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dreaming-of-the-end · 2 years

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8 Reasons Why: Biana

Kotlc Hanukkah Day 7: Angst

A/N: In which I project onto Biana for 1716 words and am a little itty bit mean to christmas. Comments/reblogs = one anti-semite punched in the face!

Summary: Taking out a blank sheet of paper, Biana titles the top of the paper in neat print, adding some fancy flourishes: Reasons Why I Hate Christmas.

TW: hmmm anti-semitism, religion... also parents (you can skip Reason Three if parents/fights trigger you!), and a little swearing too

Taglist (tell me if you want to be added or removed!): @steppingonshatteredglass @real-smooth @sunset-telepath @dreaminq-out-loud @stardustanddaffodils @jaxtheoraliestanner @spellbound-fire @turquoise-skyyyy @allystobin @silveredviolets @wu-marcy @b-blurryyfacee @rune-and-rising @lavender-and-rainy-days @chasteliac @confusedamphibian @hellomyfriends @cadence-talle @kai-i-guess @callas-starkflower-stew @a-harmless-poison @thesandsofdawn @raedas @gay-otlc @if-ten-million-fireflies @everblaeze-and-balefire

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Biana sings to nothing, an ironic smile gracing her lips as she twirls around her room. "Except for everyone else, of course. Happy holidays to you, for whenever your holidays fall. It must be around now, because everything revolves around me and my very special holiday. Don't you know? Haven't you heard? It's November! Christmas is right around the corner!"

She stops, arms falling against her sides, and frowns. "Yes, your holidays must be around now, all the important ones, right? I will not bother to learn what they are, because why should I take my head out of my own ass for once? You should learn ours, though. We matter more."

There is anger rising in her throat. It’s always there this time of year, when the snow begins falling and the decorations start appearing. This burning anger that won’t go away no matter how much she tries to convince herself this is just how the world is.

Of course it doesn’t help. She hates settling almost as much as she hates the Santa hats that clash horribly with her eyes when her choir forces her to wear them.

Biana sighs as she plops down at her desk and pulls out two pens.

One is green, and one is red.

She hopes people will notice the irony if she ever shows this to anyone.

Taking out a blank sheet of paper, Biana titles the top of the paper in neat print, adding some fancy flourishes: Reasons Why I Hate Christmas.

...

Reason One:

The lights are blinding when they're on every house but mine.

...

Her menorah is pitifully minuscule next to Sophie's tree, but her friend grins widely and places it carefully on the table next to the gigantic behemoth of a pine tree.

"It's so pretty!" Sophie says, and Biana wants to grin. But the large cross on top of Sophie's Christmas tree casts a shadow that just happens to land over her menorah.

This is her favorite one, too. She painted it herself in shades of sparkly pink and gray stripes, and she's used it every year since the fourth grade. This year, though, Sophie had the idea to make a holiday display; Biana and Fitz bring Chanukkiot, Sophie brings the tree, and everyone else brings ornaments to hang on it.

Something about the way it turned out—with the tree towering next to her skinny little candles—makes Biana feel... small.

Insignificant.

Maybe a little alone.

She shakes off the feeling, attempting a smile as Sophie clicks the switch that activates the lights wrapped around the tree.

No one will look at her sparkly, lovingly painted menorah when the candlelight flickers weakly next to red and green bulbs.

No one will even notice it's there.

...

Reason Two:

Winter is just a season, until it does not just mean snow and sweaters.

...

"Winter is my favorite season," Dex grins, and his dimples flash onto his cheeks.

"Why?" Biana asks before she is forcibly reminded that her experiences are not universal, and she immediately regrets the question.

"Christmas," he answers. "My favorite holiday!"

Not hard to have a favorite holiday when you have so few, she almost says, but she bites the words back before they leave her mouth. "Wow," she says instead, the words falling flatter than she intended.

Because of course he's allowed to love Christmas. Of course he's allowed to love winter because of it.

But she isn't allowed to have winter anymore, not when everything in it has been painted with jolly fat men with long white beards.

She's heard the same thing so many times.

The, Why are you so frustrated? It’s just winter! Everyone has winter!

The, Winter concert winter break winter songs winter sweaters winter bells winter holidays winter winter winter.

But it's never just a season. It's the holiday season, when she only has one holiday happening and at least four during the fall (not that they’re acknowledged), and that's certainly not a holiday season.

So, she knows the game.

Winter. When Christmas is? When we have our...

Christmas concert christmas break christmas songs christmas sweaters christmas bells christmas holiday christmas christmas christmas.

You know.

Winter.

...

Reason Three:

I am not the one making everything about me.

...

The first time Biana heard it, she managed to get into a screaming match that left her red in the face.

Unfortunately, that screaming match happened to be with her father, and it made living with him frigid for the next months. Even now, she's not sure that the ice has melted.

It began with the usual.

"This song is about riding through the snow on a sleigh, Biana! It has nothing to do with Christmas, why does it matter if you're doing it for your winter concert?"

"Christmas concert, dad. And it is a Christmas song. Sleighs mean Santa and snow means winter means holidays means Christmas." She's right. She's right.

And he is always wrong.

"Stop making everything about you! About your oppression or whatever you want to call it!" Alden shouts, and Biana clenches her fists. "Does everything have to be invalidating you somehow?"

It only escalates from there, and soon Fitz has to step between them and lead her to her room, arm around her shoulders.

Later, as Biana sits in her room and rips the card he gave her for her birthday to pieces, she knows she won't regret what she said. She only wishes she said more.

Because sleighs had nothing to do with christmas until they decided santa rides one. Because reindeer were just animals until she colored them in with big red noses when she were too young to think about who she was. Because bells were just bells until they rang in the background of every song she heard when she walked into stores the day after Halloween.

And now they are all she can hear.

Red and green are colors until they are put together. Lights are beautiful until they are blinding.

...

Reason Four:

I can list off Christmas traditions, values, and which ornaments my friend puts on her tree. Most of you have never even heard of Yom Kippur.

...

Biana tells herself she will wear her star of david to the christmas—the winter concert, they say— this year. But it doesn’t matter, because the hats they always have her wear will fit her into the same box as the rest of them.

You know.

Them.

Because she feels like there is a glaring beacon on her chest when she wears her star of david necklace, and she feels like everyone sees the stars pinned to her ears like they are mini spotlights.

But, of course, they don't. No one even notices her little protest, the only form of rebellion she is allowed to do.

There is an invisible wall between them. And she’s the only one who can sense it there, because she’s the one who’s left behind it, pounding at it, waiting to be let through.

She’s not naïve enough to think it could be shattered completely.

Biana tells herself she will request something different this year, something new. A single Hanukkah song to counter the three Christmas songs they have.

So she does. Even though she shouldn't be the only reason there are songs that she can sing with her whole heart instead of the little part of it she can offer for Jingle Bells.

Her teacher looks for Christmas songs to sing. He does not even try for anything else.

Why should she have to put the effort in to feel represented when every single one of her classmates see themselves so often that even she can quote bits of their bible that is a mockery of hers?

...

Reason Five:

The shocked faces you have when I tell you I don't celebrate have been getting old since the first time I saw them.

...

"Do you get gifts, at least?"

She's heard this one before. And she knows how to respond, even if she doesn't like it.

So Biana forces a smile. "Some do, but my family doesn't have that tradition."

She doesn't say, "It's actually the Christian mindset that's the reason some families give gifts, even though Hanukkah traditions never were about gifts. Check your westernization."

She doesn't say, "Is it a true terror to not have gifts? Is that really all you care about during Christmas? Can't I enjoy something without receiving what I don't need?"

She doesn't say, "Do you really think we are so horrible that the only tolerable thing about our holiday would be what we get to keep besides memories?"

She doesn't say these things.

But she wishes she could.

...

Reason Six:

Because of you, I am alone.

...

Do they know how they sound?

Do they know what she hears?

They say, "Why wouldn't you?

They say, "No, it has nothing to do with Christianity! There's no harm in trying!"

They say, "You are missing out on so much."

She hears, “Yes, I celebrate this. No, I will not let you celebrate that without a fight.”

She hears, “What is that? Why not? What is wrong with you, that you are not the same as me?”

She hears, “I am the best, and you are not me, so you must be the worst.”

She hears, “You are alone. You are alone. You are alone.”

...

Reason Seven:

The world orbits around the sun, not you. The sun does not have a religion. The sun does not care about a dead martyr, and it most certainly does not give a single fuck about a wreath on a door. And neither do I, hard as it is to believe for you who live in your own universe.

...

Hi, I am in 10th grade, from a high school in Michigan, and we have been learning about judaism in class. Can you answer my questions? First, is it true that you don’t celebrate Christmas?

Biana stares down at the letter blankly.

There is a sick feeling in her stomach, but there is anger burning in her throat.

Reading letters sent by a teenager who is a year older than she is, who knows so little that she wants to scream.

Is it true?

Is it true that you are not like me? Is it true that you are different? Is it true that you will never be like me, and I can never accept you being so different?

She wonders if they know how small they have made her feel.

So insignificant.

...

Reason Eight:

We came first. So why is Hanukkah called Jewish Christmas when they are nothing alike? Why do you say that our Chanukkiot are mimicking christmas trees, that we give gifts like you do, that our traditions belong to you, are copies of you?

Why does our history need to be erased to make room for yours?

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theogony · 2 years

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Song of the Sea

A/N : hello yes it is I the great aru back after hiatus so long bow down to me and my works /lh. Nah but fr after one month of nothing i finally write this in a coffee induced haze, that too for kotlc and so. anyway god bless you sappho and may you enjoy this shai @gay-otlc (for the kotlc gift exchange!! please tell me the dedication on ao3 has atleast gone through i will be sad if it doesn't </3)

Biana is struck by how similar the mermaid is to the ocean itself. She's devastatingly gorgeous, with a placid demeanour of the ocean mingled within her stare - yet there's a closedness behind it, a darker side she can sense only because of time old senses, honed because of the sea. Under her pinched brow, the mermaid's piercing eyes flit from crew member to crew member, ever so calculative. They're nothing but dismissive glances until she eventually locks her gaze on her - and with an aggressive hiss, she bares her sharp teeth, contorting her features into something treacherously savage.

\\\

Or, where Biana's caught a hell of a catch, yet she's the one enraptured.

Read on ao3!

The first time she sees such riveting blue, Biana Vacker doesn't stop staring.

The waves beneath the ship thrash furiously, and she suppresses the urge to run fingers over her scars, to cover them up, to hide hide hide as she has always done. The sea stretches out into the horizon behind her, almost kissing the disappearing sun, yearning like Icarus for a drop of liquid gold, of freedom. But yet, it remains - so blue and so close, a different shade every day, fading into the changing colours of the dawn.

She supposes that is why she finds herself somehow lulled by the waves. Despite everything the sea takes, the sea is where she has moulded herself into, carving herself a jagged home to stay. At first, resisting - it beat and roared, but now, there's a sense of grudging respect as it follows her everywhere. It is all the language she knows. She has sea hands, a sea heart. She has a direction here, she has a course. She hears the sound of the waves, the coarse wind and the salt and all the stars in the sky.

But the shocking nature of the mermaid's periwinkle eyes - that feels different.

The crew's muttering has slowly risen to a sharp din as she shakes herself out of her thoughts, instead focusing on not staring at her - no, the mermaid - open-mouthed.

Every one of her crew takes a step back, their hushed dialogue abruptly ending. The frightened stillness is broken only by the waves, and Biana suddenly feels small in comparison to her grandeur.

Don't be silly, she scolds herself internally. She's the one in the net while you're the one still standing.

"Biana."

The captain whirls around, relieved to see the furrowed eyes of her faithful quartermaster.

"Good lord Sophie, You could have given me a heart attack!"

Despite the short jib behind it, her voice is pitched slightly higher than usual, and Sophie's eyebrows draw in even further as she steals a glance at the net.

"What are you planning on doing about.."

"I.."

Turning, Biana looks back at the mermaid, heart thudding painfully when she meets her eyes dead-on. Her tail twitches, her scales gleaming brightly in the sun, drawing her like a moth to a flame, and she has a sudden desire to know what they would feel like under her hand. The mermaid smiles, cunning and predatory, as Biana shifts on her heels almost imperceptibly. Nimble fingers snake through the netting, and she leans forward as if poised to strike. She suddenly surges, the netting stitches ripping as she thrusts forward, but the net holds and she simply sways gracelessly across the wooden planks, causing the entire crew to jump back.

She laughs, her sounds echoing the rush of waves crashing on rocky shores.

"Biana!"

Sophie's voice is more urgent, more accusatory now, and Biana curses under her breath as she reties the strings holding the net in place.

"It's fine, I got it," she mutters reassuringly, though it sounds more like she's trying to convince herself instead of Sophie.

She laughs humorlessly, apparently having enough of Biana's bravado for that night, as she pulls her away and begins to berate her.

"Do you not understand that you have captured a mythical beast? Are you out of your-"

"Y-you should listen to your friend," the mermaid interjects hesitantly from her vantage point in the net, carefully shaping unfamiliar words.

Sophie's breath hitches loudly and Biana feels a haze of panic threaten to overtake her.

Her hearing is.... impressive, to say the least.

The mermaid betrays no emotion, other than cold detachment as she recites facts that make Biana feel faint. "She is correct. Keep me, and the Ocean will writhe in Her fury, destroying your ship." Her twitching fingers rip glaring holes in the already stressed net. "That is, assuming, of course, you survive my sibling first."

Her crew retreats back, but Biana can't help but take a step forward, a million questions racing through her mind - but the first query that is shouted isn't her own.

"What makes you think we should be afraid of you?"

Biana looks over her shoulder and sees Stina, her talented navigator with the unfortunate penchant for a tongue that runs faster than their funds. Stina's chest heaves and her feet fidget as her eyes flit between the mermaid and the waters.

Sophie growls a warning, "Stina."

Stina stands up and stares the mermaid down, despite her fear-filled gaze. "Why should we be?" she exclaims loudly. "We can just murder her and that tail will surely be worth a nice profit-"

[-profit? Do you think you're suddenly above us all? his voice sneered, loud and entirely too close, hand too warm too sharp too unforgiving-

There's a sudden crash and Biana registers a dull pain at the side of her shoulder. She bites her lip, trying to suppress the tears falling before they even start. She doesn't say anything in reply to the man - no, her father - who's now mechanically examining her shoulder, checking whether it'll leave a scar.

Her brother has slowly inched into the room, and although he's as still as she is, as complacent as she is, she can't help but feel a twinge of envy at the fact that he doesn't have a put up a play, doesn't have to cake his face with makeup and smile and pretend pretend pretend-

Her father (can she even call him that? Saying Alden is easier than trying to swallow the emotions that flood her when she remembers) drops her hand, before shifting past Fitz, no longer acknowledging the two of their actions.

"Remember. Do not give them any reason to worry", he intones, before he's gone and Biana wants to scream and shout and flood- ]

Everything but the dull end of Biana's blade slamming into the deck is drowned out by the mermaid's scream - and only a few moments from then, even the waves are muffled by the sudden fall of stillness.

Biana inhales deeply, the salty air scratching at the back of her throat. Stina shrinks but refuses to give up, her terror driving her to rebellion.

She growls quietly, her voice raspy and barely controlled in her fury.

"I should let her claw out your throat."

Biana's forearm itches from the thumping's sheer force (but also from something more - scars littering the skin, memories now clawing and trying to overwhelm her), demanding her attention as searing misery coated memories stream in. She takes another long inhale, the smell of fresh fish and sea anchoring her with its familiarity, and waves Sophie's worried look away quietly as she focuses back on Stina, a rage welling up in her chest.

As tragic that it is that Biana is the one that is giving Stina fear - she is really a brilliant navigator, and she has no personal grievance towards her - the white-hot rage threatening to explode out of her chest finds sadistic gratification in the way Stina seems to want to sink through the deck.

"But Captain, it's just a fish-"

Biana growls and looks down at the taller female, her notorious demeanour of the seas enveloping her like a well-worn cape. "People," she stresses, a scowl wrinkling her lips, "are not things to purchase."

In the face of Biana's stone-faced authority, Stina shuts her mouth, and her resistance completely vanishes. The rest of the crew continues shifting, mutters of dissent quieter, and an uncomfortable air grows between them. The waves shift silently, and the smell of brine suddenly grows stronger - but no other complaints are raised until a hesitant voice breaks the silence.

"What?"

Biana whirls around in her heels at the hushed question, coming face to face with the mermaid, the short quip seizing in her throat. Her mind chastises her for turning her back on such a dangerous predator, much alone approaching tantalizingly near - within her arm's reach. She automatically clutches the pommel of her sword, but the mermaid remains still, her expression scrunched in a perplexed frown.

Her eyes are alluring up close, like a stormy sea, wild, dangerous, and stunning.

She leans forward and Biana feels like the ocean is bearing down on her under her scrutiny. Her breath smells like fish and blood, and all Biana can think of is the razor-sharp canines that are approaching her neck.

"Not many humans... would bother with such kindness." Biana drags her gaze away from her bared teeth to glance at the mermaid once again. Her brow furrows and her head cocks to the side. "So, why do you do it?"

"Are you not someone who speaks, who thinks, who dreams as well?"

As she ponders her words, the mermaid hums, a sea shanty so familiar to Biana yet jarring from the mermaid's throat. There's no longer a bite behind her words, only a mellow, gentle voice, and curiosity shines through.

"Most people wouldn't consider that grounds enough to free-."

[-free on Sunday afternoon if he asks, and be sure to not bring up your father, her mother intones as though reciting from a long list of rules as she straightens the collar at Biana's neck, stiff and starch and painful. Her brother rides alongside her, poised perfectly like a puppet in carefully framed disinterest. Her long sleeves itch, and she resists the urge to pull the sleeves up. She knows if her scarred arms are seen by anyone in the republic, the sights and glances would only get worse.

The carriage jolts to a quick start, and she glances up as she descends, staring towards the docks ahead. Fitz stands beside her, her mother already lost in the throng of people bartering for kosher cut meat and braided challah at the market, shawl up and face down as she ensured no one would see the wife of a councillor (such a cheap establishment, how crude!). Harsh winds blow around her, the few raindrops making the back of the dress stick to her shirt and she plonks herself loudly on a few crates next to her, watching as Fitz continued to stare at the cafe nearby.

I know you're looking for that artist, she taunted, as she watched Fitz turn a delightful shade of crimson.

Tuning out the long tirade of her brother's explanation for exactly why he was watching the cafe and why that didn't include that artist because just because he flirted with me doesn't mean that he actually like liked me, she stared out morosely at the ships coming in, the "uncouth and unlawful" merchants descending their vessels, loudly bartering and intermingling among themselves.

They're so free and... happy, she can't help but blurt out as she hears Fitz sit down next to her with a rather undignified thump.

He frowns, momentarily pondering why exactly would Biana Vacker of all people feel that they were not happy, ignoring Biana's wistful sighs.

Do you ever want to leave?

The uncertainty surrounding the question blankets them both, and Fitz chews his lip before slowly shaking his head in the negative.

I wouldn't know what to do with myself, he tentatively whispers, before Biana crowds over him, turning onto him with an expression so full and unlike herself - so full of life.

Think about Fitz - you could finally run away with that artist boy and settle down and then I could come to visit you and we could share your favourite rugelach as we talked about the latest gossip topic and then I'd travel the world and we'd no longer be scared because I'd have a plane - no wait, a ship and sometimes you'd come with me and-, she paused taking in a deep breath as she stared back at him - wouldn't it be fun if it was just us?

Fitz's gaze on her is far away, and Biana feels herself shuttering slowly as the silence stretches taut between them. Fitz's words spill out slowly from him, almost as though he was afraid of breaking her carefully crafted reverie.

I'd love that, he quietly states. I'd love that a lot but-

but we both have our duty to father.]

Biana's expression shutters, before smiling back at the mermaid.

"Then again, I am not most people", she quips, and when the mermaid laughs, voice gentle like the waves rocking her boat, she leans in even further, emboldened by her enigmatic smile.

"Look, you were captured by chance by my crew", and at her words, incredulity sweeps across the mermaid's face. Biana pleads with her hands clasped. "Honestly, I'm sorry it happened in the first place!"

Her eyebrows lift, perplexed. "Honesty from a human?"

"Yes." Biana inhales deeply and extends her arm toward the ocean.

"Which is why I selfishly want to ask - when we let you go, may you spare us?"

The mermaid's eyes sharpen momentarily, her expression guarded as she regarded the captain.

"Was this... talk all a game to gain my favour?"

"Of course not!", Biana hastily backtracks, before looking back at the mermaid, gaze softening.

"We- I would have let you go, regardless of the consequences for my crew."

Biana shoves down her sigh at the mermaid's unreadable face, ears buzzing as her crew begins to protest behind her. Sophie's harsh barks keep chaos from erupting - but just barely, and Biana continues to stare up the mermaid beseechingly, mouthing "Please" over and over.

Please let this be enough.

The mermaid eventually responds, though she takes her own time. "Fine." She cocks her head to the side, carefully searching her.

Biana smiles at her, her relief visible in her smile.

"Then the kelpie queen is at your service," she adds, bowing gracefully. "However, my friends refer to me as Biana."

The mermaid's brows blend into her dark hairline, inscrutable against her silver-tipped bangs.

"Do you think we're friends?"

The ache in Biana's heart is agonizing. "I'd want to be."

Biana deliberately ignores the mermaid's astonishment, instead beckoning Sophie to assist her in lowering the mermaid to the waters below. The crew shuffles anxiously behind her, but she ignores them, leaping upon the railing to assist Sophie in guiding the crane as she ranks it. The mermaid jolts in surprise, but quickly spins around, writhing and straining at the net.

Biana steadies the beam and stares down at the mermaid. She's all restless energy and longing looks, and all Biana can think is about how wrong she looks trapped in a net.

"Biana", the mermaid mutters, just loud enough that if she strains, she can hear it. "Certainly not a name I've heard from here-

[-here it is, Biana thinks with relief, as she picks up the windblown shawl, decorated with hamsas from the floor of the alcove. Sure, the man her mother had tried to set her up with didn't show, but she knew she still wouldn't accept that as an excuse for her to dirty it.

I'd probably have enough time to take this to the washerman and back, she muses. It's not like the one person who really misses me is at home anyways, sent after the fabled princess - Sofia - wait, was she even-

It's only then she realizes with a jolt that she's somehow wandered into the heart of the harbour, infamous for its unsavoury trades. Burly shadows suddenly crowd her, and she falters, bumping into a much taller man who leers at her, the familiar smell of stale liquor on his breath.

You're too pretty to be here young one, he whispers, trailing fingers along her covered sleeves. Biana swallows, prepared to shout before there's a sudden ringing, and the man slumps forward in pain, before roaring back and punching a much younger, livelier woman dressed in the merchant - no, pirate's garbs, who looks strangely disconcerted with the fact that she's aggravated a man almost twice her weight.

The fight is over almost soon as it begins, and it's surprisingly the woman who stands triumphant, wiping the blood off her knuckles before extending her hand in dismissal.

Oh, Biana thinks, stupefied after the fight. She's so pretty.

"Take me with you."

The woman smiles, amused by the childish request before she turns back to her, horrified at the fact that she's entirely serious.

Biana's sure that she doesn't look like much, what with her bedraggled locks falling out of the messily tied braid, her dress rumpled and covered with much too much dirt, but she grits her teeth and for the first time since- the incident-, pulls up the long sleeves on an impulse, absorbing the muted shock as the pirate runs gentle fingers over the scars.

You're Eternalia's consort. The councillor's daughter who was maimed, the pirate whispers softly.

There's a mirthless laugh as Biana draws her arms away.

Everyone says it was wild animals, merpeople who attacked me. Perhaps even the most vicious of sea monsters would have been kinder to me than my father that night.

The pirate glances at her, before gently forcing Biana's trembling face up, wiping the soft tears that had begun streaming down them silently with a touch much softer than Biana expected. She glances behind, face momentarily unreadable before smiling, and her expression isn't one of pity - but rather, respect, and Biana finds herself stunned.

"I'm a pirate - well, Jolie, to be more exact. The seas were unforgiving to me at the start, and they may do the same to you - it took me many years to command them. People will whisper behind you, muttering tales of how you threw your life away. They'll lament your name, and the insignia you now represent. Are you willing to accept all of that? Do you still want to leave?"

"Yes."

Despite the slight waver in her voice, there's no hesitation when Biana grins, finally in charge of her destiny, finally free. ]

"What's yours?"

The mermaid startles, tail smacking against the rocks. "What?"

"Your name. What do I call you?"

She frowns, her brow wrinkled with.. shyness? "You won't be able to say my name since humans don't understand my language." Her gaze returns to the ocean, causing her entire body to tremble in apprehension as she gazes intently outwards, "What difference does it make anyway?"

Biana frowns at her as she draws her sword, setting it against the rope - yet she stills in the motion, curiosity overcoming her.

"Well if we meet again, what will I call you?"

She chuckles, her head bowed in a sorrowful manner, before returning her gaze to her

"Kelpie Queen, I pray that'll never happen. The enormous pods claim their territory in the regions where humans travel." Her lips form a half-snarl, a grimace at nothing, "They don't have enough fish to eat, so they eat humans," she says, her face darkening, "And they have no fear of the Ocean's vengeance. So please, don't try to find me - in fact, consider this free advice - stay off these currents. Nothing good comes from tangling with such folk - it will only lead to your early grave."

"But what if I managed to overcome all of that and still make it back to you? How else am I supposed to call out for you at the end of it all?"

Biana opens her mouth to continue, but whatever she's about to say dies on the tip of her tongue, turning into a sharp inhale as the mermaid clasps Biana's hands, holding her gaze as she presses a careful kiss to her knuckles.

"Linh", she softly says, grinning at Biana and she's convinced she's ascended straight into Shamayim itself.

Before Biana can scrape together the brain cells to respond, Linh curls forward, growling almost playfully at the rope. "Now cut me loose!"

Once again, she draws back her sword but pauses to look at the mermaid - no, Linh again.

"Biana!"

Her lips twitch and her blade gleams as it swings. With a loud snap of rope and a flash of her scales, the mermaid finally disappears into the ocean's deep blue depths, and a long silence surrounds Biana as she gazes into the waters.

"Ship spotted!"

All at once, a cacophony erupts, and the crew scrambles to their positions, preparing for whatever measure their captain will tell them to conduct. Unlike the rest, she stands, uncharacteristically silent alongside Sophie as the barrel-man narrates the familiar royal insignia and the absence of the young prince.

Looks like he finally got away from father and his home, it seems. Hopefully with that artist as well-

"Biana, are you listening? The ships almost here - if we want to escape, we need to do it now!"

Her smile grows sharp, before facing Sophie with a grin, watching her petulantly sigh, already expecting the outcome.

"But where would the fun be in that?"

Sophie simply nods and shouts, "To your stations!"

The ship erupts into a commotion of noise and clamour, heavy cannons scraping against the wooden decks and rifles cocking under Sophie's watchful eye before she turns back to her captain, face already mournful.

"The mermaid's going to doom us now - it's not even been an hour and we're already foregoing her advice."

Biana can't contain her laughter as it erupts from her mouth and she retorts, amusement flaring as Sophie sighs. "Worse luck to say that."

There's a dazzling glitter in the tiny area of the ocean she can see beneath Sophie's ear that captures her attention, momentarily distracting her as a true smile begins to spread across her face.

"Actually, my friend, I believe we're lucky."

Sophie's gaze is drawn to Biana's father's approaching ship, but Biana continues to gaze past her, absentmindedly rubbing her knuckles as though chasing that phantom sensation, before catching that similar shimmer of silver further ahead - making her smile widen even further.

"Oh really?"

She winks and brightens at Sophie's sceptical expression.

The ocean is a fickle mistress, one who takes and takes and takes and is all jagged edges and warmth. But in the end, the ocean can also be someone kind, someone delicate, someone worth fighting for and someone worth meeting at the end of it all, with little but sheer bravado and simple kisses to lament their distance.

"Today I think, the seas are on our side."

#girl help i have forgotten how to tag #also ANY JEWISH FREINDS NOTICE INNACURACIES PLEASE POINT OUT THANK YOU SM I AM GOYIM #aru writes #biana vacker #linhiana #kotlc #linh song #keeper of the lost cities #linh kotlc #biana kotlc #criminally underrated ship </3 #oh and there's like. keefitz if you have a magnifying glass lmao #also just to clarify jolie is the pirate and also biana's gay awakening. i think we should talk more about that #because jolie is underratedly... hot #is that pun too soon? too soon #also i'm p sure i had a taglist lemme see if i can find it if not. enjoy bon appetit tatata #also the title is from that one hebrew poem in exodus so <3 and minor jewish biana references.. my beloved #also rugelach my beloved god that desert is amazing and it prompted me to write them as jewish #funny fact shai i was using your ref sheet to write your present so.

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gay-otlc · 2 years

Text

Fortunate

Day two of KOTLC Hanukkah week- baking

Summary: Fitz's chronic pain is acting up, so Sophie tries to bake the latkes for the start of Chanukkah that night. It does not go well.

Notes: Sophie and Fitz live together, their exact relationship is up to reader interpretation (I think of them as a qpr.) Ey/em Sophie, he/they Fitz, ae/aer Biana. Everyone's Jewish.

Content warnings: Cursing, but I think that's pretty much it?

Read on ao3

Unfortunately, Sophie can't bake. It's not that ey hasn't tried. Eir human father tried to teach em, Edaline tried, every recipe stuck perfectly in eir head, but it never got recreated. Something always went wrong. Why did something always go wrong? The food would burn, or there would be too much of one ingredient, or not enough of an ingredient- even though Sophie double checked all the measurements- or an eggshell would end up in the batter. Eir friends always joked that eventually, they would all find something Sophie was bad at- and apparently, that something was baking.

Fortunately, Fitz Vacker knew how to bake, and he knew how to bake well. Sophie had no idea how they took all those ingredients that were weird and gross individually and then combined it into yet another Chanukkah miracle, but they managed it. Somehow. So if Sophie started craving something delicious, Fitz was more than happy to bake it for em.

And then steal half eir serving, but ey loved him anyway.

Unfortunately, his chronic pain was being extremely anti-semetic and flaring up the day Chanukkah started. They tried to insist on doing all the baking anyway, but Sophie insisted the dumbass lie down before they hurt themself. Ey insisted ey could handle it, he just needed to rest.

Ey could not handle it.

Okay, so ey polished the menorah well enough- how did the thing accumulate so much wax, anyway?- and get the necessary candles. And then ey stole gelt from Biana got more gelt than seemed wise, but would taste so fucking good. Dreidels were set out, fuzzy socks with alicorns were wrapped, and everything was set in place.

Everything except the food that was both Sophie's best friend and worst enemy. A joy to eat. A horror to bake.

Latkes.

It seemed easy enough, right? Grate the potatoes, soak them, fry them, eat them. Simple. Delicious.

Somehow still too complicated for Sophie Foster.

Ey wrung the potato mixture out after they finished soaking. Then put them in a bowl to add the other ingredients. Then started frying them in the skillet. For once, ey was confident in eir abilities.

And then the confidence fell apart. Along with the latkes.

Why were the latkes falling apart!? Why the fuck where the latkes falling apart!?

"Motherfucking shit," Sophie yelled, staring hopelessly at the mess before em. "Dammit, dammit-"

Fitz would not be happy. Ey wanted to give them the best Chanukkah ever, wanted to handle everything emself so he didn't have to be stressed, but of course ey fucked it up.

Ey glared at the latkes as though they had intentionally sabotaged em.

"Soph!" ey heard from upstairs. Right. Eir yelling might not have been the most comforting thing.

"I'm fine!" Sophie called back. Paused. "The latkes aren't."

Ey sent another scathing look before turning off the stove and dumping the disaster in the trash. Ey saved the fucking world! Why couldn't ey make a damn latke? Furiously, ey kicked the wall, but that accomplished nothing other than hurting eir foot. With a huff, Sophie hopped upstairs.

"Sorry, Fitz. Sorry. The latkes totally refused to stay in one piece, I don't think I could even really call them latkes. Potato mush."

"You probably didn't dry them off well enough. You always have to wring it out more times than you think you do."

"Oh." Well, great. That's what ey fucked up. Just great. "Sorry."

"Hey, it's all good. At least you didn't set the kitchen on fire."

"Wow, you sure had a lot of faith in me."

They looked em in the eye. "Sophie, I love you, but you cannot bake."

"Yeah, I know," ey sighed.

"Do you want to call Biana and Maruca and see if they're willing to come over for dinner? Maruca makes pretty good latkes, we can just eat hers. I mean, sure, Bi's probably gonna beat us at dreidal, but if we chea-uh, try really hard, I'm sure we can beat aer."

Sophie cracked a smile. It was a well accepted fact that no one would ever beat Biana. "Okay, that sounds good."

Sure enough, Biana won at dreidal. But Fitz loved his new fuzzy socks, and Sophie loved Maruca's latkes, and by the end, ey felt pretty fortunate to have had a good first night of Chanukkah.

#kotlc hanukkah week #kotlc is jewish now #jewish vackers #sophie foster #fitz vacker #didn't work it in but biana and maruca are engaged #shai's writing #sar types things

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malewifegradyruewen · 3 years

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not white Vackers

#yes I know pfp is white Biana #bc it's my favourite picture of her #I prefer the fandom Vackers so much better #like Jewish or poc #or anything else #and the Vackers are actually just Della and Biana

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neopronounsmybelovaed · 2 years

Note

Hey, could I have some kotlc based pronouns?

Well, it's completely canon and not at all made up that various characters use ae/aer, it/its, voi/void, xe/xem, chai/chaim, and ze/hir pronouns. (Biana, Keefe, Tam, Dex, Jewish!Marella, a variety of headcanons. Respectively.) But here are the more canonically accurate pronouns

swa/swan

swan/swan

moon/moons

moon/lark

never/seen

ne/ver

ne/never

see/seen

el/elf

elf/elves

tele/path

fox/fire

fox/foxes

fi/fire

fire/fire

ar/arson

arson/arson

#does ne/ver slap or what #pronoun recs #pronoun list #kotlc #asks #anonymous

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cadence-talle · 3 years

Text

January Fandom Roundup

i usually find January hectic, but the past few weeks have been crazy from start to finish. because this month we have:

- discovered that the Neverseen wear what may possibly be the worst outfits ever under their cloaks

- drawn this discovery (thanks, Stevie) to much pain all around

- written many headcanons about Jewish!Vackers

- remembered that the elves have a professional sport

- agreed that KOTLC has a lot of content that’s probably not appropriate for eight-year-olds

- discussed the intensity of Warrior Cats

- celebrated the wedding of Akki and Amelia

- thwarted Banana Noir’s arranged marriage with Akki

- decided Glimmer & Ruy are siblings

- co-written an amazing Sophiana Cinderella AU

- unionized the tall people of the fandom

- come up with the most creative AU of all time, in which all the KOTLC characters are elves

- gone insane over Amelia’s newfound fame

- gotten excited about the KOTLC movie

- gotten worried about the KOTLC movie

- taken all the URLs possible so new fans can’t have them

- cast ourselves in the movie as various parts (read: Marella, Iggy, Mental Health Issues)

- agreed that Maruca and Biana used to date

- decided that all elves are related to or just are worms on strings

- edited Fitz’s eyes onto Dobby

- edited Fitz’s eyes onto John Cena

- edited Fitz’s eyes onto everything we possibly could

- made many character askblogs

- added Bernie Sanders in the background of many pictures

- decided that canon is wrong and Della was born a Vacker

- created Amsterdam, a (fake!) scene in one of the books (or maybe all of them) in which things happened

- and discovered that Timkin Heks is a furry.

In other words...

it has been one month. ONE MONTH. THIRTY-ONE DAYS. why are y’all like this.

#lynn rambles #fandom roundup #kotlc

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confuzzled-fox · 2 years

Text

Keeper Hanukkah Week: Day 8 (Catch Up)

I'm doing Day 2 (Baking)!

Summary: Sophie makes challah and attempts to not burn the house down.

Notes: I'm not Jewish, so let me know if I made any mistakes writing this!

TW: Food, comment if I need more!

@gay-otlc @otterspork

How? Sophie thought, mentally stretching the "ow" out. She looked at the open cookbook Edaline had retrieved for her, scanning the recipe. She took a deep breath. She had to do this right.

She took the ingredients she needed out, carefully setting them on the marbled countertop.

"Do you need help, Sophie?" Sophie whirled around to see Edaline smiling softly at her.

"No, I got this!" She said. She had to do this right. This was her first Hanukkah with Edaline and Grady. They hadn't been able to celebrate the other years she had been with them because of... all that had happened.

So this year, Sophie had to make sure everything was perfect.

"What time are the Vackers coming over?" Sophie asked.

"They'll be here around six. You have plenty of time, don't worry," Edaline reassured Sophie. She always knew when Sophie was feeling stressed

"Okay." Sophie exhaled. "Okay. I guess I'll get started. Where's the orange juice? Do we have any?"

Edaline snapped her fingers, conjuring a carton of orange juice and setting it down on the counter.

"Thanks, Mom." Sophie smiled at Edaline. "I can do it from here."

"Alright," Edaline said, walking upstairs and leaving Sophie alone in the kitchen.

Sophie poured out as much orange juice as she needed, mixing all her ingredients together. Around 30 minutes later, she put the finished dough into a bowl to rise for an hour. She washed her hands, and went upstairs to get ready.

~~~

DING DONG

Sophie hopped down the stairs, shoving a black dress shoe on her foot. "Coming!" She yelled, sliding through the grand entryway on her unshoed foot.

She threw the door open to see the Vackers smiling at her. Biana walked forward, wearing a pretty teal dress. Ae kissed Sophie on the cheek and stepped inside. Fitz followed aer, waving at Sophie. Aldin and Della came in next.

"Mmm, something smells good!" Aldin exclaimed.

"That's probably my challah," Sophie said.

"You made challah?" Aldin asked.

"Um, yeah?" Sophie responded, unsure if this was okay.

His face lit up. "Then what are we waiting for! Let's eat!" They followed Biana and Fitz into the kitchen. Sophie's challah was cooling on the counter.

"Hope you don't mind, but I took it out for you," Edaline informed Sophie.

"Wow, it looks delicious!" Fitz exclaimed.

"Yeah, good job Sophie!" Biana congratulated aers partner, making Sophie flush.

"Would you like to serve it?" Edaline asked. Sophie nodded and accepted the bread knife. She cut the bread into several slices and passed them out to everyone.

As they ate, loud declarations of how this was the best challah [person] had ever tasted filled the room.

Sophie smiled, taking a bite of her own piece. The orange and chocolate flavors exploding in her mouth. Maybe everything wouldn't be perfect, but this challah sure was.

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vacker-jew-au · 3 years

Text

Chapter 2: Fuck Livvy But Like In A Different Way

Summary: Livvy is such a good parent for the Vackers, but the kids aren’t the only reason she stuck around.

Livvy is a little over the top in getting Della to go on a date with her

XxX

✡️🏳️‍🌈✡️🏳️‍🌈✡️🏳️‍🌈✡️🏳️‍🌈✡️🏳️‍🌈✡️🏳️‍🌈✡️🏳️‍🌈✡️🏳️‍🌈

It was late, but unpacking seemed to take even longer than packing had. Not even half of the boxes were empty yet. All Della wanted was to collapse on the bed she apparently now shared with Livvy, but she kept emptying the boxes. It still didn’t feel entirely real that she’d moved.

So much had already happened that night. They leaped all the boxes over. They started to decorate the kids’ room. They quickly realized Della couldn’t share a room with the two little monsters. So, awkwardly stumbling around like the teenagers they were the last time they spent a night together, they came to the conclusion she would sleep in Livvy’s bed, with Livvy. Though Livvy apologized over and over they both knew it was okay, in fact, a small voice whispered that it was much more than just okay, Della shook it off.

And that’s how the two of them wound up sprawled on the couches, half unpacked boxes open all around them, laughing about their school days. Despite being high off a lack of sleep and a tad flustered, Della was having a great time.

“You remember how,” Della giggled, “Oralie and I were so close-” she coughed “-and practically dating, but!”

Livvy smiled, because, wow she’s so cute when she laughs, and Della grinned back because Livvy was listening and patient while she took a minute to breathe.

“She never even noticed,” Della finally said. “I gave her crush cuffs and she still didn’t know we were dating! I mean, I’m a disaster bisexual, so I know about obliviousness, but that’s kind of taking it to a whole new level.”

Livvy laughed. “She’s aroace, love, it was nothing against you.” She froze. “Shoot, I outed her, shoot!”

To be perfectly honest, Della had barely noticed everything else Livvy said, focusing instead on the endearment. She called me “love.” Love, that thing I promised myself I wouldn’t fall into, but already I have. Panicking, she brushed the thought aside and tried to concentrate on the conversation. “It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean to, I haven’t even spoken to her in years. I’ll just forget about it, okay?”

“Okay,” Livvy agreed, nodding. “So, now that you’ve dumped Alden- good riddance, by the way, he sucks- are you interested in dating anyone else?”

Like maybe me? She continued silently.

Della choked on her water and fought down a blush. “Um… I don’t think I will for a while? But you?” as in I want to date you, but I can't think that. She wouldn’t want to, would she?

Livvy frowned. Della’s answer was too panicked, too quick. Did she know that Livvy was trying to flirt with her? Probably, and she wasn’t interested. “I don’t know… maybe,” she muttered. “I mean, I kind of like a girl, but… I don’t think she likes me back.”

“Oh no, that sucks. To be honest? Me too,” Della looked away.

“Um… bedtime?” Livvy asked. Della nodded.

The next morning Biana poked Fitz until he woke up, “finally! Fitz, Mom is cuddling with Livvy!!”

“Shhh!” He hissed, “You're gonna wake them up.”

“Oh shit,” Biana whispered. Fitz punched her lightly.

✡️✡️✡️

Biana and Livvy quickly became close, in fact, they were so close that Biana started to think of her as a second mom. Fitz loved her too, Alden never had time for him, but Livvy? She taught him how to play Bramble, practiced Tae Kwon Do with him, helped him with baking because she noticed his ever-growing love of it. Fitz loved baking with his two moms, and he couldn’t help but notice the long looks and gentle touches they exchanged.

“Boop!” Della giggled, touching Livvy’s nose with flour on her fingertips. Livvy swatted her hand away and wiped her nose on Della’s cheek.

“Ha! Who’s the flour girl now?” Livvy grinned.

Whether she intended to or not Livvy had quickly become the parent Alden never was. It was nearly two months later when Della and the kids finally moved out and there was no question of whether Livvy would stay in their lives.

Even so, both kids were disappointed that Livvy wasn’t spending nearly as much time with them. She came over for dinner a few nights a week, but she wasn’t just down the hall when Biana had a nightmare, and she couldn’t help Fitz with his homework whenever he needed it.

Still, the kids cherished the time they had with Livvy, even if it wasn’t as often. Because it had started to interfere with Della’s work schedule, and Livvy took an interest in learning about the family’s religion, she agreed to take them to Hebrew school.

While they were on their way, Livvy’s tone turned from laughing about Fitz’s dramatic retelling of his best friend’s Great Gulon Incident to more serious. “Kids, I’m going to tell you a secret, but you have to promise you won’t tell your mom. Like, pinky promise.”

Fitz and Biana nodded solemnly and took turns pinky promising her.

“Alright, here goes. I have a crush on your mom and I want to ask if she’ll date me.”

Although neither of them were particularly surprised, Fitz and Biana exchanged excited glances. “I bet Mom will say yes!” Biana piped up. “She sometimes acts like she has a crush on you too!”

Livvy blushed. “Maybe. I hope so. But anyway, I know being Jewish is very special to you and your mom, so I want to make that a part of how I ask her out. And I don’t know a whole lot about Judaism yet, so I wanted to know if you two could help me.”

“Tu B’Av is coming soon,” Fitz suggested. “It’s kind of like the Jewish version of Valentine’s Day. Maybe you could do something then?”

“Okay, so, kiddos, are you down to help me plan?”

Biana squealed a loud “Yes!! Oh my goshhhh!!!”

And so plotting commenced. Tu B’av was on Sunday, a day the kids often visited, and they quickly figured out that the living room was a great dance floor if you moved the couches out of the way. Fitz found a recipe for rugelach and debated the best way to make them heart-shaped, individually or as a pull-apart type dish?

Biana was put on strawberry-dipping duty, the best she could do in the kitchen. She was a pro at decorating even then, so she helped Livvy with the living room. There were a couple bouquets of pink roses and lavender and the table looked better than any caterer could make it.

✡️✡️✡️

When Della finally arrived, Livvy was in the kitchen, she was scared, sweating. Biana pushed her into the living room, gave her a thumbs up and stage-whispered “You got this!” Della had no idea what was going on, and the assortment of flowers and heart shaped rugelach added to the confusion.

“Livvy?”

“Della- I- okay.”

“Liv?” Della asked, concerned

Livvy swallowed. “Um… tu b’av sameach?”

“Tu b’av sameach,” Della replied tentatively, smiling, scared to guess what she was about to say.

“Della, I love you so much, and I love your children and I love being with you. I want- Della, I want to be yours. I want you to be mine. I just….”

Della takes Livvy’s face and pulls her in, kissing her gently, but forcefully.

“You better not be joking,” she whispers against Livvy’s lips, feeling like a teenager, she really shouldn’t question this.

“Does this look like a joke?” Livvy grinned, pulling back and showing her the room.

“Liv, this is- this is amazing.”

Livvy beamed.

“Wait, where are the monsters?” Della asked.

A little hand poked out from the kitchen doorway, pressing play on the phone Livvy had set up for music.

“Hi, Mom,” Biana grinned.

“Bye, Mama, Mom,” Fitz smiled behind her. “We’re going to Keefe’s.” They stood in the backyard and waved as they leaped.

The song faded and a new one began. Della recognized it immediately.

“Love of my life.”

Livvy pretended to continue the sentence, “dance with me?”

And then they were standing chest to chest swaying.

Love of my life, you've hurt me

You've broken my heart, and now you leave me

They stepped back and forth, neither sure exactly how to dance with another woman.

When I grow older

I will be there at your side to remind you

How I still love you

Livvy spun Della out and as she dipped low crooned, “I still love you.”

Della tilted her head up and kissed her. Suddenly they weren’t dancing so much as kissing while standing in the middle of the room.

“Oh, Liv…..”

Livvy pulled Della with her to sit at the table. “Rugellach?” she offered. Della took one happily and laughed when she realized it was shaped like a heart.

“This is wonderful, Liv.”

“You’re wonderful,” Livvy replied, and Della blushed.

“How did you know about Tu B’av?” she asked, slightly breathless after they kissed again. “I didn’t think you knew much about Judaism.”

“I don’t,” admitted Livvy. “Your kids suggested it when I was picking them up from Hebrew school. I said I wanted to do something Jewish and romantic for you and they told me about it. Though I do want to learn more about Judaism so I can celebrate with you and your family.”

Della teared up a little, thinking about the contrast between Livvy and Alden. Thinking about the way she loved Livvy, loved her kids, Keefe, Grady, Edaline, her old mentors, the Rabbi.

“Today truly is a day for love.”

#jewish vackers #kotlc is jewish now #delivvy #them <3 #religion tw #kotlc #jewish #fitz vacker #kotlc biana #vackers #keeper of the lost cities #kotlc fanfiction

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