#(the curse of my real life existence be upon ye)

[piratebay]

it should've been totally obvious due to my actual usage of tumblr, but i completely forgot how Deeply Uncool i was at 17 🙃

[my-religion-greek-myth]

Freedom far away -E

There were only 6 dot points for this... didn't expect to put so much story between the points. Never liked slow burn but why am I doing this for my satisfaction of course how to untangle this and where this is going...

Part A | Part B | Part C&D |

Fem Reader X Agatha X Rio

You stood frozen, your gaze flitting between the surreal surroundings and the two women who seemed at ease. Everything around you shimmered with an almost dreamlike quality—the sparkling water, the vibrant lotus blooms, the golden light that poured in from nowhere. It was nothing like the world you had left behind.

Your attention snapped back to the gate. Beyond it, the rain still fell steadily, soaking the ground you had just walked upon. It was as though the storm outside and the serene beauty within existed in two entirely separate realms.

Tentatively, you reached out, your fingers brushing the edge of the gate. You saw your hand clearly, the same as ever, as it crossed the gate back into the rainy day. A cool drop of water slid down your skin, the chill startling against the warmth of the air inside.

What is this? Some kind of supernatural power?

You froze at the thought. You had heard stories of such things as a child—fables about spirits, curses, and the unexplained forces of nature. People spoke of them in hushed tones, weaving tales of mysterious happenings that could not be attributed to the mundane. Superstitions, they had called them, warning children to heed the unseen and never speak to shamans.

But they were just stories, you thought.

You had never seen anything like this in real life or heard of anyone around you experiencing such things firsthand. The world you knew was ruled by reason, by the unshakable patterns of daily life. Yet here you stood, feeling the rain on one side of your hand and warmth on the other, a barrier dividing two impossibilities.

Your heart raced as you drew your hand back, staring at the glistening raindrop trailing down your palm. The contrast was impossible to reconcile.

Behind you, merry laughter rang out, drawing your focus.

"You look like a child who has just seen magic for the first time," Rio teased, her high-pitched laughter bright and unrestrained. She leaned casually against a stone pillar, her soaked robes now beginning to dry under the strange warmth of the space.

"Magic?" you repeated, your voice faltering with a mixture of curiosity and unfamiliarity. You had never heard such a word, and it felt strange on your tongue.

Rio tilted her head, her smile widening as though she were enjoying your wonder. "Yes, magic," she said simply. "Call it what you will—supernatural power, a miracle—but I prefer magic. It has a nice, clean ring, don’t you think?"

"Do not overwhelm her, Rio," Agatha interrupted her tone somewhere between mockery and amusement. She stepped closer, her eyes studying you intently. "Magic is not some whimsical trick. It is power—raw, unpredictable, and utterly unforgiving." Her smile turned predatory, and for the briefest second, her shining blue eyes flashed purple. The strange hue vanished so quickly that you wondered if you had truly seen it.

You could almost feel the unspoken words in Agatha’s expression: And I love it.

Rio clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't frighten her, Agatha. Let her enjoy the marvel of it for now." She turned back to you, her gaze softening but still sharp. "It's rare to see someone so curious. Most people either fear it and run away screaming or refuse to acknowledge it exists. But you…" She trailed off, her gaze sharpening further.

You hesitated, unsure whether to question further, but the words spilled out anyway. "If this is magic," you began carefully, tasting the new word tentatively, "then… what about the ability to command animals? Is that magic too?"

Both women stilled, their expressions shifting subtly, though it was hard to tell if it was a surprise, interest, or something deeper.

"You can command animals?" Agatha asked, her voice soft yet laced with curiosity. You hesitated, feeling the weight of her words. Her gaze was intense, piercing, as though she could see straight into the depths of your soul. Something in her eyes—an emotion you could not place—made your chest tighten.

You nodded hesitantly. "I have always been able to… calm them, make them listen to me. Birds come to me without fear; even the most restless horse will quiet when I speak to it. It is not much," you added quickly, "but it feels… different. None of my siblings can do it. No one I know can."

Rio’s gaze turned calculating, though her smile remained. "How fascinating," she murmured. "Perhaps you are more familiar with magic than you thought."

Agatha’s lips curved into a slow smile, though her eyes remained unreadable. "Magic takes many forms, doll," she said. "Perhaps yours is simply more subtle than what you see here."

The thought left you both unsettled and intrigued. You opened your mouth to ask more, but Agatha stepped forward, positioning herself directly before you, blocking your view of Rio. As you looked up at her, the purple flecks in her blue eyes seemed to glow faintly beneath the shadows, captivating and unnerving all at once.

Her hand brushed your cheek with a gentleness that felt at odds with the intensity of her gaze.

"It's not something you need to worry about now," she said smoothly, her tone like silk. "For now, let us move along. There is much to discuss."

"Are we?" Rio’s voice came from behind you, light and playful, her question more rhetorical than genuine.

Agatha only smiled, turning her head slightly to meet Rio’s gaze. Their exchange was silent yet filled with understanding, as though they spoke in a language beyond words. The ease of their closeness stirred something within you—a strange pang in your chest, sharp and entirely unexpected.

Rio hummed softly, breaking the moment. As she turned, she cast you one last glance over her shoulder, her smile brimming with intrigue.

"I do hope you plan to share more of your fascinating talents, Lady F/N. I am ever so curious."

Agatha directed you toward a house in the surreal landscape's centre. From a distance, it appeared as though the house floated weightlessly atop the lake’s glassy surface. At first, you hesitated, your heart tightening at the thought of swimming to reach it. There was no visible road or bridge, only the water stretching endlessly between you and the house. Beneath the surface, colourful fish darted gracefully in the crystal-clear depths, their scales shimmering like jewels.

Sensing your hesitation, Agatha reached out wordlessly, her cool fingers curling around your arm. She gently pulled you forward, her touch sending a jolt through your body. Before you could resist or gather your thoughts, she linked her arm with yours, her warmth pressing against your side. Your breath hitched, and heat surged to your face.

You had never been this close to anyone before—not like this. The sensation of her skin brushing against yours, the faint pressure of her chest near your arm, was overwhelming. You were certain Agatha could feel the heat radiating from your flushed face as much as you felt it burning beneath your skin.

Your embarrassment began to fade the moment you stepped onto the water. To your astonishment, it felt solid beneath your feet, as though you were walking along a paved road. Each step sent ripples cascading outward, large concentric waves that spread across the surface. The effect was mesmerising, and you stared in awe as you moved forward.

As you walked—closer to the house, closer to Agatha—you became absorbed in the moment. The surreal beauty of the water beneath you and the unspoken connection between you and her made the journey feel like a fleeting dream. Before you realised it, you were standing in front of the house.

The double doors swung open smoothly, revealing Rio standing inside. With an effortless flourish, she pushed both doors wide, a welcoming smile playing on her lips. Agatha released your arm without a word and strode inside, leaving you momentarily unsure what to do.

Rio turned her attention to you, her hand extended, an unmistakable glint of mischief in her eyes. You hesitated, unsure if she intended to help you step inside, but as your hand met hers, Rio’s lips brushed against your skin in a featherlight touch, the gesture both intimate and refined.

Your pulse quickened, heat rising within you at the unexpected intimacy. You tried to steady yourself, but the moment lingered, leaving your thoughts scattered.

Rio’s lips curved into a sly smile as she straightened. "You react so beautifully, pretty lady," she murmured, her voice rich with amusement.

---RAR---

The room inside was unlike anything you had seen before. The walls were intricately adorned with carvings that seemed to shift and ripple when viewed from the corner of your eye. The air felt lighter here, almost alive, as though it responded to the presence of its occupants.

Rio gestured for you to sit, her ever-present smirk softening into something unreadable. Agatha, as always, seemed more restrained, taking a seat nearby. Without hesitation, she crossed her legs with a fluid motion, the edge of her dress shifting slightly to reveal the curve of her ankle and a glimpse of her calf.

You froze, your breath catching as your eyes darted away. The sight startled you—not because it was improper by her standards, but by yours. Women of noble households carried themselves with rigid modesty, their dresses layered to ensure every movement was deliberate and composed. Agatha’s casual display of her leg felt almost brazen, even defiant, and you could not stop the rush of warmth creeping into your face.

Agatha noticed. A soft laugh escaped her lips, low and amused. "Oh, doll," she said, leaning slightly toward you, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Have you never seen a leg before? Or is it just mine that has you so flustered?"

You tried to compose yourself, straightening your posture and avoiding her gaze. "It is… improper," you murmured, though the words felt feeble even as you spoke them.

Agatha laughed again, the sound rich with amusement, a melody of provocation and charm. "Improper, is it? How quaint." She shifted her leg slightly, the movement deliberate, her dress parting just enough to reveal a glimpse of pale skin. The corner of her mouth lifted into a playful smirk, her sharp blue eyes glinting with mischief.

Your mouth suddenly became dry, a tight knot forming in your stomach. You looked away, trying to focus on anything else, but the weight of her gaze was impossible to ignore.

Rio chuckled softly from her seat, her dark eyes moving languidly between the two of you. "Agatha, don't start before we even begin," she said, her voice carrying a note of amusement that betrayed her own entertainment.

Agatha tilted her head, her smirk widening. "Oh, come now, Rio. It’s harmless fun." Her gaze flicked back to you, lingering just long enough to make your heart race. "Isn’t it, doll?"

Rio leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her expression sly. "Harmless for you, perhaps. But our lady looks about ready to faint."

Your cheeks burned at Rio’s comment, and you shot her a sharp glare, though it lacked any real heat. "I’m perfectly fine," you muttered, though your trembling hands betrayed you.

"Perfectly fine," Agatha echoed, her voice low and teasing. She leaned back lazily, crossing her arms over her chest. "How admirable."

The tension between the three of you crackled like a fire-catching dry wood, the air thick with unspoken words and lingering stares. Rio’s laughter broke the moment, light and melodic.

"Perhaps we should actually begin," she said, gesturing with a flourish. "Before our dear Lady F/N loses her composure entirely."

Agatha’s lips curved into a wicked smile, but she said nothing, her eyes still fixed on you as though she could see straight through your defences.

"So," Rio continued, breaking the lingering tension, "you have a rather… unique talent, pretty lady. Taming animals, was it?"

You hesitated, suddenly regretting your earlier admission. "I do not think it is a talent," you said cautiously. "It is simply something I have always done. Birds come to me without fear, and restless animals grow calm when I speak to them. It is not extraordinary."

Agatha chuckled softly again, though this time it was less playful. "You underestimate yourself, doll." Her gaze remained fixed on you, piercing and unreadable. "Extraordinary things often appear ordinary to those who possess them."

Rio leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand, her green robe shifting to reveal a pale wrist adorned with a golden bracelet. Dangling from it were two ornaments: one shaped like a human skull and the other resembling a deer’s. The combination struck you as both unsettling and oddly captivating.

"Tell me," Rio said smoothly, "do they obey you? Follow your commands, even without training?"

You nodded hesitantly. "Sometimes. I do not force them if that is what you mean. It feels more like… an understanding."

"An understanding," Rio echoed, her smile widening. "How fascinating. And here you thought it was ordinary."

There was a weight to her words, something that made your chest tighten. It felt as though she were speaking about more than just animals.

Agatha’s gaze darkened slightly, her blue eyes seeming to catch the faint purple glow you had seen earlier. "Do you know how rare that is?" she asked. Her voice was soft, but it carried an intensity that left you momentarily breathless. "Most people spend years training animals to obey even the simplest commands. And yet you do it without effort."

"It is nothing," you replied quickly, looking away. Their attention made you feel as though you were being inspected and measured. "It is not as though I can summon them at will."

Agatha tilted her head, her lips curving into a slow smile. "Not yet."

You frowned, unease prickling at the back of your mind. "What do you mean, 'not yet'?"

Rio’s laughter broke the tension, light and melodic. "Oh, Agatha, do not frighten her with your ominous musings. Our pretty lady here has barely begun to understand herself. Let her take her time." She turned to you, her expression softening into something gentler but less intense. "But you must admit, my lady, you feel it, do you not? That you are different?"

"I…" You hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The truth was, you had always felt different, even as a child. But hearing it spoken aloud felt invasive, like a secret you had not meant to share. Your parents had warned you never to speak of it; their voices tinged with unease and fear whenever you calmed an animal.

Agatha leaned back in her chair. "We knew the moment we saw you," she said, her voice quieter now, almost reflective. "You are not like the others."

The statement made your stomach flip. "What do you mean?"

Rio grinned, but it lacked her usual playfulness. "What she means, my lady, is that you belong in a world far greater than you know. Whether you realise it or not, you were always meant to stand apart."

The words unsettled you, not because they felt untrue, but because deep down, some part of you already knew them to be right.

A boldness stirred within you as though their presence gave you permission to push back—or perhaps you wanted to prove them wrong.

"I have always stood apart," you retorted. It wasn't your nature to boast, but something about their piercing gazes made humility feel like submission. They were clawing at your very sense of self, and you refused to let them win. "People look up to me—not because of this 'magic,' as you call it, but for my knowledge and manners among the nobles. I stand out because I am refined, and there are always talks about me marrying into the royal house."

Agatha grinned like a cat watching its prey. "Oh, there are certainly talks," she purred. "But people also speak of your ‘calming nature’ with animals." She tapped her lips thoughtfully, her gaze gleaming with amusement. "You are quite famous among the nobles. I will give you that."

"You spoke to other households," you stated firmly, your voice steadier than you felt. "Just as you did to my grandfather." You held Rio’s gaze, refusing to falter.

Her warm brown eyes vanished for a fleeting moment, replaced by an obsidian black that seemed to pull you into a void. It wasn’t just unsettling but captivating, like staring into something ancient and unyielding. The sight froze you in place, your chest tightening under its oppressive weight.

"Ohh, a change of topic," Rio cackled, her laughter sharp, almost unhinged—completely unlike the teasing tone she carried previously. But beneath her theatrical amusement, there was a flicker of something else, something deeper. "I’ll play along, pretty lady."

Agatha tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing at Rio, though the corner of her mouth lifted into a sly smirk. You could see it—the way Agatha’s gaze softened ever so slightly when it lingered on Rio, the briefest shift in her expression.

Rio reached out and took Agatha’s hand, pressing it against her cheek with exaggerated flair. She gripped it tightly, her fingers curling possessively around Agatha’s. "Our graceful lady here was eavesdropping on my conversation with her grandfather," Rio announced, her voice dripping with theatrical flair.

Your ears burned with embarrassment, the accusation striking too close to the truth. But your eyes drifted to where Rio’s hand lingered on Agatha’s, the ease of their closeness stirring something you could not name.

Rio’s lips curled into a sly grin as she continued, her free hand dramatically pressing against her chest. "I told her to come to the well so I could explain everything to her. And now—" she cast an exaggerated glance at Agatha, her tone mockingly wounded, "—she suspects me of harming her family! Agatha, I’ve been nothing but good, haven’t I? But it seems our dear lady doesn’t trust me."

You stared at Rio, dumbfounded by her audacity. Her words flowed like a river, each one theatrical and laden with mock indignation, yet you could not tear your gaze away.

Agatha brushed her fingers lightly against Rio’s cheek, her gaze flickering between the two of you. Her smile grew sharper as her eyes glinted with wicked amusement. "Oh, she doesn’t trust you? How tragic." Her tone was light, but it cut like a blade. "Although… I can’t blame her. You do have a habit of making yourself look guilty."

"Agatha," Rio drawled, grinning widely, "if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were enjoying this."

"Me?" Agatha leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper. "Never." Her eyes flicked to you, her smile widening as if savouring your discomfort. Yet, there was a flicker of something else in her gaze—curiosity, yes, but also warmth, like embers waiting to ignite. "But you’re right—our lady’s suspicious little face is quite… entertaining."

You stiffened, your pride prickling at their mockery. "I only want to know the truth," you said, your voice faltering under the weight of their combined stares.

Rio laughed softly, releasing Agatha’s hand and leaning closer to you. "The truth," she said, soft but brimming with danger, "is a slippery thing, my lady. Are you sure you can handle it?"

Agatha’s rich laughter followed. "But, my love," she called Rio, the words slipping from her lips with an intimacy that made you forget to breathe for a moment, "I don’t think the truth is too hurtful. You heard her admit it herself—she stands out."

Rio tilted her head, her obsidian eyes glinting with amusement as a satisfied grin spread across her face. "Ah, yes," she purred, her gaze flicking to you. "Our noble lady, destined to shine among the rest."

You stiffened under their attention, your earlier defiance wavering. Agatha’s words rang in your ears, unsettling you in ways you could not fully explain. The affection she directed toward Rio only added to the tension, yet the strange, measured way she regarded you made your chest tighten.

"I only admitted what is already true," you said, your voice firmer now, though it trembled at the edges. "But that does not mean I am blind to deception."

Agatha tilted her head, her sharp smile softening into something almost playful. "Deception, doll?" she murmured, her voice low but teasing. "You sound as though you think we’re plotting against you."

"Are you not?" you shot back, surprising even yourself with the boldness of your tone.

Rio chuckled softly, stepping closer to you, her presence as overwhelming as ever. "Oh, she’s sharp," Rio said, her voice dripping with approval. "But suspicion has its limits, pretty lady. Would you truly have followed me here if you thought I meant harm?"

You hesitated, your lips parting to respond, but the words caught in your throat. Rio’s gaze bore into you, heavy and expectant, and it felt as though the room itself had stilled.

"Enough, Rio," Agatha interjected smoothly, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness. She stepped forward, placing a hand on Rio’s shoulder to ease her back. The movement was casual, but their exchanged glances spoke volumes—silent affection tempered by something deeper.

Rio relented with a soft hum, retreating a step but not before casting a sly smile. "She’s all yours, Agatha. For now."

Agatha rolled her eyes but did not deny the comment. Her attention shifted to you, her gaze softening into something quieter, though no less intense. "Let me ask you something, doll," she began, her voice deceptively light. "This pull you feel—the one that makes you come back to us—do you truly not know what it means?"

The question struck you like a blow, sharp and unavoidable, cutting through the carefully constructed walls of your thoughts. It was the question you had been avoiding, the one that lingered in the quiet moments of the last few days, taunting you with its lack of resolution. Your pulse quickened, a telltale rhythm of unease, as your mind scrambled for a denial—a defence—but none came.

"I…" you began, your voice faltering. "I do not know what you mean."

Agatha’s lips curved into a knowing smile, her eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Of course, you don’t," she said softly, almost mockingly. "But you will."

Rio’s laughter broke the tension, light and melodic. "Agatha, you’re terrible at comforting people," she teased, though her tone lacked sharpness.

"Comforting wasn’t the goal," Agatha replied, her gaze never leaving yours.

And in that moment, despite the tension between you, a realisation bloomed quietly in the depths of your mind. Something unspoken had already taken root, weaving through the three of you like threads in an intricate tapestry. Whatever pull they spoke of, whatever connection lingered in the charged air, it was undeniable.

The silence stretched, heavy yet electric, as the three of you remained locked in place, watching one another.

"Are you two always like this?" you asked at last, your voice breaking the stillness. The question sounded more plaintive than you intended, and to your dismay, it drew matching grins from both women, their expressions a mix of amusement and knowing.

"Like what?" Rio asked, her tone deliberately innocent.

"Intense," you muttered, looking away.

Agatha laughed again, the sound low and rich. "Oh, doll, you’ve barely scratched the surface."

Rio’s hand brushed against yours, the fleeting touch sending a jolt through your body. "And you, my lady," she said softly, her voice dipping into something dangerously sweet, "are far more interesting than you give yourself credit for."

"You two seem far too accustomed to toying with people," you muttered, your words laced with irritation. You were unsure if your annoyance stemmed from their teasing or the unsettling truth lingering behind their words.

Agatha smirked, leaning just a fraction closer. "We’re not toying with you, doll. You’d know if we were." Her voice dripped with wicked amusement, but something about the way her gaze lingered felt heavier, deeper as if she were studying you for a reaction.

Rio chuckled softly, brushing past Agatha to close the space between you. Her presence was all-encompassing, a blend of danger and allure that made it impossible to look away. "And yet, you keep coming back," she murmured, her voice silken, her words wrapping around you like a spell. "Let me speak honestly. It’s not just you feeling this pull toward us. There’s something in you that we can’t seem to let go of, either."

Your breath caught, her words sinking into you like a stone in still water, rippling through thoughts you hadn’t dared to name. In the quiet corners of your heart, a flicker of satisfaction emerged—warm and undeniable. They felt it too. Whatever this connection was, it was not one-sided.

No matter how much you tried to deny it, their presence had become inescapable, entwined with your very being.

"I came to find answers," you said firmly, your tone hardening to mask the conflict within you.

"And we’re giving them to you," Rio replied smoothly, her lips curving into a sly smile. She gestured around the space, the shimmering light reflecting off the water below. "This place? This connection? It’s no coincidence. You were always meant to find us."

Agatha sighed, rolling her eyes as though Rio’s theatrics were too much, but there was no mistaking the slight curve of her lips. "Rio loves to spin a good story," she said, her tone teasing yet sharp. "But there’s some truth to her words, doll. You’re different. And different draws attention."

"Not all attention is wanted," you retorted, narrowing your eyes at them.

Agatha laughed, the sound sharp and cruel, cutting through the air like a blade. "True enough," she said smoothly, tilting her head as her piercing gaze locked onto yours with unsettling intensity. "But tell me, doll, do you truly wish to be ordinary? To slip into the background like everyone else?"

You hesitated, the unexpected question catching you off guard. Her words hammered against your chest, relentless and unyielding, starkly contrasting everything you had been taught.

Do not speak unless spoken to. Be quiet, be submissive. A noble lady should be seen, not heard.

But that was never what you wanted. You never wanted to blend into the background like the other noble-born ladies. The thought of living such a life made your stomach twist. Yet now, under Agatha’s gaze, the truth felt too raw to admit.

Rio stepped closer again, her dark eyes glinting with mischief and something deeper. "No," she said softly, answering for you. Her voice dipped into something dangerously sweet, her smile almost predatory. "You don’t. That’s why you’re here. That’s why you want to return to us."

Agatha crossed her arms, leaning lazily against a nearby pillar, but her eyes stayed locked on you. "You don’t have to admit it now," she said lightly. "We’re patient."

"If we want to," Rio muttered, earning a sharp look from Agatha.

You inhaled deeply, trying to steady the storm of emotions their words had stirred. They spoke as though they knew you better than you knew yourself, and perhaps, in some strange way, they did.

"Why me?" you asked finally, your voice barely above a whisper, the vulnerability in your tone betraying the tumult of emotions swirling within you.

Rio and Agatha exchanged a glance, the unspoken connection between them palpable. It was as though they were communicating in a language only they understood, and their shared bond was both fascinating and frustrating.

"Who knows?" Agatha said, at last, throwing her hands in the air with exaggerated flair. Her voice was teasing, but her sharp gaze never left you.

"The Fates are peculiar creatures," Rio added, grinning as though she were sharing a private joke. "Temperamental, like spoiled children. They throw tantrums and meddle where they please." Her tone was light, yet the way she spoke of Fate made it sound more like a person than an abstract concept.

"But does it matter?" Agatha’s voice cut through the air, her teasing edge softening into something more contemplative. She tilted her head, her piercing gaze boring into you. "How can anyone truly explain how someone feels toward another?"

The weight of her words pressed down on you, heavy and inescapable. You wanted to demand more, to push for clarity, but a quieter part of you whispered that you were not ready. Not yet.

The following silence felt alive, thick with unspoken truths and lingering questions. Their words echoed in your mind, each one like a pebble dropped into still water, rippling outward. You wanted to refute them, to challenge the way they spoke about you with such certainty, as if they already knew every corner of your soul. But before you could gather the words, something shifted.

Agatha stepped forward, the graceful swish of her robe the only sound in the room. Her movements were unhurried, deliberate, and the air seemed to grow heavier with her approach. Her sharp gaze pinned you in place, and for a moment, you forgot to breathe.

"You’re hesitant," she observed, her voice soft but cutting, like a blade wrapped in silk. Her words weren’t accusatory, but they struck with precision nonetheless. "I can see it in your eyes. You don’t want to believe us."

Your lips parted to argue, but her next move froze you.

A faint purple haze began to swirl around her hand, shimmering like heat rising from a flame. Her blue eyes darkened, the irises shifting to an otherworldly violet that glowed faintly in the dim light. The air around her grew heavier, charged with an invisible energy that made the hairs on your arms stand on end.

With a flick of her wrist, the haze extended outward, enveloping the book that sat on a nearby table. The book floated into the air, pages fluttering soundlessly as though stirred by an unseen breeze.

You gasped, instinctively stepping back as the book hovered between you.

Agatha smiled, slow and deliberate, as the book drifted toward her waiting hand. She caught it effortlessly, the haze dissipating as though it had never been there. Her eyes returned to their usual sharp blue, but the image of their glowing purple lingered in your mind.

"Still think we’re speaking in riddles?" she asked, her tone laced with cruel amusement. She held up the book as if to emphasise her point.

Your heart pounded in your chest. Stories of shamans—their rituals, their mysterious powers—had always been whispered in fables. But never had you seen something like this. Never had you believed it could be real.

"You are a shaman," you whispered, the word heavy on your tongue, laden with the weight of old stories and whispered superstitions.

Agatha’s brows lifted, her lips curling into a sly smile. "A shaman?" she echoed, her tone carrying both amusement and disdain. "Is that what they call it here?" She tilted her head, a flicker of curiosity flashing in her sharp blue eyes. "That’s why…" she murmured, almost to herself, her voice trailing off.

Your cheeks burned under her scrutiny. "That’s what we call those with… abilities," you said cautiously, your gaze faltering under the intensity of hers.

"Shamans," Agatha repeated, testing the word on her tongue like a curious taste. Then she chuckled softly, the sound low and rich, curling in the air between you. "Close, doll. But where I come from, we call it something else. Witch."

"Witch?" you echoed, the foreign word strange and sharp in your mouth, carrying an unfamiliar weight.

Agatha’s smile widened, her blue eyes gleaming with an almost predatory amusement. "It means the same thing, more or less. Though I’d argue it has a far more elegant ring to it." She tilted her head, studying you like a puzzle she was determined to solve. "Does that frighten you?"

You hesitated, her question catching you off guard. Did it frighten you? The display of power, the glowing eyes, the floating book—it had all left you breathless, yes. But fear? That wasn’t the word you would use.

"I do not know," you admitted finally, your voice quiet, almost hesitant. "I have heard stories about shamans my whole life. But I never thought…" You trailed off, unsure of how to put the enormity of your thoughts into words.

"Never thought they were real?" Rio offered, her voice light and teasing as she moved closer, her presence magnetic and unyielding. She leaned casually against the edge of a low table, her dark eyes fixed on you with an intensity that made it difficult to look away.

"Not like this," you said at last, gesturing vaguely toward Agatha. "Not with power that can… manipulate things."

Agatha laughed, the sound cutting through the charged air like a blade through silk. "Ah, doll, stories rarely do us justice," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "But tell me—does this change how you see us?"

You frowned, her words prickling at your pride. "I do not know how I see you to begin with," you replied, a hint of defiance creeping into your tone.

Rio chuckled, her lips curving into a sly grin. "Fair enough," she said, though her gaze lingered on you for a moment longer.

Agatha stepped closer, her presence commanding as she held your gaze. "You’re curious," she said, her voice soft but certain. "You want to understand."

You swallowed hard, your fingers curling into fists at your sides. "What I want," you said carefully, "is to know why I feel like this. Why I feel… drawn to you."

The words slipped out before you could stop them, and the silence that followed was deafening.

Rio tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Drawn to us," she repeated, her voice soft. "I believe we already explained it to you as much as we could."

Agatha’s smile sharpened, though there was a flicker of something gentler in her eyes. "You're the only one who can answer that."

You held their gaze.

"I need time," you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper.

Agatha inclined her head, her sharp smile softening into something quieter. "Take all the time you need, doll," she said, her tone almost kind. "We’re not going anywhere."

"Not yet," Rio added with a playful wink, though there was something unspoken in her gaze, something that made your chest tighten all over again.

[scrollwyrm]

New headcanon about SkyWings:

I’ve been thinking about Sky and Peril a lot. Here are some Things that I came up with (mixed in with some stuff that’s just canon or common headcanon).

Firstly, yeah, I think Sky is trans. That’s almost canon at this point. He probably doesn’t ‘pass’ if such a term exists in dragon culture, but hey, no transphobia from the society, confirmed by the author herself! Everyone just lets him live his best boy life! Hell yes!

Secondly, I think that the SkyWings, especially before Ruby’s time, were very religious with their egg-hatching process. They would leave an egg out facing the sky (every egg is left alone with either a parent or another caring party, but there are no mass hatcheries). Any deviation from standard hatching procedures is frowned upon.

The hatching process of eggs containing twins is slightly different. They are kept much higher up, for fear (read: superstition) that the sky spirits will not notice the dragonets individually otherwise, cursing them to never truly find themselves because they share a soul.

Egg theft is not a common practice, but if it does happen, these higher nests are usually targeted because the altitude makes them less easy to visit and protect regularly. The egg Hvitur stole was probably a twin egg, and he was probably exhausted (eggs-hausted, anyone?) from the thin air and long flight.

Peril and Sky’s egg was also left in the high mountains, but when touched, one side was warm, the other stone cold. Kestrel was sure Sky would never survive when the egg finally hatched.

MAJOR spoilers for my Cadmium AU (also known as ‘Wings of Fire: What if The SkyWing had Survived?’) up ahead:

Cadmium and Flame were fraternal twins, not identical twins. As described, they have drastically different scale colours and patterns, along with Cadmium’s slightly crooked tooth, a minor detail and a trait Avalanche has too that I mentioned in a recent chapter.

They do, however, have the same spine, wing and claw shape, as well as the same eyes and a similar shape to them. They are about as similar as normal twins.

My idea of how this happened is that Avalanche was a dragon on the inside, there to give Hvitur the egg and leave, raising little suspicion, but when the egg hatched into two dragonets instead of one, Avalanche had to return and take one of them back to Nautilus. She chose Flame, further isolating himself from both the real and false dragonets of destiny.

[maddy-k-reads-all-day]

Fruits Basket isn't sad.

For the longest time I could not understand why people thought Fruits Basket was sad. But now I think it just depends on your perspective of life.

To me, Fruits Basket is one of the most uplifting and hopeful series I've ever seen. Yes, the characters go through lots of trauma and abuse... but they OVERCOME that abuse. The lowest points of these character's lives exist to show us that no matter how dark things get, things will get better. Eventually, someday. The "curse" will be broken.

I chose to believe that this will happen in real life too. No matter how dark things get, things will get better. Maybe not in our lifetimes. I mean, there were generations upon generations of cursed Sohmas for whom things never got better. But they set the catalyst for changes. Little by little we can do the same. We may not see those brighter days, but those brighter days will come. Things will get better. You are not alone. And there are people out there, somewhere will love you for who you are. I hope from the bottom of my heart that you will... that someday everyone will... even if we never live to see it.

Fruits Basket isn't about sadness or despair. It's about hope. Hope that refuses to die no matter how bad things get.

So when you watch or rewatch Fruits Basket, keep this in mind. The point isn't that the world is a terrible place. The point is the world is a terrible place, but things will get better.

[descendintorantness]

so a while ago i saw this post basically saying that evie was a bad friend to mal. and of course, i wrote out a few pages defending my girl. i can’t find the og post but i do have some quotes from it, and i wanted to share what i wrote in defense of evie.

I can’t even begin to describe how sad it makes me that people blame Mal’s victims for her volatile mental and emotional state throughout the series. Usually, Ben takes the brunt of it, but I’m unfortunately not surprised that poor Evie catches flack for it too.

“I’ve been thinking about about how Evie sort of exhibits the darker side of the team mom personality trope.”

I agree. Evie is treated like garbage by Mal and is still expected to drop everything and be there for the person who traumatized, bullied, assaulted, and attempted to physically torture and curse her. Evie and her story show how easy it is for characters (especially women of color) who are shoved into the “mom friend” category to have unrealistic expectations forced upon them (both in canon and by the fandom), and thus be exploited by an (often racist) narrative to cater to their psuedo “child” (usually the white protagonist).

“Everyone thinks she’s a Mrs Weasley. But sometimes she can come off more like a well intentioned mother gothel.”

I KNOW you did not just compare Evie to Mother freaking Gothel- a woman who kidnapped and imprisoned an infant and went on to emotionally manipulate that child to completely control her in order to further her selfish goal of staying young and beautiful forever. On what plane of existence are you living on my guy??? (And, no, adding “can come off more like” and “well-intentioned” does not negate that you just compared an emotionally abused, traumatized teenager who did not choose or ask to be Mal’s emotional support punching bag, to an emotionally manipulative, neglectful, narcissistic full-grown woman who both chose to raise a child and used that child for her own selfish gain. To clarify, Evie is not any of these things, nor has she ever done anything on par with the crimes Mother Gothel has committed.)

“And Mal suffers from it most often.”

How??? Where??? When does Mal suffer by Evie’s hand in the series at a point where the real issue was not caused by external factors, or by Mal herself? Evie does the best that she can. She is not a therapist, nor is she actually Mal’s mother, and she cannot possibly solve every single one of Mal’s problems. However, that does not stop her from trying. The fact that Evie does so much and gets no credit from Mal stans simply because she cannot stop Mal from having negative emotions really frustrates me. Even from a story-telling standpoint, the only possible way for Evie to save Mal from any pain whatsoever was if she was more powerful than Mal and/or she was the main protagonist instead of her. And I’m pretty sure that neither you nor other Mal fans would like that too much.

“But a lot of the fandom have their bloody shipping goggles on so they think Evie being Mal’s beloved smother is romantic chemistry instead of fully unhealthy.”

YES ^^^^^ THIS!!!!!! I fully agree with everything you just said here. Hit the nail right on the head, my friend.

“At least once in each movie she doesn’t really think of what Mal herself wants before she acts.”

Oh. My. Goodness. You. Are so right. Evie doesn’t put Mal's needs over everything in her own life, or considers the needs/safety of a group over the emotional needs of an individual (Mal) at least once in every movie. I don't know how I didn't see it before, she's a horrible friend. -_- /sar dude seriously what are you on? (can i get some???)

“Film one. Tried to put make up on her when she’s plotting”

Okay, I usually hate it when people say this, but in this case: I don’t think it’s that deep. (with all due respect, sounds like you pulled this one straight out of your ass). The VKs are all obviously on edge, and I think Evie is just trying to calm herself down by doing something that’s familiar to her as well as comfort Mal in a way that isn’t explicitly touchy-feely, seeing as that isn’t really allowed on the Isle. We see that Mal was simply glowering off into space before Evie does this, something that is very characteristic that Mal would do all the time. Maybe Evie could have been a bit more considerate of Mal’s personal space, but it’s not like she knew that Mal was “plotting”. I think she was genuinely trying to help/make the situation better, and that this really doesn’t count as a “failure in friendship” on her part.

“Film two. The entirety of their talk after she pulled her away from Ben after the paps got thrown out”

Again, I truly don’t think that Evie had selfish intentions. We know that Mal tried to spell Ben with no reservations, hesitations, etc later in the movie, so I assume that she has done so consistently before. Therefore, I believe that Evie pulling Mal away from Ben was genuine concern for him on her part, as she could see that Mal was stressed and might have been about to cast a spell, likely on Ben. As for what you will agree with me about, Evie knows that Mal is stressed, and she’s stressed too. Evie probably hopes that knocking at least one thing off the list as soon as possible will help both of them.

As for their “talk”: While Mal seems a bit more vulnerable in this scene rather than the one with Carlos, mainly she's just whining to Evie about how she doesn't like being a "princess" (something that she inflicted upon herself, by the way). What Evie basically says is, "You should take responsibility, stop using magic, and appreciate what you have. All you have to do is read, it's not that hard." From Evie's reaction to Mal using the spell book, it’s easy to tell that Mal has used magic before, probably a lot. Many people try to argue that Evie was controlling and dismissive of Mal's problems in this scene, but it's pretty clear that she and Mal have been through this before. They only show us the one time that Evie is tired of listening to Mal's bullshit and trying to be empathetic. With all that said, none of it negates the fact that Evie was still coddling Mal. Their whole conversation was still framed to make Mal the victim and undeserving of the consequences of her actions. Everything Evie says in the scene is phrased so that Mal doesn’t have to take any blame for her actions. Evie says the line, “Haven't you and Ben had enough secrets between you?”, implying that both Mal and Ben have been mutually keeping secrets, when the truth is the only one who ever has been deceitful in their relationship is Mal. (Not to mention that she is continuing to deceive him.) After Evie doesn’t immediately give Mal validation of her victim mindset and assure her that she's completely in the right, she uses Evie’s trauma from the Isle against her. She "asks" Evie about being evil again after Evie confronts her about using magic. Evie experienced so much trauma at the hands of “being evil,” a lot of it inflicted by Mal herself. Using this against Evie to avoid blame is beyond cruel, and I don't care how overwhelmed or upset she was, it wasn’t okay.

“Film three. Accidental guilt trip after she got manipulated by the in laws.”

Oh no no no no no don’t you EVEN GO THERE. FIRST of all, FIRST of all, Mal was not manipulated by anyone. She made the decision to close the barrier completely on her own and in fact had to corner Ben into agreeing with her. She did that all by choice and with no prompting or even external suggestion from anyone else. SECONDLY, what Evie did was not a “guilt trip”. Evie was genuinely worried for the safety and well-being of CHILDREN on the Isle that Mal was threatening (not that Evie knew that part, since Mal went on to LIE ABOUT IT TO HER FACE).

“I love Evie. She’s my seventh favorite after Mal and before their cousin.”

Not to be rude, but it doesn’t actually sound like you like her all that much.

“But the fact remains. She isn’t as in tune with other people’s feelings as many would like to believe. It’s not a bad thing. It’s a very realistic flaw given who her mother is.”

I agree. However, I think that you and others are holding her to unrealistic expectations, despite many aspects of her character that would make it even more impossible for her to meet those expectations. So, yes, this is a realistic “flaw” for Evie to have, but I think that even in this context, that “flaw” is being blown out of proportion simply because it does some minor disservice to Mal.

“However, treating her like the ultimate example of a care bear isn’t really doing her justice

^^^ Yes, absolutely.

“Because like I keep pointing out. If you don’t acknowledge the flaws of the characters you like then you’re not liking every aspect of them.”

You make some good points about how harmful it is to reduce Evie to nothing but the “mom friend.” It's demeaning to her very complex character and forces her (a character of color) to be nothing but an accessory and a “make-friend-happy machine” to the main white protagonist. However: you seem to think that the reason Evie shouldn’t be reduced to “mom friend” is because she's bad at it. And that she’s bad at it specifically with Mal. First of all: she’s a teenager. She shouldn’t have to be good at parenting anyone, especially not her friends who are her age and (should be at) her general level of maturity. Second: what has she done wrong? Especially in her relationship with Mal? She’s always there for Mal no matter how much trauma/distress that it causes for her during the entire series. Even just being around Mal probably stirs up trauma for Evie, who was exiled for ten years because of, and then ruthlessly tormented, harassed, and even physically assaulted by Mal. The fact that she is still Mal’s friend is most likely due to fear on Evie’s part (fear of Mal hurting her again, fear of losing other friends by cutting off Mal, etc). Although that’s obviously not healthy for either of them, it’s disproportionately worse for Evie, who is basically trapped in endless uncomfortable situations where she is forced to interact with, constantly cater to the emotions of, and coddle her abuser. Basically, Mal has never made amends or even bothered to stop emotionally abusing/using Evie, at least not in any substantial way. The reason that Evie is sometimes subpar at her very, very demanding role in this toxic, abusive relationship that she was forced into is not her fault in any way shape or form, nor is it due to any character or personality “flaw” of hers. Evie is not comfortable around Mal, and probably never will be. Mal does not treat Evie as an equal or a friend, she treats her like a mother or a servant. They have never had a healthy relationship, and they probably never will, and that is not due to any mistakes or shortcomings on Evie’s part. It is due to the fact that Mal was a bully to Evie only to eventually force her into a toxic friendship from which she benefits and Evie suffers.

[pengujoon]

A CRUEL TRICK, A REMINDER OF FATE

cont. gojo x reader, angst, hurt, no comfort, reliving ch236.

a/n. i hate this. i am really sorry. this exact scenario happened to me. 

please note that this is basically just chapter 236. if you haven’t read it, don’t read this. you will be spoiled very badly.

You watched in helpless despair as the world around you trembled. Sukuna’s malevolent laughter echoed through time and space itself, sending shivers down your spine. You watched helplessly as the scene unfolded before your eyes, as though you are an invisible observer, unable to change the course of actions. 

Satoru stood valiantly before the malevolent curse. His eyes, usually filled with confidence and charisma, are now filled with determination and a hint of sadness. Sukuna’s sinister laughter reverberated through the air as he raised his hand, gathering an otherworldly energy that crackled with malice. 

Then it happened.

In an instant, space itself seemed to shatter, and Sukuna’s hands moved like a blade, slicing through the very fabric of reality. Time seemed to slow down as you witnessed the body of the love of your life split into two halves, his once invincible form torn asunder. Blood, like an ethereal river, spilled forth, staining the void around him with nothing but crimson red. 

Satoru's piercing blue eyes, always filled with confidence and wit, held a very brief expression of pain and shock before they dimmed. The agony on his face was unbearable to watch, and the sight of his life force dissipating into the void left you speechless; you wanted to reach out, to scream, to stop this nightmare, but here you were: powerless.

“Satoru!”

The shock and horror of that moment was indescribable - you could feel the tears welling up in your eyes as you watched him fall to the ground, lifeless and broken; each gruesome detail etching itself into your mind. The pain in your chest was unbearable, and a guttural scream escapes your lips, but no sound came out. 

Suddenly, you snapped awake, your body jolting upright in bed. The room was dark, save for the faint moonlight casting eerie shadows on the walls. Your body was drenched in sweat, as you trembled uncontrollably. Panic clawed at your chest as you looked to your side, expecting to find him there, reassuring and alive. But his side of the bed was empty, an emptiness that stretched into eternity.

Reality crashed down upon you like a tidal wave, and a sob escaped your lips. You clutched the sheets tightly, your fingers trembling as the tears flowed freely. The dream had been a cruel trick, a reminder of a fate you never wanted to imagine.

The dream felt so real, so vivid, that for a very brief moment, you had hoped it was just nothing but a cruel illusion. But now, in the cold reality of your empty bed in your shared apartment, you could no longer deny the truth - Satoru, the love of your life, was gone, forever. 

He no longer exists.

You buried your face in your hands, letting out heart-wrenching sobs that seem to echo in the emptiness. The pain was unbearable, the loss insurmountable. In this lonely moment, all you yearned for was the warmth of his presence, for his reassuring smile and his comforting words, and nothing else but for the reality that he was still by your side.

But in the cruel embrace of that nightmarish vision, you were left with nothing but the hollow echoes of a love lost forever, and the darkness that now surrounded you.

i wrote this the minute i woke up from my nightmare. akutami i will come for you. 

am i sorry for writing this piece? yes. please forgive me for this.

[rpmemestorehouse]

Dark Souls II (2014) Starters

Change wording as needed

“They all end up here, all the ones like you.”

“ Tisn't easy being old…”

“Fair traveller, I know that you must have a story. Why else would you visit such a place?”

“I will remain by your side. Till this frail hope shatters…”

“If you proceed regardless, your fate will be more terrible than mere life or death.”

“One day, you will walk those grounds…without really knowing why.”

“Long have I awaited one such as you, one who might shatter the shackles of fate.”

“I am [Name]. And like you…I lost everything, and now I'm here.”

“To be alive…to walk this earth…That's the real curse right there.”

“I'd forgotten how much comfort a little companionship can bring.”

“Still flirting with madness?”

“Who are you? Oh, it doesn't matter, just help me open this door.”

“You, stand back. This is dangerous work.”

“Now, there's a time for travels, but you can't wander the world forever. Even you must have someone waiting back home...”

“Hmph, I'd given you up for dead. Almost had me worried, really...”

“Oh, sorry, I...Please, do have a look at my wares. I could really use the business...If you'd be so kind...”

“Oh, I was hoping that you would come. I've stocked some new things, and I thought you might be interested.”

“Oh, by the gods...Why the hell am I here?”

“Oh, no, I'm afraid...sorry, I'm afraid this is a fake. It's not worth much at all.”

“Oh...Undead, are we? And one without much time remaining.”

“Oh, yes, you may call me [Name]. Enchanté.”

“Oh, don't feel bad. I'm sure your mother's still proud...Hee hee!”

“You give something, to gain something. That's the way humans like it, right?”

“Oh, I'm sorry. I was just…daydreaming, I think.”

“When I first came to this forsaken land...It was...um...hmm...? Err...A curse...? Err...Something about a curse...”

“What a joy to meet a kindred spirit out here...”

“It wasn't there when I came here before. I don't know what explains it...”

“I have come to spread the art of miracles, a practice of which I am a disciple.”

“Sometimes I fight the urge to pack up and go back home. It is, well...I must do this.”

“Miracles began as tales told by gods. We preserve their will with lore, pray to their greatness, and are blessed in return.”

“Curses…Puzzled me out, have you?”

“Seemed like the battles would never end. Poor folk like myself had nary a place to sleep.”

“You may travel light, but methinks you bear a burden of your own.”

“Oh, you again. Go on…It's on the cheap for you.”

“Cruel, cruel world, this is...Keh heh heh...”

“Travelling all alone in these treacherous times? Well, I hope you have a very good reason.”

“There's treasure this way...But I've a bad feeling about it. I don't quite have the guts myself! Hah hah...”

“You be careful, too, my friend. For trust can be a dangerous thing.”

“Ooh, that'll leave a nice scar!”

“Transient being. This is no place for one such as you.”

“Do my ears deceive me? Who would refuse such magnificence?”

“You've achieved much, and approached a higher plane. But our path is long and arduous. We must always seek further challenges.”

“You are my greatest challenge.”

“Heh heh. You are an odd one. Normally, people keep a safe distance when they see this mask. But you...”

“Don't hesitate to call upon me. Whatever happens, I won't be missed...”

“I was raised to wield a sword from birth. Life was hard, but I never gave it a second thought.”

“I'm sorry…to burden you with talk of my fate. I suppose I've grown weary these days.”

“I am frightened...Terribly so...”

“I don't want to die, I want to exist.”

“My name is [Name]. I beg of you, remember my name. For I may not myself...”

“Your visit is welcome. I trust you've kept up your studies.”

“It is a fitting place to hone my sorceries. I suspect that I may even conjure up new spells here.”

“Never forget, young pupil… There are no shortcuts to mastery.”

“I wish to find out more about it, but as we see, this place is in ruins. Just what happened here?”

“Stay back, or you're pieces! Tiniest pieces! Hah hah hah hah!“

“Slice 'em to shreds, whoever they are! Wherever, whoever, be they near, be they far!”

“The power of flame, power of the gods… In the end, it is all beyond our reach.”

“If you walk with flame, then I salute you.”

“Still a bit stiff, I'm afraid. Heh heh heh...”

“I've been a guest for a very long time. But I don't think that anybody will miss me!“

“Do you really think you can manage the glories that are my spells?”

“Anything that has a beginning also has an end. No flame, however brilliant, does not one day splutter and fade.”

“I don't know who you are…But leave me be.”

“The Dark...Is always within you...”

“This land...lies closest to the Dark...Th-that is...that is why I came here.”

“One day…I will share your fate.”

“You've set me free. Now I can find him. The cheeky prick. He won't know what hit him.”

“I travel from land to land to hone my blade. I've heard this land was full of danger. I thought it would suit me perfectly.”

“For the good of the world, and for my own honour. I won't let that bastard live another day. Heh heh...”

“Damn! You're tougher than you look!”

“Oh, you trot along home. This place won't be any fun, not for you.”

“You want more than just a little blood. You want to be drenched in blood, mired in its foul stench. Am I right? Am I?”

“Ah, who cares? It's just another chance to spill more blood. Doesn't that excite you, hm? Heh heh...”

“Oh, it's even on my shoes!”

“I never planned to visit this gods-forsaken place. But I don't know… I just sort of ended up here.”

“I've searched every nook and cranny here. I suppose it's time to move on.”

“Oh, fancy meeting you here.“

“Oi! Mind your manners!”

“I'm on the run, don't give me away!...You're a fugitive too, eh?”

“Psst, have you heard?...Well, apparently there's this monster lady, right...”

“Gods almighty...I'm not going to die in this dump...”

“Ah come on, don't look so glum! I'm trying to be nice here! You're hopeless, I tell you...”

“I roam about, looking for a find, following my instincts. I don't care what a thing is worth. What matters is whether it grabs me.”

“Let me just say, there are lots of "legendary swords" out there.”

“This thing is amazing...Could it be a dragon egg? I feel invigorated...Just by holding it.”

“Oh no, no, no, no, no, don't say that. Give a bloke a chance. I'm begging you. I really should have that!”

“And now I watch the days go by, and gaze at the night sky, thinking of the finer things, far removed from war. I'd grown weary of battle, but did not realise it until now.”

“I am grateful for these peaceful days. But such contentment lies only in the here and now. Why must life be so confounding...”

“If you wish for help, summon me. I am rusty in battle, but will fight by your side.“

“Back again? Well, this is a pleasant surprise.”

“I owe you some form of thanks, but have nothing for you at the moment. If it would not trouble you, could you visit my abode just down the way?”

“Oh, we meet again, kind traveller. This is my workshop.“

“I require no payment this time. It is my way of saying thanks.”

“Do you find me strange? Skee hee. You humans are always this way. The way you glare at any unfamiliar creature.”

“We once had a master. He created us long, long ago. But he was born with a fatal flaw.”

“Our master was a tragically lonely soul. Eventually, his solitude eroded his very reason. In the end, he never understood...what it was that he truly lacked.”

“We seem to be at a standstill. The wounds we exchange are never lethal.”

“I have no gods to pray to. But still I pray that your journey will be safe.”

“And like every Undead, you have no future.”

“If you seek true Dark, I will grant it to you. As much as you desire.”

“The embrace of the Dark is gentle. Let it absorb your sorrows, forever.”

“Dark is the mother of all. All things were born from it.”

“Thy welcome wearest thin. Leave this place.”

“Swearest thou by the sweet-tempered sludge that laps at our bosoms?”

“I am aware of thine accomplishments, and they are not few.”

“'Twould seem some sunlight-poisoned creatures are worthy of great honour.”

“Something seems to be bothering you. Yes, yes, I can tell. It is written upon your face. You have doubts, about something you did.”

“But now, you are lost, bewildered by your own actions. You poor little thing.”

“But if your heart is yet sincere, your sins will be forgiven. Now is the chance. Demonstrate your sincerity to me.”

“Then, you wish to stand and face your own sins? Such virtuous fortitude is rare, and I sincerely commend it.”

“I am in yer debt. It's a true man who honours his debts. And I'll see mine paid.”

“Ho! Well met, friend. Good to see you well. Yes, hehh hehh, very good indeed.“

“If you still insist on having it...Then you will have to pry it from my cold hands! Gah hah hah hah hah hah!”

“Very well. I, [Name], will be honoured to chop you to pieces.”

“Who are you...And by whose permission do you stand before me?”

“Do you seek an audience with my Lord, King [Name]? Unfortunately, His Highness is absent.”

“Where am I? What has happened to our castle...”

“Welcome, visitor...Our guests are treated with honour. This is the way of our castle. Tell me if you should require anything.”

“We know nothing of the world outside. And why should we? For we will never leave.”

“Do you seek comfort, too? You poor thing...”

“Light, and all those who bear it, are unwelcome in this place.”

“I am [Name]. Guardian of the crypt. Countless dead rest here in peace. Cradled by the comfort of dark.”

“This place is welcome to all, provided due reverence is shown.”

“Tell me what you desire. Show me reverence, and I will lend you my hand.”

“Now, where shall we bury this one?”

“P-please, just stay away. No, please, don't come near me. Nothing good will come of it.“

“Do not attempt to help me. Just let me sit here, and wither quietly away...”

“By the very gods...What have you done...You've really done it...You'll never escape him...”

“Are you tormented by memories? Burdened by guilt? Now the question. Are you ready for more? If you are, then we ought to talk...”

“You could kill a dozen like that, and it wouldn't matter. I want you to kill someone of import.”

“These are for you. Don't mind the specks of blood...Heh heh heh...”

“I'll spend some time travelling the lands...Slowly tracking my new mark...”

The murk shifts and stirs. Yet another stands before us...“

“And so, you peer...Into the fog, in hope of answers.”

“Huh! You were not deserving of the mire...”

“What brazen insolence! You…forever you shall rot…”

“Turn away. And never look back. No one must ever find that which is sheltered in [this location].”

“I haven't the strength to help him myself, but perhaps one such as you...”

“You've granted my one wish...Now, I have no regrets.”

“Go on, kind visitor. May you reach your journey's end, one day.”

“Brave Undead, seek the throne. Follow the symbol of the monarch, and do what must be done.”

“That thing is a prop, a false deity. Don't be fooled, my Undead.”

“Seek the forest, you, where those wretched Giants slumber.”

“Brave Undead, you have proven yourself to me. Now, be one, with the Dark...”

“No one has come this far, not for a very long while.”

“Young Hollow, there are but two paths. Inherit the order of this world, or destroy it. But only a true monarch can make such a choice.”

“Very few, indeed, have come even this far. And yet, your journey is far from over.”

“Heheh, I believe we've been acquainted.”

“Men are props on the stage of life, and no matter how tender, how exquisite...A lie will remain a lie.“

“You, neither born with greatness, nor granted it by the fates. What is it that you seek?

“How you grapple, without falter, with this dreadfully twisted world.”

“All men trust fully the illusion of life. But is this so wrong? A construction, a facade, and yet...A world full of warmth and resplendence..”

“I am [Name]. I sought to shed the yoke of fate, but failed.“

“Not one of them stood here, as you do now. You, conqueror of adversities. Give us your answer.”

“But the question remains...What do you want, truly?”

“There is no path. Beyond the scope of light, beyond the reach of Dark...what could possibly await us?“

[alpaca-clouds]

Dhampirs in Castlevania

Something I wanted to talk about for a while, is how dhampirs function in Castlevania (and how I headcanon them, because we do not get a lot of information).

For the most part Alucard is really the only dhampir we get to know both in the games and in the series. In Super Castlevania IV Simon Belmont is a dhampir, too. In Castlevania Legends Alucard has a kid, who ends up being a dhampir as well. And in the upcoming Mobile game the main character is gonna be a dhampir as well. But that's it.

From all these characters from the games we barely know anything. Especially given that dhampir!Simon and the child of Alucard and Sonia are non-canon to the main timeline.

And when it comes to game Alucard, we mostly just know that he is immortal, given he sticks around from 1476 till 2035 without aging a day.

The series of course has to give us more information. Here we do see his pointy teeth, we know he has regenerative abilities that usually let him heal without scars (though for some reason his fight with his father left him with a scar), we get the information that he has aged faster than a human would (though not how fast, as we do not know his age) and it does seem that he can go longer than a human without food or sleep. And of course he has some abilities, like superhuman strength and speed, but also some magical tricks like shapechanging, though the series does not confirm if it is just a magic spell or some inherent ability. (In the games it is a spell, so to speak, given it can be taken from him.)

We do not know, whether he needs to consume blood for any of his abilities to work. She pointy fangs make it somewhat likely, but it never gets confirmed.

Which brings me to my headcanon stuff.

First: We know that for the most part vampires and humans life apart from each other - or in societies with the humans as a subserviant class to the vampires. And while it clearly is not unheard of, that humans and vampires procreate, it does seem to be rare. My assumption is, that in fact most dhampirs get born out of rape with male vampires raping human women during raids.

Second: There is a big question on whether vampire women can procreate. We do not see it anywhere in canon, of course, but that does not mean it cannot happen. It just so is that obviously for the undead weapon to keep up female reproductive capabilities is a lot more work. And... honestly, I do not wish it onto anyone to have periods FOR FUCKING CENTURIES. So my headcanon is, that some vampire women remain fertile for a while after being turned, but usually loose fertility after one or two decades. Some loose fertility upon turning, though. And yes, this means that there are born vampire children around.

Third: Because usually dhampir children are born from human mothers with no vampire father to be around, humans see them in fact as cursed. (Yes, this is in direct opposition of real world believes about dhampirs.) Which is why most of them get killed in the cradle or put out into the wild.

Forth: Like in real world believes meanwhile vampire society believes that dhampirs are a bane onto their existence, because it just so happens that those dhampir kids not getting killed by humans often come to loathe their vampire fathers and set out to kill them. And given their super human abilities, they are in fact quite good with it.

Fifth: In reality, though, dhampirs are sorta a biological adaption for vampires. While vampires cannot drink the blood of other vampires, they can drink the blood of dhampirs. And given the dhampiric regeneration, they can actually give more blood than a human could, before running into troubles.

Sixth: Dhampirs do not necessarily need to drink blood. But if they overuse their abilities, they might need blood to recharge. Same goes with the limits of their regenerative abilities. While they can heal quite a few things, they have their limits and in that case need blood to regenerate.

Seventh: Dhampirs will always reproduce as dhampirs. No matter whether a dhampir has a child with a human or a vampire, the child is always gonna be a dhampir. Yes, this is an issue as soon as you realize that they reach reproductive age early and stay in it for quite a while.

And yeah... I needed a lot of headcanons to put them into place, which just happens if you write as much about it as I do xD

[persephonethewanderer]

You talking about Skyfall has riactivated my dormant interest like a sleeper agent. I remember back when the movie came out how very few were actively engaging with the treasure trove of trauma and intensity that is Bond/Silva and I'm so glad to see that you taste lies in that dynamic. I've been meaning to ask you if you, like me, read a subtext in that movie that can be traced back to csa/sa and what you think of it/your thoughts on the subject if that is the case. I really enjoy your analyses <3

anon im kissing u on the mouth with tongue because you gave me the input to talk about the subtextual (accidental? we will see) sexual abuse/incest nature of skyfall in the never ending triangle of sadness and insanity that is bond/m/silva.

skyfall definitely stands out from every other bond movie because it interrogates itself on the nature of what MI6 does and represents. there are no exploding pens, no flashy moments, it is gritty and terrible in all the right ways — arguably it should’ve been the perfect conclusion for the whole franchise but i digress.

there are key elements portrayed in this movie that can be traced back to the gothic nature of the narrative (if you leave aside the most blatant ones like the old haunted family house and the fight in the moors). and one of the staples of such genre is the undercurrent theme of incest and family curses. clearly m, bond and silva are not family by blood, but that doesn’t matter, because the nature of their relationship — the way agents are groomed to be a very specific type of person, the way m interchanges them like broken toys, how much her presence hoover over their whole life — can clearly be interpreted as something else, something more. Sinister, for sure, M stands for mommy for both raoul silva/tiago rodriguez and james bond. she is the most important person in their life (they have been groomed to think so), and yet for her they are just agents.

i spoke on this before but the parallel with bluebeard is very apt to this story, and so is frankenstein (raoul silva notoriously “look upon your work, mother” but can’t we also say that bond’s inability to exist away from the agency isn’t a monstrous creation by itself?).

so reading a grooming/abusive nature into this feels not only obvious to me but also necessary to understand why skyfall has been regarded as the best bond movie and the one that doesn’t feel like a bond movie at all. there is discussions/inferences about sexual assault, about abuse, about the fucked up dynamics that generate between m and her agents — and for which you truly cannot help but somewhat sympathize with silva (arguably the only bond villain that isn’t a villain at all but more like a tragic figure).

now was sam mendes aware of this subtext or was it accidental? i’d say both, because parts of the script clearly hint at the gothic nature of this tale, but also this is ultimately a bond movie so the real exploration of such topics is left to us Understanders™️

so tl;dr yes i think you can totally read these topics into the story, i do personally.

[auroramoon-draws16]

I can’t stop thinking about this, but it’s not Assassin’s Creed, sorry folks.

Hogwarts Legacy x Harry Potter

(No real spoilers, mostly vague references, iykyk)

I just need BAMF! Player Character/MC to pop up in the Harry Potter era. I’ve thought about several ways how:

1. Ghost. MC is the damn best duelist in history, but they can’t win ‘em all. Keep fighting the hardest fights, or get caught in a bad ending, and it’s curtains. So, what if MC didn’t feel like they did enough, hadn’t been able to help their friends enough, so they stayed, and in that decision, the wizarding world’s history changed. You call that defense against the dark arts??? That’s bullshit is what that is! Hey kid, here’s how you properly duel a bitch. Yes, it’s entirely legal to throw furniture and other objects at your opponent. Yes, you can throw your opponent. Prophecy? You guys traumatized a child! Hey, you, Harry was it? I gotchu, kid.

2. A painting. It’s pretty clear that the portraits all over the school are alive and retain some personality and characteristics of the subjects. Mostly when the subject actually adds more to their portrait to have a better effect. The MC was also one of the few who could use ancient magic, so that could be a reason they decided to have their portrait done, to ensure the next generation would have some sort of guidance they didn’t get. Not only that, but also help future duelists. So maybe the portrait can only be accessed by asking the Room of Requirement, mostly because ancient magic secrets are best kept between users. Imagine that portrait being found by Harry, he asks the room for help teaching Dumbledor’s Army spells and suddenly a portrait of a person no one has heard of, but apparently is the best duelist in the history of the wizarding world perks up and goes “alright, bet.” (This can also work for the ghost version) Well, the portrait could also just be out in public, but the MC is just not there, cue mystery to be solved!

3. Time travel. Ancient magic is wonky, it can happen! Cue sudden transfer student shenanigans. Also, chosen one? That is a child, MC has seen enough shit to know that’s fucked up and Harry needs better supports in his life, dammit. Older sibling MC goes brrrrr.

4. Apparition. Ancient magic wonky shit, part 2! Prophecies are bullshit. That is a child, and that bitchy 80 year old snake face needs to eat concrete. Harry stumbles upon an ancient magic item before he gets to Hogwarts. A necklace or a bracelet or some shit. Now baby Harry has a friend! MC takes one look at this child and goes “anybody gonna love and care for this one? No? Aight, mine now.” They can’t do much, but they are visible and heard only to Harry, so that means they can keep him company and tutor him wherever possible. How did they end up like this??? Uh…. Don’t worry about it.

5. Pensives. Somebody has to learn from history, and books are boring dammit. And easily edited. MC’s got your back kiddos.

6. How long do wizards live? Oh shit, yeah, MC is still alive. Heyyyy bitches, I’m your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! Who here knows how to throw a bitch at a wall? No? Well we got a lot of catching up to do. I may be old, but I’m still the best damn duelist around.

Idk, I wanted to have some fun with this and I haven’t seen anyone do this with an actual character. You can add backstories and shit. I hate reader inserts, okay? Don’t judge me :/ (also I’m tired of the romance, I love me a good ship, but my aromantic ass wants to see cute platonic shit, okay?)

Here’s my MC for Hogwarts Legacy, even tho I don’t have the game, lmao:

Morgan Diane Rook (They/Them)

Black wavy hair that goes just past their ears, gray eyes, tan skin, freckles, round face, scar on their cheek, and in Hufflepuff (my house, also for the rep)

Sass master, protective friend, and just a little bit feral, will laugh in the face of enemies. Unforgivable curses? I don’t need to be forgiven, I just need you to cease existence. You were very rude to my friend.

Obligatory Slytherins need a designated Hufflepuff best friend.

Blame the attitude on the Uncle who took them in after their parents died in an accident. Uncle Jack is from the states and ran in a gang before he went straight for his kid, he’s trying his best dammit. It’s also why they’re a transfer student, they spent a few years with Uncle Jack in the states before moving back into Mom and Dad’s place. He hired a wizard tutor, no worries. He don’t get all this magic shit, but he loves his kid, and that’s enough reason for him. They’re a damn good duelist for a reason.

Morgan also knows how to use a gun, just because :)

Idk, I think they’re neat

[yellowfingcr]

👤+ Helena

ask miss heysel for opinions/ not accepting!

“Ah! The lady grave herself! A woman one can always hope to have as friend, if anything because should you have her as a potential enemy instead, well- that opens up a series of frightening and generally painful consequences, and I say so as a professional taker of lives, who of painful consequences has made a living. I am lucky enough to be in a position to call her the former.”

“A good woman. Night-gentle, winter-sure. A weaver of plants and singer of curses, who can pluck lives as flowers. I do not think she has a taste for violence but she has no particular qualms about using it when deemed necessary; and wouldn’t it make sense, for someone so close to death and all it is, the cold truth of it? Does the scythe hesitate when it needs to fall? It does not. So she will not. Thoroughly blasphemous for this, too. This is a land of unbridled life and gilded funeral and the ancient ways she was born into were buried under solid gold, yet here she appeared, through whisper and secret, to be the silver bell that tolls. She carved scars onto the body of history when she dared shout, a long long time ago. And now she has returned to raise her voice anew.”

“Far too many words to describe her. Careful, I’d say… Yes, I’ll go with careful first. There is an attention to power applied that all those workers of life have- the gardener, the nurse- and she possesses it too. You’d think she would move as light as she does out of respect of the little existences she might step upon, and not to try and catch you unawares for a small laugh. Certain, then. Death’s propulsion. Focus, inevitable, for all she considers worth focusing on. Like the sweeping sickle. And again, just facets of the same coin, no? The way the needle sutures close and perforates open.”

“And, but don’t let her hear this… distant, in a way. Lonely, perhaps, though it’s not quite the word I have in mind. She had to do much alone. And as far as I know she is the endling of her kind. It must be, ah. Solitary. All the acts and all the rites and all the knowledge of an art and faith that just isn’t present outside of you anymore. All behind the coffin lid of her pale eyes. Generations over generations of tradition that will be laid to rest forever once she does. That’s a lot to carry on your own shoulders, even when they are strong. I don’t know. Maybe this doesn't disquiet her. Maybe it’s not like this at all. She has a penchant for the liminal and I am just a fallible interpreter of signals on account of my fallible humanness. Maybe this is all solely real in my mind.”

“But indeed a friend, regardless. One I’m always glad to cross paths with.”

[these-are-the-first-steps]

Longtime friends of this blog will recall, in its very early days- somehow 9 years ago now (yes it's been 9 years- im crying)- that what first got my attention about Reylo was the fact that the interrogation scene strongly echoed a scene I wrote for a manga contest in middle school in like....2000 or something lol. WELLL, guess what I just found? 🤭

My friend never did illustrate my script and we never sent it in to the, I believe, Tokyo Pop contest. A shame!! I think we had something really, really cool before anyone was really doing it- and now it's been done so much it's a fuckin cliche now.

Still, I think it would be pretty cool to see it still illustrated one day. The script isn't long, maybe about 3 pages? It was meant to fit the contest guidelines of I believe 10 drawn pages if memory serves.

Part of me thinks it would be cool to pick up the story again and make a true YA novel (unlike everything else being touted as YA these days which are not YA but just a place to shove women writing fantasy because god forbid women writers get treated like actual adults and placed in the actual Fantasy category) and finally see it finished, except the standards have shifted so much since 2000, and so much has been overdone and is cliche now, that I don't think it would be taken with good faith or enough good humor to find any success. Plus it was meant for a comic book/manga format anyway, which is where it would really thrive, and I can't draw. 🥲

Still, it was fun to run across today and read again. I had called it 流星/Ryusei/Shooting-Star, as the main character was called Hoshi/Star and the villain Kage/Shadow and the two of them have a bit of a cursed existence living in extreme dichotomy.

Anyway....it was cool. Once upon a time I had more space in my brain for these interesting things. Reality has never not been a horror in my life, but it's certainly taken on a more grandiose villainy than I ever could have imagined back then- especially in the last week as, after everything, I now get to watch the Circus of Satan dismantle the united states at the behest of paid foreign interests in real time.

So, remember to survive, friends. Survive, do whatever it takes, and find some place, any place, where you feel safe to exist. Don't "tough it out" if you don't have to, that's just a recipe for chronic stress which will kill and age you faster than you think. And then in some modicum of safety, do something you love again in that now free space. <3

[tgrailwar-zero]

The subroutine stopped, without fanfare. Time resumed as normal, and you found yourselves back in the town. There was the sound of excitement buzzing about from the duel, but it seemed muffled by the constant conversation buzzing around from you all, mixed in with your Servant's own thoughts.

Quietly, she helped LUNE up to their feet. However, before any words could be exchanged, she shot into the air with a burst of green light, hovering in the evening sky. In a word, she was running, only saying three simple words once they were far, far away from earshot.

"…We need to talk."

It seemed like that discussion with INVADER was real enough. However, now that it had ended, she could put the feelings behind the cold logic that INVADER was using. They were one in the same, after all.

"Saber won't be merciful if you continue to search for the keys. Historia said it himself. As long as you don't pursue 'truth', then he welcomes you as an ally. I don't know what he knows, but I can sense that much. Destroying Lune would have been cruel, but… it would have saved us pain in the future, I believe. We're 'Interlopers'. No matter what, we'll never reach the same frequency with the Servants here. Or… maybe I can't. Sorry. And even then... this is a war. This is battle. The fighting is fun, but not everybody survives..."

The rest of her statement was clear.

'...And I don't want to be the one who doesn't.'

She looked away, apologetically, laying out her reasoning to destroy LUNE then and there.

"A 'wish'. A 'curse'. Both of those things make up the Solar Cell. The wish created the lands, the civilization, the people- and the curse created the foundation it was built upon."

She reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out a feather. It glistened with an array of colors as the light bounced off it, beautiful and prismatic. It was familiar. You recognized it from your encounter with QUETZALCOATL. Apparently it had served as part of the catalyst to summon KUKULKAN. The magical energy from it was all but gone, but it still seemed to hold on to just a bit. Just enough to shine.

"It's a beautiful civilization. I see that. I feel that. This feather tells me that. But it's going to die either way. Either whatever exists at the core of the Solar Cell will manifest and come forth, destroying everything… even humanity outside of the Solar Cell… or we destroy it, and destroy one world to save another."

"That's why it has to die by my hands. Being betrayed by their Sun at the core of the Solar Cell would be too sad of an ending for the beautiful civilization that exists here, so the Sun of another world… one who can be easily cursed at and shamed, must be responsible. Extinction is a part of life's cycle, but something must be the catalyst. Something must be to blame, not everyone can be happy and blameless. It's a god's duty to accept that burden from mortals, yes?"

She paused, before her smile became a bit more bittersweet.

"…Though you all aren't gods, sorry. I'll carry most of the burden, promise."

She was quiet for a moment, before continuing, her tone shifting a bit as she collected her feelings.

"…And maybe I'm not your Rider or Avenger or Assassin, or any of the other special Servants you contracted with, and I'm sorry about that too, but… you contracted with a troublesome and inexperienced god, so… I can't do it alone- I don't want to do it alone. If we can't see eye to eye, then…"

She trailed off. The look in her eyes was a complicated one, but resolute none the less. She had her own conclusion, which meant that she felt like she was owed that same resolution. Agreement or not, she wanted a decision. Perhaps realizing that intensity, she forced a smile, letting the tension leave her body as she drifted in the air.

"Ahaha, nevermind! I'm your Servant, so I'll follow orders no matter what, yes!"

[broodwoof]

Happy Friday!

"i've given you plenty of opportunities to tell the truth." - from the hiding prompts - forrrrrrrr maybe Calpernia/Solas? (I'M INTRIGUED OK haha)

okay bless u for this bc i just went off the deep end these two mean?? sm to me?? it's the weirdest ship but i love them ;o; @dadrunkwriting 1354 words cws: slavery; war mention notes: trespasser spoilers & calpernia's arc spoilers

Her fury was evident as she finally approached—as he finally stopped running and let her approach.

Her chase was unending, but it had to end. She had sent her Venatori to scour the land for signs of him. Her spies. Varric’s own spies were subtle but still present, and Leliana’s were powerful and precise. The weight of the foregone Inquisition bore down upon him with a singular intent, and there were simply too many forces arrayed against him—even with the Eluvians, even with the Beyond and the Fade, he was becoming trapped. He needed someone to stop the pursuit.

Varric’s was the least threatening, and the dwarf was incredibly stubborn. Leliana would not stop so long as she drew breath, and although she presented the greatest risk, Solas would not kill her in order to stem her spies.

That left only Calpernia to dissuade. Calpernia to meet with, Calpernia to argue with. “Why,” she hissed as she approached, her expression tight with her anger. Despite all that had changed, all that had happened, she was dressed in the same armor, wore her hair in the same way… if he closed the distance between them, he thought she would smell the same, that she would feel achingly familiar in his arms.

He kept the distance. He had to.

“There is no other option,” was his paltry answer.

“There is always another option!” She snapped, and he felt the weight of her meaning crackle across the space between them. Her words were thread through with her power, a transfixing display of might and magic and anger. “You taught me that!”

“No,” he said softly, “you knew that long before you met me.” Her expression faltered then, anger giving way to grief for a brief moment… but then she took a deep breath and drew her fury back around her. A shield, a strength, a well of power to draw from.

She would not yield the day easily.

“You have always known there were other options,” he continued. “You taught yourself everything. How to read. How to wield your magic. How to change the world.”

“Like you!” He nodded, conceding the point.

“Yes. Like me. Except…” he scoffed, glancing away briefly. “You were never as naive as I was.”

“You’re being naive now!” She shouted, perhaps sensing a weakness. Perhaps accurately sensing a weakness. But he would not yield to her. He would not spoil all he had worked for, all he had still to do.

“Perhaps,” he admitted after a moment. “There is still no other option.”

“Fen’harel.” She spat the name like a curse… he supposed it was, anymore. “The deceiver. The liar. The betrayer.”

“Yes.” His voice sounded hollow even to his own ears. “Yes. So I was. So I am.”

“You betrayed me,” her pain overtook her anger for a moment, her voice thick. “You betrayed the Inquisition! Your friends! Why, Solas?”

The real question. One which required a real answer… or as much of one as he could give. He met her eyes once more.

“I am Fen’harel,” he confirmed again, “the Dread Wolf. When the Elvhen dominated the land, when Arlathan was the center of power in the known world, when the Fade and the Waking World were as one… that was my existence. My time.” She said nothing, staring hard at him. He was uncertain how much she had been told of his conversation with the Inquisitor, and she did not seem compelled to clarify the matter. “The Evanuris were powerful mages, but not the gods the Dalish think they were. Not gods at all. They were masters, slave-owners, who branded their people with the vallaslin.” Her face was a mask, her emotions contained. But he knew her, knew she felt this—she couldn’t fail to feel this, a slave her entire life until Corypheus “freed” her to use her.

“There had long been murmurings of rebellion,” he continued, “and in my naivete, I fueled them. I organized in secret, freed slaves, removed their vallaslin and smuggled them out of the city. In this way, I slowly amassed an army—and when we were powerful enough… when I thought we were powerful enough… we stood against the Evanuris.”

She stared at him, waiting for the rest of the story, although they both knew how it ended.

“We lost.”

“They died fighting for their own freedom,” she said and his eyes slipped shut, wanting so badly to let her words soothe him. But he could not permit it—this was his burden, his mistake. And it was hardly his only one.

“Even if they did, it was for naught. The war made the Evanuris more determined, more ruthless. They pursued a weapon that would destroy the world. To prevent it… I sundered the world.”

“And now you seek to restore it,” she concluded. So she had been told. He was not surprised—she knew the value of keeping the truth to herself, so long as it suited. Her cunning, her tactics, it was part of what he admired about her. Part of why he had grown, in time, to love her.

Such an unexpected thing, to love a human woman. But he could not deny that she had intrigued him from the start, that her drive and determination and tireless effort for her people had done nothing except inspire him. She was not always right… but when she had learned the error of her ways, the mistake of trusting Corypheus, she had turned on all she knew to stand against him. She wanted to restore her homeland to something worthwhile, to liberate the slaves, to raise them up as citizens. She used all the means at her disposal to do so.

He saw so much of himself in her, but also something so much better. She was not as jaded as he had become, not as despairing. She was lush and vibrant and so passionate it bordered on desperate.

“Yes,” he said at last.

“Then let me come,” she said and he shook his head, even knowing this was coming. Knowing it must come. Her drive, her determination, her need for restoration… of course she would want to be at his side. But she only knew the outline of his plans, and he could not condemn her to live the reality of them. To suffer the consequences alongside him.

Better that she live a life free of him, free of his influence.

“You deserve to live your own life,” he told her, watching as her fury soared again. “Not to chain yourself to mine.”

“How dare you,” she snarled, taking a step closer. “How dare you. I chain myself to nothing! I offer this willingly.”

“You do not know the gravity of your offer,” he protested and she took another step closer. He wanted to back up, wanted to flee, but instead held his ground.

“You think I followed you all this way to pledge myself to you? To bow down, become a slave to your whims?” He winced but she did not give him room to reply. “No, Solas. I have done nothing except be with you. Learn from you. And I have never prevented you from telling me this truth about yourself. There have been so many opportunities–”

Her voice broke again and his heart ached. He wanted so badly to wrap her in his arms, to press apologies against her skin, her hair, but…

“I cannot allow you to join me,” he said instead, forcing a distance in his voice that he did not feel, “and I could never tell you the truth. There is too much at stake.”

“You’re lying to yourself,” she snapped and it took everything in him to not react. To not indulge in the belief that maybe, maybe she was right, that he could allow her to stay at his side, that it would not be cruel and selfish and—

No.

“I am sorry,” he said instead, watching as her expression hardened. “Please, stop pursuing me.” With that he turned and left through the Eluvian he’d come from, although he did not miss her final response:

“No.”

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Okay, so I'm pretty sure you liked one of the posts that partially talks about their backstory, but I don't think you've read anything about Karina specifically.

h/t/t/p/s://www.tumblr.com/aikoiya/721484702337351680/loz-karina-goddess-of-love-passion?source=share

This is pretty important to her as a character, but so it this:

h/t/t/p/s://www.tumblr.com/aikoiya/727413120124993536/loz-gerudo-pantheon?source=share

The thing about a lot of those scenes is that they would mostly only happen before Demise became Demise. Afterwards, he'd be more likely to actively try & r*pe her.

Like, yes. I always wanna give characters a chance, but the problem is that unless a character wants to change, then they won't.

Do not pass go & do not collect $200. The buck stops with you.

Yes, he could reform, but he doesn't want to. I see him as the type whose addicted to the chaos & the hate & the bloodshed & the carnage.

In some ways, he reminds me of the Joker. "Some people wanna watch the world burn."

As Demise, he is too far gone. However, Ganondorf, to me, acts like his Sword of Damocles.

Yes, Ganondorf is Demise's hatred reborn, his Ara Mitama, but that isn't all he is. He's also human. Meaning that he can change given the right influences.

Which means that Ganondorf is both Demise's hatred upon the world & Demise's best chance at any form of salvation.

In all honesty, I tend to take a degree of influence from Shintoism & Buddhism with him. While I don't believe in such philosophies IRL, they do give me new & interesting angles to look at characters from.

And my depiction of Demise takes a degree of influence from Susano-o. And, he's known for having been cast out of the heavens to live as a mortal (though, with the things he could pull, he must've been a mortal sorcerer).

But, the thing is, there is a shitton of evidence to suggest that the actual curse that Demise placed upon Link & Zelda isn't reincarnation. Because reincarnation already existed within their world &, according to Shinto & Buddhist philosophy, every living thing is subject to reincarnation.

It is only further proven by Demise's own words, he uses a very specific term in the original Japanese. Rin'ne, which is the Japanese term for the Hindu word Samsāra, which is the neverending cycle of life, death, & rebirth.

Now, in the English, he said was that, "my hatred will follow."

"Follow." You can't exactly follow something if it's not already in motion.

What I think is that, Demise isn't causing Link & Zelda to reincarnate. I think that that was already going to happen regardless.

I believe that Demise's actual curse isn't so much forcing them to reincarnate (which, how would he even do that; he was never stated to have power over souls), rather I believe he's attached his own hatred to their souls & essentially piggybacking off of a natural phenomenon that takes place on their earth. His curse makes it so that, whenever they are reborn, they'll experience misery in some form or fashion.

Which brings me to my next point. I think that Hylia gave up a whole lot more than what a bunch of fans believe she did.

Thing is, in a world where reincarnation is real, the only way to escape it is the give up on all worldly attachments. Which, I don't think even most deities can boast about themselves.

Especially not Hylia. She is VERY attached. So, when she became mortal, she sort of became subject to Rin'ne like any other mortal. Whether she knew or she didn't, that's a different story, but I still think it to be true.

Anyway, tangent, my bad. I see Ganondorf as being parallel to Susano-o time as a mortal.

And, you know what? He eventually makes amends. But he's only able to through living as a mortal. Or at least, that's the angle I'm going with.

And, in a way, Karina sort of represents Demise's, or Gàlondo's Kushinada-hime. Susano-o's eventual wife. (But only represent her. If she actually was Kushinada, then she'd be transformed into a comb most of the story. XD)

But, bottom line is that, according to Buddhism, it's actually not

Another interesting thing is that, while yes, the Triforce bears a surface-level resemblance to the concept of the Holy Trinity, I think it has more in common with the 3 Confucian Virtues.

And, do you know what those virtues are?

Courage

Wisdom

.

.

.

.

Benevolence.

And, do you know what Conficius believed of benevolence? It is humaneness. Or love for others.

That it starts at the home, but shouldn't stop there.

One could even argue that it is an extension of Aristole's idea that one's relationship with others reflects the relationship that we have with ourselves. In other words, how you view or treat yourself can affects how you view or treat others.

Which makes self-compassion (philautia) rather than narcissism (narcissis) very important. Because arrogance is often times a sign of someone who is secretly insecure.

And, interestingly enough, Karina is a goddess of all types of love & of healthy relationships (among other things), meaning she likely knows what she's talking about.

Anyway, back to where I was. Confucian benevolence is described as a moral sense that begins with one's own family & that strong foundation allows for such feelings to flow outward to one's community & beyond.

So, what happens when one's family or home is not strong. If the filial love isn't allowed to flourish?

Now, that by no means indicates that one can't be benevolent without a good home life or relationship with one's family. But just like how one can still learn how to read later in life, if it's nurtured early in life, it's comes easier.

But yeah, that's my logic.

Sorry for the infodumping.

Is Demise a terrible being? Yes. Do I love him?

... yes...

I really wish I could like me a hero for once. Alas, my heart is forever tormented by villains and antiheroes!

I am always here for your Universe's lore, my dear. You have incredible storytelling and information to give on WHY something should be the way it is in your version of Hyrule! I cannot wait to see more about it!

I actually have all the links you give me saved on my notes app to be able to pull them up whenever I am able to read... AKA when my brain lets me actually sit down to read.

[danyayeni2]

The Question about a Mortal’s Existence (And How it should Apply to Me)

Tybalt x Mercutio: Vampire x God/Goddess AU.

In which Tybalt prays to a certain God/Goddess, and he just so happens to call upon the holy Mercutio.

A/N: sorry if my writing’s bad, I don’t write a lot ;-;! But, I still hope you enjoy, nonetheless!

Tybalt enters in the church, already having permission from Father Lawrence to do so, dips his hand in the holy water, and crosses himself. “Oh, how ironic”, Tybalt thinks to himself, “A demonic figure like me, in a church of holiness.” He walks to a pew, “Had it not been for my family lineage, I probably would’ve burnt up as soon as I crossed myself!” He laughs at the thought, the thought of him burning up. The thought of him dying. The thought of him having a somewhat mortal existence, as blissful as it may seem.

Oh, how he wishes it could. Yes, the flamboyant moves. The bright fashion. The fast, yet never ending old money. All the extravagant parties in the world. And being the best sharpshooter in Verona. Yes, it’s all lovely, but he wants something more.

“God, please. I know I’m a creature of darkness, but, please. Send me an angel to protect me. Send me someone who’ll help me understand what this is all about. I’ve been cursed with mortals consider a blessing, but why? I can’t even enter a friend’s house without begging, since they use me being a vampire against me..” Tybalt clenches his hands tighter. “I want to understand why humans are afraid. Why they cry at night. Why they say fear and anxiety is something bad.” He takes a deep breath in, and says his last sentence, “I want to live, Lord. Is it a sin to just live?” Nothing. Of course nothing happened. He prayed every day, but there was no change in his life. Only quick happiness, and over-longed misery.

He sighs, and throws his head back on the pew, and starts to sing to himself. “I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real.”

And all of a sudden, he heard a whisper. A sweet whisper. Like an angel was comforting him. Like it could read his mind. “I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so loooooong.~”

“GOD?!” Tybalt yells out as he immediately stands up and looks around.

…Silence.

Tybalt walks up the aisle, still singing. “…Erase all the pain 'til it's gone..” The “angel’s” voice echoes throughout the church, “I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something reaaaaal.~” “…Was my prayer…answered?” Tybalt thought to himself. “Indeed it was, Tybalt.” The man’s voice chirped. “…who are you?” “Oh! I go by many names! Merciful, Mercury, the Mercurial, are just a few. But you, my bat, are advised to call me by my preferred nickname, Mercutio.”

Tybalt turns around, and sees a man with umber colored skin, white dreads, dark purplish-gray eyes, and a cute smile. In that smiles lies a tiny gap in between his two front teeth, and his body is toned, and slightly curvy….NO, NO. TYBALT, STOP IT! HE’S JUST SOME RANDOM GUY, WHO ALSO JUST CONVENIENTLY APPEARED WHILE YOU WERE SINGING LINKIN PARK! NO BIG DEAL!

“Well, it is a big deal if you keep getting flustered about it! But, I appreciate your nice compliments! Now, if I remember correctly, you have a question. Something about…”, he snaps his fingers, and appears behind Tybalt, “…living?” “Uhh, yeah. I wanted to live, and see why humans fear death.”

“Hm? Well, that’s simple! They only have 1 life left, silly!” “I get that, but why fear it? It’s inevitable.” “Not for you, being a vampire, and what not. And that is why you called for me!” “But I don’t understand it, what makes life so special, if we’re gonna die?”

“..Tybalt, may I rephrase your question so you and I both can understand what you really want?” “Go ahead.” “Tybalt, and this is from what I’m getting, you want to fear death itself. You want something to live for!” Tybalt looks at him with his eyebrows furrowed. “For years, you’ve struggled with the meaning of life! And for centuries, you’ve found life pointless! You see, what makes life special are the moments in that life! However, you haven’t had a lot of those moments, ever since Petrucchio came to your family, and when Juliet was born.”

“So?” Tybalt crosses his arms, “What does that have to do with my problem? How do I fix it?” “Well, since you don’t have a lot of genuinely happy moments, and therefore no will to live, you need to have something or someone that brings you genuine happiness! Tell me, is there anything or anyone that brings you genuine happiness?” “Don’t you know already? I’m practically a book, with the way you read me.” “Hmmm”, Mercutio hums, amused at Tybalt’s remark. “Maybe, but it’s better to hear it from your mouth.”

He shuts his eyes, and thinks for a moment. “..My..family.”

Boy, did he lie. And boy, did Mercutio know. “My family makes me happy..” Tybalt continues on, all while looking down at his shoes. “They make me smile. They make me smile a lot.” Silence again. “Are you..lying to me?” “What?” “Tybalt, are you lying to me? About your family?” “….” “Tybalt? Tell me, please?” “….yeah. I guess, maybe, I don’t know. Look, I don’t know who I have! I love Verona, I love my cousins! I love my family! I love what I do!” “So, what is it you don’t love?” “…I don’t know.” Tybalt turns into a bat, and flies on to the ceiling, and Mer uses his wings to fly up there with him. “Look, it’s okay if you don’t know! We’ll figure it out!” Mercutio smiles at Tybalt.

“…together?”

“Mhm, together!”

A/N: aaaa this was such an old wip, but since I had mercibalt on my mind, it wasn’t a bad idea not to! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it!!