#Birthday for our Eater Of Worlds

[benebxmbina]

To Live Without !¡ Wolfstar x reader

—

Warnings !¡ Death, angst, you have kids, abrupt and rushed ending

A/N !¡ sorry sorry sorry sorry

Staring at a blank canvas was debilitatingly boring. Since Lily and James had passed away, Sirius had been trying to pick up new hobbies. “James was good at painting,” he thought, but now he doesn’t understand how he did it so often and so well. It was as if the canvas was mocking him and his talents– or supposed lack thereof. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t have any talents, it was that he wasn’t good at picking up any hobbies. In your eyes, he had many talents. He could sing (often to put you or the kids to sleep), spoke three languages, and was the best spellcaster you knew. 

He could paint, you were confident of it, but he just didn’t know what to do or how to put it on the canvas. The paint was drying on his pallet by the time you finally drew him out of the haze he was in. “Dinner is ready, my love.” 

He sighs before standing up, looking away from the canvas for the first time in hours. Only he knew what was going through his mind as he stared, and you made a mental note to ask him about it later. Surely, it wasn’t a conversation to be had around the three little ones. 

Remus stumbles out of the hallway holding Harry in his arms, the small bit of hair he had was damp and messy. “All cleaned up,” Remus says, setting him down in his high chair, before taking a seat himself. You thank him, serving everyone their plates. 

With James and Lily gone, all of you were left with Harry while Dumbledore decided where Harry would be the safest due to the inevitable attacks from angry death eaters. Of course, the three of you wanted to keep him in the wizarding world with you. Where he could grow up around family. 

Sirius thought it his duty to continue to take care of Harry– it’s what he believed his best friend would have wanted, but you all knew Dumbledore would come up with another idea sooner or later. 

The kids were the only noise at the table during dinner. Usually, it would be loud– everyone trying to say their peace at once, eventually silenced by whoever got sick of the noise first. But now, it was a whole different ball game. Sirius was tired– more so depressed but didn’t speak a word unless spoken to. Remus wasn’t sure how to handle this, so he stayed quiet, too. 

“At least the babies are happy,” you thought. 

The twins were wearing the pajamas Lily had gotten them last Christmas. She always thought it was cute when they matched, and even though you always called it tacky, you dressed them up to see her smile widen at the sight of them. 

Sometimes she made a point to have Harry match as well, especially on holidays and birthdays. Even if it meant he was wearing unicorns and rainbows on his chest. Remus would laugh at the sight of a baby boy adorned in all pink. “I think the twins’s princess dresses would look good on him, don’t you?” he would say. 

But now Harry had on his usual nighttime onesie, and the girls wore their pajamas. Remus had thought about dressing him up after his bath but knew better than to stir up any more heavy emotions. Of course, the little ones wouldn’t notice the difference, but that wasn’t his worry. 

Word had spread that Sirius was the one to give away the Potter’s location. You were all sure James and Lily were angry at this, wherever they were, but now, there was nothing either of them could do about it. A dead man's word is nothing but a silent scream to those trying to listen. 

Dumbledore thought it would be best to put all of you into hiding as well, but Sirius wasn’t going to let that happen. “We’re not cowards, Albus,” he said. “We can hold our own.”

You were sure this anger only came from a place of grief, but you couldn’t argue against him. Not now, at least. Remus agreed to put protection spells around the home and extra ones around the kids’s bedrooms. They seemed to be doing their jobs, but it was only a matter of time before someone managed to break them. 

What used to be one of the many highlights of your day was gone, and there was nothing you could do about it. A tear ran down your cheek, a sob emanating from your chest before the men pulled you into their arms. 

Sensing the emotion, one of the girls began to cry, the other two kids following suit. Remus was the first to get up to grab the twins, Sirius following to grab Harry. You stood, tears rolling down your cheeks, and made your way over to the rest of the family, pulling them all close to you. “I love you,” you sobbed. “All of you.” 

To live without James and Lily seemed like torture, but now there was no other way to live.

[avkizi]

MARAUDERS ERA DR INTRO !!

BASICS ౨ৎ-----------------------------------------------------------------

||*.name: venus mayumi

||*.nicknames: rings, vee

||*.birthday: 06/04 (11)

||*.pronouns: she/her

||*.occupation: student @ hogwarts

||*.ethnicity: filipino/japanese/german

||*.blood status: half-blood

APPEARENCE + MOODBOARD

⋆.˚ lil blurb: i have vitiligo, which affects my eye, skin in some smaller patches, and the front bits of my hair, making them lighter ⋆.˚

SCHOOL/SOCIAL ౨ৎ-----------------------------------------------------

||*.house: gryffindor

||*.friends: marauders & valkyries, + regulus black (♡), dorcas meadows, pandora rosier, kingsley shacklebolt, & emmeline vance (civil w/ the skittles/emeralds bc of reg)

||*.animagus form: raccoon

||*.personality/social life: lowkey a little loud, def more similar to james & sirius than remus & peter, but i actually know when to shut tf up, and i'm generally well-liked. there isn't as much hatred of other houses, and a lot of the death eater/pureblood stuff is way less prevelant, so friendly rivalries are common, but no all-out hatred. me n sirius are beaters for the gryffindor quidditch team (i'm also lowkey ripped asf hehehe), but i end up having to drop out mid fifth year from an injury, so me n lily end up commentating (lmao).

||*.hobbies:

muggle volleyball thrifting, crocheting, embroidery, & sewing singing + playing electric guitar jewlery making rock, fossil, and bone collecting/foraging parkour roller skating quidditch

WORLD STUFF ౨ৎ--------------------------------------------------------

||* uniforms arent as strictly enforced, fridays, weekends, and non-school days like holidays you can wear regular clothes undr your robes, accessories are always allowed (jewelry, belts, hair shit, etc.)

||* there are a bunch of extra curriculars available like different clubs, etc. and theyre lowkey super fun theres like baking club, art club, care of magical creatures, its so sick.

||* they do so many fancy events theres a halloween masquerade ball, easter ball, valentines day dance, autumn/spring equinox events, etc. also the triwizard tournament didn't get banned and there was one in my fourth year bc i said so

||* it's genrally recognized that students within the same house arent all the same sow hile friendly competition is encouraged, it's also common for students to have friends from other houses, and ppl are allowed in other house's dorms & common rooms if they're invited

||* there is a bioluminescent cave pool under the castle and its so fun to hang out in oh my god its not cold or anything its just soso cool

||*voldemorts downfall happens the year after we graduate (aka the order destroys all the horcruxes), and nobody i know well dies so none of the betrayal happens, but regulus does end up taking the mark but dosen't believe in all that shit & works as a spy (snape could NEVER) for the order, and still destroys the horcrux but survives and fully leaves his family (suck it walburga and orion)

MISC/TRIVIA ౨ৎ-----------------------------------------------------------

has three pets, two cats and an owl, whos names are mocha, shinya, & ghost, (the cats r technially communal between me n the valkyries bc they live in the dorms w us, but idc)

bands/music artists and slang r all the same as they are now, but technology etc is all 70s (w/o the homophobia racism etc)

i shift in the day before i get my hogwarts letter

sirius and reg are irish twins so while reg is still younger hes in our year (along w the rest of the skittles/emeralds its for simplicity)

there is a creek/river system in the forest and its so cool to hangout near theres like fossils and bones and cool rocks and shit EVERYWHERE i love it

the lake is swimmable (unless you can't swim cough cough regulus black) and its super fun theres a dock and floating platforms and stuff its amazing when its hot out

the dr follows kind of an atyd type timeline of events w exceptions

౨ৎ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

that's all pretty much!!! thats a long one lmao sorry abt that but also if y'all knw any younger raspier british fem voiceclaims pls tell me im in the trenches rn trying to find a british vc that dosent sound like shes in bridgerton lmao ok byeeee love u

[dramioneasks]

Draco's Birthday (2024)

The Pretense by vinewrappeddragon - M, one-shot - SCANDAL OF THE CENTURY: GRANGER ENSNARES MALFOY IN SORDID LOVE TRAP! War heroine Hermione Granger and former Death Eater Draco Malfoy have shocked the wizarding world by entering into a torrid romance no one saw coming! In an explosive exposé, The Daily Prophet's roving reporters uncovered the unlikely pair's secret affair - complete with candlelit trysts, heated public rows, and a sudden whirlwind engagement that has left tongues wagging across Britain. But is their love the real thing or merely an elaborate ruse to advance their own agendas? The answer may surprise you...and shake the very foundations of our society!

A Long Time Coming by ahuie19 - E, 5 chapters - Nearing both Draco's birthday and their first wedding anniversary, Hermione works on a secret present.

Boring Birthday by AutumnFWoods - E, one-shot - All Draco wants to do, is spend is 30th birthday with his new girlfriend, his friends have other ideas.

It’s My Party (I’ll Cry If I Want To) by magicalsydney (magicandmanuscripts) - G, one-shot - Draco Malfoy having a no good birthday party until his wife gives him his favorite gift to date.

Emerald Green Ribbon by Ashabadash - E, one-shot - Draco was simply trying to have a productive day at work, but apparently, that's too much to ask when the day in question is also his birthday. or Draco receives a surprise package for his birthday and now he can't focus on anything else.

Twisted Affairs by itsnotpomegranate - E, one-shot - Draco Malfoy prided himself on being an individual that didn’t believe in absolutes, at least, not anymore. However, there were two things he was absolutely positive about. Number one, he hated the day of his birth with passion. He hated celebrating the bloody date. Nothing good ever happened (were it not the day of his birth). But what really consolidated the bad omen of the 5th of June was the fact that he had become a death eater that same day. From then onwards, Draco preferred to forget the date completely and if he never had to celebrate his birthday again, he’d be a happy wizard. Number two, he was not at all deserving of the love of the one and only, Hermione Granger. (Not a hard deduction really, being that he was a former death eater and she the fucking Golden Girl.) So, it came with no surprise, albeit with considerable loads of pain, that on the day of his 29th birthday, his girlfriend was going to end things up with him. It was worse than that, actually. He knew she was having an affair with another.

Of Piercings and Perversions by vinewrappeddragon - E, 2 chapters - no summary

Draco Malfoy's Correct Comportment for Courting by multiimoments - E, one-shot - Three times Draco was a gentleman and one time he wasn't.

She Put a Bow On It by MissusB - E, one-shot - Draco hated the attention. There was only one exception and this wasn’t it. Still, Blaise had conjured a birthday party out of his arse faster than Draco could tell him not to bother. --- OR Blaise throws Draco a birthday party to get him and Hermione back together because they're both pining idiots who refuse to just say so.

Happy Birthday, Old Man by Biirdiee_Rose - E, one-shot - Draco can't help but feel old after not being able to party like he used to. His darling wife decides to cheer him up with a little birthday treat.

hummingbird heartbeat by riddikulus_puff - E, one-shot - “You give me that hummingbird heartbeat. Spread my wings and make me fly.”

Pizza Puns & Granger's Buns by peoniesandcedarwood - E, one-shot - The one where Draco delivers more than just pizza to a hungry Hermione.

Gold Around The Edges by mysterydragonss - not rated, one-shot - Draco knows he won't get the one thing he really wants for his birthday, and makes it everyone else's problem. Who said long distance was a good idea again? *** He’d been dating Hermione Granger for three years, seven months, and fifteen days (not that he was counting), but he hadn’t physically seen her in over a year. She’d been offered the job of a lifetime, researching rare creatures in the deepest darkest parts of the Amazon, and he’d actively encouraged her to go, even if that had been akin to carving out an organ. He’d been selfish for a lot of his life, and had been working on it. He would never understand why people raved about being ‘good’ so often, it was tiring, painful, and made him want to break things.

Alone Together by PotionChemist - E, WIP - On Draco Malfoy's fortieth birthday, he receives an unexpected lunch invitation. He finds himself in a complicated situation with the Minister for Magic and her ex-husband.

[hp-abandonshipfest]

Abandon Ship Fest Masterlist

Ahoy there! Our voyage is now at an end, and we, the mods, are delighted to announce that we have 23 spectacular gen works for your perusal! Thank you to everyone who engaged, commented, reblogged, and followed along. Your support means so much and we are so grateful! Without further ado, here are our entries ⚓

Fine Print by nocturn Marietta's maxims for a life well-learned and well-lived.

Where the Heart is by silver_fish - a Podfic by @cailynwrites After the events at the Department of Mysteries in June—and all that came after—Harry finds himself once again stranded at Number Four Privet Drive. With only his own thoughts to keep him company, he takes to writing letters to the only person he thinks can help, if only he were still alive to do so.

Collected Correspondence by Artemisaki, jtimu Correspondence between Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy regarding publication of novel findings in magizoology and wizarding space. 

Maybe this is enough by Patriceavril Scattered moments throughout a doomed friendship.

All The Whys To Map The Stars by @nogenrealldrama  Sometimes Astronomy feels like the least magical subject at Hogwarts. But while the influence of the planets can seem subtle, it’s also ever-present. This fic is a short narrative exploration of how Astronomy might affect magic in the Wizarding world.

Eat Your Death, Draco by @sillywives Draco's first dinner with the Death Eaters isn't what he expected.

The Ostentation by @lumosatnight, @nanneramma Lucius Malfoy: the boy, the man, the bird.

[ART] Never Been in Love by @okeydokeylackey Little piece of art/gif of Voldemort with an aro/ace flag 🧡💛🤍💙🖤

The Winds Forbid by @dodgerkedavra The third letter Petunia receives from Albus Dumbledore simply can’t be right.

The Sacred Blood We Spilled by @bunnieblair Her sisters were her ever-present companions in life. Their presence at her side firm and unyielding. Years of treasured girlhood, of never being alone. A lifetime spent fighting, learning and growing together.

Between Truth & Repose by @caitriona-3 Lily figures the assignment is as good a chance as any to ask her question - why are the three curses unforgivable?

Aniseed by @poljupci The Art of Identifying the Things which No Longer Serve You

These Dreams That Deepen Our Desires by Clueless Anxious Ghost of Hayhay (ShadowfoxFreyja) Narcissa finds herself in Azkaban, unwillingly dwelling on her past experiences.

The Diary of T.M. Riddle by @midnightstargazer On a visit to the Malfoys, fourteen-year-old Sirius insists on sneaking off to explore. What happens when he and Regulus find a blank diary hidden deep within the Malfoys’ library?

Ollivanders and Potter: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. by That_Dark_Forest_Witch The wand may be the one to do all the choosing, but wandmakers are needed to help the pairs find each other. The getting-ready-for-school rush in Diagon Ally is one of Harry's favourites now that the shop is his.

A Good Place (Believe Me) by SquibNation10 Five-year-old Harry's idyllic summer in Godric's Hollow takes a dramatic turn when he meets Tom, a troubled boy. Tragedy strikes: Harry's sister, Luna, is missing. Can Tom and Harry solve the mystery together?

The boy and the dogfather by HadrianPeverellBlack Trouble is very protective of the young boy.

The Secrets We Keep by sky_watcher_rose Minerva knows who the black cat with the brown eyes is, but she never says anything. After all, as she keeps telling herself, she has no proof.

Learning to Unlearn by @offthemap A Pansy Parkinson character study. Over the course of a year and a half, Pansy starts to become more open-minded about the world she lives in... though at first not on purpose. A series of vignettes.

My brothers, my boys, my twins by @lucigoo Percy was unintentionally parentified at a young age. Now, on his first birthday without Fred, he finds himself with George and Harry. Reminiscing about the boys he all but helped raised.

Missing Pages by @nightfalltwen Something isn't right with Monica Wilkins' life. It's like reading a book with the pages torn out and she doesn't know.

Unbreakable bonds by x_manga_Bleach_x Bill was Ginny's favourite brother. She'd never tell Ron though. He'd pout and sulk for days.

our house in the middle of our street by daniko A neglected orphan, a former and future spy, and a convicted felon take up residence in a grim old place.

[marsmarauders]

hi so I'm very new to tumblr and have followed u for a while and I wanted to ask ur opinion on what symbols do u think portray rosekiller and dorlene well? Coz regulus and Sirius being named after stars make their symbols stars combined with the fact James is a literal sunshine and Remus being a werewolf makes him a moon but what about our unhinged psychos Barty and Evan?? And Marlene and Dorcas?? sorry if this is annoying I'm asking this to quite a few people

OH MY GOSH I LOVE BEING ASKED STUFF OKAY SO.

I'm gonna extend the question a little and answer for some more characters lol.

I love the symbolism in this fandom. We have such beautiful ship names because of it.

Sunflower, Wolfstar, Starchaser, etc etc.

The main five characters that people focus on have a lot of symbolism.

James - Stag, Sun, Chaser.

Sirius - Star, Dog.

Remus - Wolf, Moon.

Lily - Flower, Doe.

Regulus - Star, Water, Seeker.

But what about the rest of the characters?

For Marlene, I typically use the symbolism of a star or a sea, since that is what her name means! I also use a lioness for her, since that's what I think her patronus would be!

Dorcas's name literally translates to gazelle, which is why I sometimes refer to Dorlene as Starzelle! But another thing I typically think of for her are Orcas. One - because it's literally in her name and two - because they often leave their pods if they are not thriving. (Dorcas leaves the skittles because of their differing world views).

Mary's name means love or beloved one. And as someone who headcanons her birthday as being February 14th, I think that love symbolizing her is perfect. Other than that, I also associate pearls with her, because to put it simply - beauty formed under pressure.

When it comes to Pandora, I always think of butterflies or a swan animal wise. Her name means "All-Gifted" which I can't really do much with symbol wise. When it comes to mythology, to sum up who Pandora was "given a jar containing all the evils of the world. she ends up opening the jar, releasing those evils but also leaving behind hope at the bottom." And I also can't do much with that. :/ I also could see her being associated with an amethyst, because they symbolize spiritual insight.

With Barty, his name literally means "honored son" which is really ironic considering his entire personality is hating his dad. A lot of people use "killer" to symbolize him even though the only canon character he killed was his father. (Then again, he was a death eater!) I like to associate snakes and thorns with him though!

I hope that answers your question. If you made it all the way through, I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave your thoughts below! And feel free to ask me ANYTHING. (Pertaining to the guidelines on my account; nothing mean, political, or controversial).

Besides the obvious rose symbolism, Evan can mean "young warrior" or "rock." If I take into account my headcanon where his full name is "Evander" (he and Pandora were both named after mythological figures), Evander was the hero who brought the PANTHEON (the skittles alternative name!!!) to Italy. I also tend to associate him with fire.

Finally, for Peter - he's obviously associated with being a rat, both physically and metaphorically. But his name also means stone, and ask he strays away from the marauders, he becomes "stone-faced". I don't have much for Peter to be quite honest. 😭

[drarryspecificrecs]

2023.04 ~ Top 10 longest fics posted on AO3

1. When Harry Sniffed Draco by CorvetteClaire [E, 137k]

►Once upon a time, wizard blood was mingled with that of wolves and a race of magical creatures known as Lycans was born. In the millennia since the race nearly died out, until Lycans have become little more than legends or fairytales. So imagine his surprise when, shortly after his 18th birthday, Draco Malfoy goes into heat! Draco now finds himself in the awkward position of being the only known Omega in the wizarding world. [...] The only saving grace for Draco is that Alphas are even rarer than Omegas, and the chances of him running afoul of one at Hogwarts are virtually nil. Until Harry Potter turns up, that is.

2. It Started With A Handshake by i_dont_read [E, 113k]

►One year after the war, Draco Malfoy is fresh out of a three-month term in Azkaban. As part of his parole, he's back at Hogwarts as an eighth year student to finish his studies. All Draco wants to do is lie low and make it out of Hogwarts in one piece, but when he finds that he's forced to room with none other than Harry Potter, that proves to be much more difficult than Draco anticipated. After a particularly eventful detention together, Harry and Draco must reconcile their relationship. What started as a volatile feud eventually becomes something much deeper than either of them could've imagined. The question is, will Draco ever come to terms with his feelings, or will he be left pining forever in secret?

3. Twenty-Two Cards series by peu_a_peu [E, 105k, 6 works]

►Aurors Potter and Malfoy crack the case.

4. A little bit confused but not at all surprised by indigospacehopper [M, 103k]

►When auror-in-training Harry Potter accidentally drinks a truth potion, he’s sent straight to St Mungo’s for their expert potions master to help him. The problem? Draco Malfoy is the expert potions master, and he’s having far too much fun taunting Harry about his problem. However, more sinister things are afoot and whilst Harry and Draco bicker and flirt, dark forces prepare to make their move…

5. What The Fuck Draco Malfoy! by Silverhood [M, 70k]

►After being almost killed by Harry Potter, Draco decided that being a death eater is most definitely not what he wants with his life. After lots of planning, and a bit of help from his Godfather, Draco finally comes up with a way to escape. Becoming an animagus and fake his death. /// Snape brings in a strange creature to the great hall with him. Harry finds it adorable. Dumbledore is not pleased.

6. A Game of Cat and Mouse by @steampunkserpent27 [E, 66k]

►It's best to not stand too close to the water's edge, lest something pulls you into the deep. Draco knows this well, but something keeps dragging him back to the elusive, green-eyed stranger waiting for him by the dock.

7. Your Soul Sat On My Lips by @m0srael [E, 61k]

►Sometimes, two broken men can love one another whole again, and sometimes they can’t. That doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to try.

8. along each garden wall by @oflights [E, 61k]

►Draco has to have a baby (or have one on the way) at the time of his fast-approaching 35th birthday, or he's going to lose his home to his vile cousin. Harry offers to help, but their complex past—even beyond Hogwarts—prompts Draco to set out on a long journey of friendship, kittens, gardens, motorbike rides, and more.

9. Under the Invisibility Cloak by bribri02 [E, 54k]

►Draco and Harry have been hanging out on top the Astronomy Tower. Only Draco doesn't know it's Harry he's starting to catch feeling, for the Gryffindor stays hidden from his love under his cloak.

10. Thunder in Our Hearts by Miss_and_the_Rope [E, 50k]

►Harry and Draco both turn to running to help them process their trauma after the war and they end up bonding over it. Will their newfound friendship turn to something more or will it crumble under the pressure of their pasts?

—

�� Word count: 1k ~ 10k

※ Word count: 10k ~ 40k

arranged love by @stvrlvghtwrites [M, 28k]

Come, To Say Thank You by @shewhomustnotbenamed [E, 10k]

I just wanted you to know (that this is me trying) by Kendra_Storm [T, 13k]

In Memoriam (S.B, J.P, R.L) by @unturbulent [M, 33k]

An Open Mind by NettaAmi [M, 14k]

Safe With You by @amillionregrets [M, 28k]

Slippery as a Snake by sweetasmaple [M, 12k]

Under the Confetti Mist by @azalealarae [E, 12k]

We are strangers again. by IcarusGWings [E, 14k]

—

Ongoing Fest/Exchange

※ Fics would be listed elsewhere.

Draco Tops Harry Fest 2021 | @dracotops-harry

HP Poetry Fest 2023 | @hp-poetry-fest

HP Trans Fest 2023 | @hptransfest

[umbracirrus]

My idiots are being idiots, both in the 'makes you want to facepalm' and 'just kiss already' way :3

I also want to thank @hircines-hunter for the really cute drawing of Elyse and Balgruuf in the tea scene that you can find here (I'm also going to reblog it again after I post this-!!!)

Fic rating: E (for future content)

Fic relationships: Balgruuf the Greater/Female Dragonborn

Chapter title: Sixth of Sun's Dawn

Chapter description:

Elyse, wanting a calm and quiet day without any fuss, slips out of Dragonsreach in the early hours. Balgruuf was surprised that she was up and about so early… and even more surprised to learn that it was her birthday.

Chapter excerpt:

"Do you have any plans for today?" She glanced at him for a moment over her drink, an eyebrow raised as if she had suspicions surrounding his question. That look soon eased, before she sipped her tea let out a soft sigh. "I'm trying to avoid Lydia. She is making a massive deal about today, and I just want some peace and quiet. So I'll probably be out in the city for a while." Now it was his turn to be suspicious of what was said. "Why? Is there something important about today…?" He brought his hand to his chin as he tried to think about what it could have been. It was almost certainly nearing two years since she brought about the end of the World Eater, though he was certain that that particular anniversary was a bit closer to springtime… Quietly, she let out a sigh. "It’s just... Something personal. I like to spend today on my own,” she whispered, looking to be deep in thought as her brow furrowed. “Maybe in the future I’ll be more open to spending today with company, but as things stand…” “Ah… I understand. There are some days where I need time away from everyone and everything,” he nodded, before noticing that Proventus had emerged from the stairs beside the throne. He rose from his seat, and stretched his arms out in anticipation. “I shall leave you to it then. Enjoy your day, whatever you end up doing.” She gave him a small smile, and nodded. “I’ll try.” After he had made his way over to his steward, and looked through his agenda for the day, he decided to turn back to where she had been sat. It was empty – there was no sign of her having been there beyond the seat being slightly askew. It was at that moment he heard the doors to the palace fall shut, and he silently pursed his lips together knowing that it had been her leaving. He worried for her. There had been a sadness to her tone when they had spoken. He wished that he knew what was on her mind, what was so important about the day that had her wanting to seek isolation… but he knew not to press. She owed him no answers, it was not his place to pry.

[oririexcinere]

"i must not tell lies" -The Boy Who Lived

Verse 1

Dear Delphini, I’m sorry that that man is your father, let me be honest I look at him and wish your grandpa woulda wore a condom I’m sorry that you gotta grow up and then stand behind his shadow Life is hard, I know, the challenges always gon’ be this home Sometimes our parents make mistakes that affect us until we grown And you a good kid that need good leadership Let me be your mentor, since your daddy don’t teach you shit Never let yourself depend on a 'leader' Either must die right there or expeliarmus that man, child Never fall in the pureblood bullshit, that’s bad religion Please remember, you could be dead even if you got horcruxes Never twist your morality, whether right or wrong, youre not just a Black too Get some discipline, don’t cut them corners like your daddy did, fuck what Slughorn did Understand, no throwin’ Killing Curses and hidin’ wands, that’s law Be proud of who you are, your strength come from within Lotta Dark Lords, that’s real, but your daddy ain’t one of them no more And you nothin’ like him, you’ll carry yourself as queen Can’t understand me right now, just play this when you 18

Verse 2

Dear Tom Sr, your son got some achivements, I hope you undermine them Especially with all the muggles that’s hurt inside this climate You one of 'em, so you know how it feels to be in alignment Dear Merope, you look for a future with emotion and hopin’ a man can see you and not be running you gave birth to a master manipulator Even usin’ you to prove who he is a huge favor I’m blamin’ the Gaunts for all his crazy believes Psychopath intuition, the man who like to play victim You created a horrible fuckin’ person, the nerve of you, Merope Girl, sit down, what I’m about to say is heavy, now listen Mhm, your son’s a sick man with sick thoughts I think wizards like him should die Him and Grindelward should get fucked up in a cell for the rest they life He hates Mixedbloods, enslaves them, with legislations of a selfharming fetish Cut his nose and hair off ‘cause he understand bein’ a monster just fit him better He got sorry excuses of wizards in his Death Eaters that pay him on a monthly allowance A child should never be compromised and he keepin’ their children around him And we gotta raise our kind knowin’ there’s purists like them lurkin’ Fuck a Department of Mysteries battle he should die so all of these wizards can live with a purpose I been in this world 7 years, I’ma tell y’all one lil’ secret It’s some weird shit goin’ on and some of these politicians be here to police it They be blamin' victims all inside of they home and feedin’ em to The Daily Prophet Then leak articles of themselves to further push their agendas To any wizard that be stayin’ neutral, know that you’re playin’ your children Or better, you’re sellin’ your grandkids, to the weirdos, not the good ones Rita Skeeter said, “Get you the truths,” so I’ma get mines The Ministry ‘bout to get raided, too, it’s only a matter of time Ayy, Longbottom, keep the family away, hey, Greengrass, will you keep the family away? To anybody that embody the love for they kids, keep the family away They lookin’ at you too if you standin’ by him, keep the family away I’m lookin’ to hex through any purist that lives, keep the family safe

Verse 3

Dear Bella, I’m sorry that your father wasnt active inside your world He didn’t commit to much but his career, yeah, that’s for sure He a narcissist, misogynist, livin’ inside his head Try destroy families rather than takin’ care of his own Shoulda bene teachin’ you spells or readin’ bedtime stories to you Or at your 11th birthday, opening the Hogwarts letter with you Instead, he be in France, payin’ for sex and poppin’ Potions Examples that you don’t deserve I wanna tell you that you’re loved, you’re brave, you’re kind but id be lyin' You got a gift to change the world and could change your baby daddy’s mind ‘Cause our children is the future, but he lives inside confusion Money’s always been illusion, but that’s the life he’s used to His father didn’t claim him neither History do repeat itself, sometimes it don’t need a reason But how I like to say it’s not your fault that he’s hidin’ another child Give ��em grace, it’s the reason I respect Mr. Weasley So our babies like you can cope later Its a hopeless world but i wish for the better I never wanna hear you chase that man ‘cause his fell behavior Sittin’ at his feet with his other puppets for validation You need to know that love is eternity and trumps all pain I’ll tell you who your Lord is just play this song when it rains Yes, he’s a horcrux maker, torturer, dictator, right And a fuckin’ deadbeat that should never say “more life” Meet the Riddles

Verse 4

Dear Death Eaters, Take those masks off, I wanna see what’s under them achievements Why believe you? You never gave us nothin’ to believe in ‘Cause you lied about blood views, you lied about your legacies You lied about your family tree and your past tense all is perjury You lied about your superiority, you lied about your loyalty Hey Malfoys, Yall pussies, you lied on him, I know they all got you in ‘em You lied about your Imperios, you lied about your Lord, huh You lied about them other criminals that’s out there hopin’ that you come You lied about the only leader that can offer you some help, a greater good solution for yall

Verse 5

Dear Tom, I know you probably thinkin’ I wanted to crash your party But truthfully, I don’t have a hatin’ bone in my body This supposed to be a good exhibition within the Order But you fucked up the moment you showed up at my family’s house Why you had to stoop so low to discredit some selfulfilling prophecy? just for the lore? Guess intelligence is lost when the metaphors don’t reach you And I like to understand ‘cause your house was never a home 70, but you showin’ up as a 11-year-old You got mental problems, integrity problems rituals-coping’ and body problems, bad with money, Gringotts Solicitin’ wizardkind problems, therapy’s a lovely start I try to empathize with you ‘cause I know that you ain’t been through nothin’ Crave entitlement, but wanna be loved so bad that it’s puzzlin’ No dominance, let’s recap moments when you didn’t fit in No secret handshakes with your 'friends' No praise words from your Matron No cultural cachet to binge, just disrespectin' your mother Identities on the fence, don’t know which family will love ya, its back at the orphanage The skin that you’re livin’ in is compromised in souls Can’t channel your power even when holdin’ a Hallow You a blood shamer, you gon’ hide your own papa, ain’t ya? You embarrassed of him, that ain’t right, ain’t no mama to love you either Fuck a battle, this a long-life war with yourself.

mic drop.

[ddarker-dreams]

Nexus Character Database.

"Hey, Lear, why are you ignoring my texts again? What if I was getting robbed at gunpoint and needed your help?"

"Why would they let you use your phone during a robbery, Nona?"

"Stop getting all wrapped up in the little details. The important thing is that you check what I sent."

"Alright, alright, let's see... huh. A personality test? Aren't those a pseudoscience?"

"What a lame thing to say. Just take it already. I'll tell you what Our-Lord-And-Savior-The-Exalted-One got if you do. Woah, geez, calm down, at least let it load!"

Nexus index.

Name: Lear (Nickname given by Miss Phaeales, birth name name is Vincent Metellus) Age: 118 Species: Nymphalian Faction: LOTUS-EATER World: Eris Path: Abundance Combat type: Ice Birthday: June 28th Sexuality: [First] Phaeales (he’s het) Height: 5′8 Hair color: Sandy blonde Eye color: Blue, with a white ring around his pupils Favorite animal: Penguins Favorite food: Pasteli, hot cocoa with marshmallows Least favorite food: Gummies, green olives Favorite things: Cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, mixology, sales at the food market and his red hairpins. Least favorite things: Group chats with more than three people, ads, sports and anything that causes Miss Phaeales distress. Clothing style: Casual. Lots of sweaters, turtlenecks, and the occasional trench coat. Prefers warm neutral colors. MBTI: INFP

Lear is considered by his co-workers to be a diligent yet reserved worker. He rarely calls out sick, never slacks off, and can get along with anyone. Most sigh in relief when they're put on the same shift as him. He wordlessly carries out tasks without anyone's prompting. Despite his solid reputation at the LOTUS-EATER, not much is known about him. He doesn't accept invitations to social outings or seek the companionship of others. These requests are turned down with a soft smile and apologetic look, which makes harboring any ill-will toward him difficult.

In his heart, he can't bring himself to enjoy the freedoms deprived from the one he treasures most. He swore he'd remain by the side of a girl who abruptly stumbled into his melancholic life. This unruly girl would go on to bring excitement and adventure wherever she went. Those boring cycles spent on his lonesome were no more. Her happiness became his, a fact that's never changed. He contents himself on caring for those who he's come to be close to.

Name: Nona Age: 113 Species: Nymphalian Faction: LOTUS-EATER, Arc's Pinion (formally) World: Eris Path: Nihility Combat type: Fire Birthday: November 3rd Sexuality: Pansexual Height: 5′3 Hair color: Chestnut brown Eye color: Amber Favorite animal: Octopi (specifically the dumbo octopus) Favorite food: Red velvet cake Least favorite food: Legumes, fatty meats Favorite things: Punk rock, video games (racing in particular), drumming, clothes, accessories, makeup and plushies Least favorite things: Work, 99% of the people she meets, capitalism and the IPC Clothing style: Gothic lolita and sweet lolita, anything super cute MBTI: ESFP

"A place where anyone can enter, but few can leave."

This would best describe Arc, the purposefully forgotten quadrant of Perianth II. Most who are born here never get to see light, artificial or otherwise. Although Nymphalian's have excellent night vision, Nona was never able to accept navigating a world of darkness. She joined a group of likeminded folk who supposedly sought to better the conditions in Arc. For many years, she sacrificed plenty to realize this dream. After overhearing two of the most prominent leaders squabble over the most insignificant things, she realized the futility of relying on others for a better future.

There had been talks of Nona infiltrating the LOTUS-EATER, as she exhibited the traits necessary for an Arbiter's field of work. Her application for Thelx citizenship was readily accepted. Instead of carrying out her group's wishes, she decided to live for herself. Though Nona was initially standoffish toward her fellow LOTUS-EATER co-workers, she soon formed a bond with her mentor, [First] Phaeales and the bartender Lear.

[theillusionofpants]

Cupcakes are a terrible method of cake delivery. Because they are handheld by design, they should be able to be eaten simply with the hands. However, they are far too big for the average person's mouth. This forces the eater to make a decision: do they 1. bite the frosting, 2. eat the cake, or 3. try a mixture of both? All three of these answers are flawed decisions forces upon us by cupcake design.

Let's assume the eater takes the first path and chooses to eat the frosting first. First off, how dare you. Second, fine you like frosting. Then get a spoon and go to town on a jar of saccharine diabetes and leave the cake out of it. Smear your teeth blue with the reckless abandon of a 4 year old at a daycare birthday party. But the construction of a cupcake implies a blending of flavors and textures and eating an entire bite of frosting is like licking a mound of dye flavored toothpaste off the top. And what is left after you've completed that task? A muffin.

The only difference between a muffin and a cupcake is the frosting itself. If you are not going to eat the frosting, then don't bother with a cupcake at all

Which brings me to the third and probably most popular choice, which is to honk down as big a bite of both as possible. This is probably my least favorite option precisely because it highlights the complete design failure of a cupcake. By flying too close to the sun and attempting to have both frosting and cake in the same bite, you end up smearing what's left of the frosting on the top of your nose as you bite down and leave a crumbly mess of a dessert in your wake. It is so difficult to have a good first bite of a cupcake but it is nigh impossible to have a good second bite due to the carnage your mandibles enacted with the first. It isn't your fault, dear one. It is the cupcakes fault!

Some of you may be thinking, "but OP, why not rip the bottom off the cupcake, put it on top, and then have a sandwich!" And to this I say, why does the baker not make a more functional dessert?? Is it necessary for me to fundamentally alter the structure of a burrito to consume it? Must I construct a vessel out of soup parts to enjoy? No, I do not. Macaroons enjoy the filling on the inside and so I say if cupcakes were meant to be sandwiches, then they would be.

However, hope is not lost. Though it is bleak, I come bearing a solution, for I am not the first nor will I be the last to suffer through the indignity of this chaotic dessert. The solution lies in portion. The MINI cupcake is the answer. It should be the default option in cupcake consumption! One singular bite of all that is right in cupcake world. The ratio of frosting to cake is perfect! No longer must we lick off sugar glaze until out teeth rot. No longer must we brush bits of cake from our clothes. The MINI cupcake is an all-inclusive taste experience. It fits neatly into the smallest of mouths. And then we get more of them! Perhaps a six pack of minis can be split between friends! Perhaps we can all try new flavors and combinations! Let us ditch the old and draconic cupcakes in favor of the sleek and elegance of its mini.

[dread-pirate-mumbles]

more sea of stars thoughts (less shitposty this time, maybe??)

spoilers for true ending below

First: what the fuck was Romaya doing with Moraine's staff in that one end credits cut scene??? she better not have been trying to pull a Duke thing again but with Moraine (sometime in the future, after he's passed)

Additionally: i absolutely adored pissing Romaya off throughout the entire game. I really hope B'st got to go back and talk with her about whatever he was gonna say after the second fight.

Second: Valere and Zale have to come back for Garl's bday every year, but I'm guessing keeping track of time while on patrol across the various worlds is Difficult, so I like to think that they tracked down Resh'an and asked him to set up a yearly reminder for them. I like to think that Resh'an has a connection to all of the Solstice Warriors (which is how he finds them once they are born), so he can find Valere and Zale wherever they are, and obviously time is His Thing

Third: (and keep in mind im just a Baby in the lore rn, just limited to in-game stuff)- I think that Aephorul made the Catalyst to try and remove his and Resh'an's souls from their bodies. I think the immortality potion has tied their souls to their bodies thus preventing their souls from passing on, and I think Aephorul made the Catalyst to either 1) remove their souls from their bodies and finally die together; or 2) put their souls into new bodies that would not be subject to the curse of immortality in the way that their original ones were

I also think the World Eaters were initially designed with the same end goal of death for Aephorul and Resh'an combined- something that can destroy the very fabric of time would likely be strong enough to break their immortality. However, Dwellers were not strong enough to do so, and there was no guarantee that a world eater would be strong enough either (nor was there anyone Aephorul could use as a test subject), so Aephorul continued to try and make them more and more powerful, and perhaps even experimented on some people to try and mimic immortality to see what would happen

I've also wondered about the pronounciation of Aephorul, because if you read it as "Aye-For-Rule", it (if you squint with your ears) kind of sounds like "All For You", which. fits with this idea of Aephorul doing this initially *for* him and Resh'an.

Fourth: I really want to write a post-canon fic where Garl goes back with Serai and B'st to their world, to help build things back up and restore hope. The dinner at the Golden Pelican and the comment when you send Garl to the hot spring (where he's like. "I gotta tell Serai something important") have inspired a *little* bit of a Garl/Serai shipper in me. I'd also want to include what the Dumbass Immortal Gays are up to, too, because I really love their dynamic, and I'd love to Literally Fucking Kill Them For Good. I really, really want Resh'an to like. Talk with Garl, maybe Valere/Zale, about his failings and his mistakes. He's just a human, still, after all, and he has basically no one else to talk to about his Bad Life Choices

Anyway- Garl goes between homeworld and Serai's world on the Vespertine, but he always makes sure to be in mooncradle on time for his birthday. (side note- I wonder if he made jam from the sap of the willow on the thought that it would like. make zale and valere more powerful?? that seems like a him thing to do)

Fifth (aka assorted plot holes or complaints):

-Why did we never see the Dweller of Strife or the Acolytes again? I thought maybe the idea was that they became the World Eater at the end, but there's not like. a lot of game details pointing to that.

-How did Serai end up in our world anyway? Did she teleport based off of information about the home world (how would she get it? how far can she teleport? how can she teleport away the *top of a fucking mountain*??)? She couldn't have gotten information from Resh'an, since he didn't know about the Great Eagle thing, so maybe she stole info from The Fleshmancer/his subordinates? Maybe this is related to the Queen that Was- maybe the queen worked with the fleshmancer, and Serai took over her house and thus information when the Queen left??

-How did Serai get her powers? Was she an experiment from the Catalyst, or was it something she pursued on her own? Also, *please* tell me the rest of her crew who knew the fuck she actually was, she was so obvious

-I'm assuming the academy is no longer needed, with new guardian gods, no need for new solstice warriors for this realm, but that means Moraine is the only solstice warrior on both home world and serai's world. I feel bad for him cause he very obviously suffered from the loss of so many fellow warriors due to strife (and took it out on brugaves and erlina, unfortunately), so I wonder if he feels lonely about it sometimes

[satansapostle6]

The World Was On Fire And No One Could Save Me But You | D.M.

Warnings: Language. Violence. Mature Themes. Smut.

As Lord Voldemort rises to power, Death Eater legacies such as Draco Malfoy and Elise Selwyn are forced to join their ranks. Desperate to return his family to the Dark Lord’s good graces, Draco Malfoy is forced to fight alongside Elise in a war they never wanted any part in.

Part II

Part III: Retribution

That night, after the Malfoys had left, my father and I had a very important conversation.

“Do you understand, my daughter, that if the two of you both fail, even I cannot save you?" 

I paused, making sure to remain composed.

“Understood. I'll make sure Draco kills him," I assured him.

“Yes. You will," he agreed. "No matter what happens."

“Yes, sir."

"In the event that Draco fails," he said, "You know what you have to do."

"I do," I insisted. "If Draco can't kill him, I will. No questions asked."

"Yes. You will," he expressed his approval. “Just as you are my daughter, Draco is Lucius Malfoy’s son. He is arrogant, and prideful, and shortsighted. That’s what I saw that night at the Minustry.”

"Of course," I replied.

He studied me for a moment, leaning forward in his desk. "Elise, do you know what my first and only priority is in this world?"

I winced slightly, having been asked this exact same question thousands and thousands of time over the years. He asked me the same thing any time the topic of my mother came up, as well as the day I left for my first year at Hogwarts, and every year on my birthday. 

“Not me, sir," I murmured.

“That's exactly right," he confirmed. "My priority is not you, or even myself. It is this family, and its reputation, its legacy. The only thing in this world I value is the family, and sustaining it. You and I are both servants to the House of Selwyn."

“I understand," I said for the umpteenth time.

“As patriarch of this family, I am the sole provider. This family's welfare and reputation is my responsibility, my cross to bear," he said darkly. "I live for this family. I have laid my life on the line for this family, and now that you are no longer a child, you must as well. I am prepared to die for this family, and now, it is your turn to take your place by my side."

“I will, Father," I pledged. "I'm ready."

“Are you?" he interrogated me. "Because if you aren't, now is the time to decide."

“I'm ready," I said with pleading eyes.

“You had better be," he glared at me, looking right through me. "Because if you aren't... I, and this family tree have no place for anything but excellence. Do you know what happens to dead branches?"

I'd heard this speech a million times before. 

"They get pruned," I completed the thought.

“Right. And you know... that my loyalty is not to you. It is to the name of Selwyn. Do I make myself clear?" he asked me.

“Yes, Father," I responded. "I won't fail."

"No. You won't," he agreed wholeheartedly. "You truly believe you're prepared to do what it takes to uphold this family's reputation?"

“Yes."

"Good. You're powerful, Elise, a notable member of the Selwyn family. Don't squander that," he reminded me. "You are ready, if you choose to be."

"And if I wasn't?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Someone would have to answer to the Dark Lord," he told me. "And I can tell you it wouldn't be this family."

I stood there, just accepting everything that he said so that he'd leave me be.

"Understood," I promised him.

"Good night, Elise," he concluded the conversation.

I nodded dutifully. "Good night, Father."

*****

As soon as the train left for Hogwarts, Draco and I were inseparable, although not necessarily by choice.

He still seemed to resent that I was a part of this order he was given, but because we were united in this crime against humanity we were about to commit together, neither of us knew how to talk to anyone else, especially our friends. None of them could understand; I didn’t know how to tell my friends that, if it were to save my family from ruin, I would’ve taken pleasure in murder.

Draco and I both walked alongside one another, completely withdrawn from everyone else. I hated his childish entitlement, but somehow he was the only real connection I had. Together, we walked right past all of our friends sitting where many of the Slytherins were all gathered, all of them confused as they saw us together.

We passed by Crabbe and Goyle, as well as my best and only friend, Blaise Zabini, unfortunately accompanied by Draco’s recently ex-girlfriend, Pansy Parkinson, who he had broken up with some time before April. She in particular stared at us as we walked past, our heads held low in all black as we tried not to draw attention to us. It seemed she must’ve thought there might be something going on between us, which she quickly signaled to Blaise.

She was right; there was something going on between us, only it wasn’t what she thought. Blaise looked at me in desperation, pleading with me to get him away from Pansy, but I couldn’t help. Draco and I sat down at a table not far from them, our belongings stowed above us. He looked at me with disdain, then turned to stare out the window, watching as our surroundings passed us.

“So, I’m the only person you’ll talk to, but you won’t talk to me?” I summarized.

He just rolled his eyes at me, deeming our conversation unworthy of his attention.

“You’re insufferable,” he muttered.

“I’m not particularly fond of you, either,” I assured him. “But we’re going to be stuck like this for a while, so I’m going to at least make this easier.”

“There’s nothing ‘easy’ about this!” he argued in a hushed tone. “I’m supposed to…”

He trailed off before revealing our entire mission to the entire train.

“Again. You’re not working alone on this, I’m not sure why you insist on believing that when you know it just makes things that much more difficult!” I reminded him.

“You make things difficult,” he spat.

“Name one time I’ve been anything but accommodating to you in this whole thing,” I frowned.

“Now!” he exclaimed in frustration, “You just keep doing that!”

“I’m sorry, I have no idea what ‘that’ means,” I said truthfully.

“Forget it,” he growled, losing his patience, “Don’t talk to me for the rest of this damn train ride.”

“You know, this arrogant, prideful martyr act is getting a bit old,” I told him. “Pretending like no one wants to help you and you know everything you need to know won’t get you anywhere. Don’t you realize that that’s kind of the same mistake your father made?” I reasoned.

Draco went silent, his eyes darkening, burning with hatred as he angrily got up from his seat.

“Fuck you, Selwyn,” he pointed a finger at me before storming off to join Pansy and Blaise.

I just sighed, realizing the mistake I’d made.

*****

Hours later, as the train grew closer to the school, I was startled by a sudden, suffocating darkness that overtook the room. There was something in the air that seemed to be choking and blinding everyone. I quickly drew my wand, glancing over in Draco’s direction to determine whether or not someone was targeting us. And then, I noticed it.

Moments later, Draco Malfoy had received correspondence from a large, mysterious black owl that he didn't recognize. The bird bore only a tiny slip of paper, which simply read,

'We need to talk. 

- E.S.'

I couldn’t risk someone near him reading it. Irritably realizing who it had been from, Draco spitefully tore up the parchment and boarded the train in search of his friends. Although it had been hours before he had heard from me, the moment I saw him it seemed as if it was too soon. I spotted him just after a mysterious bit of magic had caused the entire train car to go completely black. 

"I have nothing to say to you," he said angrily, shoving his way toward his friends. 

"Relax," I stopped him, my hand resting on his chest, "I'm not here to argue. I'm here to warn you."

He looked at me curiously, no longer insisting on ignoring me.

"About what?" he demanded impatiently.

I leaned in carefully, slowly shifting my gaze toward the rack above where he and his friends were sitting. "That was a diversion," I explained

“A diversion? For what?" he questioned. 

"Know anyone with an Invisibility Cloak?" I asked finally.

The expression on his face slowly turned from restlessness to shock to anger.

“I saw that trunk move itself, and the air rippling. Don't react," I reminded him. "You're welcome."

“Fuck off, Selwyn," he hissed as he tried to leave.

"Hey," I stopped him, watching as he turned to look at me.

"I'm sorry, you know. About what I said?" 

He said nothing, observing me skeptically.

"I really am," I told him. "I didn't mean it, and I didn't mean to be cruel. Just making a point, is all."

As he returned to his friends without another word, I saw Blaise get up and make his way over to me.

“You know?" he asked me. "About the thing?"

I nodded. "Something like that," I replied vaguely. 

"I didn't know you and Draco even talked," Blaise remarked in surprise.

"We don't," I assured him. "I'm only involved because of my father."

“Ah. They went to the Don for help, did they?" Blaise nodded.

“Something like that," I said again, looking around us to ensure that no one was paying attention. "His mother wanted my help."

"Really?" Blaise asked, only half-surprised. "I suppose that makes sense."

"Yeah, only he's too stubborn to accept my help," I said in exasperation. "So, I have to follow close behind, and clean up after him, if need be."

“Sounds like Draco," he agreed. 

Hours passed before the train had arrived at Hogwarts. From the looks of it, Draco was still waiting to catch his eavesdropper. Everyone eventually left to make their way onto the platform, except for Draco, of course. 

"Go," I told Blaise.

He understood exactly what I meant without any further explanation, and left me to deal with Draco, who had told Pansy and the others to give him some privacy. He saw me, and didn't mouth off this time. I raised an eyebrow as if to silently ask a question, and he just nodded without a word. I nodded back, and he glanced over at the blinds in the train car. 

Knowing what he was doing, I casually drew my wand as we both began to close all of them, so that no one could see inside. He stood in front of the door with his bag, seething. 

“Didn't Mummy ever tell you it was rude to eavesdrop, Potter? Petrificus Totalus!" 

Draco petrified Harry Potter before he could ever move, and I stood on the other side of him, wand aimed, just in case. Something invisible made a loud thudding noise, as if hitting the ground. Draco stared for a second, weighing his options before he uncovered Potter, who'd been paralyzed by the spell. 

"Oh, yeah," Draco sneered spitefully as he stood over him, "She was dead before you could wipe the drool off your chin."

He aggressively kicked Potter in the face, presumably as retribution for everything that had happened to Lucius Malfoy months before. 

“That's for my father," Draco said angrily as he tossed the Cloak over him, "Enjoy your ride back to London."

He stood over him triumphantly, an expression of pure rage on his face as he looked back up at me. 

“You coming?" he asked crudely.

Taking in his newfound sense of camaraderie, I nodded silently as I stepped over Potter, looking down at him blankly. I followed Draco onto the platform as we both looked around carefully, confirming that no one was watching us too closely. We walked in silence, until a certain point where no one was around us to hear. Draco stopped in front of me, turning as he pointed an accusing finger at me.

His breathing was heavy and erratic; he was starting to panic, and I could see it.

“You don't breathe a word of that to anyone, understood?" he said frustratedly, pointing an accusing finger at me. 

"What agenda could I possibly have that goes against yours?" I asked him calmly. 

He didn't take well to being challenged. "I’m serious. I fucking mean it! If you're going to be part of this, then we're doing it my way."

“Fine," I told him, not having an issue with it, "I told you. I don't give a shit."

“I'm serious," he warned me again. "If you fuck this up for me, I'm going to kill you."

At that point, I'd had enough of his maddening inability to get over himself. I backed him up all the way up against the train, his back slamming against it as I left not even an inch of space between us to hide my wand pointed at his chin. He gulped in a panic for air, watching me fearfully. He had no idea at all what my next move was going to be. 

“I told you already, Malfoy," I said with finality. "You know that you and me, we're on the exact same side. Or do I need to roll up my fucking sleeve right here?" I questioned, to which he just nodded. 

His silence spoke volumes. I continued to instinctively lower my wand, my fist no longer closed around it. 

"I don't need the glory, Malfoy," I assured him. "My goal is to stay as far below the Dark Lord's radar as possible, and getting killed by him would kind of negate that."

For once, he just stood there, listening instead of talking. 

"My father told me I’m to see to it that you kill Dumbledore, and that’s what I’m going to do. Nothing less, nothing more,” I stated flatly. "But I'm serious, Malfoy. If you don't kill him, we're both fucked, so if this takes too long, I'm walking into the old man's office and casting the curse myself. Got it?"

Draco nodded, his breath still heavy as I calmly put my wand back into the pocket of my leather coat. 

“Good," I murmured, as we walked together in quick, purposeful strides in the direction of the castle.

-

Part IV

[twdteacakes]

Let Me Be Your Wings - A Sonadow Oneshot

Summary: Sonic’s birthday party turned into a disaster, owed entirely to Eggman’s elaborate scheme. Shadow suffered the full brunt of the Time Eater’s tricks - forced to run a gauntlet through his tragic memories and grapple with new alien powers. After the dust settles, he chooses to bottle up his feelings and treat Sonic to a gift he rightfully deserves. A chance to view the world from unfathomable heights.

Just a little fic where Sonic and Shadow go on a date and test out Shadow’s new wings after the events of Sonic x Shadow Generations :3

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

Harry Potter OC Masterlist ( A-K )

[ INVICTUS SERIES ] [ L-Z ]

Name: Adhara Black

Story: Blackbird

Series: Lament

House: Slytherin

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Alyvia Alyn Lind & Emily Alyn Lind

Love Interest: Theodore Nott

Name: Adrasteia Avery

Story: Love Thorns

Series: Garden Song

House: tbd

Era: Marauder's Era

Face Claim: Madelaine Petsch & Amy Adams

Love Interest: Gideon Prewett

Name: Adriana Flores

Story: Is There Somewhere?

House: Slytherin

Era: Marauders Era

Face Claim:  Ester Exposito

Love Interest: James Potter

Name: Alora Scamander

Story: Chasing Hurricans

Series: Chasing Storms

House: Ravenclaw

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Milly Alcock & Saorise Ronan

Name: Amalthea Black

Story: Alchemical

Series: Family Jewels

House: Slytherin

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Avi Lake & Natalia Dyer

Name: Anastasia Campbell

Story: A Whole New World

House: Ilvermorny

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim:  Sofia Carson

Love Interest: George Weasley

With a war brewing on the horizon, everyone was desperate for a bit of hope.  And Kingsley Shacklebolt had the answer. And he had the pitch.It’s our only hope of stopping Potter from spreading more lies, he told Cornelius Fudge.  It’s our only hope of getting Potter away from Umbridge, he told Dumbledore.  It’s our only hope of protecting these children, he told the Order.  It’s our only hope of uniting our countries, he told Headmistress Averill.  It’s the only hope for saving your daughter, he told President Campbell.But, what is it?  It’s the first contact between the British and American magical worlds since Newt Scamander and Gellert Grindelwald fought on American soil.  It’s an exchange program, of sorts.  It’s sending a select group of students from Hogwarts to Ilvermorny for a year, introducing them to their American counterparts.Kingsley knew that it was the only chance to win the war, but even he didn’t anticipate just how much a few Americans could change things in a single year.

Name: Annette Diggory

Story: Hounds Of Love

House: Hufflepuff

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Willow Shields & Kristine Froseth

Love Interest: George Weasley

Name: Aquila Black

Story: Do You Believe In Magic?

House: N/A

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Victoria Pedretti

Name: Ara Black

Story: Blood Calls To Blood

House: Gryffindor

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim:  Mackenzie Foy & Kaya Scodelario

Love Interest: Harry Potter

When Ara Black was a year old, her father was arrested and thrown into Azkaban without a trial, and she was adopted by her Aunt Andromeda.  For the next twelve years, Ara was perfectly fine with being Ara Tonks; with being normal; with being unnoticed.  But when her father breaks out of Azkaban, on her thirteenth birthday no less, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before all her secrets are revealed.

Name: Bobbie Fortescue

Story: Reverie

House: Hufflepuff

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: McKenna Grace & Ginny Gardner

Love Interest: Ernie MacMillan

Being a child of the first Wizarding War was far from easy.  Like so many, Bobbie’s parents had been killed during the war, and she’d been raised by her grandfather.  A fiercely protective man, having lost both his son and daughter — Bobbie’s Aunt Alice — to death eaters, Bobbie’s little world had been mostly limited to the ice cream parlour and their apartment above it.  Small, safe, lonely. But there were bright spots in her life too.  There was her cousin, Neville, whom she was allowed to visit once a week.  There was Madam Villanelle from Flourish and Blotts, who would always let Bobbie sit and read safely within her grandfather’s view from the parlour.   There was Ernie MacMillan, the sweet boy who always stopped by to say hi when he was in the Alley — to whom Bobbie always snuck a free ice cream.  And there was Hogwarts.  The dream of a future, of a world beyond the small section of Diagon Alley that could easily be seen from her grandfather’s shop.  The dream of friends, of excitement, knowledge, adventure. But when Bobbie gets to Hogwarts, it’s nothing like she expected.  Sorted into Hufflepuff and separated from Neville, she finds herself floundering.  The world outside of the parlour is bigger, louder, more dangerous than Bobbie had ever dreamed, and the only person who seems to notice how badly she’s handling it is none other than Ernie MacMillan himself.

Name: Carina Goldberg

Story: Do You Believe In Magic

House: Slytherin

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim:  Raffey Cassidy & Danielle Campbell

Love Interest: Harry Potter

Carina Goldberg knew magic was real. She’d known it was real sinceher first brush with accidental magic, when she was only five years old.  Her mum had sat her down to tell her all about the Wizarding World—that she, herself, was a squib, a magic-less child from a magical family, who never expected to have a magical daughter herself.  So, she knew of magic.  But when her owl comes from Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry, she finds that there’s still a lot that she doesn’t know.  She knew nothing about her own family’s dark history, or that her best friend, Harry, was famous in the Wizarding World, and she definitely didn’t know about the evil lurking in the shadows, threatening to destroy the world once more.

Name: Cassia Potter

Story: The Captain Of My Fate

Series: Invictus

House: Gryffindor

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Danielle Rose Russell

Love Interest: Dimitri Aleksander Volkov

Read it on AO3 HERE | FFnet HERE | Wattpad HERE

December 1981, two months after Voldemort’s defeat, Severus Snape introduced his daughter to the world.  Cassia Lily Snape, his daughter with Lily Evans who’d been kept a secret to protect her from both Voldemort and Lily’s husband, now a year old and living at Hogwarts with her father.Despite her father’s emotional absence, Cassia had never lacked in love, building a family of her own within the castle she called home.  The older she got, the more questions she had about her life and her mother, but she had long since accepted that they would remain unanswered.  But when she turned eleven and finally, finally, becomes a student herself, it’s not Cassia Lily Snape who’s called to be sorted.  It’s Cassia Alice Potter, a girl said to have disappeared ten years earlier.

Name: Catherine Flamel

Story: Clair De Lune

Series: What Died Didn’t Stay Dead

House: Gryffindor or Beauxbatons

Era: Flamel Era

Face Claim: Emily Carey & Lily Collins

Love Interest: Sébastien Gautier

The only child of Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, Catherine was just as much of a magical prodigy as her parents.  She had graduated at the top of her class at Beauxbatons, then proceeded to dedicate her passions alchemy and spellcraft to helping her people survive the ever increasing persecution that they were facing all across the continent.  But as time goes on and the struggle gets closer to home, she can’t help but wonder: had she been doing the right thing, or had she only been contributing to the endless death and destruction?

Name: Celia Longbottom

Story: Wildflower

Series: Garden Song

House: tbd

Era: Marauder's Era

Face Claim: Ella Purnell

Love Interest: Fabian Prewett

Name: Clio Lupin

Story: Blood Moon

House: Hufflepuff

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Sophie Nélisse & Grace Van Dien

Name: Corvina Karkaroff

Story: So It Goes

House: Durmstrang

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Stella Maeve

Love Interest: Viktor Krum

Corvina Karkaroff knew the life that was planned out for her.  She knew that her father had arranged her betrothal years earlier, and that within a month of her graduation she would be married.  Her future husband was fond of the dark arts and viewed marriage as a necessity for heirs, wives as nothing more than property – in short, he failed to pass the only request that Corvina might have had.  Still, with barely nine months left of her free life, she was determined to make the most of the time she had.  It was fortunate, really, that this would be the year of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, the year that she could disappear to England and leave her future far behind.  One year.  One glorious year of international relations, thrilling competition, and clandestine meetings with Viktor, before she would have to return home and face reality.  But a lot can happen in one year, and by the time the ship docks back at Durmstrang, who knows what life may have in store.

Name: Danica Lestrange

Story: Serpentine

House: Slytherin

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim:  Brenna D'Amico & Margaret Qualley

Name: Dawn Connolly

Story: Stairway To Heaven

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Sabrina Carpenter & Lily James

Love Interest: Sirius Black

When the wizarding world first went to war against Voldemort, seventeen year old Dawn Connolly was right there in the middle of it all. The muggleborn was still in her final year at Hogwarts, but she found herself stepping up within the Order of the Phoenix, alongside the infamous Marauders and her long time best friend and idol, Lily Potter. But one fateful Halloween, only months after finishing school tragedy shook Dawn’s world. Within hours, her closest confidant had died, as had two of her best friends, the third arrested and sent to jail, and the fourth locking himself away from the world. So Dawn packed up her life and returned to the muggle world. She kept her head down until most of her former colleagues had assumed her dead or forgotten about her entirely, working odd jobs in the town of Little Whinging, where she knew Lily’s sister lived. She waitressed, she sang, she wrote, she babysat Harry Potter. It wasn’t perfect, and she continued to grieve for her loved ones, but it was more than she could have hoped for; it was good. And then Sirius Black turns up on her doorstep.

Name: Deianira Carrow

Story: Melodrama

Series: What Died Didn’t Stay Dead

House: Slytherin

Era: Riddle Era

Face Claim: Emily Carey & Lily Collins

Love Interest: Tom Riddle

Tom Riddle was, in a word, enchanting.  Deianira Carrow was two classes below him, but from her very first day of school, she had never been able to take her eyes off of him.  And somehow, in her third year and his fifth, he set his eyes on her as well.  From that day onwards, Deianira was always by his side.  She was in his innermost circle, his closest confidante, his right hand.  She was his.  And as the years pass by, as her graduation approaches, as schoolboy visions become a reality, Deianira knows one thing for certain.  She will always be his; even if it kills her.

Name: Dimitri Aleksander Volkov

Story: The Captain Of My Fate

Series: Invictus

House: Durmstrang; Slytherin

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Aidan Gallagher & Thomas Doherty

Love Interest: Cassia Potter

Name: Dulcinea Ollivander

Story: Moonlight Sonata

House: Ravenclaw

Era: Marauder's Era

Face Claim: Abby Ross & Hannah Murray

Love Interest: Remus Lupin

Dulcinea Ollivander had always believed that Hogwarts would be the best years of her life.  Raised on stories of lifelong friends and adventures that she would remember forever, she couldn’t wait to board the train and experience all of the wonder for herself.  And for the first few years, it had been true.  She’d found a home and a family within Ravenclaw tower, a passion for almost all of her classes, an unexpected love of quidditch, and even a crush in the form of Remus Lupin – it was everything she could have dreamed of and more.  But as Voldemort’s war lands on their doorstep, adventure and wonder must come to an end, and everyone has to decide just how far they’re willing to go to survive.

Name: Elvira Lestrange

Story: Alchemical

Series: Family Jewels

House: Slytherin

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Dove Cameron

Name: Emerald Evans

Story: Lightning Strikes

House: Slytherin

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim:  Sophia Lillis & Abigail Cowen

Love Interest: Theodore Nott

Emerald Evans would have once called herself perfectly normal, thank you very much.  Raised by her Aunt Mary in Little Whinging, happy if a little bit lonely, her life was entirely average.  Or so she thought, until a scrawny boy named Harry, with a funny scar and the same eyes as hers, walked into her classroom on the first day of primary school, and everything changed.  More and more often she was noticing things that were decidedly not normal — Aunt Mary holding something that had been across the room only moments before, ending up on a roof with no memory of moving, snakes that sounded more like whispers than hissing.  Little things and no so little things all piling up into one overwhelming, unsolvable puzzle, building and building right up to her eleventh birthday, when an owl flew into her window holding an envelope, of all things.

Name: Eurydice Crouch

Story: If I Die Young

Series: What Died Didn’t Stay Dead

House: Slytherin

Era: Marauders Era

Face Claim: Emily Carey & Lily Collins

Love Interest: James Potter & Lily Evans

As the only daughter of House Crouch, Eurydice entered Hogwarts knowing that her only job was to secure herself a proper, respectable, political marriage.  It was all that she had been trained for, and she had already prepared a list of suitable suitors to acquaint herself with.  However that list didn’t account for her being sorted into Slytherin – she was supposed to be a Ravenclaw, thank you – and surrounded by families too dark to bolster her father’s political career.  It also didn’t account for a fledging friendship with either James Potter or Lily Evans, let alone for her growing feelings towards not one, but both of them.  And it most certainly didn’t account for Lord Voldemort’s growing obsession with her.

Name: Gemini Black

Story: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

House: Slytherin

Era: Marauders’ Era

Face Claim: Bailee Madison & Nina Dobrev

Love Interest: Remus Lupin

Six years of inter-house rivalry could never come close to destroying the Black twins’ bond.  Even though most people only saw them as the Gryffindor rebel and the Slytherin princess, Sirius and Gemini were still as close as the day they were born.  After all, they were very much the same.  The only real differences were that Sirius had best friends and that his rebellion was much louder than hers - and that was no accident: the more obvious Sirius was in his opinions, the less anyone noticed Gemini’s.  But, as close as they were, they still had secrets.  Gemini still didn’t know the truth about Remus Lupin and his furry little problem, and Sirius… Sirius still didn’t know that she’d been in love with Remus since they were eleven.  Until one fateful full moon when Gemini goes to the Shrieking Shack to talk Sirius out of pranking Snape, and suddenly, for the first time in sixteen years, something might come between them.

Name: Gwendolyn Pendragon

Story: Faultlines

Series: What Died Didn’t Stay Dead

House: Ravenclaw

Era: Fantastic Beasts

Face Claim: Emily Carey & Lily Collins

Love Interest: Newt Scamander

Moving to America hadn’t been an easy decision, no matter what Gwendolyn Pendragon’s friends might claim.  Leaving behind her loved ones was hard enough, but abandoning the war effort was even worse.  But with Grinlewald fixated on her family name, the best way for her to protect anyone was to be far away.  It was a good plan, for a time.  But when she runs into her dearest friend for the first time in a decade, she has to face the truth.  Her time is running short, and her past is close on her heels.

Name: Holly Evans

Story: Toil And Trouble

House: TBD

Era: Marauders’ Era

Face Claim: Sadie Stanley & Sophie Turner & Karen Gillan

Name: Iliana Prewett

Story: Rose Thorns

Series: Garden Song

House: Slytherin

Era: Golden Era

Face Claim: Ellie Bamber

Name: Jessica Stevens

Story: Love and War

House: Gryffindor

Face Claim: Olivia Holt & Emily Vancamp

Era: Marauder's Era / Golden Era

Love Interest: Sirius Black

Everyone talked about the Marauders, close as brothers and all that, but no one ever talked about their female counterparts, close as sisters.  Lily Evans, Marlene McKinnon, Alice Fortescue, Mary Macdonald, and Jessica Stevens.  Best friends since the day they started at Hogwarts, it would always be the six of them.  But, as much as Lily hated James Potter, Jess loved Sirius Black.  And he loved her too.  But with their best friends hating each other, it seemed unlikely that they would ever have a chance to act on those feelings.  Even if they could have, they were a bit busy with a war, blood feuds, secret organizations, and trying to pass their OWLs.  Oh, and let’s not forget, a sickness that seemed to only be affecting muggle-borns like Jess and Lily.

[thatiranianphantom]

The assumption is ridiculous, really. She tells them as much. It's ridiculous, and the fact that they've cornered her and they're acting like they've solved their own mystery, only the mystery is her, is frankly just....insulting and patently wrong.

"I hugged you and you yelped, Drew. And one of the rare hugs I deem you worthy of! You'd think you'd be cherishing that opportunity."

"Proves nothing."

"Your boobs are sore. That's symptom #1."

Nancy heaves a deep sigh, and her friends, her beloved best friends actually start circling her, like predators hunting down prey.

"Your eyes are red. You're tired." Bess offers.

"I was up all night helping Ace study!"

George wrinkles her nose. "First of all, ew."

"He has a test, it's not like...."

George holds a hand up. "Don't want to know, not interested in thinking of Ace like that. Ever. More to the point, we got clam chowder and you went exorcist immediately with the puking. That's never happened before."

"It's not like the Claw's food standards have improved since..."

This time, Bess holds a finger up, tutting at Nancy. "We aren't done, our most beloved friend. You could also smell Nick's cologne from across the house."

"He put it on heavily!" The excuses are getting weaker and Nancy knows it. But her brain's gears, usually spinning rapidly, seem to be working at a determinly slow pace. Keeping the doors closed, as it were. Closing out things she perhaps didn't want to think about.

"And," George moves in closer to her, eyes meeting Nancy's straight on, gleaming like she's just fit in the final piece to a particularly difficult puzzle.

"You're late, aren't you?"

It's ostensibly a question, but it's also not a question. Nancy has all the replies in the world on the tip of her tongue, about how invasive it is that her friends are tracking her period, about how it's none of their business, but they somehow get clogged in her throat.

They get lost, as the floodgates open.

Because yes, she did recoil from Nick (there was a comment in there about how it hadn't been that long since they dated, and did she really find him that repulsive yet). She had spent a lot of time retching over some food poisoning that none of her other friends seem to get. She and Ace had indeed had to abort some "date nights" because her boobs were oddly sore. She had peed no less than 7 times on the 4 hour drive to the latest small-scale case. Immediately after vomiting up all the clam chowder, she had inhaled two burgers.

But...

"No," it comes out weakly at first, then stronger. "No! Because we...we're careful. We're always careful. And I'm...I'm on the pill. And we've...I mean, we've only talked about stuff like that as an eventually. Ace hasn't even gotten into med school yet, I can't be...no. No, you're wrong!"

The last part is a near shout, as Nancy curls her fingers into Bess' jacket, first lightly, then tighter, tighter.

Soothingly, with more gentleness than Nancy knew George possessed, her friend disentangles her fingers from Bess, and laces her fingers through Nancy.

"Sweetie," Bess says softly, stroking back a lock of hair from Nancy's forehead. "Did you take the pill every day?"

Her life is insane. It's busy, tracking sin eaters. It doesn't lend itself to a reliable schedule. That's the reasoning she'll use later, along with her app forgetting to remind her after she silenced it one day.

Because for a period of a few days, she'd forgotten. Looking back, she thinks it was Ace's birthday. They'd just come off a case where they'd found three sin eaters at one time, and Ace had done well on a big test, and there was cake and stars and the bed of a rented pickup laid out with blankets and she'd just...forgotten.

Bess and George do their best to soothe her. They buy her tests, and sit with her during the actual eternity that three minutes is, holding her hands and reassuring her it'll be okay, that she has options, that they're here for her, but when she slips into Florence at the end of the day, Ace greeting her with a kiss, the test wrapped in tissue hidden in her bag feels like a bomb with a lit fuse.

[tobiasdrake]

Another flashback, but we've reached the important part: Where I show up!

We saw them as aspirational role models, but they just wanted out. There was so much that went unsaid during those years.

We were young when they started to betray us. This was only "A few years later". We're like five in this flashback.

What a raw deal of an offer.

Teaks explained to me how this works. There isn't a "more favorable" world out there. The multiverse consists of parallel timelines spinning out of Resh'an and Aephorul's conflict here.

There are three kinds of worlds: Worlds undergoing the same conflict we're fighting now, worlds where we lost and everything was consumed by a World Eater, and worlds where we won and the Guardian Gods now bar the Fleshmancer from touching them.

This conflict is the context that governs the multiverse. There is nothing outside of it. The only "more favorable" worlds are ones where we've already won.

And to be honest? I have my doubts that these jackasses can access one of those. Kinda seems like preventing such a thing from happening is the whole point of Guardian Gods, isn't it?

I had complicated feelings about Erlina and Bugraves before, especially after they ruined my fake birthday party. But those feelings are getting simpler by the moment. These guys played them for suckers.

Hahahahahaha no

Can you imagine accepting that offer? "Sure, shady person; Not only will I take you at your word that you're going to give me a better life, but I'll also let you rewrite my memories however you see fit so that I think our deal was whatever you want me to think it was!"

*deep breath* They told them about Torment. Okay, that's unsimplifying and recomplicating my feelings.

Torment was a checkmate of a Dweller. Absolutely. 100%. Its physical location, buried where the eclipse could never touch it, meant there was no way we were ever going to stop it. Even if we killed Woe and even if Strife didn't return, Torment would feed unimpeded until it became a World Eater.

No matter what we did, our timeline was doomed. We were only able to slay Torment because we had... whatever Serai is... with us. She's not a resource that the Solstice Warriors could ever have planned for. She doesn't factor into the calculus.

...this is the first I'm hearing of that condition. When were they going to tell us about it?

I kinda do. I get where you're coming from. Now more than ever.

But. Also? We killed Torment. I know killing Torment was impossible, but we did it. We killed Torment. So. Y'know. If you hadn't ruined my fake birthday then this would be over.

I don't think this is as simple as "right" answer or "wrong" answer. There was a meteor hurtling towards the planet, guaranteed to wipe out all life. Someone came to you and said, "Hey man, I can offer you and your loved ones passage on a spaceship to a new world if you'll help me set off nuclear armaggeddon ahead of the meteor's impact."

It's a moral conundrum. Let everyone die, or save the people you care about in exchange for everyone else dying faster. You're not really selling them out because they're screwed either way, but you are becoming personally responsible for their fate.

I get it. This isn't really about right or wrong.

But it is factional. You made your choice and we made ours. Either someone's going to have to budge, or someone's going to have to break.

We're coming up on the castle now. All of the mushrooms have faces which, as a botanophobe, is a solid 10 on the OH FUCK THAT scale. Once we cross this marsh, we should be clear to enter the castle and confront the Acolytes... and Strife.

I hope they have windows in the castle. We don't have the element of surprise; They tried to stop us from reaching Pocket Eclipse so we should assume they know we have it. But we do have Pocket Eclipse, which is an advantage all on its own.

I feel good about this. We're screwed, but we're going to go down swinging.

Someone seems to be living here. ...hey, wait a second. I just thought of something.

Didn't Teaks say that Yoyo lives in a swamp? Do you think she was talking about this swamp? This is the swampiest region of any island we've been to, save for Roro's swamp. We should keep an eye out for Yoyo.

Supposedly, she's super good at prophesizing. She might have some actually good prophecies for us.

Oh, this has to be Yoyo's home. I can't wait to meet her!

She's not exactly what I expected. But she's not not what I expected either, if that makes sense.

Don't worry, I know all about you. The mystical embodiment of centrism itself. I have absolute confidence that you'll play me straight, because good or bad, you're allergic to the entire concept of agendas.

Not an ally but potentially a valuable resource. I know the drill.

Okay, so we're not getting prophecies, then.

Well, we're on a pretty grand arc. Whole timeline could be decided by what happens in that castle. Do you have anything to share about that, at least?

Damn. Well, at least we tried. Elder Mist and Oracle of Tides both gave us prophecies that we suck too hard to achieve, and Yoyo can only see "grand arcs". I'm beginning to think that divination is overrated as a school of magic.

Or maybe we will get something? She seems pretty freaked out about TIA. Who, to be fair, is absolutely a person to be freaked out by for anyone who recognizes him.

Which is a lot. A lot of people seem to be recognizing him. Maybe this was a mistake, my guy.