#banish negative thoughts

[mrs-han]

Hello, my lovelies!!

Thank you all so much for your submissions and interactions — it is so wonderful to be back in the company of truly wonderful people!!

I’ve been gifted with an abundance of happiness and strength that I simply needed to boast about it. Just a little! >w<

I’ll absolutely get back to your creative requests right after this! 🥹

V’s newly adopted daughter brought about a profoundly positive change in him, one both you and Jumin encouraged wholeheartedly. Jumin seemed giddier and far more optimistic now that his best friend was talking with him and inviting him over regularly.

And you felt a magnetic pull from Jumin as he expressed a playful and childlike side of himself, a side he didn’t show very often. Reason one billion, seven hundred and ninety-nine of why you loved your Jumin Han.

You played with a vivacious Lucy on the floor, bouncing your little doll against the floor of a Victorian dollhouse gifted to her by none other than her rich uncle. “The Prince is waiting for us! We must hurry!”

“I’m getting dressed!” Lucy opened an elegant dresser stuffed with little pieces of crocheted clothes done by your dear husband. “Oh, what shall I wear!”

Jumin’s chuckle distracted you. You spun to look at him; he raised his teacup towards you and continued speaking to V while still staring at you.

“Auntie, your turn to talk!!”

“Oh, uh —” you bounced your doll animatedly. “Put on the dress you bought last week!”

Lucy reached into the dollhouse; a loud crash suddenly alerted everyone in the room.

“Sweetheart?!” V sped towards his daughter, pulling her into his arms and searching her body for injuries. “Are you hurt? Sweetheart, look at me. Are you hurt?”

Lucy’s lower lip wobbled and tears flowed from her large blue eyes within seconds. “I… I broke the floor…”

After checking you over for any injuries, Jumin angrily reached for his phone. “This is completely unacceptable. I’m calling the manufacturer right now.”

“N-No,” Lucy stammered, wiping her tears with her tiny hands. “It’s my fault… I pushed… I pushed on it, and… p-please don’t be mad…”

You crawled to her, crooking a finger and lifting her chin. “Sweetie, accidents happen…! There could have been rot in the wood, so that’s why it needed to be knocked down! You performed a major service, you see!”

Lucy sniffed, unconvinced.

“Tell you what. Let’s give that room a brand new makeover!”

“C… Can we do that?” Lucy’s eyes pleaded with you.

“We’re gonna do our very best! It isn’t gonna be perfect, but it will be the best room by far because we recreated it!”

And you stuck to your word. Refusing pre-made models from your husband, you created miniature floorboards and light fixtures… after receiving a few minor shocks. Lucy carved furniture, painted her own art over the droll wallpaper, and knit a few new clothes with her Uncle Jumin.

And V helped dress each doll with their very own handmade dress. Or shirt. Or sweater.

After two weeks of working, the room was complete. It certainly contrasted the rest of the Victorian vibe, with its vibrant colors and bulky furniture, but none of you cared. Especially Lucy.

She tugged your sleeve, a proud sparkle in her eyes. “Auntie, auntie! Now that we’re finished, we can play in it!”

You smiled gently, running your fingers through her sandy brown hair. Jumin stepped in, shaking his head and producing a fairly stern tone. “Lucille, dove. Your aunt needs to rest.

“Aw… okay!!” Lucy spun towards her father, tugging his arm eagerly while begging for a yes to her question.

“Thank you,” you whispered, resting your weary head on Jumin’s chest. “My fingers are battered and my back is sore.”

Strong and capable arms holding you up, Jumin swayed slightly with you. “You know better than any of us how time consuming and rewarding construction is.”

You realized what he was talking about — how the walls and windows of your inner sanctum had been bashed in, leaving glass and dirt and other extremities everywhere.

It took you a grueling amount of time — weeks, months, years — making repairs and throwing out those who didn’t contribute to your greater good.

Including Jumin.

Your eyes flickered — Jumin lightly kissed your forehead. “You‘ve grown so much, my love. But if you start self-sabotaging by spending more time in someone else’s domain, then I’m afraid I’ll have to take necessary action.”

“Necessary action?”

“Break their door and carry you home, of course.” His brows shot up. “Or perhaps throw a rock at a window?”

“You shouldn’t damage property, Jumin.”

“I can if your host begins boarding you in.”

“No, I mean, you shouldn’t because I’ll have already bulldozed my way out.”

Your retort assuaged Jumin’s hardening gaze. “Haah… so it is true. From the ashes rises the Phoenix.”

Lifting you into his arms, you sank into Jumin’s embrace with ease, closing your eyes and pressing near. “I’m a hell of a Phoenix, too.”

Jumin chuckled gently. “Yes. You are.”

#mystic messenger #jumin han #mein schatz #jumin x reader #jumin x mc #ya’ll. #I put myself through SO MUCH HELL? 😂 #seeking approval from people who never approved themselves #always asking ‘what can I do’ ‘what can I do’ #always looking to serve them before serving myself #and I behaved so childishly and toxic myself because I never felt fulfilled #but damn was I doing it all wrong. #When I banished negative energies — when I realized that I needed to show myself the kindness I wasn’t shown #everything changed. #unfortunately Jumin was embedded into those painful experiences #but I stripped him of the ideologies others engrained into him #So many GOOD things are happening to me now #All of that work and all of those tears meant something. i didn’t waste any time like I thought I did when I hit the anger process of grief. #I’ve attracted or been attracted to souls who vibe high and who mean well. #i take shit from no one. #i can defend myself and my honor without a tremble in my voice. #my freedom and peace mean more than your feelings. #I’m genuinely Happy. #and I’m gonna bask in my blessings now because I DESERVE to. #on that note ~! #i have a date tonight >w< #SoundCloud #Spotify

[reiding-writing]

omg, part two for roommates? It was so good

ROOMMATES [PART TWO]

/ˈɹu(m)ˌmeɪt/ /part one/

when you and spencer share a room together on a case, you find yourself a little out of character at the revelation you'll have to share a bed with him.

WARNINGS: cold but not antagonistic reader

spencer reid x cold!reader || fluff?? || 1.4k || series masterlist!!

a/n: is this too much cold!reader back to back? maybe, but this is my blog so i make the rules love yall

main masterlist!!

You woke up cold, your fingers unwelcome against the skin of your cheeks as they spread the stark chilliness that your extremities are feeling over your eyelids.

Whilst not entirely surprising, being so cold in a hotel room that was meant to be built for negative temperatures felt a little too unlikely to be true with no extraneous variables.

You found yours almost immediately, you were only half-covered in the bedsheets, the rest balled up around Spencer as he laid with his back to you.

You glanced around in the dim light, trying to locate your lost part of the blanket. But it was tightly wound around Spencer, making it clear that reclaiming your portion without waking him would be an impossible task.

You sighed softly, trying to think of a solution that wouldn’t involve waking him up, but the more you thought about it, the less feasible it seemed.

Frustrated, you tried to tug at the blanket gently, hoping against the odds that you could retrieve some of it without disturbing him. To no surprise whatsoever, Spencer stirred, turning to face you with sleepy eyes.

“Mmm… what time is it?” he mumbled, his voice heavy with sleep.

“Early, go back to sleep,” you whispered, trying to keep your voice steady under the softness of his gaze. “And stop hogging the sheets.”

Spencer quickly let go of the blanket, allowing you to take hold of it. “Sorry,” he murmured before turning back around and falling back asleep almost immediately.

You stared at him for a moment, surprised by how easily he‘d managed to fall back to sleep. But then again, it was Spencer. He was a different breed of person.

Wrapping the blanket around yourself, you laid back down and tried to get some more sleep. But as you watched Spencer sleeping peacefully with his back to you, you couldn’t help but feel a strange warmth spreading in your chest.

Despite the cold and the uncomfortable lump in the mattress, you found yourself on the verge of smiling against the sheets pulled up to your nose.

But you quickly banish the thought, reminding yourself that this was just a one-time thing.

A necessity due to circumstances. Nothing more.

You close your eyes, letting sleep take over once again.

The comfort of sleep eludes you, however, your mind plagued by the unconscious Spencer that lay not too far from you. You don’t know why it was now that you were having such an issue with falling asleep in his presence. You'd managed to bury the thought earlier, why could you do it now?

The silence of the room seemed to only amplify everything rampaging through your mind, and you turn to your other side, your back to Spencer as you try to clear your mind.

The sound of his soft breathing lulls you, a comforting rhythm in the otherwise silent room, and you feel yourself starting to drift off, the day's exhaustion catching up to you.

However, just as you're about to succumb to sleep, you feel a shift in the bed.

Spencer's moving.

His movements are slow, sluggish with sleep, and before you can process it, you feel his arm drape over your side, his body pressing against your back.

The surprise of his touch jolts you awake and you freeze completely, unsure of what to do. His breath fans against the back of your neck, a warm contrast to the cool air of the room.

You ponder your options. Should you move and risk waking him? Should you stay put and pretend to be asleep? If he woke up like this you know that he’d spiral into a pit of embarrassment and you’re not sure that you want to deal with that.

It also wasn’t the worst position, but that’s something that your mind would even let you consider.

You opt for the latter of the two options, deciding not to disrupt his sleep.

Your heart pounds in your chest, the rhythm deafening in your ears as you will yourself to just fall asleep and relieve yourself of the torture you’re enduring. You take a deep breath, trying to calm your racing thoughts and after what feels like an eternity, your body relaxes and you slowly drift back to sleep, Spencer's arm a comforting weight around you.

When you wake up the next morning, the events of the night feel like a distant dream. Spencer is already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to you as he speeds through the pages of a novel in his lap.

The memory of his arm around you sends a warm flush through your body, although the memory is so distant you can’t even really be sure it was real. You were half asleep after all.

The fact that Spencer seemed so relaxed also supports your theory that it might’ve been a sleep-induced hallucination. There was no way he’d be so casual if he’d known he’d done that.

But it felt too real to have not have happened.

As you rise from the bed, you make a silent vow to yourself. This was a one-time thing. It wouldn't happen again. You wouldn't let it.

But as you catch Spencer's eye and he gives you a sleepy smile, you can't help but wonder if that's a promise you can actually keep.

“Good morning, how did you sleep?” He closes the book with a small ‘thud’ sound, smiling half-awkwardly in your direction.

It takes you a second to process that he’s speaking to you, and he takes your silence as a sign that you’re still mad at him for taking the sheets.

“I’m sorry for what happened last night,”

Your eyes snap to his at his apology. So he did remember clinging to you like a koala then.

“I move a lot in my sleep, so I must’ve accidentally pulled all of the sheets in my direction,”

Nevermind.

“It’s fine Reid.” The grogginess still lacing your tone doesn’t do any help in making you sound genuinely okay with what had happened, nor does the narrowing of your eyes under the morning light that makes you look like you’re intentionally staring daggers into his forehead.

“Okay- Sorry-” He hated how intimidated he was by you sometimes, especially considering he knew you weren’t trying to be intimidating in the moment.

You were just half-asleep and sensitive to the bright lights, and yet you still managed to make him feel like one wrong word would be like hand-writing his death certificate.

God only knows what he would be thinking if he knew he’d spent half the night with his chest to your back.

“Stop apologising, I said it was fine,” You rub your eyes with your fingers, the way you pinch your nose bridge again serving to make you look way more angry than you actually were and sending Spencer down another internal-panic at the idea of you secretly being annoyed with him.

“Right, sor-” He stops himself halfway through his sentence, pressing his lips into a tight line with a short nod. “Uhm, Hotch said to meet down in the lobby in half an hour,”

You exhale heavily as you drag your palm down your face, humming absently as Spencer relay’s Hotch’s order to you.

You get out of the bed with a stretch and a yawn, and Spencer thinks it might be the most ‘human’ he’s ever seen you be — probably because he couldn’t see your expression with your back turned to him.

“I’m going to change,” You announce your departure to the shared bathroom as you grab your clothes for the day from your bag, giving him ample opportunity to stop you if he wanted to use the bathroom for something before you did. You knew he wouldn’t either way.

“Alright,” He gives you a slightly nervous nod as you shut the door behind you, messing with the leather spine of the book in his hands.

The first thing you do once you’ve got your privacy is soak your face in cold water, hoping that it’ll wash away the memory of how Spencer’s arm felt around your waist with your sweat.

But he didn’t know that. And you weren’t planning on telling him anytime soon.

#spencer reid x reader #spencer reid #criminal minds #criminal minds x reader #spencer reid fluff #criminal minds fluff #mgg #asks 🫶

[thejournallo]

Explain the basic: Shielding and Banishing

Shielding and banishing are two of the most important things you have to learn before you start your journey as a witch. Both practices are essential for maintaining energetic boundaries and ensuring a safe environment for magical or spiritual work. used to protect oneself from negative energies, entities, or influences and to remove unwanted energies or entities from a space. Here's a breakdown of shielding and banishing in witchcraft:

Shielding:

Shielding involves creating a protective barrier around oneself, which acts as a defense against negative energies or influences. It helps maintain personal boundaries and prevents unwanted energies from affecting one's well-being. Common methods of shielding include:

Visualization: Visualizing a shield of white light, a protective bubble, or an impenetrable barrier around your body. This visualization can be accompanied by the intention of repelling negativity while allowing positive energies to flow.

Energy Manipulation: Drawing upon personal energy or universal energy to create a protective shield. This can involve using hand movements, gestures, or energy manipulation techniques to form and maintain the shield.

Use of Objects or Symbols: Carrying protective talismans, amulets, or symbols such as pentagrams, runes, or protective sigils that represent personal protection. These items can aid in maintaining the shield's strength.

Banishing:

Banishing refers to the act of removing negative energies, entities, or influences from a person, place, or space. It's a method used to cleanse and purify an area or oneself from unwanted energies. Common practices for banishing include:

Smudging [which is a closed practice]or Cleansing: Burning herbs like [sage, palo santo], or cedar to clear a space of negative energies. Using the smoke to cleanse and purify the environment.

Salt or Protective Circles: Sprinkling salt around a space or creating a protective circle by physically drawing or visualizing it to keep unwanted energies out or to contain them within the circle for removal.

Rituals and Spells: Performing rituals or casting spells specifically designed for banishing. This involves using candles, herbs, oils, and specific incantations to remove negative influences or energies.

Invocation of Higher Powers: Calling upon higher spiritual entities, deities, or guides associated with protection or cleansing to aid in banishing unwanted energies or entities.

As always, I will love to hear your thoughts! and if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them! If you liked it, leave a comment or reblog (that is always appreciated!). if you are intrested in more method check the masterlist!

#journal #manifestation #manifestation method #manifesting #shifting methods #manifesation #loa methods #spiritual development #explained #explain the method #witchcraft #witchblr #witches #witchcore #witch #witchy vibes #baby witch #pagan witch #magick #beginner witch #witchcraft 101 #fypage #voidstate #shifting #shifting motivation #shifting realities #shiftblr #reality shift #shiftythrifting #shifters

[sayhoneysiren]

WHAT THE MOON PHASE YOU WERE BORN ON SAYS ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY

Being born on a New Moon phase, means you love new beginnings and activating your new ideas. Your perception on things is one that no one has ever thought of before and it makes you appear as very knowledgeable. You also love to get your rest and prioritize your self care. Keen intuition and creativity are a natural gift that you have. Being alone is easy for you, actually you prefer it that way so that you can let your mind wonder and create beautiful art and designs.

Being born on a Waxing Crescent moon phase, means that you are a child at heart. You don't take life or yourself too seriously. You don't mind being a beginner and trying something new, joining new clubs or new organizations. Like a turtle, you are slow but you get to your destination on your own time. You don't jump into things all at once and prefer to stick your toes in first. Many may be surprised that behind your carefree nature you like to plan and your plant seeds fort he future. You hold the power of healing and creativity within' you.

Being born on a 1st Quarter moon phase, means that you prefer being active in daily activities. You attract many opportunities to you because of your forward attitude and you easily bond amongst others. Your life's work and passion is a main focus in your life and you have the fresh energy to make it happen.

Being born on a Waxing Gibbous moon phase, means that you are a determined individual. You're not passionate about everything but once you have your eyes set on something you desire, you gather enough strength and manifest it. You are not afraid to start again if you fail and this makes you an unbreakable character with full confidence. You also enjoy meditating and resting here and there to recharge and reflect.

Being born on a Full Moon phase, means that you enjoy indulging in the excitement of life. You naturally have tons of energy and can motivate those around you with it. You have a high psychic ability and can read people very well. Manifesting your desires is effortless and your spoken affirmations are very powerful, so be mindful of what you speak.

Being born on a Waning Crescent moon phase, means that you like to go with the flow. Being present in the moment is very important to you and you have a good sense of humor. You don't usually entertain negativity but you will play Devil's Advocate sometimes just for the entertainment of it all. In a group setting, you like to keep in the background and observe other people's characters. You have a gift for banishing and removing negativity.

Being born on a 3rd Quarter moon phase, means that you have strong boundaries. You are extremely sensitive to energy and your surroundings. Your gift is knowing how to transmute this energy to benefit you. You are wary of people who drain your energy and prefer a calm people and a balanced environment. Because of this you keep your circle small.

Being born on a Waning Gibbous moon phase, means that you are very thoughtful and a deep thinker. You like to hear other people's side of the story to come up with solutions (You'd make an excellent counselor). You keep your feelings to yourself and healthily work through them. You have gratitude for the good and bad experiences in life. You project a sage-like character.

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#moon #moon phases #moon cycles #sayhoneysiren #astrology #astrology rants #astro observations #astrology observations #astro notes #astrology aesthetic #zodiac #gemini moon #capricorn moon #scorpio moon #taurus moon #moon goddess #new moon #full moon #moonlight #cancer moon #leo moon #sagittarius moon #aquarius moon #pisces moon #aries moon #virgo moon #libra moon #waning gibbous #waxing crescent #witchcraft

[ambermotta]

Protection Magic: Some Important Concepts

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Long post based on my experience and research. Meant to be informative. I don't claim to know the absolute truth.

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Protection magic is any type of work meant to protect A from B, and there are many ways that this can be done: prayers, charms, talismans, tokens, casting circles, setting up wards, visualization. The list can go on and on because it can be done in many different ways and combining many different methods.

But methods are not the topic of this post today. No, today I would like to talk about some key concepts to keep in mind before getting started on making protections and keeping them effective.

The Importance of Cleansing

Before doing any protection work I like to do a cleansing. Imagine you have an open water bottle, and because it was open, a lot of dirt has found its way into it over time. You decide to seal the bottle so no dirt comes in, but you don't pour out the old water, so you end up sealing it in. Yes, you'll keep more dirt from coming in, but the muck is still there.

It is easier to see this being applied to a physical location, but I personally also apply this to personal protective tokens. I feel they work better when you are taking care of your energies by doing regular cleanses and managing internal negativity.

Important Definitions

Protection ≠ Banishing ≠ Cleansing

I feel a lot of people are under the impression that these are all the same. I think they all work together towards a similar goal, but their jobs are different.

Protection: protecting something from something

Banishing: driving out entities

Cleansing: clearing out energy

You can do cleansing, banishing, and protection at the same time, but that doesn't mean they are the same. You can do a ritual including all of them, but you can also just do a cleansing or just do warding (which is a form of protection).

Note: cleansing is not restricted to “negative energy”. You can cleanse any kind of energy. Exemple: a friend of yours decides tarot is not for them and hands down their deck to you. If you wanna work with that deck it is highly advisable that you do a thorough cleansing of it and then infuse it/consecrate it with the energies you want. It's not that your friend has “bad” energy, it's just that you might not want to work with the same energies they have, or use a tool that has someone else's energy in it.

Not Necessarily a Lazy Job

One important thing with protection magic is that no matter how strong or how successful are at doing it is that it is not failproof. I have yet to see protection work that lasts forever, and there may be a few reasons for it.

Negativity also comes from within

Imagine you have a fish inside an open fish tank. Just like the bottle example earlier, you decide to put a lid on so you prevent leaves from falling into the tank and polluting the water. However, there's a fish, a living being in there, and it produces waste. It is impossible for the fish to live without producing waste. If you don’t regularly clean the water, ammonia and fecal matter will build up.

In this analogy, you are the fish. I am the fish. Humans literally cannot live without ever having a negative thought or feeling, it is part of our existence and we have to live with it. No one lives in constant bliss.

That doesn't mean we have to live in the muck though. That's why cleansing yourself is important.

No one is immune to the environment

Here I have another analogy for you. Imagine you're facing a harsh winter, but you are safe in the security and warmth of your house. Your house is protected from the cold so you don't even mind it. However, you have to go outside. You dress up, go out and you feel very, very cold. You could perhaps wear something warmer, but it will never feel the same as home. Yet it is better than going outside naked, no?

Same thing for energies. You can have protection, but depending on how strong the energy in the environment is you are sure to feel it to at least some degree. However it's best to have some protection than no protection at all.

And there is a difference between Feeling an energy and dwelling in it vs Feeling an energy and not letting it latch onto you.

Energy can wear off, and new energy can build up

Energy is ever changing, ever moving. If you do a strong protection spell once, it can last for a long while, but if you forget about it it will likely lose a lot of its strength over time. Some of what you put out there might wear off and be substituted by something else. The energy can also grow stale, which means it becomes less effective.

But if you do a strong spell every month you will not only make your protections stronger, but also constantly renew the energies and not let them stagnate.

So keep doing cleanses and every now and then give a boost to your protections so they are refreshed and recharged.

Note on "Negative Energy"

One of the main reasons someone might choose to do a protection ritual and a cleansing is to ward off negative energy. But is that really needed? What is "negative energy"?

Negative energy might feel like a sense of heaviness, dread, pain, sadness, feeling ill, angry, sad or anxious. Emotions produce and attract what we can call "negative energy", the same way it can make us feel those things.

And while I personally think nobody wants to feel them, we must understand they are not always bad at their core.

The uncomfortable feelings they can cause may also be a gateway for healing and transformation. Pain tells us there is something that needs to be worked on, that needs change.

If you are feeling negative, ask yourself why. Why does this bother me? What makes me feel this way? What can I learn from this pain?

If you happen to feel negative energy, it is good to cleanse and protect. But I advise you to always look for the source to see what can be done about it or what you can learn from it. Don't just try to use spellcasting to run away from your shit. Own your shit. Deal with it.

Otherwise, it will keep coming back no matter how much protection you have.

Conclusion

It is impossible to always be free from “negative energy” all the time, no matter how strong your protections are. But protections can absorb some of the blows that you would otherwise take and ease the ones you were going to take no matter what.

Protection magic alone will not solve all your problems. It is a great tool to help you keep your center and remain grounded, but it is not usually something you do once and forget. It is a continuous, ever evolving work, meant to be used in conjunction with other types of spellwork.

And most importantly, it can give you some comfort through the many trials of life.

Thank you for reading, and good luck on your path! ♡

#long post #protection magic #magick #spirit work #witchcraft #witchblr #paganism #witch tips #baby witch #baby wiccan #wicca #energy work #paganblr #pagan tips #pagan #protection #magic circle #spiritual cleansing #banishing #negative energy removal

[honest-jellyfish]

“I can’t do glamour magick. I don’t have the tools!”

Tools?

Shampoo- cleanses your hair of negative energy

Conditioner- restores/adds positive energy

Body wash- restores/adds positive energy

Scrubs- cleanses and removes negative energy

Face wash/cleanser- removes negative energy

Moisturizer- protection, restores positive energy

Sunscreen- protection

Lotion- depending on scent, it can help with plenty of things

Rose- love, confidence, self-love, beauty

Lavender- calmness, peace/self-peace, self-worth, comfort, soothing

Vanilla- self-love, confidence, attracting good energies

Coconut- protection, purification, chastity

Contacts/eye drops- insight, wisdom, to see what others can’t

Hairbrush- negativity remover

Mascara- to see what others don’t tell you

Lipgloss/lipstick/lip stain/chapstick- to speak smoothly and clearly, to have a way with words, to improve your voice

Toothpaste and toothbrush- cleansing, to help watch your words

Tongue scraper- to get rid of past regrets from past words, to stop gossiping

Concealer- to conceal what others should not know/what you do not want them to know

Foundation- protection

Setting spray- calmness, peace, good luck

Nail Polish- match them to your intentions!

Purple- intuitive needs, spiritual needs, imagination, creativity, third eye, wisdom, peace

Pink- love, harmony, kindness, self-love

Red- love, lust, seduction, confidence, courage, sex, motivation, ambition, passion, strength, action

Silver-moon energy, emotional needs, reflection

Green-healing, wealth, growth, money, luck, fertility

Brown- grounding, friendship, security, material needs,

Blue- clarity, creativity, faith, forgiveness, communication, calmness

Orange- joy, energy, success, optimism, excitement,

Yellow- happiness, clarity, creativity, manifestation, strength, positive thoughts, sun energy, good health

Black- protection, stability, banishing, releasing

White- purification, peace, purity, truth, hope, cleansing

Cuticle oil/hair oil- growth, improvement, new beginnings, letting go

#beauty #glamour #glamour magick #magick #witchlife #witchcraft #witchblr #beginner witch #baby witch #broom closet witch #long post #research #help for beginners #properties #cleansing #banishing #color #intention #manifesation

[coven-of-genesis]

Colour magick

Color magick is a form of magic that utilizes the energetic properties associated with different colors. Each color is believed to have its own unique vibrations and correspondences, which can be harnessed for various intentions or spells.

It's a fascinating aspect of occult practice for those interested in harnessing symbolism and energy in their magical workings.

Here are some common associations for different colors:

1. Red: Often associated with passion, love, strength, and vitality. It can be used for matters of the heart, courage, and energy.

2. Orange: Represents creativity, enthusiasm, and success. It's used for motivation, self-expression, and attracting opportunities.

3. Yellow: Linked to intellect, communication, and clarity. Yellow can be used for mental clarity, confidence, and boosting intellectual pursuits.

4. Green: Represents growth, abundance, and healing. It's associated with matters of prosperity, fertility, and overall well-being.

5. Blue: Associated with peace, calmness, Certainly! Color magick is based on the idea that colors have distinct energetic vibrations and correspondences that can influence our thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

6. Purple: Symbolizes spirituality, wisdom, and transformation. It can be used for spiritual growth, psychic abilities, and seeking higher knowledge.

7. Pink: Often used for matters of love, compassion, and harmony. Pink can be employed for romantic love, self-love, and healing emotional wounds.

8. Black: Symbolizes protection, banishing, and mystery. It's used for absorbing negativity, protection, and working with the shadow self.

9. White: Represents purity, clarity, and spiritual enlightenment. It's often used for purification, meditation, and connecting with higher realms.

10. Brown: Associated with stability, grounding, and nurturing. It's used for matters of stability, home, and connecting with nature.

Remember, these associations can vary depending on individual beliefs, cultural traditions, and personal experiences.

When using color magick, it's important to trust your intuition and select colors that resonate with you and your specific intentions. Additionally, combining colors in spells and rituals can amplify their effects.

#witchblr #witchcore #witchcraft #witchlife #white witch #beginner witch #witch tips #grimoire #spirituality #colour magik #colour magic

[ophelian-darling]

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.

𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Jonathan Joestar, Joseph Joestar, Jotaro Kujo, Josuke Higashikata, Giorno Giovanna and Jolyne Cujoh - gn reader.

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : There's more than a way to say I love you, yet there are many too ways to say I hate you.

TW : Obsession, delusional thoughts, verbal abuse.

enjoy ♡

𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫:

♡ : Thank you for everything you do for me, JoJo.

It fills him with blessing to know how much his words and actions are something with great meaning in your eyes. Faithful servant when in love- except that everything he does sources from the warmest atoms of his soul and from the deepest corners of his heart. Jonathan fights the world to see you happy, and rests with a smile when he earns the slightest curve of your lips; to him, it's the ultimate gift he can ever receive- your Love.

- You mean nothing to me.

Tears- everything that would wash him with agony strikes at once. the sensation of tearing the flesh of a heart open accompanies your words; deeply cutting and painful, causing all of his insecurities to float : Am I being useless again darling? Am I being a burden? Have you grown tired of me? He can't help it when he sheds these tears: He had lost all of your affection and care. the only source of warmth he had, now doused in the cruelest way possible. 

𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 :

♡ : I like you , you're awesome!

Just imagine it, that ghost of a blush coffined beneath a confident smirk and a glinting wink! Joseph catches a love fever once you state that his presence around you is enjoyable. He feels that he already aimed at the moon by gaining your trust and company- it meant that you were besotted with him in return, regardless of whatever you said about considering him as a mere brother or a dear friend. JoJo sees the colors of your eyes soften as you say so, it is surely, undoubtedly love!

- We're done.

a swift of a cut that it doesn't elicit any pain at first, then it's repeated again, slightly stinging, then it rolls down your tongue, fully sinking in his soul. How could you?! Was the thing in the middle of your chest a hard stone to not see or feel a fraction of his love towards you?! a heavy realization of being used falls on his head like a heavy anvil: the blood in his veins floats just right under his skin, painting anger as red, yet the pale dread underneath can't be helped. Why? He would scream at you, but the reasons were nothing of an importance, you just toyed harshly with his feelings. 

𝐉𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐊𝐮𝐣𝐨 :

♡ : I'm always by your side. 

It ignites a pleasant warmth within his heart and shines through his eyes; it confesses his undying love and loyalty for you, regardless of whatever mean words he utter. No force on earth can banish him from you: From the depths of Inferno to the ends of earth and above in the heavens, He would remain with you forever, his lineaments engraved under your eyelids and in the darkest curtains of your vision. JoJo doesn't show it, but he's on cloud nine to know that you're staying as well- that he finally earned your love. 

- Nobody loves you, not even me.

He's already aware. Half of people fear him, the other hates him, and there were you, probably feeling something negative swirl inside you towards him, now confirming it with each spiteful letter you let out. Couldn't you just shut the fuck up and swallow it instead of saying it out loud? He spits, the words of you reiterating louder and louder in his mind that now he can't unhear. You've just ruined everything for him, he had peacefully thought that everything went well, that your protests and complaints were just a childish fit- but now, it's all so grotesquely real: you truly hated him, and for the first time ever, he has no idea what he should do. 

𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚 :

♡ : You're cute! I like your hair!

Nobody can stop him, the boy with a heart of diamond and eyes of warm seas! Everything in his eyes glints with beauty; especially you: everything about you is a well crafted detail, say your eyes, your smile or the contours of your face. The subject of his daydreams- they were made of spring rain drops and cotton candy, the enchanting human whom he had a silly intense crush on called him cute! Was there even a better time to be alive? to be praised by someone you adored was the epitome of being coddled beyond any wishes of a young man madly in love!

- Look at you, pathetic and ugly.

Huh?! 

It's all that he can think of as a response. Your words take a slow effect on him; as if he was trying to process it in another different light, in a gentle way that didn't convey the clear in them. At first, He's at sixes and sevens for a few minutes: people who are in love together were supposed to have each other's back, to boost each other's confidence and accept them whatever and whoever they were- so why were you saying this to him now? obviously it wasn't a joke, your voice was too cold to warm the words into a playful comment, he would have accepted them if you were just a tad above expressful, not a doll that just stares back eerily. He should be angry, but it just melts in tears, all of his hidden insecurities emerge into existence, and not even Crazy Diamond is able to fix the shatters of his heart. 

𝐆𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐨 𝐆𝐢𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 :

♡ : You mean the world to me.

Galatea to Pygmalion, Juliet to Romeo, Layla to Qays- You to Giorno. Romanticism wasn't something he was versed in, but in a blink of an eye, the world fell into a pink blur, filling everything with such amour a human never had in a little heart. GioGio ponders to himself that you were an Angel, a poor pure plumed creature that tripped and fell into the land of the stained; worth to be kept in a vitrine till the sun burns away. The smile that dances on his lips when he hears your gratitude, the joy he feels when his efforts of shielding you are finally noticed by you equate the flow of sweetness he tasted for the first time he saw you: Love.

- You're a monster. 

The gray flicker in his eyes blends with the greens of his irises; it doesn't reflect on your face that you just hurt him, while having the audacity to brand him as a monster. His patience contained all of your attitudes, he bottled up every evil word you threw at him and continued to offer more than he should for the sake of winning back some or little of your affection, but to no avail. The mayhem under his skin is concealed by force, consuming whatever left of his patience as he makes you toe the line. You're selfish- you always were, yet he can't help his love for you. 

𝐉𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐣𝐨𝐡 :

♡ : Good Girl! 

Valentine, Friends and dates- High school sweethearts and kisses! Her world is a ridiculously colored picture of a sunny day; her imagination paints a world where she is with you and nothing could ever go wrong. How much would she offer to just touch the tips of your fingers with her hands? nothing less than what she is able to count! JoJo wanders around you in the excitement of a puppy around its master, waiting for a treat or a word of praise for pleasing them. She wants you to say it again, over and over again, to no end! A Good girl was a girl in Love! 

- How annoying you are. 

She had heard someone she loved before say this, but who were they? 

Remorse falls heavily on her like a dark curtain- She'd just ruined the best thing she ever had in life. She blames herself for being too clingy, too needy and too desperate- she carries the shame and burden like weights on her shoulders, staggering as the remains of her confidence seep through the fractures. Your sweet words and praises were brightening her existence; was she to be something if you didn't adore her? The talkative, open and daring Jolyne is now nothing but a silent, gloomy and wounded little girl, asking for a little of love and receiving none no matter how much she gave. 

#yandere jjba #yandere jjba x reader #yandere jojo x reader #yandere jojo's bizarre adventure #yandere jojo #jjba x reader #jjba x y/n #jjba x you #sfw #yandere jonathan joestar #yandere joseph joestar #yandere jotaro kujo #yandere josuke higashikata #yandere giorno giovanna #yandere jolyne cujoh #yandere jotaro x reader #yandere giorno x reader #yandere jolyne #yandere josuke #jonathan joestar x reader #joseph joestar x reader #jotaro kujo x reader #josuke x reader #yandere giorno giovanna x reader #giorno giovanna x reader #jolyne x reader #jolyne kujo x reader #jolyne cujoh x reader #giorno x y/n #giorno x reader

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello! I am SO hyperfixated on the fact that the overblot form CAN be controlled??? That’s the case with Malleus isn’t it? And I guess on one hand I can see how Idia can control it too because of his “curse/blessing” (and sheer will and spite).

Maybe this is foreshadowing that maybe it’s possible for the other OB boys to do so as well???? I don’t know how it’ll work with them but I’m so excited. Overblot cards potential AAAH

I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on this!

[Referencing this post!}

Yeah, I definitely think that OB Idia battle segment opens the floodgates for potential SSR Overblot Troublemaker(s) cards 💀 (RIP to the OB gang fans)

As a refresher for everyone (since it has been a while), alllllll the way back in book 1, Crowley and Cater describe “overblot” as thus: “[… being] overcome by negative energy and[…] losing control of [one’s] magic and emotions,” and “evil berserk mode”.

We’ve seen many examples of these traits in the main story campaign; oftentimes, the OB boy in question is impossible to reason with and has to be subdued via battle. However, it’s important to note that while the OBs may be primarily driven by their emotions, it is not purely rage but rather negative feelings in general. Yes, many OBs (Riddle, Leona, Azul, Vil, etc.) do attack others—but other OBs demonstrate moments of calm (ie when their demands are met). For example, Jamil is tame when he believes he has banished Kalim, secured hypnotized Scarabia mobs, and reigns over the dorm as its new leader. I do believe anger is still a large component of the behavior of one who has overblotted though; that rage most certainly clouds a person’s judgment and compels them to strike out at the slightest thing.

Now, about the idea of “controlling” OBs… I don’t that that can actually be done?? We have to remember that Malleus is a VERY powerful mage—and this alone could give him an “edge” that others don’t when it comes to being fully aware while in OB (though I believe both Malleus and Vil indicate early on they notice their blot building). As Idia’s dad states, Malleus is drawing his magic from nature itself and therefore has a limitless supply it. Secondly, I wouldn’t call Malleus’s OB “controlling” it to begin with. It’s clear that he’s still running high on emotions and is unwilling to hear others out or have them interfere with his plans. These are still traits associated with OB; it’s not as though Malleus is “overriding” the unreasonable thoughts, he is still ruled by them and acts on them. I think what you (maybe?) mean is that Malleus has a much more calculating approach and more precise control over how he wields his power rather than indiscriminately smashing stuff in his path. This, again, could do with his insane power level compared to his peers. Unlike most other OBs, his goal (at least in his own framing) before he overblotted to begin with wasn’t to “take away”, but rather to “gift” happy endings to everyone. This sets him apart just based on interests alone, and that’s perhaps why he acts the most different in the lot.

Now let’s consider the circumstances under which Idia OBs a second time: it’s in a dream, meaning it’s questionable whether or not this would transfer over to real life. Because it’s Idia’s dream, he has more autonomy in it, particularly because he is now “awake”/conscious of the fact that it is a dream. Secondly, Idia bears the Shroud family’s curse/blessing, which allows him to “power up” the more blot is present, as it serves as fuel for his magic. This alone makes him a “special case” which could explain the unusual amount of control he exerts over his OB form. (Again though, I’d wager it’s mostly the dream environment.)

I do see maybe the other OB boys doing a similar “oh, lemme OB to help you guys fight” in a dream situation where there are fewer limits on what they can do, but not in a real world setting. It would put them all at risk anyway, as they lack Idia’s curse/blessing or Malleus’s fae powers. Is that worth the risk, knowing they could all die or potentially turn on their classmates?

I just don’t see OB becoming a “tool” or a magical girl transformation the characters could pull out for combat purposes in the story (though this is possible for like the gameplay outside of the story). I highly doubt OB is like something you could train yourself to control; it’s less like bulking up at the gym and more like pushing yourself to keep exercising while you’re high on adrenaline… Sooner or later, you’d burn out and injure yourself in that overexertion.

If there ever are OB cards, I can easily see them as being the type that don’t come with vignettes because… what reasonable story could you conjure up to explain the OBing again? If there are vignettes, then they most likely won’t fit into the main story canon. You’d have to frame the OB cards as “within the moment” of whatever book they OB’d in, and perhaps go more in-depth about the trauma or something along those lines.

#twisted wonderland #twst #Malleus Draconia #Ignihyde #Idia Shroud #Ortho Shroud #disney twisted wonderland #disney twst #notes from the writing raven #question #book 7 part 7 spoilers #Dire Crowley #Cater Diamond #twst theory #twst theories #twisted wonderland theories #twisted wonderland theory #Riddle Rosehearts #Jamil Viper #Kalim Al-Asim #Scarabia #Leona Kingscholar #Azul Ashengrotto #Vil Schoenheit

[cmrosens]

Creating fantasy religions: something I'm doing now so thought I would post about my process.

The mistake a lot of writers make is developing a religion from a singular event, and piling a ton of stuff on top of it that makes logical sense. Whereas, in reality, religions are self propelling systems that travel under their own steam and if there is an event that catalyses them, it is never in a socio-cultural or political and economic vacuum.

You also end up with an apparently totally random set of things attached to one figure which does make sense if you know the origins, but otherwise is just accepted even if the meaning is lost.

It is the difference between "the god of Midwinter and festivals around this originated because a cult of necromancers were banished into the frozen wastes and this <event> became the Origin Story for how we got to a midwinter festival with creepy bone puppets in my fantasy world" and a religion that feels ... Real.

Ok so firstly, this is a bit too neat. (This was my original reasoning for a midwinter god called Yarash and I changed it because it wasn't very realistic or interesting for my world.)

Why, let's say, is the god whose feast is at midwinter also the patron of puppet makers and osteopaths?

Well, we could say that this makes a lot of sense because the god's festival was originally to do with remembering the dead, and puppets were used in the festival to represent the dead, as necromancy should have been part of it but people didn't actually know how to raise the dead properly. Then as magic evolved people could actually raise the dead for short periods to deliver messages in these festivals, but this drew internal debate from the conservative priests who thought puppets were the original form and so should be maintained, and necromancy was an aberration, vs the progressives who saw necromancy as the original INTENTION and so the natural and correct progression from the puppets. The debate might rage on for years creating splinters, sects, differing traditions that sit uneasily together but find middle ground in other less controversial topics and practices, and even cults.

At some point, the secular authorities get involved for their own reasons. Maybe some rulers are pro-"The Old Bones" or anti-, or they want to outlaw necromancy or benefit from it for various political reasons, socio-cultural reasons, economic reasons, military intelligence reasons, etc. Whatever happens, happens. Times change. Official attitudes swing back and forth, while internally the religious debates continue, now informed by and perhaps as counters to, this secular intervention.

Then we end up in modern times, the times of the story. Nobody really believes in gods anymore. They do remember the old gods of the seasons and at the secular festival in winter, there are a lot of traditional puppet shows that have a whole history and life of their own. The puppets are called "the old bones" and nobody really remembers why. Osteopaths have the puppets and symbols relating to the midwinter festival on their certificates and college heraldry and nobody really remembers why, but the information is there to look up and is a fun thing to know for trivia nights.

And necromancy... is a controversial branch of science, divorced from its original religious significance for many but not for all, and more integrated as an art or practice in the public consciousness (positively or negatively depending on perspective and propaganda and actual usage).

And now, you have a ton of depth and meat to it without having to flesh out the arguments and debates themselves unless that is plot relevant.

There is a lot you can do with this society now, and by tweaking one thing you can create completely different societies and ideologies. The depth is now there to set your story at any point during this history and to develop numerous ideas. So much stuff can happen.

With the singular event version, and a static fact of a necromancy cult in the frozen wastes, things are much more limited and linear, with less depth to play with.

Also remember that your characters will not be expected to know everything about your world unless they are experts in religion and/or history, and also the 2 subjects are not mutually inclusive so a historian is not an expert theologian and vice versa. How much the average person on the street knows depends on levels of formal education, accessible knowledge beyond formal education, which may include religious instruction and folklore, and propaganda. But it means you can build in some subtle things - like the puppet symbols on the door of an osteopath or bone doctor - that never need to be explained, but have a logical in-world explanation below the surface.

Try taking a static idea and work it into a system and see where it leads!

#writeblr #worldbuilding #fantasy religion #writers on tumblr #writing community #writing tips #world building #writing fantasy #fantasy #fantasy writing

[behindthesoul]

Your MK men as parents headcanons are very interesting. Would you write other MK men as parents? Especially I want to read Rain and Havik!

MK Men as Parents pt2

Masterlist || Part One

Characters: Rain, Havik, Quan Chi, Kenshi

Note: Combined a couple of requests into one. Also, sorry this one took forever to come out!

Rain

Probably one of the more normal parents.

He’s a lot more chill compared to himself in other timelines. I can see him being a proud parent to one or two children. Maybe twins?

Teaches his kids to be a better mage than he is. He tries to make his lessons as fun as he possibly can.

Though, he can become frustrated if they aren't taking their teachings seriously. If something were to happen, they need to learn how to defend themselves.

In some MK1 intros you can tell Mileena (understandably) has a lot of distaste for Rain. So much that she wants his mother banished.

I can imagine his children are involved in this banishment which irritates him. His family, especially his innocent children, do not deserve to be punished for his actions.

The main driving force behind Rain’s mission to atone for his actions is his children. He wants to show that if you make a mistake, you should try to make things right. He also wants to be a man his children can be proud of.

Havik

A pretty hands off parent.

I can’t imagine him ever having a complete grasp on this parenting thing.

Just has one kid and refuses to have more.

His kid just kind of does whatever and Havik doesn’t care. Just as long as they don’t make a mess he has to clean up.

Has the “world’s your oyster” mentality.

This behavior is boosted to 100% after his burns. He embraces the chaos, and what’s more chaotic than having a kid?

Havik and his kid are public menaces, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

He’s less of a parent and more of a cool older friend.

Don’t come to him for emotional support or other things like that. Having to actually parent his kid makes him feel tied down.

If his kid wants too much from him he’ll somewhat drift away.

You’ll have to hope their other parent is in the picture.

Quan Chi

Totally the parent who somehow knows their kid’s every move.

He knows when their kid has done something they shouldn’t so there’s never any use in lying to him. He just has this look on his face and his kid knows they’re in trouble.

Excuse my only child self for HCing every character as being a single parent but Quan Chi definitely only has enough energy for one kid.

He feels guilty for bringing a child into the world when he can barely take care of himself. Spending hours and hours in the mines, Quan Chi is exhausted by the time he sees his kid.

All his child knows is a dad who always looks tired and dejected.

That is, until he gets an opportunity to live a better life. A place to sleep, clothes that aren’t tattered, and fresh food - all necessities that his child now gets to experience.

Whenever his child asks how he was able to provide their new life, he just smiles and gives a cryptic answer.

Kenshi

His child was kept hidden. Kenshi thought it best to keep his child away from the whole Earthrealm-Outworld war.

None of his allies knew he was a father til the day they were all thrown in jail with Baraka. Thinking it was his last day on earth, he let the secret spill. Kenshi told everyone all about his child.

He mourned the fact he’d probably never see his child again. Of course, he did; after he helped defeat Titan Shang Tsung.

Kenshi was very nervous to meet his child again. What if they don’t react well to his blindness? Johnny pulls him out of his negative thinking. If your kid is as kind as they say you are, then why would they have a bad reaction?

It eases him a bit, but he’s still a little nervous. He feels like a fool for having those thoughts when his child runs to him, screaming his name. The last few weeks of fighting for Earthrealm was all worth it for them.

His child is a bit confused when they see the mask over his eyes.

“You can’t see me!” They say with a frown.

Sento glows, and Kenshi suddenly sees all the details of his child’s face. He smiles, assuring them.

“Yes I can.”

—

@mortal-kombat-shitposts

#mortal kombat fanfiction #mortal kombat x reader #mortal kombat fanfic #mortal kombat headcanons #mortal kombat 1 fanfiction #quan chi #mortal kombat havik #rain mortal kombat #kenshi takahashi

[strangeshoepatrolbandit]

Sunshine follows with Sunfall P.T 2

Summary: Jason and You have had a past relationship, resulting in your daughter. After Jason goes MIA for a whole year, he finally returns to Gotham. Will the two of you rekindle your relationship, or will he end up leaving again?

Warnings: Y/N being adamant about not wanting Jason back, Gunshot, crying. Lots and lots of time skips.

Series Masterlist

~☆~

He was home.

Back in Gotham, he had probably already claimed the territory he had before he left.

He was home, and he didn't even think of seeing his daughter.

Dick had told you about how Red Hood was seen on some cameras, and Gordon brung it up because he, too, knew of Red's disappearance. Everyone did. Crime on that side of town skyrocketed, causing Tim to have to take over. Jason's anonymous donations to women and children homes never stopped, though. Unlike how he stopped paying child support.

Whatever, like you said, "Who cares?" All you should be worried about is if this red light is going to make Judith late for school or not.

Bruce Wayne is calling...

"Hello?"

"Hi, Y/N. How are you?"

"I'm good, Bruce, how are you?"

"Great, is Jude in school yet?"

"No, I'm down the road, say 'hi' baby."

"Hi Papa!"

"Hi Angel.."

"Whats up?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you could stop by after dropping off Jude."

"Yeah, I can do that."

"Perfect, see you then."

"Mhm, bye."

"Bye, Y/N, bye. Angel."

"Bye, Papa!"

Just as the phone call ended, you pulled into her school parking lot. You quickly shut off the engine to your car and hopped out so that you could help Judith from her own seat.

"Alright, mommy loves you." You told her as you crouched down to her level, giving her the opportunity to wrap her arms around your neck for a hug.

"Love you too, Mommy!" And just like that, she was off to grab a teachers hand so that she could be walked to class. You watched as her tiny body disappeared into building before walking back over to your car.

You looked at Judith's seat from the rear veiw mirror. Her leaving never made you feel good. When she first started school, she would cry because she was no longer by your side. Her fits never lasted long enough to where the school had to call you, she told you. You had told her about how you cried, too. You missed her throughout the day, never knowing what to do without her.

One day, she came home with a big smile on her face and told you that she successfully went without crying. You wouldn't tell her that you must have done all the crying for her.

Your eyes caught sight of a mother and son duo walking past, forcing you out of your thoughts. With the shake of your head, you banished any negative thoughts. You started the car back up and began the journey over to Wayne Manor, unaware of the familiar eyes that were watching you.

×

"Ahh, hello Miss L/N."

"Hello, Alfred." You sent a small smile to the man who was now grabbing for your jacket.

"Shall I retrieve Master Bruce?" He asked.

"No, it's alright." You smiled again, "is he in his office?"

"Cave." Was all Alfred muttered. Thus started your desent down an elevator and into the Batcave. The place you spent a lot of time in when you were a teenager, Bruce would allow you to sit and wait until he and Jason returned from patrol. One time, Jason returned with a sprained wrist, and in the end, he was the one comforting you. You subconsciously smiled at the thought before coming back to your senses. No, Jason is no longer that lovesick little teenager. He is a man who abandoned his child.

"Ah, Y/N." Bruce's voice rang. You looked up, and the elevator doors were open, revealing the large cave. You sent the man a nod and walked over to his side. "Bruce."

He only lifted his arm as a way to offer the chair that he was standing next to. You sighed as you sat down and looked up at the computer in front of you...security camera footage? Ah shit.

"I know dick has already told you, but I just wanted you to see for yourself." Bruce muttered out, clicking play on the video. Low and behold Red Hood was spotted on it, holding a man by his bicep and dragging him somewhere. "I was thin-"

"Bruce, I dont care." You interrupted him. "It's better if Judith and I just forget him."

"Don't you want to know why he left?" Bruce spoke softly.

You wanted to yell out yes! Yes, you do want to know why he left! Why didn't your family work out!

"No."

×

"Hey, sweetheart!"

"Hi, Mommy!"

You greeted Judith with a smile, watching her as she ran down the steps to her school

"How was your day?" You asked, staring down at her as she hugged your legs.

"Good, I held a turtle!" She beamed.

"A turtle?" You questioned.

Judith let out a giggle before responding, "Turbo, he's Mrs. Thomson's turtle!"

"Sounds cool." You responded as you picked her up and started walking over to your car.

"Uncle Tim brought me BatBurger!"

"Oh, did he now?" You know he did. He texted you yesterday asking if he could.

Judith excitedly kicked her legs."Yeah!"

You opened up the backseat of the car, setting Judith down in her booster seat, watching as she clipped it like she was supposed to.

"Who did you get in your meal?" You asked, referring to the toys that they sell along with the kid's meals.

"Red Hood!"

Your smile fell and you swallowed thickly. Why is he suddenly everywhere?

×

You and Judith walked through the isles. Well, you walked. She was in the shopping cart.

"What do you want for dinner, baby?" You asked, looking directly at her as her wide eyes darted around the shelves.

"Sandwich." Was all she mumbled.

"Okay...what kind of Sandwich?" You questioned.

Judith shrugged her shoulders, "A Sandwich."

"Well, do you want Turkey, Ham, Chicken, Bologna, PB&J?" You named a few options for her.

"Cherry"

"You want a cherry sandwich?"

Judith only nodded her head. The two of you continued to look around, even trying to see if you could find cherry Jelly.

Eventually, the two of you gathered everything and went to take your leave. On your way to the parking lot, you could hear yelling. It's Gotham. There is always yelling, so you decided that it was best if you just ignored it by putting your groceries into the car. Just as the last bag went in, you heard a gunshot, causing you to shield Judith's body between you and the car. You looked over to where the noise came from, and instantly, you spotted a familiar physique that was clad in all black and a cropped brown leather jacket. You watched as he turned around, his masked face now looking at you. Judith moved from behind you and held your legs, looking up at you to see if you were okay.

"Judith, get in the car." You quickly told her as the man started walking towards you. You followed right behind her small body and frantically helped her into her seat before you hopped into the front seat and started the car, driving off before Jason could reach you.

~☆~

If I remember correctly, my kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Thompson) had a turtle in our class named Turbo...or was it Sheldon?

Taglist: @keira324 @dakotali @22nranjan @skepvids @harpy-space @godknows-shetried

@mirrorball-6

@macncheese69420666

#jason todd x reader #jason todd fanfic #jason todd imagine #jason todd fanfiction #jason todd #jason todd x fem!reader #jason peter todd #batman #batboys #batbros #batsiblings #damian al ghul #x reader #bruce wayne #dick grayson #tim drake #bruce wayne x reader #batfamily x reader #batfam #batfam x reader #red hood x you #red hood imagine #red hood x reader #red hood #dc x reader

[tiredwitchplant]

Everything You Need to Know About Crystals: Black Obsidian

Black Obsidian (The Regal Warrior of Stones)

Color: Black, Dark Brown

Hardness: 5-5.5 (softer than quartz)

Rarity: Easy to Acquire

Type: Igneous Rock (Comes from a Volcano)

Chakra Association: Root

Angel: Uriel

Deities: Pele, Tezcatlipoca, Itzpapalotl and Sekhmet

Element: Fire, Earth

Astrological Signs: Sagittarius, Scorpio, Aries

Planet: Saturn, Pluto

Origin: Anywhere with Volcanic Activity

Powers: Protection, Grounding, Clarity, Releasing Blockage, Drawing out Stress, Creativity, Divination and Scrying, Negativity Banishment, Transformation and Absorption

Crystals It Works Well With: Howlite, Malachite

How is it Created: Obsidian is a black volcanic glass, formed when molten lava hits cold water or air and solidifies. It is composed of silicon dioxide (quartz) and many impurities which allows it to take different shapes and colors. Black obsidian gets it coloring from iron and magnesium.

History: The earliest obsidian tools can be dated back to the Oldowan, at the dawn of the Paleolithic/Stone Age (2.6 million- 10,000 BCE). Different origins of this rock can be found in Britain, Italy, Mexico, and the USA. In Egypt, obsidian knives were used in ceremonial circumcisions, as well as making mirrors (scrying mirrors for most) and other decorations in tombs. The word “Obsidian” was first used by a Roman explorer, Obsius, who “discovered” it in Ethiopia. In the Americas, Obsidian was used as a symbol of Tezcatlipoca, the chief god of the Aztec religion. Tezcatlipoca means “smoking mirror” which is why a lot of the Mayan priest used the glass rock for scrying mirrors like the Egyptians did. On the Eastern Islands, obsidian was used to make the eyes of the Moai statues before they were lost. The indigenous tribes of North America used pieces of obsidian to make arrowheads, spears and even knives by using an antler in order to carefully form different shapes.

What It Can Do:

Grounds the soul and spiritual forces into the physical plane, making it possible to manifest more spiritual energy

Increases one’s self control

Forces you to face your true self

Brings imbalance and shadow qualities to the surface to release them

Repels negativity and disperses self-hating thoughts

Powerful meditation aid

Great for scrying and divination as the glass allows you to look to see the “clear truth”

Can heal you after a spiritual or mental attack

Was used in the past during ritual for healing physical disorders

How to Charge:

Sit with the stone in the palm of your hand and enter a light meditation. Use your thoughts to charge the stones with desires of protection and make sure the thoughts are clear and concise.

Use high vibration to amplify the crystal

Use a singing bowl to send sound energy into it

Place it in a bed of Himalayan salt and let it sit for 48 hours

If you work with a sun or moon deity, I have noticed charging it in the sun or moonlight with the idea of protection helps to charge it as well

How to Cleanse:

Run under water (not hot just lukewarm) for a minute

Create a saltwater solution and submerge it for up to 24 hours

Burn herbs or incense over the obsidian with the intention of cleansing (I personally use sandalwood incense for this)

Leave your stone under the full moon to cleanse and retrieve in the morning

Bury your obsidian in your garden for 48 hours

How to Get the Best Out of It:

Wear a black obsidian bracelet. The wrist area is a highly energetic zone because it has nearly direct access to the bloodstream. This (in my opinion) is the best place to have obsidian to create a powerful shield and help with manifestation.

For lighter dosage, use an obsidian ring.

Crystal Grid:

Letting Go (Triangle Grid)

Mantra: “I release everything that no longer serves me”

Center Stone: Smokey Quartz Tower

Secondary Stones: Obsidian, Malachite, Rhodonite, Citrine

Best Moon Phase: Waning or Dark Moon

Best Day: Saturday

Sources

#witchcraft #witch community #witchblr #paganblr #occulltism #nature #crystals #crystal witch #obsidian #witchcraft 101 #baby witch #crystal grid #rocks #witch tips #chakras #spirituality #astrology #witches of tumblr #witchcraft resources #witch blog #beginner witch #geology #gemstones

[astolfofo]

TW: NON CON, power abuse, al haitham just being al haitham (he's a red flag y'all), power abuse, choking

bruh I just realized I wrote this at 2am last night, while being boderline drunk and high and there's probably spelling mistakes in here. I believe I deleted all the parts where my hand kept slipping but this is not proofread so heads up for that.

so.

yandere kaveh and yandere al haitham with an unaware darling that is oblivious to their hints. like doesn't see that they like them at all. only thinks they're being nice.

but then, they eventually see darling with another man. and it enrages them a lot. because, how dare you hold hands or talk to another man while they've been so kind to you? and all you did was reject their advances? do you really hate them that much?

obviously, they've got different ways of expressing their... envy. Kaveh's much more direct about it than Al Haitham. Kaveh wants to directly kidnap you and wants to punish you directly for this. However, Al Haitham otherwise. You see, Al Haitham thinks about everyone equally, but he's also the kind of guy that would expect whatever he gave to be returned. This obviously includes affection. Not only that, but you embarrassed him, you know? You don't need a punishment. You need a lesson taught to you.

And after much bickering between these two, they finally compromise. They'll take you (that was inevitable from the start), in the most excruciatingly painful way possible.

First, they'll ruin your academic reputation. Rumors went out that you were being scandalous with your current boyfriend. At the same time, you're accused of faking many of your papers (a blatant lie on Al Haitham's behalf) but people believed it either way. and once your reputation is ruined, you find yourself in Al Haitham's office.

You're expelled.

You stand there in shock. You couldn't believe it. The rumors were fake, you argue. They were made up, and Al Haitham knows that. Still, Al Haitham scoffs and tells you that there's no changing the current course of events. If you didn't want to be banished from grounds, you shouldn't have done the things you did.

"What did I even do?" you asked. The shock was still in your mind, numbing everything else from happening. You'd need a plan on what to do next.

"You should be clearly aware of what you did to yourself. This is only the result of your own actions."

You and Al Haitham both knew he was abusing his power, but you were in no position to argue about that. So, while now being jobless, you go back to your dorm and pack everything up. Your mind is so filled with negative thoughts while simultaneously wondering what to do next to notice Kaveh inside your dorm.

As you're packing up, you don't notice Kaveh walking into the room. you're painfully oblivious to your surroundings since you're lost in your own mind. the anger, rage, anxiety you felt made everything else impossible to sense.

And them the emotions that were boiling inside of exploded, and then turned into nothing. You felt tears running down your cheeks, you felt an immeasurable amount of dread for your future. What the hell. were you supposed to do?

At the same time, you felt an arm wrap around your neck. You attempt to look back and see who it was, but found it impossible.

The grip gets tighter and tighter over your neck, until you almost black out. You hear five words: this is your own fault. and then the world goes black.

When you wake up, your head feels terrible. You don't know where you are, or how you got here. The dorm looks similar to your own, albeit a little larger with more expensive instruments inside it.

you take a glance around. and then it hits you again.

you were kidnapped.

At this very moment, Kaveh walks into the room, and you swore to yourself this situation couldn't get any worse.

TW FOR HARD NON CON DOWN BELOW

Kaveh forces you onto your knees while you're sobbing, since you know that he was the one that kidnapped you.

You look at Al Haitham that's sitting in the corner watching this all happen.

Meanwhile Kaveh's going a mile a minute about how much he loves you, and how you ignored all their advances, just to be seen with another man, and that this is the least you deserve for doing that. Not only did you ruin their faces, you dare flat out deny their affections to you?

You deserve this. if anything.

---

Kaveh forces his entire length down your throat, which causes you to choke. But that doesn't stop him in the slightest. In fact, he was enjoying your suffering. Every second of it.

Not to mention, how good your mouth felt around his cock, how could he stop? So he kept going, not giving two damns about whether you were struggling to breathe, or what he was doing.

And while you were fighting for the oxygen to go to your lungs, while uncontrollably sobbing, you saw out of the corner of your eye, that Al Haitham was getting off to this. And then, a wave of dread washed over you. Fear, if anything. You had a sinking suspicion of what was going to happen next, and you didn't want to let it happen.

Al Haitham walks towards you, eyeing how helpless you are. You really... really, can't do much without him or kaveh, can you?

He eyes your bare figure for a second, and you desperately try to close your legs, but he forces them open.

And your worst fear comes true.

Al Haitham slowly puts one finger inside your hole, causing you to sharply inhale from the sensation. the sensation feels extremely unpleasant, due to the friction, and being dry beforehand.

and then he slowly starts moving that finger, causing you to moan, very muffled, since Kavehs cock was still inside your mouth.

It hurt. A lot. Your throat felt like it was going to break in on itself from being pounded by Kaveh's dick, and the friction stung from Al Haithams fingers.

And then, Al Haitham inserted another finger. You were trying your very best not to give the men a reaction, but they seemed not to care either way. The sounds that filled the room made you wince in digust, but it wasn't like you could stop them from happening.

And you also felt something building building up too. Something like a string that was being pulled harder, and harder, until it would...

and then all motions ceased.

Kaveh and Al Haitham both stopped stopped their actions, and you felt something. Frustrated? Confused?

You weren't sure.

But all you knew was you were physically and mentally exhausted. and that you could no longer stay conscious. Too exhausted to process or feel traumatized but what just happened.

And so you passed out from exhaustion, yet again, clueless to how Kaveh's and Al Haitham's facial expressions darkened as you did.

#yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin #al haitham x reader #yandere al haitham x reader #yahdere kaveh #yandere al haitham #kaveh x reader #yandere kaveh x reader #genshin impact smut #genshin smut #yandere x reader #yandere imagines #kaveh smut #al haitham smut #delete later probably lmfao.

[emmyrosee]

Kiyoomi hates sleeping on couches, and would rather not sleep at all if it comes down to it.

He’s knows it’s selfish, okay, it’s just this absolute rejection his body has to the lumpiness of the cushions to settle down, it’s like he can’t.

There’s so much… ick on couches, because people are just so nasty; he’s not even so big on germs, but couches are uncharted territory. One time in college, his roommate was getting busy, and when he asked a buddy to crash on the apartment couch, there was a block of instant noodles jammed in the cushions. He never asked about it, but Kiyoomi still has no idea why.

Sometimes, if practice runs far too late, he’ll crash at Bokuto’s, who’s couch is clean enough but absolutely reeks of lemon basil air freshener, and it sends Kiyoomi into an asthmatic fit.

When Atsumu’s sick, he’s has a tendency to just leave snot-filled tissues around, and all it took was one tissue to fall from the blankets on top of the backrest to keep Kiyoomi from ever even sitting on the furniture again.

(“It was an honest mistake! I get it cleaned every time I get sick-“

“Don’t care,” Kiyoomi snaps. “Never. It’s not just about how disgusting that is. You’re feral.”)

And above all, beds are just more comfortable than a couch- some floors are too, he’s convinced, but that’s not the point. There’s an emotional comfort in a bed, curled up in the sheets and warmth where negative thoughts cannot tred. He came to that conclusion during a particularly rough anxiety spell, and he never got the chance to learn any of the healthy coping skills his therapist tried to teach him.

That’s why you’re now sleeping on the couch.

It was a slip of his tongue when his blood was still boiling, he told you to go away after he’d already locked the door of your bedroom to keep you away. In his mind, he’d called ‘dibs’ on the bedroom to keep himself from getting banished to the couch, despite you never doing that to him regardless of how intense of a fight- you always let him curl on his side of the bed, facing away from you.

He knows it’s because you can’t sleep without him, but Kiyoomi is now coming to the conclusion that he can’t sleep without you, either.

Onyx eyes blink helplessly at the wall, wracking his mind for answers and clarity on how to fix this. He hears you sniffling just down the hallway, he’s such an asshole for doing this to you. The argument ended two hours ago, it’s three in the morning, yet his words stung plenty enough to still have you sobbing.

He tries, fuck, he tries so hard to force his eyes shut to get any semblance of sleep, but the cracking of your voice as you wail keeps him from even trying. The lump in his throat catches with every forced swallow he allows down, and his fingers fist his pillow to keep himself composed.

He fucked up. God, he fucked up bad.

He knows you’re probably cold, you’re more than likely sore from the cushions, your head is probably pounding from your hour long sobs. He knows you’re probably trying to keep it down too, and that only makes him feel more guilty. He’d happily be struck by lightning if it meant you two could swap places, or at least have you back in your shared bed.

Because Sakusa Kiyoomi hates sleeping on couches.

But he hates you doing it even more.

-

Part two here!

#this was infinitely longer but I trimmed it down to keep the angst open PFFFFFFF #so in theory there’s a part two LMAO #sakusa kiyoomi #sakusa kiyoomi angst #sakusa kiyoomi x reader #sakusa kiyoomi x gn!reader #sakusa kiyoomi x reader angst #sakusa kiyoomi imagine #sakusa kiyoomi haikyuu #haikyuu #haikyuu angst #haikyuu imagine #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu x gn!reader #haikyuu x gender neutral reader #haikyuu x you #haikyuu x yn #haikyuu x y/n #hurt no comfort #hurt/no comfort

[imagines--galore]

||The Thread of Fate|| Part Fifteen

Summary: Soulmate AU. They say the Thread of Fate connects you to your one true love. It may tangle. It may stretch. But it will never break. Wrapped around your little finger it tightens when it feels your soulmate is close and loosens when they are far. And becomes visible with the colors of your soulmate’s Nation when you finally fall in love with them.

Pairing: Zuko x OroraOC (ATLA)

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T+ Romance. Adventure.

Previous Chapters - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen

A/N: I am so excited! We're almost at the end of Book 2. Just five or six more chapters? Maybe less. But argh! This was a pain to get right!!!! Lemme know what you think folks!

Maybe this was a bad idea?

But bad ideas, always led to good ideas didn't they?

Something about the negative attracting the positive.

Or something of the sort.

It was too early to actually think straight.

Placing the small note she had quickly written to ensure Iroh and Zuko that she had simply gone to the Outer Ring for a little bending practice, Orora was quick to exit the apartment and make her way down the stairs and out of the building.

Glancing behind her, and seeing no candle suddenly burning, the young waterbender heaved a sigh of relief, before leaning back against the wall she had taken refuge behind.

Straightening the strap of her satchel, her lips pulled in a secret smile before she began to walk down the road.

"Little early for you to be going for a morning stroll, isn't it?"

A shriek the surely even the Spirits would've heard echoed in the early morning air.

Her heart threatened to burst out of her chest, as she whirled around to stare wide eyed at the smug looking banished prince leaning against a support beam of a building.

"Monkey-feathers Zuko! Are you trying to scare me to death?" Pressing a hand on her chest, as if physically willing herself to calm down, her gaze shifted from sudden fight to fury and annoyance. "And it is none of your business where I go. A girl is allowed her secrets." She stated in a rather haughty tone, prompting Zuko to raise an eyebrow at her. A smirk pulled at his lips, that infuriating smirk when he knew he had a comeback she had no answer to.

"What girl?"

Her nostrils flared, and an offended look overcame her features. "Humph." That was the best response she could come up with. Adding to that response, was a pivot on the heel and attempting to walk away in a huff.

Of course that didn't happen when Zuko reached out to grasp her by the elbow.

The sudden contact had her stopping dead in her tracks. Her head shifted to look over her shoulder where she could feel his warm hand against the bare skin of her elbow. Zuko seemed to be following the exact thought, since his eyes dropped to his hand as well.

Twin blushes stole across their cheeks, as Zuko slowly, almost as if he were reluctant to do so, let go of her elbow. She brushed her hair behind her ear, a habit she had picked up out of nervousness since her hair had grown long enough, he had noticed. "You know you're not supposed to wander around the city on your own." He reminded her, crossing his arms over his chest as he did.

Orora closed her eyes, letting out a sigh as she stared longingly at the Outer Wall that was just visible beyond the line of houses. "I know, but I didn't want to bother you, or Master. I just wanted to find an open space, and just waterbend." She admitted. "I heard about this lake, but its off-limits to the public, but if I could even find a small pond....." She trailed off, shoulders drooping in defeat.

"But you're right. I shouldn't have tried to go off on my own." Gripping the strap she let out a disappointed sigh. "We should head back. Your Uncle will worry if he sees us both gone."

She'd barely taken a step or two back towards the apartment building when she heard Zuko sigh.

"Wait." He called out, prompting Orora to come to a halt. She turned around to look at him, her gaze questioning. "I'll go with you." The firebender sighed out. Surprise flitted across her features, before a bright smile pulled at her lips.

"Really?" He barely had time to nod before she tackled him into a brief yet fierce hug. "Oh thank you Zuko! I promise I'll buy you a whole bag of moon peaches on our way back!" She vowed, smiling at him. Zuko blinked, still a little taken aback by the sudden embrace. At least he recovered physically, his head jerking forward in a nod.

His voice, however, was having a little trouble finding itself, while his mind was focused on the fact that Orora had hugged him. Granted it wasn't the first time, but he was starting to find that no matter how brief a touch he shared with Orora, it always meant so much to him.

Especially since that night just a day ago.

When he had kissed her, and she had kissed him back.

A hand gripping his brought him back from reliving that sweet memory. Rather then focus on the Orora in his mind, he instead turned his attention to Orora as she stood next to him, smiling at him in gratitude as she took his hand, and began to lead him towards the Outer Wall.

For once, he followed someone else. He allowed someone else to lead him.

Someone he trusted other than his Uncle.

                                          ————————–

The previous day had been interesting to say the least.

After the kiss, both teenagers had felt a little shy around one another. It wasn't everyday that someone went ahead and kissed their soulmate.

It was a life-changing moment.

Just one step away from formally acknowledging and accepting that the other person was your soulmate.

They were two very different things.

Both of them had laid under the stars together for another good hour. Though this time, neither of them met the other's gaze. Nor did they touch.

Or rather.

Not completely.

Their hands had been right next to one another, and Orora had found her small finger wrapping itself around his finger. Her hold had been gentle, but when he looped his own finger around her own, she had felt herself smile.

Alright so maybe her and Zuko were not going to be open about whatever had happened, but at least it had happened. That was a start.

A kiss.

Her first proper kiss.

As she recalled the moment, Orora could feel a smile forming on her lips. She quickly suppressed it by biting down on her lower lip.

But then he stood up and left without a word. Orora had been a little confused at first, but thought that maybe he was just as shy as she felt.

The next day had been as mundane as any other.

With an added perk.

Iroh had been at the front of the tea shop while she and Zuko had been washing dishes in the back. Standing beside one another, he washed, while she quickly dried using her waterbending. The both of them worked in silence, the clink of the cups and plates they were washing the only sound.

But that wasn't to say they weren't speaking.

Or rather, they weren't speaking verbally.

Every now and then, their gazes would meet, and something would pass between the both of them.

Every now and then their skin would graze when passing the cup or plate, and both would actually feel their senses come alive with that brief touch.

Every now and then a smile would pass between them, one that was equal parts shy, uncertain and almost, dare she say, hopeful.

Finally, finally, Orora had cleared her throat. "You know, back at the North Pole, there's a little game we play. Well I've heard of people playing it, I've never played it myself."

A little surprised at hearing her say something after such a long length of silence, he turned to look at her. She kept her eyes on the spoon he had just handed to her.

"That when two............soulmates find each other," Spirits, his cheeks felt like they were on fire. "A little competition starts, to see how they would be able to catch one another off guard." She explained, remembering how one of her maids had actually spoken to her about it.

Fiddling with the spoon she gripped in her fingers, the young waterbender girl lifted her head to look at him. "It allows them to get to know each other better and build some strange sense of trust."

Zuko blinked, finally realizing that her ice blue eyes were close.

Much too close.

"I know we're not at the North Pole, but........." She trailed off, her gaze open, earnest and pleading. And really, in what world could he ever say no to her.

His nod of confirmation was enough to have her smiling.

Though the mischievousness that danced in her eyes had him very nearly stepping back and going back on his word.

"Well since you caught me off guard on the roof top." Orora commented, gathering whatever strength and bravery she needed to continue.

"I suppose its my turn."

So saying, she raised herself up on her toes, given that she was a few inches shorter then him, and pressed a series of kisses, two on his cheeks, on either side, and one on his lips.

The moment she was done, Orora turned around and all but ran out to the front of the shop, leaving Zuko to stand their dumbfounded and unable to ascertain what had just happened.

Though once he did recover there was no denying that the smile that formed on his lips, and the happiness that he felt, was something he had not experienced in a long long time.

                                          ————————–

Starting the contest seemed to have broken the ice. Both teenagers went back to acting like their normal selves with one another. With a few added aspects.

For one, throughout the entire day, they would both do random little acts for one another. It wasn't to say that they didn't do anything for each other before, but now that it was a contest to see who would do more, they both decided to step up their game.

                                          ————————–

He'd caught her trying to pick up a huge stack of plates and cups. And though he'd been on break, Zuko had been quick to reach out and take most of the cutlery. She'd blinked at him, a little surprised knowing he was rather particular about his break.

Glancing over his shoulder and seeing no one there, Zuko had taken that moment to quickly peck her on the forehead, before walking away with the stack of plates.

Orora had been a little uncertain about whether Zuko would accept to play her game or not, but with that little gesture, she had her answer.

                                          ————————–

She stepped back a little from walking beside Iroh on the way back home and grasped his hand. A little daring considering Iroh could turn back and catch them at any moment, but that didn't stop him from squeezing her hand back.

                                          ————————–

Orora had been busy preparing dinner when Zuko had stepped up next to her. She had glanced at him, curious when he nodded towards the vegetables that still needed chopping. Her eyes widened in surprise.

He hated chopping vegetables.

Zuko simply rolled his eyes at her astonishment and began to peel and cut, leaving Orora smiling happily while Iroh stared at his nephew a little dumbfounded.

He wasn't as comfortable as Orora was when it came to phsyical acts of affection. Orora craved them, having gotten next to none growing up. It would seem her tactic of catching Zuko off guard was using little gestures of affection. While his battle plan for surprising her was helping her wherever she needed it.

                                          ————————–

Iroh had gone to bed a little early that night, so that left the two teenagers to do whatever they wanted. And what Zuko wanted, was to reach out and take Orora's hand before leading her up to the rooftop once more.

Which he did.

They spent hours up there, lying next to one another once more, just talking.

And for once it was Orora who told him about her life before she had met him. How her father and brothers had suppressed her, how her entire life had felt like she was walking on thin ice because of her father's temper. How he had lashed out at her most of the time and hit her multiple times. How she had tried her best to be the perfect daughter, but something inside her had always told her that this was wrong, that she wasn't meant to be treated that way. How she would sneak away to the Spirit Oasis because the place helped calm her and just play with the water. How, once, she'd even dared to step into the pond of the koi fish.

How her grandmother had given her waterbending scrolls as her final act of rebellion against the men in their lives. How she had honored that act by practicing her bending to train to become a fighter. How she had, finally, decided that she would not take the abuse any longer after nearly dying during the Siege. How her father had actually tried to hit her after she returned home, but she'd caught his descending hand using her waterbending. How she had knocked her brother aside with a wall of water, and frozen them to the floor. How she had looked her father in the eye, her very being radiating an anger that it actually had the temperature dropping in the room.

For the first time she had spoken her mind, and said what she had wanted to say for so so long. Her father had been too stunned to do anything. Her mother had stood in the corner, pride in her eyes where there had hardly been any emotion at all. Her brothers had stopped their struggle and had followed their father's example. Even though her father had already banished her, which had been the trigger causing her to act as she did, Orora had stated that she'd already made up her mind about leaving.

And then she had left.

Throughout the story, Zuko had never once looked away from Orora, even when she could not longer meet his gaze and instead focused on the night sky above. He had known she had gone through some trouble with her family, but he had no idea she still carried the scars of it, and that it still effected her. Then again, he carried his scars as well, physical and mental, so why should she be any different. He wasn't in any way comparing their pasts. They'd both had different experiences, both been treated harshly by their fathers and had been abandoned by their siblings to fend for themselves.

But then she revealed one final detail.

A detail that had Zuko's heart stopping in his chest, and a horrible feeling creeping all along his body, like pinpricks, and settling just under his skin where he could feel it the most.

The detail of how the verbal, emotional, mental and physical torture had gotten so bad at one point that she had actually considered just...........

She'd trailed off then, closing her eyes and feeling all that hurt, anguish and loneliness rise to the forefront of her mind. She'd put up a strong front all her life. Had never wavered when it came to her own sense of belief. But there were times when she had doubted and wandered if it would all be worth it in the end. She could feel the harsh sting of the tears behind her closed eyelids, felt them escape and slowly trail down her cheeks, warm against her skin.

"Sometimes I feel like, there's this chasm inside me. Even now, after getting away from it all, I'm standing at the very edge of it." She revealed, pressing a hand to her chest, where she could physically feel her heart ache. "There is no end to that chasm, and I'm about to loose my footing and fall." She gathered herself closer to her body, as if trying to attain some warmth that would dissipate the coldness that came from within. "But then, I feel someone take me by the hand, and pull me back a little and I look up."

Finally, she turned her head to look at him. A watery smile pulled at her lips, and despite the tears he could see the hope and utter trust in her eyes. His heart squeezed in his chest. Did he even deserve that from someone?

"And I see you standing there. You and your Uncle. I know we've known each other for just a few months, but I don't think I've ever trusted anyone before like I trust you Zuko. You and Master helped me see that you can trust someone."

She was baring herself to him, heart and soul, just like he had done all those nights ago when he had revealed the truth about his scar. "And yeah, we did fight and I didn't like you, I still sometimes want nothing more then to throw you off a building." A small laugh, prompting Zuko to smile at the sound. "But I trust you."

No one had ever trusted him before. Not his father, his sister, not even his crew. His Uncle did, but having another person, his soulmate, tell him that she trusted him was an another thing entirely.

He reached out, gently grasping her by the shoulders and pulling her in. Her head settled on his chest, right near his heart, his arms wound around her, one on her waist, the other around her shoulders, his hand buried in her hair as he held her close. He placed his head on top of her own and just sat there. For her part, Orora wrapped her arms loosely around his waist, feeling tired and drained after all that she had just revealed. Her eyes closed as she felt him drop a kiss to her head and she sighed.

Despite having not said a lot the entire night, with that one hug, Zuko said more then he ever could have.

The tears continued to fall until she finally fell asleep in his arms.

                                          ————————–

It was strange having someone else open up to him like Orora had. Growing up in the Palace, Zuko hadn't had many friends. Any at all. He would usually be around his mother, and she would play with him when he was younger, though as he got older he insisted that playing was for children and had instead moved on to practicing with weapons. His cousin had been the one to teach him about Dao Swords, but then he died. His mother disappeared, and it was only when Iroh returned that Zuko finally had a friendly face around the Palace. Azula had been lucky when it came to friends. She had Mei and Ty Lee.

Zuko had no one.

But now he had Orora.

Sitting on the bank of the significantly spacious pond, Zuko remembered the last time he had seen Orora practice like that. It was just after Azula had shot lightening at Iroh. Everything that had happened seemed like such a long time ago. The both of them had barely been able to look at one another then.

But in a span of a few short weeks they'd become friends. And they'd kissed.

He was brought out of his reverie when a bubble of water splashed just near his feet.

"Hey! Watch it!" He called out annoyed.

Orora stood in front of him, knee deep in water, her pants pulled up and her long shirt tucked in to keep from getting too wet. Not that it would matter, she could always waterbend herself dry.

She grinned. "Oh lighten up, and I mean figuratively." Zuko rolled his eyes as she laughed at her own joke. "You're trying too hard." He stated, prompting her to scowl at him.

"Well if you're just gonna make fun of my jokes, then I won't take my turn in our game." He raised an eyebrow at her. "I thought you were going to buy me moon peaches?" He asked to which she shrugged. "I can buy those for you any time, but I figured why not teach you a waterbending move which I'm sure you can use for other scenarios."

He blinked at her. She grinned and winked playfully.

Stepping out of the water, she quickly reached his side. "Come on, its an easy one, I promise."

So saying, she inhaled deeply, centering herself where she stood. Raising her arms in front of her, palms facing her body, she slowly brought them up to shoulder level before allowing her arms and hands to fly out, palms out.

The entire movement was fluid and graceful, quite the opposite of the firebending forms he had studied all his life.

"And when I do it with water." So saying she demonstrated the move again but this time using her waterbending abilities, sending a powerful wall of water splashing on the opposite end of the pond.

Zuko was impressed. She had improved a lot since he had met her. Her bending had gotten powerful through sheer practice and determination alone. Deciding to humor her, and yes she did catch him off-guard when she offered to teach him a waterbending move, Zuko dropped into stance next to her.

Orora smiled when he did, eager to share what she had learned.

As they both went through the motion, with Orora correcting him every now and then, the topic stayed on bending. Though now in an entirely different context.

"So I was thinking." He turned his head to look at her, though still going through the motions of the bending move. "You're able to bend using your feet as well. I mean I've seen you create arcs with just a swipe of your foot." She was careful to not say the word firebending in case someone else was listening in. "And Earthbenders can do the same, and I'm sure the Airbenders could as well."

Zuko nodded. "Yeah? I've seen the Avatar do that. What're you getting at?"

She shrugged. "Well I was just wandering, why isn't there any move where a waterbender could bend using their legs?"

Zuko frowned, contemplating on what she had just said. "Maybe no one has ever tried before?" He stated in a matter of fact voice, which had Orora humming, as she dropped her previous stance and waved her arms in an arc around her body, pulling a stream of water from the pond and creating a ring of water around her waist

"I guess." She said her voice low, dividing the ring into two and freezing one of them in a beautiful circular curvy ring. The water from the other ring, continued to weave through the now frozen structure, creating quite a pretty effect. It almost looked like she was wearing a stylized belt or something.

Having stopped going through the motions, Zuko turned his attention to her. "Why don't you try it?"

Her eyes snapped up to meet him, though her fingers kept moving in an elegant circular motion, keeping the water moving. "Me?" She asked, surprised.

Zuko shrugged. "Yeah whats wrong with you trying?" Orora pursed her lips, unfreezing the water and allowing the two rings to merge into one and sending it back into the pond.

"Well I'm not a Master, I don't know a lot of waterbending forms." She kicked her foot out sheepishly, catching a small pebble and watching as it rolled into the pond. "I doubt I'll be able to create a whole new form of bending."

Zuko frowned, not liking the way she was speaking about herself, and her abilities. Reaching out, he placed, what he hoped was a comforting hand, on her shoulder. "Look from what I have seen, you're a really good bender. You always practice when you can, and it doesn't even matter if you're doing it in the water, or just practicing going through the motions. You work hard, and your skills have improved since we had that spar in the forest."

She blinked up at him briefly, before a hopeful yet shy smile pulled at her lips. "You really think so?" She asked, and Zuko couldn't help but smile back at her. His hand moved from her shoulder, to cup the side of her face, thumb gently stroking her skin.

"Of course." He answered honestly.

She tilted her head, closing her eyes briefly, as if she were savoring his touch. "You know Zuko," She finally said after a brief stretch of silence. "For someone who acts grumpy all the time, you're a pretty sweet guy."

Instantly his expression changed to an annoyed look, prompting Orora to laugh under her breath. "You mention this to anyone, and I'll tell Uncle you broke his favorite teacup." He threatened.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "I replaced it!" She protested. Zuko smirked, shaking his head.

"It doesn't matter. That teacup had sentimental value, he doesn't know its been replaced, unless I tell him."

Orora scowled at him, flicking away the hand that still rested on her cheek. "Oh you would stoop that low wouldn't you?" She ground out, pouting.

If possible, his smirk only widened. "Anything to be Uncle's favorite."

He was met with a light punch in the gut on part of an annoyed soulmate.

                                          ————————–

Ever since last night, Zuko had been thinking some things over. So far, Orora new most of what had happened to him, but he had neglected to inform her of the months he had spent chasing he Avatar and all that had come with it.

From being constantly belittled by Zhao, to nearly dying in an explosion, almost getting captured by Azula, not to mention that time when the Avatar had saved his life.

He had to tell her. She had been truthful with him. She deserved to know the truth. The whole truth.

The walk back home was a long one, and since he was sure there was no one around to listen, he decided it was his turn to catch her off-guard like she had him the night before.

By telling her about everything since he had begun chasing the Avatar. She had to know all that he had done, every dirty tactic and trick he had played to try and capture the Avatar. From the time he had used the watertribe girl's necklace as bait, to dressing up as the Blue Spirit, to kidnapping the Avatar while he was in the Spirit World.

It was one failed attempt after another, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth as he spoke. Surely Orora would want nothing to do with him. He was a failure. He couldn't even capture a twelve year old kid. Granted the kid was the Avatar, but he was still a kid.

Just as he had listened to her the night before, she listened to him. Once he had said all that he could, she inhaled deeply, her mind swirling with all that she could say to him. It was hard to choose where she should start.

So she started with holding his hand, pulling him into a partially hidden alley. She sighed. It almost felt like he had a rock inside him, weighing him down, as he waited for her to speak.

"I can't say that what you did was right, and I won't agree with it either." His heart dropped. "What you did was wrong Zuko, but....." She trailed off, licking her lips before sighing. "But I know more then a little about wanting to gain a father's approval." He blinked at her. That was more then he had hoped to hear. He had fully expected her to turn her back to him.

"You do what you can to please him. To try and get him to look at you with something other then contempt." She nodded in understanding, reaching up to run her fingers through the hair resting on his forehead before resting on his cheek. "You loose yourself in the process. You loose your own morals and that is the worst part." Never once leaving his gaze she continued.

"But you never did that. Where any other person would've taken a life or hurt someone out of desperation, never have I heard from your lips that you actually hurt someone." Zuko shook his head. "But that was all luck."

She shook her head. "You just told me that when Zhao was being taken away by the Spirits, you tried to save him, but he refused your help." He opened his mouth, but Orora quickly quietened him pressing her fingers to his lips. "You went after your Uncle after he was kidnapped by those Earthbenders. You never intentionally hurt anyone who came your way."

Finger gently caressing his mouth she continued. "And most of all, you saved my life. I'm proof that you haven't lost your morals Zuko. That you are a good person despite all that you have done. You didn't know who I was, you had no idea I was your soulmate, but you saved me." With every word she stepped closer until she was all but pressed up against him, her face just inches away. And while her gaze was open and earnest, he was looking at her through heavy lidded eyes. "I'm alive because of you." Her words were barely above a whisper as he dropped his forehead against her own. She sighed, adoring how warm he felt against her, her eyes slowly drifting shut, wanting to savor the moment. "I'm here because of you."

The last two words were muffled as she fused their mouths together in a kiss that had her grasping for the front of his shirt, while his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.

So far their kisses had been quick and chaste, both of them feeling too shy and uncertain about their feelings for one another.

But this one?

This one kiss they shared in the alley?

It was anything but chaste.

Zuko pressed his mouth insistently against hers, forcing Orora to lean back. There was a near desperation in that kiss, almost as if her words had awoken some sudden realization in him. And they had.

She had reminded him how close he had been to loosing her. Loosing her before he had even gotten to know who she was. And how important she would become to him.

His arms tightened around her waist as he gently pushed her so her back would rest against the wall of the building. Neither of them broke the kiss, content on memorizing the shape of each other's lips. Her hands slid up his chest to bury her fingers in his hair. The gentle scrape of her nails against his scalp opened an entirely new plethora of feelings in him.

Instinct drove him forward, taking her lower lip between his teeth and allowing them to sink into her soft skin. His hands, not wanting to stay idle, began to roam the small of her back, tracing the side of her waist as he did. Orora could barely contain the sound of surprise at the sudden onslaught of new sensations his touch awoke in her. Her eyelashes fluttered against the curve of her cheeks as she too returned the favor by nipping at his lip. His sound of approval reverberated against her mouth, prompting her to smile as he melded their lips together once more.

It was then that she seemed to realize the heaviness clouding her mind was not because of having Zuko pressed up against her, and his mouth on her, but because she couldn't breath.

Her hands dropped to his chest, pushing him back and unfusing her lips from his. The moment she did, the young waterbender inhaled sharply, trying to catch her breath. Zuko was no better. He was breathing heavily as well. Their forehead were still pressed together, cheeks flushed, and their eyes were open, ice blue staring into warm amber.

Once they were able to calm their breathing, as well as their racing hearts, Zuko pulled away from her. Though he didn't look away from her. She was smiling softly, and he couldn't help but mirror that smile as he led her out of the alley and into the street, heading for home.

But despite what they had just spoken about, once they stood outside the apartment building Zuko couldn't help but glance at it and scowl.

He hated it. Hated that he had to work as a tea server his whole life. Zuko glanced at Orora as she walked beside him. Despite having not thought about it in awhile, his mind drifted back to home. To the Fire Palace and all the comforts that came with it. In his mind, his father welcomed him home with open arms.

The bitterness that was now a part of his soul festered away as he continued to think of a life back home with Orora by his side.

A life he could never have.

                                          ————————–

Putting away the last of her waterbending scrolls in the small wicker basket, Orora smiled and stood. "Well I'm done packing up, would you like me to make you a cup of tea Master?" She asked, already moving towards the stove and kettle, knowing he would answer in the positive.

"Anytime is good for tea my young Pupil, remember that life lesson." Iroh responded cheerfully, prompting the young girl to laugh as she bended some water into the kettle.

This was so exciting. Not even a month ago, they had barely had any money to buy clothes and food. And now? Her Master was getting the chance to open up his own tea shop. To say he was ecstatic would be an understatement. They would be moving to the Upper Ring, getting new apartments, new clothes. That last part was something she looked forward to more then anything else. Maybe she could even get her own room?

Orora was truly happy for Iroh. He deserved his own tea shop, with how excellent his tea making skills were. She was glad he had chosen to teach her his secrets as well. In her eyes, any teaching Iroh had to impart on her, she would gladly accept. It was truly an honor.

And speaking of honor, ever since their outing, Zuko had been in a bit of a modd. She had figured he needed to come to terms with what they had spoken about, and decided to give him some space instead. She knew he appreciated her advice, but sometimes a person needed to sort through some thoughts by themselves.

"Have you thought of a name yet for the tea shop?" She asked, curious to know what he would come up with. Just then the door slid open and Zuko stepped in.

Iroh, wanting to include Zuko into the conversation spoke up. "I was thinking about names for my new tea shop. How about the Jasmine Dragon? It's dramatic, poetic, has a nice ring to it." Orora hummed in agreement, watching curiously as Zuko unfolded a piece of paper and showed it to his Uncle.

"The Avatar is here in Ba Sing Se and he's lost his bison." Orora blinked in surprise. "He lost Appa?" She asked, worry lacing her tone as she quickly walked forward to look at the paper, which was actually a flyer, as Iroh examined it.

The old man sighed. "We have a chance for a new life here." He said, letting Orora take the piece of paper and examining it further. "If you start stirring up trouble, we could lose all the good things that are happening for us."

Zuko who had been looking out the window with a determined expression, turned around. "Good things that are happening for you!" His words prompted Orora to look up at him, hurt evident in her eyes. A fact that he refused to acknowledge and ignored completely, even as he glanced in her direction. Though a sliver of guilt settled in his stomach, he continued. "Have you ever thought that I want more from life than a nice apartment and a job serving tea?"

Iroh sighed. "There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity." His tone was soft and understanding as he continued. "I suggest you think about what it is that you want from your life and why."

"I want my destiny." Zuko stated without even thinking about his answer. Iroh nodded. "What that means is up to you."

Knowing he would get nothing out of his Uncle other then words of wisdom and riddles, young Prince stalked away to their shared rooms and disappeared behind the door. His Uncle didn't understand. And while on some levels Orora did, she had accepted her fate and the fact that she could never go home. Him though? He still had a chance to earn his father's approval and go back.

Orora stared after him, more then a little hurt at being ignored by Zuko like that.

"The Tea Weevil!" Iroh suddenly exclaimed, before shaking his head. "No, that's stupid." Biting her lower lip, the young waterbender moved back to the stove where the water was now boiling.

"He did not mean to hurt you Orora." Iroh's words had her blushing at being so obvious about the situation. She glanced at him to see the old man smiling kindly at her. "My nephew tends to push people away when facing a problem or a challenge, thinking he can take care of it himself."

Continuing to pack, Iroh added. "Give him some time, he will realize that what he already has is enough." Giving her a smile of reassurance, Iroh hoped he had helped ease her worries about Zuko a little.

                                          ————————–

Pretending to be asleep that night was no easy feat. She was restless, her mind ringing with what Zuko had said, and with the knowledge that Aang, Katara and Sokka were close by. And they had lost Appa. During the short journey from the North Pole to the mainland, she'd grown fond of the hairy beast. He was adorable, and Orora adored adorable things.

It was a weakness.

She heard Zuko as he got up from his sleeping mat. She sat up the moment the door slid close. A determined expression on her features, she quickly pulled on her shoes and grabbed her water pouch. She'd barely taken a few steps down the road when she bumped into her Master.

"A little late to be taking an evening stroll my young pupil." Iroh stated in a jovial tone, though his eyes were serious. Orora glanced over his shoulder. "He's just up ahead Master, we should be able to follow him."

Iroh shook his head. "No, my dear. You will stay in the apartment. Where Zuko is about to go, it is a dangerous place, and I cannot be worrying about your safety as well as Zuko's." Her heart plummeted in her stomach and her shoulders drooped.

"But Master, I can take care of myself." She insisted, to which Iroh placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know you can. But Ba Sing Se has powerful men and women working on the wrong side." With a firm squeeze of her shoulder, her Master stated one final time.

"Stay." With that he moved to follow after Zuko.

Orora pursed her lips where she stood, feeling a little bubble of disappointment forming in her chest. Did Iroh not have faith in her abilities? Or did he think she would distract Zuko?

Her heart and mind were at war, as she turned on her feet and began to walk back towards their apartment.

But a slight tug on her finger had her looking down at the string that connected her with Zuko.

She frowned.

                                          ————————–

Iroh had heard rumors of the secret of Lake Laogai. The White Lotus had warned him of the many dangers that lurked in the catacombs of the city. This had been one of the reasons he never allowed Orora to wander around the city by herself. He had heard tales of people disappearing, never to be heard from again.

Though he was reluctant to admit, Zuko had more experience when it came to being on guard and watching his back. Orora did not. She had proven to herself to be a skilled fighter, but she lacked the experience when it came to people.

Iroh followed after Zuko. Luckily the entrance to the under water base of operations had been left open. So it was easy to jump down and begin the task of looking for Zuko. The tunnels were dark and seemed almost haunted in the dim green light. The tiniest sound seemed so loud in one's ear. He'd only wandered through a few tunnels, when Iroh became aware of a presence behind him.

As a skilled firebender, he could actually feel the warmth of a body and how close it was. And these several presences were getting closer. He hid himself in a shadowed alcove, watching as several Dai Li agents rushed by. They had barely passed when he felt another heat form closing in.

Much to his surprise, it was a rather familiar one. As soon as they were within range, his hand darted out to catch them by the elbow, and pulled them into his hiding spot.

If he allowed himself to, Orora was sure her Master would be breathing steam at that moment, with how furious he looked.

"I told you to stay behind Orora." He said, his voice carried the weight of his disappointment. Orora lowered her head. "I know." Shame colored her tone. "I know you did Master, but I couldn't just sit back and do nothing."

Grumbling under his breath, Iroh ran a tired hand over his face. Finally he looked at her with a serious expression. "Orora. As your Master, I hereby forbid you from ever disobeying my orders again." He knew it wasn't right, knew that he was asking her to take an oath that she would find very hard to break, but he had to.

To protect her.

"Swear to me, that the next time I give you an order, no matter what the outcome may be, you will obey me."

Orora bit her lower lip, nodding. "I swear, Master." She hated the look he was giving her, and never wanted to see it again. He was her teacher, he knew best. She trusted him to keep her safe and never lead her down the wrong path.

Nodding in a satisfactory manner, Iroh peaked out from their hiding place. "Now follow me, and keep close."

                                          ————————–

While Iroh stayed on the lookout for any potential threats, Orora slowly began to lead the way following her thread. By some miracle, they didn't run into any trouble as they ventured deeper and deeper underneath the Lake. It didn't take long, for them to reach a door. Her finger gave a gentle tug and she knew Zuko was on the other side.

Iroh didn't waste time in reaching out and opening the door. He was already angry at Orora for disobeying him, and it was only growing at the thought of his nephew doing something stupid and throwing away his life.

The moment they entered, Orora closed the door behind her. The first thing she noticed was the person in the blue mask. Zuko, holding his Dao swords at the ready. And behind him?

Appa.

In chains.

"Appa!" She called out, rushing forward, darting past Zuko and approaching the Bison. The big creature let out a warning growl, though she wasn't deterred. "Its me. Orora." She held her hand out for him to sniff, to remember her scent. "Remember me?" She cooed, as the Bison leaned forward to press his nose against her palm. She gently ran her hand along his nose smiling. "Its alright boy. I'll get you out."

"And then what!?"

The sudden shout had her turning on her heel, eyes widening. She had never heard Iroh yell. Never seen him so angry as he did right then. Not even a few moments ago when he had caught her.

"You never think these things through!" He pointed a finger at Zuko, who now stood with his back to his Uncle, maskless, his eyes focused on the ground as emotions ravaged through his very sense of being. "This is exactly what happened when you captured the Avatar at the North Pole! You had him, and then you had nowhere to go!"

"I would have figured something out!" Zuko argued, though there was uncertainty in his voice.

"No! If his friends hadn't found you, you would have frozen to death!" Iroh stated, prompting a chill to run down her spine. Zuko had spoken to her about it, but how much had he downplayed on the amount of times he had nearly died?

"I know my own destiny, Uncle!" Again, he tried to argue, but Iroh was having none of it.

"Is it your own destiny, or is it a destiny someone else has tried to force on you?" He demanded. Behind her Appa fidgeted, not liking the loud voices. She made a reassuring sound, gently running her fingers through his soft fur.

"Stop it, Uncle! I have to do this!" Forced determination, that was all there was in Zuko's voice as his heart raged with his mind.

Capture the Avatar, restore his honor, restore his father's love, go back home, restore his title as Prince. That was all that mattered.

"I'm begging you, Prince Zuko!" Iroh demanded, and pleaded at the same time. "It's time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself the big questions. Who are you, and what do you want?"

That seemed to be the last straw.

Zuko let out a pained cry, throwing down his weapon and the mask, dropping to his knees as he did. Orora stood where she was for a few moments, before glancing at Iroh. He gave her a small nod.

Giving Appa a reassuring pat on the nose, she slowly approached the conflicted Prince. Her soft steps echoed in the otherwise silent chamber. She dropped to her knees in front of him, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not gonna say I understand, because our situations are vastly different." She started, knowing he was listening to her. "But I do know a little something about living a life, following a destiny that someone else decided for me." Reaching out, she cupped his face to make him look up, to meet her gaze.

Lost amber eyes, found a determined blue gaze.

"But I broke free, and I have never regretted that. I found a Master. I found you. I found friends. But most of all? I found myself."

Leaning forward she pressed a gentle, lingering kiss against the scar on his cheek.

"Find yourself, Zuko. Find your reason to fight." She whispered softly.

So saying, she stood. With one last gentle smile at him, she turned back to Appa, uncorking her water bag and pulling out twin streams of water.

"Alright Appa. We're gonna have to work together if we're gonna get you out of here." So saying, she threw her arm out, wrapping one of the chains that held Appa's leg, in a stream of water and freezing it in place.

"Now pull." The Bison gave a loud grunt as he pulled at the now brittle chain. It tokk a few tries, but he was able to free himself easily, prompting Orora to grin widely. Gathering up the water from the now brokem pieces of ice, she moved to the next chain when she suddenly felt a presence beside her.

It was Zuko.

He walked past her, swords in either hand, nearing Appa with every step. The Bison growled again, prompting Orora to reach out. "Its alright Appa. He's here to help."

She hoped.

Zuko stopped in front of the chains that held Appa prisoner. His swords began to steam as he allowed his firebending abilities to heat the metal. Raising them in the air, he brought down both swords in one powerful stroke with a mighty cry. The heated blade cut through the metal chain like butter.

Orora grinned.

Between the both of them, they were able to free Appa in a matter of minutes. The Bison let out a happy grunt, stretching his legs, before nudging Orora with his nose, nuzzling against her. The young girl giggled, throwing her arms around Appa's cheek and returning his embrace. "Go find Aang. I'm sure he's worried about you." She said, stepping back a little so she could meet Appa's intelligent gaze.

Glancing behind her, she saw Zuko standing next to Iroh. She reached out, quickly grabbing his hand and yanking him forward. "He wants to say thank you." She said, placing Zuko's hand on Appa's fur.

Zuko stood there, frozen, his eyes meeting Appa's brown gaze. Human and animal stood still, before Appa closed his eyes, and somehow, Zuko knew the creature was thanking him.

With a mighty thump of his tail, the Bison took off. Through sheer strength he was able to break through the thin metal railing above him and take to the skies.

"You did good." Zuko felt a soft hand slipping in his, prompting him to turn around and find a smiling Orora standing by his side. His Uncle stood not even a few paces away. Both of them looked proud.

The first time Zuko ever felt he did something right was when he saved Orora's life.

But this?

Helping an innocent animal go free, that came a close second.

                                          ————————–

The walk back from Lake Laogai was a long one. This gave Zuko some time to think about what had just happened. Did this mean he was no longer hunting the Avatar? That he was going to make a life for himself in Ba Sing Se? As more and more questions rose in his mind, he began to feel them crowd around in his head, causing it to become physically heavy.

He could barely navigate his way through the streets of Ba Sing Se as his head began to throb all over.

By the time they reached their apartment, Orora could barely feel her feet. Though she barely noticed the ache as she focused on Zuko. In the time it had taken them to get back home, his face had gotten paler and paler. She'd caught his eye and silently asked if he was alright. He'd nodded, though even his movements were starting to get sluggish.

"You did the right thing." Iroh said, opening the door to their apartment, the pride in his voice evident as both teenagers walked in. "Letting the Avatar's bison go free."

Orora, who had entered first, turned to look at Zuko. He looked worse then before. "Zuko?" She reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. He lifted a hand, pressing his palm against the side of his head as he met her gaze. "Orora?" His words slurred. "I don't feel right." His vision of her grew hazy and blurry before it darkened completely.

She was barely able to catch him when he passed out. "Zuko!" She didn't know who was louder, her or Iroh, who rushed forward to help Orora lay him down on the floor. She grabbed him by the shoulders, gently shaking him.

"Zuko! Zuko wake up!"

No response.

"Zuko!"

                                          ————————–

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