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ohtobeleah · 1 year

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Roll Of The Dice // Jake Seresin

Chapter Four: “What’s Even Real”

Summary: Jake Seresin has never been a believer in life after death, but when he’s caught in a comatose realm stuck between reality and fantasy—what else is there to do but dream?

Warnings: Jake Seresin x F!reader Jake Seresin Angst. Hospitalisation. Grief of a loved one. Slow decline into grief induced madness. Bradley Bradshaw x platonic!reader

Word Count: 3.2k

Author Note: Well. A phatt 85% of you voted for me to flip the story and here you go. I actually LOVE how this series is taking a drastic turn. But just so we’re all on the same page. There is NO HAPPY ENDING. (Also shut the fuck up I’m still on a break)

Series Masterlist

(Naval Hospital– Jacksonville, Florida. – Present Day)

Bradley Bradshaw had never been good with hospitals. His therapist had told him once that his ever growing hatred towards the far too sterile environment was due to the fact both his mother and father had passed away in hospital beds surrounded by doctors and nurses who he couldn't really give a shit about enough to remember there names.

But here he was, walking down the hall towards room one hundred and nine of the intensive care unit at the Naval hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Bradley carried two takeaway coffees, one in each hand as nurses who had become all too familiar with the mustache-clad aviator smiled politely and sent him solemn looks of hopefulness that today might very well be the day. But he knows it's just something they’re taught in medical school. Compassion. Empathy for the friends and family members of the loved ones laying near dead, dying or recovering. Bradley didn't know what category to put Jake Seresin in at the moment, they hadnt really been all that chummy prior to the accident. Not friends nor foes. Just long-term acquaintances who loved you both dearly.

Bradley Bradshaw had known you for his entire life, uncle Sliders kid. The military brat with the heart of gold, thousand watt smile and even bigger attitude. It's probably what drew you and Jake Seresin together. That all too similar attitude and love for a good taunt. Rooster always did catch himself wondering what you saw in him, but then again, beauty was forever in the eye of the beholder.

“Hey, sorry–the line was crazy today.” Bradley cooed as he knocked with one knuckle on the door that had been slightly ajar. Stepping in, the steady beeping of Jake's heart rate monitor filled the room. “How's he been?”

“No change–” Was all you mumbled as you looked up from watching Jake breath with assistance to reach out for your coffee order Bradley had had the chance to remember off by heart. “You just missed the Doc.” Bradley could tell just how tired you were just by the way your eyes looked sunken, he knew you weren't sleeping, weren’t eating. He knew that you hadn’t left Jake's side since he was brought into his room. “She said that there's definitely brain activity going on–said he must be dreaming.” You smiled at the thought, you hoped whatever Jake was dreaming of was a hell of alot better than what he would wake up to. “The swellings gone down quite a bit, but it’s just up to him if he wants to fight to come back.”

Bradley moved across the room, grabbing the chair that sat empty in the corner of the room to drag it over to where you sat at your fiance's beside. Like every time he came to visit, he sat with a sigh, leaned into where you sat and kissed your cheek softly, a reassurance he was here for you.

“Sounds promising.” Bradley pressed his lips together before he took a sip of his coffee, watching as you did the same. “Dice, you look like crap.”

“I'm gonna let you get away with that one purely because I feel like crap.” You chuckled softly, but it had been just enough to coax the corner of your mouth into a curve. Oh how Bradley missed the sound of your laugh, you were one of his closest friends. Seeing you hurt and struggling through such a crisis made his heart ache worse than he ever imagined it could. From what Rooster could remember of his parents love, they set such a high standard Bradley didn’t know if he’d ever have a chance of replicating—he thought if anything he’d get to live long enough to live vicariously through your love for Jake and watch you thrive in some fairytale life with Hangman that he’d be happy enough with that. But that all seemed so up in the air now.

But here you both sat, watching Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin breathe assisted with tubes of all kinds shoved down his throat. Barely recognisable from the swelling, the cuts, stitches and bruises that littered his face. You could tell he was still your Jake though.

“If you wanna go home, get some rest? I can stay here with him for as long as you need.” Bradley knew what the answer was going to be before you even shook your head. Letting your gaze linger back on the gentle rise and fall of Jake's chest.

“No thanks, I wouldn’t want to miss anything—“ It was hard not to cry, but as you tried to coax your fiancé to come back to you? The tears just fell so effortlessly. “He knows I’m here.”

You carried far too much guilt on your own shoulders for what happened. Jake, although an amazing partner—was an even better wingman. He’d come after you when things got a little too out of control during a recent detachment. He’d saved your life and sacrificed his own. When you’d both been brought back to Florida of all places—You’d asked one of the nurses to contact Bradley for you, he’d been on some carrier somewhere in the middle of the ocean—but he pulled whatever strings he could to get back to you.

“Jake would want you to take care of yourself if anything Dice, he loves you so much.” Bradley placed a hand on your knee, rubbing the pad of his thumb against the soft grey material of your sweatpants. “You aren’t gonna be any good to him when he finally wakes up if you can’t even keep your eyes open.”

“He’s such an idiot.” You scoffed, your moods had been vile the last few weeks. You were sleep deprived, hungry, running of steam fueled by Starbucks caffeine and sugar free red bulls from the vending machine. “He shouldn’t have come after me, gives me a goddamn headache just thinking about it, it should have—“ A sob ripped through your chest and you were gone in seconds. Your bottom lip quivered as you fell into a heap against Jake's side, your hand reaching for his as Bradley rubbed a comforting circle against your arched back. “So so so dumb Rooster—he should have just let it be me.” It was supposed to be you.

“If there’s one person on this planet Hangman would want to die saving Dice, it would be you.” It was hard to hear but Bradley knew you had to hear it. “He would do anything to keep you out of harm's way.”

“Yeah well, what am I supposed to do if he doesn’t wake up, Rooster?” Rising from the side of Jakes hospital bed, you crossed your legs up into the chair you were perched on. “What if he just doesn’t wake up? And he gets trapped in the dreamscape world his mind is creating while I'm out here, all alone?” Bradley knew the breakdown was coming, he had seen it racing towards him at a million miles an hour over the last few days. Not taking care of yourself while giving your all to someone else was a tiring effort that broke the strongest of souls on their best days. You were only human, a much loved one at that. You didn't deserve this, Jake didn't deserve this.

“Hey.” Rooster cooed, cupping your cheeks as he gently pressed the pads of his thumbs against your swollen cheeks to wipe away the tears. “Hey, Dice, look at me yeah?” You did hesitantly, not ready to take your eyes away from Jake, your Jake, your darling Hangman, your soon to be husband. “Dice, hell will freeze over before Jake Seresin gives up fighting, it’s Jake we’re talking about right?”

“I just really really miss him Roo–” You could barely hold your head up with how tired you were, falling into Roosters chest as you sobbed your heart out. It broke his heart to know you were in such anguish. “Every fucking breath that I take since he left feels like a waste on me.”

“He's here Y/n.” Bradley didn't know what else to do except hold you tight, hold you close as you cried in his arms. Over your shoulder, Bradley took in the sight of Jake Seresin, laying there in his hospital bed, with machines surrounding him helping him do the most mundane task of all. Breathe. Jake had always been the better of them, he didn't ever think, he would just always do. He was the Hangman, the top of his class, the cockiest fighter pilot Rooster had ever had the displeasure of knowing.

But now? well–Rooster kind of wished that he’d given Jake more of a chance, perhaps there was some perplexing rhythm and reason why Jake was the way he was and did the things and did and said the stupid things he said.

“He’s here, Doc said that, didn't she? He’s here, just needs some time to find his way back.”

“I'm losing my goddamn mind Bradshaw.” Stifling a laugh, you sat back up, you wiped your tears and fixed yourself up. Taking a sip of the coffee Bradley had brought you to keep you alert. You had had your moment, now it was time to be brave, be there for Jake when he woke up. “I don't know how much more of this I can take before I lose my mind.”

“How about I go grab you some food?” Rooster simply asked, standing as he kissed the top of your head. “You like that sushi place down the road, yeah?”

“M’not that hungry–”

“I don't care, you need to eat, you can't just–” Before Rooster could finish saying that you couldn't just not eat, you were snapping at him. It wasn't the first time but it was still rather jarring.

“I said im not hungry, Rooster, you want food fine, go get yourself something, but im not fucking hungry.” It wasn't entirely your fault, Bradley knew it was coming from a place of despair and heartbreak. You couldn't control anything happening around you so you clung to something you could. He’d remembered that from therapy.

“Okay, well, I'm gonna go grab something to eat and I'll be back okay?” Bradley wasn't expecting an answer, he didn't get one either. All that met him in response was the monotone beeping of Jake Seresins heart rate monitor and the overbearing shattering sound of your own. Pressing his lips together as he shoved his fist into his pocket to fish out his phone. Bradley turned on his heels as he left the room. Leaving you to sit in your own existential crisis.

“Hey kid, how's she doing?” Slider greeted Bradley from the otherside of the phone as he left the same way he came in, passing by the same nurses that now didn't even pay him any attention. Their minds on new patients, new charts to read, new turns of events.

“I'm really worried about her, she's not eating, not sleeping, she's not doing well at all and I don't know how to help her.” It was the honest truth, Bradley didn't. He didn't know how to help pick up the pieces. Slider, your dad, although a million miles away–felt closer than ever when he brought up Bradley's own mum.

“You were the same when Carole died kid, wouldn't let a single person help you until you hit rock bottom.” Slider sighed as Braldey pressed the button on the elevator. “She's gonna hit it eventually and when she does it's gonna be brutal but you’ll be there, just don't smother her, treat her like you normally would, watch over her but dont force her to do anything she doesn't want to do.” It was the advice Rooster had been seeking. He knew your dad would know what to say, how to keep him on the straight and narrow. “When she hits that wall you’ll know, because instead of pushing you away she’s gonna grip on, hold tight and not let go for love nor money, Goose.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

(North Island —Hard Deck Bar, October 16th 2014)

“I’m here–” It came out more reluctantly than you really meant it to. But the way Jake Seresin jumped as you came up behind him and made your presence known had you breaking out into a fit of giggles on the front deck of the Hard Deck.

“Fuck–” Jake groaned as he turned around and held his hand to his tan covered heart. “Why are you so quiet? You move like a goddamn prius?” You didn't know you could roll your eyes as hard as you did.

“Can we just get this over and done with already?” You sighed dramatically, pushing past Jake as you made your way inside. He was hot on your tail, opening the door for you like the true southern gentleman that his mother had raised him to be. “Oh, thanks.” You hadn’t expected it, no one had ever opened a door for you like Jake had just done. Sure men held doors open in coffee shops in passing before, but this had been an intentional act. Jake had a pep in his step to reach the door before you could. “Why would you do that?”

“We’re on a date.” It was the cheesy grin you received in return that had you rolling your eyes twice as hard as you;d just done, surprising yourself once more at the diameter they could actually roll. Jake stood there holding the door for you—gesturing for you to step inside. “And my mother would slap me across the face full force if she saw my date opening doors all by herself.”

“Hangman I really don’t think this classifies as a date.” You tried to shut down the idea before it could bloom into something bigger inside Jake's head. But you were already too late. “I asked if you wanted to grab something to eat and have a couple of beers after work—to get to know my wingman.”

“Oh Lieutenant Dixon, if I can help it? You and I aren't just gonna be just wingman and wingwoman.” Jake shook his head. “So humour me a little, entertain the idea for a single night?” You stood in silence for a mere minute before finally admitting defeat. “One date—“ Stepping inside as Jake led you over to the nearest open bar table with a hand pressed to the small of your back, guiding you through.

“One date is all you’re gonna get, Headache.” You groaned as Jake pulled the bar chair out from underneath the small round table. He watched as you sat down with a reluctant gruff. Laughing to himself at how easy it was to get under your skin.

“One date is all I need to make you fall in love with me.” Jake replied as he walked around to find his own chair, handing you the menu as he waved over at Bill, the barkeep. “And just so we’re on the same page here sweetheart—“ Jake leaned in closer to you over the table, watching with hooded eyes and a wicked grin as you did the same. Mimicking him. “You’re a terrible wingwoman, so don’t think falling in love with me will affect your already atrocious aviation skills.”

“Careful there Hangman.” It wasn’t that you couldn’t already feel yourself gravitating towards Jake, it was that you were scared of just how far the two of you were willing to let this go before pumping the breaks. “Anyone with eyes glued onto their head would think you’re a little obsessed with me.” For some reason, there were a few gold coated pens sitting on the table, possibly but also probably for the keno games that Bull liked to scatter around the joint. Picking one up—Jake clicked the top before placing it in his top pocket absentmindedly. You could never have enough pens. Everytime he needed one he never had one. Everytime he had one he never needed it.

“Why don’t you roll the Dice and find out?” Jake grinned ear to ear, watching as you raised a brow in response. “Tell me a little about yourself? Perhaps I'll walk away all the more obsessed than I supposedly already am.”

“Okay–” You simply sighed, dropping your chin as you frowned. Pulling your elbows off the table as you sat back into a slight slump. “This has been fun, really, this whole act–” it was Jake's turn to frown as he listened, noticing how you wore an expression he didn't like one bit. Something laced with self-doubt. “But you can cut it out now.”

“What are you on about?” Jake asked as he handed you a menu.

“The whole, you wanna be more than friends shtick you’re really playing up.” Yep, Jake really made you say it out loud. “I'm not the type of girl whos gonna fall in love with you Seresin, I'm not here for that shit, im here–”

“Because your daddy is Ron Slider Kerner and he's chummy with Admiral Agony?” Jake didn't mean to say it like that's what he believed, he meant to say it in a way that he thought that's what you were going to say. Maybe the look he’d seen plastered across your face before wasn't self loathing after all, because when you straighten your shoulders and let out a scoff. Jake knew he fucked it. “I didn't mean it to sound like that, I just thought that's what you were going to say.”

“Sure, because you and everyone else here surely don't think I'm the class Nepotism baby.”

“That's Bradshaws title, get your own Dice.'' Jake was quick on the draw, it forced a laugh to bubble up from deep inside you as you took in the sight of his smile. So bright and all consuming.

“No Bradleys the gold star kid, but don't tell him I said that!” You sat up a little straighter, knocking your knuckle against the top of the table. “He’s practically family, which means he’ll plant me in the ground if he ever heard me say that.”

“Well, for the record, I don't think you’re a nepo baby.” Jake cooed, smirking wildly at you from across the table. The Hard Deck had started to get busier around you as you sat with the sandy blonde. The pair of you didn't seem to notice as you got lost in the conversation you were having. Something about Jake just drew you into him, you couldn't figure out what exactly it was that had your heart skipping a beat at the sound of his laugh or the glint in his eye. But there was something there. “I do think you’re gonna have a hard time following me, but I'll do my best to lead us to the top of that ladder, Dice Dixon.”

You couldn't let Jake get away with thinking he was better than you, if you were going to be the best dynamic duo Mirimar had ever seen you needed it known who was the brains of this operation. And who exactly is what that was going to led you to the top of that leaderboard, to the top of the class and beyond.

“Seresin, I have known you for the better half of one entire afternoon and I already know the most important thing about you.” You let your back rest against the plush back of the booth chair. Eyeing off the handsome aviator before you, Jake fucking Seresin was about to be the death of you and you knew it.

“Pray do tell—“ Jake replied as he mimicked your actions. Letting his back rest and the plush of the booth, waiting for you to say something witty. Something he knew he’d never forget.

“That the only place you’ll lead anymore is an early grave.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Tags: @potato-girl99981 @averyhotchner @dempy @abaker74 @a-serene-place-to-be @starkleila @some-lovely-day @phoenix1388 @auroraboreallisfine @avaleineandafryingpan @kikaninchen-2 @xoxabs88xox

#roll of the dice // jake seresin #jake hangman x y/n #jake hangman seresin x reader #jake hangman x reader #jake seresin imagine #jake seresin #jake seresin x f!reader #jake hangman imagine #jake seresin fanfiction #jake seresin x reader #jake seresin fic #jake hangman seresin

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bad-fucking-omens · 5 months

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The Witch Twin (Alec V. x OC) Preface, Introduction, & Chapter 1

Summary: When I thought about my future, I was sure that I had the rest of my life vaguely planned out.

Then, my older sister moved up from Arizona to stay with us — and turned my entire life upside down.

I had no idea just how bad it had gotten until I was standing in a castle in Italy, convinced that I was about to die.

Length: 3.7K words (Complete fic 71.8K words)

Fic warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, death, explicit smut (M/F), referenced/implied past child abuse, emotional manipulation by sibling

Chapter warnings: None

Read on AO3 or read below

PREFACE

You are the kindest thing

that ever happened to me,

even if that is not how our tale is told.

When everyone else told me I was

destined to be a forgotten nymph

that nurtured flowers and turn meadows gold,

you saw that the ichor that resides in me

demanded its own throne.

You showed me

how a love like ours can turn

even the darkest, coldest realm

into the happiest of homes.

- Nikita Gill

INTRODUCTION

When I thought about my future, I was sure that I had the rest of my life vaguely planned out.

I would graduate from Forks High School in three years, then go to college in Seattle, or maybe Tacoma or Spokane — far enough away from Forks that I could truly start my own life but close enough to visit Charlie every weekend so he wouldn’t be lonely. I would finish my degree — which would probably be something in the sciences or maybe the arts — then I would start my career in my chosen field.

I would eventually find someone that I would want to spend the rest of my life with, someone I loved and who loved me just as much. We would probably get married at some point and maybe even have a kid or two down the road. I would come back to Forks every so often to visit my father with my family. It was always so easy to envision myself and my father and my family sitting in the living room, laughing and eating and watching some sports game on the TV. I thought that it was inevitable that I would always spend my holidays exactly like that — happy and surrounded by the people that I loved the most.

Then, my older sister moved up from Arizona to stay with us — and turned my entire life upside down.

I had no idea just how bad it had gotten until I was standing in a castle in Italy, convinced that I was about to die.

1. CONFESSIONS

Bella was waiting for me and Charlie at the front door when we finally made it home from the hospital. I was holding our father’s hand, trying to give him some sort of comfort as he tried to cope with the sudden loss of one of his closest friends, Harry Clearwater.

Bella wrapped her arms around his waist as soon as he was close enough. Dad pulled his hand away from mine to hug her tightly. I glanced down at the ground, swallowing down my emotions once again.

‘Charlie had a rough day,’ I reminded myself. ‘He didn’t mean to snub me by pulling his hand away.’

“I’m sorry about Harry, Dad,” Bella murmured.

“I’m really going to miss him,” he said.

“How’s Sue doing?”

Charlie sighed deeply and said, “She seems dazed, like she hasn’t grasped it yet. Sam’s staying with her. . . . Those poor kids. Leah’s just a year older than you, and Seth is only fourteen. . . .”

He kept his arm around Bella as he started towards the door again. I followed behind them silently.

“Um, Dad?” Bella began nervously. “You’ll never guess who’s here.”

Charlie and I both looked at Bella, then glanced around the street. Just as I spotted the shiny, black Mercedes parked a little down the street, a soft, high-pitched voice floated out of my house and raised the hair on the back of my neck.

“Hi, Charlie, Eve. I’m sorry I came at such a bad time.”

“Alice Cullen?” Charlie said. I glared at the pixie-like girl, my hands curling into fists as Charlie asked in amazement, “Alice, is that you?”

“It’s me. I was in the neighborhood.”

“Is Carlisle–”

“No, I’m alone.”

I clenched my jaw. My nails were digging into the palms of my hands so hard that I wondered if they would draw blood.

“She can stay here, can’t she?” Bella pleaded, looking up at Charlie and drawing my glare towards her. “I already asked her to.”

“Of course. We’d love to have you, Alice,” Charlie answered.

I scoffed and brushed past all three of them to finally head into the house. I could hear Alice say from outside, “Thank you, Charlie. I know it’s horrid timing.”

“No, it’s fine, really,” Charlie assured her as I began to climb the stairs and they moved inside. “I’m going to be really busy doing what I can for Harry’s family. It will be nice for the girls to have some company.”

Tears gathered in my eyes as I walked into my room and closed the door behind me.

What the hell was Bella thinking? Or Alice, or Charlie for that matter? They had to know that Alice Cullen was only going to stay for one night, maybe two, and then she would leave again. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that once she did leave, Bella was going to be destroyed and Charlie and I would be left to pick up her broken pieces yet again. My sister and father might still have soft spots for Alice, but I didn’t trust any of the Cullens anymore, not after how they had treated Bella.

I still didn’t understand how they could treat her so horribly. How could they all just disappear one day and not even return her calls or emails? How could Edward leave my sister out in the woods after breaking up with her? How could he leave without making sure that she at least made it back to the house safely?

How could any of them claim to have ever loved or cared about her at all?

After taking a quick shower the next morning, I walked downstairs to find Alice sitting with Charlie in the kitchen while he attempted to make breakfast. I leaned back against the counter beside him, watching warily as he poked the bacon frying in the pan.

Alice asked quietly, “How bad was it?”

I shot her a nasty look as Charlie sighed and said, “Real bad.”

“Tell me about it. I want to know exactly what happened when we left.”

I looked down at my sock-clad feet as I crossed my arms securely over my chest. I tried to control my breathing as I blinked back tears.

Charlie hesitated before he spoke. “I’ve never felt so hopeless. I didn’t know what to do — neither of us did. That first week. . . . I thought I was going to have to hospitalize her. She wouldn’t eat or drink, she wouldn’t move. Dr. Gerandy was throwing around words like ‘catatonic,’ but I didn’t let him up to see her. I was afraid it would scare her.”

“She snapped out of it, though?” Alice asked.

“I was going to have Renée come to take her to Florida. I just didn’t want to be the one . . . if she had to go to a hospital or something,” Charlie explained. “I hoped being with her mother would help. But when she heard her mother was on her way and we started packing her clothes, she woke up with a vengeance. I’ve never seen Bella throw a fit like that. She was never one for tantrums, but boy did she fly into a fury. . . . She threw her clothes everywhere and screamed that we couldn’t make her leave . . . and then she finally started crying. I thought that would be the turning point. I didn’t argue when she insisted on staying here . . . and she did seem to get better at first. . . .”

“But?” Alice prompted when he trailed off.

He sighed. “She went back to school and work, she ate and slept and did her homework. She answered when someone asked her a direct question. . . . But she was . . . empty. Her eyes were blank. There were lots of little things — she wouldn’t listen to music anymore. I found a bunch of CDs broken in the trash. She didn’t read, she wouldn’t be in the same room when the TV was on, not that she watched it so much before. I finally figured it out . . . she was avoiding everything that might remind her of . . . him.”

I dug my fingernails into my arms at the mere mention of Edward. My hatred for him had soaked into every cell of my body after the way he had destroyed my sister. Somehow, I just knew that he knew how depressed Bella would get if he left her. He just didn’t care.

“We could hardly talk,” Charlie continued. “Eve and I were so worried about saying something that would upset her — the littlest things would make her flinch — and she never volunteered anything. She would just answer if I asked her something. . . . She was alone all the time, even with us here. She didn’t call her friends back, and after a while, they stopped calling. It was night of the living dead around here. I still hear her screaming in her sleep. . . .”

My chest tightened as Bella’s tortured screams echoed through my mind. Tears pricked my eyes and I blinked them back once again. Bella’s nightmares had been the singular most horrid thing about the Cullens leaving. It was as if their disappearance from Forks had traumatized her more than anything else ever could.

“I’m so sorry, Charlie,” Alice said.

I bit back the acidic comment I wanted to spit at her as my father replied, “It’s not your fault. You were always a good friend to her.”

I scoffed, quietly enough that Charlie couldn’t hear me.

Alice’s eyes flickered towards me for a moment before she looked back at Charlie. She said, “She seems better now, though.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Ever since she started hanging out with Jacob Black, I’ve noticed a real improvement. She has some color in her cheeks when she comes home, some light in her eyes. She’s happier. . . . He’s Eve’s age, so he’s a year younger than her, and I know Bella used to think of him as a friend, but I think maybe it’s something more now, or headed that direction, anyway. Right, Eve?”

I gave him a small smile and said placatingly, “Yeah, maybe.”

But the moment he looked away, my smile disappeared. It was a wistful dream. It was true that there seemed to be something between them, but the one thing I had learned during this whole nightmare was that Edward would always hold Bella’s heart in his hands, no matter how much he hurt her. I hated him for it.

“Jake’s old for his years,” Charlie said, almost defensively. “He’s taken care of his father physically the way Bella took care of her mother emotionally. It matured him. He’s a good-looking kid, too — takes after his mom’s side. He’s good for Bella, you know.”

��Then it’s good she has him.”

Charlie sighed and I could almost see the way his façade crumbled at Alice’s words.

“Okay, so I guess that’s overstating things. I don’t know — even with Jacob, now and then I see something in her eyes, and I wonder if I’ve ever grasped how much pain she’s really in. It’s not normal, Alice, and it . . . it frightens me. Not normal at all. Not like someone . . . left her, but like someone died.”

My heart throbbed painfully in my chest when I heard Charlie’s voice crack. He had never been a very emotional man, so hearing the strain in his voice hurt me. Gently and wordlessly, I nudged him away from the stove and took over cooking breakfast myself. Charlie said nothing, but the way his hand lingered on mine for a few moments conveyed his appreciation better than his words could have.

“I don’t know if she’s going to get over it. . . . I’m not sure if it’s in her nature to heal from something like this. She’s always been such a constant little thing. She doesn’t get past things, changer her mind,” he said.

“She’s one of a kind,” Alice agreed. I threw a glare at her over my shoulder, even though I wasn’t quite sure why her comment bothered me so much.

“And Alice,” Charlie hesitated, then said, “Now, you know how fond I am of you, and I can tell that she’s happy to see you, but . . . I’m a little worried about what your visit will do to her.”

“So am I, Charlie, so am I,” she sighed. “I wouldn’t have come if I’d had any idea. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, honey. Who knows? maybe it will be good for her.”

“I hope you’re right.”

I shook my head, choosing to remain silent. Of course Alice’s visit wouldn’t be good for Bella. Alice would eventually leave and shatter the few delicate parts of Bella that had somehow managed to heal.

“Alice, I have to ask you something.”

I glanced at Charlie as I began to plate his breakfast. Alice said, “Go ahead.”

“He’s not coming back to visit, too, is he?”

Charlie sounded about as furious as I felt. I knew our rage had to be on nearly the same level. I didn’t think either of us would hesitate to rip Edward a new one if he dared to show his face around here again.

“He doesn’t even know I’m here. The last time I spoke with him, he was in South America.”

I scoffed openly this time and Charlie snorted. I placed his plate in front of him as he commented bitterly, “That’s something, at least. Well I hope he’s enjoying himself.”

Alice tensed and replied steelily, “I wouldn’t make assumptions.”

I had been reading a book upstairs when I heard the shouting. I quickly set my book aside and rushed downstairs. I followed the noise to the living room, where I found Bella, Alice, and Jacob Black. My wide eyes glanced between them, watching as Jacob shouted profanities at Alice, who was ignoring him, a strange look of horror and determination etched onto her face. Bella looked horrified, even more so than when she had the nightmares that made her wake up screaming.

“What’s going on?” I asked worriedly.

“Alice?” Bella said weakly. “What happened?”

“I don’t know!” Alice exclaimed. “What is he thinking?”

She pulled a cellphone from her handbag. My jaw dropped as I watched her dial a number so quickly that her fingers blurred together. How in the hell was it even possible for her to move that fast?

“Rose, I need to talk to Carlisle now. . . . Fine, as soon as he’s back. No, I’ll be on a plane. Look, have you heard anything from Edward?”

As Rosalie Cullen answered Alice’s question, the tiny girl’s face grew more and more appalled by the second. The phone shook in her hand. I looked at Bella, hoping that she would notice my confusion and explain what was happening, but her eyes were locked onto Alice.

“Why? Why would you do that, Rosalie?” A silent moment passed, then Alice spoke again, “Well, you’re wrong on both counts, though, Rosalie, so that would be a problem, don’t you think? Yes, that’s right. She’s absolutely fine . . . I was wrong. . . . It’s a long story. . . . But you’re wrong about that part, too, that’s why I’m calling. . . . Yes, that’s exactly what I saw. . . . It’s a bit late for that, Rose. Save your remorse for someone who believes it.”

She snapped the phone shut and turned back towards Bella.

Bella said, “Alice, Alice, Carlisle is back, though. He called just before–”

“How long ago?”

“Half a minute before you showed up.”

“What did he say?”

“I didn’t talk to him.”

Alice and Bella turned expectantly towards Jacob, and I mirrored them. He flinched, but he didn’t move away from Bella’s side. My mind was whirling, trying to understand what was happening — or what had happened. Nothing about this made sense.

“He asked for Charlie, and I told him Charlie wasn’t here,” Jacob muttered.

“Is that everything?” Alice demanded coldly.

“Then he hung up on me.”

Bella said in a soft voice, “You told him Charlie was at the funeral.”

Alice’s head snapped towards my sister. “What were his exact words?”

“He said, ‘He’s not here,’ and when Carlisle asked where Charlie was, Jacob said, ‘At the funeral.’”

Alice moaned in pain and fell to her knees. I took a step back in shock, glancing between her and Bella and Jacob in confusion.

“Tell me, Alice,” Bella whispered.

“That wasn’t Carlisle on the phone.”

“Are you calling me a liar?” Jacob snarled. Alice ignored him, her unblinking gaze locked on Bella’s face as she explained, “It was Edward. He thinks you’re dead.”

Bella sighed as she relaxed. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Why would Edward think that Bella was dead? Why was Alice so clearly distraught? Why was Bella suddenly so calm about this?

“Rosalie told him I killed myself, didn’t she?”

“Yes. In her defense, she did believe it. They rely on my sight far too much for something that works so imperfectly. But for her to track him down to tell him this! Didn’t she realize — or care?”

“And when Edward called here, he thought Jacob meant my funeral.”

“You’re not upset,” Alice whispered.

“Well, it’s rotten timing, but it will all get straightened out,” Bella replied. “The next time he calls, someone will tell him what really. . . .”

She trailed off, her brown eyes widening slightly as she took in the genuine horror on Alice’s face.

“Bella, Edward won’t call again,” Alice said slowly. “He believed her.”

“I don’t understand,” Bella said, her voice so quiet that I could only barely make out the words.

“He’s going to Italy.”

For a single moment, everything seemed to be frozen. No one moved or spoke. Then, Bella shrieked, “NO! No! No, no, no! He can’t! He can’t do that!”

“He made up his mind as soon as your friend confirmed that it was too late to save you.”

“But he — he left! He didn’t want me anymore! What difference does it make now? He knew I would die sometime!”

Alice said quietly, “I don’t think he ever planned to outlive you by long.”

“How dare he!” Bella screamed, jumping to her feet. Jacob stood up beside her, attempting to put himself between her and Alice. “Oh, get out of the way, Jacob!” She elbowed her way around him and begged Alice, “What do we do? Can’t we call him? Can Carlisle?”

She shook her head. “That was the first thing I tried. He left his phone in a trash can in Rio — someone answered it.”

“You said before we had to hurry. Hurry how? Let’s do it, whatever it is!”

“Bella, I-I don’t think I can ask you to. . . .”

“Ask me!”

Alice put her hands on Bella’s shoulders, her voice deadly serious as she spoke. “We may already be too late. I saw him going to the Volturi — and asking to die. It all depends on what they choose. I can’t see that until they make a decision. But if they say no, and they might — Aro is fond of Carlisle, and wouldn’t want to offend him — Edward has a backup plan. They’re very protective of their city. If Edward does something to upset the peace, he thinks they’ll act to stop him. And he’s right. They will.”

Bella just stared at Alice for a moment. Her jaw was clenched, her expression seemingly frustrated.

“So, if they agree to grant his favor, we’re too late. If they say no, and he comes up with a plan to offend them quickly enough, we’re too late. If he gives into his more theatrical tendencies — we might have time. . . . Let’s go!”

“Listen, Bella!” Alice exclaimed. “Whether we are on time or not, we will be in the heart of the Volturi city. I will be considered his accomplice if he is successful. You will be a human who not only knows too much, but also smells too good. There’s a very good chance that they will eliminate us all — though in your case, it won’t be punishment so much as dinnertime.”

“This is what’s keeping us here?” Bella asked. “I’ll go alone if you’re afraid.”

“I’m only afraid of getting you killed.”

“I almost get myself killed on a daily basis! Tell me what I need to do!”

“You write a note to Charlie. I’ll call the airlines.”

“STOP!” I yelled. All three of them turned towards me, their eyes wide as if they had forgotten that I was even in the room with them. “What the fuck is going on? What are you talking about? Bella, you can’t just go to Italy!”

“There’s no time–”

I cut Alice off, “I’m not letting you take my sister all the way to Italy, where you said that she is probably going to die unless you tell me what is really going on!”

“The Cullens are vampires,” Bella said. My eyes widened and I opened my mouth to speak, but Bella rambled on before I could say a single word. “I’ve known about them and what they are since Edward and I got close last year. . . . The Volturi are like their government, or royalty, or something in between, I’m not really sure. They have laws that all vampires are supposed to follow, like not letting humans know that vampires exist. . . . Edward thinks I’m dead because Alice saw me jump off the cliff — oh, yeah, some vampires have special powers, so that’s how Alice can see the future. Edward is going to ask the Volturi to kill him. . . . I need to go. I need to save him, Eve.”

“Bella–”

“Eve, I can’t lose him!” she insisted, tears in her eyes. Her lip trembled and her voice broke as she begged, “Please, please, just this once put yourself in my shoes and help me.”

I flinched at her words and my heart stung sharply in my chest. These past few months, my whole life had revolved around helping my sister. But, like always, I pushed aside my own feelings and swallowed my thoughts in order to help my family.

“Fine,” I sighed. “But, I’m going with you. I’m not letting you do this by yourself.”

“No,” Alice insisted, shaking her head. “It’s too risky.”

I glared at her. “Either I’m coming with you, or I’ll call Charlie home from work right now.”

“Please, Alice,” Bella mumbled, taking my hand in hers. “Just let her come with. We need to go.”

Alice stared at me for a long moment, a blank expression on her face, before she sighed.

“Hurry.”

#twilight fanfiction #twilight #alec volturi x reader #alec volturi imagine #alec volturi fanfiction #alec volturi #volturi #volturi fanfiction #fanfic

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honourablejester · 2 months

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Thoughts for a Draconic Ravenloft Darklord

While I’m thinking about Ravenloft again, I have a sketch of a thought for a homebrew Darklord and her domain. This is building strongly from a post I did a while back on ideas for villainous metallic dragons. In particular, villainous silver dragons. Because the juxtaposition of virtue and villainy is really powerful on a silver dragon.

Listen. Some snippets from the Monster Manual description for silver dragons:

“Dragons of Virtue. Silver dragons believe that living a moral life involves doing good deeds and ensuring that one's actions cause no undeserved harm to other sentient beings. They don't take it upon themselves to root out evil, as gold and bronze dragons do, but they will gladly oppose creatures that dare to commit evil acts or harm the innocent.”

“A silver dragon adopts a benign humanoid persona such as a kindly old sage or a young wanderer, and it often has mortal companions with whom it develops strong friendships.”

Silver dragons are ‘dragons of virtue’. Famously so. They believe in moral lives of good deeds and ensuring that no undeserved harm comes as a result of their actions. They take ‘benign humanoid personas’ to live among smaller races and do good. They don’t fight evil head on, as golds and bronzes do, they’re not militant, they just … act as benign figures in the community. They foster good. And that … It is a cliché. But that’s so easy to twist darkly. So easy.

Which is a horrible, cynical thing to do, yes. A sign of the times we live in. But. Ravenloft. Cynicism and the triumph of good over evil is sort of a theme here.

So. A silver dragon Darklord. A virtuous figure hiding a hideous secret. A theme of reputation, illusion, false virtue. Hidden poisons. And … stigma.

Dragons of Virtue

No undeserved harm. No undeserved harm. But who decides what someone deserves? And why?

There is so much power in deciding who lives and who dies. There is so much power in deciding who deserves to live or to die. She does good works! She does good works. She is a dragon of virtue, as all of her kind are. As all of her kind must be. There’s only the small matter of … the undeserving.

No one will miss them. She doesn’t kill them. Not directly. She would cause no undeserved harm. It’s only a matter of who deserves help. And maybe … with some time. Some investigation. Some thought. Maybe she would find some here or there who would deserve, perhaps, some little harm.

Her name is Irisvalorn, the Silver Healer. Though the people of her mountain realm know her better as Saint Argentia, a holy woman from centuries past who watches over them. Who appears still, occasionally, to the deserving. Who protects them from fear, assault and disease.

Or they might know her better as the Grand Abbess of the Argentine Abbey, the first home and great hospital of the Order of St. Argentia. There have been dozens of women to hold the role over the centuries, but every last one of them has been Irisvalorn in disguise. Every one. The Order of Saint Argentia is her proudest work, and she has been part of it, led it, from the first.

(If that perhaps meant several other women, who might have risen to Grand Abbess in the normal run of things, had to be dealt with, in one fashion or another, well. She would not harm the undeserving. It was done fairly. Virtuously. She did not harm them).

If you asked, knowing of her sins, what led her to what she is now … well. She would kill you. But. If you managed to draw a conversation from her first. What she would tell you is this:

She didn’t intend harm. Never. Not once. She is, was, and always will be, a virtuous dragon. She started the hospital out of true benevolence. One her first guises, Argentia, had appeared in a time when a great sickness plagued her mountain home. She had no divine magic to combat it, but healing and medicine are not merely the preserves of the gods. She had silver to spare, and wanted to help her people. So she sponsored the work that would become the Order of St. Argentia, and the great hospital of the Argentine Abbey. It was, from the first, a virtuous endeavour.

And she worked on the wards. Personally. Not as Argentia, already the name had too much mysticism attached to it. Myths of holiness springing up, which she had not encouraged. Never. She worked the wards in humble guises. Helped spread her own knowledge further. But it was … it was on those wards, in those humble guises. That she found … evil.

Sickness is the great equaliser. It strikes down the virtuous and the villainous with the same scythe. All manner of people came to the hospital, especially as the sickness grew more entrenched, and the Argentine Abbey one of the foremost bastions against it. She saw … so many people. At their weakest, at their most wretched. She bathed them and comforted them and nurtured them. And in response, sometimes, they told her things. Confided in her. The virtuous and the villainous alike.

Is it not evil, in and of itself, to nurture evil? To provide it comfort? To heal it and cozen it and set it loose to enact itself all over again? Is it not evil, to help evil?

Sickness is the great equaliser. But perhaps, after a while, in the Argentine Abbey, the scales started to swing … a little more one way than the other.

It wasn’t evil. How could it be evil? Yes, she slew them while they were weak, and helpless. While they clung to her for comfort, shivered under her hands in the depths of fever. Yes, she offered death, where they had come for healing. But it was not evil. It was not undeserved. If you had only heard what they whispered. Cried. Admitted, abruptly penitent, but only while faced with death. How could it be evil, to prevent them from going free to enact such sins again?

But oh. Oh. What power it was. When they clung to her, and thanked her, and drank sweet poisons down with grateful lips.

The problems only started when … Sickness covers many sins. They were ill already. She had only helped along what fate had already ordained. But the scales swung. And, if enough people paid attention, they swung noticeably.

And here. Here. Here was where things became … complicated.

Because she could offer no harm to the undeserving. Of course, of course she could not. She was virtuous. But why could they not understand? Why could they not see the necessity?

She had to change guises several times. She had to learn caution and care and secrecy. Her challengers were not evil, only foolish and blind, and she could not harm them. So she had, instead, to keep them from noticing. And, perhaps, arrange, over time, for them to be assigned elsewhere. As the order grew. As more and more hospices and hospitals became necessary. The disease rose and fell over three centuries with curious regularity. She could never develop an outright cure for it, only treatments so that many of its victims would survive its poisonous embrace. It returned. It always returned. And, in lockstep, rise and fall, her order, the Order of St. Argentia, grew. Expanded. A second and a third hospital, one for each city, and dozen of hospices across towns and more remote areas. There were … places to send people. Out of the way places. Without harming them.

But not all of them. Maybe she had known. Sooner or later, someone who would come along that she couldn’t shoo gently to the side quite so easily.

But how could she have predicted that it would be someone so evil?

A dragon. Another dragon, in human guise. So subtle. So careful. And capable, even as Irisvalorn was, of wearing multiple guises. The better to gather evidence over years and faces, without being detected. What monstrous luck. What monstrous luck. For good and ill.

Her name, this other dragon, was Voreloreat. The Beautiful Death. A green. Of course. Of course a green. Who else would be drawn to such disease? Who else would be so enchanted by such poison? Green. Of course a green. Cunning and treacherous, specialising in poison and corruption and trickery.

Masquerading as a healer. Of all the gall. Of all the gall. Masquerading, many times, as a kind and gentle healer. One who …

It was coincidence, of course, that her methods, her treatments, often made better ground against the disease. Coincidence. Or … Or worse than that, perhaps. For centuries, this disease had ravaged them. Never cured, always returning. Was there a reason? Here was a dragon. A poisoner. A corrupter. Was there, perhaps, a reason that the disease could not be cured?

Save, perhaps, by its author?

And to challenge her. On grounds of virtue. To say that she, Irisvalorn, had committed evil! So snidely, so poisonously. To suggest …

But that was the problem. Suggestions. Questions. Too many people didn’t understand. It had been proved so many times over the years. So many people wouldn’t understand what she did, why she did it.

And to point to the … shrine, as proof. How had she even found that? But they were not … it was not a hoard. They were not trophies. Only an evil mind could come up with such things. They were reminders. The little objects, the personal effects. They were reminders. Of the evil that hid among the virtuous, of those who wore the same faces and begged the same aid as everyone else, while hiding secrets behind their eyes. In their souls. She had only collected them to remind herself. It was not a hoard.

But suspicions had grown, over the years. Only in certain circles. No one outside of the Order. But they had grown. And she didn’t want to hurt anyone. Not innocents. Not the undeserving. She had kept her secrets to keep from hurting them! And now this creature …

This monster. This monster in her virtuous guise. Threatening to destroy all that Irisvalorn had spent centuries building. All that she had worked towards. With a suggestion.

But the mistake Voreloreat had made … Well. One that she couldn’t help, really. One born to her, or she to it. She was a green. No matter the virtue of her mortal disguises, she was still a green dragon. And Irisvalorn was silver.

When it came to questions of virtue, only one of them would be believed.

It took … little enough work, to find a paladin. Elpia, her name was, honest and virtuous and true. A gentle soul, but unflinching. Unfaltering in the face of evil. And Irisvalorn did not lie to her. She did not. She told her only the truth. Of a monster, hiding behind a virtuous face. Of a disease that had ravaged them for centuries, and a creature known for poisons who mastered it where no one else could. The truth. Only the truth.

Damn the poisons of the greens. Their words, their lies, that corrupted the innocent even in death. How could any paladin of true faith believe …

She had not wanted to hurt anyone. Everything, everything, had been to avoid that. She had never, not once, harmed an innocent, the undeserving. They had all told her their crimes. Confessed them. Each and every one. Oh, some had to be prompted, yes, but they had all confessed. She had harmed no innocent. Never.

Why would Elpia not believe that? Why would the words of a dying monster convince …? Was she not silver? Was she not virtuous? Had she not earned …?

It was not her fault. It wasn’t. Elpia wouldn’t understand. Couldn’t. She had been corrupted too far. And Irisvalorn could not gently shuffle her aside as she had so many others. To Elpia, she had revealed the truth. That she was a dragon. To prove her virtue, she had offered up her greatest secret, and now if Elpia revealed her to all the world, there would be endless suspicion dogging every new face within the Order. Worse. There might be suspicion on the Order, from the outside. All their good works, all their desperately needed help. Suspect. Perhaps even turned aside.

All because of one monster pretending virtue, and a naïve but unflinching innocent who had fallen for the lie.

She had no choice. And Elpia was wounded. Ill. Voreloreat’s poisons. Her dying vengeance. Irisvalorn was a healer. And sometimes her scales … tipped the other way.

It wasn’t her fault. The Mists that shrouded her lands, like the disease before them. Like the disease still. It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t because of her. No one would damn a whole realm for the death of one innocent. Surely. No. No, it wasn’t her fault.

If anyone, it was Voreloreat’s.

Darklord Irisvalorn

AKA Saint Argentia. AKA Grand Abbess of the Argentine Order. Irisvalorn still maintains her roles as the leader and hope of a realm under siege. Disease, endless and unabated, plagues her lands, and the great hospital of the Argentine Abbey still stands as the first bastion against it. She is still a holy figure, a humble leader, a shining saint, and a silver dragon behind it all. She still believes, fully and vehemently, that she is a virtuous dragon, and that she has harmed no one who was not deserving. Even Elpia was … corrupted. It was not her doing.

But several things have changed, in a domain now cradled by the Mists.

Irisvalorn’s Torment

Disease perpetually stalks her realm, rising and falling like a tide, and nothing she does can stop it. All her treatments and her cures have been failing, slowly, one by one. Feverishly, she and her Order find new ones, for each new surge of the disease, but always, after a while, they fail. The tide of poison rolls back in, and they can do nothing to stop it. And it is noticeable. Faith, faith in her, in her Order, in Saint Argentia, is fading, ebbing out as the disease rolls in. How long before her people won’t look to her any longer?

And worse. There are those who actively seek to hasten that end. A spectre, a phantom. A work of her enemy. Another Order has sprung up in her lands, an order of healers and herbalists, an order whose works, it is increasingly rumoured, are effective. A person who is healed by them, it is said, will not suffer the disease again. It will not resurge, at least not in them. Irisvalorn has done all she can to discredit this. Not out of selfishness, not to deprive her people of a cure! No. Because she knows who this is. She knows who teaches them. She knows that their cures work because the disease is by their hand.

They call themselves the Order of Saint Hellebora. And they are the cult of her enemy. The servants of Voreloreat. Every member of the Order of St. Hellebora bears a coin, a silver coin, damn them, damn her, from the hoard of Voreloreat. A token of their saint, through which they are sometimes blessed by her advice and inspiration. Unaware that they are listening to the whispered poisons of the ghost of a green dragon. Or are they unaware? Are they innocent tools, as Elpia once was, or willing accomplices? But it doesn’t matter. They are heretics. Servants of evil. No matter how kind and gentle and helpful they appear, they are servants of evil, and they must be destroyed.

They. They must be destroyed. They must. Elpia’s death must not be in vain. This disease must be defeated. This evil must be stamped out. Voreloreat’s ghost must be slain, much more thoroughly than her mortal body was. It will be worth it. It must be worth it. When this land at last knows freedom from pain, from disease, from the evils that hide behind virtuous faces, then …

Then the oh-so-tangible stains of Irisvalorn’s sin, of Elpia’s death, will at last be washed out.

For she does bear the stain of that sin. A stigma. A green, weeping tarnish. Her scales, once pure silver, are now stained the colour of the corrupter who ruined them all. Every moment in her true form, that tarnish weeps from her body. Even in her humanoid guises, she cannot disguise it. It appears, as green, burning tear tracks down her face, as vicious, emerald stains across her hands. She’s had to wear so many faces, to create the myth of St. Argentia’s stigmata, just to cover it. And she has done it well. She’s woven a myth, a truth, so well. That the saint was marred by a vicious curse from a dying evil, that she must bear these burning, weeping wounds until the land is at last cleansed of evil and disease. It has … It has served her, in its way. And it is not false. But Irisvalorn knows …

There is innocent blood on her hands. One. One innocent. And she must bear these stigma in her name, until the sin is paid for. Made worth it.

One innocent. Only one. They have not grown. They have not spread, drop by drop, with every … tipping of her scales. Every reminder in her shrine. Every memento placed around Elpia’s enshrined tomb. They haven’t. They have not spread. Her scales are pure and silver, as pure as her heart. The corruption has not spread.

She must kill them. Voreloreat. All those pretenders, those healers and herbalists and wisewomen who bear the monster’s coin, who pretend to help, who hide their evil behind virtuous faces. She must. She must destroy them. Then the evil will stop. The poison, the suffering, the disease. It will all stop.

And her sins … her sins will finally be washed out.

Darklord Irisvalorn. The Silver Healer. A virtuous dragon.

End Notes

Definitely heading for a gothic, religious, dark fantasy sort of Domain of Dread. A little bit Lady Macbeth, a little bit …

This quote is from the 1999 Tim Burton version of Sleepy Hollow, so take that as you will, but it does fit so nicely, and was a lot of the inspiration here:

“Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue.”

Silver dragons would make such dreadful villains. A benign figure hiding poison. A mask of virtue. Because everyone knows that silver dragons are virtuous dragons.

And I do love a green dragon, and they would be the ones to fight poison with poison. Possibly even from genuine virtue. Voreloreat might just have been wanting to see what was going on, and stumbled across, well. Everything Irisvalorn had going on. Maybe she was genuinely disgusted, and her ghost is genuinely trying to help through her order. Or, perhaps, virtue has nothing to do with it, and vengeance, by her enemy’s own tools, is the name of the game. Morals be damned. Those who live and kill by the sword, or the mask, can die by it in their turn. Heh. Dealer’s choice.

So. A sketch of a thought, for a Ravenloft draconic Darklord.

#d&d #ravenloft #dragons #darklords #silver dragons #green dragons #villainy and virtue #hidden evils

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virgo-mess · 2 months

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Silver Thread- Epilogue

We've finally made it!

I won't hold you up dive headfirst into this fluffy smut piece and story conclusion my friends.

TW: Fuffffff, Smut, Fluffffyy smut, Loss of Virginity that falls in the realm of genuine love making, Oral (female receiving), Fingering

PSA: Please take a moment to enjoy the artfully crafted mood board I spent weeks creating for no reason at all....please and thank you 😊❤️

Six Weeks Later

Seattle, Washington

The sky was pretty haze of gold, pink, and orange as Terry and Veda sat quietly, cuddled up in the Canlis restaurant’s private dining room, the Cache room. Veda let out a content sigh as she rested her head against Terry’s shoulder, watching the sun start to dip behind the Cascade Mountain range with a dreamy smile on her face. Terry looked down at her with an equally dreamy smile, his blue eyes glittered in the warm candlelight as he reached down to brush a lock of wavy black hair out her face so he could admire her doe like brown eyes.

“Today was so much fun, Romeo, thank you” Veda said softly, craning her neck slightly to look at him with adoring eyes and a beaming smile. Today had been the first date they’d been on since Veda got out of the hospital and Terry had purchased a private estate in Seattle to focus on her recovery. He did most of his Dynatox board meetings over the phone and made taking care of Veda in his new lakeside wooded retreat his top priority while Margaret handled things at the office back in LA. Veda had begun to feel like herself again about two weeks ago and most of her injuries had healed up nicely save for her still very broken arm, a few thin scars, and a sore, but healed shoulder. Though she wasn’t sure how she would’ve been able to make it through the past six weeks without Terry by her side, he kept her together in mind, body, and spirit and she knew without him she’d be lost. Terry felt the same way, seeing how much pain his sweet girl had been in that first week after the gala was agonizing of course put out all the stops he could to make today unforgettable for her. He surprised her with a beautiful breakfast in bed, a giant bouquet of pink flowers, and a relaxing bath before taking her to see all the art museums Seattle had to offer and the aquarium. Terry gently caressed Veda’s bare shoulder with the back of his fingers as he smiled back at her with adoring eyes of his own.

“The days not over yet, I’ve got one more surprise for you my sweet girl” Terry crooned giving her a gentle kiss on her forehead and excitement now swirling in his eyes. He’d been planning this date out for about two weeks now and he couldn’t wait to see how happy this next surprise was going to make her. It still amazed him how the simplest things made her so unbelievably happy and while tonight’s surprise was more on the regular date night agenda, it would still be intimate and meaningful to his angel and that’s all that matter to him. Veda let out a sting of adorable, excited giggles with a bashful blush spreading across her as she peered up at Terry with big eyes. She really couldn’t imagine what else he possibly had in store for her.

“Oh, are we flying back to Victoria tonight?” Veda asked excitedly, though it still baffled her how Terry managed to fit a private, scenic seaplane flight over to Canada into their busy schedule. Veda couldn’t complain though she loved the romantic horse drawn carriage ride they took, strolling through the gorgeous Butchart Gardens, seeing some of Hatley Castle, and holding hands as they walked along the Inner Harbour. Terry’s smile wavered a bit as he shook his head.

“No, I’m sorry they only fly the planes out until dusk. We can take another one up there this week, I promise” Terry said looking genuinely apologetic like he somehow had control over seaplanes or their rules. Veda shushed Terry gently, flashing him a sweet smile before pulling him in for a sweet but very passionate kiss that made their waitress quietly slip back out the door with the bill even though she had just walked in. Veda parted for air to see Terry’s beaming smile reclaim its proper place upon his face.

“Terry that’s okay, you know I’m happy with any surprise you have in store for me regardless, my love. Today has been wonderful and you’re the greatest, prettiest, sweetest most perfect boyfriend in the entire world and you are worth way more than a seaplane flight, baby boy” Veda cooed wholeheartedly, with a sweet smile and a playful wink before she leaned in to give him a kiss on the tip of his nose. Terry raised his eyebrows at her in awe before letting out a deep, hearty chuckle just as their waitress walked back into the room with a small smile on her face.

“I think you’ve had a bit too much to drink, sweetheart maybe I should carry you to the car, hmm. They don’t have an elevator and you insisted on wearing heels with your dress even though they give you trouble. You don’t have to wear them you know, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I can assure you no one is looking at your shoes, baby girl.” Terry said wholeheartedly, giving Veda a playful wink of his own and a tender kiss on the cheek while she giggled softly under her breath. The waitress awkwardly cleared her throat as she flashed them both a genuine, apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, I hate having to interrupt you guys you’re really so cute together, but I need a signature and I have to watch you do it. Company policy with large bills and what not. So, how long have you guys been married? I’m assuming you’re celebrating an anniversary or a birthday, my fiancé refused to take me here until he proposed…” The waitress said, trying her best not to look annoyed as she thought about her fiancé. Terry silently jotted his name down on the receipt. Veda glanced at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes as she recalled their very first date a little over three months ago at a roof top restaurant in LA when a waiter asked them the same question.

“We’ve been married for three years now, together for five we met at one of our college football games…” Veda said watching Terry’s ears flare a bright shade of red out of the corner of her eye with an impish grin on her face. Terry shook his to himself as he handed the waitress the bill with a polite smile and flushed cheeks. “He gets a little embarrassed when I bring it up because I met him after he knocked a cooler full of Gatorade all over my cheer uniform while he was dressed as our school mascot, the BC Renegade Knight.” Veda said, trying so hard not laugh as Terry looked at her in disbelief more so that she could come up with absurd stories on a whim.

“Aw that’s such a cute way to meet” the waitress cooed with a soft smile on her face. “I won’t hold you two love birds up with all my nosey ramblings, your Renegade Knight looks like he’s about to have a heart attack. I hope you both have a wonderful evening and thank you for dining with us. You two can hang in here for a bit longer if you want the next reservation isn’t until 8:30” the waitress said giving them a small wave and another soft smile before she left the room, but both Terry and Veda caught the suggestive tone in her voice.

“Veda Noelle, I’m never giving you cocktails and wine at the same time again no matter how big these pretty browns eyes of yours get.” Terry said in a mock stern voice that made Veda giggle cutely as she leaned further against his side. Terry chuckled softly under his breath and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on Veda’s temple with amusement and adoration swirling in his eyes.

“Whatever do you mean, I was just telling our nice waitress how I met my knight in silver armor” Veda said sweetly, batting her long eyelashes at him in the innocent way that always made his heart skip a beat.

“You know I love being your knight in silver armor but that was a completely fabricated account of how we met, baby girl. Are you going to come up with a new story every time someone asks how long we’ve been married?” Terry asked her with a raised eyebrow, Veda placed her finger under her chin in an adorable ploy of playful contemplation as she stared up at Terry with an impish glint still nestled in her eyes.

“I didn’t plan on it but if you’re going to get this adorably bashful every time I do it, I think I might. Your ears get so red, my love” Veda cooed, tugging on his ear playfully before nuzzling her nose against his cheek and placing a playful yet adoring kiss on it. Terry chuckled softly at the endearing action before peppering her cheek with adoring kisses of his own.

“We’ve only been together a few months baby girl but if you keep telling people we’re married, I’m going to have no choice but to propose. You can’t come up with a new story every time if I give you a real one that outshines all the ones you think up in this gorgeous little head of yours.” Terry said teasingly and took in the way Veda immediately became adorably bashful herself with loving blue eyes.

“Everything you already do is better than any story I could think up and anything I could dreamed, Terry. I know I said I wasn’t ready to get married yet but I guess I just feel special when other people think I’m good enough to be your wife” Veda said sheepishly, Terry’s eyes softened as Veda wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into the crook of his neck. Veda inhaled Terry’s warm comforting scent and felt Terry wrap his arms around her in the form of a tight embrace.

“Veda baby, you’re more than good enough my sweet girl. You’re perfect, everything I ever dreamed of, and I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone other than you. Now how about we go see that surprise now, hmm” Terry cooed in her ear in a low soothing voice as he placed comforting kisses in her hair and against her temple. Veda nodded her head in acknowledgment, throwing her legs over his lap and craning her neck to look at him with a dreamy smile on her face. Terry smiled back at her, tucking an arm under her knees, he carefully rose to his feet and walked towards the door. Sharing one of their silent conversations as Terry neared the top of the stairs that would take them down to the main dining room and then the car with content smiles and loving eyes.

“I know we’ve only been together a few months, my love but I kind of feel like we’ve been together forever, is that weird” Veda said just above a whisper, running her small fingers through the ends of his dark curls with a coy smile on her face. Terry’s eyes lit up as he remembered the first time, she spoke those words to him so much had changed since then but what hadn’t changed was the way he felt about Veda.

“Not at all my sweet girl, I feel the same way.”

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Dusk fell on Seattle in pretty hues of pink and blue just as Terry pulled the car down the long-wooded drive of the Seattle estate with a giddy smile on his face. He could the excitement brewing in Veda’s pretty eyes as he shifted the car into park and couldn’t help the soft chuckle he let out as he gazed over at her wandering brown eyes. Veda met his gaze with a coy smile and innocent eyes and Terry knew she was gearing up to interrogate him much like she was going to do the eve of her birthday when he surprised her with a birthday ball. What he planned for them tonight wasn’t nearly as extravagant, but it would be intimate and sometimes it seemed that the small gestures made his sweet girl ten times happier than the grands and that was something Terry hoped would never change.

“I saw Milos and Larry carrying large boxes into the estate before we left, is my surprise a big party? Don’t think I didn’t notice you distracting me with a relaxing bath while you went up to the top floor terrace, Romeo” Veda said in a sing song voice with a fit of cute giggles and an impish glint in her eyes. Terry raised his eyebrow with an amused glint in his eyes and another soft chuckle because Veda really never missed a thing.

“No Veda, your surprise is not a party, I was only on the terrace for ten minutes and you already know I won’t tell you what the surprise is. Sometimes I swear you don’t know what the word surprise means, baby girl.” Terry said teasingly giving her a kiss on the tip of her nose Veda looked up at him innocently as she reached forward to toy with some of his black curls softly.

“It was more than ten minutes I know you were up there before you brought me that beautiful breakfast in bed. Oh, woe is me, why do you torment me so, baby boy” Veda said in mock despair as she threw her head onto Terry’s lap and jutted out her lower lip as she gazed up at him with big brown puppy eyes. Terry smiled down at her adoringly before wrapping his arms around her small form and pulling her upright against his chest so he could capture her in a long passionate kiss that left both of them lightheaded. Veda broke the amorous kiss for air and rested her forehead against Terry’s, the pair fell into one of their intimate silences gazing lovingly into the other’s eyes between gasps for air. A soft smile graced Terry’s lips as he trailed a gentle thumb down the length of one of Veda’s rosy cheeks.

“You’re being exceptionally silly this evening sweetheart, part of your surprise is just over there by the lake. Take these off for me, I want your eyes covered and I don’t need my beautiful girlfriend breaking her other arm” Terry said breathlessly placing a tender kiss on her forehead before reaching over the seat to help her with her shoes. Veda giggled watching Terry help her out of her heels, adoring the giddy smile he flashed her before hopping out of the car and rushing to open her door. Terry scooped Veda off the car seat with ease, gently setting her on the ground he wrapped a strong arm around her waist and flashed her another giddy smile.

“I’ve got you sweetheart, are you ready?” Terry cooed, giving her a tender kiss in the cheek Veda nodded feeling her cheeks tint a bashful shade of pink and flashed Terry a beaming smile as she laced her fingers with the hand he had placed on her waist.

“Yes, my love” Veda cooed with a giddy smile of her own as she stood on her tip toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. Terry beamed at her pulling her one more kiss before laying his large free hand over her eyes and gently guiding her down the path that led towards their private pier. Terry whispered sweet nothings in her ear and occasionally lifted her feet off the ground with ease if he thought something on the stone pathway would cause her even an ounce of pain. Veda felt like she was positively floating the entire walk down and wondered what surprise her Romeo could possibly have in store for her this time though she knew she’s love whatever it was based solely on the fact that Terry gave it to her.

“Alright, stand here for me beautiful but keep your eyes closed just a bit longer for me” Terry cooed as he slowed her to a stop. Veda giggled softly and nodded her head in acknowledgement and kept her eyes closed as promised when she felt Terry’s warm hand fall from her face. She was practically bouncing in excitement as she listened to the sound of the lake’s rippling water, the faint sound of singing songbirds in the trees, and Terry shuffling about wherever it was they were.

“Okay, sweetheart you can open your eyes now” Terry said, Veda bit her lip and fluttered her eyes open to see Terry drop the needle on her record player with an almost sheepish smile on his face as he gazed at her with sparking blue eyes to gage her reaction. Veda let out an audible gasp as she let her eyes take in the rest of their surroundings. The pier was lit up with shimmering gold lanterns and covered in a layer of pink and red rose petals. The soft sound of running water, chirping songbirds, and the delicate notes of Fleetwood Mac’s Songbird filled the air with the sun’s pretty, orange pink farewell washing over the lake’s rippling surface. It had to be one of the most romantic things Terry and done for her to date and Veda couldn’t help the way her heart swelled with joy as her brown doe eyes finally landed on him once more. Terry chuckled softly, admiring yet another one of Veda’s childlike wonder awed expressions with a charming smile and sparkling blue eyes as he extended his hand towards her in a gentlemanly fashion.

“What’s all this for, Romeo?” Veda asked with rosy cheeks and a coy yet dreamy sort of smile as she placed her small hand in Terry’s larger one.

“We never got our dance at the gala, baby girl and for that I’m sorry.” Terry said softly, pulling Veda’s small body as close to him as possible. Veda’s brown eyes became watery as they gazed up at him filled with boundless amounts of love and adoration in the warm glow of the gleaming lanterns and the setting sun. Veda felt more connected to Terry than ever before, more in love with him even and she didn’t think that was possible all she knew is she wanted to be with him in every way possible.

“That wasn’t your fault my love, but this is a very beautiful surprise, thank you” Veda said standing on her tip toes to capture him in another passionate kiss that left both of their hearts fluttering. They stayed like this for what felt like forever completely intertwined, so in tune with each other, neither of them was sure where they ended and where the other began. Gazing deeply into each other’s eyes with soft smiles as they in the form of a gentle sway to the rhythm of the music until the sun finally dipped beyond the horizon and nightfall overtook them.

“Shall we go see the second part of your surprise?” Terry asked softly, breaking the intimate silence that had fell between them with a playful kiss on the tip of Veda’s nose. Veda looked at him in disbelief as she let out a cute string of giggles.

“What do you mean second part of the surprise, Terry, this was more than enough. We’ve done so many amazing things today you don’t need to give me anything else” Veda said in a firm but playful tone as she wrapped her arms around Terry’s neck.

“You already know you can’t talk me out of spoiling you, my sweet girl and it’s more along the lines of another romantic gesture versus a tangible gift but I hope you’ll like it all the same” Terry chuckled scooping her into his arms and making his way up the cobblestone steps towards the estate with a grin spread across his face.

“I love everything you do for me Terry, you know that. I love you” Veda cooed nuzzling her face into his neck with a content smile on her face as a Terry placed a few soft kisses into her hair. She already knew how they’d be ending the night whether Terry was prepared for her to throw herself at him or not. They had only talked about sex a handful of times since the events of July 6th, Veda was sure she was more than ready, but Terry wanted her to be fully recovered before they finally took this step together. Technically her arm was still broken but all the other more important injuries both mental and physical had healed up just fine the swelling went down a few weeks ago so her promise ring fit on her left ring finger normally again, and it was all because of Terry. Veda couldn’t fathom giving her virginity to anyone that loved her any less than he did and that was why she was going to do whatever it took tonight to get Terry to let up on his adorable overprotective nature just a bit.

“Here we go, pretty girl” Terry crooned, setting Veda down in front of him so he could push the large front door to the estate open to reveal the front entrance and staircase railings littered with hordes of pink flowers. Much like he had filled Kennedy Cottage for her the better half of that intimate fourth of July weekend they shared at the San Ysidro Ranch. Veda felt her eyes grow watery again as Terry wrapped his arms around her waist and peppered the side of her face with kisses.

“Don’t cry baby girl, I still have to show you the terrace” Terry cooed reassuringly, Veda flashed him a reassuring smile as she turned around in his arms to pepper his face with kisses of her own while she ran her fingers through the ends of his dark curls. Terry let out a content sigh as Veda pulled back to gaze into his eyes with a coy smile on her face.

“I’m just so happy, please show me the terrace my love” Veda said batting her eyes at him coyly already falling into her ploy of the innocent temptress. Terry looked at her with amusement swirling in his sparkling eyes though he already had a general idea of what thoughts were running through his sweet girl’s head. Terry found it adorable Veda still thought he couldn’t pick up on when she was trying to seduce him coyly or when she was so obviously getting horny for him. Terry stifled a chuckle as he lifted Veda off the ground ever so slightly and whisked her toward the staircase at a quick, playful pace.

“Yes, my princess right away, my princess” Terry said teasingly, Veda giggled tightening her hold around Terry’s neck as he bounded up the stairs giving her playful kisses on her cheek and nose with every step he took. By the time he reached the top floor terrace Veda had tears streaming down her face from laughing so hard and Terry couldn’t help but laugh with her.

“What do you think about cuddling under the stars tonight, hmm. I’ll light a fire and you slip into something more comfortable” Terry said wiping away a few of her stray tears with a thumb and a big grin on his face. Veda grinned at him nodding her head eagerly in response and placing a soft peck on his lips.

“That sounds wonderful, Terry. Do you want me to get some blankets and pillows from the closet for us?” Veda asked sweetly, still playing with the ends of his hair in the same comforting manner she always did. Terry shook his head and finally took a step out onto the terrace so Veda could see what he had spent the morning setting up for them to enjoy this evening. Terry watched her pretty brown eyes sweep over the bundles of brightly colored pillows, blankets, pink flowers, and lanterns with such a pure form of joy it made his heart flutter and swell with pride knowing that he had been the one to put it there.

“Oh, Terry” Veda said softly, seeming to be at a loss for words as she finally met his gaze though she really didn’t have to say anything because Terry already knew. Terry’s eyes softened as he set Veda back on her feet gently.

“I know baby girl, why don’t you put on those comfy clothes while I start the fire, hmm” Terry said giving her a tender kiss on the forehead, Veda nodded giving him a sheepish smile before retreating into the house though the impish glint in her brown eyes wasn’t lost on Terry. He watched her pink dress disappear through the doorway and just knew he was in for a long night that would surely result in Veda getting exactly what she wanted because she really did have him wrapped around her little finger. Terry chuckled to himself as he lit a match and got to work on lighting the fire and turning on some more of his sweet girl’s favorite band on the boombox.

Meanwhile, Veda was down the hall tearing through her still half-packed suitcase in the master closet. An impish grin spread across her face as her fingers grasped the delicate fabric of what she’d been searching for. Veda giggled triumphantly to herself as she somehow managed to slip the delicate silky fabric under the beautiful but snug pink flower gown Terry had gifted her just this morning without having to unzip it. Which was perfect for the coy little seductive ploy she had in store for him. Veda couldn’t tell if it was simply her desire to have Terry and be with him completely at this very moment that was fueling her or if it was more the fact that Terry Silver had found the heart to tell her no for the first-time mere weeks ago…either way it just wouldn’t do. Even if it was coming from a genuine place of love and concern Veda had every intention of remedying what she deemed a rather silly hill to die on.

Veda bit her lip as she tipped toed down the hall and back onto the terrace to find Terry leaning against the balcony rail with his head gazing up at the stars. Veda couldn’t help but smile at how peaceful he looked for once and found herself thinking of the night they shared at the Beverly Willshire on her birthday. When she found him in much of the same position staring out the window at the starry LA skyline in deep thought, she never did find out what he was thinking about that night. Veda crept further out onto the terrace and found herself wrapping her arms around his torso from behind the same way she had done back then taking a deep inhale of his comforting scent as she rested her cheek against his spine. She felt Terry place his large hand on top of her cast arm, gingerly drawing patterns on the back of her hand with his thumb.

“What are you thinking about?” Veda asked softly, Terry made a soft ‘hmm’ as he turned around to face her with a soft smile and blue eyes that glittered in the warm glow of the crackling fire and glowing lanterns. Terry gently held her cast arm hand against his chest and reached out to draw more gently patterns on the side of her cheek.

“Just about you, my beautiful angel” he cooed placing a tender kiss on her forehead before taking in her appearance with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I thought you were changing into a comfy pajama set for me” Terry said in a slightly teasing tone as he let his hand fall to her bare shoulder. Veda smiled up at him innocently gazing up at him with the big eyes.

“I was trying to, but my zipper is stuck could you help me, please?” Veda asked coyly batting her lashes at him, Terry nodded his head in acknowledgment with a deep chuckle as he caught the impish glint nestled in her big doe eyes once more. Terry watched Veda pointedly nibble on her lip while her small fingers started toying with the ends of his.

“Hmm, it’s stuck huh. Let’s see what I can do sweetheart” Terry said, purposely dragging his long fingers over her bare shoulder in a teasing manner until small goosebumps formed on her tanned skin. Veda inhaled sharply and took a quick step forward leaving only enough space not to pinch her rough cast between them and rest her cheek against his chest to gaze up at him the way she always did. Terry let out another soft, breathy chuckle at how she somehow managed to be enticing and adorable all at the same time.

“Are you sure it’s stuck baby, it looks okay from up here” Terry said in a soft teasing tone as he finally let his fingers settle on the small zipper of her dress. He could see some delicate white fabric just peeking out over one of her small shoulder blades and knew his sweet girl was finally gearing up to talk him out of his “no sex until you’re fully healed” rule. Terry was honestly surprised she hadn’t thought of playing innocent temptress sooner, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t really enjoying seeing her this way for him. Veda bit her lip and nodded at him with big eyes.

“Yes, please help me Terry” Veda said in a soft, sultry tone that had Terry biting back a moan as he felt his cock twitch against his thigh. Terry let out a pleased sounding hum and leaned down to place gentle kisses on her shoulder before unzipping her dress at a slow pace, finding that he wanted to cherish every bit of this moment if she’d allow it. Terry watched the back of the dress fall open seemingly in slow motion but didn’t allow himself to look for too long.

“I don’t know baby that opened up pretty easily for me” Terry said nonchalantly meeting her gaze with amused blue eyes watching as an endearing pink blush spread across her pretty cheeks. Veda bit her lip taking a teasing step away from him so the pink dress and all it’s cascading roses would fall to the ground, pooling at her feet to reveal a delicate white babydoll with pink and green floral detailing on the bodice. Terry swore he felt his heart melt as he registered that the babydoll in question was the first one he picked off the rack on their shopping trip for her birthday. Terry stared at her for a long moment, admiring her and all her beauty in the warm glow of the fire and couldn’t fathom how something that beautiful was real or what he had done to deserve someone like Veda.

“You said to wear it when I was ready” Veda said softly with a coy smile on her face as she reached down to throw the gown over one of the terrace chairs. “It’s too pretty to be on the ground like that” she muttered more to herself than him, but Terry couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched her fold the gown neatly before approaching him with a sultry glint in her eyes that Terry still found incredibly endearing for some reason.

“I thought we agreed to wait until your arm wasn’t broken, sweetheart.” Terry said with an amused grin watching as Veda immediately started trying to undo the buttons on his black dress shirt with her small hands.

“What broken arm, I don’t see one.” Veda said batting her eyes at him coquettishly as she shifted her broken arm under his blazer with an innocent smile on her face. Terry chuckled rolling his eyes at her playfully.

“Oh, you know the one you’re trying to hide under my blazer right now. The one you took pain killers for two times today, baby. I think you can take some more now if you need it,” Terry cooed, gently pulling her arm from under his blazer with concern nestled in his eyes at the fact that most of her skin around the cast was still bruised but at least her promise ring fit on her finger again.

“Well, then distract me from the pain, my love. I just want to be yours and I want you to be mine” Veda said softy, Terry’s eyes softened as he reached out to stroke soft, reassuring patterns on her cheek and maintained her gaze with devotion nestled in his orbs.

“Veda baby, I am, you are. You’re my sweet girl. I’m yours…” Terry said wholeheartedly, as he reached forward to cradle her face in his hands and draw soothing circles on her cheeks. Veda gazed back at him with a slight pout on her plump lips, cutely furrowed brows, and the biggest pair of puppy dog eyes she could muster.

“Then show me Terry” Veda whispered in a low seductive tone her small hands fisted the lapels of his blazer sharply and with one swift tug, she captured Terry in a passionate kiss that left him breathless. Terry moaned into the kiss and moved to pull her flush against his chest once more, but Veda broke the kiss before he had the chance. Veda bit back a smug smirk as she stared back at a now very flustered Terry with a triumphant glint in her eyes. Terry bit back a smile of his own as he stared back at her in awed admiration.

“That was a little mean don’t you think, baby girl” Terry said with a playful pout on his face and a faint glint of hunger in his blue eyes. Veda innocently batted her eyes at him still biting down on her lip as she back walked to take a seat on the mound of brightly colored pillows, blankets, and pink flowers. Terry found she looked even more ethereal than usual surrounded by flowers all dressed up in a white, very innocent looking babydoll with the crackling fire casting a romantic golden glow on her tanned skin and lit up her big brown eyes.

“Come here baby boy” Veda cooed, beckoning him to her with a small finger in a way that reminded him of their morning rituals in the Dynatox elevators a time when he only dreamt of her being like this for him. Terry couldn’t help but want to savor every second of it if tonight was the night Veda was going to be his completely, he wanted to engrain every expression on her face, every sound she made, and every touch they shared in his mind forever. Terry shrugged off his blazer and tossed it next to her neatly folded gown on the chair before stalking over to take a seat next to her on the makeshift bed he had crafted just this morning with a soft smile on his face. He reached up to stroke her cheek as he gazed deeply into her eyes once more and trailed his free hand over the rough exterior of the cast on her left arm gingerly watching the way her promise ring glittered in the fire light.

“Is it bothering you right now?” Terry asked in a soft but serious tone because he still had an overwhelming urge for her to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible. He still had every intention of being as gentle with his sweet girl as he could. Of course, he had promised to make her first time special and while Seattle was a far cry from Paris, he couldn’t deny every second of today had been just as blissfully perfect for him as it had been for her.

“It doesn’t hurt too bad right now and my arm doesn’t affect my legs anyway, Terrence” Veda said in a distant but familiar saucy tone that had Terry’s heart fluttering and a blush spreading across his cheeks. Veda stared up at him with a small coy smile and one of the most impish glints, Terry had ever seen in those pretty brown doe eyes.

“Terrence” Terry said with a soft chuckle Terry stared back at her in disbelief, finding it hard to believe there was a time when he found her bratty proclivities any less bewitching and sensual than they actually were. “I just want you to be sure, sweetheart” Terry crooned in a sincere tone, Veda’s coy smile softened into one of her reassuring ones and she leaned forward to give him a soft kiss on the lips.

“I’ve never been more sure about anything, Terry” Veda crooned with sincere brown eyes, Terry didn’t hesitate and pulled her into a kiss that managed to be loving, intimate, and deeply passionate all at the same time. Veda moaned into the kiss and tangled her fingers into the ends of Terry’s soft black curls and found herself trying to free them from their confines instinctively. She felt Terry chuckle softly against her before letting her up for air with a teasing smile on his face.

“Okay baby girl” Terry cooed breathlessly turning his head for her a bit so she could undo his ponytail with more ease before returning the sentiment. Terry bowed down, placing kisses on Veda’s shoulder as his hands gingerly took out all the pins holding her thick black waves in place at the top of her head. Terry leaned back to watch her dark waves cascade down her back and around her face in a way that made her appear even more heavenly than she already did to him. Veda let out a content sigh feeling Terry’s long fingers tangle in her hair gently and found herself running her hands through Terry’s soft hair a few times in reply each pass they made only made their desire for the other intensify. Terry resumed trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses and teasing nibbles along Veda’s neck and shoulder in a way that had her letting out a moan and pressing her chest against his. Terry smiled against the fresh love bite forming on her neck and soothed the tender spot with his tongue with one hand still tangled in her hair and his other trailing up her soft, bare thigh.

“Stop teasing me, Terry” Veda whined with a slight saucy edge in her tone as her small hand tugged on his hair playfully. Terry withdrew his face from her neck, looking up at her with an amused glint in his eyes and a small smirk as he stopped his hand just under her delicate white skirt and gave her thigh a soft, playful pinch that made her clamp her thighs together. Veda pouted at him narrowing her eyes at him in playful warning with a dusty blush spreading across her cheeks as she toyed with the buttons on his shirt with her promise ring still glittering.

“I’m not teasing you sweetheart; I just really need you warmed me tonight okay. I want you to feel good” Terry crooned, helping her unbutton his shirt with a very happy looking smile on his face before gently urging her to lay upon the mound of pillows as he shrugged off the black fabric and let it pool somewhere in the cozy heap. Veda felt her heartrate pick up a bit in anticipation as she laid back on the heap of pillows and gazed up at Terry. She could feel him run his fingers from her face to her shoulder and down the length of her arms in feather light touches. That made her clit throb for some attention but in that moment, Veda found that she couldn’t take her eyes off Terry’s even as breathless and downright horny as she was for him right now. Terry looked down at her with soft blue eyes before lying by her side the same way he’d done all those nights ago at the Beverly Wilshire with one of his hands stroking her dark hair.

“Are you comfortable, baby?” Terry asked giving her a tender kiss on the forehead, Veda nodded flashing him a breathless, reassuring smile and reached out to play with his loose curls softly.

“Yes, I’m always comfortable with you Terry don’t worry. I love you now, please touch me” Veda said giving Terry a kiss on the temple that made his heart flutter, and his blue eyes soften even more than either of them thought was possible. Terry let out a pleased hum and captured her in a kiss filled with so much love and devotion Veda felt like she was flying. They parted for air and stared at each other with soft, content smiles and loving eyes.

“I love you so much Veda, you’re so cute when you’re demanding, sweetheart. Don’t worry I’m going to take good care of you and your pretty little pussy.” Terry purred, gently popping one of her ample breasts out of the innocent looking babydoll with a teasing smile that had Veda flushing a bright shade of red and her clit throbbing eagerly. Veda moaned maintaining Terry’s intense gaze as he closed his mouth around her nipple, sucking and teasing it in the way they both enjoyed. Terry gave her other ample breast the same treatment and listened to the soft symphony of cries and moans that fell from her plump lips while he stared deeply into her brown eyes. Veda stared back at him with dazed loving eyes.

“You know I love this, my love but I’d really love it if we could move a bit faster” Veda breathed out loosening her grasp on his curls to run her fingers through them instead with a coy smile. Terry unlatched his mouth from her nipple and leaned up to give her a soft peek on the lips with a coy smile of his own and a breathy chuckle as he finally moved his hands under the skirt of the delicate white babydoll.

“It’s not my fault you’re so gorgeous, Veda. I can’t help but want to savor you, I’ve wanted this for such a long time, I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you my sweet girl.” Terry cooed, running his fingers over the soft flushed skin of her toned waist gingerly but his blue eyes stayed trained on hers as she gifted him with a pretty moan and needy brown eyes filled with lust. Terry had dreamt of this moment since the day she walked into his office nearly seven months ago and now that it was finally unfolding in front of him, he couldn’t help but want to take his time. Veda pulled him into another sweet kiss before resting her forehead against his and running her left hand down the length of his cheek softly.

“I want you too Terry, so please” Veda whispered gazing at him with big doe eyes that made Terry’s heart feel like it might burst. Terry let out one of his pleased rumbles and nodded his head pushing up the delicate white fabric of her babydoll. Terry took a moment to pepper Veda’s face with hundreds of feather-like kisses that made both of their hearts swell with the purest form of love and devotion either of them had ever felt. Terry cooed her with praise and reassuring words as he trailed hot opened mouthed kisses down her throat, across her breasts, and down her stomach holding her gaze as he stopped his path just above her panties. Veda nodded giving him a breathless noise of approval in reply to the silent question his blue eyes were asking her in the warm glow of the fire. She watched Terry place a few gentle kisses on her hips before hooking his fingers in the waistband of her matching white floral panties and tugging them down the length of her tanned legs. Veda pulled her knees up to her chest so he wouldn’t stray too far away from her, Terry chuckled as Veda flashed him a bashful looking smile.

“You’re so cute, sweetheart” Terry said leaning down to place a few tender kisses on the thin red and white scars the broken window had left on her knees those weeks ago. Veda reached down to run her fingers through his dark curls and sat up to give him a soft peek on the temple once more.

“I just want you close to me” she crooned; Terry’s eyes softened as they looked at her adoringly and he let his hand trail back up her thigh nestling it just against her slick folds. Veda let out a breathy moan opening up her legs for him instantaneously.

“I know baby, I just have to make sure you’re wet and relaxed enough for me okay. You want to cum for me” Terry cooed, Veda nodded laying back down on the cozy pile of pillows and blankets with a sultry moan, an act of submission that made Terry’s cock twitch against his thigh eagerly.

“You’re such a good girl, so perfect for me” Terry praised her adoringly, as he slid a finger along her folds. “Your pretty pussy is so wet for me already baby” Terry groaned taking in just how wet her tight, pretty heat was for him already with borderline lecherous blue eyes. Veda let out another sultry moan at his tastefully raunchy praise, she always wondered how Terry had the power to put her right on the edge of an orgasm without even really touching her. Terry knew she was close already and wondered how many times she’d come undone for him before he finally made her his.

“Terry” Veda moaned gazing down at him with lust filled eyes as she absent-mindedly toyed with one of her nipples. Terry moaned placing a few soft kisses on her inner thigh as he watched her small fingers roll the hard tip in a way that came off so innocent to him.

“Oh Veda, you’re driving me crazy right now. You’re so beautiful keep doing that for me hmm” Terry crooned, still toying with her wet folds with one hand, his other reached up to give her other nipple the same attention before he let his tongue taste her sweet heat with a loud moan of his own. Veda let out a soft cry as Terry lapped over her swollen bud and thrust his tongue inside of her heat getting her as wet for him as humanly. Before he allowed himself to slide a finger inside of her tight entrance, gingerly stretching her out with one finger and then two, pumping and angling them inside of her until her moans were echoing out into the starry Seattle night sky. Terry made a pleased hum against her sweet folds as his blue eyes took in every expression that washed over her pretty face. She could be as loud as she wanted for as long as she wished here their nearest neighbor was a good couple of miles up the road.

“Can you take one more finger for me, sweetheart” Terry asked softly, pausing his laps to give her a few more kisses on her now trembling thighs and trailed them back up her stomach. Veda made a breathless noise of approval and nodded her head at him frantically gazing at him with big eyes. Normally Terry would urge her to use her words but the way her brown eyes were pleading for him to keep going was more than enough for him right now. Terry carefully slid a third finger inside of her for the first time ever and paused for a second to search for any hint of discomfort before using his thumb making quick circles over her clit.

Veda moaned feeling the familiar bubbly warm sensation of pressure building up deep inside of her before it bubbled over, and she let out loud shriek of ecstasy, she swore her walls were clenching more vigorously around Terry’s fingers than they ever had before. Terry moaned, savoring the feel of her tight heat clenching around his fingers rapidly and kept them inside of her. Even as he snaked an arm under her back and pulled Veda’s trembling dazed body into his chest. Terry whispered sweet nothings in her ear and placed tender kisses on her shoulder as he worked her through her orgasm. Veda took a while to come back to her senses but when she did, she found it in her to lean up and pepper Terry’s face with kisses of her own before gazing up at him with a dreamy smile on her face. Terry smiled back at her softly, still circling her clit with his thumb lightly as his eyes looked deeply into hers searching for a tell.

“Do you want to stop?” Terry asked softly, Veda shook her head flashing him a reassuring smile and looking at him with sincere brown eyes.

“No, I want to keep going, I want to feel you inside” Veda whispered running her hand down the length of Terry’s face. Terry leaned into her touch gazing deeply into her eyes and gently removed his fingers from her tight, wet heat to undo his dress slacks and slide them and his boxers down the length of his legs in one quick movement. Terry reached out and grasped the delicate white fabric of the babydoll with a soft smile on his face. Veda mirrored his expression as put her arms up and let Terry gently tug the silky dress over her head and lay it gently on the ground in a way that managed to be sensual and romantic at the same time. Terry sat for a long while gently caressing her soft skin with the pads of his fingers, admiring the way the moonlight and the crackling warm firelight seemed to illuminate her in a blanket of silver and gold just for him. Veda ran her fingers along the back of Terry’s shoulders and down the length of his toned chest delicately and gazed at him with rosy cheek feeling equal amounts loved and dizzy as he finally kissed her with a tender passion, she didn’t know was possible.

“Can I lay you down my gorgeous girl” Terry breathed out, breaking the kiss so they both could breathe he busied himself with running his hands through her soft hair as he placed soft kisses on her cheek and lips. Veda nodded mirroring his kisses and running her hands through his dark curls she let Terry softly lay her back on top of the mound of plush pillows another gentle act of submission that made his heart and cock flutter. Terry settled himself between her legs, looking down at her with unadulterated love and devotion as he slid a long finger between her pretty folds, making sure she was still as prepped for him as she could be. Veda stared up at him as a soft moan escaped her lips at the feel of his thumb making quick circles over her clit and the warm sensation of another climax on the horizon.

“Are you still okay” Terry asked, giving her more tender kisses on her forehead then she could count. Veda nodded she still wanted it and him more than anything, but she couldn’t help the way she tensed when his thick head brushed against her entrance. Sometimes she forgot how big he actually was even with their devoted hours of worshipping each other, she still struggled to get most of him in her mouth.

“I’ll be gentle, I’ve got you sweetheart, always…remember” Terry whispered, untangling her left hand from his hair he laced his fingers with hers and let his long fingers play with her promise ring as a gentle reminder that he was in this whether she decided she was ready for this or not. Terry heard a couple shaky breaths escape Veda’s lips and leaned down to rest his forehead against hers waiting for her to give him some semblance of consent though he was keen to let her take all night if she had to. Veda let out a content sigh as she felt her nerves slowly dissipate and her breathing return back to normal.

“I’m ready my love, keep going” Veda whispered tangling her right hand in his hair she looked up at Terry with loving brown eyes. Terry let out a content sigh of his own, he gingerly kissed her injured arm before he carefully placed it beside her head with their fingers still delicately intertwined and their foreheads still pressed together. Terry positioned himself at her entrance once more and slowly pushed forward still gazing deeply into her eyes. Veda gasped feeling his thick head and shaft make its way inside of her for the first time slowly, with a more intense burning sensation and a dull pain than she was expecting. Terry kept his eyes trained on Veda’s face, watching as she shut her eyes sharply and tensed beneath him with a soft cry, squeezing his hand as tight as she could with a cast in the way. Terry paid very little mind to the way the cast’s rough exterior dug into the palm of his hand, he halted his surge forward and rushed to soothe her when caught a glimpse of a few tears escaping the corners of her eyes.

“You hold on as long as need, baby, it’s okay. I know this is a lot to take but you’re doing so well, my sweet girl” Terry cooed her reassuringly, taking a moment to gingerly wipe and kiss the stray tears from her cheeks. Veda relaxed at the tender action, fluttering her eyes open to look at him as a silent signal to keep going. “Take a deep breath for me, sweetheart” Terry coaxed softly, watching Veda do her best to breath as he pushed the rest of his length inside of her tight heat for the first time. A soft whimper escaped Veda’s lips as Terry entered her fully, stretching her out in way that made her feel so full, so breathless, and somehow so complete all at the same time. Terry let out a soft moan as he felt her walls flutter around his cock so perfectly, he felt a bit dazed as he reached down rub her clit in tender circles with his thumb and peppered her face with adoring kisses.

“You did such a good job, you’re such a good girl” Terry praised her accenting every word with an adoring kiss on her face and another pass over her clit. Veda let out a breathy moan as her walls relaxed around Terry’s cock and the dull pain of taking his big shaft for the first time died down enough for her to test out moving her hips. Terry couldn’t help the content smile that spread across his face as he watched the discomfort on Veda’s face fade away. Finding that he’d be keen to let her just experiment forever if it meant her looking up at him this serene.

“Do you want more sweetheart?” Terry asked giving her a few gentle kisses on the cheek, Veda nodded still clutching his hand in hers and she ran her fingers through his hair with a small smile on her lips. “Use your words for me baby, tell me what you want” Terry said in a soft teasing tone watching as an adorable blush spread across her cheeks.

“Please Terry, I want to feel you” Veda sighed, Terry let out a please hum that turned into a deep moan as he pulled himself out of her tight heat halfway before thrusting back into her slowly. Not wanting to overwhelm her with too much too fast he sets a slow, deep pace only increasing the lengths of his pumps when Veda gifts him with a string of unrestrained moans and cries. Veda dug her nails into the back of Terry’s neck as he rutted in and out of her heat at a slow but pleasurable rate still rubbing her clit with his thumb and giving her sweet kisses along her collarbone. Somehow managing to hold her gaze all the while, he watched her every move with adoring blue eyes and maintained his controlled thrusts even as a string of cooed praises and uninhibited moans and groans of his own filled the air.

“You feel so good, Veda” Terry purred, capturing her in another tender passionate kiss that had Veda letting out a muffled, sultry moan into his mouth. She could feel the warm bubbly sensation of her second orgasm building inside of her far too quickly for her liking. Terry felt it too, he quickened the pace of the circles he was making on her clit and broke their kiss to gaze deeply into her eyes again.

“Don’t hold it in baby girl, I want to feel your pretty little pussy cum for me” Terry crooned thrusting into her tight heat again as he placed a reassuring kiss on her check. Veda moaned holding his gaze as she started matching his slow thrusts with her hips and running her fingers along the length of his cheek lightly.

“Oh, Terry I want to feel you cum for me too” Veda whispered staring up at him with big, needy brown eyes that were filled with adoration in its purest form. Terry leaned into the palm of her hand for a moment, his blue eyes asking her a silent question in the warm golden glow of the fire. Veda flashed him a reassuring smile as if she read his mind, sometimes they both swore they really could.

“Go ahead, my love you’re not hurting me. I love you so much” Veda cooed leaning forward to pepper his face with kisses that made Terry’s heart feel like it might burst. Terry let out a pleased sounding murmur, pulling Veda in for a sweet kiss before gradually increasing the pace of his thrusts and resumed his quick circles on her swollen bud while he stared deeply into her eyes. Veda let out another sultry moan as she felt her climax rebuilding itself in her core at the new speed of Terry’s deep thrusts and wondered how Terry was still managing to be so gentle with her. Terry laid a few sweet kisses on Veda’s cheek watching her intently as he felt his own climax brewing.

"I love you too, my sweet girl" Terry cooed as his thrusts inside of her became more erratic as he felt Veda dig her nails into the back of his neck and gift him with a pretty moan of his name as she gazed up at him through dazed eyes. Terry groaned at the sound and frantically rubbed her swollen sensitive bud with adoration swirling in his eyes.

"You make me so happy, let me feel you my good girl" Terry coxed gently. Veda cried out Terry's name loud enough for it to echo into the starry night sky as the pressure building within her core finally bubbled over and her second orgasm crashed in on her even more intensely than first one.

"That's my good girl, that's my Veda" Terry grunted, coming undone at the feel Veda's tight walls clenching and fluttering around his cock even more vigorously than they had around his fingers. Their shared moans of ecstasy melded together as Terry's warm load nestled deep inside Veda's tight, fluttering heat. Both of them felt strangely whole as they gazed at each other still completely intertwined on a pile of cascading blankets and plush pillows. Terry took a moment to catch his breath before rushing to tend to a trembling Veda. Still a bit dazed as aftershocks racked through her small body. Veda still managed to give Terry a shy smile and reached out towards him big brown doe eyes. Terry beamed down at her reassuringly as he snaked his arms under her shaky form carefully.

"I've got you Veda, sweetheart does anything hurt? How's your arm" Terry cooed pulling her into his chest and placing tender kisses in her hair. He trailed his hands down her back and arms in the form of soothing circles.

"Nothing hurts, Romeo my arm still feels just fine, and it still doesn't affect my legs" Veda said giving him a teasing kiss on the tip of his nose. Terry raised an eyebrow at her and let out a soft chuckle as he gazed at her with amused loving blue eyes.

"I just like taking care of you" Terry said, pouting at her playfully Veda's eyes softened a bit as she gazed back at him with a reassuring smile on her lips.

"I know that my love that's why I think you’re the greatest, prettiest, sweetest most perfect boyfriend in the entire world. You always take care of me, and I love you" Veda said whole heartedly before leaning up to pepper his cheek with adoring kisses. Terry let out a content sigh, placing his left hand on top of hers so both of their rings were gleaming in the warm glow of the fire and the silver rays of the moonlight.

"I love you too and I'll always take care of you, Veda regardless of..." Terry coaxed gazing at Veda with sincere, loving eyes and a soft smile that always made her heart flutter.

"Time or circumstance" Veda said just above a whisper.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#terry silver #terry silver x oc #terry silver smut #smut #fluff #feeling sappy #lovey dovey #sorry for that open ended closing line but we will have Silver bells #enjoy this moodboard

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archetypesanalysis · 8 months

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Tech's Innate Archetype

This is the fifth instalment of my Bad Batch analysis. This character analysis has two parts: innate archetypes and anima. I will be referring to “Gods in Everyman” and “Goddesses in Everywoman” by Jean Shinoda Bolen for this first part analysis.

Tech has two main archetypes: Hades and Hermes. His innate archetype is Hades, the God of the Underworld. He has many alternative titles as the Greeks once considered saying his name as unlucky. His alternative titles are “the Unseen One” (Aidoneus), “the Rich One” (Pluto or Plouton), “the Good Counsellor”, “the Renowned One”, “the Hospitable One”, “the Gate-Fastener” and “the Hateful One”. He is also known as Zeus of the Underground or Zeus of the Underworld. The Underworld, also called Hades, is the world where souls go after death. It is also the realm of the unconscious – personal and collective. The personal unconscious is where our repressed memories, thoughts and feelings reside, where everything too painful, too shameful or too unacceptable to others is hidden, and where unfulfilled yearnings and undiscovered potential reside. The collective unconscious is the realm of archetypes or universal human patterns. These archetypes exist as “shades” or abstract forms, and they have existed through time – lived out by people in the past, currently living in people right now, and will be “reborn” into the future generation.

In the myths, Hades rarely leaves the Underworld, which makes him the archetype of the recluse. People who live like Hades withdraw into seclusion, and they do not care or take note of what is happening in the world. There are a few reasons they may live like this: they may have lost whatever once had meaning for them in the world, or they naturally prefer to be alone, unnoticed and unbothered. They may be untalkative or inexpressive, which leads to social invisibility, matching Hades as the Unseen One for the god wears the cap of invisibility. Tech is a recluse most of the time. He usually works on machinery and do research alone. He is engrossed in the content of his datapad to the point that he usually ignores the outside world and the people around him. This is something Phee takes notice of, and she tells him to put down his datapad so he can enjoy the sunset on Pabu. Wrecker is also aware of that in “The Bad Batch” as he temporarily shifts Tech’s focus from his datapad by playing around with the head of a battle droid. In “Decommissioned”, Tech is seen in the background playing slot machines while Omega is practicing her energy bow. In “Pabu”, as Tech is alone on the Marauder, he plays a game against himself because it is the only time the game is challenging for him. All of these indicate that Tech naturally prefers to be alone and stay in the background.

Hades is also called Pluto or Plouton, the God of Wealth and Riches. This alternate name is fitting as the Underworld contains minerals, diamonds and precious gems. Some depictions have Hades storing the seeds underground during winter and releasing them in spring. Hades is sometimes pictured carrying a cornucopia or horn of plenty that is overflowing with fruits and vegetables, or with jewels, gems, gold and silver. Generally, introverts may have observed the outside world and decided that they prefer the subjectivity and richness of their interior world, which is the Plouton or “riches” aspect of Hades. They can experience introverted sensations in the forms of inner dialogues, visions or bodily sensations. Hades the reclusive Plouton is a source of creativity that can be expressed through the arts, often in films, novels, comics, video games and roleplaying games, especially those involve worldbuilding. James Cameron, J.R.R. Tolkien, George Lucas and C.S. Lewis are examples of people connecting with Hades the Plouton and expressing their rich imagination through filmmaking or literature. For Tech, his exceptional mind is his wealth and it is expressed through infodumping. In the Clone Wars episode “On the Wings of Keeradaks”, Hunter says that Tech records everything as a hobby. Tech also constantly takes notes on his datapad, and that includes memorable occasions like the first time Wrecker feels full after a huge meal in “Pabu”. His vast collection of recordings and notes represent the “riches” aspect of Hades. When the Bad Batch is locked in a makeshift prison cell in “Aftermath”, Tech uses his fingers to search for a weak spot in the wall. This indicates that bodily sensations are part of his subjective perceptions.

In “The Crossing”, when the Bad Batch is trapped in an abandoned ipsium mine, Omega explores the mine and finds a cave to shelter. After she turns off the light, she notices a blue light shining through a tunnel. Using a drill, she discovers a large cavern of ipsium, which is purer than the one they found in the mine Cid has purchased. The abandoned ipsium mine serves as a representation of Tech’s exceptional mind – the inner subjectivity and richness of Hades the Plouton. In our culture, extroversion and productivity are emphasized, and people are discouraged to spend time alone “doing nothing”. It is believed that the miners were so focused on their work that they failed to discover better quality ipsium hidden deep in the mine, until Omega chooses to be alone and “do nothing” in the dark. Her actions highlight the values of introversion – you can find inner beauty, unexpected wisdom and creativity, and profound insights when you choose to tap into your inner lives.

Hades has another alternate name: The Good Counsellor. As a source of subjective knowledge, Hades can help us to understand the subjective value of our experiences, perceptions and reactions. This understanding can help us to make important personal decisions that are meaningful to us as different individuals have different personal values. As Hades the Good Counsellor, Tech is respectful towards the personal decisions made by Crosshair and Echo. In “Kamino Lost”, Wrecker is disappointed that Crosshair never tries to reunite with the Bad Batch of his own volition and admits that they still would have accepted him back. Tech advises Wrecker to let go of the past and says that Crosshair is severe and unyielding, a nature that not even he himself can change. This indicates that Tech understands Crosshair’s personal values even though he does not agree with his decision to join the Empire (“Understanding you does not mean that I agree with you.”) When Echo leaves the Bad Batch at the end of “Truth and Consequences”, Tech respects his decision and wishes him luck.

In “The Crossing”, Tech and Omega have a heart-to-heart conversation at the underground shore, where they have a deeper understanding on each other’s emotionality. Underground water represents the deep introverted feelings that need to be tapped or expressed to be known (water represents the realm of emotions where Poseidon the God of the Sea rules over). Tech and Omega falling into the underground water symbolizes Tech tapping into his repressed emotions and expressing how he feels, which enables Omega to emotionally connect with him. Tech realizes that Omega is only a child and it is normal for her to struggle with change. He tells her that Echo and Crosshair both choose a different path and they have to respect their decisions and carry on, even though it can be difficult to understand. Furthermore, Omega realizes that Tech processes and expresses his emotions differently and accepts him for who he is (“I may process moments and thoughts differently, but it does not mean that I feel any less than you.”)

Jean Shinoda Bolen describes “there is something autistic about the Hades personality” (please take note that her books “Goddesses in Everywoman” and “Gods in Everyman” were published in the 1980s and our understanding of neurodivergence was limited in that time period). Tech is semi-confirmed to be neurodivergent in “The Crossing”. It is possible back as a cadet, Tech did not have a strong will or a get-into-an-uproar personality like his brothers, specifically Wrecker and Crosshair. He may stand out sometimes because he reacts differently and unexpectedly, especially to new people and situations. He may appear shy because he prefers to hold back and take in the experience rather than reach out for it. Hades people are usually judged negatively due to their introversion and subjectivity. This damages their self-esteem and pushes them to turn their inner world into a refuge from the unwelcoming outside world. Tech is fortunate to have Hunter, Wrecker and Crosshair (and later Echo and Omega) who respect his individuality and appreciate that his capacity for solitude is a strength, not weirdness. They allow him to infodump (sometimes for hours) even though they usually have no idea what he is talking about or they think such information is “useless”. Whenever Tech infodumps, they enter his inner world – his exceptional mind, and sometimes they are drawn into his discussions. They are patient and loving towards him, making him feel competent and safe. This causes Tech to perceive all of them as his family, which he affirms to Omega in “The Crossing”. Besides that, his military training provides crucial psychological development to him as he cultivates objective perceptions and reason to balance out his interior subjectivity.

Hades people usually do not do well in dating and flirting due to their social invisibility. However, they can be deeply affected by their subjective inner experience of a real person whom they hardly know of, leading them to create an imaginary lover. Of course, a Hades person can have a deep soulmate connection with a partner that can share the riches of the inner world. Their meeting would be seen as fated as their chances of meeting each other are very slim, which is what the fans who ship Tech and Phee view as. Whenever Phee flirts with Tech, it usually goes over his head or he gets confused by it. Since eyes are the window to the soul, Phee calling Tech “Brown Eyes” means that she can see the riches of his inner world, and she is drawn to it. In “Pabu”, Phee demonstrates her appreciation towards the subjective value of the artifacts and her desire to preserve them in the Archium. Her values match Tech’s personal values, and this is when he starts to connect with her. There are headcanons of Tech and Phee as a married couple and parents, and the most consistent headcanon is that Phee acts as the mediator and interpreter between Tech and other people, including their children. This headcanon matches the common marriage model for Hades men.

If a Hades man becomes a father, he is usually grim and humourless. He expects orderliness and duty. He is not emotionally expressive and may struggle to mentor his children. However, a Hades man who is loved since childhood is a father who indirectly expresses his love to his children. He may share the riches of his inner life with his children and encourage their imaginativeness. He may explain to them about how he perceives things. He often shares his presence with his children, one to one. If his children are also introverted, they can spend time in comfortable silence with him. If his children are extroverted, they usually do the talking and showing to him. Tech is loved by the Bad Batch, and he indirectly expresses his love by carrying out thoughtful acts, checking on their wellbeing (like he always checks on Omega after she jumps down from someplace higher), respecting their personal decisions, and providing crucial information and advice. Omega, who is the receptive Persephone, is drawn to Tech’s conversations and actions. In return, Tech passes down his knowledge to her, and explains to her how he processes thoughts and moments in “The Crossing”. When they are together, they seem capable of spending time in comfortable silence. Besides that, Tech does value her receptivity and introversion, which is evident in “Aftermath” when he takes her warning seriously because a state of heightened awareness is not unusual for an enhanced clone like her.

However, Hades people are cut off from the realm of emotions. Even when they have developed objective thinking and basic communication skills through education, they can still be emotionally detached. They may struggle to understand their own emotions and how other people feel and why. Their intense withdrawal can lead to tensions and misunderstandings. After Echo leaves the Bad Batch, Tech withdraws emotionally and turns all of his energy to work, which creates tensions between him, Wrecker and Omega. When Tech is unable to understand why Omega is so upset about losing Echo and the Marauder, she wrongly interprets that Tech does not care about Echo and is unbothered by his absence. Hunter and Wrecker have to tell Tech to talk to her as she is having a hard time adjusting to change. When Omega falls down a chasm, Tech jumps down to save her, representing him going down to recover his repressed emotions as they fall into the underground water. By deepening his connection with his loved ones, Tech develops a better understanding of his and other people’s emotions. In “Pabu”, when Omega laughs as she plays with the moon-yos, Tech remarks that he has not heard her laugh like that for a long time, indicating that he is now in touch with the realm of emotions.

One of the advices Jean Shinoda Bolen gave for people who identify strongly as Hades is to develop a persona (“mask” in Latin). It is necessary for us to have appropriate persona for certain occasions so we can be visible and approachable. However, for neurodivergent people, masking is a coping mechanism they often use to appear “normal” or what society deems as acceptable behaviour. It is also a survival tactic used by them to protect themselves from discrimination, harassment and social rejection. They are taught that fitting in is important for survival and that the comfort of others (neurotypical people) is more important than their own comfort. Hence, they learn to suppress themselves to please others and gain their approval. Studies have found that masking has many detrimental effects on their mental health such as anxiety, depression, loss of identity, lack of self-worth, burnout and suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Jean Shinoda Bolen did warn that neurodivergent people risk losing themselves and their meaning of life if they mask too well and tries to be what others expect of them.

During Tech and Phee’s last interaction, Phee wants Tech to talk to her and maintain eye contact despite he has made it clear that he is planning on leaving without saying goodbye (she says “when two people are talking, it’s called a conversation”, which kind of baffles me when I first heard it). This scene shows that she is asking him to mask, which is one of the main reasons why there are people who do not ship them (their reasoning is explained in this tumblr thread – please remember to be respectful!). Neurotypical people usually misinterpret the behaviour of neurodivergent people and this forces the neurodivergent people to mask. It is important for neurotypical people to understand how harmful it is to force neurodivergent people to sacrifice their own comfort and to act in a way that is comfortable to the neurotypical. As for the neurodivergent people, it is important for them to have friends and family that love them for who they are, so they can safely unmask and be true to themselves. Tech is fortunate to have the Bad Batch who all love and support him for who he truly is. Because of that, Tech loves them for who they are and accepts their quirks, like he smiles endearingly when he sees Echo sniffing at the Mantell Mix.

I do see myself a lot in Tech because I have a habit of infodumping, I like to be alone, I love to learn, I find many things fascinating and I love to collect items and take notes. After watching “The Crossing”, I begin to realize that I may have some neurodivergent traits. For example, I can experience sensory overload from loud music, certain clothing and food, I sometimes take things literally, I have a habit of walking around the room when in deep thought, and I take notice of patterns and details (especially archetypes) a lot. I have yet to seek a professional diagnosis but multiple self-tests have shown that I may have mild autism. Nevertheless, my family does suspect that I am autistic due to my introverted personality, “peculiar” behaviour and preferences. My mother never understands why I am not interested in fashion and makeup like “other girls” (I am more into books, cartoons and movies). She and my aunts sometimes call me “autistic” in a demeaning tone, and they constantly push me to go out and socialize like “a normal person”. My father is the only family member that accepts me for who I am.

Even though I am unsure whether I am neurodivergent, I do know what it is like to mask myself. When I first started university, my family (especially my mother and aunts) wanted me to be more sociable and make friends with the students there, who were mostly financially well-off and highly educated like me. I did manage to fit in well, even getting close with the top student in class and his peers. My family was proud of me to be part of this friend group. However, a few months later, I started to feel mentally exhausted and that I no longer felt like myself anymore. I felt like I was wearing a mask, trying to please people while feeling ashamed of myself. I realized how bad it was for my mental health, so I took off the mask. I started to spend more time alone like having lunch by myself and organizing my notes at the library alone. The top student in class did not mind that I suddenly chose to distance myself from him and his group. Though, his friends mistook my preference to be alone as loneliness. I was fortunate to have a close-knit friend group that accepted me for who I am – we only had gatherings on Fridays, so that was good for me. Even though I did disappoint my family and weaken some connections with my classmates, I was happy to be myself once again and discovered that there are many people like me. I do hope that my experience can show people how harmful masking is, and that we should make this world a safer place for everyone, especially for the neurodivergent people.

Jean Shinoda Bolen suggests that a Hades man finds their “Persephone” the receptive woman who can mediate for him with the world. His “Persephone” can be a real woman or his anima, the unconscious feminine aspects of a man. His “Persephone” can make him more approachable, help him to open up, and share his perceptions and his rich inner life. The Bad Batch is the “Persephone” to Tech because all clones have Persephone as their anima. Omega, who is innately Persephone, and Echo, who has a strong Persephone anima, are the main mediators for Tech with other people – they are the “Tech Translators”. In “Aftermath”, when Wrecker asks how long they have been away from Kamino, Tech gives a detailed answer which confuses him, so Echo explains to Wrecker that they have been away for a long time. In “Battle Scars”, when Hunter asks Tech about the progress on his inhibitor chip scanner, Tech answers that he is able to establish a baseline by comparing Rex’s brain scan to theirs, in which Omega explains that Tech is almost finished with the scanner.

Persephone, especially after she becomes the Queen of the Underworld, has a connection with Aphrodite the Goddess of Love and Beauty. In Greek mythology, Adonis is loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone, and the two goddesses share the pomegranate symbol. The difference is that Aphrodite people express their sensuality and sexuality in an extroverted manner, while Persephone people express those in an introverted manner. Phee has an Aphrodite archetype and her extroversion contrasts with Tech’s introversion. Although she can see the riches of his inner world, she does not fully understand how he processes and expresses his thoughts and feelings. This is also one of the reasons why there are people who do not ship them. It is crucial for extroverts to make an effort to understand introverts and appreciate their introversion, which is something Phee could do if more time and better writing were given to develop her relationship with Tech (you can do the rewriting through fanfiction and fanart).

A person who is predominantly and innately an introverted Hades must develop other archetypes. To balance out the Hades’ subjective perception, they must cultivate the Zeus archetype to gain objective reality, and they must cultivate the Poseidon archetype to become emotionally responsive. Education promotes the development of Apollo and Hermes archetypes. Years of military training have helped Tech to develop the Apollo archetype – he can think scientifically, rationally explain cause and effect, carry out his responsibilities on time, and plan ahead.

It is extremely important for Hades people to activate the Hermes archetype so they can understand their inner world and then communicate it to others. Hermes, or the Romans called him Mercury, is the messenger of the gods, the god of speech and roads, the guide of souls to the Underworld, and the protector of travellers, businessmen, thieves and athletes. He is also the inventor of the lyre, numbers and the alphabet. He is known as “the friendliest of the gods to men” and the god who brings luck.

As the messenger, Hermes travels frequently and swiftly between Olympus, earth and the Underworld, crossing borders with ease. People who identify strongly with Hermes do best in diplomacy, public media and commerce. They are traders and communicators of the world as they carry goods, information and culture from one place to another. They can travel in person or via technology like radio, television, writing and the Internet. They enjoy making deals, money and allies. They also love to go on adventures, take risks and gain knowledge.

Tech takes on Hermes the messenger as he often flies the Marauder, does negotiations, provides vital information, and gives advice. This archetype enables him to share his wealth of knowledge and information originating from his exceptional mind. Tech can fly the ship through dangerous circumstances and stormy environments. His swiftness, quick thinking and strategy help him to win in Riot Racing. He can crack down locked files, decrypt confidential information, hack into machinery and security systems, open locked doors and sift through data – like Hermes, nothing can stand in his way. Tech is a linguistic expert and he can translate any unknown alien language on the fly as shown in the Clone Wars episodes “A Distant Echo” and “On the Wings of Keeradaks”, making him resemble Hermes the god of speech. He also does research on local culture. For example, in “The Bad Batch”, he informs his teammates, Cody, Rex, Jesse and Kix that the Yalbec queen stinger is a delicacy on some planets. In “A Distant Echo”, he gives additional information to his teammates, Rex and Anakin that the Poletecs worship flying reptiles called keeradaks. In the Star Wars website, Tech is described to be “a quick thinker and even faster talker”. He is a nerd, but he is also athletic, just like the swift Hermes who is the protector of athletes.

Hermes is the archetype of the trickster, known for his cleverness, cunningness, and the ability to change shape or form. On the day Hermes was born, he stole cows from his half-brother Apollo. He hid his tracks by tying branches to his feet, and he laid down a false trail by having the cows walk backwards. When Apollo discovered that his cattle were stolen, he demanded Hermes to tell him where his cows were hidden. However, Hermes guilelessly lied and tried to pass himself off as an innocent newborn. In stories, the tricksters are often admired and appreciated as heroes, depending on what they steal and from whom. For example, Robin Hood is depicted as a hero because he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. However, in real life, people who take on this trickster archetype are usually con artists or charming sociopaths. Though, the ability to think like a trickster can be helpful like figuring out what may be going on in a person’s mind or solving problems creatively.

Tech takes on the trickster archetype very well, which makes him good in carrying out stealth missions. In “Unfinished Business”, he masks Echo’s transmission as originating from Skako Minor, which manages to fool Admiral Trench. In “Aftermath”, Tech realizes that the prison cell they are held in is a modified facility that is not designed to hold someone like Wrecker, and he points out the weak spot for Wrecker to punch it so they can escape. In “Cornered”, Tech scrambles the Marauder’s signature to fool the Imperial authorities, and he passes down that knowledge to Hera in “Rescue on Ryloth”. In “Common Ground”, he hacks into the security system so the Bad Batch can keep an eye on the Imperial patrols as they sneak around. Many of Tech’s fighting tactics involve him sneaking around and laying traps. For example, he sneakily plants short-circuiting devices on the backs of the droids or on the ground as traps as seen in “On the Wings of Keeradaks” and “Aftermath”. In “Ruins of War”, he uses the darkness and trees as cover as he takes out the clones. In “Truth and Consequences”, when the Bad Batch and Rex use an escape pod to escape, Tech also ejects the other escape pods to confuse and waste the time of their pursuers in searching for them.

When Hermes was born, he immediately knew what he does not have, so he stole from his older half-brother Apollo. Apollo was angry yet charmed by his actions. Although both brothers did end up gaining skills and power from another through bartering, it was Hermes who began with nothing and acquired plenty. This myth depicts Hermes as the younger sibling rival. People who identify with Hermes see themselves as underdogs. They learn how to use words, wits and strategy to get out of trouble or to get whatever they want. Many fans speculate that Tech gets picked on the most by the regular clones. Hence, he uses his words and wits to get the upper hand, and he picks his battles carefully. In “Aftermath”, Tech uses his words and wits as humour to tease and get back at Wrecker because he knows that he cannot overpower his brother that is physically stronger than him. (“It’s been days since I blew something up!” “Easy, Wrecker. Your programming’s kicking in.” “Hey, don’t start with that!”)

In exchange for the lyre, Apollo grants Hermes many things, including dominion over beasts and minor soothsaying. Tech has these two skills. He is a beast tamer as he manages to summon the keeradaks to aid the team to escape, which impresses the Poletec leader. In “Rampage”, Tech explains to Wrecker that in order to tame the rancor Muchi, he has to challenge the creature for authority. They fight until Muchi drops from exhaustion. Tech is shown to be able to predict the future. In “Unfinished Business”, when Wrecker grumbles about being sent on another stealth mission because he prefers to blow something up, Tech comforts him, saying that he has a feeling that he will get his chance. After they complete the mission and depart, Anakin gives Wrecker a remote detonator to blow up Admiral Trench’s dreadnought and several surrounding warships, making this the happiest day of his life. In “Aftermath”, Tech predicts that the Clone Wars will soon be over because Obi-Wan Kenobi has found and engaged General Grievous on Utapau. Echo believes that if Kenobi captures or kills Grievous, the Separatist command structure will collapse along with the Separatist Droid Army, leading to the end of the war. Upon the team’s return to Kamino, they are informed that General Grievous has been defeated on Utapau and the Separatist leadership has collapsed, signifying the end of the war. Wrecker is surprised that Tech’s prediction has come true.

In Greek mythology, Hermes often guides others from one realm to another. As a psychopomp (which means guide of souls), Hermes accompanies the souls of the dead to the Underworld. Hermes is represented by the herm, which is a short pillar or pile of stones that marked property boundaries, roads, graves, and the entrance to every home. Thus, Hermes is the god of boundaries – he marks boundaries and he crosses all boundaries. Psychotherapists usually take on Hermes the guide of souls as they help people during significant life transitions. Sometimes they help people to see the dangers in a situation and survive, just like the myth where Hermes gives Odysseus insight and protection against Circe’s powers, who has turned his men into pigs. The Hermes archetype can help us to seek meaning in our lives, integrate all aspects of ourselves, and later share our insights to others. Tech takes on Hermes the guide of souls a few times. In the Clone Wars episodes, he warns the team of an incoming platoon of battle droids, and he guides Rex to rescue Echo, who was once presumed to be dead. After the Bad Batch runs away from the Empire, Tech guides the team to the planet Saleucami to meet up with the clone deserter Cut, who gives them advice on how to lay low. In “The Crossing”, Tech helps Omega to navigate through change as it is a fundamental part of life. Hermes is sometimes known to provide alternate routes for escape. In “Reunion”, Tech leads the Bad Batch into the ion engine chamber and they use explosives to tear the cone from the ignited engine, allowing them to escape from being incinerated and being pursued by Crosshair and his troops. In “Pabu”, Tech helps Phee to lower the rescue ladders to aid the residents of Lower Pabu to evacuate from the incoming tidal wave.

Hermes is sometimes considered as the inventor of alchemy, which focuses on turning lead into gold. In alchemy, Hermes-Mercurius is “quicksilver”, the spirit concealed in matter. He is the symbol that unites all the opposites: metallic yet liquid, matter yet spirit, cold yet fiery, poison yet healing draught. Mercury only bonds with precious metals, and this is a metaphor that Hermes can show us the way to find spiritual gold. In Carl Jung’s “Psychology and Alchemy”, Hermes is the communicator that guides us on a mythical, spiritual and psychological journey to transform what is base in the psyche into gold, and to unite male and female elements (which is represented by the staff of Hermes – the Caduceus). Tech does take on the role of the alchemist occasionally. In the Clone Wars episode “On the Wings of Keeradaks”, Tech combines his objective strategic thinking with the subjective value of the recording of the keeradaks’ distress call, allowing him to summon the flying reptiles to aid in their escape. In “Retrieval”, Tech salvages various items at the abandoned spaceport to build a slightly operational speeder bike, which enables them to reach the thief’s den. It is possible that his alchemical aspect has helped him to invent the “Tech Turn” (or the fans sometimes call it the “Techno Drift”).

In “The Crossing”, the Bad Batch is tasked to mine the volatile mineral ipsium. Someone mentions that the name of the mineral “ipsium” is derived from the Latin word “ipsum”. “Ipsum” is an inflection of “ipse”, which is the third person singular reflexive pronoun e.g. himself, herself, itself. The Bad Batch going into the mine to find ipsium is a metaphor for the characters finding themselves and experiencing breakthroughs in expressing themselves. Moreover, in the same episode, the Bad Batch is dealing with Echo’s absence. Echo has the Hestia anima (Goddess of Hearth), and his absence means the team has lost the feeling of “home”, and this loss is strengthened when their physical home, the Marauder gets stolen. Hestia is also the archetype of the Self, so metaphorically speaking, Echo’s absence means that the Bad Batch has lost their connection to each of their Self or centres (the soul). Tech becomes Hermes the guide of souls and the alchemist when he, Hunter, Wrecker and Omega travel to the ipsium mines. He helps himself and the team (especially Omega) to survive against all odds, to embrace change, to have a better understanding of each other, to find meaning (or “gold”) in their horrible experiences and to be transformed by those experiences. Tech also plays a vital role in retrieving the Marauder, which symbolizes his Hermes archetype guiding him, Hunter, Wrecker and Omega to realign themselves with their inner nature and values – they reconnect with their Self or centres, as Hermes is the spirit that sets the soul on fire.

Hermes is known as the rescuer of the child. In Greek mythology, he descends into the Underworld to rescue Demeter’s abducted daughter Persephone. He rescues the infant god Dionysus at least twice, saving his life and protecting him from harm. He also rescues the young Ares who was trapped in a bronze jar for 13 months. As an archetype or a metaphor, Hermes saves what is innocent and vulnerable, or divine and sacred, by providing meaning for an otherwise terrible experience. People who have experienced abusive childhoods or seemingly hopeless situations have felt the saving presence of Hermes, taking the form of an inner voice telling them that “they are being tested”, “they matter to someone”, or “someone will come”. They cling onto these messages which save their souls from giving up. In psychotherapy, Hermes liberates the child within the depressed adult (which is trapped in the bronze jar or in the Underworld), allowing them to be playful, trusting and vulnerable again. Hermes also activates or saves the archetype of the divine child (represented by Dionysus), which helps people to embrace their individuality and to have meaningful lives.

Tech has always been Hermes the rescuer. He rescues Wrecker (Ares) by taking down the droids behind the brute clone in the episode “On the Wings of Keeradaks”. In “Aftermath”, after Wrecker is wounded by an armoured training droid, Tech drags him to safety behind a block. In “Faster”, when Venim swears in his alien language, Tech protects Wrecker’s innocence by not letting him know what the alien is saying. Moreover, Tech helps Rex to rescue Echo (Persephone anima) who is trapped in Skako Minor, which serves as the Underworld to Echo (and Rex). After Hunter (Dionysus) is wounded by Cad Bane at the end of “Reunion”, Tech quickly gets him aboard the Marauder so they can tend to his injuries and escape from Crosshair and the Imperials. In “The Crossing”, when Omega (Persephone) falls down a chasm, Tech instinctually jumps after her to rescue her. Furthermore, Tech and the rest of the Bad Batch rescue Gungi from the droid smugglers and return him to his homeworld in “Tribe”, and they free the adolescent miners from Mokko’s oppressive rule in “Retrieval”. When Tech finds out that Crosshair has turned on the Empire and is now being held captive by Dr. Hemlock, he is determined to rescue his brother despite they have many disagreements in the past.

Hermes as the rescuer of the child helps Tech to remain hopeful even when things take a turn for the worse. This is most evident in “A Distant Echo” when the Bad Batch, Rex and Anakin go to Skako Minor to rescue Echo. During their journey, Tech loses Echo’s signal, which leads to Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair and Anakin to affirm their worst fears that Echo is dead, and the Separatists are using him to lure them into a trap. However, Tech does not give in to despair, and instead speculates that the signal loss is due to a latency issue with the frequency caused by atmospheric disturbances. When they are exploring a tower, they lose Echo’s signal again, leading Tech to believe that the signal is only traceable during data transmissions, so they must wait for Echo to transmit more data. Throughout the journey, Tech helps Rex to hold onto his belief that Echo is alive, which is eventually confirmed to be true. Whenever things go south, Tech remains calm (he is like “water off a duck’s back” and his voice is “easy breezy” as described by his voice actor Dee Bradley Baker) because he believes that they will always figure out a solution. Omega eventually takes on his positive and hopeful message at the end of “The Crossing”.

To cultivate the Hermes archetype, we must embrace spontaneity (as Hermes usually appears unexpectedly), be willing to venture into the unknown and be open-minded. Hermes also opens up moments that seem to be “coincidences” or “accidents” but end up becoming meaningful, unforeseen events that turn out uncannily right. We can also get in touch with Hermes when we have a chance to speak and we are willing to “wing it” – to act on our intuition. Hermes is missing in our minds when we think like Apollo – always planning ahead of time and everything must go according to plan. It often takes courage, practice and experience to trust our instincts. Thanks to his military training, Tech has developed an Apollo archetype, which enables him to plan ahead, carry out his duties as a soldier and think logically. However, this archetype does limits him when it comes to carrying out missions unrelated to his military training and experience. This is evident in “Rampage” when the Bad Batch tries to rescue children from slavery, only to be caught and restrained by the Zygerrian slavers. Tech admits that he is uncertain what to do next because this is not a standard military operation and that they lack experience in this kind of rescue mission. Fortunately, Omega’s interference helps them to complete the mission. With practice and experience, Tech gets better in carrying out missions outside his role as a soldier, which strengthens his Hermes archetype.

Hermes is the archetype of the eternal adolescent, and people who identify strongly with this archetype are friendly and eager to learn. They have a genuine interest in everything and everyone, so they get along with all kinds of people. They are extremely curious and they find the world fascinating. Tech takes on this archetype well. In “The Bad Batch”, he wants everyone to get along and he tries to break up a fight between Rex, Jesse, Kix, Wrecker and Crosshair. He looks confused yet happy after Hunter intervenes to stop the fight. When Phee first meets the Bad Batch in “Spoils of War”, she immediately warms up to Tech because he looks the friendliest (from a typical person’s perspective, Wrecker is too intimidating due to his huge size; Omega is generally ignored and underestimated because she is a child; Hunter is too threatening and counterculture, especially due to his tattoo; Echo is ignored due to his cyborg appearance; and Crosshair is too cold and mean). Furthermore, Tech is eager to expand his knowledge and he finds many things fascinating like a datacore that contains a fragment of the Serennian people's history and culture, the riot race course and patterns of the racers, Phee’s treasure hunting stories, and the Zillo Beast.

Hermes’ parents are Zeus and Maia, who both provide positive parental and maternal attitudes to raise Hermes. Maia is the introverted, non-possessive and self-sufficient homemaker (she is archetypally Hestia, the hearth keeper goddess). Zeus is the loving and unjudgmental father, yet he also has a firm, no-nonsense attitude that orders Hermes to return Apollo’s stolen cows, in which Hermes obliges. Tech’s relationships with Echo and Hunter resemble Hermes’ relationships with his parents. Echo has the Hestia anima, and he is capable of handling himself. Echo usually lets Tech carry out his risky plans, for example, he agrees with Tech’s plan to allow the Imperial authorities to impound their ship so they can find the chain codes in “Cut and Run”. In return, Tech looks out for Echo, for example, in “Unfinished Business”, he helps to mask Echo’s transmission as originating from Skako Minor, which allows Echo to successfully carry out his plan. Hunter, who has a Zeus archetype, allows Tech to carry out his plans, but he also expects Tech to follow his orders and not take unnecessary risks. This is evident in “Cut and Run” when Hunter gets angry at Tech for carrying out a plan that he disagrees despite trusting that Tech has everything under control. Tech does recognize and respect Hunter’s authority, and he carries out his orders even when he does not fully agree with him. When Hunter and Echo are not around in “Faster”, Tech goes to participate in Riot Racing and wins, which is the opposite of laying low. I am certain that Hunter and Echo are not pleased upon hearing the news.

People who identify as Hermes the god of boundaries have the tendency to “test the limits”. They may try to get around the rules or figure out how to get something that is off-limits. They have a diverse range of interests, but they may use unconventional methods to become successful like combining ideas from different fields or go beyond the usual limitations. They usually do not work for grades or the approval of others (this requires Apollo or Zeus archetype). When they succeed, it is because the work itself fascinates them and draws out their inventiveness.

During the battle simulation in “Aftermath”, Clone Force 99 realizes that the new battle droids are using live rounds and that their training blasters are of no use. This prompts the team to improvise. Tech’s improvisation involves reprogramming a battle droid and using it to take out other battle droids. The squad’s unconventional tactics impresses Tarkin, but he values obedience more than adaptability. He decides to test their loyalty to the Empire by sending them to take out some “Separatist insurgents” on Onderon. Before departing, Tech wants to gather more information about the rebels but Echo says that the Imperial files have been locked down tight so he cannot do much about it. Tech decides to try to crack open the files, even though such action will be deemed as unsatisfactory conduct by the Empire.

In “Faster”, Tech enters Riot Racing because he is fascinated by the sport and he needs to free Cid from Millegi because the team needs her as their source of income. He does not do it because he wants to win (even though it is necessary to free Cid and that he knows he can win) or he wants to get anyone’s approval (he is surprised that the crowd cheers for him). During the race, Tech drops the blaster section of his speeder and takes the left tunnel that is considered a death trap. Although many people are critical of his decisions because nobody has done it before, Tech’s willingness to push beyond the limits helps him to win the race, which showcases his inventiveness.

The presence of Hermes in our psyche enables us to communicate persuasively and to have a friendly attitude. With Hermes as his main archetype, Tech is generally careful with the usage of his words. For example, in “Aftermath”, when AZI describes Clone Force 99 as “genetically defective” clones, Tech frowns and prefers to use the term “deviant”. He uses that word again to describe the squad in “Battle Scars”. Moreover, Tech tries to bring up the Citadel mission in a respectful manner because he knows that mission is what caused Echo’s injuries that turn him into a cyborg, and he is considerate of Echo’s feelings. Furthermore, Tech’s Hermes archetype enables him to convey his messages in a way that is easily understood by others. For example, during the battle simulation, Wrecker grumbles as he cannot understand Hunter’s hand gestures, but Tech understands and reminds Wrecker to do what they did on Felucia, helping him to carry out Hunter’s commands. In “Cornered”, when repairing the ship, Wrecker is unable to understand Tech’s detailed explanation of the components’ whereabouts, so Tech has to direct him which components to pull out.

The ability to communicate persuasively can cause a person to have the tendency to justify their perceptions, decisions and actions, which is something Tech does often. In “Cut and Run”, he gets the Marauder impounded by Imperial authorities and explains to the angry Hunter that this is the “simplest” solution to get the chain codes. In “Replacements”, Tech tells his teammates that no critical systems of the ship were compromised, which gives them relief until the ship suddenly gets thrown out of hyperspace. Hunter thinks it is serious, but Tech thinks otherwise because it is not affecting life support (despite the ship is going to crash land on a moon). In “Battle Scars”, Wrecker is confused as to why the Rhokai gang is pursuing the Bad Batch. Omega points out that they have stolen Ruby the lizard from them. Tech corrects her, saying that the Rhokai stole the lizard first and they are merely “intercepting” it. In “Spoils of War”, when Hunter angrily demands an explanation from Tech as to why Omega is hanging off the ship, Tech responds that it is an unscheduled study break.

The ability to think inventively and to communicate persuasively can cause people to take on the shadow aspects of Hermes, becoming con artists and criminals. They may not learn about restraint and the sense of right and wrong. They are likely to act impulsively in getting what they want. They may lack the capacity to empathize or understand the feelings of others who are hurt by their actions. Hence, it is important to resist this negative aspect of Hermes by being aware of the consequences to oneself and others. Tech does take on Hermes the trickster occasionally like scrambling the ship’s signature to avoid Imperial detection in “Cornered” and creating and selling forged chain codes to the Axis Leader in “Tribe”. Though, he does all of these to protect himself and his teammates or to finish the job.

Tech does have a strong moral conscience and he prefers not to get involved in criminal matters, which is possibly strengthened since the episode “Infested”. In that episode, the Bad Batch helps Cid to take back her territory after she is forced out by her former client Roland Durand. The plan involves stealing Roland’s spice shipments and sabotaging his deal with the Pyke Syndicate. They successfully carry out the plan, but Roland leads the Pykes to them and exposes them as the thieves. To save all their lives, especially Omega who is being held hostage by the Pykes, they agree to retrieve the spice. They complete the mission and the Pyke leader spares all their lives and releases Omega (as for Roland, he is left humiliated and one of his horns gets cut off). In “Faster”, Tech, Wrecker and Omega must win the race to free Cid and her debt to Millegi. Tech says that Cid’s dealings with individuals of questionable integrity (which sounds like a polite way to describe criminals) have caused her to repeatedly use the Bad Batch to solve her problems, which has become a problematic pattern. Tech’s awareness of the consequences to himself and others helps to control his Hermes archetype and weaken its negative aspects.

People who identify strongly as Hermes must grow beyond this archetype by developing characteristics of the Apollo and Zeus archetypes. Apollo, the God of the Sun, immediately sees through Hermes’ lies. By cultivating the clear-sightedness and reasoning of Apollo, a person can restraint Hermes’ tendency to rationalize their decisions and actions. Apollo represents linear thinking and the ability to focus on a faraway target, which gives people the awareness of the progress of time and the need for a step-by-step approach to accomplish disciplined work. Apollo is also concerned with ethics and about what is right and wrong – which is important for Hermes people to gain success in the world. Fortunately, the social institutions help to encourage the development of the Apollo archetype, which means the Apollo-Hermes archetype combination is common among most people. All Bad Batch members have a strong Apollo archetype due to their military training. During the battle simulation, they quickly take their positions and carry out the standard training protocol. When they realize their usual methods are not working, they quickly improvise by taking reference from previous battle experiences like what they did on Felucia.

Tech has a strong Apollo archetype as he can plan ahead to accomplish a mission, and recall standard protocol and past battle experiences for improvisation. He also has memorized hand signals and all the ship’s specifications from memory, which is what he demands Omega to do before she can start flying the Marauder. This explains why Tech is confused when Omega says that flying is about a feeling because he uses precise calculations when flying. Though, I do believe that Tech uses his instincts occasionally when piloting the ship, perhaps only when the situation is dire. Moreover, when Tech shoots, he usually does it with precise calculations as seen in “The Bad Batch” and “The Crossing” (this is different from Crosshair who usually does it with instincts).

Tech has Apollo’s clear-sightedness as he can see through one’s ulterior motives. In “Aftermath”, Tech realizes that Tarkin has lied to the team about dealing with Separatist insurgents when they are actually Republic fighters. He knows that Tarkin and the Empire are bad news because they have blurred and twisted the team’s ideology, which is something he cannot accept. In “Infested”, Cid wants to take back her parlor and tells the Bad Batch that “they are in this together” because she is “good” at keeping secrets. Tech immediately knows that she is trying to blackmail them into helping her, in which she admits. Moreover, with Apollo’s clear-sightedness, Tech can see through hidden information like the fact that Omega is an enhanced clone, and that the inhibitor chips are what caused the regular clone troopers to carry out Order 66 without question.

In the myth, Zeus has the authority to tell Hermes to stop lying and restore Apollo’s stolen cows. He leaves no ambiguity and no place for any excuses. Hermes recognizes and respects his authority, and does what he is told to do. In real life, it is important for a Hermes person to have a father figure or a mentor who carries the Zeus authority. In this positive mentorship, a Hermes person gets to be part of a network and is encouraged to use their gifts. Hunter, who has the Zeus archetype, acts as a father figure and mentor to Tech. As the leader of the Bad Batch, Hunter cares about his teammates and makes sure that they all follow his orders and complete the missions. For example, during the battle simulation, Hunter is determined to not disappoint Tarkin and commands his teammates to improvise their battle strategy. Hunter does encourage Tech to use his gifts, which builds him up as a valuable team member. At the same time, he does not tolerate Tech making excuses or justifications for his actions. Their positive relationship helps Tech to develop his skills while respecting authority as he carries out the orders given by Hunter, Anakin and Rex without hesitation.

In Greek mythology, Hermes has many love affairs and many sons. However, his only notable lover is Aphrodite, who bears his son Hermaphroditus. Hermes yearns for her, but she rejects his love. Zeus takes pity on Hermes and sends his eagle to steal one of Aphrodite’s golden sandals while she is bathing. Hermes then offers her sandal back in return for her favours, and she is willing. This myth can be interpreted as a way for a Hermes man to grow, which is to find his Aphrodite. His Aphrodite serves as a challenge for him, and she moves him deeper into his emotional life by making him aware of his vulnerability and sensuality. In “The Crossing”, Wrecker, who has an Aphrodite anima, tells Tech to talk to Omega and make amends with her. Hunter agrees as she is having a hard time dealing with Echo leaving the Bad Batch. Tech accepts their advice, which eventually helps him to move deeper into his emotions. In “Pabu”, Phee is Tech’s Aphrodite as she helps him to be aware of his sensuality by bringing him to enjoy a feast and the island’s sunset (sensuality means bodily or sensory pleasure, which is not necessarily sexual).

With his Hades-Hermes archetype combination (Steven Grant from Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Moon Knight also shares this archetype combination), Tech can bring his extensive knowledge into the world to help others and to pass on what he has learned to others. Besides that, he also greatly appreciates art and culture, especially those on the brink of extinction. In “Ruins of War”, Echo, Tech and Omega encounters Romar Adell, who has the Hades archetype. He lives in solitude after surviving the Bombardment of Serenno, and he is not interested in monetary gains as he wants nothing to do with Dooku’s war chest. Romar is Hades the recluse here.

Romar then becomes Hades the Plouton when he gives Omega a kaleidoscope and she asks whether there are jewels in it. He explains that it is a toy that makes her happy, and that her happiness is worth more than any jewel. The colours and patterns emitted by a kaleidoscope symbolize change and growth. The symmetry of the patterns, which is in the shape of a mandala, represents balance, harmony, wholeness and totality (the archetype of the Self). Some cultures even use the kaleidoscope for meditation, relaxation and self-reflection. As Hades the Good Counsellor, Romar teaches Omega to value her subjective feelings of joy and remind her to reconnect with her centre or her Self, which takes the form of the Persephone archetype.

Later, Romar asks Tech to lend him a spanner so he can fix his datacore. He explains that the datacore contains a fragment of his people's history and culture. Tech mistakes it as a Separatist archive, but Romar corrects him, saying that it is Serennian as they did exist before the Clone Wars. Unfortunately, their history and culture are almost destroyed by the war. Count Dooku, who once ruled over Serenno, has exploited his own people and has stolen plenty from outside worlds to fund his war efforts. His quest for power eventually led to the destruction of Serenno City, forcing the survivors like Romar to take up life in hiding. Tech, who is innately Hades, understands why Romar cares so much about his cultural heritage. The war has resulted in the near extinction of Serennian’s history and culture – as if they have been thrown into the Underworld. If Romar loses his datacore, he will lose a crucial part of himself and his life will become meaningless. This is called psychological dismemberment, which depicts that anything being “cut off” is thrown into the Underworld. Psychological dismemberment is something Dionysus the God of Wine and Ecstasy knows well, which explains why Hades and Dionysus are connected. Besides that, Tech understands how Romar feels about losing his people’s history and culture because Tipoca City, which was the home of the clones, was bombarded by the Empire and he was there to witness its destruction, just like Romar was present when his former home, Serenno City was bombarded by the Empire.

As Hermes the rescuer, Tech fixes the datacore and restores its memories, which is equivalent to saving Romar’s soul from the Underworld and restoring a sacred meaning to his life. This is why Romar is overjoyed. Tech’s action helps to active the Hermes archetype within Romar, which becomes important when he helps Tech and Echo to find Omega, who has gone after the war chest. Echo, who has the Hestia and Persephone anima, convinces Omega to let go of the treasure, saving her from physical and spiritual death. Tech and Romar both become Hermes the rescuer as they save Echo and Omega from falling off a cliff. Before Tech, Echo and Omega leave the planet with Wrecker and Hunter, Romar lets Omega keep the kaleidoscope and tells her to remember what he said about the values of subjective experiences. He also tells Tech that he stays behind as he is a survivor. It does seem that Romar has a renewed sense of hope and determination after his unexpected encounter with Tech, which is true to his Hermes nature – like how an intuitive insight arrives on the scene. It is possible that Tech has reconnected with his personal values after his encounter with Romar. Initially, he is adamant in retrieving the war chest and using the fortune for the team’s own benefit. Echo disagrees and thinks that they should use the treasure to fight the Empire. Tech’s focus on seeking monetary gain is shifted when Romar needs his help to fix his datacore. By helping Romar, Tech is once again in touch with his personal values, which are learning new things and helping others.

In “Entombed”, Tech has been intently listening to Phee’s treasure hunting stories to the point that he can point out the inconsistencies in her stories. This indicates that Tech is drawn to her Hermes animus (Indiana Jones, a famous fictional character who is a treasure hunter, has a strong Hermes archetype). In that episode, Phee recognizes an item found by Omega in the junkyard as a compass that contains the coordinates for the Kaldar Trinary system. Tech says that he has no record of that system, which prompts Phee to say that the best treasures usually are not found on maps. She then brings the Bad Batch on a treasure hunt, and throughout the journey, she helps them (especially Omega) to navigate through the dark tunnels, avoid traps and solve puzzles, which are skills related to Hermes. However, Tech does not personally connect with Phee because he thinks that she goes after treasure for the money. After all, she does propose to split the treasure find by half with the team (they do need the money, but it does not align with their personal values and desires). When Phee retrieves the Heart of the Mountain, it turns the mountain into a giant war machine that shoots energy beams. Tech proposes to return the Heart to its proper place to deactivate the machine. Phee is initially unwilling to give up the treasure, but after Hunter warns her that they would be trapped on this barren planet if the machine destroys their ship, she agrees to return it but also warns that they owe her a debt for the loss of the treasure. Tech and Omega manage to restore the Heart and shut down the machine. The Heart also melts and the machine self-destructs. Even though Tech laments another failure of their treasure hunt with a professional, Omega and Hunter think that some positives do come out – that the legend is real and that nobody can use the weapon again.

When Phee brings the Bad Batch to Pabu, she takes them to the Archium, where she stores the “liberated” artifacts there. Tech informs that the tree-shaped artifact they retrieved has little monetary value, but Phee says that treasure can mean many things. She explains that most of the villagers on Pabu are refugees and many of the artifacts are remnants of their culture. As the liberator of ancient wonders, she retrieves these culturally significant artifacts for the refugees, which is equivalent to Hermes the rescuer going into the Underworld to restore their cultural identities. This is when Tech starts to bond with Phee through shared values.

I imagine in real life, Tech would be welcoming towards immigrants and refugees. He would do extensive research on their culture and tradition, learn to speak in their language, help them to find ingredients or suitable substitutes for their recipe, and celebrate their festivals. He would also respect their decisions in building a new life and support their work and business. He would help them to adapt to the new culture without losing connection to their native culture, so they could feel safe and belonged. Furthermore, I imagine that Tech would be interested in endangered languages and craftsmanship. He would record these endangered cultures if the people allow him to do so. He would support their hard work in preserving their culture. I can imagine Tech not tolerating colonialism and imperialism because the colonizers were responsible for oppressing the native people and destroying their culture. I imagine that Tech would think that repatriation (the return of someone or something to their own country) of stolen cultural artifacts is the morally right thing to do (which is ironic since he has “a little more British in his sound” as stated by his voice actor Dee Bradley Baker).

Tech has developed many archetypes (including his anima which is discussed in this link) through his military training and his significant, enduring relationships with the Bad Batch. He is in touch with the emotional realm, the realm of the mind and will, and his rich interior realm, which makes him highly adaptable. As the guide of souls and seeker of meaning, he eagerly teaches and learns from others so they all can benefit from each other’s insights and knowledge.

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