#some of the ones at the back are blocked but like. they're the crowns of aragon to howrd

[thenyoumightaswellwrestleangels]

You said you'd stay with us (you swore you'd still be you)

absinthe makes the heart grow fonder - series masterlist here

pairing: poly marauders x reader (gender neutral)

length: 1.5k

genre: rockstar au !! fluff, hurt/comfort

warnings: drummer reader, some real 'where does the performance end and you begin' vibes, reader smokes, it's inferred that they're also drinking, y'all will have to pry bestie peter from my cold dead hands

a/n: oh uuuuuh more pining more yearning more I'm in love with you but I'm too afraid to make it real. like what if you were all in a band and you were all in love and you were all too scared of fucking it all up to say anything

"You're looking awful glum tonight," James points out as he leans against the railing of the balcony you're on. He doesn't reprimand you for sitting on the railing, but he does frown as he glances down to where the ground is, inching closer to you to place a firm hand on your thigh.

"I called the car around - I'm going back to the hotel. You can let the others know if they notice," you respond in a sigh, the smoke leaving your lungs on the exhale as you bring your cigarette to your lips for another drag.

"…Are you sober right now, love?" James asks, eyeing you carefully. You look at him bemusedly.

"You think I came to a party after our show and… didn't have a single drink?"

"Well…" he says carefully. You narrow your eyes and James grips your thigh a little tighter - a plead for you to hear him out. "You weren't exactly the life of the party tonight, lovely. You disappeared pretty quick. If you have been drinking, that means you've been doing it out here - alone, sitting very precariously on a very high balcony, with no one looking out for you." You've stopped looking at him, keeping your eyes trained on the expansive driveway out front of whoever's house this is. When you see your car pull up, you put out your cigarette easily on the railing before sliding off of it, letting James keep a hand firmly on you, sliding from your thigh up to your waist.

"I don't need a babysitter, James," you say bluntly, but you can't help but soften a bit at the wide, sad eyes he gives you, his bottom lip jutting out slightly. You wonder idly if he realizes he looks at you so often like he's a puppy you've just kicked. "I'll see you tomorrow for rehearsals," you offer gently before you slip away.

In the safety of the backseat of your car, tinted windows blocking out the gaze of the outside world, you let your head lean back against the seat, sighing and closing your eyes as you rub at your temples. The relief is short-lived, however, as the car door is pulled open and James slides into the seat next to you, grinning despite the glare you sent him.

"Didn't really think I'd let you go sit at the hotel sulking all night, did you?" He quips. You bristle.

"I don't sulk," you huff. His smile widens as the car pulls away.

"Sure you don't, sweetheart." He throws an arm around your shoulders and you let him, sighing as you lean against him, resting your head against his chest. "You wanna tell me what's going on?" He asks gently.

"Nothing," is your quick reply. He hums thoughtfully, running a hand through your hair gently.

"Wanna try again?" He's still gentle, a patience seeping from him into you that lulls you as you relax further against him.

"It's just a lot sometimes. I'm tired is all," you admit. James presses a kiss to the crown of your head and your heart does something funny in your chest.

"You're allowed to take a break every now and then, love," he offers. You tense.

"I don't need -"

"No, but you still can," he placates, smoothing his hand over the back of your head as he silently coaxes you into relaxing once more. "I know you don't need to. God knows you'll run on fumes forever and never say a thing about it. But you don't need to - not here, not with us."

James, in all his mother-hen nature, continues to reprimand you in that gentle, caring way of his all the way up to your hotel room, only stopping when you shut yourself in the bathroom and turn the tap on so that you can't hear him. By the time you come out in clothes that are decidedly much more comfortable than what you'd been wearing at the party, he's lounging in your bed and flipping idly through TV channels.

"Oh, sure, make yourself at home," you quip as you flop onto the bed next to him, leaning against the headboard. James grins in that beaming way that he's so fond of, turning the TV volume down to a low, background hum.

"Thanks, love." You scoff at his words.

"Are you planning on staying here all night?" You ask wearily. He pretends to think about it.

"What will you do if I leave?" You shrug, sliding further down in bed and crossing your arms. James opens his mouth to speak and you know he's going to say something about you sulking, so you make a point to wack him with a pillow before he can. He laughs good-naturedly about it, though, so you're not so sure what you've accomplished.

Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, you don't have time to ponder it further before your hotel room door is swinging open and Sirius is flouncing into the room, Remus trailing in after him. You sigh and look at Remus imploringly, but he only shrugs, leaning towards you to squeeze your shoulder in what you're sure is supposed to be comforting before he settles in the armchair next to the bed. Sirius, on the other hand, takes to flopping directly across the bottom of the bed, landing on James's legs and causing some sort of friendly tussle between the two of them.

"This is actually my hotel room, you know," you point out dryly. "How did you even get in here?"

"You gave Peter your spare key," Remus points out.

"Peter doesn't come in unannounced," you shoot back. Sirius and James stop whatever roughhousing they're caught up in so that Sirius can lean over and press a sweaty kiss to your cheek. You click your tongue in annoyance and hope it hides the way your heart flips.

"Cheer up, doll," Sirius says, unperturbed by your scowl. "What were you playing at, anyway? Leaving without telling any of us and thinking we wouldn't notice? Like we wouldn't miss our favourite drummer." You shoot James a look that says you shouldn't have told them and he smiles disarmingly.

"Just because I'm staying in tonight doesn't mean you all have to - and I'm your only drummer, Sirius, in case you've forgotten," you say icily. Sirius smiles, but it's more honest than you're used to, and he reaches across James to smooth a thumb over your cheek quickly before pulling back.

"Could never forget you, love. Not even if I tried." You stare at him, his tone heavier than normal, as Remus shifts and clears his throat.

"Anyway, dove… we just want to make sure you're alright, yea?" He says, and you exhale a breath you didn't know you were holding as the tension dissipates. 

"Everything's fine," you say stubbornly. "I just didn't really feel like being there tonight."

"Well, we can see that," James chimes in. "But you always go to these things. You -"

"I know, I know, ok? I won't - it won't happen like that again, all right?" You huff. "I won't leave like that."

"No, see, I'm not sure you're understanding what Jamie's saying, love," Sirius says, the softness in his voice making your heart drop. It takes a lot for Sirius to be gentle, and he only does it when he thinks he really needs it. "What we're saying is that you don't have to. Pete never goes to the parties - we haven't kicked him out of the band yet, have we?"

"But that's different," you sigh, sitting up straighter. "Pete and I… are different kinds of performers. You know that." Remus leans forward in his chair to put a hand on your knee and you will yourself not to flinch at the contact, not to shy away from the kindness in his eyes that you know he reserves for the people he really loves.

"You don't have to perform here, love," Remus says gently. "You don't have to do that. Not here, not when it's just us." Your bottom lip trembles and you bunch the covers of the bed in your hands.

"Sometimes I think, for you lot, this life is fun… and for me, it's still work. I just can't make myself see it the way you guys do."

"But that's what we're here for," James offers, his voice kind. "Let us help you out. We decided to do this together for a reason, right? You decided to stick with us for a reason."

"I… I did, yea," you say.

"Yea," Sirius repeats. "So let us be here, alright?" Remus rubs his thumb across your knee as the other two look at you expectantly. You smile, a terse, small sort of thing - but it works nonetheless.

"Alright," you sigh. "Together, then."

#smsn.writes #poly marauders #poly!marauders #poly!marauders x reader #poly!marauders x you #poly!marauders fluff #poly!marauders imagine #sirius black x reader #remus lupin x reader #james potter x reader #sirius black x y/n #sirius black x you #remus lupin x y/n #remus lupin x you #james potter x y/n #james potter x you #rockstar au #sirius black imagine #sirius black fic #remus lupin imagine #remus lupin fic #james potter imagine #james potter fic #sirius black fluff #remus lupin fluff #james potter fluff #marauders imagine #marauders x reader #marauders band au

[angelonasher]

Everything so far about the season 9 Egg War

(in case anyone wants this lol)

Edit: please read the reblog with the corrections because I did make some mistakes/miss details :D

[you're here], Part 2

The links to the other parts are at the bottom of the reblog!

--

Grian steals The dragon egg from Pearl, dupes it, and returns it. (This will be important later)

Grian and Scar accidentally blow up Doc's tunnel bore as a way to procrastinate from finishing the back of Grian's base.

They make an apology pile with many gifts including diamonds, Scarland merch, and a dragon egg.

Doc retaliates by doing funky chunk repressor stuff to make Grian's nether portal one block and puts a load of wither skull projectiles in Scarland's sky.

Zedaph wants one of Grian's duped eggs for the Hall of All, and completes an egg quest Grian sent him on to get it. Part of the quest was blowing up a small section of Doc's base. (Without fixing it afterwards.)

Doc retaliates by making Grian blow up Mumbo's vault door in order to get a purple crown. (Which Grian wants because he claims it will make him "Mumbo's best friend.")

Grian leaves a sign saying he does not know how to "physically, emotionally, or spiritually fix this."

Mumbo pays Scar 64 diamonds to blow up a large part of his base because he didn't like it anymore. He then makes Grian think that it blew up along with the vault door, therefore making it Grian's fault. That causes Grian to burn (what they think is?) the one and only purple crown so far due to guilt.

Grian and Scar retaliate by creating a machine to fill Doc's perimeter with chickens. However, due to the Scar and Grian are banned sign in the perimeter, they go as their alter egos Poultry Man and Hotguy.

Doc cleans up the chickens with the help of Ren (who pledges his alliance to him), Zedaph (who he seems to be a bit on the fence about since he didn't fix his base), and some foxes.

Doc leads a bunch of the chickens Grian and Scar made into Grian's base. (With Zedaph's help.)

Grian, Scar, and Mumbo form the Buttercup alliance against Doc, because, according to Grian's research, buttercups are toxic to goats.

The Buttercup alliance makes a cute little tent area in the middle of Doc's path, raise a sniffer called "Xx_GoAtEaTeR_xX", and build their eyes overlooking the perimeter so Doc knows "they're always watching." (They also discover that falling blocks make Grian's game crash.)

The buttercups learn that Doc has a robot (the Goat Walker) that faces the path. They decide to build (let Mumbo build) a robot to fight it in a cool mech battle thing.

Doc uses the dragon egg Grian had given him as an apology to dupe a bunch more, then build an insane egg duping machine that makes a whole lotta dragon eggs.

Doc and Ren put these eggs in Scarland, Grian's base, the bridge connecting Grian's and Mumbo's bases, and Mumbo's vault. Ren encourages Doc to also put them inside Scarland's castle. (With loads of shulker boxes to spare.)

Pearl, as the server's resident cleaner lady, gets hired by Scar for a salary of 32 diamonds a week to clean up all the eggs in Scarland. (He also kind of throws Grian under the bus concerning the illegal eggs and logs off when asked to give her his stock of eggs.)

Doc calls Pearl to snitch- AhEm I mean inform Pearl of his neighbors' messiness. From him she learns that Grian's base also has eggs in it, that Doc was the one that duped all these eggs, Ren was the one to put them in the bases (although he did too), and that he had thought Grian had the original egg. (He also gives her almost two barrels full of shulker boxes full of dragon eggs. He does not tell her about the machine or the eggs still in it that he could easily use to make more.)

Pearl says something about Grian facing the cleaning lady's wrath idk i think she's gonna end up entering this whole fiasco too lol

Doc builds two butterflies flying above the perimeter in order to "kill them with kindness." The one facing directly towards Scarland is for him, and the one facing directly towards Grian's base is for Ren.

The butterflies are actually tnt-duping flying machines.

Doc tells Ren about and shows him the butterflies. Ren (apparently) thinks they are just flying machines, and Doc does not tell him about the tnt. (Doc's pov only)

Doc and Ren discover a beacon in the perimeter and that someone had been mining there. They conclude no one respects the Goat anymore, and Doc determines to find out who it was. (Idk if this is gonna be relevant but I've added it just in case.)

Ren tells Doc about his super awesome spy plans, which involves the cave right under the Buttercups's camp. (It's not elaborated on very much in Doc's episode.)

wooh. That is all I know so far :D

#hermitcraft #the egg war #hermitcraft s9 #hermitcraft season 9 #docm77 #grian #goodtimeswithscar #mumbo jumbo #rendog #renthedog #pearlescentmoon #zedaph #zedaphplays #the buttercups #buttercup alliance #summary #list #egg war summary

[stealingyourbones]

Submitted Prompts #98

Danny and Raven are both hybrid supernatural creatures. Which means, they end up meeting during a couple of pagan celebrations.

They get to talking, and realize they get along really well. So, since on Raven's side of things, she still hasn't met the Titans yet, Team Phantom just essentially adopt her. Sam adores her new goth friend. They help her feel normal, and she gives them precious advice on magic and how, sometimes, defeating an enemy comes at the cost of their life, because they might not give you much of a choice...

Soon, Raven meets the Titans, while Danny goes along his usual business of keeping Amity Park safe. They keep meeting up for celebrations, birthdays and random meetings for no reason other than a slightly feral sense of "I missed your presence at my side" they all have with each other.

The Titans are very curious on why she keeps disappearing every year at the exact same time, but all they know is the bare bones "magical meeting of magical entities that practice magic".

Until one day, when Raven almost tore Titans Tower apart while desperately trying ANYTHING to contact a friend who seemed to be "gone, and nothing can reach him. What did that idiot do?!?!?!" They are...justifiably concerned...and Robin smuggles the Batplane out of it's hangar so they can help their friend, who's always so composed, actually get to Amity with some backup in case things are going wrong.

Nothing would have prepared them for the SMOKING GODDAMN CRATER in the ground where a town should be. Raven can't reach past the Veil. The way seems to be blocked (since Amity, in the Ghost Zone, has the Ghost Shield up and running) and her powers are going a little wonky and unstable, random rocks lifting and orbiting her and the town limits as the Titans investigate as much as they can.

Until, with roaring thunder, Amity is thrown back into it's proper spot. But something's wrong. Phantom is easy to feel. He's always been a shimmering beacon in Raven's senses, but right now he feels...subdued, and yet swelling with new power...

It's not until Twam Phantom goes to meet her, that raven realizes what's wrong. She knows that Crown, and the Ring her friend is cradling in his hands. Ectoplasm is staining his hands, his suit, and, most noticeable, his teeth.

He looks like he'd rather be anywhere than here, and Sam goes in for a hug, and tells Raven they're calling a "Code Panda" (because pandas have a startlingly high chance of abandoning their Cubs before adulthood, and are generally idiots).

Robin volunteers to destroy the portal when they're ready to go, while the rest of the Titans start closing ranks around the seemingly traumatized teenage hero in case he needs help. The most he reacts is to let Raven float to him and hug him as he whispers a soft "Hey Ray...I had to follow your advice..."

(I imagine that Raven's own experiences would help Danny come to understand that, even if his Rogues can be reasoned with, there will eventually come a time where a new one might not. So they have to be prepared for that eventuality. So Danny treats Pariah's Core like one of those chewing gums with the liquid in the center of it, when he realizes the Old Tyrant King isn't going to go quietly, nor will he listen to reason. And hearing his parents talk about how Phanton would have to be exterminated soon before he "got too powerful" leads Danny and his friends to get out of Amity ASAP. Luckily, they have a friend who's very happy to have them around. Is this an "Everlasting Trio+the DC character they fell for" thing? Not necessarily, but my brain pictures them as starting to date while Raven got busy with the Titans, and when they're all together, they platonically drag Raven to their cuddle pile, where they romantically confess their shared feelings for her. But it's really up to interpretation of whoever reads it.)

#bones submissions #dpxdc #dc comics #dp x dc prompts #i just like the idea of a soft character dynamic that can be both platonic or romantic #but doesn't need to be either/or #it can just be a soft moment #i also have the same feeling when it comes to Tim-Kon-Bart-Cassie dynamics #are they dating? uh.....maybe? #but also not really? it depends on how you view romance?

[mxtxfanatic]

So @fireandgrimstone and I once had a discussion about how mxtx handles Xie Lian’s crossdressing in tgcf, the gist of which was whether or not it was falling into a gender essentialist trope ("you can always tell when a man is pretending to be a woman!") despite how much of the story tackles a kind of gender fluidity amongst other characters. I said I’d return to it once I reread it again to see how I felt reading those bits in context, so here I am!

The first instance of Xie Lian cross-dressing in the story is during the very first mission: the ghost bride. In order to find out who is kidnapping brides in the area, Xie Lian dresses like a bride to act as bait. When he first gets dressed, this is how he is described:

If you asked anyone to come and see, they would be able to tell with a glance that this was a young boy with a gentle and handsome looking face.

—Chapt. 6: The Ghost Holds a Wedding, The Crown Prince Climbs Onto the Marriage Sedan (Part 1)

You can "tell" that he is still a man, even as he wears the wedding outfit, we are told. However, later on, Little Ying comes and helps fix up Xie Lian so that he looks more like a bride. When next the others see his face, this is how he is described:

How could Xie Lian have known that a girl’s skill in make-up created legendary and mystifying results? Little Ying had only taught him how to fix his eyebrows by drawing them elegantly, how to powder his face with some white powder and how to dot his lips with deep, red rouge. However, if he didn’t speak, Xie Lian looked exactly like a gentle, soft and beautiful young lady.

—Chapt. 9: The Mountain’s Locked Ancient Temple, The Forest of Hanging Corpses (Part One)

A little bit of makeup and reshaping his outfit has transformed Xie Lian from someone you could tell was a man "from a glance" to someone who "looked exactly like a gentle, soft, and beautiful young lady." Even the crowd of men acting as "guards" could not tell Xie Lian was a man, and at no stage in this entire arc is Xie Lian uncomfortable with the act of cross-dressing, at being honestly mistake for being a woman, or Mu Qing and Feng Xin's negative reactions. He is indifferent to it all.

The next major moment we see him cross-dressing is when he is running away from the group of cultivators hunting Hua Cheng:

Behind the curtains sat a woman, her long raven hair hung a loose bun, her neck slender and white with a black choker and a thin silver chain circled around. Her robe was half stripped, revealing her snow white shoulder and a small bit of her back, looking to drape and fall, making one’s face burn and heart race.

When the curtains were pulled, the figure of that woman trembled, covering her face with her sleeves, and whimpered softly, as if she was shocked and terrified by such a sudden and brutish act. Heaven’s Eye instantly dropped the curtains, “I-I-I-I-I-I’M SORRY!!!”

The band of monks and cultivators who followed after Heaven’s Eye all screamed too, “WHAT A SIN, WHAT A SIN!” And they all covered their own eyes. Using this chance, that ‘woman’ whipped around -- who else could it be but Xie Lian? Hua Cheng was sitting in his arms and was only blocked from view by Xie Lian’s body. Although Xie Lian was a man and his shoulders were wider than the average woman, but he only pulled down half of his robe to expose the best angle, creating the perfect effect.

—Chapt. 137: Upon Barren Hills; Rioting the Black Hearted Inn (Part One)

Just as with the makeup and reshaping of the bride outfit, wearing a woman's robe, stripping to show off some skin at an angle, and whimpering a little was enough to trick this group of men into thinking he was a woman. The cultivators are so embarrassed, they run away, but even the passerbies who catch a glimpse of Xie Lian fleeing later in that same outfit have the vague idea that it is a "woman" they're seeing running with a child. Then, in the same outfit, Xie Lian enters an inn and we get this hilarious interaction:

A moment later, the door opened, and several attendants came forward to greet, their faces full of smiles, “Good si...”

They had wanted to say ;good sir’, but seeing the person before them was wearing women’s robes, they changed, “Mis...”

Before the word left their lips, Xie Lian emerged fully from the darkness with Hua Cheng in hand. If there’s a child, then it wasn’t an unmarried lady, so they changed again, “Mada...”

‘Madam’ was still half on their lips and Xie Lian’s face was fully illuminated by the light within the inn. Although this person was dressed in women’s robes and had a gentle countenance, if they must be honest, no matter how they looked it was the face of a man. The attendants all became mute, and it was a good moment before they went back to their original greeting, “Good sir, please come inside.”

—Chapt. 137: Upon Barren Hills; Rioting the Black Hearted Inn (Part One)

None of the attendants are able to tell Xie Lian's gender just from a glance. They rely on context clues (his clothes, the fact that he's with a child, then finally, his bare face) to finally decide that he is a man. Xie Lian is not discomforted by this either, not even to correct them. In fact, the narrative says that he feels no mental or physical discomfort as he is. Mind you, in this world, it is established that gods can and do change their physical forms to match a certain gender, but despite having the power to do so, not only does Xie Lian not take this route but he is still able to successfully appear as a cis woman to both strangers and his closest friends with only the minimalist of effort. Neither he nor the narrative place any expectations on how he "should" feel being man mistaken for a woman, nor do they waste time trying to explain to other characters why he is dressed as one like what one would usually see with this trope. Xie Lian simply exists in the form most comfortable to him and changes minor appearances to produce the aesthetic that he needs when he needs it. No more explanation is needed.

The thing about Xie Lian, too, is that while he is assured in his own gender, this does not translate into him being adverse to either weaponizing gender to reach a certain goal (such as being bait in a mission or hiding from enemies or just finding a dangerous object) or others doing as they please. Shi Qingxuan repeatedly attempts to wheedle Xie Lian into transforming into a female form with him, but though Xie Lian refuses for himself, he never shows disgust that Shi Qingxuan prefers his female form, unlike other gods.

Due to all of this, I don't see the repeated mentions of Xie Lian's maleness within these cross-dressing scenes as meant to reinscribe the gender binary but, instead, to impress upon readers how simple it is to throw gender into question. Gender is just that malleable and its perception so easily manipulated that even one of the most manliest men in the story can be viewed without a shadow of a doubt as a woman. Xie Lian is proof.

#tgcf #human metas mxtx #there's also something to be said about the weaponizing of gender in the story #but that will likely be another meta #i was also gonna talk about how other characters view these gender performances #but every character who has a negative reaction to xie lian cross-dressing or sqx changing forms #is shown to be small-minded and obsessed with reputation above all else #while everyone who's alright with it is just normal #anyways hope this makes sense #i felt like there were more moments i'm missing #but whatevs it's going out now

[ariesmoontarot]

🌷What's Next In Love🌷

The Piles:

*ROLES CAN BE REVERSED*

Book a personal reading here

Pile One:

Labradorite “I can’t get enough of you.”

Labradorite can help with eliminating negative energies from your life along with balancing and cleansing the throat, third eye, and crown chakras. It can boost creativity, confidence, and promote physical healing. Labradorite can also alleviate pain, enhance intuition, and strengthen higher senses such as clairvoyance, precognition, and telepathy. It shields from spiritual attacks and negative spirits.

Someone can't get enough of you or the other way around. I'm sensing distance between the two of you so maybe you're in different states, haven't seen each other yet or in a long time, someone is blocked, or there is a lack of communication in some way. For some of you pile two might also resonate. I feel like there is a period of stagnation where someone is waiting for the other person. Maybe to make up their mind, reach out, to make some type of decision or take action. I feel like for a lot of you this is someone you already have history with or you know this person already and something could've happened between you that is all too very confusing for the both of you to understand. There could even be a third-party situation where someone is in a committed relationship and they are cheating with you or you're cheating with them take that how it resonates.

I'm seeing someone has their guard up. There are very strong boundaries here and it's an energy of not wanting to let you or them in. Whether it be not wanting to see each other, not wanting to have sex, not wanting to talk, or just simply being defensive in general due to some type of fear, hurt, or maybe someone blocked the other person so now you or they are mad about it but for a lot of you I'm getting they blocked you so now you're guarded about letting them back in. I feel like you wanted everything with this person, you wanted a long term relationship, to invest in a future together, having a family, meet each others families, and all that good stuff, but something happened. It seems as if they just shut you out, confused you, themselves, and basically gave you the cold shoulder with their lack of communication. You've been so open, loving, and compassionate towards them and it's like they haven't been fully honest with you about a lot of things. They haven't told you how they feel, what they're thinking, or anything really. I feel like whatever distance there is between you is needed because it's helping the both of you get back in alignment with yourselves. I feel like you've done all that you can and you're just sitting patiently loving yourself, content, and focused on your own priorities. Meanwhile, this person is coming to recognize the connection between you and who you are as a person. They underestimated you and didn't see the true value of who you really are. They didn't see how much you loved them. I'm seeing that for some of you they are indecisive between you and someone else. Maybe they are in a relationship or were in a relationship with someone and they loved this person, but they just didn't have the same goals or investments. I feel like they feel like you are their person. You love them the way they need to be loved and you both have the same goals and values in life. I feel like you feel the same way about them. Without each other you both feel like you're missing something and it's not in an unhealthy way. We all need love, support, family, and connections in life and I feel like you both want to be with each other for good reasons. God ordains this connection so you both feel this energy of being pulled closer together no matter how far apart you are. They are in the process of letting go of another person or some type of third party interference because it's blocking them from being able to come forward with an offer. For others they've already did this and they're anxious and scared that they're losing you because of what they put you through. You've always been so kind and loving to them and they hurt you. This hurts them too and I feel like they're feeling weighed down by the burden of their own guilt. They want to tell you how much they love you, but they're building up their confidence to do so. For some of you they're going to mess up again before they do it right, for others they will come clean and tell you what they've been feeling but it might not come off in the way you expect. They aren't exactly the best communicator so I see them communicating how they feel in a toxic way and then it leading to resistance and maybe conflict between you. Be patient. Don't let this stress you out and know that you are manifesting what it is you need. The fate is different for all of you in this situation so for some you will get past the hard times with this person, for others it will just be a hard lesson you have to move on from. Whatever happens will be for the best.

Pile Two:

Fire Agate “I will wait for a sign from you.”

Fire Agate can help promote passion and creativity. It is connected to the root, sacral, and heart chakra. It protects and grounds the person using it and can also increase sexual vitality / libido. It can help you step into your highest self. Fire Agate also takes negative energy and returns it back to the source. It stimulates spiritual and physical energies, invokes courage, and helps with open communication in all relationships.

Someone is waiting for a sign. Whether it be communication, action, literally any type of sign. Maybe there isn't great communication between you and them or it could be that you're waiting for them to make a decision or change. For some of you you're waiting for them to demonstrate that they care and love you.

I'm seeing you feeling disappointed and sad like someone let you down emotionally. It seems like its past energy for most of you. Like a person you loved really hurt you but it didn't just happen. You seem to be getting past it now and you're doing your best to move forward, but it's been hard. I feel like it's been hard because you don't want to move on. You aren't ready to let this person go and you could be just exploring different things and people trying to find what makes you happy. For a lot of you you're talking to different people trying to move on emotionally and mentally, but you just can't. This person is in the back of your mind and you're tired. I see that you need rest to clear your mind. Its like time to meditate, gather your thoughts, bring your mind to a clear state because your emotions are creating all these different scenarios that confuse you and distract you from facing how you really feel. You're really frustrated and I don't think you've ever been in a relationship with this person. Maybe for some of you. You really connect with them, you trust them, you feel like they are your person, but things aren't progressing the way they should be after all the time and effort you've tried to put into having a relationship with this person. Please remember the roles can be switched so this could be how they feel and maybe your in the other position. You both feel stuck here like you don't know what to do, but you both want the same thing. There is very deep love here but there is also pain. I feel like you're both learning a deep lesson about how you limit yourself from having the love and things you deserve because of fear, anxiety, and pain. It's like you're both scared of this love that's between you, but you yearn for each other so bad in every way. For some of you, you're waiting for this person to tell you they're sorry or express some type of emotionally heartfelt apology to you regarding everything that's happened between you. It's like you were keeping yourself stuck in the same mentality about the situation and waiting for this apology that you never received and finally you're not waiting for it anymore and you're allowing yourself the time to heal and move forward emotionally because you've been sad way too long about it. I'm also hearing the song lonely by akon specifically the part when he says 'cause ever since my girl left me, my whole life came crashin' and i'm so lonely". It's like you waited and waited and you're tired, you're hurting, and you just want to feel closure already. I see you really sad and just moving forward because this person hasn't been on the same page as you. You finally see clearly that it's time to continue moving on and I see better things in your future. I get this really heavy sad feeling from this pile and just know It's okay to cry and be sad. I can tell you have a really big heart. May God bless you. This person will come back and will try to be in your life, but I don't see them giving you what you deserve any time soon. If they won't say sorry to you I will because I literally feel your heart ache and I'm so sorry you have to experience this, but you are so strong and it will be worth it trust me!

Pile Three:

Clear Quartz “We don’t share the same values.”

Clear Quartz is used to cleanse, protect, and heal all chakras and energy. It promotes awareness, wisdom, intuition, and is a really good stone for calming and meditation. It cleanses negative energy and promotes positivity. You can use this stone when you need clarity and truth in your life. it can also help to heighten your spiritual and mental awareness.

So I'm seeing that emotionally you know who you love and they know they love you, but the physical world when it comes to values, goals, aspirations, you can oppose to some core details and it makes things a bit difficult between you. However, I'm seeing that you both want it to work and you're both really smart enough to come together and create ideas and ways of doing things to make each other happy. I feel like this person thinks very highly of you and they really feel like your smarter than them. Maybe to them you don't share the same values, but deep down you really do. I just feel like they think you're better than them so they may degrade themselves because of it. It's like they hold themselves to a lower standard than you. You both don't want to move on from the connection or each other because there is very deep love here and you're both emotionally committed to each other whether you know it or not. I'm seeing that somebody feels like no other person will bring you or this person happiness like the way you do for each other. You've both been with other people and it seems like they just don't compare. I'm also seeing that there has been some hurt between you guys and maybe even deception, betrayal, lies, etc. The energy here is very confusing so I can understand why you got the clear quartz because honestly I'm having trouble understanding the full message here. Whatever happened between you guys is the past and your energy is in a very balanced place now not sure about this person though. You might not feel like that, but it very much is. I see you sitting with yourself probably a bit upset and apathetic just sulking in the feelings of how this person made you feel, but God is offering you more opportunities. Change is inevitable and life will move on and get better no matter what. I'm seeing there has been a lot of obstacles, arguments, and conflicts. But nothing can stop what's meant to be. I'm seeing you closing out a chapter of your life with this other energy of someone else, maybe even this person too. It could be an ex, even someone you have kids with for some of you. They were unhealthy just as you were with them. Together you guys just didn't balance each other out and they could've been pulling on your energy heavily and it held you back from being able to see things with more of a clear-headed perspective. I'm seeing that once you really focus on what it is you want and the type of person you want it with, God will start clearing obstacles for you so things can align in the physical. It's like you had both of these energies weighing on you and it was causing conflicts within you. You're literally refreshing your whole mind of this idea you had of what you wanted with an ex or with multiple people for some of you. But it wasn't what you needed. I feel like you will meet someone new and realize these old connections just weren’t meant for you. Spirit wants you to be patient and have faith. What you need is on its way to you, but it’s a surprise that I can’t even know.

#spirituality #healing #spiritualjourney #positive vibes #tarot #love #spiritual community #tarot reading #intuition #pac #pick a card

[blockgamepirate]

I've finally decided to make a sequel to this post with the Sleepy Bois animal figurines

It's the Syndicate! They're having a picnic. Niki brought so much bread

[ID: A photo of four animal figurines dressed up like Dream SMP characters. Technoblade is a pig with a crown and a red cape with white trim, Philza is a crow with an Urahara bucket hat, Ranboo is a black and white cat with a crown and with green and red eyes, Niki is a grey and white stripy cat with a black and grey cape/poncho and a pink flower shaped button sewn on it. The figurines are on a wooden shelf with a red model cabin in the background. There's a Minecraft cake made out of clay between them. Next to Ranboo there's a grass block made of clay and model grass. behind Niki there's a mini basket full of tiny loaves of bread, some of which have spilled out.]

Also don't worry about the crimeboys, they're on their own adventure on the windowsill:

[ID: Wilbur and Tommy on the windowsill next to a candle. Wilbur is a wild boar with a yellow jumper and a guitar on his back. Tommy is a white chicken with a green scarf around his neck. Tommy's discs are leaning on the candleholder.]

Will I keep making more of these? idk, maybe? I'm having a lot of fun with this project tbh, and there are some very obvious ones I could do...

#dsmp syndicate #technoblade #ph1lza #ranboo #nihachu #philza #niki nihachu #dream smp #tommyinnit #wilbur soot

[bravevulnerability]

What if 3x13 happens during the 47 seconds arc?

Her knuckles are white around the steering wheel, the binoculars tossed aside in her lap. The tension in the Crown Vic is palpable, the concern for their friends and the discomfort of sitting in the small space together causing a bead of sweat to form on the back of her neck.

They're parked outside the building they traced Maddox to, where Ryan and Esposito are being held, possibly tortured. A guard stands posted outside the entrance, posture relaxed but eyes alert and ready.

"That guy'll spot a S.W.A.T team from a block away. He'll warn Maddox." Beckett sighs, chewing on her bottom lip. "They'll both be dead in seconds."

Castle is quiet beside her and she doesn't have the courage to look at him in that moment, to see his steely blue gaze not just angry with her, but further disappointed too.

"I'm open to dumb ideas here."

A shaky breath exhales from the passenger side. "Good, because I've got one. But you'll have to trust me."

Beckett turns towards him, holds his gaze. For a second, it feels normal again - not like he's replaced her with a shoddy excuse for a detective or a blonde stewardess. In the moment, they feel like partners again.

"I do."

His lips part, as if he's about to say more, but instead, his fingers close around the door handle and he's pushing it open.

"Castle," she growls, reaching for her own door.

"Just play drunk and follow my lead," he hisses, slamming the car door and circling around to her side of the vehicle in a lazy stroll.

The guard notices the second they exit the car, body shifting in their direction.

"Loosen up, lean on me," he murmurs, catching her hand and spinning her into his arms.

He makes a show of laughing loudly and she does as he instructed, staggering with a giggle into his side, snagging her fingers in his coat to keep her balance. Castle's hand is roaming her side, slipping from her shoulder to her waist, dragging her in close, and she tries to ignore the sharp flutter in her stomach.

The guard leaves his post reluctantly, approaching them with a critical eye.

"He's not buying it, Castle," she hums into his shoulder, heart beginning to pound as the guard comes closer. She keeps her smile in place while she shifts in his grasp, continuing the airy laughter even as her fingers graze her gun.

But then Castle is snatching her hand with his own, dislodging it from the piece. His fingers are smoothly moving to the small of her back, pulling her in close, while the other catches her by the cheek.

The laughter comes to an abrupt halt.

The blue of his eyes glows in the darkness of the parking lot, holding her attention as they flicker to her mouth. Her fingers are shaking as they grasp for the sides of his coat, her head nodding at its own accord when he drifts in, touches his lips to hers for the first time.

The electricity stuns her, crackling across her lips. He's tentative, his mouth soft but unmoving against hers, barely a kiss, but his hands roam her back, make a show of having her body pressed to his.

"This okay?" he mumbles, nudging his nose against her cheek, and she feels a tremble of need ripple through her.

She answers with the part of her lips, the sweep of her tongue to the seam of his mouth. Castle startles back for a moment in surprise, but his eyes slide toward the guard, and he's leaning into her, accepting the fuse of her mouth to his once more.

Her heels are high, but she still finds herself rising up, arching into him as she sucks his upper lip into her mouth, laves her tongue over the tender flesh. Castle groans, scraping at her lip with his teeth, digging his fingers into the coat at her back. Her fingers scrape through his hair, nails scorching his scalp, and he grunts into her mouth, sucks her tongue into his.

She's watching the guard, she swears she's devoting some of her attention to the guard, but she can't help the way her knees dip, the way he supports her with the thigh between her legs, the moan he drags from deep in her throat.

The low chuckle of the guard from behind Castle has her eyes fluttering open to see the other man turning away, shaking his head at them.

She sighs, hating herself for wishing he had taken a little longer to fall for the ruse, and then she's snagging the gun from her waistband. She uses her hold on Castle's shoulder and her own momentum to swing forward, knock the guard out cold.

"Holy shit," he's gasping from behind her.

She spins on her heel, finds Castle gaping at her with kiss swollen lips and wide eyes, hair disheveled and chest heaving.

"That was... a lot." Her face flushes, ears burning with heat, and he stares up at her in disbelief. "You - Kate, you didn't have to kiss me like that."

"I didn't?"

"I mean, yes, but the way you - and how you-"

"Later," she stops him, jerking her head towards the building. "The boys."

"Yeah, yes, of course," he nods, blinking furiously and trotting up alongside her as they approach Maddox's hideout.

-

Castle is hidden behind a wooden beam, crouched atop a crate of ammo as Maddox drifts into his line of sight. Rick's had his eye on Kate the entire time, ensuring that she wasn't shot amidst her exchange of fire with the sniper. She's reloading her weapon, hidden behind a beam on the opposite side of the garage, when Maddox situates himself directly below Castle, Kate in his sights. Again.

He doesn't think twice this time.

Castle leaps onto Maddox, tackling him to the ground, knocking the gun from his surprised grasp, and taking a fist to the sniper's face. Over and over and over again. Until he stops seeing Kate bleeding out underneath him.

"Castle!"

He jerks his attention to the call of his name, the sound of her voice.

His knuckles are throbbing, Maddox's face is a mess of blood, and Kate is holding out her hand to him.

"Rick," she says softer.

He releases a shaking breath and takes her outstretched hand, lets her pull him off of the sniper. The guy who tortured Ryan and Esposito, who put a bullet in her chest, upended her entire life.

The S.W.A.T team is swarming in now, shouting commands and racing to the boys, checking pulses of the men Kate took out. She draws him away, off to the sidelines as the team ascends towards Maddox's unconscious form.

"You okay?" she asks, her voice gentle. He tears his eyes away from the activity all around them and looks to her.

He flexes his fingers unthinkingly, winces. "Never better."

"Good," she whispers, nudging him towards a back entrance. He can hear the squawk of squad cars arriving outside, the siren of an ambulance. He reaches for the exit's door with his good hand to lead them out into the night, but Kate is stilling him, catching his shoulder and turning him towards her.

He doesn't have the chance to question her. Too quickly, she's stepping into him, shaking hands on his cheeks and fervent lips bruising against his own. Laying siege to his mouth and taking everything he has, and he lets her.

Castle moans quietly, burying a hand into the thick curls of her hair, clinging to her nape as her chest presses flush against his.

"I'm so sorry, Castle," she breathes, stroking his cheeks, his jaw, with her fingers. "I'm sorry for whatever I did, however I hurt you."

"Kate," he sighs, but her head is shaking, nose bumping against his, every touch of her skin like a spark lit against his own. He can't think straight, can't come up with anything to say to refuse her, can't bring himself to want to.

He's missed her so damn much.

"I just want you." The words whisper over his lips and she seals them there, dusting a kiss to his cheek, the corner of his mouth, hovering over the home of his lips.

"I love you," he mumbles, waiting for her eyes to widen in shock or shame, but she only gazes up at him, her eyes hazel and wide. "If that's not what you want, I can't-"

"It is," she swears, fierce like the kiss she places on his lips. His back is pressed against the door and he uses the leverage to spin them, her hands knotting in his hair as he seals her spine to the metal door.

Her leg curls at his thigh, possessive, and he scrapes his teeth along her jaw, her throat, sliding down the lithe line of her body until he meets the barrier of her turtleneck.

She yanks him back to her, nails scratching at his coat as she sighs into his open mouth, angles her head to deepen the kiss he fits to her lips. He can feel the wild throb of her heart, the way it accelerates when his hands steal beneath her shirt, soak in the heat radiating from her flesh.

"Uh, Detective Beckett?"

Castle tears his mouth from hers, checks over his shoulder to see a guy in a S.W.A.T uniform and a clipboard looking awkwardly between them and the floor.

"We need your statements."

"Sorry, yeah, be right there," Castle gets out, breathing totally uneven.

The guy nods and hurries off as quick as he can.

Kate groans and buries her face in his throat. Castle huffs a laugh and knocks his forehead into her temple.

"Careful, Beckett," he murmurs into her hair, dusting his lips to the hinge of her jaw. "Everyone's going to know."

Her lips part over his jugular, tongue laving over his pulse, and he gasps.

"I don't care," she says, drawing back to look at him, eyes hazy and lips red. "I just need you to know."

"Know what exactly?" he tests, pushes, but she doesn't hesitate.

"I'm in this," she says evenly, but there's a tinge of sorrow in her eyes, a mournful expression on her lips as she stares up at him. "I know there's - I know you don't want to work together anymore, but please, can I just - can I have you?"

Shit. They so need to talk. A lot. But her lashes hide her eyes as they fall to his mouth and his resolve crumbles.

"Everything?" he breathes, cradling her jaw in his bad hand, ignoring the pulsating ache reverberating through the bones.

She's nodding, leaning in to brush a whisper of a kiss over his lips like a promise. "Just want you. Just want to love you."

He kisses her once, twice, and traces his thumb over her swollen bottom lip. It's all he needs, more than enough for now.

"Come home with me tonight."

Kate grins shyly, reaches up to cradle his throbbing knuckles in the bed of her palm. "Yeah, Castle. As soon as we're done here. Let's go check on the boys and I'll wrap your hand."

She bumps his hips with her own, nudges free of his grasp, but keeps his hand cradled between both of hers.

"And thank you," she adds as she pushes open the door, spills them out into a sea of red and blue lights. "For having my back in there."

He hooks his fingers through hers, their hands a tangled mess.

"Always."

The pain in his hand is so worth it. It's all so worth it for her.

#castle fanfiction #kate beckett #richard castle #castle #castle x beckett #castle au #3x13 #season 4 #prompt #anon #mine

[palestporn]

Gamzee: What those horns do tho

"So, uh, horns," you say, like a chill motherfucker who hasn't been throwing looks at this growly little motherfucker's head since you met him this morning.

"I've heard of them," he says, sass-mouthed little emperor with his tiny horns tossed like a challenge. Starts off toward the next block, and goes and takes the crown off his horns and peels his shirt off like it ain't no thing. You knew he was a solid little armful, but damn.

"Damn," you say, out loud, and he turns back to look at you like he's about to ask what's up and then sees you getting a full motherfucking ogle on and goes reddish at the ears and horns again.

"Yeah, yeah," he says, and waves off your looking at him. "So, horns?"

Oh shit, right. "Horns," you say back, and hurry on up to come after him. Are you supposed to take your shit off too? Way they trained it, if the emperor wants one of them touched he touches and if he wants their skin out he says so.

...Karkat turns away from you to fuck around with folding his shirt up, and shows you the whole length of his back, bared at you. You get kinda motherfucking stupid about it. Damn.

When you step up on him from behind him and put a hand real careful on the side of his neck, he goes tense and then eases slow--when you tilt back his head a little bit, he lets you.

"Out at the yellow, shit's about texture, I got told," you say, and just rest the blunt tip of a claw to the blunt tip of a horn. there's a little edge of ridge up and around; you can click the flat of a claw up along where it fades away, real light and slow. With his shirt off and his weight resting back on you, you can feel him shiver. "Gotta play nice if there's not a lot to get your grip on of, but you can rattle the fuck out of 'em if they're longer."

"Like yours," he says, intending at some shit. You had it shown at you how it feels to lock horns, not slamming against like a challenge but shifting around and clicking and catching together. Goes all down your posture column, like sparks. He's not got the horns, but you felt how strong his fronds are and he's sure the fuck got claws.

...Focus, motherfucker.

"Like mine, yeah," you say, and make distraction at yourself about how that might feel by sliding your grip on down and getting the heel of your frond right into the base of his horns.

You knew he'd like it, on account his ancestor's shit's been mapped and marked a hundred sweeps. But it still makes you feel like the emperor your own damn self, when he goes "Hhha, fuck," all shaky and sways back hard against you.

"Down at the red," you say, and press just like how you got taught, deep and slow, smoothing down his shaved-down hair along how it lays, not against it. "Gotta give some motherfucking pressure."

He says "Oh, fuck," again--and again, like it's about all he can think to say. Breathes slower, leans harder, grasps back and grips at you behind him. "Oh, shit."

"Gotta push harder than you figure," you say, for all your voice sounds cracked and not yours. "Head conciliatrix smacks the shit outta your knuckles if you go too light--feels like you're gonna hurt a motherfucker but if you get in there real good--"

You press again and he makes like to curse and only lets out a whine like pleading instead, crooning under it in his rattlebox. Bites it off embarrassed a second later, but holy shit. Fuck.

"--That shit'll undo knots all the way to the motherfucking ground if you do it right," you finish off, and for a beautiful miracle of a second you don't think about being pissed, or scared, or ghosts or emperors or any other bullshit. Just how he goes loose in your grip, barely keeping his feet. "Motherfucker, you sound so fucking good."

"I'll pay you back with interest," he croaks out, brave show but wavery. "In the evening. We need to sleep. Hha, shit. C'mon, 'coon."

"Tonight" again, huh? Lotta shit happening tonight. Who fucking knows how your life's gonna shake up by this time tomorrow morning.

You think you can just about motherfucking live with that.

[-END-]

[START OVER]

#CYOA: Imperial Favor #Thanks for playing everybody! #My last day of vacation is tomorrow I really worked this one down to the wire huh #I don't think I've ever done one this long you guys were vital and I'm so pleased QuQ #Your replies reblogs and votes are a gift #and I am incredibly lucky to have you :D #Followup if I posted this on AO3 it seems most logical to make each post a ''chapter'' but I hate to make a fic with like 18 chapters #of probably 1K words or less each #thoughts on most practical means of posting something in this format definitely welcome haha

[thetomorrowshow]

for a light

okay I PROMISE that comfort is coming I PROMISE

~

Scott stares Xornoth down from across the plateau, wind whipping the demon's hair and robes, black streaking out from him like some decaying flag.

They're alone, just the two of them, so far away (ndisu ndikitá'ána).

He's here.

It's time.

He sets the crown of antlers upon his head.

His fingers tighten on the thin grip of his sword.

-

Scott hisses as his finger bumps the pot, drops his hold and sticks the finger in his mouth. He was just trying to shift it to settle it better in the coals. Stupid cloth slipping.

Right. There's literally snow right there.

Scott removes his finger from his mouth, digs it into the snow beside him. The burn cools, eventually going numb.

That's one upside to living in a permanent winter. There's snow everywhere.

This little clearing in the woods that he took used to have a tent pitched in the center, grass and trees and wildflowers all around.

The tent is long gone, having collapsed under the weight of the snow and ice that collected upon it. Scott replaced it with an ice hut of sorts, which he thinks he created while asleep because he's not exactly sure how he did it. It's kind of ugly, but it has four walls and a roof and a little hole for a door, and it works.

The grass and plants aren't really visible anymore, the ground covered in a thick blanket of snow. Scott's not sure how, but someone had managed to get him a good pair of elven work boots, insulated and sturdy, so that he can tromp through the six or seven inches of snow without much issue. He's cold, this old, patched coat not quite enough to block out the chill, but the gloves keep his fingers from feeling too much like ice and the hand-knit hat prevents a majority of the headaches that his frozen ears cause. He's not too badly off, to be honest. There's just so much . . . cold.

And if he could get it to melt, that would be great.

He can make ice and snow appear just fine. There's plenty of snow, and he can point and ice spikes will shoot up out of the ground, and he can picture a cube of ice and watch as it forms in front of him, but that just means that now he has a little pile of ice cubes and a ludicrous amount of spikes the size of a tree. He can't get rid of anything.

And sure, he has a modicum of control. He can form ice cubes, and spikes, or whatever. But he can't turn off the way ice and snow just grows around him, or the freeze that blasts from him when he waves his arms.

He's been here for two weeks, figuring absolutely nothing out, and he doesn't have much hope for the future.

It feels like there's a wall in his head, a literal barrier keeping him from finding the way to draw back the ice. He's spent hours, days, even, pushing and shoving and just sitting against this wall, trying to force it to work.

It won't give. It's exhausting, day-in and day-out, to try again and again and again as the ice and snow just build up around him.

"Scott!"

Jimmy.

They haven't really . . . talked. Of course, Jimmy turns up every day without fail, bringing with him food and supplies. He always stands on the fringe of the clearing, shares news of the camp, of their latest excursion, of the fight they have planned.

Scott never really says much. He doesn't know how to respond, and Jimmy always leaves with his shoulders sagging the slightest bit.

What is he supposed to say?

I mourned you. I cried for you every day, because I knew I'd never see you again. I attended your funeral. I comforted your sister. I wore a depressing mimicry of what we once wore together, covering myself in the same darkness that took you. I lost you.

You didn't die, you survived, and I still lost you.

How is he supposed to tell Jimmy that what hurts more than anything about this situation is that he never tried to disabuse Scott of the notion that he was dead?

He thinks he still loves Jimmy. Their hearts were made for each other. They've been through too much together to just let go of everything they had.

But there were forty-two of the worst days of Scott's life, in which Scott believed his betrothed to be dead. He can't forget that. He can't pretend that Jimmy even attempted to contact him.

His mind always returns to that. Why didn't he? What reasons has he given, other than his ominous “it wasn't time yet”? Why?

And now they're here, in this horribly awkward phase where they haven't even discussed whether or not they're still an item (Scott's desperately in love with Jimmy but he isn't sure he can even stand to see him it hurts so much) or if that's even something they want to pursue right now (Scott wants so badly just to hold his hand but he can't let himself hurt Jimmy).

"Hey, Scott!"

Scott straightens (his wings shudder under the weight of the ice coating them, but none of it cracks), shakes the snow off his hands, and turns, stomach twisting.

Jimmy is standing there, a good ten feet away, leaning out from between the trees. 

It's just Jimmy. Hair still too long, beard still obstinately there, an anxious smile on his pockmarked face.

Doesn't he have anything better to do, rather than visit Scott every day?

Jimmy holds up a bundle of cloth.

"I brought some bread and . . . venison, I think? I forgot to ask what it was. Does that sound good?"

Scott tugs his scarf up a bit higher on his cheeks. "Sounds fine," he calls back, voice muffled by the fabric.

Jimmy tosses it; Scott catches the bundle, grimaces when it frosts over the moment it touches his hands.

"What are you cooking?" Jimmy asks, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Scott glances back at his little pot on the dying coals.

"Just porridge," he says. That's all Jimmy gave him yesterday, after all. The grain for whatever chunky porridge it is that they eat at the camp all the time.

"That's . . . that's cool," says Jimmy. Dear Aeor, he looks so unbearably awkward. What does he want?

Thankfully, Jimmy gets straight to the point, no more hobbling around small talk.

"We're going on a mission," he says, the words coming out in puffs of frozen air. "There's a village about a day's walk from here, the largest we've gone for yet. They're going to be a huge asset to our rebellion."

Scott nods a couple of times. "Okay. How long until you're back?"

Jimmy chews on his lip—the way he always does when he's anxious, or isn't sure how to approach a problem. "That's . . . well, I wanted to see if you would come, actually."

It takes Scott a few seconds to process that, but when he does, he almost laughs out loud.

He's out of his mind if he thinks Scott will risk something like that. He can't control this! He's had to separate himself from the rest of the camp because there's a ten foot radius of winter wonderland that appears around him!

He has to be joking.

"You have to be joking," Scott says.

Jimmy shrugs. "I talked about it with the others that are coming on the mission, and they're all fine with it. If it makes you feel better—"

"No, I'm dangerous—"

"—we can walk apart from you, and—"

"—you don't understand, I hurt Gem, I'll—"

"—was just thinking that it can't be good for you to—"

"Jimmy, I said no!"

And childishly, to emphasize his point, Scott stamps his foot.

Ice crackles along the ground like a whip, shooting up in little spikes, a ten-inch wall down the middle of his little clearing.

It stops just short of Jimmy, the last little spike rising just inches from his boots, and Scott almost wants to go and shove him out of the way because Jimmy doesn't even move!

Doesn't he have any sense of self-preservation?

Jimmy doesn't seem scared when he looks up at Scott. He just seems sad.

"That's why I can't," Scott bites out, wrapping his arms around himself. His scarf is slipping, nose exposed to the cold. "I'm not safe. I don't want to hurt someone."

"Okay. Can I explain myself, though?"

Before Scott can give an answer, Jimmy takes a small step forward, boot crunching on snow.

Scott takes a step back.

"We know how to keep ourselves safe," he says. "Most of the people here escaped terrible conditions where one wrong move could kill them. They know how to recognize threats and keep a safe distance. It wouldn't even be an issue to travel with you."

Scott wants to argue, but Jimmy takes another step. Scott quickly steps back, swallowing down the fear that rises in his throat, burning like bile.

"We would travel kind of separately, and it wouldn't even be a long journey. Two days at most, I think. So the main group would stick together, and you would stay within sight off to the side. We usually move quietly, so you wouldn't miss out on conversation or anything."

Okay, that's probably what Scott would do if they were forced to travel. He's pretty sure that he can cause ice issues outside of the ten foot radius, if he tries, but it doesn't automatically happen. Travel plans like that might actually work.

Which doesn't mean they're good. They aren't. They just might work.

"This village has a lot of soldiers, from what we can tell. Way more than there ought to be. They're beginning to figure out our game. We usually wouldn't go for someplace so risky, but there's so many people there. If we freed them, we could easily add two hundred to our able fighters."

Is Jimmy stupid?

"It's a trap," Scott says, pointing out what seems obvious. "Why would they have so many Mythlanders there if not to wait for you?"

Jimmy scoffs. "We know it's a trap," he says. "That's why we want you. We want to avoid fights if possible—and if you were there, we would have a really decent chance of getting in and out without losing anyone."

"You're forgetting that I can't really control this," Scott says icily, and as if to match his tone, it spontaneously begins to snow. "I'm just as likely to hurt one of you."

"We just need you to make it as cold as possible. The Cod will survive—we're pretty good with cold temperatures. But humans are a bit more sensitive to that kind of thing. So we thought—if you could freeze over the village, then all the guards would go inside and we could sneak everyone out!"

That. . . .

That is a monumentally idiotic plan.

Scott blinks several times, just to make sure it really is Jimmy in front of him and not some hallucination induced by so much time alone.

"Or we could not do that," he says. "Just a suggestion."

Jimmy laughs a little. "I kind of figured you'd say that," he says. "But it's worth a shot, right? And if it doesn't work, we can go back to camp and figure out something else. No harm done, right?"

"Other than the possible harm that my very presence could cause," Scott says. "Do you really think that staying ten feet away while traveling would work? Just because that's my snowglobe radius doesn't mean anyone is safe outside of it."

He re-crosses his arms, waits for Jimmy to meet his eyes.

Jimmy's quiet for a long time, looking around at the unintentional ice spikes and piles of snow. Long enough that Scott turns away, tosses the sack from Jimmy into his ice hut.

That's that, then. He and Jimmy aren't going to talk about any of their real issues. Jimmy's so focused on this inconsequential rebellion of his that he won't even think about the fact that Xornoth may be controlling the world by now. Gem might be dead—literally any of them could be dead, Lizzie or Shubble or Joel all could have fallen—and Xornoth has control of half of the empires or all of them. And the only way to stop him didn't work.

Yet all Jimmy will even give thought to is his stupid little rebellion.

"I know it's hard," Jimmy says, voice awkwardly too-loud, rousing Scott from his thoughts. "It's really, really hard. I know that you don't trust yourself, and that you're hurting, and there's so much tangled up between us that I don't really understand but I know isn't making any of this easier for you. But I know you want to get better. I know you, Scott. And I know you will do everything in your power to keep those people safe."

Scott doesn't say anything, blinks back the sudden tears. He doesn't need this. He doesn't need Jimmy telling him what he feels.

Even if he's right.

He would do everything to keep the others safe.

He just can't guarantee that it would work.

"I trust you," Jimmy says firmly. "We trust you. I wouldn't have even brought it up if I hadn't cleared it with everyone else. And if it doesn't work, I'll never ask you to do it again. But please, Scott. If not for the people suffering, do it for me."

He doesn't owe Jimmy anything.

As a ruler, he pledged to defend his people, and he failed. What about when he fails again? Will he even be able to live with himself?

Will he be able to live with himself if he doesn't try?

In the grand scheme of things, a rebel attack to evacuate citizens of a small town in the Codlands is absolutely nothing. It will likely not contribute at all to the ending of the war.

But it's somewhere to start. Jimmy's always talking about how if they're still alive after everything, they ought to be doing something good with it. If he wants to eventually try to launch some sort of hopeless attack on Xornoth, he has to start somewhere. He has to figure this ice stuff out.

"Okay," he says eventually, reluctantly. "I don't . . . I don't want to. I don't think it will go well."

"If you can't trust yourself, you can trust me," offers Jimmy, and Scott grimaces at the hope in his voice.

He doesn't respond. 

He wants to trust Jimmy. He wishes nothing had ever broken the trust that was there.

He isn't sure what did break it. He can't exactly blame Jimmy for not dying.

"I'll come get you tomorrow around midmorning, okay? We're hoping to arrive when it's dark the next day, then just have you freeze it overnight and get the Cod out before sunrise. Sound good?"

Scott shrugs. "It's your plan," he says. "Does it sound good to you?"

Jimmy doesn't respond, glancing over his shoulder. "I need to go finish prepping," he says when he turns back. "Take care. I . . . I'll see you tomorrow."

Scott doesn't move (frozen to the spot, he thinks idly), just watches Jimmy go, picking his way back between the trees.

What has he agreed to?

-

The journey goes exactly as Jimmy had laid out. Jimmy travels in a band of thirty-two people (Scott counts them during one of their fifteen minute rests), all able young Cod, some with cobbled-together armor or swords, others with nothing but the clothes on their back and improvised weapons. Scott sees two hand-made slings, one little hunting bow, and a couple of large branches shaped into clubs. All from afar, of course.

Scott walks a good thirty or forty feet away from the group, shying away whenever someone accidentally veers a little close. They always hurry back to the others, shivering and rubbing their arms.

Jimmy, of course, comes close on purpose. He keeps trailing along on the edges of the group, giving Scott terribly hopeful glances.

Scott just keeps his eyes on the snowy ground before him and wishes he could figure out how to talk to him.

Does he even want to talk to him?

Of course he does. Of course he wants to talk to his . . . to Jimmy.

He just can't. He can't risk hurting him. He can't risk getting hurt.

And soon enough, they've arrived at the town.

Scott has somehow managed to avoid hurting anyone, though one Cod only narrowly avoids getting stabbed by a flying ice spike when Scott gets startled by a bee.

He isn't sure how powerful he is, just that he's managed to tie it down and lash it to himself. But Scott, more often than not, feels like there's a thin door being battered and blown by a terrible snowstorm, ice seeping in through the cracks, and soon enough he'll have to try to open the door just a little bit. He can only imagine it blasting it open and sending bursts of unstoppable power out, forever unable to be closed.

Jimmy approaches him as Scott finishes up eating a cold supper, and even though it's dark Scott knows it's Jimmy because he knows Jimmy, he knows his habits and his tendencies and just weeks ago that had been painful, precious knowledge and now it means nothing significant.

"We're about ready," Jimmy says, not looking at Scott. He's looking out over the ridge that they're hidden behind, toward the town below. Scott wants to shake him, scream at him, drag him down to the ground. Doesn't he know he'll be seen? That his outline against the darkening sky will be obstinately visible?

"I'll take you down there in about a half hour. Then you just need to drop the temperatures to about freezing, all right? We'll do everything from there."

Scott doesn't answer. He doesn't have anything to say.

You left me you died to me I lost you and you were here. You were here this whole time and I've been hurting, and I'm still hurting and you just don't care. Why didn't you comfort me? Why aren't you helping me? Why won't you listen to everything I can't say?

Jimmy doesn't say anything, either, despite Scott's silent cries. He just stands there awkwardly, then gives Scott a nod and jogs back over to the main group.

Scott flexes his fingers in their gloves, blows on his hands, relishes the momentary warmth that brings him. He's always so cold these days. For good reason, of course—and despite all that, elves naturally run colder than humans, with the climate of their dwelling—, but he doesn't have to like it.

How is he meant to freeze an entire town without accidentally doing more damage than intended?

At this point, Scott has absolutely zero doubt that he'll be able to freeze the town. Piece of cake. The problem is drawing back the power after it's been extended.

It doesn't help that he doesn't know what he's doing. It doesn't help that all he's done for the past two weeks is try to not explode. He hasn't actually learned anything about control, or using the magic to his advantage.

And now he has to save a town. Use this untamable magic in moderation.

He's going to fail so badly.

And yet, when Jimmy returns not long later, Scott readjusts the little knapsack that hangs off his shoulder and sets off around the ridge, following Jimmy from a safe distance.

They skirt around their little camp on the side of the ridge, giving the refugees a wide berth so as to avoid getting any of them mixed up in Scott's personal snowstorm. That wouldn't help anything about this situation.

The ice hasn't been unfreezing behind him, either. That's been kind of concerning. He'd assumed, back in his little patch of the forest, that the ice hadn't gone away because he hadn't gone away. But now there's just a path of frost and snow through the long grasses of the outer Codlands, a trail leading directly to the rebel camp.

Scott really hopes it melts with time. It wouldn't be good to have one of fWhip's flying fish spies follow it and discover the camp.

He gets pulled from his thoughts by necessity as they approach the town, Jimmy making sure to keep them to the shadows, out of range of the torchlight from the perimeter guards. They crouch down behind some bushes (Jimmy beckons Scott closer, miming something about talking, and Scott reluctantly settles down close enough beside him—about five feet away, the closest to anyone he's been in weeks), peering between the brambles. Sure enough, there's more guards than a small border town ought to have—Scott counts at least four that patrol by the edge of town in the five minutes that they sit there and watch.

"We need to give my people a few more minutes, probably," Jimmy whispers, glancing up at the sky. The moon hasn't risen yet, so Scott's really not sure what he's checking. "But if you want to start the freeze, you can."

Right. Freezing an entire town.

Scott reaches inside himself for . . . for something. He isn't sure what. It's not like there's anything in there. Just his aching heart.

He legitimately feels fatigued from holding back the magic the best he can, but he doesn't know how to let go. He doesn't have any sort of point of reference for this. What is he supposed to do?

After several long minutes of indecision, of pulling at different parts of his mind to see if something just releases the switch, Scott gives up on figuring it out and just pushes.

He's not sure if the dam is broken, but a little flurry of snowflakes shoots out of his hands and he imagines the town, water in barrels and canals slowly freezing over, the temperatures dropping, the night air becoming frigid and biting.

Why does it have to be him?

"Nice," Jimmy whispers beside him. Scott blinks, looks up.

It's snowing. All across the town is snowing.

He didn't mean to make it snow. He only wanted to make it cold.

And it is cold. His fingers through their gloves are aching, the exposed skin on his face burns as a gust of freezing wind blows past.

"Was that too much?" he whispers, twisting his hands together. "I didn't mean for—"

Jimmy breathes out a near-silent laugh, gives him a grin. "I knew you could do it. I knew it!"

He made Jimmy happy.

Despite all the confusing hurt keeping them apart, that still makes Scott's heart squeeze in the best way possible.

The guards glance around at the fat flakes of snow, clearly confused. There's some shouting person to person, and within torchlight on the edge of town, a cluster of guards gather, rubbing their hands together and stamping their feet and pointing back to the center of town as they talk.

There's no way this will work. If his guards at Rivendell left their posts because it got a little cold, they would be in severe trouble with their captain.

But as Scott watches, one by one, the guards begin to trail away, heading toward what Scott assumes to be the inn.

There's no way. There's no way this is actually working. This can't be real.

Jimmy takes in a near-silent breath, lets it out in a low, loud, whoop/whistle. It sounds strikingly like the call of an owl that Scott has heard occasionally in these parts, late at night.

When did Jimmy learn bird calls?

It's a small thing. It's not even anything that matters. It's tiny and unimportant and Scott really shouldn't be close to tears right now.

It's like he doesn't even know Jimmy. He doesn't want to be upset, but he can't seem to stop it.

Jimmy still loves him and wants him; Jimmy wants them to be in love again.

How is it so hard?

Every guard has gone inside now, the town quiet.

The snow continues to fall, slow, drifting gently onto a peaceful street, becoming a picturesque winter scene.

Yet staring at it doesn't bring Scott peace. He only grows more and more anxious, eyes scanning from point to point, as though he might miss the operation entirely if he only watches the snow.

And after five or so minutes of waiting, Scott sees, past the falling snow, camouflaged people stealing through the streets, peering in windows, tapping lightly on doors.

The Cod residents are quick and quiet to answer, which is absolutely absurd.

It's actually working.

The other day, this was the most ridiculous plan Scott had ever heard. He never would have believed that any part of it would actually come to any sort of fruition.

And here they are.

He continues to watch as entire families sneak out of houses, glancing left and right before stepping out into the street, some bundled up in layers of clothing and others with nothing but a thin tunic protecting them from the weather.

The rebels move in phases, ushering out first this side street, then that one, making sure each sector of the town doesn't leave without instruction.

Scott watches, and something within him marvels.

This is the work. This had seemed so inconsequential to him just days ago—there are much larger things to worry about, after all—but now he can see how this had become Jimmy's whole world.

There's so many of them. They're moving house-by-house, sending one group before beckoning the next, but the streets are still close to packed.

There's a woman, hands covering her mouth as tears stream down her face, following a group into an alley. A shirtless man, carrying two children at once, his shirt draped over the both of them. A child—a tiny slip of a girl, surely not older than eight, clinging to her parent's leg, the torchlight from the abandoned guard posts illuminating her face just enough that Scott can see a hand-shaped bruise spanning her cheek.

The people are malnourished, injured, terrified. They’ve been desperately praying that someone will rescue them, someone will come along and deliver them from this darkness.

And here Jimmy is, a shining light, their once-dead king returned to save them specifically, as unimportant as they feel they are.

It makes sense. Jimmy's forces aren't strong enough to take on Xornoth, so why should he even focus on something so unattainable?

This, while not easy, is doable, and something that both strengthens his numbers and helps his people.

Scott gets it. It's about hope. It's about remembering the lost. It's about finding strength and life in this world of corruption.

"Scott," Jimmy whispers, pulling him from his realization.

Scott blinks, looks over at him. Jimmy's teeth are chattering, his nose pink, his lips pale of color. His arms are clutched around himself, doing nothing to hide the way his entire body trembles.

"You can reel it back in, a bit," Jimmy says, clearly going for humor, but the words fall flat when his lips can't even twitch up in some semblance of a smile.

Oh.

Scott looks back to the town, and now, he doesn't just see the wonder of it all. He sees how slowly everyone is moving, the way the rebels look up fearfully at the quickening snow, the way none of them are wearing any proper winter gear.

It's cold out. It's very, very cold out. It's definitely far below freezing, icicles already hanging from buildings, a thick layer of snow blanketing the ground.

It's too cold. He sees, all at once, three children collapse, and their caretakers pick them up but can barely keep going.

It's too much. It's too cold, so cold that a man stumbles and falls, and those around him are too cold to stop and help.

"Scott, make it stop," Jimmy whispers with increasing urgency. "It's too cold. Scott, stop."

He can't stop.

The door has been opened, and Scott doesn't know how to close it.

He can't make it warm up, he can't even stop it from getting colder. The night sky is growing steadily darker as more clouds roll in, the snow falling harder and faster—there's actual ice spreading, visibly spreading, crawling out from the bushes where he and Jimmy are crouched, heading toward the town and Scott can't stop it—

"Scott—"

"I can't stop it," breathes Scott, and it's nothing but the truth. He can't just turn it off, that isn't something he knows how to do—he doesn't know how to do anything, this is a curse and he hates it and nothing will ever be right again!

"I can't stop it," he says again, louder, voice shaking. "I can't—I can't do it, I told you I can't, I don't know how—"

"Just try," Jimmy says over him, hands held up. "I know you can do it, I trust you—"

"Just—just stop!" Scott bursts out, finally, all those terrible emotions rising to his tongue. "You keep saying—you keep—you were dead, you left me and you don't get to—you can't tell me what I can and can't do, I don't—"

"Scott," Jimmy says, something horribly placating in his voice, and it sounds just like the old Jimmy, just like the one who died—

Scott stumbles up, backing away from Jimmy. He can't—he doesn't want—this is all too much, too much, he's ruined everything and it's too much—

Jimmy stands as well, taking a couple of steps toward him. "Scott, I'm going to touch you, okay?"

"No!" Scott bites out. The wind is whistling in his ears, he can barely hear Jimmy over it—he can barely see Jimmy through the snow, there's so much of it, and Scott can't make it stop! He can't fix this! "Don't touch me, I don't—I don't even know you, I'll hurt you!"

"Scott—"

"Get—away—" Jimmy's just coming closer, one step at a time, and Scott doesn't want him, that's not his Jimmy, he doesn't want to hurt him—

The storm is rapidly getting worse, the snow beating down on his face with little pellets of ice, he had never meant to make it snow let alone storm, he's cursed, he's forever cursed, there's no way he can make things right, there's no way anything will ever be right again—!

And then there are arms around him.

Jimmy squeezes him tightly, good pressure and tightly enough that his brain is forced to settle into a more peaceful state, despite his surroundings.

His lover is warm against him, and Scott instinctively buries his face in the crook of Jimmy's shoulder where it belongs and perfectly fits.

Something inside doesn't really click into place. It doesn't quite work. It's close, but it's just not where it needs to be.

But it does slide together nicely, and Scott somehow finds a slippery grasp on the cold and tugs it back in.

He hadn't even been able to have this before. He hadn't even been able to feel a way to control it, let alone actually take hold.

But there's some kind of power positively radiating from Jimmy, something that Scott can feel and recognize in this entirely new world of magic that he never even knew existed.

It's got to be Jimmy's love.

Jimmy loves him so so much that it overpowers the curse.

And Scott, for the first time in weeks, feels warm.

He feels warm. Jimmy's here, his arms wrapped around Scott, and he feels warm.

A sob rises in his chest.

This is his Jimmy.

His Jimmy is holding him, and loves him, and is so very warm.

"There we go," Jimmy whispers into his hair, voice slightly muffled. "Not too much, now.  We still need a little bit of snow coming down."

Right.

Scott doesn't think he has the emotional capacity to pay attention to anything but Jimmy, but he loosens his grip on the ice just a little, enough that the snow doesn't stop.

The sob bursts out of his mouth, and Scott clutches Jimmy as close to him as possible.

His Jimmy is here. He's actually here.

And Scott can feel his fingers again, warmth washing over every part of his body.

They don't move for a long time. Jimmy watches the exodus over his shoulder as Scott cries into his chest, letting all of the emotions that he's been feeling for the past two months pour out onto Jimmy's coat.

They stand there, and Scott sobs.

After too long, long enough that the tears on Scott's face become more sticky than wet (they aren't freezing on his cheeks, like they've been doing, and isn't that just a miracle), Jimmy pulls away.

Scott feels his tenuous control slip from his grasp—too cold again, too cold—and he launches himself back into Jimmy's arms.

"Don't go," he chokes out.

"Okay."

"Please . . . I can't—I can't do this without you."

"Okay."

Scott takes in a shuddering breath. He's stronger than this. He can do this.

"Do you think you can stop the snow?"

Scott nods, his nose wiping across Jimmy's coat. Then, with a mustering of what little strength he has, he shuts that imaginary door.

It almost doesn't shut. Scott strains against it in his mind, inch by inch, but eventually it clicks shut.

He can't lock it. But holding to Jimmy keeps it shut, and Scott doesn't plan on letting go.

Jimmy's right here.

Jimmy is real.

He's alive.

"You died," Scott sniffles, tears burning at the corners of his eyes. "You died!"

"I know," Jimmy murmurs, sounding absolutely heartbroken. "I know. I'm here."

"You weren't there, though. You—you left me! I was so—so alone!"

"I know," Jimmy says again. "I'm so sorry, Scott. I'm so sorry."

Jimmy's crying too, Scott realizes. They're in snow up to their knees, in full view of the town, and they're both just standing here crying.

Scott. . . .

Scott doesn't really care.

His heart, broken by the weight of the grief hanging so heavily on it, is finally beginning to heal.

That's more important than anything else around.

-

Scott doesn't let go of Jimmy's hand the entire trip back.

They walk back to the camp, bringing up the rear of a long crowd of refugees. Scott's trail of frost is barely-there, and he never feels like he's a danger to anyone while Jimmy is at his side.

They arrive back at the camp almost three days later, the group slower-moving with the addition of a good three hundred people. The camp is thrown into chaos, more than doubled in size, and Jimmy's pulled every which way by every person possible as they try to make arrangements and adjustments on such a large scale.

Scott stays with him through it all. He presses himself into Jimmy's side during a hurried meeting about leadership for splitting into several camps; he clings to him while Jimmy directs new refugees to food; he holds his hand through long hours of pointing people this way and that.

Jimmy doesn't end up being forced to bed until past midnight, a young Cod practically pushing him and Scott to his tent. Jimmy goes reluctantly, walk stumbling and eyes bloodshot. Scott can't imagine that he looks any better—he can feel how oily his hair is, limp after being literally frozen for so long, his wings unkempt and dragging. He can barely stay upright, and relief floods him when they finally reach Jimmy's tent.

Jimmy collapses onto his bedroll without even taking off his boots or unbuckling the enchanted sword on his back, and Scott is just able to manage loosening the laces of his own boots and kicking them off before he falls down beside him.

"There's still so much to do," mumbles Jimmy, and instinctively, they wrap around each other, knees slotting perfectly and arms weaving just right.

It's like nothing changed.

It's like everything is right again.

"I missed you," Scott whispers, though his throat threatens to choke on the words.

He lost Jimmy. Forty-two days of mourning, of the worst torture he's ever been subjected to.

He lost him, and it still hurts. Everything still feels so terribly hopeless, so dark, and Jimmy forsook him for so long.

But he's back. He's here, and alive, and through his thin tunic under the hilt of the sword Scott can feel a new scar just below the nape of his neck (Jimmy shudders as his fingers trace it, but doesn't pull away) but he's alive and in Scott's arms.

He died. Jimmy died, and it must have been terribly traumatic for him in ways that Scott hasn't even considered.

But by some miracle, he's here. He's okay.

He is, isn't he?

"Are you all right?" Scott asks quietly, seized by the need to know that his love is well. He doesn't know the specifics, not really—but Jimmy said he'd been stabbed several times, and that can't have been easy to recover from—and Scott had made it awfully cold earlier, and he knows that some of the refugees suffered because of it, and Jimmy only had that thin coat on.

Jimmy doesn't respond, though, breathing slow and even, and Scott eventually relaxes, assuming that he's asleep. He can get his answer tomorrow, after all. He can fuss over him all he wants.

Scott honestly can't believe that he let himself drift so far from Jimmy. He let his feelings of abandonment and despair and everything else get in the way of being here, holding his beloved, giving him comfort and receiving it in bucketloads.

He was so wrapped up in losing Jimmy the first time, he almost lost him again.

Then Jimmy shifts in his arms, sighs a little bit. "I'm okay," he finally replies. "That's what you asked, right?"

Scott nods against his shoulder, and Jimmy lets out a low chuckle. "My good ear is pressed to the pillow, sorry," he says by way of explanation. "Couldn't quite hear you. Are you okay?"

Is he okay?

He's not physically injured. And he's not quite so cold—with Jimmy's love warming him, he can keep a lid on the ice magic, stopping it from spreading beyond his fingertips.

Everything about this situation still hurts. Everything's still so terrible, and there's no way to overcome it.

But Jimmy's here now, and he loves Scott.

And Scott loves him.

"I'm all right," he says eventually, before burying his face deeper into Jimmy's shoulder.

And he thinks, for the moment, that it's true.

-

Scott dreams that night.

He dreams of a plateau, ice, wind whipping dark robes every which way.

He dreams of his hand tightening around a sword hilt.

He dreams of a crown upon his head.

Inka kuuna ndikitá'ána.

-

It's just barely past dawn, and a young girl with mousy brown hair and scales smattered across her face like freckles is wandering down to the river to collect water.

It's a bit of a long walk, but Lithi doesn't mind—it's preferable to the walk back, when the empty waterskin strapped to her back will be filled with water.

She's a girl forced to grow up too fast, barely in her teens, yet made to take up her mother's armor and flee into exile.

But she doesn't cry. Lithi never cries, and it's a point of pride for her. Her peers seem to be constantly crying, after all. She isn't going to let herself be perceived as a weak little girl. Not after everything her people have been through.

The ground beneath her bare feet becomes squishy, pockmarked with little puddles of water, and she veers right. Her course has taken her too near the slow, swampy portion of the river, and while she longs to go splash about in the swamp, she knows that the water there isn't clear enough to use back at camp. Not to mention, the Codfather wants them to avoid the swamps, for some reason.

She misses the marshes of home. They all do—Cod aren't made to spend all their lives on land.

She knows the swamp misses them, too.

And that reminds her of the folk song that her mother taught her, and her mother's parents taught her, and their parents taught them.

So, while the girl walks, she sings.

The sun is brighting,

Children, come home!

The grass is sighing,

Children, come home!

Where the water's dark and deep

There her children will find sleep

The marsh is calling,

Children, come home!

The frogs are croaking,

Children, come home!

The critters woken,

Children, come home!

Where the water's dark and deep

There her children will find sleep

The marsh is calling,

Children, come home!

The birds are singing,

Children, come home!

The trees are ringing

Children, come home!

Where the water's dark and deep

There her children will find sleep

The marsh is calling,

Children, come home!

The fries are playing,

Children, come home!

The wind is saying,

Children, come home!

Where the water's dark and deep

There her children will find sleep

The marsh is calling,

Children, come home!

The marsh is calling,

Children, come home!

The night is falling,

Children, come home!

Where the water's dark and deep

There her children will find sleep

The marsh is crying,

Children, come home!

She reaches the riverbank as the song comes to a close, singing the last line over and over again, in a myriad of styles and keys.

She shrugs the waterskin off her shoulders, clumsily dips it into the water. The riverbank is uncomfortably dry and sandy between her toes, which long for the mud of home.

Why can't they go to the swamp? Not that she would ever rebel against their Codfather, but she just wants to feel at peace again.

The waterskin isn't totally full, but she draws it up out of the water and ties it closed, arms shaking, straining to hold it up. And now she has to make the long walk back to camp with this heavy load, the leather straps cutting into her shoulder blades with every step.

So maybe she dawdles by the river. Maybe she dips her fingers into the water, swishes it around.

It's that distraction, perhaps, that changes everything.

Because had Lithi not lingered, she wouldn't have seen the glimpse of bright green caught under a rock in the water. She wouldn't have levied up the rock, pulled loose the thing. She wouldn't have held up the sodden leather bag, beautifully embroidered with a bright green cod and a sky blue stag.

And most importantly of all, she wouldn't have opened the bag to find a thin, Oceanic book, nor caught a glimpse of gold shimmering in the silty mud beneath where the bag had lain.

#esmp #empires smp #empires s1 #flower husbands #scott smajor #jimmy solidarity #trust au #krcu #mas writes #040324 #hiatus posting 😙✌️ #shout out to oasis frfr #man what if i pretended to return from hiatus for april fools #i did not do that but missed opportunity #um enjoy some communication issues!! #and i promise #listen to me #i promise that there is comfort #please enjoy #love you guys #(hey guys!! oasis here :)) idk if I believe them. hope you enjoyed though lol!! <3)

[awilddaydreamer]

Fuck, I'm actually crying. Phil, Wilbur, and Tommy are all together (because Tommy came to Wilbur's place) telling Tallulah and Chayanne about the SBI MCC4 :(((

(long audio transcription under the cut)

Wilbur: Ok, let's tell the story!

Phil: Alright, they're just over here, they'll hop on the bed, and then when we're- when we're done we just leave and they place their beds down.

[Phil and Tommy chuckle in endearment]

Wilbur: Aww

Phil: It's cute right?

Wilbur: That is cute as hell Tommy, overlapping: Hi Tallulah!

Wilbur: M'kay. So, a long time ago, in the distant land of the year 2020

Phil: I'm gonna turn you up

Wilbur: [loud] THERE WAS A MINECRAFT TEAM

Phil: NEVERMIND! Ouh. [laughs]

Wilbur: It was built for the Minecraft Championship, which is th- the biggest.. thing that has ever happened. Speci- Phil: It's like the Olympics Wilbur: Mm. Specifically number four, all the others pale in comparison. Phil: Yep Wilbur: None were as good as number four. Phil: Yep

Wilbur: And um... basically there were these four people chosen, and they were: the great- the great elder. The wisest of the miners. [Phil wheeze-laughs] The longest survivor of all time, Philza Minecraft. Phil, whispering: That's me! Wilbur: There was... the PVP legend. A master of his domain. a destroyer of men, women, and their now orphaned children. Phil: PFFT Wilbur: He was very very good at it. His name, was Technoblade. [Phil chuckles]

Wilbur: There was also the scrappy young upstart, the- the y'know the prodigy s- the prodigal son who was going to take on the crown and soon take on after his- his predecessors. Tommyinnit. And there was Wilbur. [pause]... and together, they-

[Wilbur and Phil laugh]

Wilbur: Together they formed MCC4 Purple Pandas. Phil: Yeee Wilbur: Now, they were the dead-set favorites to win, and there was gonna be a crazy upset.

[Wilbur chuckles and Phil laughs]

Wilbur: Everyone- everyone thought Purple Pandas was gonna win, and would you believe it... [pause as they both chuckle under their breath] after a long-fought battle... they won. They won, despite Wilbur d- building something wrong in Sky Battle and falling to his death in the void. Um, and- Phil: So- some would say that was an advanced tactic called Ghosting so he could find out information about the other teams and help us. Wilbur: Mhm. We'll never know. We'll never know

[Phil laughs]

Wilbur: What happened in Rocket Spleef?

Phil: Rocket Spleef, it was Tommy saying- Wilbur: Oh, uh, To- Tommy committed woman murder. Phil: Yep.

Tommy: But Tallulah trust me it- it went hard

[Wilbur and Phil chuckle]

Phil: Tallulah, it was poggers and not permanent, so don't worry. [laughs]

Wilbur: He was feeling good afterwards you could say Phil: He was feeling good

Tommy: Tell them about the dynamic duo- Phil, overlapping: Tallulah has words Tommy: -that was me and Techno.

Wilbur: Oh in- in- in Battle Box Tommy: [unintelligable] -To Get To The Other Side

Wilbur: [reading Tallulah's sign] Tallulah doesn't support that Mr Tommy.

Tommy: Honestly Tallulah it was a dark time for- [Wilbur laughs] Tommy: And I don't- I don't say that kind of thing anymore. You're all safe in my- in my presence. [Wilbur and Phil laugh]

Wilbur: And, yes, there was the dynamic duo in Battle Box and Tommy and Techno, who scored crazy good points- and Techno won Ace Race! Techno kinda was the reason we won that MCC we did fuck all, it was mostly Techno [laughs]. Phil: Pretty much. We got- [stammering] we got carried pretty hard. [chuckles]

Wilbur: But then we won. We won, and it's one I look back very fondly on, there was- there was at- there was at one point a time when I- I- I couldn't bring myself to watch MCC4 because I just got so annoyed at Tommy over and over during the vod. [Phil laughs] Wilbur: But since- since watching it again recently it's actually pretty based, and it's a pretty good vod.

Phil: It's really funny, there was o- there was one moment, Chayanne, where Tommy was like "Yeah I've got this block," and I was like "place it," and he was like "I don't have the block, Phil," and then I just proceeded to berate him and argue with him for like about three minutes until the next round started Tommy: It was a real learning curve in our father-son relationship. Wilbur: Mhm. [Phil wheeze-laughs]

Wilbur: Anyway, get some rest you two. And- and Tallulah when you wake up there will be a brand new home for you, a completely safe new house!

[Tallulah begins playing her flute as Phil begins talking] Phil: It's gonna look- it's gonna look so good. Aww thank you for the song Tallulah. Tommy: Awhahawww! Whaat?! Wilbur: She's just like- just like her old man. Tommy: You're incredible, Tallulah!

[Wilbur and Phil laugh]

#qsmp #qsmp clip #sbi #do I call this a 4/4 SBI moment? Because they're all talking about Techno? #I love themm #audio transcription #day rambles.qsmp

[arandomdai]

A Random Thought 🤔💭

THIS IS JUST AN OPINION. I JUST SAY WHAT'S ON MY MIND ABOUT THE BOOK AND SHOWCASE SOME IDEAS THAT I HAVE.

P.S.: You can ask me anything 😊

Let me start of by saying...

I don't like how Zeus is the only one who is blamed for why the marriage is basically over, when Hera is (dare I say) equally at fault. This book continues to gaslight the audience about who should be held accountable and who deserves all the hate. Let's be clear on one thing, Zeus has abused his power, is a cheater, does lie, etc. but where is all the smoke for the other characters that has done the same or similar. But let's refresh everybody's memory why he started treating women disrespectfully...

⚠️WARNING: WHAT YOUR ABOUT TO READ OR SEE CAN BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME AUDIENCES!!!⚠️

•Metis: The Start Of His Addiction

So let's hypothetically say that the brothers are 3 years apart from age

Hades was 19

Poseidon was 15/16

Zeus WAS PROBABLY 13 OR 14 WHEN THIS HAPPENED TOO

I think he was not just mentally scarred from the war and seeing his mother (who he didn't know about until later)going into hibernation, but also scarred that he learned about "hit and quit it" at a very young vulnerable age. Not only that he probably learned "until everything cools down" from her too. Atp, I'm going to need this book banned or something because it just doesn't make sense to me how this book is supposed to support all victims, until it's Zeus. Zeus is a victim. No matter how many times people and RS tries to make him this evil guy. But like I said before, he has done so many wrongs, which he is trying to right. But I find it interesting that Metis is not called out for having sex with a minor. Zeus and Hera are around the same age which means back then they weren't able to consent. And yet Hera is the only victim smh. Zeus is now a sex addict and doesn't know where to start. WHEN YOU SAY YOU FEEL SORRY FOR ALL VICTIMS, MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE MEN THAT ARE TOO. DON'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHO TO FEEL SORRY FOR. I hate that this book gaslights people into thinking that everything is okay when it's being pro patriarchy.

• The Marriage: Both Sides Are At Fault

We all know Zeus is very unfaithful, but he shows so much of his guilt his own way. But (I ask again) where's all this smoke for Hera and Hades. Hera is married and has been seeing her Blu brother-in-law behind his back for centuries. Yet, I don't see any ounce of guilt from her or Hades. Hera is a victim don't get me wrong, but so is Zeus. TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT. And for blue gru to judge Zeus for everything while you were sleeping with his wife is vile. The fact Hera or Hades never asked him why he continues cheating or be honest with him about their affair is right down dirty. Oh but it doesn't stop there...

Look at these pictures...

See how Zeus tries his best to care for Hera and even admits that he thinks he was the worst thing that ever happened to her. While Hera just says "You made it hard for me, but I love you. Bye". She says she loves him, but I don't think she does. I think there was a time that she did love him, but I think they got bored of each other (from Zeus's perspective). I feel like Hera wanted the crown (power) more than the King. She treats being a queen like it's a trophy. So she basically blocked Demeter from being queen all just to not be satisfied later (which I'm glad Demeter dodged a bullet). Not only is Hera cruel, but she is just insufferable. She treats everyone like crap and expects everyone to be nice to her including Zeus. He fights tooth and nail to do right by her or win her back, but she doesn't see him trying to be a better husband nor do the same. She doesn't even try to make it a safe place for him to talk to her and be honest. When he wakes up, that divorce paper needs to be signed with the quickness because they're both miserable, they're both want there freedom, and they're not happy.

• My Final Thoughts

Zeus's life is basically 16 CARRIAGES by Beyoncé. He was minding his business at Lake Dikte just a village boy helping nymphs, until Rhea came. Rhea told a early teen Zeus that he has to help his brothers and stop his tyrant father from destroying the world. After everything, he was mentally scarred at the age of 14. I know this is wishful thinking, but I think if he went to lake Dikte (after he wakes up), I think he would be more at peace again. He deserved better. And for this book to have so many contradictions throughout makes this book hypocritical and morally corrupt. You can see the stark difference between teen Zeus and the Zeus we see now. When looking at the picture on right, you see his bags showing more verses the left one when he was younger. This shows you how tired, hardworking, and mentally drained he is.

#anti lore olympus #lo critical #anti lo #lore olympus critical #lore olympus criticism #Zeus deserved better #ask me anything

[narabea06]

ASMP Headcanons bc I'm hyperfixated -

(Spoiler hcs under the cut)

Aimsey often moves her hands a lot when they talk and will pace around a room as they ramble oftentimes. Aimsey now doesn't pull her sword out for long periods of time when they're not in battle due to them unconsciously fidgeting and swinging it when they do.

Aimsey has a lot of jewelry and and shiny stuff due to being a prince. A few of these include some pretty rings, their crown, some gems they woke up with in their pockets, some blue diamond earrings, and a moon pendent they clipped to their button up. They also have matching little moon buttons on the cuffs of gems sleeves.

- Aimsey and Guqqie have matching flowers in their hair that Aimsey picked for them. Aimsey's are blue, Guqqie's are orange.

Guqqie often will watch over Aimsey while they sleep, since Guqqie is actually nocturnal and can go long periods without sleeping. Aimsey doesn't know about this and Guqqie doesn't want to tell him about it because they're scared that if Aimsey knows she guards gem in their sleep, Aimsey might be scared off or might laugh at them.

Aimsey actually lost their hearing in his right ear due to the explosion, causing him to often purposely move so a person they're talking to is on their left side more often than their right, that way gem can hear them more clearly.

When Tud asked if Aimsey was able to be picked up after showing them the enderman picture, he actually held his hands out to try, which caused Aimsey to flinch back in a defense position bc Aimsey doesn't like to be picked up.

Ever since Aimsey tried to give Phil that one blue flower, Phil has been much more drawn to stopping to look at flowers. Even though he threw away the flower Aimsey gave him, he kind of regrets it in a way and now isn't able to look at those blue flowers the same way again. Phil also wasn't very used to people just giving him stuff without him having to steal it so he was very surprised by Aimsey's gift and still kind of wishes he kept it. He even started collecting every blue flower he sees at this point when he has time.

Guqqie covers their body with their tail when they sleep, since their tail is so thick and fluffy that it genuinely works well as a blanket.

Tud wears goggles on their head where one eye is regular glass and the other is empty. This is because this is a place to put a spyglass into so he can see things up close. When he takes Aimsey's spyglass, he places it on there so he doesn't have to keep manually lift up the spyglass any time he needs it.

Aimsey is not a fan of direct eye contact with new people and often prefers looking at the bridge of someone's nose to make it look like he's making eye contact.

Guqqie is very cold to the touch and has very cold hands. Because of this, while Aimsey does like holding hands with them or hugging them, he can't hug them for too long because she's too cold. Guqqie likes to tease Aimsey about this by touching Aimsey's face or arms with cold hands suddenly to scared them.

Aimsey got Phil that blue flower because the color matched his eyes.

Guqqie draws a lot actually and Aimsey sometimes finds her using a stick to draw random stuff in the dirt, or using the map supplies to draw little doodles. Sometimes, she even draws Aimsey when they think they aren't looking.

Aimsey has tried multiple times to pick up endermen, and Guqqie has watched Aimsey literally bear hug endermen to see if they were strong enough to lift them. For a while, Aimsey could even not figure out that endermen were hostile due to him never making eye contact with them. The only reason they actually started to dislike endermen and think they were hostile was when they saw an enderman take a block from their castle. They got really pissed by this and even had Guqqie make a little "No Endermen Allowed" sign to hang on their castle.

Tud is not really physically emotive and often it's pretty difficult to tell what they're thinking. He often keeps his hands in his hoodie pockets most of the time and the only thing he really emotes with are his cat ears and tail, and his eyes. (Yet again tho, Aimsey doesn't make eye contact)

Phil actually has been talking to the moon like Aimsey told him to, though he's been having a bit of trouble with not feeling awkward about it and often won't say much more than like two sentences describing his day. He also gets scared to steal from people when the moon comes up due to him being worried the moon will see him do it.

Tud wears flipflops.

ASMP SPOILER HEADCANONS -

The first time Aimsey went through Tud's painting, they actually tripped, which caused them to accidentally fall through. Aimsey immediately got back out before Tud realized they already went in, but Aimsey could not unsee what they saw.

Tud realized Aimsey was human the moment gem took off their armor, due to them taking off their helmet revealing their ears. Tud tried to distract Aimsey and himself from the realization by just pointing out their crown and outfit.

Guqqie took and washed Aimsey's vest and sword when they got home from killing Tud due to both being covered in blood, and Aimsey canonically passing out the moment they got home.

When Aimsey went through the painting, they actually just stood there in shock for a moment after stepping through. The thing that mentally pulled them back to reality was actually Tud physically reaching in and pulling Aimsey back out. When Tud pulled them out of the painting, Aimsey did hit the wall behind them due to stumbling, but they recovered rather quickly.

The books in the chest in Tud's house are actually one singular book with a bunch of pages ripped out for the logs that are missing. When Aimsey grabbed it though, all the pages the logs were on fell out of the book. When Tud told them to put the logs back how they found it, Aimsey had shoved the pages hastily back in the booj to try and get it to look at least somewhat similar to before.

#asmp #asmp aimsey #aimsey #asmp headcanons #ranboo #ranboo asmp #guqqie #guqqie asmp #philza #philza asmp #sunshipduo #sunshipduo asmp

[utilitycaster]

Sorry for the rant. I think the fact that they didn't wait until after the Candela finale was a missed opportunity that would have felt less, jarring 1. they could breathe and RP for a session after coming back from the moon reconnaissance mission (this is also considering that whether or not Matt made the party fight Otohan and have a PC death) Matt could have told them to end that particular session at Keyleth's camp and even tell Liam to wait and call Dorian at the end, and then have the party switch. it's also so strange to split the session in two for whatever reason

2. having the party switch after Candela would allow for a good window of time for the Crown keeper to do what they need to in case they can't reach a good point to return to BH in 2 hours, maybe a session and a half at most

3. assuming Dorian, and maybe others with him, come back to the group after whatever this intermission is done, i think it would be hard for them to split the attention between Keyleth encampment and debriefing - mourning FCG - guest players in a way that wont feel like it makes a disservice to another one of these topics (focusing on Guests and FCG's death could make it so the debriefing for the mission they spent 10+ episodes on feels lackluster, and vis versa)

As someone else said, it feels like they are giving us a palate cleanser as i was halfway through a good meal, but also they gave us another meal and after two bites they took it away so i could finish it in two weeks

there is also this limbo feeling of that we are getting late to the airport (freeing Predathos) but also we are taking a stop for sightseeing, and snacks, and bathroom and- it's like they are trying to convince us that "there is an urgency and we have to get there now now, but also nevermind that, lets catch up with these other characters for a bit"

It's just an ODD choice no matter how you look at it

So the urgency doesn't bother me. This was a weird thing in the fandom during the Solstice Split too (god i blocked so many people for constantly shrieking ARE THE OTHERS DEAD in the main tag every week, like no they are fine, they are narratively on pause) but like. Time is frozen for Bells Hells right now. We are following another group. We are not going to get snacks; we are looking in on what other people are doing, concurrently with this campaign. Indeed, that's not a bad idea. In a good campaign, there is this sense that the rest of the world exists and is doing things as you go about your own business - you are heroes of the story but you're not the only people who matter or do things.

It really is like. In some fantasy in which I were personally asked "hey, we want to do this thing where the Crown Keepers show up midway through the episode, and we follow them for that half an episode and then the beginning of the next episode, where would you put this?" I would, to be honest, say "maybe just do it as a standalone episode itself" but if I had to it would just be, again, Not Now. Cutting away while the party is on the moon! Cutting away while they're headed to the moon! Cutting away a week from now! Cutting away just before the Otohan fight! Hell, I even think that while I would have initially been far more annoyed if we started the episode and it was the Crown Keepers the whole way through this week, it would feel more coherent. But like, on a list of 20 places to insert the Crown Keepers scene, "halfway through an episode following a particularly dramatic and tragic character death" would be 21st.

(I also do want to push back against the idea that Sam needs more time and so this is why; you could just. run more episodes without him. Travis voluntarily sat out of almost 5 episodes. It took 2 episodes for Caduceus to show up. Team Wildemount had more episodes than Team Issylra. It is literally fine if he misses a few more episodes.)

#cr spoilers

[stealingyourbones]

Prompt idea:

The bats are chasing down some sparse info Tim found on a another possible Damian clone and things are getting weird. A telepath has told them that Damian actually met the clone at some point, but there's a block of some kind on the memories. Talia keeps trying to stop them, not in an evil sort of way but like she thinks it will hurt Damian, which makes them think she was the one to place the block there but doesn't really explain why she would in the first place.

The leads they have are going straight into the magical side of things, which is even worse. Magical clones tend to be... dangerous. More so than normal.

Finally, they run into a magician who says they can bring the clone to them. They are wary, because the lady seems absolutely mad, and that's validated when she restrains them with a spell and begins to try to summon something using Damian's blood. Talia is getting frantic, demanding the magician not "force the two to meet".

The bats are ready to fight when the ground cracks open, leaking a horrible green light, but they are not prepared when out comes a spirit that calls Talia mother, a spirit with Damian's face, a crown of stars, and a child size league of assassin's blade sticking out of his chest, the wound still weeping blood.

It's not like Danyal is any more prepared to look the brother that killed him in the face though, so at least they're on equal footing.

(Idea that Danyal totally uses that sword as a weapon. He pulls it out of his wound and fights with it as the wound continues to bleed. That’s a metal as fuck idea of how Danyal looks my dude I love it so so so much.)

———

Talia’s warnings were left unheard. The Bats were warned and didn’t listen.

Damian breaks.

The poor kid is staring at his brother that he gets nightmares of every single night. The vision of his brother shakily cupping his hand against his cheek and fighting back choking on his own blood to softly assure Damian that he did what was alright. It was a mistake. Damian escaped containment after his first Lazarus pit ceremony and in his rage slayed anyone in his path… including his own brother.

After the shock wore off, Danyal wants nothing more than to console his brother that he never thought he would see again but the league sword embedded in his chest prevents him from hugging Robin.

#dpxdc #danny phantom #dp x dc #dc #clone au #sagaduwyrm #bones replies #brother au #writing prompts #prompts #dc comics #dp x dc prompt #tw gore #this is neat as hell my guy #tw death

[stuffymcstuffsworld]

Eloped

It certainly wasn't every day when an intruder arrived. Especially not in the council room of the thirteen crowns. Yet you just walked in as if you owned the place.

Your body is yanked out of the way just in the nick of time, barely avoiding the onslaught of attacks aimed to kill. You're in his Sullivan's arms. Safe and sound.

"Sully-Chan!!! What are you doing? They're an intruder!!" Poro pointed an accusing finger at him. Mouth pulled back in a snarl.

"Intruder? No... I'm afraid you're mistaken." Sullivan sets you down and stands protectively in front of you. Successfully blocking any further attempts to harm you.

"What do you mean, Sully-Chan?" Levi asked curiously. "They have an open invitation to come over and play anytime from Del-Chan himself. To attack them while knowing that is defying the demons kings will."

The room turns cold. Everyone falls silent. The door opens, and low and behold. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

He scans the room. His gaze lands on you. You give a small wave. A Cheshire grin spreads on his face. "Darling! You came to steal me from mean old Sully-Chan, right?"

You couldn't help but laugh at his silly antics as he picked you up. Sullivan protests at his words. "DEL-CHAN!!!" Poro throws himself at the two of you, but the demon king side steps chuckling as he crashes into the wall.

"Exciting bunch, aren't they?" Poro glares angrily at you. "What gives you the right to hog my Del-Chan!!!" You blinked curiously at the enraged musician.

"Your Del-Chan?" "Yes, my Del-Chan!" "Mmm, that's rather interesting." You turn to look at the cackling king. "I wasn't aware that you were so close to your followers."

Automatically, he stops laughing and looks down at you. "Darling?" You casually leap out of his arms, eyeing him darkly.

"Darling? Who is that I can't recall." The crowns couldn't help but watch the interaction between the two. "What, don't say that, dear. Sully-Chan, help me!"

The slender demon only tilts their head. "Me? Oh no, I couldn't possibly. After all, I'm just mean old Sully-Chan, after all. Their your spouse, you can talk yourself out of this one."

"SPOUSE!!!!" "YOU GOT MARRIED?!?!" "WHY WASN'T I INVITED TO THE WEDDING?" "HOW COME SULLY-CHAN KNEW THIS?" Many questions flooded the room.

"M-married?" Everyone turns to see Poro staring at you in horror. "This can't be true! This is some silly joke, yes?"

"Mmm, you're right. I really lowered my standards, marrying such childish and greedy demon like him." You side stepped the attack. But what surprised everyone was when Derkila threw Poro out the window.

"ARE YOU HURT?" He inspected you looking for a scratch. "Mmm, I'm fine, dear." You smugly look at the fuming demon who was glaring at you from behind the large demons back.

"Yes... just fine, indeed." Poro looks ready to rip you apart, but you just couldn't resist. You had to give another push.

"After all, who else can say they have such a strong husband?" She cooed softly. You watch as some of the other crowns had to drag their friend out of the room.

"You're absolutely wicked for teasing like that, Darling." The dark-haired demon laughs, resting his head against yours. "But that's what you like the most about me."

#mairimashita! iruma kun #welcome to demon school iruma kun #reader #lord sullivan #poro #13 crowns #derkila

[nightraiderwrites]

The sword in the medicine cabinet

There is a sword in the medicine cabinet.

And one under the bed, and in the hall, and in the iron farm, and stashed inside the door and strapped to False's waist and-

Ok. Maybe False is a bit paranoid. Maybe little more than a bit. The poison next to the sink probably is a sign. But she has every reason to be. She's woken up in a strange world, with no memories or friends, and everything's a little crap right now, so forgive her for being cautious.

False is fine.

She's starting to settle in. There's a rhythm and a schedule she sticks to, trying to get home. False builds and builds and builds until she's too tired to place another block. Her empire, or her temporary one, is taking shape, and she's quite content.

And sure, she's made a friend. Or two. Although she's heard fWip is friends with everyone, and Sausage just doesn't feel right. So maybe they're out to get her. Probably. In fact, maybe she should put another sword in the wheat field. Yes, that's a great idea. If everyone is out to get her, it's great to be prepared.

False is fine.

Besides, some memories are coming back. And they're all the more reason not to trust.

Whenever she holds an orange tulip there's a pain in her back, as though she's being stabbed. She sees a woman with the reddest hair, holding her in her arms. Her eyes are green, like emeralds, and they are full or tears. "I'm sorry," she mutters, sliding a knife out. "I promise I never meant to hurt you." False gasps for air, coughing up blood. "T-traitor," she rasps. Then she snaps back to reality. Her hands are sweaty, and the tulip is crushed. She decides to throw the remains into the lava.

The kingdom of Dawn won't receive visits from her any time soon.

Other times, she dreams. There's a long tunnel, and a woman dressed in pink. She wears a crown of flowers, chocolate hair contrasting with it. False stands, as she walks away, towards the light. "Wait!" she tries to scream. "I'm coming!" Her limbs won't move. The lady keeps going. "Come on, Falsie! Hurry up!" It echoes around her, taunting her frozen limbs. It's suddenly freezing in the tunnel, so she looks down. With horror, she realizes her legs are frosted over, and the ice is climbing to her neck. Desperately she tries to move, but it covers her vision in a blue tint. Breathing is hard through the ice, she suffocating, there's no oxygen she's going to die-

Then she jolts awake in bed, tangled in blankets. Her cat is snuggled by her feet, and the chicken is roosting on the bedside table. She tries to untangle herself quietly, but her cat gives a growl. She resolves to sort it out in the morning.

False is fine.

She just has to get home right? If she can remember where it is. Right. She just has to get home, and everything will go back to normal. False repeats it to herself everyday. What's normal though? What's waiting back home? She doesn't know. False only hopes it's good.

There is a sword in the medicine cabinet.

¤¤¤¤¤

Another piece? Within the same(ish) week? Gods, who am I? Anyways, this was a lot of fun. I took a bit more time on this one to perfect and polish, and I think it turned out great. Let me know what you think! If it wasn't clear, also, the two women mentioned are Gem and Stress respectively. Gem's one is a callback to her leaving False in Hermitcraft Season 8 (you know, "backstabbing" her) and Stress's one is a call back to her being the Ice Queen of Season 6.

This is based on @theminecraftbee 's post here. There is another fic in the works coming soon, and a poem as well, so keep an eye out for that!

#nightraider writes #writing #empires smp #hermitcraft #<-implied #geminitay #stressmonster101 #falsesymmetry #uuhhh #tw body horror #writers on tumblr #writeblr #night's other blog ask prompt