#fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards

[archies-litterbox]

of poison, forest floors, and terrified wizards

Summary: Out all alone on what was meant to be a simple errand, collecting herbs for Merlin, Douxie is downed when some pickpocket throws a fistful of black powder in his face - a magic surpressant and poison to wizards, he comes to find out the hard way. Unable to move or use his magic, as attempts to do both cause nothing but agony, the moppet has no choice but to rely on the slim hope of someone finding him before the poison overtakes him.

A/N: This is my first toa fic! I’ve spent the past year mostly just doing fic for witcher, so this is a nice change of pace :) I had fun with this! I thought about what would happen if there was some sort of substance in TOA that acted as a poison/magic surpressant to wizards... and ofc it turned into douxie whump (but it’s moppet!douxie which is even more painful :( ). Enjoyyy!

[CW: Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Poisoning/Sickness, Temporary Paralysis, blood mention (but no bleeding)]

---

All Douxie had been sent out to do was collect some herbs for Merlin. It wasn’t even in the uncertain ground like the Wild Wood, but a patch of forest he’d been sent to fetch ingredients from countless times. It should have been a simple enough task for the moppet, which is why he hadn’t woken Archie from his afternoon nap - which he was taking on Douxie’s bed - to have his familiar accompany him. And truly, the task itself was simple; it didn’t take Douxie very long at all to go into the woods and find a patch of the plants Merlin told him to fetch - something about a potion ingredient, the apprentice vaguely recollected.

Indeed, he found it without any trouble, but when he felt a figure speed past his back and steal away the little pouch of herbs he’d collected before speeding off into the woods, that was when the trouble started.

The rational part of him (which said exactly what he’d reckoned Archie would be telling him right now) told him just to pick more, but it was overshadowed by how downright insulting this woodland pickpocket was! Before he’d been taken in by Merlin, conning and using slight-of-hand to his advantage was one of his only means of survival, so to not only be stolen from, but in a way so lacking in cunning? The audacity!

It was the principal of the matter that sent him running after the thief, darting this way and that until he was lost in the thick of the woods, focused only on tailing the pickpocket.

“Hey! Stop!” Douxie panted, “You’re stealing from a master wizard!”

That didn’t seem to entice the thief to stop.

“Well… his apprentice, anyway!” he added for reasons unsure to even himself. Maybe honesty would help?

Well, thanks to his trusty, gangly legs, he caught up to the thief and got close enough to grab their wrist, and he thought it would be smooth sailing after that.

Yeah! Alright! I’ll just get my herbs back and deal with this thief and -

The thief turned around and threw a handful of black powder in his face.

Fuzzbuckets.

Douxie squeezed his eyes shut as soon as he felt them sting, coughing into his elbow to hack up the charcoal tasting powder that flew into his mouth and nose. That little trick stopped him in his tracks, but he wasn’t deterred. Not mentally. He still wanted to try to catch up… 

...but his legs wouldn’t move.

No matter how badly he wanted - demanded his legs to obey him, they remained tense, frozen in that position of one in front of the other.

What?

One terrifying moment later, they did move. But not into the sprint he wanted to take - no, to do something worse: to buckle underneath him and send him falling onto his side against the forest floor. 

And he couldn’t get up.

No matter how much he willed his body to do it, he couldn’t get up.

It was like when he’d have nightmares and he’d realize he was having a nightmare; it took forcing his body to toss and turn and shift from side to side as much as he could to rouse him back to the realm of the fully conscious.

But he couldn’t even do that. He couldn’t rouse himself from this nightmare because he couldn’t push himself up.

Wait.

No.

He couldn’t move.

Nearing complete panic, he internally begged and pleaded to find some sort of mobility, but his limbs grew numb by the second, and wherever he still had feeling, it ached - utterly, reprehensibly ached. Not only that, but it was cold. So, so cold, despite the warm atmosphere of the summer afternoon that hung around him so tauntingly.

He’d never felt more scared in his life. Not even being threatened at swordpoint by Sir Galahad and his men, knowing that he’d be killed for something like a measly alley trick, was as terrifying as this - not even that made his blood run cold (literally, it felt like, as well as figuratively) like this did.

And he was sure that was clear to the thief he’d tried to catch. They stood over him, and he couldn’t see their face from where his head lay on the ground, cheek against the grass, but with his glassy, wide eyes flickering between straining to look at his poisoner - because that’s what this was, a poison -  and darting around wherever they could look without him moving his head - because he couldn’t even do that - as black strands of hair lay loose on his cheek because he couldn’t lift a hand to move them, he was sure looked every bit as terrified as he felt.

The thief laughed. Laughed.

“A master wizard’s apprentice, eh?” they spoke, their voice dripping with mock fascination that made Douxie wish that someone, anyone would come to help him, “And your great master never told you to pick your battles? He must not have, if you felt so inclined as to chase me all through the woods for a plant you could have just picked a little more of. It was right in front of you, after all.”

The realization which dawned on Douxie would have made his blood run cold if it didn’t feel like it already was. They’d pickpocketed him because they counted on him pursuing them, even to the point of ending up in the thick of the woods, far away from where Merlin or Archie expected him to be - far away from where they’d know to look for him.

Douxie finally tried to shout for help, but his throat was just as tense - as frozen as the rest of his muscles, and his jaw was too tight to open as much as he’d need to scream. All he could do was gasp and force shuddering breaths in and out of his lungs, which was still a trying ordeal - too trying for something like breathing to have been.

“Trying to scream? Really?” the poisoner-thief asked as if it was an absurd thing to do in the moppet’s position (which it wasn’t), “Next thing you know, you’ll try mustering a spell.”

Against his better judgement, for trying a spell couldn’t have been a good idea if his own assailant was suggesting it, he tried to force a little magic to his fingertips.

It burned. Oh, sweet heart of Avalon, it burned. His hand hadn’t even hurt this badly after he’d botched a lightning spell and scarred his wrist in the process.

Douxie wheezed at the sensation, and the thief laughed again.

“Oh, this is rich!” they exclaimed, “this has already paralyzed you hand and foot, and you thought some conjuring would help? What do you think this was made to diminish, Apprentice of Ambrosius?

Douxie couldn’t even think of a swear worthy of this (“fuzzbuckets” was too tame), his mind still flooded with fear and his hand still aching from his botched magic attempt. How had they already known he was Merlin’s apprentice? Sure, he’d mentioned being an apprentice to a master wizard, but he wasn’t that specific.

But he wasn’t worried about that as much as what this implied about his magic, and what this - whatever it had been - was doing to it.

“This,” His assailant bent down and held up their fingertips to his face, showing him the black powder on them. “Seeps away your magic. Or poisons it, or diminishes it, or eats away at it - I’m not a poet, and apt synonyms aren’t my strong suit.”

They stood back up all the way, and Douxie wanted to plead, but the words wouldn’t come out. They wouldn’t even form. This - he couldn’t lose his magic. Not on something as measly as an herb collection.

“All of this-”

They gestured to his paralyzed, twitching form.

“Is just a side effect. A byproduct of attacking your magic.”

Douxie tried curling his hand into a fist. Not only were his muscles so weak that he could only curl his fingers for a second in what looked more like a spasm than a conscious movement, but grabbing the wrong end of a knife would have hurt less.

The powder-tosser winced mock-sympathetically.

“Shame, really. I hoped the master wizard you served could be the one to deal with this.”

For a moment, in his agony, he wished he was. Douxie squandered the thought as quickly as it came up, hating himself for conceiving it. He couldn’t wish this on anyone, least of all the wizard who saved him, who plucked him off the streets.

But why couldn’t he save him now?

“Ah, well.” They reached down to Douxie’s face and put a strand of hair behind his ear.

Douxie wanted to cry.

“S’pose you’ll do. It’ll be a kick in the teeth for him anyway, when you don’t come back from your little errand after hours and hours, and by the time they send out a search party…”

The smugness and certainty in their tone made Douxie whimper, the first vocal noise he’d been able to make in all of this, after naught but wheezing and gasping. Where was he going to get dragged off to? The Wild Wood? Were they in league with trolls, hoping to get an edge on King Arthur? Or were they a bandit, hoping to take all his goods off of him (which weren’t much, unless they counted the black cat fur on his vest) and keep him in some rackety shack until a ransom note made its way to Merlin?

(Would he even pay it, considering Douxie’s incompetence?)

“Well, they’ll find you right here, I’m sure, but…”

Douxie could hear them mock-wince again, and their implication was worse than anything he’d assumed in the moments before. He couldn’t hear the rest of their sentence over his own panic that, combined with the poison, made his head swim.

He wasn’t going to be taken anywhere.

He was going to be left here, to - to - to - 

His panic pushed him to try his magic again on impulse alone, and it felt like both his hands were on fire. His throat, as tight as it was, finally let him groan through his teeth.

“An exercise in futility, little wizard.” his attacker taunted, “In fact…”

They took his bracelet - only three fingers wide at this point in his training - right off his wrist, which made him squeak as he tried, tried, tried to shake his head, and threw it into a bush in what was both further assurance of his powerlessness and an insult to injury.

“I would say you should try to get comfortable…” 

They stood up and took a few steps back, leaving the little field of vision Douxie had from where his head lay on the ground.

“...But I suppose that would be another exercise in futility.”

He heard the poisoner-thief run off, their footfalls fading as the pounding of his racing heart, which drummed against his ears in sync with their steps, drowned out the noise until they were out of earshot.

He was alone.

He couldn’t move, some poison was seeping away his magic - his very lifeforce - and tensed his body up so rigidly that he couldn’t even scream, and he was alone.

If he could’ve, he would have curled up into a ball as small as he could make himself in hopes that the dangers of the woods and the dire circumstances of his situation would pass him by.

If he could’ve, he would have screamed, even though he knew he was far away from the earshot of anyone who might have come looking for him by that patch of herbs where he said he’d go, and he knew that Archie, who could have tracked his scent here, was still sleeping because, in his arrogance, he hadn’t thought to wake him.

If he could’ve, he would have dragged himself to his gauntlet, wherever it had been thrown, because even if it wouldn’t have done anything to get him out of this, at least he wouldn’t have felt so helpless, even though helpless was exactly what he was.

But he couldn’t.

All he could do was squeeze his eyes shut and feel his tears run down the bridge of his nose as his lips contorted into a grimace, the only two things he could do with his body where the movement itself didn’t outweigh how badly he wanted - needed to do it.

All he could hope for, against hope itself, was that he’d be found here.

Before all that could be found was his body.

---

He wished he could just sleep.

The grassy ground underneath him was soft enough, and his position on his side could have been comfortable enough. Maybe it would have helped pass the time until the poison ran its course, whatever that entailed.

But whatever this was, it didn’t even grant him that luxury. Whether it was an effect of the poison or a product of his own adrenaline and terror, Douxie was wide awake.

Not only that, but after what might have been an hour or two (judging by the sunlight’s reflection off the dewey grass), his body would periodically twitch because of the poison. Sometimes his leg would kick out like a dog, or his shoulder would seize up to the point where it touched his ear, or his hand would ball into a fist.

But his poisoned body didn’t care which of his movements were voluntary or otherwise - it stung all the same. Not like the horrific burning that came with his attempts at magic, but a grating, awful ache right down to his bones. The spontaneous twitches never let him even come close to unconsciousness, and maybe that was a good thing - every breath was more or less of a laborious gasp, a conscious effort of his, and if he’d lost consciousness and stopped forcing them in and out of his lungs… he didn’t want to imagine it.

He wished his panic would quiet enough for him to get bored laying here - he would have preferred it to this, and it would have made sense, considering that he was stuck staring at the same blades of grass and patch of trees that he’d been staring at for the past hour.

And they weren’t even particularly interesting trees or blades of grass, not that they would have distracted him very well if they were.

He wondered if anyone had started looking for him by now. Maybe Merlin was growing impatient without the ingredients he asked for, and maybe Morgana had started to wonder why “Little Douxie” hadn’t come back to the castle.

He wondered if Archie had woken up from his nap and noticed Douxie’s absence yet. If anyone could insist that someone go out and search for him, it would be his familiar. He didn’t want to delude himself by thinking it would help though.

He wondered the importance of those herbs he was collecting before. Were they really that important to whatever Merlin had been working on? Were they worth chasing that thief down? Were they worth all of this?

He was pulled from his thoughts when a shadow cast over the grass he’d been staring at - the shadow of a creature flying overhead and hovering above him.

If he could’ve curled into himself, just to look as small as possible, he would have. What if it was a vulture, waiting to scavenge him? What if it was a monster, or a winged troll, here to carry him off to some trollish nest in the Wild Wood? None of the thoughts that came to mind were soothing by any means. As the creature swooped down, all Douxie could do was squeeze his eyes shut and hope he wouldn’t be harmed any further.

Even when the figure landed in front of him and stepped closer and closer, he didn’t look at it. It wasn’t until he could feel it’s breath on his face, one of the only sensations of the past few hours that didn’t hurt, that he opened his eyes.

A face of black fur greeted him.

And yellow eyes.

And a round pair of glasses.

Archie!

He couldn’t even say the word, but a sob escaped his throat - a sob of relief? A sob of terror that this might have been the start of an onslaught of hallucinations, the first of which being a sign of rescue? He wasn’t sure. Either way, all he wanted to do was reach up and pet the cat-dragon familiar, or hug him and not let go, but he couldn’t. His arm felt like it weighed half a ton, just like the rest of his limbs.

So, he sobbed. It was all he could do.

“Douxie!” Archie cried.

Merlin’s apprentice could hear the worry in his voice as he stepped back a few paces, his ears back and his wings to his side. Of course, he’d shifted into his dragon form - he must have been able to track Douxie’s scent like that. But Douxie hated the thought of his familiar being in danger because he’d flown here. He was already suspicious enough as a black cat, since they carried the notion of being bad omens. What if he’d gotten taken down? He wasn’t worth that!

Douxie was too relieved - yes, he chose relief, not terror, because that’s all he could afford - to think about all of that though.

“Douxie, I’ve been looking for you! What’s happened to you?” Archie asked, “Merlin expected you back hours ago!”

The first thing that came to mind, despite everything, was an apology for his absence - an apology he couldn’t even say. He couldn’t even say what happened to him, not like -

A spasm cut off from his speeding, scrambled thoughts - a large one in his left arm (his right was still mostly underneath him) that reached all the way from his fingertips to his shoulderblade, forcing his hand to ball into a fist, his arm to fold so tightly that his fist touched his shoulder, and his shoulder to tighten so much that his shoulder pressed to his ear.

The sound of agony ripped from his throat was the closest to a scream he’d gotten yet.

Archie looked horrified, and Douxie could only imagine what the sight of him was like - black strands loose from his bun strewn over his face, his eyes puffy and tear-ringed, his lips contorted in a pained grimace. He imagined he looked as pitiful and helpless as he felt.

(In fact, he didn’t have to imagine it. He could faintly see his reflection in the lenses of Archie’s glasses, and he was right in what he pictured, save for the addition of smudges and speckles of that powder still on his face, the black splotches of dust contrasting his color-drained skin, pale as death.)

His arm relaxed again after a few agonizing moments, letting his hand fall in front of his face and leaving a throbbing ache down to his bones, and Douxie tried to collect himself. He had to tell Archie what was wrong. He had to try. If Archie knew, he could fix it. He could get Merlin to fix it. Right? Right.

“P-” he started, trying his absolute best to form words despite the constriction in his throat and lungs that barely let him breathe at all, “puh- poi-”

His own wheezing cough cut him off.

“Poison?” Archie asked, getting it right much to the little relief that Douxie could manage. He nodded - at least, as close to the motion as he could accomplish - and tried to hum a “mhm” of affirmation, since trying to talk hadn’t exactly worked. Far from it.

Archie stepped forward and sniffed his face. He immediately recoiled, his big eyes widening, and Douxie was proven wrong for thinking he couldn’t be more terrified.

“Oh, dear.” His eyes glanced to what must have been a few more clumps and speckles of dust on the ground, “Ohhh, not good. Not good at all.”

No. Archie couldn’t be scared. If Archie was scared for him, then this was so, so much worse than he thought. How could it possibly be worse?

Douxie squeaked out a whimper in fear, and Archie’s attention snapped back to him (as if it could have been anywhere else).

“Douxie, don’t worry.” he said, “You’ll be alright.”

Archie was never a good liar, much to Douxie’s dismay. If Archie was going to hide the truth to soothe him, he at least would’ve liked it to work. His immediately telling Douxie not to worry had the opposite effect of what was intended; it showed him his worry - his terror - was entirely warranted, which was the exact thing he didn’t want to know. Even if all he said was “You’ll be alright.”, the fear that seemed to bristle through his fur was indication enough of the contrary.

Archie’s eyebrows, indicated by the grey patches in the fur above his eyes, upturned as if in dread.

“...But I need to go.”

NO!

If Douxie could have screamed the word and reached out to hold Archie, he would have done it right at that moment, but all he could do was whine like a kicked puppy, his eyebrows raising as his head shook - an unconscious movement, minute despite his desperation.

“Douxie, Douxie, listen.” Archie said, softening his voice, “I can’t carry you back to the castle. I wouldn't be able to fly carrying you anyway, but especially not with your-”

Archie got cut off by another one of Douxie’s spasms - this one made his left leg curl up so tight that his thigh touched his torso, causing the apprentice to nearly involuntarily hit Archie with his knee, which the cat-dragon barely dodged.

“-that." Archie said, "Not with that.”

Douxie saw the sense in that, despite his panic. He did, he did, he did.

But - 

He sobbed again.

-But he didn’t want to be alone.

Sweet heart of Avalon, he didn’t want to be alone. 

The worst of his pain and terror wasn’t from the paralysis, or the aching, or the random twitches, or the burning that came from trying to use his magic, or even the tightness in his throat and lungs that robbed him of speaking or even screaming; it came from being alone in this - from wondering if anyone would come for him, or find his body; it came from knowing that there was nothing he could do but lay there, at the mercy of nature, the poison wracking his body with every beat of his heart, and the determination (or lack thereof) of someone else to find him.

And when he opened his eyes to find Archie there, all of that went away - all of that fear that told him he’d die alone here. He didn’t want it to come back. He would’ve rather the poison take him right now.

“I just need to go back to the castle and bring Merlin here. He’ll know what to do.”

Archie put his paw in Douxie’s limp, open palm. All Douxie wanted to do was hold it, and he so desperately hoped the next twitch would be in his hand so he could.

“I won’t be long. I promise.”

But what if it was too long, even if he hurried?

What if Merlin was too late, even if he hurried?

What if it took too long to convince his master to come here? Would the fact that he’d been poisoned and needed help be enough, or would Merlin refuse because it served Douxie right for his insolence?

(No, no, he wouldn’t do that. Merlin said that mastery over magic was mastery over life, and he had to learn how to live. He couldn’t learn to live if he died here in the woods.)

What if… 

What if this killed him before Archie came back?

...No.

It wasn’t the same this time. Douxie wasn’t lost here, hoping against hope that someone would find him. This was hope - someone knew where he was, and help would come. He could handle a little bit more fear for that hope, he knew.

So, fighting the grating, awful ache in his bones, Douxie closed his hand around Archie’s paw and put on as brave a face he found himself able to muster, nodding as much as he could while causing as little pain to himself as possible.

He didn’t trust much in this - not even his own body to keep fighting the poison - but he trusted Archie, and he trusted his promise.

His familiar gently pulled his paw away before slipping it under the side of Douxie’s head, lifting it a little off the ground. The little apprentice was confused for a moment, until Archie reached behind Douxie’s head with his mouth. He could hear the sounds of the woods stifle as fabric came over his ears, warding off the now-coolness of the woodsy air around his head as Archie pulled the hood of his vest over his head and gingerly laid it back down.

Ah, he got it now - it was a little comfort, a little shelter from the world.

And of course he took it, hoping his eyes conveyed his gratitude.

He kept up his brave front as Archie turned away from him, something Douxie could tell he’d done reluctantly, and flew off. It wasn’t until he couldn’t see his familiar anymore - until the sight of the cat-dragon vanished behind the treetops - that he let it fall and shatter.

He just had to keep waiting. That’s all he had to do - wait and trust Archie to come back with Merlin. He knew that.

But he could still feel new tears come down his face.

---

Douxie wished he could see the sunset from where he lay. It would have been beautiful, he knew.

The spasms subsided a little while after Archie flew back, leaving Douxie limp on the ground - still unable to move without hurting himself or try to use his magic without thrusting himself into agony - with a lingering pins-and-needles sensation in his hands and feet that felt like it was crawling up from his ankles and wrists.

(Honestly, Douxie still wasn’t sure if the spasms had truly subsided for good, or if this was just a rather long interval between them. He hoped it was the former. The spasms never hurt any less as they went on, and he was so, so tired of the pain.)

Archie still hadn’t come back with Merlin yet, obviously, and at this point, it seemed like Douxie was fighting off his doubt more than the poison. At least he knew what the poison was doing to him - he could feel it every waking moment. But Archie… Douxie didn’t know what had happened to him, and he wouldn’t unless he came back.

(No, until he came back. Douxie had to keep that certainty alive in his mind.)

But how was he supposed to know that his familiar hadn’t taken a tumble? That he hadn’t been brought down by some witch hunter’s net? What if Merlin was being stubborn about coming for him? What if he’d been busy in another row with King Arthur?

...Indeed, he would have loved to see the sunset - to at least try to let it distract him from the tornado of worst case scenarios in his mind.

But he couldn’t.

For a bit, he tried distracting himself by thinking about how Merlin might’ve reacted to him being in danger - to hearing that he’d been poisoned. He sort of liked imagining how scared he’d be, for he preferred fear to indifference. The mental image of his master dropping whatever book he’d been flipping through and rushing to follow Archie… it was a comforting one, as strange as it might sound. That fear meant he mattered.

But Douxie soon grew tired even of that. He hoped he might’ve ran into a patch frequented by fireflies. Those would at least come low enough to dip into his line of sight, and they were always so beautiful, like stars visiting earth for a night before going back to the sky…

Douxie grew cold again at some point. Not just cold, but damp. Since it hadn’t started raining, fortunately, he rightly assumed that it was sweat. Perhaps he was finally sweating this out, like a fever, but that was too good, too fortunate to figure. This was another progression of the poison, he was sure. Just like…

Douxie noticed something in his left hand that lay in front of his face, something wrong…

Oh, sweet heart of Avalon.

His veins were black. 

Hoping, begging, praying to be wrong, he pushed through that dreadful ache in his arm so he could pull it closer, but it only confirmed his suspicions - his dread - his terrors.

The veins in his wrist, in the creases of his knuckles - they weren’t deep blue anymore, just barely visible underneath his skin, but as black as that powder that got blown in his face. Ink could be coursing through them right now, and he’d have been none the wiser.

In that moment, Douxie was proven wrong once again for thinking he couldn’t be more terrified.

He gasped as much as his throat and lungs let him, and he didn’t stop gasping. But then his chest -

No no NO!

-his chest started to seize up.

He fought the growing tightness in his chest with every breath, forcing each one in and out like a wheeze, but it wouldn’t go away. He couldn’t tell if it was from poison or panic, but it wouldn’t go away. He’d even started coughing, which was inevitable, but the black splotch that splattered into his hand terrified him all the more.

This was it. He was going to die here. He was going to succumb to this. He’d never come back to the castle - to Archie, to Morgana, to Merlin - from a trivial herb picking. Archie would come back here, but all he’d find was - was - was -

“HISIRDOUX!”

Douxie burst into tears.

He could recognize the voice of his master - his father - anywhere, but he was so, so scared that it was a hallucination. The fear in his voice already sounded so foreign, coming from the great and powerful Merlin Ambrosius, and if the sound of his voice and his footsteps coming near him came only from his desperate imagination, then he’d - he’d -

A hand gripped his shoulder and turned him onto his back. Finally, he could look up at the sky, aglow with sunset, but his glassy eyes only saw Merlin kneeling down at his side, and Archie flying above him.

The terror in Merlin’s eyes was the exact opposite of comforting, but Douxie didn’t get to see it for long before Merlin conjured a damp cloth and wiped off his face what had to have been the rest of that poisonous powder. He hadn’t realized how flushed he’d been until that moment, when that rag felt so cold against his cheeks.

Merlin finished wiping off Douxie’s face and made the cloth disappear. Douxie missed the coolness on his face. He wanted it back.

“Hisirdoux, say something!” he demanded. But Douxie couldn’t - didn’t Merlin think he would’ve already been screaming his lungs out if he could?

“D-” he choked, “Da-”

He hacked up another throatful of black phlegm, whimpering as the violence of his cough made his torso curl up. Merlin dodged the cough, but put an arm under Douxie’s back before he could fall back.

An apology lay at the back of his throat - one he didn’t know the reason for, even if he could’ve said it.

Merlin brought his other arm behind Douxie’s knees and lifted him like he weighed nothing (and he probably didn’t weigh much to Merlin, being the gangly moppet he was). The edges of the plating of the master wizard’s armor dug against him uncomfortably, but it was the least discomforting thing about this, overshadowed near-completely by the comfort that came just by being held. But he was still scared - if more of that powder was on him, and Merlin touched it by holding him, then -

He stifled a cough, and his leg kicked out unconsciously like a thumping rabbit’s foot. He didn’t realize how badly he’d been tremoring until it was contrasted with the steadiness of Merlin holding him.

Yes… steadiness, safety - two things he’d wanted to cling to more than anything since all this had started. And now, he had them. He had his familiar, and he had his father.

His head, still covered with the hood of his vest, lolled back uncomfortably without any support, but he felt something soft push against the back of it- it was actually Archie, though Douxie couldn’t see it - until the side of his head lay against one of the shoulderpieces of Merlin’s armor, cushioned by the cloth of his hood.

He sighed as much as his tightened chest would allow.

He was so scared.

Douxie was still so, so terrified that Merlin couldn’t save him after all; that he’d die tonight; that he’d never use his magic again; that he’d never get to become a master wizard or get his own staff to wield; that he’d never again get to go back down to the marketplace and talk to that pretty girl who frequented the shops.

(What was her name? Zelda? Zona? Zola? Zo-)

He felt something warm settle on his abdomen - Archie had turned back into a cat and curled up on his tummy, purring as he nestled where Douxie’s legs curled.

At least, despite everything else he feared, he didn’t have to be terrified of being alone anymore.

---

Douxie wasn’t sure if Merlin used a portal, or the relief of being found by his master had finally let him lull out of consciousness for the length of the time it took to be carried back, but the next thing he knew, he was in Merlin’s study. Despite the fluttering of his eyelids, he could recognize the shelves, the desk, and the stained glass window letting in the last light of day.

Home.

He was home.

No matter what happened next, he was home.

“Douxie!” He could hear Morgana’s voice shouting his name in worry, followed immediately by her fast-approaching footsteps.

“Mmh…” Douxie whimpered. It wasn’t clear whether or not the noise was just a pained whine or an attempt to try saying her name - not even to Douxie himself. He couldn’t see her very well, but he could tell when she’d come to them, stepping to the side as Merlin walked forward to his desk.

“Is he alive?” she asked.

“Somehow, yes.” Merlin answered. Douxie hated that “somehow” and the fear it brought, but it was just a little more to add to the onslaught of the past hours. He could just add it to the pile, he supposed.

In the middle of the room, Merlin’s big desk was empty, so the wizard laid him down on the surface, having him lay flat on his back with his hands at his sides, his legs straightened out, and his head facing up. Now, he could fully see Morgana, the sorceress he’d come to see as something of a big sister just as he came to see Merlin as a father, looking down at him. Her face was upside-down from where she stood over him, but he could still see her upturned brows and glistening eyes, and the way she clasped her hands close to her chest so they didn’t even touch him. He hated that look of worry on her face. Seeing Morgana - always fearless, always grasping for more from the world than what others had permitted, always steadfast in her ruthless ambition - look so scared for him… 

...It was worse, if such a thing was possible, than when he saw how scared Merlin was for him, and there was so much he wanted to say, but he was still just focused on trying to breathe as deeply as he could.

Archie got off his abdomen and sat next to his head, gently headbutting his temple before putting a paw on his forehead. It was a little comforting, almost enough to distract Douxie from realizing that Merlin wasn’t at his side anymore.

Almost, though. Not enough.

Douxie tried turning his head to the side, but Archie gently kept it still with his paw.

“He’s just finding a spellbook, Douxie.” he assured, immediately knowing what the apprentice was trying to turn his head for, “He’ll be right back.”

Morgana looked down on the little scene and closed her eyes for a moment, as if to quell her tears, before opening them again.

“You shouldn’t have held him.” she warned, turning her head to wherever Merlin stood now, “You know what that can-”

“I’m well aware.” Merlin interrupted from wherever he still was, “And you know I’ve little concern for that.”

Douxie didn’t understand. There was still so little he understood about whatever was doing this to him, and he didn’t know how to ask about it - he couldn’t.

But apparently, his upturned brows and whimpers of confusion were enough to indicate - at least to Archie - how lost he was.

“Douxie, that powder - it’s called Draining Dust.” Archie explained, “It’s a magic suppressant, and… a poison, as you know by now.”

“Witch hunters would put this in shackles.” Morgana said, finally speaking to him, “To nullify wizards’ and witches’ magic on their way to the gallows. Or the stakes.”

“Trace amounts, yes.” Merlin came back into his view, an open spellbook floating near him with a signature green aura around it, “Pinches of it, cast in the metal. It would suppress the wearer’s magic as long as it was on their body, with a few side effects. Fatigue, headaches, nausea…” he started listing as he flipped through the pages.

Douxie remembered the handful of the stuff that had been thrown in his face. That was far from a few pinches. And those side effects he’d started listing - they sounded tame, menial compared to what was happening to him now.

“But direct contact with raw powder…” Archie started. Douxie knew he was hesitant to finish that sentence, and it wasn’t hard to assume why (but it was terrifying).

“It’s deadly.” Morgana said, “Few wizards have ever survived inhaling or digesting it. More sadistic witchfinders have used that to-”

“Morgana!” Merlin snapped, urging her to leave off. But she didn’t.

“He should know!” she snapped back, “It’s already in his bloodstream, old man. It’s killing him, and he deserves to-”

Douxie started crying again at Morgana’s brutal honesty, as if this all weren’t brutal enough. His eyes squeezed shut as tears streamed down his temples, but when he opened them again, it was darker, like he was looking through a veil. The sight made him want to cry even harder.

It was in his tears.

Oh, sweet heart of Avalon, the poison was in his tears.

It made sense now, why Morgana was so scared to touch him. His own body fluids - his blood, his tears, probably his sweat soon enough - were turning poisonous from this. The only reason Archie was still touching him was probably because he wasn’t a wizard, but a familiar, and this wouldn’t affect him so badly.

(It actually very well could have affected Archie for the worse, but watching Douxie endure this without any comfort would have been worse than any poison.)

“It’s not killing him.” Merlin denied as if he was trying to convince both Morgana and himself, “His death is not certain. If it were, I would have already placed a sleeping spell on him by now.��

Douxie clung to that little hope and tried to watch Merlin scan for the spell he’d been looking for. Merlin had a way to fix this, of course he did; it’s as he said - he would have already put Douxie to sleep to grant him some peace if he didn’t.

Douxie watched his master’s page flipping stall as his eyes scanned over one particular page. His face fell - a minute, near-unnoticeable change in expression, but one that made Douxie’s pounding heart sink.

“Merlin?” Archie asked, “Have you found something?”

Merlin said nothing at first, only taking his place by stepping right to the table’s edge, coming right to Douxie’s side.

“I’ve found a spell to expel the poison and it’s remnants,” he explained, still only scanning the book, “But purging it from his body when it’s progressed this far will be…”

His eyes fell on Douxie’s.

“...quite excruciating.”

But Douxie was already so, so tired.

Not physically - the combined force of the poison and his own adrenaline warded off any chance of fatigue - but in his heart. He was so tired of being scared. Of being in so much pain. He didn’t want to do it - he didn’t think he could…

...But he remembered something Merlin said to him before.

“If there is a universal truth in this world, it is that struggle is the flame which forges one’s soul into steel.”

Well, if there was something tougher than steel, that’s what his soul would become.

Because wizards were strong. Brave. Unrelenting to pain or fear. That’s how Merlin was, that’s how Morgana was, and that’s how he would be.

He put on a brave face - as brave as he could possibly muster in the face of what he’d endure - and nodded. He could do this. He had to do this.

And he would.

The green aura around the spellbook faded as Merlin set it down. Archie lifted his paw from Douxie’s head and stepped back a few paces.

“Morgana, keep him still.” Merlin said, “His thrashing may cause him to injure himself.”

Morgana nodded and brought her hands up, an unsaid apology in her eyes. Seconds later, Douxie felt warm, gentle heat around his wrists and ankles. It didn’t hurt, but it was unrelenting. He didn’t test the bonds, lacking the strength or any actual will to do so. Still under a sort of paralysis, he wasn’t scared of being pinned down, for he knew it was just a precaution; he was just scared of how bad the pain would be in order for restraining him like this to be necessary.

The precaution was far from unwarranted, he came to realize in the coming moments.

Merlin hovered one hand over Douxie’s chest and the other over his abdomen. Douxie watched him say some incantation, but he didn’t catch the words. He was too busy bracing himself for the pain as he saw the green aura of his master’s magic out of the corner of his eye, glowing above his torso.

Before Merlin even got to take a breath after the incantation, the pain started.

And no amount of bracing could have prepared Douxie enough.

The sudden agony in his torso ripped the breath from his lungs. He thought - hoped it would start small and get worse and worse, like a simmer that got hotter and hotter, but instead it was like a pot of scalding water got poured over his chest. No, even that would have hurt less. This… it started at the surface, but it bled deeper and deeper under his skin, and then -

Oh, sweet heart of Avalon.

-then it started to spread.

In moments, as if searing agony itself coursed through his veins, there was nowhere on his body that didn’t burn, not even his fingertips or the tip of his pinky toes. If he could feel it, it hurt, and it hurt unlike anything he’d ever felt before.

As the agony overrode his paralysis, he thrashed against Morgana’s magic that kept his wrists and ankles in place, arching his back one moment and curling forward the next.

It hurt to breathe. It hurt to try to open his eyes. It hurt to keep them squeezed shut. It hurt to try to hear the voices of those around him - Morgana trying to tell him to be strong, Archie trying to soothe him, Merlin repeating the incantation. It hurt even to think - the pain, blinding and deafening, flooded out all other thoughts.

For a moment, like a fire burning so hot it feels cold for a fleeting beat, he stopped feeling the searing, searing agony.

But the moment was too, too fleeting before it wracked him again.

Finally, finally, he screamed.

It was a raw, shrill, agonized thing. He felt it come up from the base of his throat, and when Douxie realized, through his hysteria, that he was actually screaming, not wheezing or whimpering or anything he’d had to settle for tonight, he couldn’t stop. He screamed for all the torture of the day, all the fear of being alone, all the panic and terror and despair that he couldn’t let out in the woods, tense and spasming and paralyzed. 

All the screams that couldn’t come out before, when his throat was so tight that it barely let him breathe, came out right now, bursting at the seams of his pain-delirious mind.

He didn’t stop screaming until he finally felt Merlin’s magic let off.

Even then, his screams settled only into groans and wails until the burning across his body finally cooled; until the pain weakened from a searing sensation all over him, like the most brazen of fires, to a low ache, like the embers of a dying camp flame.

Once he fully stilled, which took a few more moments, Morgana’s magic came off his wrists and ankles.

Finally, he came back to his senses and see Merlin, Morgana, and Archie still around him. Archie looked relieved and nuzzled the side of Douxie’s head. Morgana smiled a shaky, hesitant smile - still so foreign to see from her.

And Merlin…

Well, he seemed as difficult to read as usual, but at least he no longer had the expression on his face of a man watching his apprentice die. Traces of relief lay there, and Douxie gladly took them.

So… was it over?

Douxie groaned and lifted his arm. It didn’t hurt to do anymore - well, it did, but more like a soreness left in the wake of heavy lifting, a residue of what happened than a symptom of it. He brought it up to his face so he could see his wrist.

His veins were blue again.

Sighing, he let his hand fall on his face and wiped away some tears - lifting it to see they were purely clear, like before - before letting it slide off his cheek and fall limp next to his head.

“Master…” his voice was so little, so hoarse, “‘s it gone?”

“Every bit, Hisirdoux.” Merlin said, putting his hand on Douxie’s shoulder, “It's over.”

He sounded weary. Douxie hoped that spell didn't take too much from him.

“Mm… my magic… 's it gone too?”

Merlin’s eyes said he wasn’t sure himself.

Douxie sought to answer the question on his own and willed forth his magic. He felt his fingertips thrum with the life of his sorcery. Lifting his hand again, he saw little specks of light, blue and true. It didn’t burn anymore, but it felt warm and gentle, like a heartbeat. His heartbeat. Exactly as it always felt.

He sighed. Not shaky, not fighting to keep his breathing level - a tired, relieved sigh. Despite how sore even the muscles in his face felt, he smiled a little smile.

“Thank you…” he said, “If you all hadn’t… I’d be-”

Merlin moved his hand from Douxie’s shoulder to his forehead.

“Don’t pay that scenario any mind, Hisirdoux.” Merlin urged, “You’ve survived, and although you and your magic have been weakened, both will fully recover.”

Douxie’s little smile fell.

“Wha… what about the poison? It couldn’t just be gone.”

“That it can.” Merlin assured, taking his hand off Douxie’s head, “As brutal as it is to the wizard affected, an unaffected wizard with strong magic can eradicate it from their body and return it to it’s untarnished condition.”

...Well, that was that, and Douxie wouldn’t question it. Besides, he remembered something.

“Mmmy bracelet… I lost it. That - they took it off. It’s in a bush out there.”

“I can see that. That’s alright.” Merlin said, “It can be retrieved.”

“And… and I'm sorry.” He said to Merlin’s subtle but obvious surprise, indicated by a little raise in his eyebrows.

“What for?”

“I… the herbs.” he answered, “I couldn’t bring them back. They got stolen.”

“It’s alright,” Merlin said, “They aren’t a rarity, you know.”

...Douxie sniffled.

“That… they only snatched those plants so I’d follow them deeper into the woods. So I’d get lost. So they could throw that dust in my face and - and leave me there, knowing I’d gone further into the forest than… than anyone would’ve looked, and I wouldn’t be found.” 

“But you were found, Douxie.” Archie said, “They weren’t counting on you having a dragon that could track scents for a familiar.”

Douxie’s voice started to break.

“I should have left it alone - I knew I should have left it alone. There was more right there, I should’ve-”

“Hisirdoux, cease this.” Merlin said in a tone that left no room for insistence, “You must grant yourself some relief in you and your magic’s survival. I won’t have you fret over something as menial as a handful of herbs, so-”

“But Master-”

“-Don’t “But Master” me.”

Douxie sighed. That statement didn’t leave any room for argument. It never did.

Finally, a little normalcy tonight.

Morgana put her hands to the sides of Douxie’s head. After she’d been so scared to touch him this whole time, the feeling of her fingers against his temples, brushing his hair away from his face, was a final, true assurance that the poison had been well and truly purged.

“Sleep, Little Douxie.” she soothed, “I promise you’ll wake.”

He couldn’t tell if she cast a sleep spell in that moment, or if this was from his own fatigue, but he obeyed without hesitance as he was finally lulled away from the realm of the conscious and fell into slumber.

---

Merlin looked down at the boy lying asleep on his desk, the color slowly trickling back into his face as his chest rose and fell in deep, steady breaths. 

“He’s a brave little moppet.” Morgana said as she kept her fingers against the sides of his head, her voice hushed despite the fact that the boy’s exhaustion had lulled him into a deep slumber, and he’d sleep like a stone until morning no matter what.

“...No, he’s not.” Merlin denied, “Not for this.”

Morgana snapped her head up.

“He’s just gone through more torment from that powder in one day than either of us have in all our lives!” Morgana she contested, “Not even you have endured effects that brutal from Draining Dust.”

“To be brave requires a choice - being faced with the ultimatum to either run and give up, or face your fight.” Merlin said, too proverbial and righteous-sounding as he stood over Douxie, “A choice was the exact thing he didn’t have in this. Perhaps if he’d been withholding something from that assailant, even with the threat of this, then it might be different. But as it is, even if he’d wanted to succumb to this before Archie had found him, his adrenaline hadn’t let him.”

“Maybe so,” Archie started, “but when I found him there in the forest, and I told him I’d have to come back with help, he was terrified of being left alone again. I could tell. But he put on as brave a face he could have. He chose that for himself, at least.”

“He did the same thing moments ago, when you told him how much that spell would hurt.” Morgana added, “He may not have had a choice in enduring this, but he did choose to steel his nerves when faced with every reason not to, and there’s bravery in that, old man.” She crossed her arms. “Even you have to admit that.”

Merlin almost found it endearing, seeing them both try to defend his apprentice’s honor when they felt it threatened, and maybe he could’ve seen the bravery they saw, if he’d been looking at anyone else.

But as he looked down at Hisirdoux… that’s all he saw. Hisirdoux. His apprentice. His son. His gangly little moppet who tended to cause more messes than he cleaned up, but smiled like the embodiment of joy itself.

If daylight decided to make itself corporeal and walk among humans for a while, Merlin wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if it took the form of Hisirdoux Casperan.

So, the sorcerer didn’t see bravery when he found Hisirdoux writhing and gasping on the ground in those woods, he didn’t feel bravery when the boy trembled in his arms, and he most certainly didn’t hear bravery when the boy wailed and screamed his lungs out as that poison was taken out of him, black tears streaming down his face until they became clear again.

No, if Douxie had been brave, pride in that laid nowhere in Merlin’s mind. 

After all, when fear for his son’s life flooded his mind, and hatred for whoever did this to him flooded out that fear, where, pray tell, could pride reside?

Morgana kept looking down at Douxie as he slept.

“How could you risk that?” she asked Merlin.

“Risk what, Morgana?” he asked, “Be specific.”

She snapped her head back up.

“You know what I’m talking about!” Morgana almost shouted, stifling her volume so the sleeping moppet wouldn’t hear, ““Eradicate” my foot, old man. I know the spell you used. You didn’t use a spell of eradication, you used a spell of transference!”

Arhcie had been staring down at his own sleeping familiar, but he snapped up when he heard that word, “transference”. First he looked to Morgana, then to Merlin.

“You told him it got destroyed, but you just - all you did was soak it up like a sponge!”

“Merlin… is that true?” Archie asked, obviously afraid that after all of this, Douxie would wake up without his mentor - his father - because he’d taken the poison for him. The little apprentice left without a master would never stop blaming himself, no matter how hard Morgana and Archie tried to tell him it wasn’t his fault.

Merlin sighed, an affirmation without words or nods.

“I spent the years since it’s conception,” he started, “building an immunity to the dust and its properties. It was too big a risk, potentially having a weakness to something so daunting - something I’d seen subdue and poison countless wizards. Too high a risk - a threat to the greater good.”

“So… the poison’s not having any affect on you?” Archie asked, stepping around Douxie to approach Merlin, “It’s not… he couldn’t have gone through all of this just to lose you.”

“And he won’t.” Merlin assured in confidence, “Much more than a handful of that powder would have had to be thrown at him to have any severe affect on me. No, this won’t need more than a night of rest to fix. Besides, what’s the good in spending all that time building up an immunity to Draining Dust if not to make use of it? A waste of time and tolerance built.”

“You couldn’t have known it wouldn’t...” Morgana said, “You couldn’t have possibly known you’d survive taking all of it like that!”

“I didn’t.” Merlin snapped.

Morgana’s eyes widened, as if everything about what the boy meant to him fell into place.

Because he hadn’t worried about his survival - the matter didn’t even cross his mind, not when he could still hear Douxie whimpering in pain with each page of that spellbook he skimmed. No, he only concerned himself with the likelihood that it would save the boy, his only worry being about how badly it would hurt Douxie when he’d already had to go through so much senseless, ludicrous torture.

Merlin always prioritized the “greater good”, some vast, staggering, intangible concept that encapsulated so much - the lives of thousands, the wellbeing of millions, the good of humanity.

But when he found his son writhing, hurting, suffocating, dying, he found he couldn’t spare any more regard to the “greater good” in that moment than he would a layer of dust on one of his books. If saving Hisirdoux’s life meant casting aside the greater good, then there was no question about it - he’d let the greater good rot.

It didn’t matter to him if his magic would’ve been permanently diminished by extracting the poison, or even if it killed him. Cast the greater good aside - the greatest good was the life in Hisirdoux’s eyes, and by all the heavens, he’d protect it.

And thankfully, he did just that tonight, at the cost of neither his life, his health, or his own magic. And that was the greatest good he could have asked for.

With another sigh, relieved that Morgana chose not to pry, Merlin looked down at the boy, still sound asleep, laid out on his desk. He put one arm under Douxie’s back and the other behind his knees, picking him up just like he did when he found him in those woods.

But this time, instead of trembling in his hold, Douxie made a little noise and unconsciously put his arm over Merlin’s shoulder, snuggling closer, if it were possible, to the master wizard.

Yes. he thought. There’s no greater good than this.

Morgana put her hands over her mouth and looked at the two of them as if the sight was something adorable, and Merlin huffed. Archie took his same spot curled up on Douxie’s abdomen.

“I’m taking him to his room.” he said, hushing his voice even though he knew the moppet wouldn’t wake, “And I’ll let him sleep in tomorrow morning. He needs to rest.”

The sun had set sometime during the painstaking ordeal, but torchlight along the walls of the castle made it easy to take his sleeping apprentice back to his room even once night has fallen. After using a simple spell to swing the door open while his arms were in use carrying the boy, Merlin walked in and used another little spell. The green aura of his magic glowed around the blanket on Douxie’s bed as he folded part of it over using his magic, providing room to lay Douxie down on his bed with head nestled right in his pillow’s usual dent. Once Archie stepped out of the way, Merlin reached over and laid the blanket back over him.

Douxie stirred a little, but only to turn from his back onto his side, his back to the wall and his front facing Merlin. Once the boy settled again, Merlin tentatively reached behind his head and let his bun loose so it wouldn’t get tangled if he moved around too much in his sleep. He doubted it would, considering the exhaustion and soreness in his muscles would probably enticement enough to stay still, even unconscious, but the gesture couldn’t hurt.

Archie crawled right underneath one of Douxie’s arms and nestled against his chest, and the moppet unconsciously held the bespectacled cat a little tighter.

And that was Merlin’s unspoken cue to leave Hisirdoux to rest for the night, so that’s what he did. He needed rest too, after all - his built-up immunity may have saved his life, but the poison, like everything else in the onslaught of the evening, left him weary.

Tomorrow, a search would begin.

Tomorrow, Merlin would find out who was behind this.

Tomorrow, the greatest and most powerful wizard in Camelot would not relent until he found the monster, human or trollish, who almost killed his son.

But tonight, Hisirdoux lay curled up in his bed, sound asleep as he kept his familiar close. Tonight, his life was saved.

And tonight, that was enough.

#tales of arcadia #toa #mine #toa fanfic #whump #hurt/comfort #hisirdoux casperan #douxie #moppet!douxie #archie toa #toa merlin #toa morgana #toa wizards #fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards #draining dust

[feather-dancer]

Tales of Arcadia fanfic recommendations part 7

It’s time for yet another round of recommendations! In this batch is the 80+ Rise of the Titans fics I read as part of the fanfic analysis which have their own section with Tales of Arcadia (Aka the TV part of the franchise) merged into one for ease sake. I’m currently on a bit of an older content binge on behest of someone which is giving me a break from RotT burnout, a few of which are on this list and the rest is already spilling into part 8 sitting in my drafts.

Hope you see something of interest!

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6

If at all interested in my own writing you can find it here!

Tales of Arcadia

A Thousand Years - A series of oneshots following the lives of Douxie and Zoe through the ages including some good old Zouxie fluff.

A Night Off; Comfort Zoe Night - Exactly as it says this is a bout of shameless Zouxie fluff because sometimes you have a bad day and there’s somebody who can treat you to a much nicer evening.

of poison, forest floors, and terrified wizards - It was just a simple errand for Merlin, one he’d done hundreds of times before so there was no reason to wake Archie from his nap and thus Hisirdoux Casperan went off alone. Even in his worst nightmares he couldn’t have expected being struck with poison designed to take out magic users.

Primordial Awakenings - We build our creations from the dead, give them names, offer them power then put them amongst the stars until we forget there was ever a before because the stories have already made them eternal. A delightful take on how the Order as we know might have come to be because sometimes you wonder what if they were birthed in the prehistoric?

Primordial Awakenings — Deleted Scenes - In case you need more content from the above :) This does contain Order ships of various directions.

Already Seen - Easy peasy, lemon squeezy Douxie is caught in the D'aja Vu as well and tries to figure out what the heck is causing it. Contains a little bit of Zouxie fluff.

Mama Bear - It is after Jim’s battle with Draal when Barbara catches sight of numerous bruises covering her son and along with all the other out of character incidents totting up of late naturally she thinks the worst.

Across the Stars - With Zadra now on earth and far away from home, she and Izita snatch the moments they can to to talk to one another. Zadita? Izadra? Genuinely no idea what the shorthand for the ship is.

Reading Wingman - Even the most experienced trolls can get caught out sometimes and in this case AAARRRGGHH shelters in the library. Adorable ensues.

Happy Birthday - Post Trollhunters season 3, everyone deserves a special treat on the anniversary of one of the worst days of your life and that includes Trollhunters.

heavy - Jim might have escaped the Darklands in body but the trauma continues to pursue through not only nightmares but all the way into the waking world too.

from now on - Post Trollhunters season 3, it was hard for Toby he and AAARRGGHH had been left behind but they try to struggle on anyway all the while counting down the days until their friends to come home.

Rise of the Titans

Unbecoming 2 Electric Boogaloo - There are always prices to pay and consequences for wanting to do the right thing if you choose to embrace selfishness instead of logic. You went too far back Jim Lake Jr., you were warned and the cold rush of reality is watching just out of sight to show you why.

Unlikely Places - They managed to stop the Titans with no losses despite it being very close leaving the Order in the very odd position of wrapping their heads around the After. For one former resident of Durio he’s about to find out just how they’re handling things first hand.

Tales of Arcadia: In Search of Home- After using diplomacy with a chance to right the wrongs of the world to bring Skrael on board he and Nari in turn offer the same to Bellroc . This leaves one Hisirdoux Casperan with two additional roommates, trying to make everyone comfortable as they experience new and fancy human things like pasta, earning your keep and the wonders of freezers.

A Better World - After jumping back in time Jim uses his prior knowledge to help nudge things in this timeline for the better with advice and jokes but always keeps the most precious (And painful) close to his chest. Sitting on the roof together one night Toby muses about this strange yet incredible life he’s led so far and what his best friend might have been through in his old one.

Time is a Fickle Thing... - When Jim used the time stone to go back he expected to wake up in his bed on the very same day he’d become the Trollhunter. Instead he awoke in the middle of the nearby woods little more than an observer of his 15 year old self armed with knowledge of the future and the determination to nudge the timeline for the better. This is of course assuming the second hand embarrassment doesn’t kill him first.

Minds are Troubled By The Emptiness - An epilogue for Nancy “Nana” Domzalski in a timeline that was not reset.

Tales of Arcadia: The Final Becoming - A complete rewrite of Rise of the Titans lets fucking go.

Lifting Atlas - It would be unwise to go back in time without a plan so one is cobbled together involving contacting Douxie as soon as possible, bring him on board and try to right the mistakes of the past to save everyone they lost. The trouble is you can’t run from the trauma that led to your best friend dying before your eyes, not even with time travel.

Content warning for the first chapter: There is mention of previous sexual assault and suicide that does not have an in fic warning nor is it tagged. It is mentioned during Jim’s conversation with Douxie and a second time in a vague way after the time jump when they meet up.

Stricklake

Without you there is no world - A oneshot series for Stricklake month following a range of themes from excellent sci-fi worldbuilding, dabbling in one of the author’s AUs, the perils of gravesand and closing with a rather well deserved dig at THAT scene from RotT.

stricklake month...2!!! - Do you want Stricklake that borders on domestic in a range of circumstances including big brother Jim? WELL.

Darling Play Your Violin - There is a saying that history repeats it’s self and it is certainly true for those who live long enough to feel it’s echoes. Sometimes you are given a second chance which turns bittersweet while another will be met with mirth but at least at the end of it all you can say you tried.

To family - Seeking to propose to Barbara, Strickler decides to ask someone dear to them both for permission due to their incredibly complicated background. A trio of toddlers act as witnesses oblivious to their big brother’s sass and plotting.

Parent conference day - Set post RotT, some memories are lingering in the form of dreams that once were, it just takes a chance encounter to start bringing sense to them.

Stricklake Baggage Babeyyyyyy - Walter Strickler is not an innocent changeling which is something Barbara is well aware of. The problem is sooner or later the question has to be asked no matter how scared you are of the reply: Did you kill Principal Levit?

Alternate Universe

"I'll Still be Here." - Once more falling into the “This isn’t technically AU but it doesn’t feel right to put it elsewhere somehow??” issue. Well before two boys will find an Amulet in the canals this is a reminder of how loved ones can be the best thing when anxiety brain gets ideas. Autistic Toby with a side order of Joby/Hammerhunter.

Daddy Issues - So Bular accidentally ended up adopting teeny Jim and it’s adorable.

The End Is the Beginning Is the End - After what should have been a fatal car accident Barbara is offered a choice: Perish or live by trading whatever her saviour decides. She might have thought it was the delusions of a dying mind but the consequences do not agree.

A Brief Reliving of Troll Lore - Camelot has gained unexpected time travelers darkening their doors except this is set in the 7th century and the journey home is going to be a whole lot rougher with survival just as important as preventing history being screwed up. This is a Jim centric fic.

#Trollhunters #3Below #Wizards #ToAWizards #Tales of Arcadia #Rise of the Titans

[noperopesaredope]

Fics That I Really Like A Lot (PART 2)

So I decided to make a part two because if I just did a reblog, most people wouldn’t notice, so I’m adding a like to the OG post that leads to this. Anyways, here’s some more fanfics I started reading/have found that I really like, as well as some more creators!

Dear Evan Hansen:

(I have complicated feelings about the play, but the fics are excellent at expanding on and improving characters and the story!)

One of a Kind (Series) (absolutely amazing. Bitch ruined me) (Finished, though some of the little side things are still in progress. But the main story is completed, plus its sequel)

Funeral (same author as One of a Kind) (Finished)

Falling in a Forest (great character writing and angst. Prologue might be a bit much for some people, but you can skip it if needed. Great character writing and prose) (Probably discontinued, but still worth the read)

Tales of Arcadia (Mainly Wizards or Douxie-centric):

A Game Night for the History Books (Oneshot) (Finished)

Of Poison, Forest Floors, and Terrified Wizards (you may have read this one here on Tumblr) (Oneshot) (Finished)

Let’s Burn the Path That Was Chosen (Oneshot) (Finished)

Home (Oneshot) (Finished)

I Fear There’ll Be Nothing Good Left of You (Finished???)

Your Future Hasn’t Been Written Yet (One of my all time favorite ToA fics) (Unfinished, going strong)

What’s the Greater Good Worth? Definitely Not This (Oneshot) (Finished)

Other Stuff:

The Growing Pains of Child Soldiers (Miraculous Ladybug) (Finished)

Aloneintherain’s Works

@captainkirkk

I like multiple of their works, many of which are from different fandoms, so I decided to write down which slight more specific ones I like, though I may just suggest a whole section of their fics.

Basically all their Spiderman fics

All their AtLA fics

A Fight You Were Born to Lose (Miraculous Ladybug) (Finished)

Disguised as Something Else (Harry Potter) (Finished)

And that’s pretty much it for now!

#fanfiction #fanfic #fanfics #fanfics i like #fic suggestions #reading list #reading #fics #fandom #fandom stuff #writer appreciation #fanfic writer #fanfic writing #writing #deh #dear evan hansen #deh fanfic #deh fandom #dear evan hansen fanfic #i love that fandom #toa #toa wizards #toa douxie #hiserdoux casperan #hiserdoux #hiserdoux and merlin #douxie #tales of arcadia #toa jim #rott fix it

[bluespiritslight]

Archive

Multi-Chapter Fics

Rumors of My Death: AO3 Tumblr (TOA)

One-Shots

Game Night: AO3 (TOA)

Ribbedoux (series of oneshots) AO3 (TOA)

In a Heatbeat: AO3 Podfic (TOA)

But What Did It Cost: Tumblr (TOA)

3rd party Podfics

of Poison, Forest Floors, and Terrified Wizards: AO3 Tumblr (TOA)

[maychorian]

Weekly Voltron Fic Recs #38

I have been busy posting and editing AGAIN and almost forgot, but here’s the list! There are a LOT of fics posting right now that I haven’t had a chance to get to. So please, do yourself a favor and just go to the Voltron Mini Gen Bang collection on AO3 and read everything there. But here’s the ones I’ve read so far.

Rules: You can find past weekly rec lists here, and non-list recs in my general fic rec tag. Also follow @maychorianrecs for individually tagged posts, the easier to search and reblog. This is stuff I like, and I have a huge bias toward Lance, hurt/comfort, and general fluff, in that order. Gen unless otherwise noted. Please comment on the fics if you read and enjoy them!

Comfort Food by SerenePhenix Words: 4,299 Author’s Summary: Wherein cultural differences run deeper than expected and communication is key. OR Lance finally opens up to Shiro and the poor guy isn’t really sure about what to do. Doesn’t mean he won’t try. My Comments: Poor Lance, but I love Shiro for not giving up until Lance talks to him, and then doing everything he can to help. Part of a modern college AU hurt/comfort series that just seems to get better with every installment.

Reconstruction by grimwoode Words: 15,677 Author’s Summary: When their explosive battle with Zarkon is finally over, the paladins are shocked to find the Black Lion lifeless and her paladin missing. Little do they know, Shiro has unwillingly entered his own battle where his very essence is in danger. With the help of the paladins and the Black Lion, Shiro has to pave his own way back to reality. My Comments: Really lovely post Season Two fic with Shiro going on a journey through the dreams of the other paladins in a slow push back toward reality. I love how everyone cares for him and teaches him how valuable he is. Very sweet and satisfying fic.

We Come Running by a_fearsome_thing Words: 15,699 Author’s Summary: Keith has learned a lot since he discovered he can create fire: don’t trust other people, not even other mutants. Don’t stay in one place for too long. Stay away from the Garrison. Don’t get attached, because everyone leaves. He hasn’t quite learned how to control it, though, which is how he finds Shiro, who’s looking for a school. And just like that, everything he knows turns upside down. My Comments: X-Men AU with a really, really great relationship between Keith and Shiro. Though the others show up at the end, the focus is on them meeting and deciding to travel together, then becoming like brothers to each other. Makes it all the worse when Shiro goes missing, of course.

Kin by Dragonescence, Meteorysh Words: 5,194 Author’s Summary: With the Black Paladin gone, Kolivan decides to stay on board the Castle of Lions. He has his reasons. There is a young Galra aboard, and no matter how long it has been, instincts are instincts and they cannot be denied. My Comments: Absolutely lovely fic with Kolivan mentoring and then basically adopting Keith. Lance is also a sweet presence in this fic, but Kolivan deserves all the praise for making Keith feel wanted and valuable.

Birthday Boy by GemmaRose Words: 3,587 Author’s Summary: Lance never expected to understand the feelings of the girl from Sixteen Candles so well, but then he also never expected to be stuck in space with aliens fighting a war for the freedom of the universe on his birthday. Sometimes life just sucks. My Comments: Poor Lance. He really just needs a lot of love and attention when he’s feeling down. Fortunately, he gets it in this fic.

a dream is a wish by hanbunnotsuki Words: 1,714 Author’s Summary: It’s Lance’s first birthday ever since the whole thing with Voltron happened. He’s far away from home, and yet he still spends it with family. My Comments: Very sweet fic.

Radio Silence by kyanve Words: 21,558 Author’s Summary: Pidge starts a project to find a way to call home and contact their families, and recruits Slav to make sure it can’t be traced. She loses track of working on it in the excitement; Slav doesn’t. And after the events of the last battle, while the Castle is damaged and recovering, they all need it. (Title and chapter titles are references to Radio Silence by Styx.) Artwork included by Ninnani! My Comments: Very emotional post season two fic. I loved the different ways the paladins related to their families, and having Slav and Kolivan there added a nice outside perspective at moments. Lance’s conversations with his family were particularly poignant for me, but it was all good.

Somewhere by Ironic_Swag7782 Words: 1,008 Author’s Summary: Lance gets maybe the best birthday present ever - too bad he isn’t in the right mind to enjoy it. Well, he won’t let a simple fever beat him this time! A short little fic I wrote for Lance’s birthday. My Comments: Short and sweet, and Hunk is perfect.

Dark Places by Bandity Words: 12,183 Author’s Summary: After a terrifying battle, Lance begins to fall apart. Luckily, he has a team ready to pick up the pieces no matter what. My Comments: It’s Bandity, so you know it’s good. The peril Lance falls into is suspenseful and inventive, but this fic also stands out for the characterization of everyone else on the team. I especially love the use of Coran here. Always so satisfying, gah, I could read fics like this all day every day.

Miasma by YukiSkyes Words: 15,966 Author’s Summary: Verterna is slowly dying and Pidge calls for Shiro’s help to investigate the source of the affliction ailing her forest. But the area they must navigate has become a dangerous, noxious swamp shrouded in a miasma of poison. The help of all the Guardian Spirits is going to be needed if they want to find out what’s happening. It’s just as well when it becomes apparent that there’s something malicious lurking in the mists beyond. My Comments: I really love the pacing and worldbuilding of this fic. It starts out in a bad situation and never stops for an info-dump, just tells us what we need to along the way in a very efficient and interesting way. It feels like it’s part of an ongoing series, but it also stands on its own perfectly. I love all of the paladins’ abilities and their teamwork, and the conflict is very suspenseful and exciting. Super fun and original fantasy AU.

Operation Holiday by SmolPidge Words: 9,052 Author’s Summary: After Zarkon’s defeat and Shiro’s disappearance, a mourning Team Voltron, with no current plans for the universe’s future, decide to take a break and use this brief period of peace to celebrate everything they’ve missed on Earth in a rather unorthodox manner. In other words, Keith is salty about everyone having fun as they try to recreate Earth holidays. My Comments: Great, episode-like mix of humor, grief, fluff, and team bonding. Everyone gets a moment to shine.

Efficiently Vicious by Quiet_Shadow Words: 1,166 Author’s Summary: “Pidge was awesome!” Lance giggled nervously again. “I wish you had been with us, Shiro. Our little lioness was sooo brutal; the poor guys didn’t know what befell them!” Or: Lance is concussed, Pidge is embarrassed, and Shiro realizes he made a mistake letting the two of them go on their own and that Pidge can be damn vicious, even on accident… My Comments: Cute and funny fic featuring concussed Lance and badass Pidge.

When I Grow Up… by blueconstellation Words: 1,408 Author’s Summary: Lance is down after a hard battle, Keith talks him through it My Comments: Really sweet, introspective bonding fic.

Don’t Take No Sorcery by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) Words: 7,471 Author’s Summary: Just a few months ago, Shiro learned about the existence of the Wizarding World. Today, he boards the train to begin his first year.A prequel to Butteredonion’s Unafraid My Comments: The way Shiro and Matt and Allura meet and become friends is both adorable and realistic. They are all three such different people, yet they get along so well. I can really see how that one short train ride would have bonded them for life. And they’re all characterized brilliantly, of course, because this is bosstoaster.

The Drone Advantage by spitfire00 Words: 6,568 Author’s Summary: But the picture she had most clearly in her mind was the one in which she was forced to watch as some faceless Galrans beat Hunk with their guns until he stopped twitching on the floor, and how Keith had screamed so hard that no sound came out when Lance was shot point blank by one of the Galran’s blasters, then tossed into a room to bleed from his stomach until he died, or how Shiro fought with the desperation of a man gone mad- or, as Pidge couldn’t help but assume, with the desperation of a man who had already seen the horrors that awaited them in the Galran prison. or Team Voltron is captured by a Galra prison ship. Pidge orchestrates an escape with the aid of forty drones. My Comments: This fic is so intense, and Pidge is an incredible badass. Her determination to get them all out really drove the fic. It felt like a twenty-minute action scene in a movie. Very suspenseful, great driving pace.

Joker and the Thief by legendarydesvender (svensationalist) Words: 6,454 Author’s Summary: “I see you met Nyma,” the bartender says with a wry smile after Rolo returns to the nunvillary with questions. “You’re not the first person she fooled and I doubt you’ll be the last. Take anything important?” “Everything except my life, really,” Rolo admits. *** Life is shitty with the Empire breathing down your neck, but it’s not so bad when you’ve got a partner in crime. A backstory for Rolo and Nyma. Written for the Voltron Gen Mini Bang 2017; partnered with kickingshoes. My Comments: Great backstory for these characters, really made me care about them. Their histories both make a lot of sense in a universe consumed by war and subjugation, and I’m glad they found each other, because they both very badly need a friend. Rolo’s history was particularly painful.

Journey by Smoke_Wisp Words: 2,265 Author’s Summary: Coran opened the closet and peered inside at Pidge. He blinked a few times and gave a bemused Jeeves look. “Hello, there?” he said, “Have I interrupted one of your strange but culturally important Earth customs?” “Not exactly,” said Pidge as she extricated herself from the pile of buckets, “I thought you were the princess.” “Hmm,” Coran twirled his mustache and peered into the closet. “Are you two playing a game of Hide and Find?” “We humans call it Hide and Seek.” “Not a very ambitious game then, is it?” Since revealing her true gender to her teammates, Pidge has been having conflicting thoughts about her identity, and Allura’s seeking her out to have some “girl time” isn’t helping. My Comments: Great interaction between Coran and Pidge. He’s a good listener, and sometimes Pidge needs someone to listen.

For Want of Yeast by squirenonny Words: 2,676 Author’s Summary: It figured when he finally found real, genuine, eat-it-with-butter bread, it would be at Vrepit Sal’s. Or, Hunk just wants to make everyone’s favorite comfort foods, but they all seem to involve bread, and there’s no yeast in outer space–except at Sal’s. My Comments: I adore Hunk as a culinary expert, and he deserves all the fans in the universe. Sal is so genuinely delighted to see him and learn from him again. It really did my heart good.

Interlude: The Art of Friendship by TheQueen Words: 7,653 Author’s Summary: Lance and Hunk were not always friends. A gen minibang fic! My Comments: It’s great to see a fic that treats a platonic relationship with all the gravity and pathos of a romantic relationship. It’s so rare! But yes, friendships can be just as intense and full of drama and jealousy and misunderstandings as romantic relationships, and I love the journey that Hunk and Lance went on here in learning to accommodate each other and, yes, love each other just as they are.

Paladin’s Guide to Bonding in Space by Mikiri Words: 17,541 Author’s Summary: Pidge had tried to keep it a secret that she danced, but like any secret on an alien ship that had seven people, everyone found out. Upon discovery that she was not the only member of the crew with that secret, the Paladins decided to use dance to educate their Altean hosts on how humans conduct bonding exercises. My Comments: Really fun fic in which all of the paladins have different dance styles and decide to put on a recital for Allura and Coran. Of course it does not go completely smoothly, haha, but it’s great bonding for all. Lots of videos are linked to help you visualize the dances, which is great.

Of Homesickness and Baking by itsthevoid Words: 1,421 Author’s Summary: Allura wasn’t exactly known for her uninterrupted sleep schedule, and Hunk wasn’t known to sleep when homesick. So they end up making cookies instead. My Comments: Super sweet bonding fic! Those cookies sound delicious.

Feeling Blue by AgentHoot Words: 3,982 Author’s Summary: Lance finds himself sneaking out of his room late at night, plagued by his thoughts and unable to sleep. In the darkness of the castle, he’s left to face his feelings of inadequacy on his own.Or is he?Where Lance doubts his self-worth, but finds an unlikely friend to keep him going. My Comments: I love fics that explore Lance and Blue’s relationship, and this is a lovely one. Very soft and comforting.

Fusion Confusion by Amaranthkick Words: 6,086 (2/?) Author’s Summary: Lance was insecure about the skills he can offer for his team. Shiro overheard and came up with a plan to help prove to the blue paladin that he was stronger than he thought. He just didn’t expect the turn this mission was going to take. My Comments: Author notes that this can be read as pre-slash, but so far it feels gen to me. I’m always up for Lance and Shiro bonding, and this is a particularly interesting kind of bonding, haha. Kind of cracky premise, but I’m really enjoying and looking forward to more. They make a wonderful team.

Death Wish by Eastofthemoon Words: 3,481 Author’s Summary: Hunk is a Galra mechanic who is simply trying to mind his own business as he works on a mining colony. Yet, when he discovers an intruder he finds it hard to leave the matter alone. My Comments: I love this alternate version of the team getting together. Hunk is such a sweetheart, and Keith is like the mysterious boy that blows into town on his motorcycle and lures away the small-town girl to a life of adventure, haha.

Shadows in the Ocean by A_Zap Words: 1,591 Author’s Summary: One moment, things were cool. Then, there was fire and pain and smoke, and Lance found himself drowning in a sea of darkness. He needs to find a way out, because something tells him that things are not going well.AKA What was going on while Lance was unconscious. My Comments: Good take on the time when Lance was unconscious after the bomb in season one. I still feel cheated that we never got any actual cradling.

Deconstruction by grimwoode Words: 10,784 Author’s Summary: On good days, Shiro can’t remember how he was imprisoned or why. On bad days, he wishes he could forget everything all over again. Only his new friend manages to make his containment bearable, until he finally reaches his limit at the hands of the Galra, and Shiro decides that he’ll escape from their prison or he’ll very well die trying. My Comments: Warning for extremely graphic violence. This is a really interesting take on Shiro’s captivity and escape. It was written before season two came out, but there are some parallels with canon, even so. There’s a sequel with all kinds of fluff and bonding with the paladins, thankfully, since this is a rough read.

Something from Nothing by squirenonny Words: 1,899 Author’s Summary: Rolo needs food. Or money. Preferably both. He does NOT need his conscience getting in the way. My Comments: This is part of the Duality ‘verse but stands alone. And it made me fall in love with Rolo, which is quite an accomplishment, since I was always rather indifferent to him before. He’s just such a softie, even after an incredibly hard and lonely life.

Prince of Memory by VelkynKarma Words: 20,169 Author’s Summary: Shiro escaped the gladiator arenas. Hundreds of others didn’t; hundreds of others perished. But Shiro’s memories contain more than just patrol routes and battle techniques—and there may yet be a way to bring at least a few of those lost prisoners home, even after death. My Comments: Warning for OC death and graphic flashbacks. This fic made me straight-up cry at work, so don’t read it if you want something lighthearted, but it’s so so so good. Amazingly good. I love this concept for the way Shiro became a hero to his fellow prisoners, and it was also uplifting despite the pain, or maybe because of it. Absolutely stellar work. It blew me away.

No Wheels by isabeau25 Words: 14,103 Author’s Summary: In the wake of Shiro’s disappearance, the team struggles to get their feet back under them, and Lance tries to be whatever the team needs him to be, even if that means being separated from his beloved Blue. My Comments: Holy crow, I love this fic SO MUCH. This is the only kind of lion-swapping I can tolerate–where it’s terrible and temporary and really doesn’t work at all and everyone is kind of miserable and just wants Shiro back so things can go back to normal. I just hate Lance being separate from Blue, and they do too. It’s never stated outright, but Lance seems to be struggling with some depression here, in addition to insecurity and grief. Fortunately, his friends care about him very much and try to prove to him how important he is. Especially Blue. I love it love it love it. This one made my chest ache.

Previously Recced Fics That Updated:

The Machinations of Perception (35885 words) Coran's Guide to the Care and Keeping of Earthling Humans (25044 words) Bromances in Space (26539 words) Taking One For The Team (25791 words) Gate Keeper (84292 words) Lost Boys (17773 words) All The World Will Be Your Enemy (30238 words) In Sickness and Health (15141 words) Truce (149218 words) The Ones Who Were Left Behind (29145 words) As Color Fades Away (80067 words) A Mother Comes In Many Forms (6463 words)

#voltron legendary defender #weekly voltron fic recs #fic rec #yep this week is a lot longer than last week #and next week might be longer still #vldgen

[archies-litterbox]

honestly I wonder if douxie has an immunity/high endurance to draining dust once he recovers. like merlin built up an immunity bit by bit over years since it was first created and I wonder if doing the opposite - spending less than a day dealing with its brutal effects after breathing in such a concentrated amount - leaves him with a higher endurance to it than other magic users..... not that he ever tests that theory

#fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards #like the guardians of arcadia get captured and he wakes up with cuffs infused with some of the dust but like #he literally doesn't realize it #so he uses his magic to light up the room and sees claire looking worn out and confused #and hes like 'are you alright??? why haven't you portalled out of here??' #and Claire's like 'its these shackles. i cant use magic' #and then just #douxie literally wearing those shackles and holding a little ball of magic light in his hand: ...😳👀 #mine

[archies-litterbox]

I felt like drawing yesterday and...

...I drew a poor little moppet!douxie suffering from Draining Dust poisoning in the Draining Dust fic because I remembered I can draw scenes from my own fics. Haha! >:)

(This is basically how he's stuck laying for like... half the fic but this is also showing the Later Stages of the poisoning... like his blood turning black... poor moppet :( )

#i got to play with other brush settings for this and i had FUN #i didn't shade though... because i don't know how to do it without Things Looking Bad #also the background was fun!! #whump #draining dust #poison cw #fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards #douxie #hisirdoux casperan #moppet!douxie #toa #tales of arcadia #mine

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I redrew my old art of my Draining Dust fic bc... I love pain and hurting :)

#poison cw #whump #draining dust #douxie #hisirdoux casperan #moppet!douxie #toa #tales of arcadia #toa wizards #wizards #mine #fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards #my art

[archies-litterbox]

No one:

Absolutely no one:

Merlin at the end of the Draining Dust fic:

#which was why he was never scared to hold douxie like morgana was #mine #draining dust #fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards

[archies-litterbox]

okay but now I'm thinking about post-fic..... douxie waking up after like 12 hours of being asleep after merlin takes out the poison and seeing it's mid-day and his first concern being "oh no!! Im behind on so many chores!!" so he tries standing up but he's still drained/exhausted (even though all the poison is gone) and he remembers Everything that happened the night before and he just... lays back down

#poor boy wakes up and he's just worried about CHORES :(( #mine #fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards

[archies-litterbox]

Hello! I saw a couple posts about draining dust but I'm still like? Not sure what it is? Was hoping you could tell me 😁

OOOOOH ALRIGHT I GOT THIS

It's actually an idea I thought of that was inspired by dimeritium from The Witcher, and alot of my posts about are based off of this douxie whump fic I wrote!

It's basically... a really nasty poison to magic users. It's often used as a magical suppressant - casting pinches of it in metal for shackles/cuffs nullifies a wizard's magic and renders them unable to use it as long as they have them on (and wearing Draining Dust-cast cuffs also has some unpleasant side effects, like nausea/headaches/fatigue, just to add to the whump effect I suppose)

But if a Wizard has direct contact with straight, raw powder, and especially if they breathe it in/swallow it... its MUCH MORE brutal and lethal, and in this case, it's less a magic suppressant and more of a straight-up, horrific poison.

If a Wizard gets Draining Dust in their system (whether ingesting it/injection/throwing a fistful in their face and causing them to breathe it in (like what happens to douxie in that fic I linked) they start undergoing brutal and overwhelmingly-often deadly effects of Draining Dust Poisoning, including:

Paralysis - the whole body tenses up for a moment before going limp, and trying to move causes very very bad aches/shooting pains

Magic Nullification - affected wizards are powerless and completely unable to use their magic. Attempts to do so result in a horrific burning sensation in the hands.

Jaw/Throat Tightness - while the rest of the body is limply paralyzed/too week to move, the jaw clenches up and the throat gets rather tight, preventing the afflicted wizard from crying out or saying anything, though the lips can still move to grimace/try to say a few syllables. Steadily breathing is still possible, but due to the throat's tightness, it's more or less of a conscious effort.

Body Twitches/Muscle Spasms - Later on, the body starts to twitch and spasm uncontrollably, ranging from little twitches in the fingers to legs kicking/curling up to even a wizard's arm curling up, fist clenched, and their shoulder touching their ears. Just like conscious movements, these cause horrible aches in the body when they happen, regardless of if they're intentional.

Tingling Sensation - Up until this point, aside from muscle aches/burning from attempting to move/use magic, the body feels numb and cold. But now, a tingling sensation starts at the fingertips and toetips and crawls inward as the poison progresses in the wizard's body, coming up from the fingers and toes into the hands and feet, wrists and ankles, etc.

Sweating - Also a later symptom, the body starts sweating, regardless of the body's/environment's temperature. This might be an attempt of the immune system to fight off/sweat out the poison, but it's more a sign of worsening condition that brings on...

Black Blood - As the poison is now in the bloodstream, the color of the wizard's blood starts to change and become toxic and turn black as it keeps carrying the poison throughout the body. On the wrists, knuckles, backs/palms of the hands, or anywhere veins are particularly visible, the veins will appear black.

Coughing/Chest Tightness - At this point, especially if an affected wizard begins to panic at the sight of their veins turning black and their breathing gets heavy, their chest tightens and seizes up, and they begin to cough. At this point, the wizard cannot keep their breathing steady despite their best efforts, and they may see that their phlegm/mucus is turning black as well.

Black Tears - one of the last signs, if not the final sign, of the poison's progression in the body. At this point, the affected wizard's bloodstream is all but overtaken by the poison, organ failure/shutdown is fast-approaching, and unless another magic user (who is VERY powerful) casts an excruciating spell of eradication/transference to magically remove the poison from the wizard's body, death is imminent after a long, brutal poisoning.

So... yeah, that's Draining Dust! I wrote a fic where moppet!douxie was subjected to MANY of the effects of Draining Dust Poisoning (that's what's linked, and it was based on another one of my posts linked in the notes), and the concept sprung out from there. Hope you like the answer! :)

#poison cw #draining dust #answered #fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards #whump

[archies-litterbox]

Hey what did Merlin do when he found the one who poisoned Douxie? I absolutely loved your fic!

Oh thank you so much!! I honestly never went into the specifics bc I liked the idea of ~ambiguity~ but I sort of think one of two things might have happened post-poisoning:

Merlin finds/makes a poison that's brutal and horrific for non-magic users like Draining Dust is for wizards and uses it on the one who poisoned Douxie so they feel the terror and pain his son felt

Merlin lets Morgana deal with them once they're tracked down. She'd have to be assured they don't have any more of the dust on their person (bc like... she's so scared of the dust touching her that she doesn't even want to touch Douxie when he's poisoned :( ), but her anger at her little brother being poisoned is a force to be reckoned with

I think no matter what happens, it would be BRUTAL. Also, it would likely be done where Douxie wouldn't see (which is easy bc he sort of spends the next day or two mostly sleeping) and Merlin would try not to let Douxie find out about it bc like, even though he went through So Much, Douxie hates the thought of anyone being hurt on his behalf :(

Again thank you so much!! I loved writing it and I'm very happy you liked it ☺💖

#fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards #answered

[archies-litterbox]

while I'm on the subject of the Draining Dust fic..... for basically the next few days/week after Douxie gets poisoned, Archie spends most of his time letting Douxie cuddle him. Like when he's not coaxing Douxie to eat/drink or seeing how Merlin's doing in tracking down whoever poisoned Douxie, Archie's just... in Douxie's arms. Or snuggled against his chest/abdomen. Or in his lap. He wishes Morgana or Merlin would check on Douxie more often (they get preoccupied with stuff with King Arthur more often than they'd like) but he's more than alright with staying with Douxie like this for a while if it helps him recover from what he went through

#girl help im getting invested in this even though im actually close to finishing a year-long project #draining dust #fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards #mine

[archies-litterbox]

okay but like... I could have made it so one of the side effects of having so much Draining Dust in Douxie's system for so long... is that his eyes turn black. like completely black - even the whites of his eyes.

on one hand it would be angsty because he'd miss his normal eyes and he'd feel like he would have to hide them and being in super bright rooms would hurt them without covering/protection (like sunglasses) ... but on the other hand his vision isn't actually affeted too much for the worse (aside from really bad light sensitivity) and he'd see really well in the dark. also he'd just be like... ●_●

#girl help im thinking of an au for something thats already a niche idea #mine #draining dust #fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards

[archies-litterbox]

DUDE! (I hope you don’t mind if I call you dude, I like to think of it as a gender-neutral term, but please lemme know if you’re not okay with it!) I just read your fic where Douxie gets poisoned (the 9k one, I’m so sorry but I can’t remember the title for the life of me) and it was?? so??? good??? Like, I actually haven’t read a story that genuinely made me feel something in such a long time, but I swear I went through a rollercoaster of emotions with your fic—

The happiness I felt when Archie finally arrived?? (It took him long enough to show up, but I’m so happy he did!!) the fact that Douxie worried Merlin wouldn’t even pay a ransom note for him (like I’m sure Merlin’s had a ton of apprentices, but I like to think he just tolerated most of them and Morgana and Douxie were the two apprentices that he had that he actually liked) And the fact that Douxie’s veins were turning black??? I’ve read my fair share of whump fics, and even I know that it ain’t good when someone’s veins turn black!

AND when Merlin finally found him?? And the shock and worry I literally went through when it was revealed Merlin used a transference spell at the end instead?? Like?? Merlin’s not the best character, but Douxie already went through all that pain??? Imagine if he woke up and just discovered his master died during the night—

(But for real, I’m happy nothin’ happened to Merlin. I don’t have the energy to read about another brush with death again)

BUT ANYWAY, all that aside, your writing is so good?? and amazing?? And keep up the good work, okay??

I just saw this after waking up from a nap and??? I???? Can't stop smiling???? I just

Thank you!!! This ask is just so so wonderful 🥺💖🥺💖🥺💖 this made me so happy!!!! It made my night :'> I hope you have an amazing rest of your day/night!!

#fic: of poison forest floors and terrified wizards #i am a happy hannah :> #answered

[feather-dancer]

I posted 274 times in 2021

223 posts created (81%)

51 posts reblogged (19%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 0.2 posts.

I added 500 tags in 2021

#writing - 84 posts

#art - 73 posts

#fanart - 67 posts

#tales of arcadia - 60 posts

#wizards - 47 posts

#trollhunters - 46 posts

#toawizards - 46 posts

#3below - 31 posts

#stars - 28 posts

#heart of glass - 18 posts

Longest Tag: 105 characters

#gestures because i fucking love this au and for some strange reason i've got a little corner i've dug out

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

The Tales of Arcadia Archive is very serious I say when I keep remembering this I discovered over an hour ago and start laughing again:

84 notes • Posted 2021-10-11 12:24:07 GMT

#4

To ensure that the balance of this world would be maintained, an Order of three was formed who maintain an eternal vigil whilst wielding the power of the arcane.

I might have gone on a slightly mad binge and coloured this.

92 notes • Posted 2021-03-21 02:30:42 GMT

#3

No thoughts, only fluff.

@stix-n-bread

100 notes • Posted 2021-05-29 22:51:37 GMT

#2

The accidental shipping binge continued and I have relearned I absolutely hate drawing motorbikes! An off camera scene that happens in Stars chapter 2 just because.

117 notes • Posted 2021-05-02 01:30:59 GMT

#1

Tales of Arcadia fanfic recommendations part 7

It’s time for yet another round of recommendations! In this batch is the 80+ Rise of the Titans fics I read as part of the fanfic analysis which have their own section with Tales of Arcadia (Aka the TV part of the franchise) merged into one for ease sake. I’m currently on a bit of an older content binge on behest of someone which is giving me a break from RotT burnout, a few of which are on this list and the rest is already spilling into part 8 sitting in my drafts.

Hope you see something of interest!

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6

If at all interested in my own writing you can find it here!

Tales of Arcadia

A Thousand Years - A series of oneshots following the lives of Douxie and Zoe through the ages including some good old Zouxie fluff.

A Night Off; Comfort Zoe Night - Exactly as it says this is a bout of shameless Zouxie fluff because sometimes you have a bad day and there’s somebody who can treat you to a much nicer evening.

of poison, forest floors, and terrified wizards - It was just a simple errand for Merlin, one he’d done hundreds of times before so there was no reason to wake Archie from his nap and thus Hisirdoux Casperan went off alone. Even in his worst nightmares he couldn’t have expected being struck with poison designed to take out magic users.

Primordial Awakenings - We build our creations from the dead, give them names, offer them power then put them amongst the stars until we forget there was ever a before because the stories have already made them eternal. A delightful take on how the Order as we know might have come to be because sometimes you wonder what if they were birthed in the prehistoric?

Primordial Awakenings — Deleted Scenes - In case you need more content from the above :) This does contain Order ships of various directions.

Already Seen - Easy peasy, lemon squeezy Douxie is caught in the D'aja Vu as well and tries to figure out what the heck is causing it. Contains a little bit of Zouxie fluff.

Mama Bear - It is after Jim’s battle with Draal when Barbara catches sight of numerous bruises covering her son and along with all the other out of character incidents totting up of late naturally she thinks the worst.

Across the Stars - With Zadra now on earth and far away from home, she and Izita snatch the moments they can to to talk to one another. Zadita? Izadra? Genuinely no idea what the shorthand for the ship is.

Reading Wingman - Even the most experienced trolls can get caught out sometimes and in this case AAARRRGGHH shelters in the library. Adorable ensues.

Happy Birthday - Post Trollhunters season 3, everyone deserves a special treat on the anniversary of one of the worst days of your life and that includes Trollhunters.

heavy - Jim might have escaped the Darklands in body but the trauma continues to pursue through not only nightmares but all the way into the waking world too.

from now on - Post Trollhunters season 3, it was hard for Toby he and AAARRGGHH had been left behind but they try to struggle on anyway all the while counting down the days until their friends to come home.

Rise of the Titans

Unbecoming 2 Electric Boogaloo - There are always prices to pay and consequences for wanting to do the right thing if you choose to embrace selfishness instead of logic. You went too far back Jim Lake Jr., you were warned and the cold rush of reality is watching just out of sight to show you why.

Unlikely Places - They managed to stop the Titans with no losses despite it being very close leaving the Order in the very odd position of wrapping their heads around the After. For one former resident of Durio he’s about to find out just how they’re handling things first hand.

Tales of Arcadia: In Search of Home- After using diplomacy with a chance to right the wrongs of the world to bring Skrael on board he and Nari in turn offer the same to Bellroc . This leaves one Hisirdoux Casperan with two additional roommates, trying to make everyone comfortable as they experience new and fancy human things like pasta, earning your keep and the wonders of freezers.

A Better World - After jumping back in time Jim uses his prior knowledge to help nudge things in this timeline for the better with advice and jokes but always keeps the most precious (And painful) close to his chest. Sitting on the roof together one night Toby muses about this strange yet incredible life he’s led so far and what his best friend might have been through in his old one.

Time is a Fickle Thing... - When Jim used the time stone to go back he expected to wake up in his bed on the very same day he’d become the Trollhunter. Instead he awoke in the middle of the nearby woods little more than an observer of his 15 year old self armed with knowledge of the future and the determination to nudge the timeline for the better. This is of course assuming the second hand embarrassment doesn’t kill him first.

Minds are Troubled By The Emptiness - An epilogue for Nancy “Nana” Domzalski in a timeline that was not reset.

Tales of Arcadia: The Final Becoming - A complete rewrite of Rise of the Titans lets fucking go.

Lifting Atlas - It would be unwise to go back in time without a plan so one is cobbled together involving contacting Douxie as soon as possible, bring him on board and try to right the mistakes of the past to save everyone they lost. The trouble is you can’t run from the trauma that led to your best friend dying before your eyes, not even with time travel.

Content warning for the first chapter: There is mention of previous sexual assault and suicide that does not have an in fic warning nor is it tagged. It is mentioned during Jim’s conversation with Douxie and a second time in a vague way after the time jump when they meet up.

Stricklake

Without you there is no world - A oneshot series for Stricklake month following a range of themes from excellent sci-fi worldbuilding, dabbling in one of the author’s AUs, the perils of gravesand and closing with a rather well deserved dig at THAT scene from RotT.

stricklake month...2!!! - Do you want Stricklake that borders on domestic in a range of circumstances including big brother Jim? WELL.

Darling Play Your Violin - There is a saying that history repeats it’s self and it is certainly true for those who live long enough to feel it’s echoes. Sometimes you are given a second chance which turns bittersweet while another will be met with mirth but at least at the end of it all you can say you tried.

To family - Seeking to propose to Barbara, Strickler decides to ask someone dear to them both for permission due to their incredibly complicated background. A trio of toddlers act as witnesses oblivious to their big brother’s sass and plotting.

Parent conference day - Set post RotT, some memories are lingering in the form of dreams that once were, it just takes a chance encounter to start bringing sense to them.

Stricklake Baggage Babeyyyyyy - Walter Strickler is not an innocent changeling which is something Barbara is well aware of. The problem is sooner or later the question has to be asked no matter how scared you are of the reply: Did you kill Principal Levit?

Alternate Universe

"I'll Still be Here." - Once more falling into the “This isn’t technically AU but it doesn’t feel right to put it elsewhere somehow??” issue. Well before two boys will find an Amulet in the canals this is a reminder of how loved ones can be the best thing when anxiety brain gets ideas. Autistic Toby with a side order of Joby/Hammerhunter.

Daddy Issues - So Bular accidentally ended up adopting teeny Jim and it’s adorable.

The End Is the Beginning Is the End - After what should have been a fatal car accident Barbara is offered a choice: Perish or live by trading whatever her saviour decides. She might have thought it was the delusions of a dying mind but the consequences do not agree.

A Brief Reliving of Troll Lore - Camelot has gained unexpected time travelers darkening their doors except this is set in the 7th century and the journey home is going to be a whole lot rougher with survival just as important as preventing history being screwed up. This is a Jim centric fic.

118 notes • Posted 2021-11-04 02:00:16 GMT

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