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flamingpudding · 9 months

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Ouija Board Prompt Idea

A/N: A late night Idea that came to me instead of sleep and I wrote this down during lunch break

Danny was just in Gotham because the city spirit had asked him for assistance with a rather persistent unruly Ghost that didn't understand that this was her haunt and she did not want them there.

So when he got the notice he did his kingly duties and made sure the Ghost was no longer annoying Lady Gotham. He was the Ghost King but even he didn't want to anger a spirit as old as her. He had watched the spirit take a ghostly club and hit Clockwork the Ancient of Time with it without remorse the first time they were introduced. So yea, no messing with this one.

He had been about to portal back home when he felt a strange pull one that was close to when he got summoned but yet it didn't feel as demanding but more like a little kid pulling on his shirt hesitantly. So he checked it out…

… and came across a group of vigilantes investigating an occult side.

Invisible he watched them, curious. He used to do the teen hero stick too before the whole Ghost King business allowing him to get some semblance of a normal life with his rogues, might as well see how others to that hero stick. Besides the pull he felt appeared to come from that tall one wearing a red helmet something was up with that guy.

"Come on, ask the ghosts a question or are you too chicken to do it?"

"I will not participate in this nonsense, Red Hood."

"Come on guys it will be fun!"

"For whom? You, Spoiler?"

"RR aren't you curious?"

"We just gotta ask the board a question and if a ghost is around they will answer by moving it, right?"

"Ghosts don't exist."

Okay Danny was not taking personal offense here but he was a half ghost and he ruled the Ghost Zone filled with ecto-entities that could count as ghosts. So yes, ghosts existed. It was a simple decision then as he floated down invisible crouching next to board still invisible and out of the way from them.

Making sure he made a lot of scraping noises as he moved the small wooden piece on the board to 'YES'.

Someone yelped and someone else shrieked, though Danny wasn't sure if that was a shriek of excitement or not. He still grinned at their reactions.

"Did that just move to 'YES'! It did, didn't it!"

Yea okay that earlier was a shriek of excitement considering how that girl in purple was jumping around. Though the poor kid among them looked a little paler now, Danny decided to keep an eye on the kid to make sure he wasn't overdoing it.

"Okay so a ghost is here?"

Maybe he should have bothered listening to Lady Gotham or Tucker more about the vigilantes of Gotham. Oh well no time better as this to learn. What did the girl call this boy again, RR? Danny wondered what that stood for.

He moved the piece around the board a little making sure they noticed before he spelled something out.

"N-O-S-H-I-T-S-H-E-R-L-O-C-K. No shit Sherlock. Ha! I like this ghost!" The tall one laughed, he believed the kid called him Red Hood earlier. Well the red helmet was a great testament to that sort of code name. Still he wondered about that weird feeling he got from the guy but pushed that aside for later.

"Well since there is a ghosts, what should we ask?"

"Maybe how old he is?"

"Think it rude to ask how he died?"

Danny rolled his eyes. Those were such mainstream questions.

"B-O-R-I-N-G, 1-6 , YES. Guys it looks like we are not were imaginativ."

"Well what do you suggest we ask then?"

"I don't know! Maybe he can show us a cool trick?"

"You know that reminds me of this game that's been out for a while, phasmophobia or something like that?"

Oh Danny knew this one! Tucker had told him about the game, he himself hadn't played it but he had watched his best friend do so, they had a lot of fun joking about how the ghosts were portrayed and the tools that were available to the players.

"So what? We ask the ghost to play Hide and Seek with us?"

"Let's cease this nonsense. This is not something we should mess with."

"Oh are you scared?"

He made a show of moving the wooden piece, doing his best not to snicker out loud as he moved the piece to count down from the number 9. Letting his own powers out a little to cause the already dim light to flicker and the room to cool down several degrees.

The reaction was instant once again. Though he didn't expect them to run for hiding spaces he definitely did not expect these people to pull out their weapons and position against each other's back like they were ready for a fight. Then again they were vigilantes

The poor kid among them looked even paler. Before his count down could reach 0 he decided to not scare the poor kid more. Pulling back his powers the room's temperature normalized and the lights stopped flickering. He moved the wooden piece knowing that at least one of them was watching it in anticipation.

"J-K-S-O-R-R-Y"

"I think the ghost just apologized to us?" The RR teenager said carefully and Danny couldn't help the sheepish smile even if they couldn't see it in his invisible state.

"You know about the game?"

He moved the piece to YES.

"So you thought it was fucking appropriated to scare us like that?"

He moved the piece around and placed it back to YES before spelling out sorry again. The vigilantes shared a look and Danny decided to spell out a question.

"L-I-T-T-L-E-G-U-Y-O-K-A-Y"

"Huh? Uh yea Robin is fine." They looked confused but Danny kept his eyes on the kid. Well the poor boy still looked very pale but he also appeared to try to put on a brave front, it nearly caused a chuckle to escape the halfa.

"Can you show yourself?"

"S-U-R-E"

Not like he was really going to show himself but this was going to be fun, he thanked the Ancients that he was taking lessons with Pandora on how to manipulate his own ectoplasm. He summoned a blob of it making sure he himself was still invisible as he let the green blob be visible, forming it and making it look like a blob ghost.

The reaction was once again instant. They yelled in the chaos all he caught sounded like 'Lazarus water! Moving Lazarus Water!' Before the pale kid, Robin they said, slashed at his ectoplasm blob with his katana, essentially doing nothing to the blob of ectoplasm. The sword just went through it and Danny still holding it confused just instinctively let it reform the shape he gave it.

Danny blinked, okay now he was definitely not showing himself. "This is no a ghost but a Pit Demon!"

From the corner of the eye he saw Lady Gotham appear in the room staring at him disapprovingly and holding that ghost club she had used on Clockwork.

"I can explain, really! I was just joking with them!" He stood holding his hands up to smooth the situation, the green blob fell to the ground splashing against the Ouija Board with a loud splat. His chances of not get hit like Clockwork by Lady Gotham were becoming slimmer.

"WHO SAID THAT?!"

Shit, he hadn't used ghost speech but said that out loud.

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ghostbsuter · 6 months

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Magicians way

A Zatara meets a Drake before the Young Justice-fication of Danny!

1/4 previous interactions

.・゜-: ✧ :-

The portal closes, and waddling in comes a teen in his PJ's, a space themed blanket thrown around his shoulders and hair dishevelled.

In all honesty, he looks like he'd just worked up and dragged himself here.

Probably what happened.

"Oh, so you get to call me at 4 am on a Friday night and when I do it it's suddenly a crime?" The teen scowls, glaring daggers at Constantine, who'd had told the big Bat he was going to call in reinforcement.

He didn't expect a child.

"Get over her shrimp," the man waves the teen over, throwing an arm around the blanked clad shoulders.

"Batsy, meet Danny. He's my kid."

Ah.

"Nice to meet ya," the kid yawns, literally dozing off on John's side. "'m gonna sleep."

At least the man seems somewhat regretting for pulling the kids from his impromptu nap?

"Sorry, kiddo, need some help here. Did Zee go hard on you during the day?"

Danny whines, but answers despite the disturbance. "Mom had to leave for a show, I didn't go along, ended up on an adventure that took a bit too much out of me."

John snorts, ruffling unruly black hair.

"One of the bat's birds will join us shortly. I needed a second opinion, minx helping?"

Interested, Danny peered up at his dad, raising a brow in question.

"There is a powerful entity currently free, I'm having difficulties identifying it." He explains. "Did anyone mess with Pandoras box? This feels like something not supposed to be on our side of existence."

Brows knitting together, he thinks. "No, I was the last and most recent one to have accidentally messed with her box." He admits. "But every monster has been contained. There shouldn't be one free, we would have noticed."

John hums, picking through his well used brown leather bag, grabbing a sack of ash.

"It doesn't feel like a demon, lest a fallen angel. It's unique in its own kind that I had to get you for help, it shares the same feeling as the curses inside of pandoras box."

Catching on, Danny stares. "You think one of her curses got away and formed a humanoid form, not much different from city spirits."

Nodding, golden glow follows the words the laughing magician speaks, answering his question with the usage of ash.

Danny looks away, knowing the spell already and meets the whites of a domino mask.

That's not batman.

Squinting, he recognises the vigilante.

That's Red Robin!

"Red Robin, right?" He asks, just to make sure.

Red Robin nods.

"Nice to meet you, heard some stuff, pretty cool in my opinion."

"What exactly did you hear."

"Stuff here and there." Is the vague answer, the bird only continued to watch him, slightly unnervingly.

"Well—"

"Kid! Got an answer!"

"Let's talk again, okay?"

He couldn't answer before danny left to go to constantine.

That was... weird.

"B, what just happened?"

Batman only shakes his head. Huh.

#dcxdp #dpxdc #Danny is the kid of John and Zatanna #fire meeting between Danny and Tim.#this is a prewuel if you will #he will have solo meetings netween thr core 4 #we start with tim #watching young justicr purely for cassie and barr #i need to stay true to her cant write badly knowing i could have doond better ay #ill sleep n9w #i should stop making so many stories oof #maybe thinking of finsihedimg ONE at least

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yurinaa-world · 22 days

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hello!! platonic dr ratio with a teen!student reader who excels at one particular subject but is bad or average on the others? also lacks social skills

(kinda inspired by me lol 💀)

Characters: Dr. Ratio platonic! x Gender-neutral Reader

Synopsis: with student reader who excels at one subject but is bad at the others + lacks social skills

Warnings: Fluff and spelling mistakes, got lil personal

𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒶𝓈 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜

He’s so strict about your grades, looking at you with disappointment as if a parent would when their child an F. What? does the information just go through and out one ear? (it does for me 😀) Can your brain handle one sentence at a time since it doesn’t look like it to him with these embarrassing grades?

He immediately got you into summer school so you could at least try to get good at other subjects, one subject won’t get you a future. Even worse with fact you can’t even talk without staring endlessly at your paper contemplating just to ask him the most simple question.

The man knows no mercy, making you write out several essays over the whole summer but just like every teacher that wants to suck the souls from students he’ll make you plan every tad bit of detail, even refuse you from starting to write if one detail isn’t explained and well thought out enough for him.

Then oh don’t forget to make the rough draft of the essay (it’s more like writing the real essay itself with the way he’s being strict with every typo & grammar mistake, but oh don’t think you're going to get this using simple and basic words like “in conclusion.” or “well, I believe.” Throw those out the window along with every other basic sentence that people use to put up the word count or just get the whole thing over with. He isn't accepting it. No exceptions.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Blank.

You’ve been staring at the next part of your sentence but unsure how to use the word “Magnanimity”. How were you even supposed to use this in a sentence?! (he made you pick several high-level words to use in an essay), you look up to silently curse your teacher, Mr. Ratio out in your head before immediately looking back down when your eyes connect.

You begin to contemplate, that maybe jumping out the window ain’t bad, it might be your only way to get out of here. you sigh, just giving up on your constant stalling, getting up from your chair (with your paper in hand) and walking over to your teacher, dreading every step you take.

Before stopping at his desk, “Mr. Ratio, could you tell me what the definition is for magnanimity again?” He just sighs, closing up the book he always reads. (You don’t know why he always reads the same thing, it’s so boring.)

“Magnanimity means the loftiness of spirit enabling one to bear trouble calmly, to disdain meanness and pettiness, and to display a noble generosity.”

you stare at him blankly, he wasn’t kidding, he seriously expected you to know what he was saying?! “I’m sorry but what does that even mean?” you whisper your voice cracking with frustration, you just feel a blood vessel getting bigger.

He sighs once again “Showing kindness towards an enemy or you had been defeated in battle. using it in a sentence would be like he showed magnanimity towards his enemy, understand?”

“Oh, okay. Thank you Mr. Ratio” You nod taking in his words. “Let me see your essay.” He tells you out of the blue, holding his hand out to see your paper, which makes your mouth dry. “you have something written, correct? Let me see it.”

You give him your paper and watch in nervousness before he begins to read out loud “A great man once spoke mighty wor-“ “Mr ratio please read it in your head!” you cut him off with panic, yet what a fool you are since when was he merciful? “a great man once spoke mighty words…”

Listening to him read your essay made you cringe and close your ears. He’s the worst!

if you liked this, consider tipping me on ko-fi! it'd mean a lot!

#✧*:･ﾟ✧:･ Yurinna's Writing :･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧#honkai star rail #honkai star rail x you #honkai star rail x reader #star rail #star rail x reader #hsr x you #hsr x reader #hsr dr ratio #dr ratio #dr ratio x reader #honkai dr ratio #veritas ratio #veritas x reader

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aeor-is-for-reccing · 4 months

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Shadowgast Recs: Polymorph Shenanigans

This week, we have thirteen fics that have Caleb or Essek using polymorph! Some cozy, some funny, and some having some sexy fun with different animal shapes! Check them out underneath the cut, and as always, comment and kudos if you liked them!

Creature Comforts by Mousecookie (4645, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek impulsively visits the Mighty Nein one evening during their travels. Frumpkin sits in his lap. Caleb, oddly, is nowhere to be found.

Reccer says: A beautiful fic with a surprising end that’s so beautiful. I love it,

the shape of my heart in the dark by professor (1584, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek asks for cats to 'schnuggle' with. An amber cat accepts the invitation.

Reccer says: I liked it!

Not a meet-cute, a bleat-cute by professor (3515, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek spends an afternoon collecting spell components and comes home with a pet sheep.

Reccer says: I liked it!

Nepeta by ccaleb_widogast (2037, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Professor Caleb accidentally transforms into a cat. He has to ask Essek for to help him turn back.

Reccer says: Really Wholesome with a bit of outsider POV

Do It For Science by Meadow (Medorikoi) (6885, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

Essek gets fucked by Calebs echo, who then polymorphs into a giant ape.

Reccer says: I love the scene they're doing. That it's for "science" and that Caleb could have lost control of himself when polymorphed as a giant ape in Aeor. So Essek has to take the ape in a controlled setting, for his safety ;)

On the Myriad Uses of Polymorph as a Method of First Aid by catgirlthecrazy (1579, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

When a fight in Aeor goes sour, Caleb turns Essek into a T-Rex to save his life.

Reccer says: Caleb in danger? T-ressek SMASH

The Artifact by Chekhov (14378, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Author warns of a "Looney Tunes concept of peril" and that the sexual tension stays unresolved

A mysterious object is introduced into the wizards' enclosure.

Reccer says: Never have I read a story more worthy of the word "shenanigans". The nerd courting rituals are intricate, hot (though that's not the focus of the story), and - above all - hilarious. Big Yakety Sax energy throughout.

The Annual Rexxentrum Cat Show by hanap (776, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

A cat show has a rare book of spells as its prize. Polymorph shenanigans ensue.

Reccer says: This is hilarious and just gets better

a man by any other face by Mousecookie (33853, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Or, four times Caleb uses Polymorph and one time Essek does, and how both of them must navigate the transformation of the self that is beyond magic.

Reccer says: This is an emotional, gorgeous work that captures so much of the character of the wizards. It’s such a wonderful window into these characters.

good sounds by MinnesotaBruja (2787, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

Essek discovers a flustering fascination with eels, and Caleb, transmutation wizard, is all too happy to oblige his boyfriend his every desire.

Reccer says: I liked it!

Reverse Tatzelwurm by witches_chant (1803, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Technically Shapechange, but a polymorph shenanigan (gone beautifully wrong) in spirit.

Reccer says: A brilliant and very funny reinterpretation of some folklore. I like every decision that went into the shape and nature of the creature.

you can have my absence of faith by Anonymous (87745, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: Dubcon/Consensual Non Consent, Male Pregnancy

Essek wants to try freaky egg-pregnancy stuff, Caleb polymorphs into a sexy Lolth spider demon to help him out with that. Then they spend a week having other kinds of domestic sex

Reccer says: There's a lot of love and understanding shared between Essek and Caleb as long-term partners who yield to each other's dark desires and unconventional wants. They're frequently roleplaying as characters and you can see the lapses of the real Essek or real Caleb every now and then, and it's really cute.

True Polymorph by guiding-bolt (4025, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek has always been attracted to Caleb's magic. There was no denying that. It was something of a joke, how he would throw himself at Caleb when he had done something particularly clever. When Caleb masters True Polymorph and turns himself into a dragon, it is no different.

Reccer 1 says: I love the hubris of Essek here, he's going to get that dragon dick in him whatever it takes Reccer 2 says: Amazing writing and delicious situation. Lots of love and care and a bit of size difference.

Aeor is for Lovers is an 18+ Shadowgast Discord server. The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. All fics, unless otherwise specified, will primarily feature Shadowgast. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ! Next week, we’ll be back with some soulmates!

#critical role #cr fic recs #fan fiction rec list #shadowgast #caleb widogast #essek thelyss #cr fic #polymorph

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cerealforkart · 1 year

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Dungeons and Daddies the Manga Lesson 32: Con Mayor

Read right to left

[first] [prev] [next]

[masterpost]

Transcript under the cut

Transcript reading guide / key

[xxxx] = identifier of text source

- = break between panels

(xxxxx) = text outside of normal speech bubble

The Heart Wants What It Wants (Page 125)

[Normal]: I know we’ve been through a lot lately, I need you guys to put yourselves in a headspace to receive some really upsetting information.

Hermie, our friend, has stolen Teeny the Teen and gone to the Goofs Realm.

[Link]: Gentleman.

[Taylor]: I don’t feel so bad about forgetting him all the time anymore.

[Scary]: Good for him.

[Link]: I knew it.

[Normal]: It’s just like, he was with us for so long. He was our friend.

He got burned, he got put through the ringer, he met his dad, he went to Hell and back, and it was all a lie.

[Normal]: Do you know how much school spirit that takes?

It’s like I wanted him before, but now I need him.

[Effect]: Doki!

Doki!

Planning Scamming (Page 126)

[Link]: The mayor doesn’t let anyone see her, so, you pretend to kill us…

[Link]: She’ll want you meet you, and when you’re there, be like, “Hey I’m here, can I see you some ice cream for charity”...

[Link]: When she hands over the money say: “Psych!” And then the Goofs Realm will be open!

[Taylor]: So, wait, sorry, Lincoln -

[Link]: I don’t know what I said. So like, if you guys remember, great.

Deception 100 (Page 127)

[Scary]: Just want you to know I did it!

[Willy]: You did what?

[Scary]: Oh, you don’t even know? I killed ‘em!

[Willy]: You killed the only way to get to the other realm. [Scary]: I just got mad!

[Willy]: You’re supposed to be the smart one! Normal’s the fuck up who can’t control his emotions!

[Link]: How do you think she’s doing?

She’s so peaceful when she sleeps.

[Taylor]: She’s really sweaty right now…

[Willy]: Are you fucking lying to me…?

[Dice roll, Willy]: Insight, 6

[Willy]: NAH!

[Scary]: I cast Spider Climb but I didn’t cast it very well. So they all fell down. And I cast Fireball too! And I cast my fist against their skulls!

The 5% (Page 128)

[Taylor]: Before we go, can I have a word with my dad?

[Normal]: Taylor! I can do you one better than that!

[Taylor]: I’m not interested in your witchcraft.

[Normal]: I can cast a spell called Sending, you can send a 25 word message to your dad and he can reply so long as he has at least 1 intelligence and aren’t insanely unlucky.

[Link]: Hey Dad, I’m not sure if you can hear me or not, but I just wanted to say: Hang on, and I’m going to CUM* get you and save you. I love you

[Text box]: *This is 25 words.

[Dice roll]: Luck, 1

[Taylor]: …

[Normal]: …

[Taylor]: Your spell killed my dad!!!

Transcript provided by @confusedfoam

#dndads #dungeons and daddies #normal oak #lincoln li wilson #scary Marlowe #taylor swift dndads #willy stampler #the mayor #nick close #nicholas foster #kinda #I love lincoln's little guys on page 126 #they're so little

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belle--ofthebrawl · 4 months

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Happy New Yuri or whatever the phrase is.

@jesusbutbetterrr put up a list of Ghoulette prompts and it's the perfect way to kick off 2024.

The Start of Something New.

Pairing: Cirrus/Cumulus

Rating: Teen for the implied fucking at the end.

Summary: How Cirrus and Cumulus joined the Ghost Project.

Word count: 1.5k give or take. Written in one go, mostly world building on the fly.

“I want to see what the other side is like.” Cirrus had said one morning. As casually as she would have asked Cumulus to preen her feathers or tidy up their roost. Cumulus didn't ask any questions, mostly because she didn't care to. When Cirrus wanted something, Cumulus got it. It worked the other way around and was generally an efficient system. They’d been mated for some time under a tightly negotiated agreement and as far as Cumulus was concerned, wanting a change of scenery was hardly ground to break contract.

“I’ll listen for word about a portal opening.” She had replied. “Anything in particular you want to stay away from?” Any sorcerer with the right spell could open one, but Cirrus was finicky and had no qualms about killing a human who wasn't fully prepared. Cumulus didn't have many expectations for a new life but she wanted to spend her first moments on the other side not hearing screams of terror.

“Idiots.” Was all Cirrus said. Cumulus had bowed her head in acknowledgement and continued preening her feathers. She might miss their roost high in the cliffs, but she couldn't deny curiosity about the other side as well. Her problem was that she settled down too easily; Cirrus helped her get moving. If she hadn't met the other air demon, she was sure she'd still be stuck in the Infernal Capital, singing in that stupid bar. Nothing interesting happened there. Not since Mary left.

Time passed differently in Hell. She wasn't exactly sure how long it was between Cirrus saying she wanted to go Topside and an actual portal opening up. This one was close to their roost, only a short flight away once Cirrus had let her know. They’d circled above the growing crowd of demons, eager to reach it first and taste what life on the other side was like.

“Ooh,” Cumulus said as the first imp was blasted into a scorched mark on the rocks. “Unlucky, that.” Whoever it was on the other side had set a requirement. They knew what they wanted and nothing but the correct spirits could come through. That spoke of experience, someone who knew what they were doing.

Cirrus had said nothing, only swooped down low for a closer look. Neatly skimming the border of bright light, she reached out to sample the magic and deftly avoided another demon’s claws, trying to take out the competition. Cirrus spat on the demon’s face and returned to Cumulus, clutching her wrist.

“Are you-” Her concern vanished. The look on Cirrus' face was euphoric, the elemental symbol between her breasts aglow with power.

“Air only.” She said excitedly. “They're specific, whoever they are. Nothing less than the best, that's what they want. We’re going.”

Cumulus grabbed Cirrus' wrist, turning it this way and that in awe. Human skin, fading quickly to Cirrus' natural grey and black claws but still there. A new form, freely given. This kind of opportunity was near unheard of.

“Divebomb?” She suggested, eyeing the crowd below. “Before anyone else shows up?” Word of a portal spread quick and it would only be a matter of time until other Air spirits arrived. Cumulus wasn't inclined to share with anyone who wasn't Cirrus.

Cirrus intertwined their fingers and gave her a kiss on the knuckles.

“I love you.” She said. “I hope you can still read my mind in our new forms.”

Together they rose, swirling tight around in each other before separating. Cumulus savored her final view of Hell, miles and miles of red rock and fiery rivers, the outline of the Infernal Capital in the distance with the spires of the palace lit with flame before she tucked her wings in tight and dove, swooping in quick with Cirrus her perfect reflection. They hit the portal at the same time, the angry howling of other demons fading as they crossed over and Cumulus yelled in victory as she felt the glamour settle over her body like a veil, giving her curls and soft skin, a body ripe for whatever pleasure earth could give her.

She curled her toes in delight as she stepped onto something soft and velvety, Cirrus' hand firmly in hers. She cast a sidelong look at her companion and felt her new, human heart skip a beat. Tall and severe as ever but her eyes softened when she looked at Cumulus. Her hand squeezed briefly, once, twice before they were looking at their new home.

Maybe the rest of it was better. This was a dark room lit by candles and reeking of incense. Not exactly what she had imagined. Shadowy figures and a human behind a podium, agog in shock.

“Oh shit-” the little man blurted, eyes boggling at the sight of them. Cumulus trilled smugly. “Two! I just wanted one!”

“I don't go anywhere without her.” Cirrus said firmly. Cumulus laid her head against Cirrus' shoulder and looked around the room through lowered lashes. There were other ghouls here; Fire, Earth, Water and Quintessence. There was even a pure Multi present. Their attitudes ranged from bored indifference to casual appreciation. She met the eye of the Quintessence and gave him a slow smile. He returned it, eyes trailing lazily over her new and nude body. Cirrus' arm curled around her waist and she purred at the attention.

“And I don't particularly fancy going back now that I'm here.” Cirrus continued. “Are you collecting us? I see we have every element represented.”

Over the top of Cumulus' head, she stared down the Quintessence ghoul. Only Cumulus heard the low noise of approval in her throat before Cirrus turned her attention back to the summoner, who had taken off his biretta and seemed to be resisting the urge to bite it. He didn't look afraid though. More…frustrated.

“Of course, you can stay.” He replied. “But you must understand, I was given leave to summon one ghoul. One! How did both of you come through when I thought I was so specific with the details?”

“I'm sure you'll figure out.” Cirrus said. “In the meantime, we’d like to be taken to our room please. I assume you have one at the ready?”

“I like her.” Someone, maybe the Multi, whispered.

“Eh, yes, yes.” The man said, patting down his robes before pulling a notepad out of his pocket. “Your names, please? For the records.”

Cirrus told him. He scribbled them down and nodded to himself before gesturing at the Quintessence ghoul.

“Aether will take you to your rooms.” He said. “As for myself, I am Copia and you may not see me again for a while.”

Cumulus giggled as the man sighed, scooping up the big tome and running a finger down the page.

“I do not mean to be rude,” He said apologetically as Aether led them out of the room. “We will have plenty of time to get properly acquainted but I have superiors I need to explain this too and then paperwork to fill out and-”

His muttering continued as Aether led them out of the dark room and into a gorgeous, yawning hallway. There was sunlight, there was fresh air! Intricately carved archways like the gates of the palace, gardens with lush greenery and actual humans in uniform. Mary had spoken about a place like this once, she recalled. A haven for their kind on earth, run by the bloodline of the Olde One.

She hopped from one foot to the other in delight as Cirrus calmly took in the new scenery. She looked unimpressed. Cumulus knew she was just as delighted with their new home.

“I take it you’ve heard of us on the other side?” Aether asked as he led them through the building.

“On occasion.” Cumulus replied. “I used to be a lounge singer, the barkeep would get news now and then.”

“Singer, huh?” Aether raised an eyebrow. “Musical talent is always welcome here. And you?”

Cirrus shrugged. “I'm a fast learner.”

“And good with her hands.” Cumulus supplied, because she knew Cirrus would pinch her bottom for that and she wanted Aether to see it. By the crinkle of his eyes, she knew he had.

“That's a talent that never goes to waste around here.” He murmured. They’d come to a hallway with seemingly endless doors stretched out on either end. He pushed open the nearest one and featured inside. It was plain as far as rooms went, but it had a bed big enough for the both of them if Cirrus didn't mind cuddling. Which she never did.

“There is a uniform.” Aether said. “But as long as you're in the ghoul wing, you're free to be as you are. We’ll get proper ones fitted to you by tomorrow.”

He pointed to the room directly next to theirs.

“I'm right there. My afternoon is free so I’ll be tinkering with my guitar. Let me know if you need anything.”

“We’ll be sure you hear us.” Cumulus purred and got herself another pinch as Cirrus shooed her into the room. “Thank you, Aether.” She managed to call before Cirrus was closing the door for privacy.

“You.” She said as Cumulus inspected the sheets. “Are a tease.”

“You've known that since the night we met.” She said dismissively, but the way she bit her lip turned it downright flirtatious and Cirrus knew it.

“Get on the bed.” She growled, low and dangerous. “You want to flirt with the first ghoul you see here, that's fine. But I'm going to make sure he knows how high your standards are before he tries anything.”

Cumulus said nothing. Just laid back on the bed and spread her thighs, so bare and sensitive without the feathers of her true form covering them.

It was all the answer Cirrus needed.

#mdni #cirrus x cumulus #cirrus ghoulette #cumulus ghoulette

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topazy · 5 months

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Teen spirit

Pairing: Carl Grimes × reader, Maggie Greene × sister reader

Warnings: Blood, character death

Chapter: 5.04

“You still miffed that you’re staying?”

You tried to frown at Daryl’s question but couldn’t help but let the seriousness slip and laugh. You were ecstatic on the inside and doubted anything could knock you off the cloud you were drifting on. Beth was alive. Daryl had returned without Carol, but a boy named Noah was with him, who informed your group that Beth was alive. The same people who had taken Carol had taken your older sister, so now Rick was leading the way to bring the both of them back.

Once Beth and Carol were back, you’d be able to regroup with Maggie and Glenn. It filled your heart with so much joy that soon you could be with both your sisters again.

Of course you wanted to go rescue Beth with them, but Rick wouldn’t allow it; he said it was too dangerous, which you understand. “I wasn’t miffed, just disappointed.”

“Yeah right,” Daryl ruffles your hair, and he glances down at the hole you were digging. “That’s a good trench; I’ll see if I can get anymore wood and shit for it before I go.”

Most of the group had made spears out of wood from the pews in the church. You placed the DIY spears in front of the trenches surrounding the building so that any walkers that got too close would be impaled on them.

“Thanks.”

Not long after Daryl and Sasha handed you smaller pieces of wood for you to make smaller weapons out of, all of the group minus you, Carl, Father Gabriel, Michonne, and Judith stayed behind. Soon as they leave, Carl and Michonne nail the door shut to help slow down anyone or anything trying to get inside the church. The hammering noise causes Judith to cry, so you go and pick her up from the makeshift crib.

“Hey, hey, what’s all the noise about?” You ask gently, trying to shush her as you do. “The banging will stop in a moment, and then you go back to sleep.”

Hearing a scratching noise, you glance over at Gabriel, who is frantically trying to scratch dried blood off the wooden floors.

He was definitely starting to show signs he’s coming unhinged.

—

You smile brightly at Judith as she giggles, feeling your finger move over her tummy. Carl sits down beside you; he looks pleased to see his baby sister happy. He rubs his finger over her cheek gently. “What’s so funny, Judy?”

“She liked having her name spelled out on her tummy,” you explain, before tickling her.

Carl looks at you slightly confused. “Is her name spelled out?”

“My mom used to spell out words on mine and Beth’s back during bath time, and we’d need to guess what it was.”

Teasingly, he says, “It sounds lame.”

Your brows raise in amusement. “Turn around.”

Carl let out a deep sigh, pretending he didn’t want to do as you asked, but he began laughing the minute you spelled out the first letter.

“Z…o…m… Are you really spelling out zombie?”

You burst out laughing, “Okay, so it’s not that hard, but when we were kids, it was pretty fun to play. Plus, my mom would always pick bigger words; I’d always get so mad because Beth always got the ones I couldn’t spell right.”

He offers you a kind smile before picking Judith up and hugging her. Quietly, he says, “I tried to help Gabriel choose a weapon, but I think I just upset him.”

“He’s been isolated for so long, I don’t think he fully understands how bad things are.”

“I know; I just wish he would let us help prepare us.”

“He will come around eventually,” you said, letting Judith hold your finger with her whole hand. “I didn’t know much about the world outside my daddy's farm until the day he needed to help save a young boy's life.”

—

You and Carl remained sitting on the floor of the church, playing with Judith, until yelling from outside, followed by banging at the door, caught your attention. “Is that Father Gabriel?”

Michonne starts to break off the wooden slabs, preventing the door from opening. Carl hands you his sister before going to help her. Soon as the door opens, Gabriel falls to the floor, then hurry’s to scramble back up before the small herd of walkers burst into the church. You all follow Gabriel into his office, where you discover he’s put a hole in the floor that leads outside by ripping up the floorboards. When you hear scratches on the other side of the door, which was threatening to burst open, you nudge Carl to go. He jumps into the crawl space first, then you hand him Judith, then do the same thing seconds later.

When you reach outside, Carl helps you stand with his free hand. "Are you okay?”

“Yeah, are you?”

He nods before trying to calm Judith, who had begun crying with all the fast movements and loud noises going on around her. Michonne crawls out next, and the three of you wait nervously to see if Father Gabriel will make it out.

“Do you think he's…” You trail off, not wanting to finish the sentence, but are pleasantly surprised when you see a hand holding a bloody machete reaching out from underneath the church. You rush over and offer Gabriel your hand to help him stand up.

“Let’s go,” Michonne says, waving for you to follow. She makes her way to the front of the church and re-locks the doors, trapping the walkers inside.

—

You pace back and forth, trying to think of what to do next. You had hardly any supplies between you and enough baby food to last two days at most. “Do you think we would be able to clear the church?”

“No,” Michonne says, shaking her head. “Not with just us.”

Before you can say anything else, a fire truck comes speeding towards the church. Carl grabs you by the shoulders and pulls you back into the tree line, keeping you out of view of whoever it is.

The fire trucks smash into the front of the church, collapsing the front of the roof, making it impossible for anyone to go back inside. When the side of the truck opens and you notice your sister coming out, you run over to her with your arms wide open.

“Maggie!”

Glenn joins in on the hug and asks, “What the hell happened here?”

You pull back from the hug and say, "The dead got inside, but it’s not important; Beth is alive!”

Maggie’s eyes become glossy. “She’s alive?”

“She’s at a hospital in Atlanta,” Michonne confirms. “Rick and the others have gone to get her.”

Tears of happiness fall from Maggie’s eyes. She pulls you in for another hug and kisses the crown of your head. It wouldn’t be long until the three of you were reunited at last.

—

“Wait here,” Maggie says, closing the side door of the truck. “There’s still dead roaming around; stay in the truck until we clear the area.”

You roll your eyes and slump back into the chair. Maggie just shakes her head and softly laughs before walking off.

You watch as the group takes out the few walkers that approach them. You bounce your knees in anticipation, waiting for Beth to appear at any moment. You missed her so much; you missed her hugs, the braids she used to braid your hair, and you even missed hearing her singing, which used to drive you crazy. You try to distract yourself by focusing on Judith, who was babbling away in her brother's arms.

“There’s my dad,” Carl says, leaning forward to look past you. “Oh shit, Hope, I think something is wrong.”

You don’t hear what Carl says next to you as your eyes lock on to the figure in Daryl’s arms. “Beth!”

Carl figures it out before you and tries to reach for your hand, but you snatch it away, swing open the door, and jump down out of the fire truck. “Beth, Beth!” When you almost reach Daryl, you can see the red staining her blonde hair. “Why is there blood in her hair?”

Before you can get any closer, Rick spins and blocks your view. “Don't; you don’t want to see her like this.”

Your legs give way, and you crumble to the ground, sobbing. Beth was gone. Your sister was dead.

#the walking dead #carl grimes/reader #carl grimes x reader #carl grimes fanfic #teen spirit #carl grimes fanfiction #Carl Grimes #Carl Grimes/you #carl grimes x you #carl grimes x fem!reader #the walking dead x reader #the walking dead fanfiction #the walking dead fanfic #teen spirit 5.04

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ofmikaelsonmagiks · 9 months

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@multi-royalty continued from here

The boy stuttered a bit, shocked at being mothered by. . .his mother. “The whole day?!” he asked indignantly. “Come on, Mom, don’t you think that’s a little excessive?” Matthias raised his voice as she walked away to make sure she still heard him. He’d have followed her, but he was feeling a little dizzy.

#rp #multiroyalty #v; spells like teen spirit

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a-dauntless-daffodil · 7 months

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i am not allowed to watch the newest ep before posting this

ghouls forgive me for over analyzing- but i LOVED how Frankie's place on the leader board doesn't change! The i m p l i c a t i o n s

so the point of the growing ghoulia ep is both Ghoulia and Draculaura are feeling a lot of pressure to do really well at their school stuff:

Ghoulia because zombies in general have a hard time squeezing all the extra stuff that would earn points, and she wants to be first to top the chart. Draculaura, fresh from the ep where her dad was worried her witchcraft would make her life harder, wants to 100% prove she can be a witch AND do well in her other stuff.

(ohhh the DElicious irony of that urge pushing her to accidentally do the thing she NEVER wanted to do- hurt monsters with her magic- i AdORE every time she draws the line of I Will Not Hurt People With This. i LOVE the look at how she realizes Ghoulia shouldn't have to compete against MAGIC along with everything else- AND AND AND how they both decide to be little less frantic about leader boards. we don't even see what the final redone results are! Because that's the point- they aren't THAT important! without the time spell there's a good chance ghoulia stayed in 1st this time, but the episode doesn't care, and the meta of that is vrvrvrvvrrbrrbrbrbrbr)

where was i. Oh yeah, Frankie!

they are second to last before the new points are tallied up- just above Ghoulia- and they're STILL second to last after the new calculation is done, this time just ahead of Heath!

First tally: 1 Drac, 2 Spec, 3 Heth, 4 Lag, 5 Claw, 6 Man, 7 Frank, 8 Ghoul

Second Tally, before drac jumped ahead suddenly: 1 Ghoul, 2 Man, 3 Claw

Second tally after drac did her thing: 1 Drac, 2 Ghoul, 3 Man, - - - 7 Frank, 8 Heth

(forgive, i cannot take scream caps right now)

WHY IS THAT EXCITING??? BECAUSE>>>>>> everyone else that we see DID move on the board. but not THEM!!!

and the only extra curricular thing we see them part of in the ep? the only thing they do that could get them points? It's something they already do and like.

It's a queer club- Frankie, the only openly non-binary monster we've seen, who introduced themselves with their preferred pronouns- there is no way they're doing a queer club for points. they're there because they want to be, it's fun, it's something they enjoy-

AND THAT S THE THING

so MANY of the kids at monster high are trying to live up to something! or prove something!

Cleo needing to earn a sliver of the respect her big sister gets

Duce trying not to let down the new Gorgon tradition of school excellence

Draculaura desperately wanting to make her dad proud AND be a witch AND earn enough positive interaction so's not to start decaying

Toralei and HER mom who is..... yeah....

heck even Spectra mentions bad grades could get privileges revoked by her family

Clawdeen doesn't have pressure from her dad (or mom, obviously) but she does struggle with wanting to fit in and belong in the monster culture she's still really new to- she's solidly in the middle range for spirit points, showing how active she is in school unlife- and several of her eps are about learning NOT to focus too much on fitting in or going with the monster flow. Instincts. The push to ignore them sometimes for her new home and peers is sTRONG.

but Frankie?

Frankie's got brilliant brain bits. They're smart, perceptive, sometimes VERY intuitive without noticing it-

yeah they have a permanent case of the stumbly clumsies and their brain sparks make them zone out sometimes- and they've literally only been alive for a few months so there's a LOT of normal everyday stuff they don't know about, and...

...... that rarely seems to bother them?

They're made from famous and talented monsters, they know it and are HAPPY to show off all their cool brain bits

and so far they haven't ever worried about living up to those monsters' reputations or legacies. their parents made a teen stuffed FULL with smarts, but getting amazing grades isn't something Frankie frets about?

they are SECOND TO LAST on the LEADER BOARD and they STAY THERE

the implication, the unspoken thing about all that is-

Frankie was made to have fun.

They're here at monster high, also to have Fun. To experience stuff. Make friends. Learn things, sure- but learn things they like, at their own pace

this could change if we ever see their parents but- but for NOW, the way things have been shown-

Frankie at least doesn't seem to be feeling any pressure to be anything more than what they already are. And that's really. Very. Wonderful to see

#mhg3 #monster high g3 #frankie stein #ghoulia yelps #draculaura #BLARGH #REEEEEEEEEEE

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nellasbookplanet · 22 days

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Book recs: fairies

Fey, fae, fairies, faeries - pick your spelling, the fair folk are an undeniably popular trope in fantasy, and can be portrayed in wildly different ways, from cute pixies, to terrifying creatures of lore, to handsome and romantic beings of fairy tales. This list is a wild mix, all of them featuring fae or fae-like beings as central characters.

For more details on the books, continue under the readmore. Titles marked with * are my personal favorites. And as always, feel free to share your own recs in the notes!

If you want more book recs, check out my masterpost of rec lists!

Borderline (The Arcadia Project trilogy) by Mishell Baker*

Urban fantasy mystery. A year after a failed suicide attempt that cost her both her legs and her film-making career, Millie is recruited by a secretive organisation that works to control traffic to and from Arcadia, the land of faries, and given the assignment of tracking down a missing nobleman of the Seelie Court in Hollywood. Bisexual main character, excellent if you like me enjoy reading about deeply messy women.

Phaeton by Rachel Sharp*

Jack and Rosie, couple and hackers, just got their hands on a brand new device: the phaeton, a phone which, despite its crappy parts, is seemingly capable of doing the impossible. Utilizing their skills, they quickly realize it works not through technology, but by being remotely controlled by a living creature - a fae. This revelation throws them into a war between the fae of old and a new type of fae, able to withstand iron and looking to exploit their fellows through this advantage.

Rosemary and Rue (October Daye series) by Seanan Mcguire

Urban fantasy mystery. October "Toby" Daye is a changeling, half human and half fae, who, after having been burned by both sides of her heritage, has retreated to a "normal" life, away from the faerie world. But the murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back in, a curse forcing her to take on the mystery and find the murderer. While I found the first book a bit weak, the series does get better from there on, with engaging characters and interesting mysteries.

Knife (Faerie Rebels trilogy) by R.J. Anderson

Young adult. Young Knife is a Hunter, providing for a group of faeries living inside an oak, their population slowly dying. Long ago, their people lost almost all their magic, and without it they are doomed. But Knife isn't one to give up; recruiting the help of Paul, a human boy living nearby the faery oak, she is set on discovering the secret of - and solution to - her people's missing magic.

Among Others by Jo Walton

Magical realism. Growing up with a half-crazed mother, Morwenna found solace in two places: reading science fiction novels, and playing with the spirits of Wales alongside her twin sister. But after their mother tried to twist the spirits to her own whims with deadly consequences, Mori is sent off alone to private school, where she attempts to come to terms with what happened. This is less "teen girl on big adventure" and more "what happens after the trauma of adventure", with it being partly left up to the reader whether the fantastical elements are read as real or not.

Gossamer Axe by Gael Baudino

Centuries ago in Ireland, Chairiste Ní Cummen was trained in the secrets of music and magic. But her pride was her downfall, trapping her and her lover in the land of the Sidh. Only Chairiste escaped, hoping to one day win her lover's freedom in musical battle with the fairy that holds her captive. Now she is Christa Cruitare, harp teacher in the modern world and all but resigned to her loss. Until she comes across a great new music: heavy metal. Taking one last chance to win her lover's freedom, Christa sets out to gather other skilled musicians and bring them with her in her final battle.

In the Jaded Grove by Anela Deen

After years of war, pixie soldier Simith is tired of bloodshed and secretly sets up a meeting to discuss peace. But he’s betrayed and forced on the run - right through a door to another world. Meanwhile, Jessa is on her way home when she encounters a man about to be killed, and intervenes to save his life. With that simple act, the fate of the two - and that of the war - become interlinked. While I found the general execution of this one a bit weak, the concept and characters are interesting, and it’s a fun take on the portal fantasy genre.

Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng

Catherine Helstone's brother Laon has traveled to Arcadia, the dangerous land of the Fae, and has since lost contact with her. Worried sick and desperate for news, Catherine embarks on the perilous journey herself, but on arrival she fins herself isolated and in danger of the Queen of the Fae, who is hard on her brother's heel.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett*

Historical fantasy. Emily Wilde is a professor who prefers the company of faeries, dangerous but bound to rules she can understand, to that of humans, who she finds inexplicable. Working on her faerie encyclopedia, she travels on a research expedition to the faraway Hrafnsvik, hoping for some solitary months of study. Her hopes are dashed when Wendell Bambleby, rival scholar and possible faerie in hiding, arrives on her doorstep. But Wendell's aggravating presence is far from Emily's only problem, as the Hidden Folk of Hrafnsvik turns out to be far more dangerous than expected.

The Watchers by A.M. Shine

Horror. When her car breaks down, Mina tries crossing a forest by foot. As the sun goes down she finds herself lost with something dangerous closing in; at the last second, a woman appears and urges her into a bunker. Inside is a room with a mirrored wall, in which a group of strangers, stranded just like Mina, huddles through the night. Outside in the dark, something malevolent watches them through the glass. Will the group ever be able to escape the forest? While I found the characters somewhat unconvincing, this is a spooky story with fascinating lore.

The Call (Grey Land duology) by Peadar Ó'Guilín

Young adult horror. After having scorned the fae, Nessa's nation has been cursed: every teenager will, at some point, be called into the Grey Land for 3 minutes and 4 seconds before being returned. 9 out of 10 are returned dead. Trying to keep their country alive, children are sent off to training schools to prepare them and better their chances of survival. Her legs having been twisted by polio at a young age, Nessa's chances are worse than most, but she is determined to make it through her call alive.

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher*

Horror. When her grandmother dies, Mouse takes on the task of clearing out the old woman's home. But as she arrives at her grandmother's home she realizes her mistake: her grandmother was a hoarder, and Mouse has her work cut out for her. As if this wasn't bad enough, among the things left behind Mouse finds her step-grandfather's journal, describing various horrifying encounters. All nonsense, Mouse, assumes - until she starts making her own encounters in the dark forest surrounding the house.

Faebound (Faebound series) by Saara El-Arifi

Elven sisters Yeeren and Lettle have grown up in the shadow of a forever war, one as a soldier and the other as a diviner and teller of prophecy. But when Yeeren makes a fatal mistake and is exiled, the two leave their familiar world for the first time - and end up with the mythical, and believed extinct, fae. Here they must juggle their own loyalties and hearts with political intrigue as they try to find a way to survive and return to their home. While I didn’t personally dig the romantasy vibes of this and found the elves and fae could’ve been more interesting, if you like epic fantasy with heavy romance, both f/f and f/m, you will probably enjoy it.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik*

Historical fantasy with strong fairytale vibes. Miryem's father is a moneylender, but his inability to collect on debts has left his family on the brink of ruin. Desperate and ruthless, Miryem steps in to take his place, and suddenly the family's luck has turned. But Miryem's reputation of being able to turned silver to gold catches the attention of the Staryk King - dangerous creatures who seem made of ice body, mind and heart. In her schemes to survive the King's demands, Miryem's actions ensnare a local farmer's daughter as well as the new wife of the tsar. As their fates are bound together, the three girls may change their land forever, for better or for worse.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Young adult romance. Isobel is an artist with a particular and dangerous set of clients in the fair folk. The fairies cannot create art on their own, and her portraits are highly coveted. But as she paints a portrait for the autumn prince, Rook, Isobel makes a mistake: she paints human emotion into his eyes. This weakens Rook before the fairy court, and in his fury he spirits Isobel away to stand trial for her crime.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

In a desperate attempt to win the heart of the beautiful Victoria, Tristran Thorn makes her a promise to fetch the falling star they both saw crash one night. But to do so, he must enter the land of Faerie, where nothing is as it seems, least of all the fallen star, who isn't very keen on being given away as a gift.

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey*

Young adult. Ellie cares mostly about hanging out with her friend Kevin and pining after her crush Mark, but when a string of grisly murders - all the victims missing their eyes - starts taking place in her town, it’s the start of something ancient and dangerous, as vengeful fairies battle for immortality. Set in New Zeeland and based on Māori mythology.

Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir

Novella. When Floralinda was first locked in a tower by a witch, princes kept coming to try and save her. But none of them made it past the dragon on the first floor, let alone the monsters after it, and now the supply of willing princes seems to have dried up. Starting to grow desperate, Floralinda captures and makes a deal with a small fairy for it to assist her in escaping the tower.

A note: all these Holly Black books are set in the same universe and do on occasion cross over, but can be read independently.

Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales trilogy) by Holly Black

Young adult. Sixteen-year-old Kade, used to traveling around with her mother's rock band, has just found herself back in her childhood home town. Here she meets up with old acquaintances - not all of them human. For Kade has always been able to see the faeries invisible to most humans. Among them is a handsome faerie knight she finds injured in the woods and chooses to help. In doing this, she becomes embroiled in a struggle between two rivaling and highly dangerous faerie courts.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Young adult. Siblings Hazel and Ben live in Fairfold, a strange town where people leave out milk for the fairies and tourists come to look at a fairy prince locked in an enchanted sleep in a glass coffin in the woods. But things have been getting even stranger in Fairfold; the fair folk are getting more agressive, and the glass coffin in the woods gets shattered. As unrest spreads throughout the town, Hazel keeps a secret that may unravel it all.

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of The Air trilogy) by Holly Black

Young adult. When Jude was seven, her parent's were murdered by a spurned faerie lover of her mother's, while she and her sisters were stolen away to be raised at the High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong in this dangerous land. Her struggle is made all the harder by Cardan, handsome faerie prince with a knack for pestering her. As she strives for some semblance of power in this dangerous realm, Jude gets involved with a conspiracy that may change Faerie forever.

Bonus AKA I haven't read these yet but they seem really cool

Sinners (The Fae Feast series) by Eka Waterfield

Niavin isn't just a sidh Lord, he's also a drug lord, providing the fae's drug of choice: toxic human pollution.

Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana

Romantasy. Lore Alemeyu's village is under ruthless Fae rule, trapped within a forested prison. To protect her village, Lore makes a deal with a Fae lord to organize an enchanted library which only a human can enter.

Black Sun Rising (The Coldfire trilogy) by C.S. Friedman

On a planet far away, a priest, an adept, a sorcerer, and an apprentice are drawn together to fight against the evil fae which preys upon humanity.

That Self-Same Metal (Forge & Fracture Saga) by Brittany N. Williams

Young adult historical fantasy. Joan Sands works as a stagehand for William Shakespeare's acting company. Secretly, she’s also blessed by the Orisha with magical powers, and the ability to see Fae. And lately, the Fae are up to something...

Euphoria Kids by Alison Evans

Three teens - one cursed to sometimes be invisible, one who grew from a seed in the ground, and one who has yet to find his real name - find themselves sharing magic and the ability to speak with dryads and fae.

The Wind City by Simmer Wigmore

Old forces are gathering in Wellington, as the displaced iwi atua of legend reappear and decide to make the city their home, and not all of them mean well.

Honorary mentions AKA these didn't really work for me but maybe you guys will like them: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist, Malice by Heather Walter, Poison Kiss by Ana Mardoll, Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

#nella talks books #fairies #i could tag all the books but frankly i can’t be bothered

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phantomrose96 · 8 months

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Hey I have an Abot question!!!

So it’s established that epsers belief can influence their powers, and this is a big for Mob throughout the story - a big lie from Mogami produced a power Mob didn’t previously have, because Mob believed he had it when he was told he did

Does this affect all espers??? Like are you actively writing them this way?

I noticed Ritsu look at the spell tag Reigan use in the latest chapter, and probably put together what Reagan’s last minute plan was - how is this gonna affect how he acts?

If an esper knows belief affects their powers can they try to convince themself something is true so their power will make it true?

I’m so interested in how this might play out since we have 3 teen espers to bounce things off each other potentially

(also do you know/remember is this idea of espers being influenced by belief canon or fanon?)

Okay so!!!

Does this affect all espers??? Like are you actively writing them this way?

Yes. However, how innately powerful an esper is also matters. Like even if you convince a weak esper they have the power to randomly blow up the earth, that's not gonna happen because even 100% of their power isn't gonna be enough to blow up the earth. Mogami's lies to Mob (and Reigen that one time) are carefully scaled. And Mob, being so powerful, has a much higher range of susceptibility. Espers like Teru and Ritsu, being much weaker than Mob naturally, are much more limited in how they're influenced by this. But it absolutely does exist for them.

For someone like Ritsu, this actively works against him. His doubt in his own abilities hinders him. He'd hindered from even sensing auras for most of the narrative, and in part he's hindered by that negative feedback loop. "I'm a weak and useless esper who can't even sense auras" easily becomes self-fulfilling. While someone like Teru, who has brazen confidence in his own abilities, is bolstered.

Ritsu takes a step-up in his abilities once he started letting the horde possess him, and while much of that has to do with the actual spirits piloting him, he gets much better at honing his own abilities because of the newfound confidence in himself that he can. (Meanwhile, when he's shattered and at his lowest following Reigen around, he's barely an esper at all.) And in the latest chapter, when he's using his power and Teru's to confront Mogami, he importantly pulls this out as an assertion of confidence - in himself, and what he needs to do to make all of this right - and it's enough to knock the wind out of Mogami's sails.

I noticed Ritsu look at the spell tag Reigan use in the latest chapter, and probably put together what Reagan’s last minute plan was - how is this gonna affect how he acts?

Yup, Ritsu has figured out what happened. That'll be explored in coming chapters. There is, in my opinion, some moral conflict around the whole thing. Thematically, trust--and specifically exploitation of trust--are at the absolute center of the narrative (Can you tell by the title?) Mogami and Reigen, as foils of each other, are both immense liars. Are some lies okay? Is this a lie, considering Reigen stating it made it true...?

I’m so interested in how this might play out since we have 3 teen espers to bounce things off each other potentially

Honestly I think there's some DEEPLY funny potential of like. One of them trying to do something stupid and risky and commissioning the other two to hype him up into believing he can do it. Endless hell potential for Reigen at the center of it.

(also do you know/remember is this idea of espers being influenced by belief canon or fanon?)

I actually think it's just my own idea, haha! Unless I like subconsciously absorbed it from somewhere. I just really like the idea of psychic powers being extremely mentally influenced. And like mp100 already uses that theme, via how Mob's emotions impact his powers of course. But more specifically I just like the idea of "oh these powers come from your mind? well then they REALLY come from your mind. If these powers are psychic then they're tied right down to the core of your psyche."

That kinda thing presents so many fascinating areas of exploration. A depressed esper who's lost confidence in themselves truly becomes incapacitated. Delusions of grandeur are not actually delusions, because in matters of psychic power, only what's in your mind counts. Brainwashing, indoctrination, become massively more terrifying when a psychic is involved. I just think it's neat.

#abot #a breach of trust #thanks for the questions!

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roachleakage · 8 months

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I really used to enjoy Danny Phantom as a teen, but looking back on the show - especially knowing what we now know about Butch Hartman - I really can't say that it's aged well for me. It certainly has its good points - the villain cast being one of the biggest - but there's a lot about the show that doesn't quite gel, or worse, is so distinctly Hartman that it's hard not to see his smug, manipulative, conservative Christian face all over it.

One of the things that bugs me the most is how the show will exaggerate things to drive a certain ideological point home. Fairly Oddparents does this too, of course, but it's in a setting where the entire tone is zany and comedic, so it's easier to chalk up to Standard Cartoon Logic with a dusting of Hartman's distorted worldview.

Danny Phantom, on the other hand, tries to balance that same level of exaggerated 'comedy' with a genuine amount of drama and Cool Superhero Stuff, and it makes the placement of those exaggerations stick out like a sore thumb. Like the fact that in the first episode Sam's "ultra-recyclo-vegetarianism" means she eats literal dirt, in an episode where we're clearly being led to see vegetarianism as an unbalanced extremist position held by radical hippies who don't understand what a Balanced Diet(TM) is.

I have a lot of feelings about this episode, but they can be summarized with "Sam did nothing wrong." In fact, the only reason the school's decision to try vegetarian food is a "problem" is because they deliberately paints it as disgusting and inedible as possible, using the excuse of Sam's suspiciously vague (but assuredly extreme) dietary label to imply that She Is Really Just That Unhinged. It's a choice that comes off as ignorant as it is mean-spirited, and I'm not even a vegetarian.

Mostly, though, when it comes to delivering morals, the show sticks to a tried-and-true format: A character does something "wrong", the thing has unintended consequences that they end up having to fix, and by the time everything is set back to order they've learned a valuable lesson in why they shouldn't do that.

This is a formula that works well when the consequences of the character's actions make a modicum of sense, or are at least thematically related to the original slip-up. A classic example of this format in action would be The Sorcerer's Apprentice, which has a wizard's apprentice decide to try using magic to do his chores for him, only to learn the hard way that he doesn't have the needed expertise to actually manage the results of his master's spells.

Fairly Oddparents used this formula a lot as well, and to my recollection, it works for the same reason the shenanigans in The Sorcerer's Apprentice do: Timmy isn't just breaking rules, he's messing with reality-altering magic. Of course the consequences are exaggerated and unrealistic. But Danny Phantom tries to use this same format without the benefit of a conveniently generic supernatural plot enabler, and as such, a lot of the "consequences" feel tacked on if not entirely forced.

One of the most glaring examples is in S1E6, when Tucker's idle wish that he shared Danny's ghost powers unwittingly reaches the ears of a genie*, who then grants him exactly what he wants. He then proceeds to use his new powers to do all kinds of petty bullshit, and eventually the wish gets corrupted - not because of what he actually did, mind, but because Desiree's wish-granting just works that way - he turns into a monster and Danny ends up having to turn him back to normal. At the end, Tucker concludes that he messed up by envying Danny's powers, envy is bad, and he's not going to do that anymore.

*Sort of. She's technically a ghost, but works like a genie.

The thing is... none of this really happened because of envy. Tucker wasn't even acting on his feelings at all - he just happened to idly wish he had ghost powers in front of someone who could grant them to him. There are definitely lessons to be learned here, like how it's healthier to articulate your negative feelings than to stew on them until they bubble up and fester, but the show isn't going for any of that low-hanging fruit. No, only the most banal and straightforward Christian values deserve to get shoehorned into this plot.

But perhaps the most egregious example is the introduction of Dan Phantom, Danny's evil future self who is spawned when Danny... decides to cheat on a test. Yes, you read that right - an ordinary childhood mistake, which Danny was tempted to make due to nigh unbearable pressure to keep good grades despite spending most of his time fighting ghosts, is what causes him to start down the path of becoming the most dangerous villain the setting has faced to date.

To be fair, this wasn't delivered as "cheating on tests will send you down a slippery slope to mayhem and murder". No, the reason any of this happens is even more ridiculous: Cheating on the test causes Danny's family to be in a local restaurant during a catastrophic explosion, and wracked with grief by their death, he convinces fellow ghost halfling Vlad to basically tear out his conscience (which he happens to be able to do) and then he tears out Vlad's ghost half, merges with that, and becomes The Worstest Guy Ever, Just So Bad You Guys.

Danny fights the guy and manages to beat him (as you do), and then, scared straight by this vision of what he's capable of becoming, comes clean about having cheated on the test. If this sounds like a Fairly Oddparents plot... yeah, it is, it was a whole two-parter and everything. But more infuriatingly, this entire plot had nothing to do with the actual incident that supposedly kicked it off.

I mean, there certainly can be negative consequences to cheating on tests. For one thing, you might get caught and get in trouble (although that's arguably less a 'consequence' and more 'another person's choice in how to react'). For another, possibly more compelling reason, taking shortcuts on a test can cause you to rob yourself of valuable information that you could have learned by doing things the hard way, and which you might need for an even more crucial situation down the road. But none of those consequences involve turning into a horrible person, even in a grounded, non-cartoony sense.

And frankly... cheating on a school test is really just not that big of a deal. Standardized tests, especially of the type we started using in the wake of the No Child Left Behind act, are fucking terrible at aiding in providing a good education. Which, may I remind you, is what school is actually supposed to be for - not for rating students on how honest and hardworking they are. But, you know, whatever, Butch.

Anyway, this happens a lot. It would legitimately be faster to list the episodes that don't follow this format, at least early on. Sometimes the formula works better than others, though even when it is relatively tame, the "values" that the show keeps trying to impart often leave a bad taste in my mouth. What kid needs to be taught that if they ever hang out with the "popular" kids, they're betraying their real friends? Or that it doesn't matter what other problems they have in their life, they just need to put down the video games and apply themselves and they'll get amazing grades?

Butch Hartman, fundamentally, is a man who has convinced himself he understands children's problems despite all evidence to the contrary. Danny Phantom reflects that both in the way the show grasps at straws to generate moral crises, and the ways it distorts even real moral challenges into distorted caricatures of themselves. I'm not surprised the fanfic scene seems to be 50% fanon at this point - the version of this show that exists outside my fond teenage memories is just not good.

#danny phantom #long post #like I *really* hate to be That Bitch but. this show has fuckin Issues.

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