#『 the unicorn / bonds. 』 ❝ they mean the world to me. ❞

[masonmtxo]

Feels like Summer

Words: 3k

Summary: what started out as a holiday fic turned into girlie getting broody

Notes: please leave feedback, it really means the world and is such a motivator 🩷

•••

You'd never felt more relaxed in your life, the sun beating down on your skin as you laid on the lounger beside the pool, the heat making you sleepy, despite the chaos taking place only a few feet away from you.

A stark contrast from your pure state of bliss, Mason could only describe the fun being had in the pool as absolute bedlam. There were excitable screams from children in all directions, a niece (though he wasn't sure which one) was clinging to his back as she squealed, before her grip loosened and a little pink swimming costume clad body dove onto the unicorn float beside him. Poppy's little face spun to meet him, a huge grin on her face as he playfully grabbed hold of the float she was now sat upon, dragging it through the water behind him as his heart soared at her gleeful screams.

Don't get him wrong, he loved playing football, but the extended period of time he got to spend with his family under the sun during his summer break was his definition of perfection. Nothing could beat the feeling of spending his days being the fun uncle, acting like a big kid with his nieces and nephew, competing with his brother to be their favourite. He was in his element, splashing around the pool and playing games until they were all exhausted, heading inside for a snack and a nap. And in Mason's case, a cuddle and some loving with you. Sometimes you'd get involved in the chaos, his nieces adored you and would beg and beg until you'd jump in with them, sometimes telling Mason it was "girls time" and he wasn't allowed to join in. But for the most part you stayed in the dry, letting Mason and Lewis act as kids entertainers and tire themselves out trying to compete with each other.

You watched from your place beside the pool, eyes covered by sunglasses, exchanging words with Debbie every now and then as she sat on the sun lounger beside you.

You're not sure why you chose to blurt it out so abruptly, but you couldn't help yourself, heart soaring as you watched him interacting with his niece, "he's going to be the best dad."

Debbie took a sharp intake of breath, whipping her head round to look at you and peering over the top of her sunglasses, "are you...?"

Her words drifted off as you quickly stopped her,

"oh no, no, no," you hurried out, not missing the disappointment that washed over her face, "I just can't help but get broody when I see him with kids."

You and Debbie had always been close, she had treated you like her own from the minute you had met and over the years you had formed a close bond. There was something about the way her kind eyes bored into you that always had you opening up to her, something that her son had inherited too.

"He's in his element when he's with them, isn't he?" She smiled softly, her heart clenching as she watched you watching him, overcome with gratitude that her baby had found someone who loved him as much as you did. "He's always been good with kids, even when he was young all the littlens seemed to be drawn to him."

You nodded, taking a sip of your drink before turning to face her, breaking your eyes away from Mason as he began tossing Summer up in the air, "He keeps dropping hints about having a baby. I caught him looking at baby United kits on his phone the other day so I know he's ready."

"So what's stopping you?"

"I dunno, I guess with the move up North and having to re-jig my whole life, I felt quite unsettled for a while and there was no way a baby in the equation would have been practical," you shrugged, unable to avert your gaze from him, not wanting to a miss a second of the sweet display.

Debbie hummed in agreement, sensing you still had more to say.

Sighing, you carried on, "part of me is selfishly happy he didn't play much this season, as bad as it sounds," you were embarrassed to admit it, feeling guilty about the way you felt, but it was the truth, "It meant I had him around a bit more when I was feeling down. Don't get me wrong I'd move anywhere with him if he needed me to, but I don't think I fully comprehended how big of a change it would be for me. I've only just started making friends that aren't other partners of the players, wnd even with them it took me an age before I didnt feel like the new girl."

"Oh sweetheart," she reached across the beds to take hold of your hand, squeezing it in hers, "you know you could have always called, I would have been there in a heartbeat to come and keep you company."

"Mase did keep saying in the beginning that you would be happy to come up and stay for a bit, but I just didn't want to be an inconvenience you know" you paused, taking comfort from her warm hand in yours as you finally opened up about a years worth of turmoil, "he was the one who was getting hammered publically, he was the one who had to start off again at a whole new club. I just wanted him to worry about himself for once, not me."

"He always worries about you, he called me a lot in the first few months as he had a feeling you weren't settled but you were refusing to admit it," Debbie's voice was soft, motherly in a way that made you feel comfortable enough to divulge all your inner thoughts and fears.

"Bless him," you smiled as you turned back to look at him, now teaching the girls how to do star floats on their backs, "I remember one time l'd had a really bad day, a group of the girls who l'd been getting friendly with had met up without me and I was so sensitive, cried about it when I saw them all together on instagram," you laughed, "and he was so sweet, kept asking if I wanted to move back home and he would see if he could commute from London because he could tell I was unhappy."

Debbie laughed, shaking her head with a smile as it was something he had also mentioned to her in one of his panics. She had shut him down instantly, telling him to not be so dramatic and it was just a big adjustment.

"I think he was worried I would break up with him," you spoke softly, admitting something that you hadn't actually vocalised before.

Remembering the way he was on egg shells with you for weeks, doing everything he could to try and make you feel like Manchester was home.

Debbie didn't respond, just gave your hand another squeeze in acknowledgment. She knew it was something he had agonised over, sometimes breaking down into tears as he poured his heart out to his mum over the phone, worried he was making you unhappy by forcing you to leave your life behind for him. Debbie had reassured him repeatedly it wouldn't happen, and she had been right. It was just a bump in the road, and with his recurring injuries and subsequent time off the tearful calls had become less frequent, the extra time you had been allowed to spend together helping you settle into a new normal.

By the time he had gone back to training full time, you'd found your rhythm, making friends through Anouska who had kindly taken you under her wing and introduced you to all the best coffee places and parks to walk Ace in, the puppy Mason had bought to make you feel safer and less lonely when he was away. It had taken time, but you finally saw Manchester as home, loving the city more than you thought you would.

You settled into a comfortable silence for a while before Debbie spoke up again, still holding your hand in hers, "You know when you two were house hunting after moving up there he asked Lewis to find options that were listed as family homes," she smirked, eyebrows raised suggestively as you turned to look at her.

"I knew you'd want to go back to the grandkids topic," you giggled, shaking your head at her lack of subtlety, another trait Mason had taken from her.

"Can you blame me? I'll never say no to more babies in the family," her smile was infectious, making you return her grin.

"We did discuss a bit when we were house hunting. I didn't want to buy something so big to be honest, purely because the amount of cleaning it would need," you groaned, being reminded that you worry had come to fruition, "but he made a good point and said it's going to be the house we have kids in, so may as well buy one that's ready for that step."

"And are you ready for that step?"

"Yeah," you nodded, feeling sure of yourself, "he's been ready for the past few years, it's been me that's always had my foot on the break. But for the last few months the feeling just hasn't gone away, I keep going over to Anouska's just to get my baby fix with Lumie," you laughed, "and every time Stacey hands Honey over for a cuddle I struggle to give her back."

"You better hurry up and tell Mason then," she teased.

"Tell me what?" You both turned to see the man of the hour pulling himself up out of the pool having caught onto the last few words of your conversation.

Releasing her grip on your hand, Debbie shuffled up from her seat, "I'll leave you two to talk."

Watching her go, you would help but roll your eyes affectionately at the little spring in her step as she rushed over to the other side of the pool where Tony was sitting with a beer, clearly excited to fill him in on the prospect that they may soon be getting another grandchild.

Mason was watching you, taking the opportunity to drink in your bikini clad body while you were focused elsewhere, admiring the curves of your body and the glow from the sun on your skin.

"Go on then," he broke the silence, "what have you got to tell me?" His head cocked in question.

"Come here?" You asked, opening your arms to invite him to lay with you, figuring there was no time like the present and if you didn't tell him he would spend the day pestering you until you inevitability broke down to pressure.

"I've just got out of the pool," he warned, glancing down to his wet torso when he noticed you were transfixed on his body, a slight pink dusting over your already flushed cheeks.

"Don't care, want a cuddle," you murmured, smiling as he carefully plopped on top of you, head resting on your chest as his left hand trailed up and down the side of your body. His wet body cooled you instantly from the layer of heat the sun had given you, goosebumps covering your skin from the combined sensations of the cold and his gentle touch.

You sat in silence for a while, gathering your thoughts while enjoying the feeling of having each other close, the last time you had an opportunity to spend time with him had been in bed that morning. You had awoken to day light flooding into the room having forgotten to close them the night before in your desperation to get each other into bed. Your neediness hadn't passed, knowing you had to make the most of your time together before spending the day surrounded by his family. He had fucked into you slowly from behind, whispering how much he loved you into your ear until you were both spent, followed by another quick fumble in the shower before getting ready to meet the others for breakfast.

The kids had stolen him after that, so you made sure to enjoy the moments you had with him during the day, even if they were few and far between sometimes.

“So, you gonna tell me what mum was talking about?” He broke the silence after a while, fingers tracing over your stomach and you couldn't help but smile at the irony.

"I want a baby.”

His head shot up from your chest instantly, wild eyes searching your expression, "Are you serious!?"

"Yeah,” you nodded slowly, “I've been thinking about it for a while, every time I see you with kids I feel like I’m going to explode. But that's only if you're ready too.”

He laughed, the grin on his face probably the biggest you'd ever seen, happiness radiating through his brown eyes, “You know I've always been ready to have kids with you.”

“I know,” you face was apologetic, reaching out to cup his cheek and trace a gentle path across his flushed cheek, “and i'm sorry for making you wait so long, I just felt like bringing a baby into the world when I was feeling a bit all over the place wasn't the best idea.”

“No I get that, it wasn't the right time last year,” he agreed solomley, though a smile was threatening to burst through, “I know we spoke about kids and how we wanted them soon when we moved into the house but I was always happy to wait until you were ready too.”

“I felt ready all along in terms of our relationship, like if it happened accidentally last year I never would've had doubts or felt rushed. I just didn't feel ready to start actively trying you know? Felt like we had a lot going on and the pressure would've got to me I think."

"We don't have to put any pressure on it, even if it takes time," he reassured, "the baby making is the fun bit anyway." His cheeky grin made you giggle, loving the way he always knew exactly what to say to relax you and make you laugh. "And if you have second thoughts and want to wait for a bit before we remove contraception that's fine. We can do everything at your pace.”

You shook your head softly, he was so unbelievably caring you felt your stomach clench with love, "no I don't need anymore time to think," eyes flitting away from him to admire a bird circling the sky above you,

"It's something i've been thinking about for months now. I thought I’d wait and see, to see if the feeling went away once summer started and you were home all the time and I wasn't so lonely. But if anything it has got worse, I've never been so broody in my life.”

"Yeah?" His voice was soft, his eyes a little bit watery as he struggled to contain the love he felt for you in that moment.

"Yeah," you confirmed, mirroring his expression.

He rested his head back on your chest, trying to steady his breathing as his heart hammered in his chest. You were finally saying everything he had been waiting to hear for the past year, excitement pulsing through his entire body at the prospect of getting to become a parent with you.

"I want two, maybe 3 kids I think,” you murmured.

"Oh at least 3 for sure, the more you let me have the better," he grinned teasingly, his chin resting on the valley between your chest so he could look up at you adoringly.

"You're gonna be the best daddy in the world," you hummed, stroking the back of his head through his wet locks.

"And you’ll be the best mum,” he whispered, pressing a series of kisses to your chest, trailing his lips up until he reached your neck, “wanna go practice making a baby?"

"Mason, I just spoke to your mum about wanting a child, I'm not disappearing off with you, she will know exactly what we're doing," you groaned, gently grasping his face and pushing him out from the crook of your neck in an attempt to stop him getting carried away.

Mason barked out a laugh, "Babe, mum knows if she wants another grandchild we're gonna have to be having lots of sex, probably even more than usual," he wiggled his eyebrows at you suggestively, trying to charm you into letting him have his way with you but you were holding firm.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean hiding away to have a shag while on a family holiday, when all your nieces and nephews are here as well."

"You let me fuck you last night," he grumbled, "and this morning."

"Yes, while everyone was in bed Mason," you chastised.

"Baby they aren't stupid, they know we don't go in our room at night and play scrabble til we fall asleep," his voice was teasing, letting you know he was only playing around with you.

"That's beside the point, Mase. If we disappear now you may as well stand up and make an announcement across the villa we're going for a quick fuck."

"I mean I wouldn't be opposed to doing that," he shrugged, playfully biting at the palm of your hand that was still cupped around his face, "at least we wouldn't be disturbed."

"You're an idiot," you couldn't help but laugh at him, flicking him on the shoulder in jest.

"But you love me and you wanna make loads of babies with me," his smirk was full of teasing, dipping his head to bite gently down on the swell of your breast knowing it would wind you up further.

"Mason, do you remember you said I could decide otherwise at any point?" You asked pointedly.

He nodded, his smile not dropping.

"Don't test me," you countered.

With another sharp laugh, he pulled you in for a kiss, cupping your face in his large hand, his lips sweet and soft against yours before pulling away, "fine, I'll wait until tonight then."

🩷✨☁️

Thank you for reading! Please leave some feedback if you can, it means a lot and motivates me to keep posting!

[mrs-barnes-rogers-writes]

The Pull Of You - Part 1

Marvel

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader x Bucky Barnes

Soulmates - Feeling the pull between each other indicates a bond. A kiss confirms it.

Summary: You meet Steve and Bucky on a Tuesday. Steve ignores the soulmate pull, Bucky can't. There's something about you that neither can shake, even when you're wearing one of Clint's t-shirts and your unicorn slippers. After weeks of slipping into your bed Bucky decides he can't hold back anymore. He's telling you after the mission, whether Steve is all in or not. When you don't come back from the mission, they are both ready to burn the world down and the team have the matches to help. But is everything as it seems and have they been betrayed by someone on the inside.

Chapter Summary: You hate it when people make you get your head out your ass and realise what's right in front of you. Especially when it's involving a certain two super soldiers.

You're antsy on the way home. That's what Clint calls it anyway. He's eyeing you as you flip a knife between your fingers and it doesn't take him long to notice it's Bucky's knife. One given to him during his time in Wakanda. He's pulled away as Nat, his own soulmate calls him to the back of the jet, a worried look on her face. He goes to speak but Nat puts her fingers to her lips and signs instead.

"Did she say anything?"

Nat and Clint had dropped you in France to assist French intelligence with a high level threat that involved Chitauri weapons being smuggled through the Paris tunnels. The S.H.I.E.L.D agents had clashed with the French authorities so Hill had asked you to step in, smooth things over and take the lead. Nat and Clint had picked you back up as they passed by from their own mission in Spain. You'd been your usual self when they'd left you but you were definitely not yourself when they picked you back up.

Clint shook his head in response to her question, he paused for a moment and signed back.

"Maybe something happened."

"I already checked the first reports coming in and her body cam, I'm not seeing any issues, apart from Agent 17 being an asshole."

"Well, that's nothing she can't handle."

"Is it me? Am I being too overprotective? Is she still mad at me?"

"No, my love." he signed back, "maybe she's thought about what you said."

Nat lowered her eyes, still disappointed in herself at how she'd lost her cool when you'd try to avoid the conversation about Steve and Bucky, and speaking to them about your feelings a week earlier. She'd slipped into bed with you in the early hours of the morning following your heated conversation an apology on her lips.

A muffled "Fuck off Romanoff" had come from the lips buried in your hair. Bucky. You couldn't look her in the eye as he pulled you back towards his chest, his metal arm around your waist. You didn't look up until his soft snores were heard, expecting her usual smug expression, but you were met with a sympathetic one and the lump in your throat that you'd been fighting since that morning was back and tears ran down your face. She stroked your cheek and kissed your forehead, holding you as much as she could without disturbing Bucky. It took a while for you to stop and when you did she realised it was because you'd cried yourself to sleep.

Your door opening brought another guest and she'd half expected one or both of her soulmates to peek round the door, but it wasn't Bruce or Clint. It was in fact a 6ft 6" blonde super soldier. Well he definitely wasn't one of hers. She couldn't hold it in this time and smirked as she slipped from the bed.

"Don't say it." Steve whispered.

"I don't know what you mean Rogers, I wasn't going to say a damn thing."

"Liar."

"It was Castle wasn't it, he got under your skin."

"Goodnight you damn know it all."

Nat quietly left the room as Steve took the vacant spot in your bed.

Back on the jet Nat and Clint watched as you huffed and placed the knife back into the sheath built into your suit. You pulled out a tablet from the charge point on the wall of the jet and started to type furiously.

Maybe something had happened on the mission.

TAGLIST

@imdoingbetternow

[cursedonyx]

Wand Woods and Cores

In planning my fic, I did a lot of research into HP and HL lore to try and make it as accurate as possible. In doing so, I had a wonderful time trying to picture what wands our emerald trio had, and came up with the following. Included below are the woods, cores and lengths of their wands, as well as notes from Ollivander on what each wood symbolises, and I highlighted the parts that I thought most relevant to our trio. I also threw in some floriography for the woods, which I personally think match our trio marvellously.

Dracaena – 10 ½ inches

Blackthorn wood

"Blackthorn, which is a very unusual wand wood, has the reputation, in my view well-merited, of being best suited to a warrior. This does not necessarily mean that its owner practises the Dark Arts (although it is undeniable that those who do so will enjoy the blackthorn wand’s prodigious power); one finds blackthorn wands among the Aurors as well as among the denizens of Azkaban. It is a curious feature of the blackthorn bush, which sports wicked thorns, that it produces its sweetest berries after the hardest frosts, and the wands made from this wood appear to need to pass through danger or hardship with their owners to become truly bonded. Given this condition, the blackthorn wand will become as loyal and faithful a servant as one could wish."

Symbolism - Transition, Sudden Change, Death

Core - Phoenix Feather

This is the rarest core type. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn or dragon cores to reveal this. They show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike.

Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalise, and their allegiance is usually hard won.

Ominis – 11 ¾ inches

Cedar

"Whenever I meet one who carries a cedar wand, I find strength of character and unusual loyalty. My father, Gervaise Ollivander, used always to say, ‘you will never fool the cedar carrier,’ and I agree: the cedar wand finds its perfect home where there is perspicacity and perception. I would go further than my father, however, in saying that I have never yet met the owner of a cedar wand whom I would care to cross, especially if harm is done to those of whom they are fond. The witch or wizard who is well-matched with cedar carries the potential to be a frightening adversary, which often comes as a shock to those who have thoughtlessly challenged them."

Symbolism - I live but for thee, Think of Me, Prosperity, Longevity

Core - Unicorn Hair

Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard.

Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may ‘die’ and need replacing.

Sebastian – 12 ¼ inches

Aspen

"Wand-quality aspen wood is white and fine-grained, and highly prized by all wand-makers for its stylish resemblance to ivory and its usually outstanding charmwork. The proper owner of the aspen wand is often an accomplished duellist, or destined to be so, for the aspen wand is one of those particularly suited to martial magic. In my experience, aspen wand owners are generally strong-minded and determined, more likely than most to be attracted by quests and new orders; this is a wand for revolutionaries."

Symbolism - Excess of sensibility, fear, Lamentation

Core - Dragon Heartstring

As a rule, dragon heartstrings produce wands with the most power, and which are capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon wands tend to learn more quickly than other types. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner.

The dragon wand tends to be easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, though it will not incline that way of its own accord. It is also the most prone of the three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental.

Masterlist

Wandlore

[seobseobs]

who's there

junhan x reader (no prns) • 0.5k

platonic; angst , comfort

[ tw LOTS of self loathing and swearing , not really a happy sha la la ending because it just doesnt work that way , not proofread , im going to be real this is a vent of me struggling w cluster b el oh el ]

back to suite

one thing about you is that you hide . a lot . always at your friends' doorstep and always one step ahead in making plans together , you seem to be there for people . but you would come back from the dates and the misery of your world slaps you in the face .

there is always something wrong . something good is happening ? won't be too long , you know it .

you pride in the fact that your friends could not for their life tell what you are thinking despite bonding for so long . but you also despise the fact that this means you have to be vulnerable . that no one would come to your feet because "you seemed off today ." no one to knock your door simply because they miss you . you have long acknowledged the fact , deeming it your responsibility to tell your worries , but never too deep , never too raging .

but today was one of those days where it hurts way fucking more . hell , it wasn't just today . it was yesterday and the day before that too . your world is crumbling and you still have to muster up a lot of courage to simply get told that you matter ? fuck no .

everything is your job . even making sure your loved ones see through you is your job . you hate it . you hate it . you hate it .

gritting through your teeth to keep your feelings at bay , you walk fast towards your home , not really caring if you bumped into strangers' shoulders at this point . just one more minute and all hell will break loose . just one more minute and you can fucking scream at the mean characters on the screen instead of you . just one more minute and—

"y/n?" , a gentle voice calls out to you .

"what the fuck is it?" , you didn't intend to sound harsh , and the furrowed eyebrows on the person's face makes you want to punch yourself . gaze lowered in utter embarassment , you string out apologies in hopes of not losing another relationship .

he doesn't know , you remind yourself . he doesn't get it , you suck in your breathe to salvage what ounce of face you had left .

"oh just— i thought you'd be up for a cafe hangout with me and jungsu this thursday," hyeongjun finally replies , one hand rubbing the back of his neck . "they just opened and i know you like carrot cake so," he shrugs at the end of the sentence as he explains further .

one beat of silence .

you collect yourself to answer properly whilst still in such a state but before you manage to say anything , he interrupts you . "or you can just hold one finger for yes and two fingers for no." it's not even much but you feel a slight weight off your chest , raising one finger up and the corner of his lips turn upwards as he throws a little fist to the air .

hyeongjun makes his exit known , giving you a small wave after he tells you to have a good day . you copy his actions , eyes staring into the distance hard and long until after his figures disappear .

knock knock .

five more minutes before all hell break loose .

✒ the message that i want to get across is that making someone's day less shittier means so much more than you think. so try even if you won't make their life upside and all cherries and unicorns and make them completely happy. making someone's day less bad is as still as big of an effect as making someone day more good. anw please request me lmao ily mwah mwah

[andreal831]

sorry for all the asks, i just like word vomiting thoughts on shows. this is about Legacies though so uh, sorry for spoilers

i really liked Hope and Landon especially in s1 and s2. the concept of Hope who's immortal and has all this death based trauma finding love with someone who is also unkillable was really appealing. and then s3 immediately depowered him and made him human. the minute we started seeing him figure out other powers besides resurrection, they take them away. it really bothered me.

and while i have many issues with s3 (mostly all the fake Landons and useless Ethan), there is something about Hope refusing to let him go after he died (wish it felt like the show wasn't punishing Hope for having sex) that did make sense to me. Her growing incredibly toxic in s3 does work me, i really like her stubborn refusal to let go especially since she's already lost several people that her moving heaven and earth to try and save him makes sense to me.

i just wish they hadn't totally fucked everything up elsewhere. the fake Landons were just annoying and the fact that real Landon doesn't appear until s4 where Hope kills him to kill Malivore is messy. i like their goodbye scene (though it's a shameless Buffy rip off). Hope turning her humanity off afterward? makes sense considering how bad she'd gotten in s3. and then the fucking humanity arc dragged out too long. i'm glad it was at least her family that brought it back but it took way too long. for context, Hope flips it at the end of 4x04 and turns in back on (after a really weird fight scene with herself that makes no sense and also looks bad considering this is the same universe that did doppelgängers just fine) in 4x15. the arc did not need to be 11 episodes. the only bits of no humanity arc i really liked was the road trip with clarke (he's such a flop villain but i do kinda like him) and the early lizzie & hope sire bond stuff before lizzie runs off with aurora. hope's humanity arc reminded me so much of elena's in that in dragged on too long and neither actress (with love to both of them) played it as bitchy monotony.

lastly on landon in s4, i hated it, i hate the limbo stuff so fucking much. alaric and necromancer being there felt like hell, they'd worn out their welcome (alaric should've died when hope beat him up, im sorry, and necromancer should've been gone post s2). the only bit i remotely like is landon getting closure with his mom. the rest was blue tinted filler in an already boring season.

anyway, im sorry if this tangented and made no sense. anyway guess my overall point is that legacies s1 and s2 are the only seasons i find pretty good start to finish. the other two are messes pretty equally.

I will say one of my issues with Legacies is I prefer a closed world in my supernatural fandoms. Meaning, we have a set number of supernaturals and it can't vary much from that. TVD and TO do a good job with this. Yes, they add hybrids and heretics, but it's just a combination of what we already have, and it sort of makes sense. They even started to lose me when they introduced sirens and the devil, but again, they related it back to witches.

Legacies introducing phoenix and unicorns and everything else under the sun was just too much for me. But I do like the idea of Hope being with someone who could keep up with her, even just with mortality. She already lost so much and having someone she couldn't lose would be a comfort to her. I also could understand her becoming incredibly dependent on that. After all, she's a Mikaelson. They love their toxic, codependent relationships. A lot of this had to do with the fact that they were all immortal and could only count on each other living forever with them. So, again, it makes sense for Hope to develop this.

You lost me a little bit with the fake Landons, but I have heard Legacies is essentially a rip off of Buffy. I've also seen that the no humanity lasted far too long. I know everyone loves a heartless, badass woman, but it just makes me sad. Hope deserved better than a life where she felt the need to turn off her humanity at only, what, 18 years old? I've talked about how "no humanity" just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. They claim it means no emotions, but then are showing they are annoyed or frustrated or angry, all emotions. It's basically just them not caring about consequences and making the worst possible decisions.

I also have no idea who Clark is. But I have seen people like Hope and Lizzie and were excited to see Aurora back.

The limbo thing I have heard about. I feel like the show just kept getting rid of the afterlife but then essentially bringing it back but calling it something else.

I think it's so interesting that you only like the first two seasons. So many people have told me I just have to get to the later seasons and it gets better in Season 4. Again, I think people just like Hope behaving like a knock-off-version of Klaus. Which is just not my cup of tea.

Thanks for explaining all of that. I don't mind spoilers since so many of my mutuals love Legacies so I've seen a lot of it through edits.

[verbforverb]

Eurovision ranking, part two! The set of entries I have stronger opinions about. You will note this post is uh somewhat more verbose than the last.

AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT REBLOG

Cat2: Your choices are not my choices, but I respect them

Croatia: My initial note on this was "I appreciate that they are trying to make a point which I’m sure will be clearer when I can look up the translation but also this is, sort of, 4 different songs in one, and not in a good way." And I still stand by all of that. Love the energy! Love the mood! Parts of it are even catchy! Unfortunately, do not actually enjoy the experience of listening to this song.

Finland: This has grown on me more than I expected. I still wouldn't say I like it, but I don't mind it as much as I thought I did, the live performance is extremely compelling, and I do at least respect its choices. While I wouldn't seek it out, but it's definitely not forgettable, and I could see myself liking it eventually, maybe. But whichever way it definitely brings a certain something to Eurovision.

Ukraine: I am so close to liking this song. It's got that Bond energy, momentum, lyrically I've certainly heard worse. But the synth is just a bit grating to me still. There are also several parts where I swear it sounds like a Wilhelm scream, extremely distracting.

Israel: On first listen, the hysteria set in somewhere around the first "power of the UNICORN" and did not let up at any subsequent point. What IS the power of the unicorn? The first thing that comes to mind is the power of being an attractive young bi woman who is happy to be a no-strings third in an otherwise straight relationship. For all I know that IS what she means, it certainly adds another element to the song if so. I loathe the attempt to make "femininal" happen like few other things in this competition and resent this song for making me hear it multiple times. Musically it's all over the place, it feels like at least two and maybe three different songs trying to be one thing. And yet. AND YET. It is catchy! Noa Kirel blows the performance out the goddamn water! I guarantee I will not forget about any element of it, not for want of trying! Makes no goddamn sense. Compels me though.

Spain: So I do get the appeal. The layering of the sounds, the repeated lines, the almost sampled-sounding chanting which is a cool effect. Maybe this just needs longer to grow on me. For whatever reason, probably a large part underexposure to the style, I find this hard to listen to. Which is a shame, because it's the most interesting thing Spain has entered in years.

Serbia: I want to like this so bad. I love the aesthetics, the energy, the ridiculous 90s video game synth intro, and I can get behind what it's going for, thematically. Unfortunately I cannot deny the experience of my ears, and I do not like listening to this song. But I very much appreciate its existence!

And finally, Cat1: songs I feel positively about! With an actual ranking!

15 Cyprus: This would have faded into the mush of broadly-forgettable Eurovision ballads for me if it had not been extremely, inescapably reminiscent of Britney Spears' If You Seek Amy. But, like, a lounge version intended for background listening in a fancy restaurant. Once heard, this cannot be unheard, and that definitely gives the whole experience a certain indescribable something, the only reason I've ranked it so high.

14 Romania: Unfortunately there was no way to divorce this song from what I watched in the national final. This is a real shame, because I like this song! It's a jazzy waltz, we never get those, it has drama and range, and the guy can pull it off, vocally! In another universe I could see this making my top 10. Unfortunately, this is the world that we live in, and it contains... that whole situation.

13 Czechia: This was so close to being in the "I don't like it, but I do respect it" category, but you know what? I do sort of like it! The spoken word / chanting is just about on the right side of annoying for me, and you can't deny it is memorable. And you have to have a deranged song about feminism and/or national solidarity from central europe, it's the rule.

12 Poland: LOOK. I am not immune to a thirst trap bop. Is this song and its background as an entry ridiculous in all ways? Yes, absolutely. It's still stuck in my head now and forever. Plus I find the "VISIT POLAND. WE HAVE SWIMMING POOLS AND HOT GIRLS AND... FRUIT" music video extremely funny.

11 Slovenia: I'm not saying this is good. But I am saying a solid chunk of the foundations for my music taste were 00s pop rock, and this is a pitch perfect example. In Slovenian. It's upbeat! It's catchy! It's got a drop! If the lyrics are bad I can't tell! Just a fun time all round.

10 Moldova: Aren't you tired of being nice? Don't you just want to go apeshit? God I love a good flute/whistle line. Sometimes you are creeping through the woods towards a giant bonfire circled by sillhouetted dancing shapes, human? more than human, or perhaps just somewhere off to the side? you are unseen yet all-seeing, and you crave the perfect soundtrack to that moment, and you know what? Moldova have you covered.

9 Belgium: This is great fun, it's got those synthy disco vibes, and it's lyrically touching as well. A bit of a dark horse in that it's crept up my rankings every time I've listened to it. It's just a little too one-note - not a unique problem for Eurovision songs, but to me it kinda feels like listening to the same song two or three times in a row.

8 Norway: Sometimes, a song can just be a good bass drop and a fun hook. It's not clever, but it is absolutely a good time. Similar to Belgium, it just doesn't do quite enough to climb higher - feels a bit repetitive - but what it has is very pleasing.

7 Sweden: I do fully enjoy most things about this song. The tune is good, love the synth, Loreen is a fantastic performer and I'm here for any staging which can be described as "surprise! you lift up a paving stone and discover a eurovision performance". There's just one problem, which is that it occasionally falls back on the most godawful rhyming, and then hits it as hard as possible complete with musical emphasis and pauses. Like, first listen, "It will come a - day, when we will find our ..." "don't say way" "WAY". And then by some combination of singing style or mixing choice those rhymes were all I could make out at first, like "mumblemumble PAIN mumblemumble RAIN mumble YOUUU mumble TATTOOO", and, just, infuriating. It's a real shame because I really do like everything else about the song but those bits are so incredibly distracting. The only other note I have is that the repeated "all I care about is love" just makes me think of the song from Chicago, which is a VERY different vibe.

6 Portugal: Love the energy, love the high-tempo cabaret feel, catchy as hell, and god, what a performance! I don't know whether to be impressed, terrified or both. The only place it falls down for me is that it just doesn't lend itself, really, to humming or singing along, because it is SO high energy and high range in every sense. Instead I'm just sort of watching open-mouthed, so the song itself doesn't stick with me the way some of the more conventional entries do. But without doubt a great entry.

5 Australia: First things first: it is incredibly weird to me that I managed to straight up forget these guys existed after listening to their music quite a bit some 8 years ago. I do like them! And this! They have this crisp progmetal sound that really works for me, and you always have to love a keytar. Add to that, I think these guys can pull off a performance, god knows they've been hyping up crowds for long enough. My only complaint aside from the harsh vocals (see also germany - why?? you can do metal without them! they won't take away your hardcore card!!) is that repeatedly asking "have you ever done anything like this before?" completely out of context - and not given more context that I noticed - is one of the most baffling ways they could have chosen to open the song, and mostly makes me want to yell "like WHAT, voyager? anything like WHAT?" But that's a detail.

4 UK: To anyone accusing me of pro-UK bias, I would say that this year and the previous year are the only times in the past decade, or maybe more, I would have ranked us above the bottom 5. I would not go so far as to say this year's entry was worth the wait, or worth having had to know that Teenage Life exists, but I do love it a lot. It's a bop! A minor key bop! It's catchy! It has deranged energy! It's got an inexplicably London spoken word bit that I even think adds to the song! Ranked only on craft, it wouldn't make the top 10, but on sheer enjoyment I have to have it up here.

3 Austria: When we first listened to this, I was making noises about how it was just kind of a meme, while my wife was fully into it, proving that ultimately she is right about all things. This has grown on me so, so much to the point where I love it both as a song and a meme, and we do just occasionally say to each other in the worst attempt at an american accent imaginable, "who the hell is EDGAR?". It's catchy, funny, it has a great synth line and it's about creative control and reward in the music industry! What more could you want? No idea how this will play on stage, but I'm officially a fan.

2 France: Ough. The moment I saw this I said "that's @docholligay bait" and you know what, I don't even care because it's fantastic. The confidence? The voice? The BASS? It's simple, elegant, and it could not possibly be more French if she was holding a baguette and smoking four cigarettes simultaneously. Even the fact that she's Canadian adds to this, because there's somehow something even more French about leaning into it all so hard despite not actually being from France.

1: Germany: You knew it was coming. Germany has hosted the biggest metal festival in the world for over 30 years, and is just now thinking "hmmm, we could send some metal to Eurovision." It was worth waiting for. This is maybe the only time I've ever been pleased Germany will auto qualify, because I do NOT think this will play well with the general public, but I love it.

Brief interlude while I'm a nerd: extremely Nightwish-esque instrumentals - to the extent that I spent the first two listens just trying to figure out which song the instrumental line reminded me of, maybe Bye Bye Beautiful or Storytime? - with the crisp vocals. I don't love the harsh vocal parts, but they're a minor enough part of it that I can deal. Lyrically excellent, love a song about the duality of humanity and the ways people choose who to be and how to act from the same set of parts. There are exactly two songs this year where I still find myself mulling over the words and the other one is a criticism of the music industry through the medium of spiritual possession, so. I didn't even think until @keyofjetwolf put it in her comments that the piano / rhythm playoff mirrors the lyrics, but I like it even more now if possible. One of my first comments was "never thought we'd get metal in eurovision, the guitar solo would take up most of the 3 minutes" and then Lord of the Lost released an extended version with an extra minute-long guitar outro, so I feel especially vindicated. To conclude: hell yes.

[entamewitchlulu]

new ask game

i made a list of all the major projects i have made significant notes/writing/materials about. send me a title and i'll tell you what it's about/something interesting about it

transcript of the list under the cut

Original Stuff

Unicorn Anthology Our Chosen Curses High Witchery The Girl at the Edge of the World Chaotic Symmetry Emblems and Heralds Dreamkeeper Not Where We're Going The Library of Uncountable Mysteries White Fire, Copper Earth Wisp Unicorn Field Guide The Youth

Fanfiction

d i s p e r s i o n Record of the Yokai's Bride Yu-Gi-Oh! RED: Duel Spectrum Something Eternal The Seven Mysteries of [ ] High School Year of the OTP A Mermaid's Heart Arc of Magic City Gods Destiny Factor Dragon x Slayer Dragonriders AU Duskshipping Faerie AU Lancer Yoko AU Arc V Magical Girls AU Arc V Pokemon AU Puppets and Pendulums Retainers Seasons of Raydiance Swaying Mists The Taste of Spring Vampire AU Ocean Kings Sweet Melodies The Final Reaper's Game of Nanami Chiaki whatever souls are made of Katarina Swap Every Thorn has a Rose The World in the Space Between Us the blue moon is beautiful tonight City's Heart Shards of Red Merlin Rewrite Byleth Backstory Maiami Queens Arc V Manga Rewrite Arc V Infinite Essence of Hope King's Soul Forgotten Bonds Universal Constant Invisible Girls My Heart, a Star Not a Place But a Feeling On the Path to Eternity Katacule Next Gen The Other Side of the Coin The True Meaning of Power The Revolution Where Only I Am Missing Earth Heart Tokyo Mew Mew A Votre Gout Tokyo Mew Mew Next Gen Khonsu's Box Yu-Gi-Oh! N Overlap When Aker Walks Again Yu-Gi-Oh! EXO Yu-Gi-Oh! ROM Flower's Blooming Our Stars

Games

Pokemon Glitter and Gleam Liminal Library Lost Mines of Phandelver Lunaria Magical Girl TTRPG Paladins of the Heart Untitled RPGMaker Horror Game Westwend RPG What Lies Within (the RPG) Yu-Gi-Oh! TTRPG Sibruil Homebrew Setting Accidental Harem Protagonist Such Sweet Sorrows

Nuzlockes (for comics or stories??)

Alpha Sapphire LeafGreen Pearl / Platinum Ruby Silver X

Comics

Muse N'Things

Fanfiction I'm Not Sure I'm Still Jazzed About Writing

Pendulumshipping Bandit/Prince AU Crystal Sonatas Demon of the Apocalypse Pendulumshipping Fae/Bard AU The Rose Witch Tatsuya's Ribbon When Wishes Wither The Revolution Where Only I Am Missing Heart in the Cards Jigsaw of the Heart

[alleykatart]

I kind of made a new beefy daddy and if anybody needs me I'll be mooning over my new cute troll hunk, Tomas. (As will Everett, I'm sure.)

Just a little fun render to show the current look of various characters for the household. While I adore Rhys and what he brings to a group, I think he definitely fits better with the Whitethorne Pack for now... which left a spot open for a handsome hunk to pop up and take his place.

So, from left to right!

Tomas, the half troll, is a recent arrival to Aster's household. He's obviously strong and confident, but also a sensitive soul who loves music and art, which made him an outcast among his more warlike Fae family. With his difficulty disguising himself as human, he's found a home and community in Maison de Vernais.

Everett, the half Dryad, is one of Aster's dearest friends and took over maintaining the grounds of Maison de Vernais when Aster was gifted the manor home and the surrounding lands. Mischievous and a consummate flirt, Everett has yet to meet a mortal man he could resist.

Theros's Fae blood is from generations ago, though it was enough to give him a weak, but unpredictable and unstable connection to magic. He was sent to Aster's household with his twin sister Dahlia, and not long after his arrival found himself drawn to Wren like a moth to a flame. The Queen of Spring has declared Theros to be her champion, making him the Vernal Knight, a role he will need to learn to grow into if he hopes to keep Wren safe from the shadowy creatures that stalk him.

Wren is a unicorn trapped in human form, transformed against his will by a powerful Autumn Sidhe lord who sought to protect Wren from the Wild Hunt. Despite many attempts from some of the most powerful Faerie Kings and Queens, none have been able to return Wren to his true shape. The Autumn Lord placed him in their half human champion's care, Aster de Vernais, the half human daughter of the Queen of Swans. Though greatly diminished, Wren has found that he still has a connection to his magic, and has been able to use it, and the bond he shares with Theros, to protect them both when creatures of Nightmare threatened.

Aster de Vernais, known to the mortal world as Aster Vildrym, is the transgender daughter of the Queen of Swans, one of the most powerful of the Wild Fae. Able to transform into a swan, so long as she has her token, Aster is blessed, and cursed, with prophetic visions that often come unbidden when looking at reflective surfaces. Having navigated the worlds of both Fae and Mortals since her early teens, she's opened her home to others stuck straddling this world to help impart what knowledge she can.

Dahlia is Theros' twin sister, and the Fae blood that is weak in him is powerful in her, rivaling Sidhe lords in its strength. As a Fae blood witch, her family petitioned the Queen of Swans for aid, and having seen the ruin that could come from unchecked magics in the mortal world, it fell to Aster to train them both. She's found a friend in Aster, and in Andrea, the Brownie.

Andrea, the brownie, more or less came with the house. After centuries of service to the Queen of Swans, maintaining Maison de Vernais, it would take an army to remove her. While Aster is the head of household in name, Andrea is the true lady of the house, keeping things tidy, but cozy, and providing a loving, warm presence in the home. Nosy and a bit of a meddler, Andrea never means harm, and so long as you keep her supplied with sweets and give her plenty to keep her hands busy, she won't get up to mischief with Everett. She's closest with Dahlia, though she dotes on her poor little Wren.

[jvstheworld]

My Ted Lasso Re-watch: S1E6 (part 2)

Two Aces

Dani Rojas, like Sam, must be protected at all costs.

Cristo Fernández was a footballer, until a knee injury meant he had to stop playing.

Jamie either really doesn't like Dani (how dare he) or gets skittish when people raise their hands in front of him in quick movements because of his dad.

Unlike Jamie, the first thing Dani does is praise Sam for the pass he made.

Dani has his own catchphrase. Protect him.

Roy just loves to torment Jamie. First in the locker room and then on the training pitch. He needs help, possibly therapy.

Keeley likes unicorns, go her. If you like a notebook, buy it. If it does what you need it to do, then why should it matter what's one the cover?

Another reason why tabloids are often misogynistic pieces of trash. The whole 'Old Rebecca' thing is something that tabloids would do in real life. And it's fucking stupid. They just want to rub salt in the wound of Rebecca's pain and humiliate her further.

Everyone one needs someone to support them like Keeley does for Rebecca.

Jamie? Bonding with Dani? Say it isn't so.

Ted said aces 4 times before it lost meaning. And yes, semantic satiation is contagious, because it happened to me while watching the episode.

Keeley does her research. I love a person who does their homework. But I do need to hear Roy do that rap. The world needs it.

Dani is suspiciously injured by an unknown entity? We got ghosts here. Someone call the Winchesters... Oh wait, they killed one of them of in the most unceremonious way possible. (Yes I am bitter about that).

Beard knows what insults Henry uses when having a tantrum. Either Ted has told him about it or he has witnessed it.

Although the Red Sox and Cubs are baseball related, they were kind of big news while I was studying my journalism degree.

The film debate, I have only seen one Martin Scorsese film, Hugo from 2011 where he was the director and producer.

The UK also loves alliteration as well as rhyming.

Deceptive advertising, we have laws against that now.

Isaac, Colin and Richard have the best reactions to finding out about the 400 ghosts. The joke would not have landed without them.

Roy commanding the team to do the sacrifice, because he is the Captain and he respects Ted a lot more after what happened with Jamie.

[areadbheir]

𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐔𝐋𝐓 of 𝘜𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘖𝘙𝘕 𝘖𝘝𝘌𝘙𝘓𝘖𝘙𝘋

❨ ₁ dossier‚ ₂ timelines‚ ₃ rapport‚ ₄ lore ❩

𝐨𝐧𝐞. #AREADBHEIR is an independent, private, highly selective and mutuals exclusive writing blog for great knight renault from unicorn overlord

this blog is 18+. please do not follow me if you are under 18!

𝐭𝐰𝐨. shipping isn't my main priority, but it might happen. still, it will require a LOT of plotting and will not be with any mun or muse under the age of 21.

i am very open to other sorts of bonds, though! because it isn't just romance when people talk about ships-

i should also note that i will accept mains and exclusives! i am also open to affiliates!

𝐭𝐡��𝐞𝐞. all triggers that i can think of will be tagged with #trigger. please DO tag #trypophobia for me. let me know if you need something specific tagged

𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫. i am known for writing metas across the blogs i have. in the wise words of a friend:

with this in mind, the metas i write are portrayal specific to this blog, so please give them a read! i know i can be rather wordy- anyone who has followed me elsewhere may know this, but for my first time followers, worldbuilding is one of my favorite things to do. i am particularly fond of analysis of character psychology.

𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞. to the point above, i do have other blogs! i am all over the place and need to learn to time manage.

and by this, i mean i work 32-40 hours as a registered nurse in an inpatient psychiatric unit. i am busy, i am tired, and i can't keep letting my focus go all over the place. inevitably, it still may do that because i have a tendency to be scattered, so if i don't get to something immediately, it isn't you, it's me!

also related to that, i do love communication! i struggle with reading the room (it's the Autism tm) and so if something's up or if you're bothered, please be direct with me! i will not take offense, i quite appreciate feedback so that i can be better as a person! in return, i will communicate back! i am learning to curate my space (after 10+ years of being on tumblr).

𝐬𝐢𝐱. there are people i won't interact with due to various reasons. i won't interact with genderbent versions of characters, people who are Real Life Individuals (not counting fictional depictions like in the typemoon franchise or whatnot because those really have nothing to do with the actual individual they're supposedly based on?).

please stay far away from me if you fall under the following categories (i'm censoring things because god knows tumblr just picks shit up idk): proshipping, writing inc*st, p*dophilia, r*pe/n*ncon, are transphobic/homophobic- the usual gross behavior! use your moral compass!

on top of that, i am a firm believer that we learn from the media around us. full censorship is just as dangerous as the aforementioned things- the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows! please refer to this post which essentially summarizes the gist of what i'm trying to explain.

𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧. anyway, hello, i'm percival / percy, i am 30+ and use he/him pronouns exclusively! i am a hobby artist (it's my side-gig from nursing) and sometimes i post my art, tagged #whats my art tag considering i constantly forget my art tag if it's fancy. please do not repost my art without my permission.

mutuals, feel free to ask me for my discord, since i am much easier to reach there!

i look forward to writing with you!

[legends-of-time]

The Strength of a High and Noble Hill (Outlander)

Chapter 38: Lay Up Trouble for Yourself

Masterlist

1954

"Ah, Brian, there you are." Frank greets as the young eight-year-old boy pokes his head around the corner of the door leading into Frank's study. "I've got something for you."

Brian shyly walks over to where Frank sits behind his desk.

"This is a book on Civil War history. It's important to widen your horizons through academia and literature." Frank explains earnestly.

Brian looks down at it blankly.

"Well, come on. Isn't it fascinating?" He urges.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks Dad." Brian mumbles. "What about the Scottish stuff?"

Frank baulks at this. "What do you mean, Brian?"

Brian's face reddens. "I-I might've had a look a-at your documents and I, um, saw you were looking a-at a rebellion in Scotland?" He looks down at his feet.

Frank narrows his eyes at his putative son. "You shouldn't be coming in here without my permission, Brian."

"Sorry." Brian mumbles, looking up. Frank feels the corners of his mouth pinch at that in annoyance. "I just– I-I liked their kilts."

Of all the aspects of history Brian could be interested in, it had to be that.

Frank scoffs spitefully. "A group of men running around in skirts?"

Brian blushes. "Erm... I-I just thought that—"

"Be careful," he can't help but comment snidely, "you don't want people to make any assumptions about you."

"Sorry, Dad."

Frank sighs and pushes the book towards Brian. "This what you should be doing. It would make me proud."

Brian takes the book hesitantly and stands there quietly.

"Yes, well, go on then." Frank waves his hand towards the door.

Brian nods and scurries out of the room.

Frank sighs. He never seems to get it right with Brian. With Ellen, it's easy. He knows that he's the only father she's ever known. But Brian had another man be his father even if those memories have faded at his end, Frank can't help but look at him and see another man's child.

He wants to bond with his son and teach him how to be a man. Brian is very attached to his mother and sister in a way that is unhealthy for a young boy. He is hardly ever interested in making any connections with anyone else except for the Abernathy children. Frank feels his face pinch at that. While he's glad Brian has friends outside of their family, he wishes that they were more socially acceptable ones. How else is Brian going to make his way in the world by associating with that crowd?

——

Eighteen years later (also technically a hundred and eighty-four years in the past), Brian stands in front of his Da as he hands him a kilt.

1770

Brian grips the fabric, staring at it wide-eyed as if it's a mythical unicorn. "I thought these were banned. Where did you find this?" He asks his Da.

Brian softly strokes the distinctive diagonal-weave pattern, the browns and greens woven together. It feels heavy but soft in his hands. He can't help but well up at the sight of it.

"Just because they'd taken our right to wear 'em, dinna mean I wouldnae make preparations to have my own on hand fer when they threaten us." Da declares.

Brian has an idea of what's caused this. He knows Governor Tryon has been reminding Da of his obligation to the crown, his mission to hunt down and kill Murtagh along with raising a militia to quell the Regulators if necessary. He threatens Da with losing the ridge if he doesn't follow through with his vow to the British crown that he made when he was given the land to settle on.

"Then shouldn't you wear it? As our leader?"

"Aye, I ha' another. I kept a spare wi' te thought – te hope – tha'," Brian hears his voice wobble with emotion before he takes a breath and puts a hand on Brian's shoulder, "ye’d return te me again and I could pass on te pride o’ our clan, our family name."

Would his Da be proud of him if he knew? If he knew Brian's nature?

Brian's heart clenches with emotion. "Da, I—"

"Son, ye carry my name, my blood. Yer a Scot and yer should wear it proudly."

Brian softens at that. He thinks of the draw, the urge he had felt his whole life towards the highlands and how Dad had always squashed it, criticising him for it and now he has the chance to embrace it.

"Brian, Tryon wants his Scot, let us give him a Scot."

Brian resolves himself and nods.

——

As in keeping with an old tradition of the Highlands, Brian helps his Da build a giant woven cross, one like he had seen at Castle Leoch many years ago. He says they need to be sure of the loyalty of their men if a war is coming. This makes Brian nervous, the thought of war considering all he had done to fight against his country's involvement in one in his own time.

Brian feels his eyes well up at the sight of his Da in his Highland garb as he stands in front of the crowd, thinking of how this is the first time he is legally donning his tartan since he watched his countrymen die for all it stood for. Brian strokes his own as it rests on his body. The history in this one bit of fabric.

The crowd gathers as Da lights the cross on fire. Brian's heart is in his throat as he watches his father. His presence. Jamie Fraser has every eye and all attention on him, which is what he wants. Then, he begins to speak.

"In the Highlands, when a chieftain sets ‘imself te war, he’ll burn the fiery cross, sendin’ a sign throughout the lands o’ his clan. It was a call fer his men te gather their weapons, come, prepared fer battle. We are friends, neighbors, countrymen. But we’re nae a clan, and I’m nae yet chief. But I hope that if the time comes, ye will all stand by my side."

No one makes a sound while Da speaks, but Brian looks around at the settlers and sees the men are all standing tall, staring unblinkingly at their leader, and it is clear that they would follow him off the edge of the world should he give the order.

"We canna say wha' might befall us. By we must nae only be willin' ye make oaths te our wives and loved ones, but ye our brothers in arms in this new country."

Brian feels himself freeze as Da stops pacing and stands opposite him, making strong eye contact so he, and everyone around him, know what Da says next is directed at Brian. "Stand by my hand." He holds out his hand and waits for Brian to respond.

Brian thinks back to all the anti-war rallies, the destruction of the registration cards, that he had taken part in, and protesting against a war that America had no part in. Is he really doing this? Should he fight for the existence of a country that's eating itself alive?

But then he thinks of the pride on both of his parents' faces as he stood before them in the kilt and the lack of it from Dad when he had gotten into trouble for his anti-Vietnam war activities despite the fact he was fighting against their own government sending their countrymen to fight and die in a war they had no part in being in. Dad's lack of wanting to engage in what Brian was interested in and instead pushed his own views onto him.

With these thoughts in mind, Brian reaches out and grasps his hand. "I will. I'll stand with you. I pledge you my loyalty." His father urges him to kneel. He kisses the dagger Da holds out to him to seal the oath and stands up, going beside him.

"Captain Brian Fraser." Da announces his new title.

Brian clenches his fist, taking comfort in the pain of his nails pressing into his skin, trying to ease the anxiety he feels.

Da continues his speech. "I want ye te ken tha’ this act we’re undertakin’ forms a bond betwixt us, the foundin’ o’ a kinship in this New World. Just as ye give me yer word, I give ye mine. I will serve ye, as ye are swearin’ ye serve me. And I will nae light the cross again until the time has come fer us te do battle."

The oaths go on, continuing with Roger, Fergus and then each man of the Ridge.

It's not total war just yet but it's definitely heading that way.

——

A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

[elmar15]

About Me!!

Hello, I'm Elmar Espinosa Saldariega.

I was born in the beautiful town of Saba, Malaysia.

in 2013, my journey took a turn as we relocated back to the Philippines, where my pursuit of knowledge continued.

Being the 10th in a line of siblings has given me a unique perspective on life, filled with shared memories and the warmth of family bonds. I'm currently navigating the exciting challenges that come with being part of a large and diverse family.

Education holds a special place in my heart, and I aspire to become a teacher, envisioning a future where I can shape young minds and contribute to the growth of the next generation. Simultaneously, the world of modeling beckons to me, providing a canvas for self-expression and creativity.

One aspect of my identity that fills me with pride is being a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Embracing my true self has been a transformative journey, and I hold dear the connections and experiences that being part of this vibrant community has brought into my life.

My habit is to watch BL dramas.

"My favorite color is sky blue" means that the speaker's preferred color is a shade of blue resembling the color of the sky, typically a light or pale blue.

I want to be rich someday.

When I am bored, I engage in layout, watch, or modeling

GrandPic with my FAM! ❤💕😘

Coinssssssss 😜😁🙌

Slayyyyy please watch (⌐■_■)

My favorite view makes me happy, heheeh. 😄🌄

My only one husband/crush Cha Eun-woo. 💖😊

I like unicorns. 🦄

[booksandwords]

Married to My Best Friend by Riley Hart

Read time: 1 Day Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Quote: “How do I go about getting my card?” “Queer people are magic, baby. We just know. It’ll arrive via unicorn in ten business days.” — Caden and Alex

Warnings: Implied Homophobia

Married to my Best Friend follows Alex Bailey and Caden Hall on their story of a drunken marriage in Vegas, FriendsWhoAreMarriedMoon in Puerto Vallarta and Caden's world-shaking realisation. Alex and Caden are playing on a couple of tropes tied to unrequited love, queer identity and childhood emotional trauma(? look some people should never get married). That may sound heavy but it isn't Riley Hart can play for keeps and through emotional haymakers but that isn't her game here this is just short, fun and kinda sweet. I do wish it was longer, drawn out their tension deserved it.

The prologue begins when they are twelve with Caden introducing them, their relationship and his own circumstances. Moves to them at fourteen when Edward Hall makes some homophobic comments to Caden about Alex and we are shown just how close Caden and Alex are. And ends with them at sixteen Alex experimenting with his sexuality, hurting them in the process and containing the line “Promise me something… that you won’t ever lie to me again, and that we’ll always be best friends, no matter what.” (Caden). Honestly, it's a simple but effective prologue that tells the reader much about their childhoods and bond. I appreciate the way the whole book is written. It feels like they are walking toward each other on a tightrope despite their promises of friendship for life. What creates that tightrope is the damage that losing each would do psychologically. Do we know where this is going? Yeah but it's the ride.

The aborted marriage between Jack and Alex is mutual and perfectly timed, they were both in love with others and it feels like they were carrying to distract themselves from their unrequited attraction. We really never get a good read on Jack with Alex only thinking about Caden and his own doubts and Caden his misunderstood jealously. I can see Jack turning up in his own novella at some point. One of the most interesting in the story for me is Gladys, the woman Alex and Caden meet on the plane. Her story and experiences are so painful but I appreciate her message, one that Caden takes to heart. The whole way Caden comes to his realisation is amusing to me, he's a possessive b**tard.

Despite the short length I still want to add quotes. Including Gladys' story.

“I am. I’m an independent woman.” She smiled. “And I’m glad… that the wedding didn’t happen. Not everyone has a choice or is lucky enough to find the person they’re meant to be with, and even if they do, they don’t always get them. I didn’t end up with the love of my life… his name was Harry. His dad used to work for mine. We were different, and back then, those differences mattered more than they do now— class and such. My family came from money, and his didn’t. My parents caught us together and forced me to break it off with him. I was devastated, but… girls like me just didn’t disobey their parents back then. “I ended up in a… situation, if you know what I mean. It happened before we broke up. We were going to run away together. I packed a bag and went to meet him, but Harry didn’t show up. He’d been hit by a car and didn’t survive. It just about killed me.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “Anyway, my parents wanted to send me away to deal with my situation, and I went, but didn’t do what they wanted. I raised our baby girl on my own and told her all about her daddy.” — I know this is a super long quote but I love Gladys' story. She is one of those rare female characters in an mm romance story who is not related to either of the protagonists but cannot be ignored. She has her own story and message. The start of this is in reaction to Caden asking her "Are you traveling her alone?" (Gladys)

I straightened my arm, looked at the band on my finger. I was married. To Alex. My Alex. I smiled. Why the fuck I was smiling, I didn’t know, but I couldn’t stop myself. My mouth suddenly had a mind of its own, and the bastard was stubborn, because no matter how many times I tried to frown or relax, it didn’t work. — This is a sweet moment for me. This is the start of Caden's realisation. He's just staring at his ugly ass wedding ring and starting to hope it was real. (Caden)

“Did you like it? Kissing me?” “I liked it so much, I ache to do it again.” His response stole my damn breath. I didn’t know what to do, what to think. This would likely backfire big-time. There were so many reasons why I shouldn’t consider this… but it was Caden. — Not the only time Caden makes Alex want to decide to throw caution to the wind and risk their friendship. But this is most tempting. This is after Caden made his move in a serious way. It's the last line that makes this. (Alex and Caden)

[crimsonfacets]

This post acts as both an interest check and a tag dump for The Unicorn / Amalthea. Please leave a 🦄 in the replies (and for multis - muses you're interested in having her interact with), or like this post, if you have interest in interacting with her! Her wiki can be found here.

『  the unicorn / ic.  』    ❝ she will roam. ❞

『  the unicorn / visage.  』    ❝ they will stare unbelieving. ❞

『  the unicorn / insp.  』    ❝ but I'm always dreaming ; even when I'm awake ; it is never finished. ❞

『  the unicorn / aes.  』    ❝ the unicorn lived in a lilac wood ; and she lived all alone. ❞

『  the unicorn / interests.  』    ❝ .. she will remember them all when men are fairy tales in books written by rabbits. ❞

『  the unicorn / hc.  』    ❝ tales of the unicorn. ❞

『  the unicorn / style.  』    ❝ look and see her ; how she sparkles. ❞

『  the unicorn / bonds.  』    ❝ they mean the world to me. ❞

// verses //

『  the unicorn / human.  』    ❝ and I'm afraid of this human body ; afraid. ❞

[kingdomoftyto]

hhHGGKGHGHH... I finished watching season 8... why is the worldbuilding in this show so FREAKING ENTHRALLING TO ME

[desiredcaramellatte]

Yoooo Cream unicorn just came to CRK and it’s amazing 🦄✨

Could I possibly request them with sad child reader trying to give them the best childhood they never had. Child reader never had a real childhood because of strict and neglecting parents and they feel sorry for them and so they decided to give Child reader the childhood they’d always wanted. Just a fluffy/wholesome request please :) like they are bonding/having fun together

And also this can be either Headcanons or oneshot or both. You decide what fits more

Ikr I’ve been feeding them all my jellies and powders and they’ve been getting so much attention from me oml- I love their little voice too.

Why do I keep getting so many amazing wholesome requests habdjeb- I love this so much, I’m going to write both HCs and a one shot for this 😎

One last thing, idk if this is like a human AU or cookies I just wrote what I wrote and it could probably be read as both 🤷.

Cream Unicorn my beloved

Cream Unicorn x child reader with strict parents

Platonic! All the fluffies! Maybe a bit too much fluff help I’m in heaven I want Cream Unicorn to be my parent.

~| You’re always welcome at their carnival. Always. They don’t mind if your parents watch you or come along, as long as they can see your smile, they’re happy.

~| If you’re ever feeling sad, you can count on them to cheer you up. When they saw how neglected you were, it broke their heart. “How could someone be so mean to a kid?” The practically adopted you after that, though in a very weird way. They’re basically your second parent, even though you stay with your first parents.

~| They will introduce you to a lot of other children at the carnival! You’ll never not have a friend, and even if you don’t get along with other children or just don’t want to be friends with them, Cream Unicorn is always there to be your friend. You may find yourself playing a lot of group games with them and the children, like Duck Duck Goose, Tag, and other things.

~| Cream Unicorn is probably viewed as a free babysitter to your parents, so they wouldn’t mind you going off in the day, as long as you don’t have things to do, to spend time with the unicorn. Sometimes you can sneak out at night to go visit your adopted parent, as well.

~| Cream Unicorn rarely leaves their carnival- someone has to keep it up and running, after all- but they make exceptions for you. They gave you a small whistle trained for their ears, and if you’re ever in a pinch or just sad, you can call them using it. Even when they’re far away, they’ll be there for you.

~| Expect a lot of gifts as well. Mostly unicorn themed- unicorn pens, plushies, treats, etcetera. They may also get you some other things if they’re your style, but they tend to stick to rainbows and unicorns as gift aesthetics, because those represent the innocence of childhood and happiness, and these gifts remind you even more of Cream Unicorn whenever you look at them.

~| Cream Unicorn will take care of you better than your parents ever will. They’ll provide you food, water, shelter, toys, fun, happiness, hope, anything you want they’ll get for you, to be honest. If you see a carnival game with a prize you want, they’ll help you out with it until you achieve your goal! They’ve lived at this place their entire life- which is probably a long time according to their biography- and know all the tricks to winning all the games from pure practice and experience.

~| If something were to ever happen that separates you from your parents, they will always be there to help you out. You may not even have to blow on the whistle to get their attention- they have very good instincts and can, most likely, tell if you’re in danger. Kind of like a spidy sense but it’s a unicorn sense.

~| If you’re ever sad and need to cry or rant, they will always be there to comfort and listen to you. They don’t care if they have to drop what they’re doing to do so- their little child is sad, that is more important than anything in this world, to them.

ONESHOT

There are little things in this world that you care about. It was how you were raised- how you’ve taken the world into view. Unlike most children, your parents weren’t your top priority- nor were they on your too five, or even ten. Sure, they may have created you, but did they ever take care of you?

No.

The answer was no.

And you knew that more than anything.

Your arms shook as you paced your way down the road, through the forest. It was a path you knew well, one you took often. The stone bricks planted in the ground were lined with moss and flowers sticking out, betraying it’s old age, and around the road grew trees with moss hanging so low it swept the ground, and bushes with blue berries so shiny it was like they belonged to the richest, finest soil.

Even though the berries may seem tempting to others, food was the last thing on your mind right now.

True, you were hungry, but it was that type of hungry to where you couldn’t eat- your stomach pained and twisted, yet you couldn’t feel even a hint of longing for the berries.

You closed your eyes as you continued down the road, nothing but the moon’s soft glow through the leaves of the trees and the stars lighting your path. How many nights in a row had you snuck out? You couldn’t remember. It was something like a week or two. You had been going out more and more as of late, to visit what you cared about most.

Or, rather, WHO you cared about most.

You would get in trouble every time your parents found out you were sneaking away in the dead of night, every time you feel asleep during the day rather than your small designated sleeping yours, but that only fueled your longing to go and visit your best friend.

Your real parent.

It had started to rain, small droplets pelting your skin and clothes, but you didn’t mind. Being wet for an hour or so was a small sacrifice you were willing to make to get to see them again.

As you approached the entrance to the fair, a large pastel gate that was more than familiar to you, a figure descended from above, that of a unicorn. It jumped down from the arch, prancing around as it’s hooves clicked and clacked against the hard tile of the road.

It came over to you, pastel rainbow hair shaking out as it brayed, before it shifted into a cookie with a puff of pink smoke.

You smiled, watching as the cookie quickly approached you, a soft smile on their face. “Welcome back! Come on, let’s get under something, I don’t want you catching a cold in this rain!”

You quickly head under the arch, and Cream Unicorn shoes you along until you reach the merry-go-round. You take a step onto it, and the rain was blocked out by the roof of the carousel. Cream Unicorn Cookie had followed after you, and they shook out their hair, squeezing it a bit to get the water out, before turning to you with a small smile.

“Do you want to start it up?”

You quickly nodded, and your foster parent rushed out from under the merry-go-round, towards the controls. They lifted up the small protector, before turning some keys, lifting a handle, and pushing a button. They dropped the protector back down, and quickly got back on the carasal just as it had started to go.

You had gotten atop one of the fake unicorns by now, holding onto the pole that went through the middle of it and connected it both to the top and bottom of the ride. You began to laugh as it swirls and twirls you around, and Cream Unicorn stood beside you, watching you giggle with a large grin.

The Carousel continued to spin around and around, the unicorns, both the real one and the fake ones, twirling around with elegance and grace.

When the ride was finally coming to an end, the rain had turned into nothing but a light drizzle, and the clouds had cleared just a small section in the sky, enough to show the moon and a small handful of stars.

Cream Unicorn helped you off the figure, and the two of you sat on the edge of the ride, looking up past the roof and staring at the stars.

You gave a small sigh, and leaned against Cream Unicorn, your eyes drooping with tiredness.

Your second parent wrapped their arms around you, and covered you with their bright, sparkly cape, as they whispered into your ear.

“Sleep tight, little star. You deserve it. You deserve so much more.”