest? Look, I know shit like this happened in real medieval times, but this is a fantasy series, you don’t have to keep gross shit like that if you’re not gonna go all the way and properly explain and address it.

Darrow says one mean comment about Aedion and Aelin neARLY STABS HIM WITH A DAGGER I’M NOT EVEN JOKING.

Aelin lunged. Not with flame, but steel. The dagger shuddering between Darrow’s fingers flickered with the light of the crackling hearth.

Real professional behavior there, Aelin! Is this how you plain to rule your kingdom, just threaten and kill anyone you disagree with?

“I see you inherited your father’s temper,” Darrow sneered. “Is this how you plan to rule? When you don’t like someone, you’ll threaten them?”

Same hat Darrow! Same hat!

Darrow lifted his brows. “All the work I have done, all that I have sacrificed these past ten years, has been in Orlon’s name, to honor him and to save his kingdom—my kingdom. I do not plan to let a spoiled, arrogant child destroy that with her temper tantrums. Did you enjoy the riches of Rifthold these years, Princess? Was it very easy to forget us in the North when you were buying clothes and serving the monster who butchered your family and friends?”

I know I’m sounding like a broken record here but holy shit, THANK YOU DARROW. Darrow is such an amazing character and a breath of fresh air from everyone kissing Aelin’s ass.

Beneath the table, Rowan’s hand shot out to grip [Aelin’s] own, his fingers coated in ice that soothed the fire starting to flicker at her nails. Not in warning or reprimand—just to tell her that he, too, was struggling with the effort to keep from using the pewter food platter to smash in Darrow’s face.

Wow you two are gonna be great rulers. They’re both temperamental and violent as hell and will probably bring their kingdom to its knees because someone stared at them wrong.

“Should you return to Orynth and seize your throne without our invitation, it will be considered an act of war and treason.” Darrow pulled a piece of paper from his jacket—lots of fancy writing and four different signatures on the bottom. “As of this moment, until it is otherwise decided, you shall remain a princess by blood— but not queen.”

HELL YEAH DARROW!!! Aelin hasn’t proved herself worthy of being queen yet, least of all with threatening someone she’s supposed to be making an ally with. Maybe SJM has turned a new leaf and this entire book will be about Aelin having to actually sit down, shut up, and learn to be humble and how to be a good ruler. One can dream...

#anti sjm #the worm reads: eos #the worm talks #anti eos #anti tog

[makeste]

self-promote as if I were to die

Hey guys, so I’m going to do something I don’t think I've ever done this blatantly on this blog, which is to shamelessly self-promote my own fanfics. And the reason I am doing so is because I have actually written a new fic (see the bottom of this post for more details), for the first time since 2010 (I'm not counting the crack stuff in this case). And I am very excited, but also nervous, because after eight years of inactivity, I’m basically diving into an entirely different fandom landscape. And I think I am currently “known” (so to speak) mostly for my recaps and crackfics, as opposed to a bunch of character studies and angst pieces I wrote like ten fucking years ago lol.

So! These are my fanfic archives:

Archive of our Own

Fanfiction.Net

Livejournal

Themes I tend to write about (and some recs):

Character Studies: When I first started writing KHR stuff, I did a bunch of these. This was back before I had the attention span and confidence to try writing longer fics, but I think these are still pretty good.

Rec:

Dieci Anni - introspective piece on Gokudera and the contrasts between his 14 and 24-year-old selves

Gen: SO MUCH GEN. I love friendship. I mean, like romance too, but I just don’t write much of it.

Rec:

Invincible - 8059 car chase in Italy, because it’s the mafia and you gotta have a car chase at some point damn it

8059 Gen: Yeah I’ve written enough of this that it probably warrants calling it out as a specific genre fave of mine. I will take 8059 friendship in any and all forms. Friendship, fluff, rivals, brothers in arms, partners in crime, shoulders to cry on; you name it and I’ve probably written it.

Rec:

Indeterminism - um. This one is a bit harder to describe. It’s Yamamoto first-person POV, and the premise is that he’s somehow died?? Apparently?? but somehow Gokudera can see and talk to his “ghost” self, and then after a bit they get it into their heads to try and go back in time to stop Yamamoto from ever dying to begin with, and things get really kooky from there because time travel physics yep yep. This is currently my favorite thing that I’ve written up til now.

Angst: For the most part nothing too extreme, but I really dig characters having minor emotional crises and being bailed out by their loyal friends (and/or pragmatic but secretly loving infant tutors).

Rec:

Please Give the Name of the Person Who Referred You - this takes place immediately post-Future Arc and features Tsuna freaking out because he killed someone (Byakuran! Yeah, this was before he inexplicably returned) for the first time ever

First Kills: Another specific genre for you. I’ve written three of these, one for each of the main trio. Idk. They’re in the mob and sometimes I just want them to act like it (but then freak out and wrestle with their emotions after).

Rec:

The Test - and here we have Yamamoto’s first kill, during which he freaks out about how much he is not freaked out, because lol natural born hitman and all that

Being Mean to Yamamoto: The most specific genre of all. I don’t know why I’m so compelled to fuck around with this kid all the time. Probably because he’s so naturally angst-resistant that I just can’t help but want to throw terrible situations at him just to see how he would react if shit ever really hit the fan.

Rec:

Down the Stairs - this is an alternate-timeline fic in which Yamamoto’s dad was killed by the Ninth’s son Enrico, resulting in Yamamoto siding against Tsuna and Gokudera in the resulting Vongola civil war. I will also tell you right now that this features a major character death so if that’s an immediate ‘no’ from anyone I completely understand

Lastly, here’s a barefaced plug for my soon-to-be-posted new fic, because I’ve had this idea in my head for more than six years, and I’ve finally managed to get it all on paper, and it's very, very long, and I put a lot of love and thought and planning into it so fuck modesty. I am a strong, independent woman who... uh...

...SO YEAH, I WROTE A NEW FIC, AND IT FEATURES:

805927 Gen - That's right, all three of these losers. The last two canon arcs did not focus on this trio much, due to having too many additional characters to keep track of, so you can be damn sure I aimed to do otherwise, because I love them.

Post-Series Plot - One of the good things about KHR having ended (sob why does the wound still feel fresh) is that I can take the story in any direction I want to from here and not have to worry about canon trying to undo all of my hard work for once. So this takes place about three months after the end of the series. There are new bad guys and a new threat which is more personal than in previous canon arcs.

Italy - This takes place in motherfucking Italy

Headcanon - Ohhhh man. Okay so have you ever had a headcanon so powerful that you couldn’t escape it and it just grew and grew and eventually became canon!canon to you, but it was also so fucking convoluted that you felt like you couldn’t ever explain it to someone else without writing a 50k word fic about it so you could show how it all would make sense? I’m sure that’s a problem everyone has had. Anyway yeah so this features my giant headcanon which I’ve held secret and safe for more than half a decade but am now finally presenting to the world for approval and/or sound rejection.

Gokudera’s Past - Oh right, and the headcanon is all about Gokudera’s past

27 Character Development - So I also have some thoughts on Tsuna and his steadfast refusal to accept the title of Vongola X even after everything he’s been through, and what it might take for him to begin to change his mind. And this is another thing that I for some reason found easier to explain via a novel-length story rather than just writing meta like normal people. So yeah.

5927 (Friendship) - For ten fucking years I’ve insisted to people that while I endgame 8059, I also totally support 5927. And then I’ve proceeded to write nothing but 8059 content. The problem is that I’ve always thought there was some development missing between Tsuna and Gokudera that was needed in order to truly make it work. But to make that development happen, I needed a massive, angsty plot to act as the impetus. So that’s literally the only reason why I’ve never written 5927 before, but now it is finally happening so strap in. (Though I should repeat that in terms of story this development is strictly gen, like every other damn thing I write.)

A Yamamoto Fight - Oh you bet

Angst - Of fucking course

So! I will be posting part one of that tomorrow. Ha ha ha I hope there is some interest, but if not at least I finally got it out of my brain and it feels fucking good.

ETA: Here's the link to part 1 of Blood of the Covenant over on Archive of our Own: Link.

#khr #katekyo hitman reborn #fic #khr fic #sawada tsunayoshi #gokudera hayato #yamamoto takeshi #8059 #805927 #shameless self-promotion #so shameless #'don't worry' I tell myself #'you're just posting links to some of your old works' #'it doesn't come off as egotistical and won't annoy anyone' #'that sounds fake but okay' I reply as I hit the post button and then run

[shotgunsandstars]

Q&A chap 93-101

Hold onto your butts

Ch 93

The ‘thanks Xazz, I hate it’ coming out of the reviews from this chapter filled me with so much life okay? I didn’t need to eat for a week because I was sustained solely on your suffering lols.

Everyone crying about why I killed John I’ll let you in on some inside baseball.

Originally Andrew was going to have more of a redemption arc. But then I decided… you know what? Fuck that guy. He doesn’t get one. Just because you feel bad about what you did doesn’t excuse your abuse or earn you a redemption. Also he hadn’t been as present as he needed to be to earn a redemption arc. He was going to be more around for the Atlantis attack and get a good death but… bitch didn’t deserve it. So John took his place and it was rather poignant that John died, the last of Desmond’s biological family he accepted to having, and he’s found by his adopted family, covered in the blood of their covenant. Since the saying is that the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.

Also I knew all of you would cry when I killed John, which was delicious. I cried too okay. I was not immune.

To say he's done enough. Did John mean he's done enough to save the world or enough good and bad in his life? Maybe he's ready to join the rest of his family in death?

He’d done enough killing. He’d done enough saving. He’d done enough to see that the world was going to be okay. He’d finally saved his baby sister and his baby brothers he couldn’t before through Desmond. John is someone from a world that won’t exist in a few hours. He’s enough. He’s done enough.

you said you regret creating Jake now and would rather he had remained Jacob. Is that why you decided to put Malik to sleep for now as part of your storyline with Jacob and Tommy?

No. Not at all. The character acts the way they would act regardless of what could have been. I literally said why Malik decided to go to sleep. Like I literally don’t know how I can make this any clearer.

Though I prefer your Tincture, tbh, where she never sinks into depression and Altair is Des' biological father and they escape the Farm.

While I do also prefer that it also… isn’t good for the story. Desmond does half of this shit because he’s abandoned. Because he has no family. He is constantly seeking validation, family, and love because he was denied those things growing up. Sadly, if those things don’t happen then none of FM happens because Desmond has no drive to go out and seek the validation of being valued and needed and loved by someone else.

@Wren

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Just wondering why you've gotten away from the bird theme in Flocking Movement, Xazz? Every chapter used to be a bird name or something related to avians. Not that I don't like it, just curious.

What??? 95% of the chapters in this story are bird themed. And the rest are themed around flight or the sky. There are like 300 chapters of FM in total, all of them with unique title names. I didn’t want to just resort to calling chapters by bird names exclusively. That’s rather boring. Just these last few chapters haven’t been exclusively tied to birds.

What has been your fave chapter in each Flocking Movement story, Xazz?

My favorite chapter? Hmmmm. That’s an interesting question.

For FM my fave is chapter 24: Seven Ulama. You know, the one where Desmond thinks Altair’s fucking dead. Bird on a Glass Bridge (25) is also very good cause that’s the first time I bring up Duncan and Desmond nearly breaks Jacob’s arm. The entire arc in those chapters is def by fave in the first story.

In 17th I actually really like chapter 1: Yolk. It was very fun to write. But chapters 37+38 were my faves because DesLucy and also you got to see Desmond just SNAP. I’d had those chapters written for months before they were posted XD

For Triad, to literally no one’s surprise, my favorite chapter is 12: Muninn: My Story Isn’t Pleasant; it Tastes of Folly, of Madness and Dream, the Life of all People Who No Longer Want to Lie to Themselves. Which other than I love it for it’s huge and unwieldy title is also all about my favorite sad, pissed off, son; Duncan.

At the time of writing for Terrible Things my favorite chapter is 36: Wishbone. It was verrrry fun to write. I also really enjoyed 57: Mother of Owls andddd 85: The Freer: Rain Goddess. I have a lot of other chapters I really love in Terrible Things but those are my top 3 :D

For Tincture it’s absolutely 100%, chapter 1: For You. I’m pretty sure I teared up writing it. For Eden is also A+

My fave in Legacy… oh boy. There are a bunch I like. 18: The Pyromancer’s Daughter (for obvious reasons). 10: He is the Sunrise, and its counterpart chapter, 14: The Dusk. And 15: You Lean Towards Dispair because I like hurting myself. God I love that one. It chokes me up every time.

Desmond is finally at the doorstep of the Unnamed, so it's time for me to get some final speculation done. I'm positive that whatever he will do will kill him either immediately or induce the beginnings of brain atrophy. The knowledge/power of turning the tide will take its pound of flesh. I have a feeling this will be the end of the immortals as well. Maybe it'll be part of the price that Des has to pay to accomplish everything he wants.

No. I’ve been saying for years that Desmond does not fucking die.

why did Cain never tell Altair about adrenaline Waking up immortals faster?

The last time Cain had a civil conversation with Altair was literally in the 1440s. And even if he did tell Altair at the time there was no way to get Epinephrine until literally 1900 when the compound was isolated and could be synthasized. Which if you remember… Cain was busy rotting in a cell in a Germany Vault. Cain also didn’t have the words to describe to Altair what adrenaline was. He had words to explain how it worked in hado but Altair… doesn’t know hado and other than to talk to Cain in his mother tongue has no use for hado. And then after Altair abandoned Cain in 1446 they rarely had any civil conversations. Mostly it was spitting words and Cain getting under Altair’s skin to get a reaction out of him since he didn’t seem moved by Cain’s requests for Altair to ‘come home’.

is Hawk still using his glass computer he built before the Apocalypse, or did he make a new, updated one after getting access to Demeter's technology and equipment?

Given the equipment Hawk literally builds himself a new computer every time there’s any sort of hardware update. He had the glass computer in 17th because he literally could not get any more advanced than that for the tech available. But now he’s had access to Demeter and things on the Ilythian ships. He’s nearly figured out personal holographic interfaces, which not even proeathans had really figured out. They could make big holographic stuff like the AI but the power and mechanisms required to power them weren’t suitable for small, personal, use. Hawk has absolitely upgraded. Once tech comes back he’s fully ready to replace his eyeballs with mini cybernetic things and when he’s ready to change that too he’ll just kill himself and everything will reset (he’d have the fake eyes removed first cause having his body consume something that large while he’s Under and then replace them would take a long time)

Did John think Kaley's exile would be permanent from the family? That Troy would never get over his pride and forgive her?

He didn’t think Kay’s exile would be permament. He figured Troy would realize he didn’t have a suitable heir and bring Kaley back. But then one of John’s brothers’ children showed signs of having the Sight and it didn’t matter. Troy just wanted an heir, which for him could only be filled with someone like him with the Sight. That was why Kaley’s probably temporary exile turned into a permenant one.

Will [Mary] have a bigger role in teaching future Angels?

Idk. Maybe.

Is he the first true Stadalla to enter an Unnamed?

Desmond is the 17th named stadalla. As in, there have been 16 true stadallas before him. Only one didn’t actually enter the Unnamed but is still regarded as a stadalla. There were also other people who were born to be a stadalla but just… never reached their full potential. What makes a stadalla isn’t actually that rare. It’s just the nature of their psychic ability. Just so few actually realize that they are that sort of powerful psyhic being to go to the Unnamed.

Kaley was just as responsible for preventing unwanted pregnancies as Andrew, so they share blame for Duncan.

Just because Kaley probably made sure Andrew wore a condom doesn’t mean that he didn’t fuck it up. Condoms are easy to sabotogue if you want to and Andrew knew the pretty, politically powerful, Kaley Miles was his ticket to being accepted as an Assassin. Also Kaley probably wasn’t on birth control because of the nature of how and where she lived. Also someone mentioned somewhere (I don’t remember where) that Kaley probably knew how to drive and could just leave Willow Creek to get an abortion herself because she wasn’t a prisoner and lols WHAT!?

Kaley wasn’t a ‘prisoner’ but she wasn’t free okay. Troy was very controlling of her entire life and body and she was a prisoner of her life being raised in a specific way to make her into something specific. Kaley could not drive, Troy didn’t see a reason for her to learn since she would be staying at Willow Creek with him, and she couldn’t just leave Willow Creek. A big facility like that no one just comes and goes as they please in a car. And if Kaley decided to walk out she’d be found pretty quickly. Like as fierce as Kaley is she is very sheltered and very dependant on her father because she was raised that way. She’s never been to a city before. She has very little concept of life outside of Willow Creek. Mostly because Troy was too afraid she’d be killed like his wife if she was allowed anywhere he couldn’t control.

Like you guys gotta remember. The Assassins are a cult. A fucking creepy fucking cult that trains children to fight so they grow up to be killers. The Assassins are just that; assassins, as in they fucking kill people. People born into the Assassins are basically brain washed from birth to believe their rhetoric and that their way is right and good and they are doing good things for humanity by basically playing god and deciding who gets to live and die.

Also Andrew wasn’t above marital rape which… yeah.

If Des survives the Unnamed, will he be psionically exhausted again?

He’ll be tired but he’ll be… different. It won’t be like when he over extended himself. He’ll have realized himself and his exhaustion will just be from working so much without rest and less life threatening than psionic exhaustion.

He and Des never really had the chance to bond. Des' fault, certainly.

Neither of them are blameless. Don’t put all the fault on a man who was lied to about the nature of their connection when he trusted John to be upfront.

Who took over Willow Creek and the Miles clan after Troy's death? Was it John?

Probably Arlyn or Eric honestly. They both had kids and were younger. John had no heirs and was gay. Troy wouldn’t have put a son who would feel it a burden to continue the line to be the leader of Willow Creek. Eric and Arlyn also did produce at least one Sighted kid. So Troy had them as an heir /shrug

Heron why you gotta cut me deep like this? I’m happy FM is ending cause it’s such a huge monster of a thing and I’m glad the book is being closed on it. On the other… this is like the only place some of ya’ll talk to me on. Which is kinda depressing. I’m literally gonna lose a bunch of friends when this story is over (even if sometimes you guys drive me up a wall. That’s kinda what friends are for lols.)

Chapter 95

(There was some weird overlap in reviews here cause I don’t know how to pick chapters correctly /sigh)

So the Unnamed messes with memories too. That's good to know. /Sarcasm

The Unnamed is a strong independant woman who doesn’t need your sass *hair flip*

I guess Lucy was able to get in with him because the Unnamed doesn't recognise her as a real person.

No that’s literally it. She’s not ‘real’.

Just when I thought Desmond was going to do some epic mind-bending, reality-warping stuff, you've thrown this little curveball.

That’s still going to still happen idk what you’re talking about.

Maybe she's the next Tiamat in more ways than one - a synth who's about to become a Stadalla should she survive the Unnamed. Maybe it'll take two (or even three if Tiamat somehow makes it here) Stadalla to ensure that the cycles of civilization and apocalypse don't keep repeating.

Lucy isn’t a stadalla. She’s was a synth designed to be human. Desmond… isn’t human. Well, not all human. She’s physically incapable of being a stadalla because of what a stadalla actually is.

How did they make the decision for Lucy to accompany Desmond into the Unnamed?

Cause Lucy was getting fucking shot at and followed Desmond into the Unnamed to avoid being fucking shot.

Tiamat explained long ago in OotTT that almost everyone the Proeathans sent into the Unnamed to unlock its secrets died, and the few survivors came out with total amnesia. Except for Tiamat herself, of course. I would've thought Desmond would be too scared to risk Lucy's life bringing her in.

Except synths. And ho shit WHAT DO YOU KNOW!?!?!?

Maybe in 20 years or so [Rinchen] could accompany Desmond into an Unnamed structure?

Why? Like for what purpose? It isn’t a toy. It isn’t a training chamber or anything like that. What purpose does some random human, and remind you, Rinchen is HUMAN, have to be going into the Unnamed just because he shares looks (and not genetics) with and was adopted by Cain?

Didn't you write once there's more than one Unnamed in the world?

No. One Unnamed. The constructs are connected to the Unnamed but they are not the Unnamed or like it or can compare to its power in any way.

Anyway, I could see Rinchen being rebellious and wanting to understand the nature of who and what he is better and venturing into the Unnamed to get answers. And Desmond having to go in after the kid to rescue him since Cain probably can't go in. Desmond is the hero of this piece. Or Lucy could go in to rescue Rinchen, too.

Yeah. Let’s play a fun prank and enter a giant arch I know kills things that enter it to give my dad a heart attack. Honestly if Rinchen tried to go into it he’d just walk through it. Or appear to walk through it. No memory of walking in, seeing fucking nothing, and then walking out after a split second. Duncan would just be like ‘oh, you aren’t supposed to be here Rinchen’ and once Rinchen had decided he’d had enough of literally seeing nothing but white emptiness he’d walk back out and Duncan would memory wipe him for safety so he’d forget the time he was inside.

Tiamat probably not as she must be dying of cryo sickness like the others. She may be synthetic, but she was in a cryostasis chamber for 75,000 years just like the other Proeathans. It would take a toll on her living body, too.

Nah. Tiamat decided that that was bullshit and she wasn’t ready to die yet so she just decided ‘nope, I’m not sick now’. Because that’s what it looks like when you have the psionic power of a god.

I'm guessing time doesn't pass the same way inside the Unnamed as it does in the real world? Who built this thing and why?

Time passes how you want it to pass in the Unnamed. Who and why it was built is in 96.

A bridge. A bridge to past and a bridge to the future.

It’s more an allusion to that chapter in FM after Altair got ‘killed’ and Desmond had his fucking freak out. Same name, just a little different.

Why a house with a white picket fence? Seems like a weird choice especially since Des is saying he finds the house creepy.

Duncan is doing his best okay. He doesn’t know what else to show Desmond. He can’t read Desmond’s mind and doesn’t know Desmond yet either. The white picket fence is a classic dream for Americans and that’s what Duncan is working with.

Or maybe this is about Des facing his fears? Everyone must do that at some point in their lives if they want to grow, to become more. To own his fears would make Des stronger, to conquer them would make him unstoppable.

It ain’t that deep

You must be writing and concluding this story at break neck speed

Not really. I’ve got other things to do lols

So did Des expect to die when he entered the Unnamed?

Not immediatly. But he does expect whatever he does in the Unnamed to kill him.

Why did he risk Lucy by taking her into the Unnamed with him? Od warned him that most everyone who ever tried to enter died. That seems careless and Des is never careless with Lucy.

*Makes a loud fart noise with their hand and mouth*

Will they remember anything about the Unnamed to tell the others when they come out?

Duncan makes people who aren’t supposed to be there forget what they’ve seen. The Unnamed was always meant for Desmond.

hope some day you have the time and interest to write another draft of your Flocking Movement saga because readers would love to see how it changes when Kaley Miles lives and does not sink into depression. Maybe she and Altair would still hook up? Or maybe not, because there is Jake. Or would you keep just as Jacob?

If Kay lived she and Altair absolutely would not hook up again because she’s mad at him for leaving her and her children in an abusive situation she felt powerless to get herself out of. Really she’d become bffs with Cain (who I’d change the name of and also make a girl cause WOW FM is a fucking sausage fest) to fuck with Altair a lot. Jake wouldn’t happen, Jacob would just trip into immortality alone thanks to Altair’s fuck up and Altair would end up hooking up with Jacob probably. Cause as much as I love Jake… idk. He doesn’t need to be there. Honestly Jake is Jake so people wouldn’t throw a fucking hissy fit I was shipping Altair with an OC.

Are the Altair, Ezio, Cain, the Angels, and Baldurs people guarding the Unnamed now from Proeathan incursions?

Mmmm. Kinda. When Desmond made it into the Unnamed there isn’t much the Adjatevs can do now. They’re more just making sure they don’t get away.

6 years creating your masterpiece

I would absolutely not call it a masterpiece. Have you actually read FM lately? It’s SO BAD.

Why did you decide upon [the bird theme]?

Because it’s literally part of the AC lore??? Like every single game from the 1st one features bird themes. Altair and Ezio are LITERALLY bird names.

So is Des building bridges here or burning bridges here?

It’s literally the chapter title dude. He’s on a bridge.

The wall that just went up cuts them off from returning to the real world, does it not?

No???? But they want to go in and to go in you have to actually like… GO IN

Is the Unnamed trying to traumatize Des? Making him feel like he's back in the Black Room of the Animus seems needlessly cruel.

The Unnamed isn’t doing that. That’s just the Unnamed looked like. The Animus is bullshit fake news tech made to break human brains but it uses tech similarly to vessels which also uses tech similarly to the Unnamed. The Unnamed is a psychic presence and the Animus and vessels all (tho Vidic didn’t understand it) tap into the psionic prowess of the person and the Unnamed is such a HUGE psionic marker that has trickled down through all these machines that it is part of its very essense. The Unnamed isn’t replicating the Black Room, the Black Room was replicating the Unnamed.

Des needs to remember that Lucy has her own traumas. She 'remembers' dying as Lucy Prime. She was trapped in Proeathan custody for several years. She still grieves for what happened to Clay. She was tossed aside by the Assassins as expendable. She was forced to compromise herself in order to survive. By bringing Lucy into the Unnamed, Des could cause her unnecessary vicarious trauma

*Continues to make fart noises with hand and mouth*

What was your original plan for this chapter?

Just the memory they watched. I didn’t find that particularly thrilling to write so I just had them watch an abridged form and instead I could set the atmosphere of the Unnamed better.

I like how it's not always the guys protecting the damsel in distress in your FM saga. More like the guy in distress being protected by his butt-kicking lady!

I’m pretty sure Desmond has only saved Lucy once. And that was when he gave himself up to Cain to protect her in Mexico. Lucy’s always saving his ass.

Also, if I counted right, this is review 1300

Y’all are crazy. Thank you.

have you ever considered a Legacy chapter from Lucy's time with the Proeathans?

Not really something I’m interested in writing. Sometimes things are better when you just don’t know

Not that I'm begging, please don't think that! It's just you've said in the past it was all right to suggest ideas for Legacy and Tincture.

I… didn’t think that at all. And this sort of wording you guys do sometimes makes me really uncomfortable like I’m incapable of understanding intent in written words and comes across as kinda disingenuine.

Too bad John and Desmond never had the chance to use their pyromancer powers together, as in one giant fireball they lobbed together at their enemies.

Not really how pyromancy works… Cause then taking out the Storks is them using their abilities together.

You saga absorbs me more than most so-called must read literature. As far as I'm concerned, your saga is a Must-Reat story.

Probably cause like most well written fanfic it isn’t sanatized for the Standard of published media which all kinda sounds… the same.

Did Des lose his black smart matter bracelet/knife/god-killing weapon?

Well Lucy was holding it when she shoved him into the Unnamed…

Did Saturn ever have custody of [smart matter]?

Yeaaaaaap. While not stated explicitly the sword she uses in Rain Goddess is smart material

And now that I think about it, how did Des come to have it?

I never say. He woke up with it on his wrist in the Pacific contrust. As to where it came from I think that a bit of mystery is important to a story.

Ch 96

So I realize I was pretty vague in saying to ask questions but some of you guys like… did not read at all what I had written for the type of questions, nor did you really use any reasoning for what sort of questions likely to be answered in this chapter. I know you’re all very smart but guys… guys… pls

Why did Duncan have to die?

Because then Desmond wouldn’t have been wanting.

Must have just about killed you to write this 5 years ago and have to sit on it for so long.

You have no FUCKING IDEA.

So what was Juno's purpose in using Des to kill Lucy Prime?

That question was answered by one of the AI a long time ago. She did so to manipulate Desmond but realized she fucked up only after when the proeathans had him. Also Duncan would have no fucking idea.

Is Xazz happy she ever started writing this monster work that is the beloved Flocking Movement?

Honestly I just can’t wait to not have to write this story ever again. It’s been a serious love hate relationship with this stupid story.

So I guess that's my question to this semi-omniknowing entity. Please explain this chapter in simple terms dolts like me can understand!

I mean it’s supposed to be hard to understand. It’s like a dream sequence and a training montague. Duncan can’t explain it like that because Desmond understands.

And who fathered her twins, Cain and Abel, if not Adam?

Eve’s sons aren’t named Cain and Abel for starters. And that’s a question I’m never ever going to answer. Stories need to have some mysteries.

For those few who survived and made it back to the real world, did they relive all the memories of their lives and acestors?

Not really. Only psychics strong enough can see anything besides the white room can even see memories and those people aren’t common. Most of them just stayed there a long time waiting for something to happen or they became too weak and were going to die so they left.

Maybe the Unnamed could show him the Miles family, and specifically Kaley Miles, so that Desmond could get to know his real mother, even if only peripherally? Not quite what you meant by questions, but this is probably Desmond's only chance to get to know the real Kaley Miles unless he goes into an Animus with the intention of reliving his mother's memories before his own conception. And I doubt he'll ever willingly climb into an Animus again. Ever. No matter how long he lives or doesn't live.

Y’all are a lot like Andrew; you just won’t let Kaley be dead. Desmond has gone out of his way to literally say just let her be dead and rest in peace.

The Unnamed sounds a bit cruel, making Des relive all of his worst memories. I'm surprised it didn't make him relive killing Lucy, or make Lucy relive Lucy Prime's memories of dying, cause you mentioned once that Angel Lucy remembered the original's death.

It did. But it also didn’t just pull out the worst memories. It pulled out all memories. A lot of the things they experianced in the Unnamed were things Desmond experianced on his travels before he ended up in NYC. And then Desmond built worlds around them based on his memory.

Really, I'd love to know more about this shadowy figure orchestrating mass genocide behind the scenes, the bad guy that has never been seen in Flocking Movement. Also, what is the history behind Tiamat and her connection to Chronos that makes her want him dead?

Chronos will be appearing in another chapter. And I thought locking her in a box away from all other humanity for years was a pretty good reason to want Chronos dead.

May I suggest that the semi omniknowing entity be named Xazz? Seeing as you are the all-knowing entity behind Flocking Movement, it'd be radical if you inserted yourself into your own universe. Honestly, after six years writing your saga, you deserve your own character!

Self inserts of myself actually make me incredibly uncomfortable. As it is I share a name with one of the main characters and that really makes me uncomfortable. So. Never gonna happen.

Can [the Unnamed] show the future, or possible futures?

The Unnamed can show the true past, present, and future. It is literally made by even more advanced pyschics than humans or proeathans who could percieve time differently than either of them and can see the future unaided while proeathans can’t at all and humans need someone else to do so accuratly.

if the whole of Atlantis will transform around everyone standing and fighting there now

I actually didn’t think of that til now and the image is very lovely.

I’ve asked you a million questions and speculated til we’re both blue in the face, so coming up with more may just be redundant

Yeah but you keep trying, Heron lols

Addionally, I would love to know more about past Stadalla. Saturn. Jupiter. HERA and JUNO!

I actually have a series planned that’s just… the Stadalla during their times.

Specifically the part where the twins, Hera and Juno, were the first stadalla to advocate for human freedom. STADALLA?!

I might have mistyped a tiny bit. The actual stadalla who did it weren’t Hera and Juno but Venus and Mercury. Hera and Juno were very important stadalla, especially Hera, but Venus and Mercury existed at the same time and they were the ones who really fought against proeathans keeping human slaves. Sorry I just got too excited about sharing lols

Why then would Juno want to kill Lucy and weaken Desmond, the next Stadalla, if she supported humans being free?

Okay and also. These AI are not the stadalla. The AI are just people who were sacrified by the Adjatevs. The AI known as Mercury isn’t even an Adjatev, he’s a Lesh’v’rin. They were all alive during the fall of the proeathan civilization and none of the actual stadalla were. Not to mention the AI known as Juno isn’t even the right gender or species.

Chapter 97

I assumed the builders of the Unnamed would be a long dead race, native to Earth, perhaps more advanced, but not extraterrestrial in origin.

I really wasn’t sure how fucking far I could keep pushing shit. Cause humans have found a pretty good historical record of stuff and it’s obvious the proeathans didn’t just disappear. They show up as other and in our cultures as things. But I didn’t know how I could like… not make it aliens and it fit??? Cause if it was an older civilizations the proeathans would have known about it! Early humans would have known about it. Aliens was really the only way I could get a good ‘we have literally zero idea or understanding of this giant monolith’ without it being like ‘well actually we found xyz in the fossil record’.

Also aliens

I assume those species had something more sophisticated than cryogenesis, as they would need to freeze themselves in order to survive the distances that would need to be travelled to reach other galaxies. In fact, those species would probably still be sleeping as their ships continued on their way as all of the drama surrounding Earth’s naïve children played out.

Or faster than light travel. Or something like the Mass Effect Relays which don’t even give a flying fuck about your FTL shit. If you could make something like the Unnamed and the Earth’s facilities you ain’t taking long space flights.

Duncan says the Others seeded Earth, too, to help life evolve. But why? They were using Earth as a way station for weary travellers. Why help life evolve on Earth and have to give up their way station in a solar system that could provide all of the fuel they needed to continue on their way and support life on top of that? Then why leave that same life the Other’s helped create to flounder and find their own way to survival?

So Drivers just do… that. They’re a benevolant race of psychics. Which is why Earth has psychics. And they didn’t do anything really. They just saw that Earth could sustain life and were like ‘oh this is neat’ and kinda helped it along and then when the proeathans started devloping culture they peaced out cause it wasn’t an empty world anymore. Things lived there now.

What has become of these Others? Are they still around, watching from afar?

I will tell you they aren’t watching. No one even knows Earth is there. As to what they’re doing; fuck if I know.

Perhaps not making contact is actually better for Proeathans and humans? Look what happened when Humans and Proeathans made contact.

Yeah no the galaxy is gonna be a hot mess when Earthlings figure out FTL. Space orcs and such.

Were Eve’s twin sons, Cain and Abel also Stadallas?

Ya’akov and Le’a you mean. And technically yes. But also no. They’re stadalla in the same way that Tiamat is a stadalla. Stadalla in ability if not by godhood.

Did Eve, who herself was not a Stadalla, but instead a powerful Angel, give birth to twin Stadallas?

Yes

Were Cain and Abel trying to fulfill their mother’s legacy, or just to understand it better?

The first bit

Yet Desmond is the Seventeenth Stadalla, clearly the most important Stadalla ever born.

MMMMM!!! Debateable lols. Desmond is the most important in recent memory but people would argue Saturn was way more important than Desmond. Or Pluto. Or Demeter. Demeter is an insanely important stadalla.

Is that ability unique to Desmond? That he can fashion reality to suit himself and the world?

No everyone could do it in the Unnamed. But not everyone got to sit in the big boy chair lols.

Just imagine how Cronos would fashion the world to suit himself.

Well I mean… reality of the Unnamed only exists in the Unnamed. You can’t just go into the Unnamed and bring it out of the Unnamed without Duncan’s permission. Like Desmond and Lucy’s clothes will leave with them because Duncan is like ‘yeah sure, you can do that’ but Chronos couldn’t go in there, make a super weapon, and bring it back out of it. Duncan wouldn’t allow it. Also you can’t just… brute force the Unnamed unless you’re a Driver. Like Ya’akov and Le’a brute forced the Unnamed because they were Drivers even tho Duncan KINDA HATED BOTH OF THEM but there were two of them and they were ridiculously powerful and he was kinda powerless to stop them. If you aren’t a Driver you just see… nothing. There is no Unnamed for someone who isn’t a Driver and you can only force the Unnamed to become yours if you are one like Ya’akov and Le’a. Which is what they did. Duncan didn’t want them to have access to that chair but they did it anyway.

This must have frustrated Cain and Abel to no end that they couldn't fix the damage their mother had caused, to bring back the world the way it used to be, except with a place for free humans and Angels.

Kinda??? They were more pissed at Duncan cause he kept kicking them back into their own bodies because he was so hateful to them. Which to be fair, they were LITERALLY trying to destroy the entire world and REALLY fuck shit up even worse than it already was and Duncan can’t allow that.

Like where anger and jealously lead one twin to killing the other, as history seems to record...?

Uh… no. Ya’akov and Le’a loved each other. Like to the point it made other people uncomfortable how much they loved each other. And the Cain and Abel mythos is about…. Cains and abels, the type of psychic ability humans have. Has literally nothing to do with Eve’s sons.

Your Flocking Movement wiki must be enormous, bb, to cover all of these characters and their backstories.

Not really??? Cause I just don’t care about those kinda things that much. If you actually want me to write those kinda entries I will but that isn’t really what the wiki is about.

How then did Tiamat interact with the Duncan? He just old Desmond that he modified his program to keep Lucy young and alive and not affected by the passage of time within the Unnamed. Wouldn’t he have had to do the same for Tiamat, since she told Desmond he’d have scads of time in the Unnamed to figure life out?

Yes Heron that is literally what happened you literally answered your own question.

Since Lucy is synthesized, does that mean she contains no Other DNA either?

Yes Heron that is gone kinda in depth with in Clay’s chapter in Triad. Like I explicitly say that Lucy is 100% pure sythasized human DNA.

How sad and frustrating for Lucy that she has been unable to get pregnant?

Less sad and more she’s just frustrated and mad about it cause god damnit Desmond be useful lols

How much worse that she likely won’t be there to see much of her baby’s life…  It is not selfishness motivating Lucy here, not a desperate attempt to leave something of herself in the world. Its hope that’s motivating Lucy. A hope that she’ll leave a real legacy, and the knowledge that Desmond and his ancestors will still be there to love and raise the child in her absence.

I honestly can’t believe you actually thought I’d actually let Lucy fucking die a second time. Like the fuck??? You think I’d go through all this trouble to deus ex machina her back to life and get her and Desmond back together again during the fucking apocolypse for her to ACTUALLY DIE in 3 years? Please.

A child born of her love with Desmond and gift to leave him when she is gone. A reason for Desmond to go on living, which I believe Lucy realizes he’ll need if he loses yet another person he loves.

No but real talk other than cause she wants to that is the primary reason Lucy’s decided she wants a baby. She wants Desmond to have fucking something when she eventually dies cause SHE KNOWS her man and she knows he’s a hot fucking mess and probably would just kill himself eventually because he couldn’t deal with it. Not that she does die tho cause fuck that noise.

Speaking of children failing to live up to their mother's legacies, Lucy's baby would surely have a tall order to live up to regarding the Lady of the Lake being its mother. Yikes. And Desmond as the father if people view him as a demon of sorts? ... Maybe better for Lucy to keep the identity of the father a secret for the child's sake.

Nah. Baby doesn’t have to live up to anything. Desmond and Lucy don’t let them feel like that. As it is they already do live up to it by existing which is a fucking miracle after the shit their entire species and planet have been through.

Fingers crossed for a girl, just like her mama and her nana Kaley.

I mean… they do have a girl. It isn’t the first one tho. I am gonna rip your heart out on the first one lols

I only pay attention when I see reviews climbing, then I know you have a new one up!

That is literally the worst way to see if I have a new chapter cause seemingly ALL y’all do that until someone notices.

When he said he was making animals, I just about fell over! If he's willing life into existence, are these existing animals, or is he creating new creatures?

I mean they… aren’t real?? Like Duncan said they are their reality but Desmond also isn’t spontaniously making life out of nothing. Like objects (clothes) are fine because that’s just matter but actual living things Duncan doesn’t allow out of the Unnamed.

The Unnamed likely had a name once in the alien tongue, long lost to the mists of time by this point.

It absolutely did.

The Others were the gods that the Proeathans fashioned their own mythos after, just like humans adopted Proeathans into their mythos.

No. Absolutly not. The stadalla were real live people who became gods and thus they were worshiped. But the Drivers were never worshiped as gods by the proeathans.

Cha 98

Now Micheal having a nervous breakdown in the middle of the battle and Altair is trying to hold him together, literally and figuratively.

I mean… he isn’t. He just suddenly can feel emotion again and he’s feeling so many emotions all at once that all he can do is cry.

If [proeathans] destroyed [The Unnamed] while Lucy is still inside, there would be no stopping Desmond’s vengeance.

Literally impossible

Have any other lifeforms messed up the Unnamed as badly as humanity and the Proeathans have done? Have any other species managed to bring themselves to near extinction by misunderstanding and misusing the Unnamed on other worlds as badly as the people of Earth have done?

I mean… they aren’t misusing it. It becomes what they need it to become and serves a new purpose when it falls into the hands of the new race. It becomes theirs. But yeah, probably.

What are the limitations of Desmond’s power? He can’t bring back the dead, but can he prevent death if he chooses? Can he prevent his and Lucy’s deaths, or will time take them away anyway?

‘God-like’. Also everyone just like… forgets all the time that Altair has made THREE people immortal thanks to the Apple. Like it isn’t that fucking hard.

Can he create life beyond procreating with Lucy?

Don’t say it like that Heron it sounds gross. But no.

Or is he the sacrificial lamb, risen with his lion-like divine powers to bring peace and justice to the world? A lamb who will tolerate no more fighting

I don’t know how much actually clearer I can tell you what a stadalla is at this point. Either you get it; or you don’t

Okay, now I’m insatiably curious about the first Stadalla. You once wrote that the Proeathans learned how to use the Unnamed to control human and Angelic minds when they found their way to Atlantis and enslave them and mutilate them and wipe out whole races and suppress natural abilities. I assume this was because the first Stadalla, who I surmise was a Proeathan, taught his people how to use the Unnamed to control the other sentient,

Pluto was too busy fucking up his own species to even know humans existed. Humans didn’t enter the picture until… Hera I wanna say. That’s 6? 7?

Finding that Apple in Boston altered Micheal’s life

Philly

Hey, did Cain ever meet Qin Shi Huang, emperor of China who desperately searched for a way to become immortal

Idk man. Maybe

Is Hawk gone for good then after Des woke up Micheal's soul in One of the Terrible Things? Poor Hawk.

Yeah. Hawk’s gone. Don’t pity him. He doesn’t pity himself. He’s happy. He’s happy he’s Micheal again.

Do the Proeathand feel like Hawk much of the time? They aren't ruled by their emotions, to the point Des had to share empathy with them so they could understand human emotions and validate that way of being.

No. Hawk doesn’t feel anything. He doesn’t feel fear or sadness or joy or anything else. Proeathans just don’t possess empathy. They are a sympathetic race but they still feel fear, sadness, joy, loss.

Will he remember Hawk's memories of the past 200 years and everything Hawk did? Is Hawk glad to be going now and returning control over to Micheal?

Yes and yes

I know you said Hawk is an infestation, but is he still part of Micheal's soul, or just memories now?

Neither really? Both? Hawk was Micheal without emotions. But he was still Micheal.

Ch 99

does he realize how much he has become like his father?

Except he fucking isn’t. Desmond isn’t like Andrew. On the surface he is but people are not skin deep. Motivations behind Andrew and Desmond’s choices are DRASTICALLY different. It’s like the Batman argument ‘if you kill a killer the number of killers remains the same’ with the counter being ‘well if you kill 1+x killers the number of killers go down by x’. Yeah they both did the same thing of letting someone die for the ‘greater good’ but their motivations and how they went about it are so UTTERLY different it’s kinda insulting to even compare the two tbh

Altair ibn La’Had al Umar

Heron I’m disappointed. La’Ahad

I don’t know if Duncan’s presence provided more comfort or pain to Andrew

Why not both?

His three daddies (four if one counts Cain)

Cain absolutely doesn’t get dad status okay.

What will happen to the surviving Assassins and Templars in the new world order Des is building? I assume Des isn't going to kill them all?

Both of their orders are dead. There’s nothing left for them to fight. The war’s over. They will help rebuild just like everyone else.

How do soldiers adjust to a period of peace?

There also aren’t a lot left on either side. A few dozen Assassins and actual Templars who understood the war and not just thugs.

Andrew couldn't quite believe Desmond would let him die, but surely he realizes he's merely reaping what he sowed? He raised Desmond to be this practical and this ruthless. The world has not been a gentle place to Desmond Miles.

Winner winner chicken dinner

doesn't kaley share some responsibility for this situation as she was the mother? yes, she was depressed too, but she doesn't appear to have sought much help either and didn't ask anyone else to take care of the boys

Don’t fucking victum blame dude it’s fucking gross. She was their mother but when you’re living in a cult where other people control your entire life it’s hard to just get over shit like what Kaley had. She was as much a victim as her children and casting blame on her is kinda shitty.

Ch 100

Des is like the strongest psychic on the planet now, right? Why didn't he go into Andrew's mind as he lay dying?

Why would he do that??? Like what’s the point of that????

Is he like a spirit or ghost when he detaches from his body like this? Like dead?

Astral projection since you couldn’t understand Duncan’s explanation

Xazz, you have a wicked sense of humor!

I just like ruining Altair’s life/day tbh. It’s my fave thing to dooooo~

What about Lucy? Des is pressuring his ancestors to have some kind of relationship with Tommy, but what about Lucy?

I don’t know if you noticed but Lucy isn’t in this chapter.

Who was Sath’ka?

Idk. I just made it up lols

Rather egocentric that Tiamat assumed the AI would appear as a Proeathan to Desmond, a species that have seriously traumatized all humans on Earth, but then that is the Proeathan way.

In her time, in the ability proeathans had, AI were all gendered and could not change forms. It isn’t egocentric. She’s just going off what she knows about AI which to her makes total sense that the waystation AI would be female and proeathan no matter who interacted with them, just like all other AI she’s ever interacted with and seen.

Ch 101 (the actual chapter 100)

Will Des eventually build up new countries as the population expands over the centuries?

No. Humans and proeathans can do that themselves. He made Atlantis and that’s his home now. Humans can and will rebuild their world on their own.

Are the AI the current ones that Des knows, or AI who've basically been in storage awaiting a purpose?

I mean Desmond doesn’t know about if there even if other AI out there other than the Adjatev ones. So…

Are the AI happy with how this war turned out?

Desmond’s were. The others aren’t lols

What about Morpheus? He said long ago that he helped Des because Venus promised he'd see something amazing if he joined the Flock's side in this war.

Sorry is a god being born in front of you not amazing enough for you?

How did Hera get revenge on Juno, which she told Des was one of her main reasons for fighting?

Hera’s revenge was just helping Desmond who Juno was against, and making Lucy perfect

What role will Tommy have in this new world?

Probably… none. Tommy gets to be a normal guy who gets to kiss cute boys and hang out with his brother and nieces and nephews and be normal; just what Desmond always wanted and wanted for Tommy.

Do the Adjatevs accept responsibility for the war, the genocide of humanity and several races of Proeathans?

Fuck no

Cain, as the last surviving Drell on Earth, surely had something to say about that on behalf of his father, Pipek?

Hey. Hey. Remember that big thing Cain told Desmond about how he buried his people and put them to rest and wasn’t angry about it anymore? WOW it’s almost like that’s a thinggggg

Is even Lilith gone, Xazz?

All the vessels are broken, all the angels within freed, even Lilith

Didn't she say she'd be training Des for years to come in his Angelic abilities?

Just because a character says something doesn’t mean it’ll happen. Desmond is so infititly more powerful than Lilith now to think she’d have anything left to teach him is fucking laughable

What does Tommy think about the big brother he didn't remember?

But he does remember? Like that’s the entire point of what Desmond did. He does remember.

How many birthday wishes have you received today, Xazz?

Idk across the 5 different stories people were wishing them to me I kinda lost count XD Needless to say; it was a LOT

How relieved his daddies must be they're not going to lose Desmond?

They all knew Desmond would eventually die. They were relieved he wasn’t going to die so soon and would get to grow old but now he’s immortal and they’re like ‘oh… sweet!’

If I read your comments correctly, you wanted to complete your story on November 29, which I think you said is your birthday. But according the ff site, your story was completed on November 28? I don't know if that's a glitch or I just missed chapter 101 yesterday?

It’s a glitch. When you get a lot of reviews like I was getting ff.net kinda REALLY FUCKING HATES IT and causes things to display incorrectly. It’s why reviews took a while to show up that week and why it said the 28th. But I assure you, I 100% uploaded chap 101 on the 29th.

Couldn't Lucy and Desmond just take a break from each other if they get bored of one another?

I don’t… know why this is a question? Like. Yeah???

Tiamat probably can't either as she is probably pure Proeathan, being synthetic herself.

Tiamat absolutely is not pure proeathan. She’s like Mercury, a synth made to be a perfect being. Meaning Otherness.

Will Desmond bring Duncan's body to Atlantis to rest near him?

Remember Desmond’s insistance to just let Kaley be dead? Yeah. Same thing. Let the dead fucking rest.

Were there any other Proeathans still sleeping, waiting for the day they get to awaken? Won't they be surprised when they wake up to a world where humans and Proeathans are living together and Angels have returned and the Stadalla is in charge?

Now that would be telling wouldn’t it? ;)

And thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes across all of my FM stories. They really brightened my day, especially cause it wasn’t the best day when I had a bit of a row with a friend over dumb shit.

Also someone… somewhere in the giant mess of reviews I got asked about why Desmond is the 17th stadalla and why that number and what’s the significance of 17. And the answer is… well it’s literally canon lols. Desmond is Subject 17 of the Animus Project conducted by the Templars. And then Juno says some cryptic ass shit about 7 in the end of Brotherhood and I just kinda ran with it. So yeah, that’s why Desmond is the 17th stadalla.

#shut up bb

[gendryw4ters-blog]

baberoe and While saying goodbye on the phone

thankyou a lot for this ask, especially since it gives me a chance to do something *gleefully rubs hands together* dialogue heavy which is my jam and i love you for it

im also so so so super sorry about how late this is oh gosh!! and for getting much too carried away with it again

1. Saying goodbye on the phone:

“Hey, Edward. I’m- I was just calling to let you know that I’m- I’m gonna be-”

“Late home again tonight, yeah, figures,” Babe had sighed into the receiver, rolling his eyes a little at the all too familiar greeting. He tried his best not to be bitter about having to cancel dates- knowing deep down that it wasn’t Gene’s fault for being so damn selfless that he couldn’t ever say no to an extra shift. That didn’t mean that it didn’t still sting, and though he’d cursed himself for being so sharp, he couldn’t have prevented himself from snapping if he’d tried. “Edward, you know I- you know I don’t mean to upset you…” “I… Yeah, of course I know that Gene, shit,” he sighed again, though it was much softer this time- barely audible above the noise of the hospital that always seemed to follow Gene, even when he ducked outside mid-break for a phone call. “I’m sorry, I know you don’t mean to be late- it’s just… God, this sounds so selfish, but it’s just hard, y’know?” “I know, I’m sorry-” “No no, you don’t- you don’t have to be sorry, I’m sorry,” and Babe knew he was rambling now, but also that he had to make things right. “I’m sorry, ‘cause- because I know you’re busy and I know the only reason you take so many shifts on in the first place is because you care about people and that’s- that’s real nice, Gene. It’s sweet, in fact, I just wish- I just wish sometimes you would care about yourself a little more often too. You’re always working so hard, always so busy, and you just- you need a break from it all. And besides I… I miss you, Genie.”

There was pause, and Babe wondered for a moment if the other could hear his heart pounding against his ribs, and his cheeks flushed crimson at the weight of his own words.

“Genie, huh?” A soft chuckle finally broke the silence, and Babe felt a sigh of relief escape him as the warmth of the laughter washed over him. “That’s new. I like it though, it’s cute. And I miss you too, I hope you know that.” Another pause. “Hey… How about I ask for this weekend off, huh? We can have the whole two days to ourselves, just us.”

“You mean that?”

“Yeah, I do. We could get food and watch all the Alien movies or something. Get tickets for Covenant too maybe. I know you have a crush on Michael Fassbender, you’re not that good at hiding it.”

"Oh come on! It’s not as if you don’t get all big eyes and fluttery lashes whenever Kane comes on screen- what, those magic medic hands of yours just itching to get a feel of that chest?” And Babe was pretty sure he would never get used to the beauty of the laugh that had followed, or the way it filled him with an odd mix of pride and butterflies whenever he knew he was the cause of it.  

“That’s gross, Babe. I’m offended. You know I’d be very professional about it and get him patched up in minutes. And if he wants to thank me in an unconventional, maybe hands-on manner? That’s entirely his business.”  

“I can’t believe you’re going to leave me for young John Hurt-”

“Who said I was leaving you? Could probably fit all three of us into one of those stasis things-”

“Gene,” Babe had wheezed, which only made his boyfriend laugh even louder. 

“What? Can’t a guy dream,” Gene chuckled, sighing as a voice called out through the door to remind him that his break was almost over.  "Ugh, listen I, I gotta go get back to work, I’m sorry, but- but you take care tonight, alright?“

Babe whined a little at the thought of being left alone again, though he’d known their time would be short. "It’s okay, you stay safe too- hey!” He cried suddenly, as finally realised what his boyfriend had said earlier. “You called me Babe!”  

“I did? When?”  

“Like, just before- when you were distracting me with your weird space sex fantasies-”

“-I never said anything about sex-”

“-whatever! You called me Babe!” Babe’s entire being was alight with glee, and not even the prospect of his boyfriend having to head back to work could have wiped the ecstatic grin from his face.  

“Huh, guess I did,” and Babe didn’t need to see Gene’s face to know that he was smirking, and the thought made his cheeks flush crimson. “Well, Babe, this is terrible timing, but I really gotta-”

“No no, I know, it’s okay, you go, get back to saving lives and what have you. Oh, and uh, Gene?”

“Yeah?”

“I-” Babe paused for a moment to consider what he was about to say; did he? Of course he did. “I love you, be safe.”

He’d been preparing himself for an “it’s too soon”, or maybe even to be hung up on, and almost regretted saying anything at all before hearing Gene’s reply, which came without a moment’s hesitation;

“I love you too Babe, you stay safe too, okay? And see you soon.”

#asks #damnyoualex #gosh i am!! so sorry this is so late!!! #and i worry its not my best work but #i hope you like it all the same!<3 #also i forgot fassy was also in band of brothers so this was accidentally meta af #christenson probably gets 'oh god you look so much like him!!' all the time #baberoe #BoB

[punkwhodrinkstea-blog]

Dilute the “Bad”

Hello folks! Life’s been pretty good lately. Still some ups and downs with my depressive thoughts but I can’t complain.. My house has been extra tense lately and very toxic so getting away is always a good thing. However I am one step closer to freedom. I just got my first car and I’m now good enough at driving stick to leave when I need to. Next I am almost financially independent. My bank is in a transitioning state and is having major issues. So until they sort out those issues I won’t be financially free but I’m very close. I have full intentions to use my car for good and to help others. My car will also be used for me to escape my house from the poor climate that is my family. Anyway I have a theory about diluting the bad.

So you know when you hear someone who never curses but then they actually drop an F Bomb and everyone is like “WOW WHAT! They swore!”. That’s because they very rarely curse and when they do there is usually a good reason for it and it has added power and emphasis. But what about when you hear people who curse every other word? The power of the curse word is gone along with the emphasis and sometimes even the meaning or purpose of the word in the first place. Now older people and especially religious people (not just Christians) often say these are “bad words” that we should never use… but …. Why? The Bible does say that we should not use our words to curse others. Now that doesn’t  mean don’t use curse words and that doesn’t mean to not swear at people. It means to not curse them, no matter which words you use. However just because you say a curse word doesn’t mean you’re cursing someone. For example you drop a bowling ball on your foot and your reaction is, “oh shit!”. Curse words in themselves are not bad, in fact they are no different than any other words. They were just introduced to our culture as the meanest and dirtiest words around at the time and they still sorta carry that affect… sorta. I mean curse words are being used more and more which has caused them to become more normal and lose their affect and emphasis. I can already see curse words becoming more and more normal in my own church which is a large and fairly stereotypical Christian Church (more modern though). Honestly I see no problem in this and I think that these words are well on their way to becoming no different than when kids used to say the word “poo”. So pretty much the more we say it and the more normal it becomes so does all the bad meanings, emphasis and purpose of the words that were originally supposed to be so disrespectful, rebellious and show strong anger or hatred.

Now this probably isn’t rocket science to anyone but I want to apply this same theory to remove other “Social laws” or whatever you call them. This comes with a story though. I know a Christian girl who is living with her boyfriend (I don’t think he’s a Christian but he’s great and puts many Christians to shame). Some classic white Christian folk, my family, said they were Sinning and that her parents must be furious with her “rebellious” decision. Long story short I proved them all wrong but that’s not the point I’m here to make. However I should say that “sleeping” together before the Covenant of marriage is made is indeed wrong. Not the marriage document that’s just a modern, official thing our society does. Don’t worry about the document stuff, it’s not morally important in anyway. Anyway living in the same house or even sleeping,  like actually sleeping in the same bed is morally and Biblically ok. There’s nothing wrong with it.  Anyway the point I want to make is that I’d like to see more examples of breaking a “social law” like this to show that it’s not actually bad. I’m not saying that all couples should just move in together because they may fall into temptation but if you are strong enough not to, then there is no problem with it. So how about we all think for ourselves and do whatever we want as long as we are still being morally correct and stop caring if we are socially acceptable because to be socially acceptable simply means you are following the unspoken social laws that our society has made up. Do you want to live your life being held back or feeling pressured to act a certain way for no real reason? No of course not. So next time someone tells you something is wrong at the dinner table or something pause and think about it. I what you are doing is morally right then there isn’t actually a problem. For those of us who are Christians (or religious people of some sort) we need to not only be morally correct but also be sure to be following what the Bible says (or whatever your religion is but I’m Christian so that’s my default example). You’d be surprised how often religious people, especially Christians, use the religion/Bible to say that not following a social law is wrong and that is wrong for them to do since it’s a lie. Most of the time they hardly know they’re doing it though since people these days don’t do so well at thinking outside the box or thinking for themselves at all for the most part. They just do what they are told, mostly. Sadly the myth that religious people are only religious because they are told to be growing up is all too often true. It’s sad but remember that’s not something you should just assume about someone who is religious. It’s also often not true and you can bet that whatever reason someone has for being religious is a very important reason and they will likely take great offense to someone accusing them of just being what they are told to be. Anyway so the idea behind this post was to dilute the bad or more like the “bad” since so many things our society deems so many things bad when indeed they are not bad. Meanwhile our society deems many things to be ok when many things are not. If we dilute the fake bad things then they will disappear. How to remove the things that are actually bad thought? I’ll need another blog post for that, for now I guess I’ll just recommend the Bible.

So It’s getting late and I’ve gotta sleep now. I must get up early to go to work which is my church since I am the Janitor. Luckily working on a Sunday which is when we meet for ya know… church. It’s an easy shift so I don’t need to be too awake haha. Also I have gotten tons of work done on my book along with a couple other projects. I hope to have a bunch of progress on a few things before I start school again in a few days. Anyway peace out humans, MasklessBoy… Over’n out...