#Cadet life insights

[manasastuff-blog]

Daily Routine of Cadet National Defence Academy#nda#daily#routine#trending#national#defence Dive into the Daily Routine of Cadet National Defence Academy and uncover what a typical day looks like for aspiring defense professionals. This video takes you through the rigorous schedule, training regimens, and unique experiences of cadets. Whether you're considering a career in the National Defence Academy or just curious about military life, this detailed breakdown will provide insights and answers. Join us as we explore the demanding yet rewarding life inside one of India’s premier defense institutions. Don’t miss out on this exclusive look into the daily discipline and dedication that shapes future leaders!

Call:7799799221

Website:www.manasadefenceacademy.com

#DailyRoutine, #CadetLife, #NationalDefenceAcademy, #MilitaryTraining, #DefenseCareer, #AcademyLife, #CadetRoutine, #IndianArmy, #NDA, #MilitaryAcademy

[theseinfernalangels]

Bet On It - Liam Mairi

Synopsis: A moment of quiet, sweet competition with Liam (Healer!Reader).

A/N: My first official post for Eden and Liam! You guys have no idea how excited I am — Eden’s one of my favorite Empyrean Gals™️. If you need more insight for her character, click here! 

Includes: Fluff, teeny bit of angst, Reader has chronic pain from previous injury, Healers Quadrant. Takes place during Fourth Wing.

Rain, by all means, is something you find fascinating. You like the sense of peace that comes along with it, what it does for the land and the cycle of life, and you can’t deny that feeling water pelt your skin has always made you feel giddy with excitement.

You also like to bet on which drops will make it down to the bottom of the glass windows faster. You sit alone in the Healer Quadrant commons, the warmth of the nearby hearth doing all it can to soothe the ache in your locked knee as you stare intently at the window clouded by the summer’s humidity.

Oh, yeah. There was one downside of rain — it made your bad leg throb like shit.

You lean back in the velvety chair and sigh, sending thanks to Amari for a moment of solitude in your otherwise-hectic life. Honestly, you preferred this to the Riders Quadrant — it was definitely easier to pick up information knowing you wouldn’t be killed at any moment. That didn’t make the work any less challenging, though. Between taking organized notes on the historic relationships between Poromiel and Navarre and memorizing the skeletal system…You knew which one you’d choose first. 

A set of quiet but steady footsteps coming from behind make your thoughts falter, and you stiffen, your hand flying to the sheathed dagger at your side instinctually. Your shoulders relax, though, when you hear an all-too familiar, teasing voice pipe up from a little ways behind your seat.

“Am I interrupting a moment of pondering, sweetheart?”

You huff out a laugh and shake your head, leaning back into the chair. “A moment of pondering?” You twist your head around to be met head-on with rain-soaked blond curls and a charming grin. “I’m not a scribe, Li. Let a girl enjoy the rain without making the meaning too deep.”

Liam takes a seat next to you, stripping off his rain-battered flight jacket and slinging it over the top of the chair. “Hey,” he defends himself. “I’m not saying you can’t enjoy it. I just know that you tend to zone out whenever it rains. Makes you look like you’re trying to figure out the meaning of life and…You know, all of that fun stuff.”

You snort and shake your head. “I’m guessing which raindrops will make it to the bottom first,” you correct him dryly, pointing to the nearest twin pair of droplets racing down the window. “I used to make bets with my sister for a coin or two when we were kids.”

“Betting money on rain races,” Liam muses, resting his chin on his palm and gazing at the window intently. “Scandalous, Cadet Kiyoko.”

You shrug and lean in a little further, wincing only when a tinge of pain worms its way through the back of your knee. “I was being resourceful,” you huff. “If people here weren’t so square, I’d be running the greatest betting pool in Navarre.”

Liam scoots a few inches closer to you, draping his arm invitingly over the padded arm of your chair with his palm facing up. It was a wordless gesture, one that never required your acknowledgment but always received it anyway. “Right,” he drawls. “We’d all be so hyped about betting on raindrops.”

You scowl, slipping your hand into his wordlessly. He’s warm, thankfully — he always is. The hearth of the commons does wonders for your body, but Liam’s heat — the one that came from being a human furnace — was balm to your weary mind and soul. 

The two of you sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, companied with only the sound of the gentle rain and the occasional murmurs and laughs of other cadets from outside the commons. No one would come in here — your classmates knew that you liked to be alone at this time of day, and unless you went out of your way to go seek someone out, they’d respect your personal space; whether it was because they respected you for your own personhood or the fact that you’d almost made it through the Riders Quadrant unscathed, you could never tell.

A light squeeze on your hand brings you out of your thoughts, your eyes flitting over to Liam’s sky-like irises. He still watches the window, but his thumb strokes yours gently. “You okay?” He asks quietly.

You hum, fixing your eyes on the clouded glass. “Yeah. Whenever it rains, it aches. I’ve been a bit sore all day.”

“Ah.”

His thumb moves down to your wrist, moving over the skin so tenderly that you’d think he was touching some sort of priceless object. Your arm shifts a little, and your heart skips a beat when his lips replace his finger.

“Liam?”

His eyes snap up to yours, his lips not faltering once.

“Why is your hair wet?”

A beautiful grin, one that you’ve come to seek out in every moment of darkness, spreads across his face.

“Deigh likes the rain,” he explains quietly. “He says he likes to feel the rain in between his scales.”

He pauses as if he hears another distant conversation, and a flat look crosses his features. “Also, it’s apparently good for young ones like me to get outside and experience the joys of nature every once in a while,” he adds dryly, squeezing your wrist.

You chuckle, a small gleam coming back to your eye. “I agree with Deigh. I like feeling the rain on my skin, when I can.”

Liam goes quiet again before rolling his eyes. You guess he’s having a silent conversation with his dragon by the way he purses his lips and sighs. “He says you’re very wise, and—“

His eyes widen, a hint of a blush appearing on his cheeks.

You tilt your head. “And?”

He just shakes his head, his eyes finding the window again. “Nothing.”

You know better than to pry. Even though you never got your shot at actually bonding with a dragon, you figured you should respect the private conversation between dragon and rider — even if the topic of conversation was yourself. The bond was not something you understood in its entirety, but if Deigh approved of you, you’d take that as a win.

“I think,” you say, pointing to the window, “that one there is going to make it to the bottom first.”

Liam studies the little speckles on the glass intently, squinting as if he could see the very molecules within the water. His hand slowly drags up to another stationary raindrop. “That one��s got my vote.”

He turns back to you with an easy smile. “What do I get if I win?”

You hum thoughtfully, tilting your head. “Uh…I don’t know,” you admit. “A kiss?”

He nods in a fake-solemn act. “Ah. I see. I accept these terms and propose the same.”

You snort, reaching over and flicking his arm gently, careful to mind the black swirls that trail up his arm. “You’re so dramatic.”

His ruse doesn’t last for long. Liam is the epitome of sunshine, even in  dreary weather like this. A fond smile lights his face up in a way that seems so innocent. “Sorry, sweetheart,” he concedes, bringing your wrist back up to his mouth. “You bring it out of me.”

His words, now muffled against your skin, draw a faint laugh from you as you watch your respective raindrops fall in little bursts of speed down the window. It makes your heart race out of habit — you always enjoyed a little competition, especially when it was so rare in your life now.

Your mouth is tugged into a smirk when your raindrop surpasses his. “For once, I don’t think luck is on your side, Mairi.”

He stares at the window as if considering something before shaking his head. In that time, your chosen drop streaks down the window into nothingness.

He glances over at you. “That’s okay,” he replies. “I’m cool with losing to you every once in a while.”

“Just me?” you ask, raising an eyebrow curiously.

“Just you,” he affirms. Then, he smirks, leaning closer to you. “Guess I gotta pay up now, huh, sweet girl?”

You lean into him, ignoring the dull protest of your knee as you shift. “You do,” you reply with an air of faux arrogance. “Hand it over, Mairi.”

You don’t complain about pain or rain or jack shit when his lips meet yours, the soft skin only disrupted by a faint scar that mars his upper lip. His scent, sawdust and orchids with a hint of citrus, clouds your senses. You sigh in content, nuzzling your nose against his before pulling away.

Liam, for as much as you take him seriously, just looks too adorable with his now-pink flush that expands to the tips of his ears.

“Let’s go again,” he suggests, pointing at another new raindrop. “Another kiss says that that one will go first.”

A wide smile stretches across your lips. “Bet, Mairi.”

[fog-n-dance]

Not gonna be a revolutionary thought but I wanted to put it on paper sort of.

I keep thinking about how Tech would have been the first of the Batch to be heavily bullied and hated by the Regs. Because have you ever seen a clone without a 10/10 eyesight allowed to remain commissioned by the long necks ?

And then Wrecker was probably the next. I don’t know I always imagined that his scars dated back from the cadets years, not later, something going wrong during training, or really just the normal training because it is pretty fucking horrifying anyway*. But well. Have you ever seen a clone so badly injured yet remaining commissioned ?

Hunter and Crosshair are those oversensitive freaks of course, but eh, it’s not like it cannot be beaten out of them, everyone gets through that at some point, that’s not too bad. In my book those two got way less shit (not counting the one of their own making, naturally).

But Tech and Wrecker ? Their mere existence, just their passing by the mess or the med bay, is the reminder that not all clones are born equal, and I think that that would be the cornerstone of such a deep and torturing hatred from the regs, even the other commandos*. Resentment. Because they’ve seen their brothers getting « reconditioned »* for exactly those reasons, and even way less than that.

~

The * are not to make mystery but they serve as a reference to « Republic Commando : True Colors », by Karen Traviss, and the whole serie really but this one particularly. Seriously this is the most insight I’ve seen on the training the commandos are subjected to, but also on how fragile their life is in the hands of the Kaminoans and the Cuy’val Dar.

I mean I’m not naive, I know how insanely harsh life was in Tipoca City anyway, but fuck me commandos had it bad… So so so fucking bad. That book broke my heart many times, they all deserve so much better… Pray for me as I just started the third book of the serie, I swear I hold my breathe at each page turn.

Also at some point I want to think about the relationship between our batch and the other commandos batches. And also which Cuy’val Dar trained them 💭

[casualaruanienjoyer]

I just finished AOT like 2 days ago and am brand new to this fandom/ship but it GOT ME. Could you please share some of your fav aruani fanfics?? 🥰

Hello Anon! First of all, welcome to the AOT fandom and to Aruani! I hope you'll enjoy it here!!

There are many good Aruani fanfics, but here are some of my favourites! Please just bear in mind that all of these are Mature, with suggestive content in (many) places!

By Each Crime and Kindness by @aruanimess Cadet Aruani setting, beautifully written, you get so much insight into Annie's side of the story. In places it's tragic and it really touches my heart. Myrtle's writing is very striking and up close, sometimes in a beautifully uncomfortable way. Really matches the tone of the story as Annie falls deeper and deeper in love and also into despair.

Neverland of (Our) Desires by @annawayne Post Boat confession setting, Aruani first time. It's love in its most honest and bare bone form. Absolutely heart melting. Anna's way of describing feelings is very visual and it feels like reading a painting! Also make sure to check My Yellow Light in Your Soft Whispers, which is set 10 years after the rumbling. I'm still at the start of this one but I can tell it's going to be a great journey!

Village by the End of the World by @moonspirit an absolutely amazing What If series focusing on the life of the Ambassadors post rumbling. So much imagination, so many plotlines masterfully pulled together. Feels like watching a spinoff series!

Love Is Stored In The Soup by @fromriches-tosin which is in all fairness not an Aruani centric fic, but a Reijean one. However the supporting Aruani in this is incredibly cute and I wanted to add it here!

There are many more fanfics that I haven't gotten the chance to read yet! If anyone else would like to add on their own fic, feel free to drop it below!

If you'd like to, you can also check my pinned post where I linked some of my own Aruani works!

[ejzah]

A/N: While Deeks is at FLETC, Kensi struggles without him.

***

Missing You

It’s week four sans Deeks and Kensi’s starting to feel the strain. It starts when she wakes up in the morning to an empty bed, continues on the drive to work where she either relies on a too-short video call with or the radio to fill the silence. At first, work had been a welcome distraction and she’d even enjoyed the chance to work with agents from other agencies.

The novelty is wearing thin now, and she’s keenly aware of Deeks absence as she stands in their usual spot in OPS. She misses his insights, and jokes,

“You want to come question the witness with me, Kens?” Callen asks.

Of course, because she doesn’t have a permanent partner, she’s either stuck going solo or takes turns pairing up with someone else for a few days. It reminds her a little too much of her first year or so with NCIS, when she was always the third wheel to Sam and Callen’s veteran partnership. Even though they don’t complain, she’s starting to feel like a burden.

“Sure. Though this time, I’m driving,” she insists.

“Ok, but only if you clean it first,” Callen agrees as they walk out the door. She groans, playing into it because that’s what’s expected of her.

Once she’s driving, her thoughts drift. This is hardly the first time she’s been without a partner, but it’s been the longest in recent years, and it makes her realize how much she relies on Deeks knowing her and anticipating her quirks and needs the way no one else can.

Sam’s extremely particular about certain aspects of the job. He doesn’t keep an extra candy bar in the glove compartment, or think of stopping for a donut when she starts getting cranky on long shifts. She also knows he’s not going to take her up on an offer to stop for tacos on the way back to the mission. He would if she asks, but it’s not the same.

When they’re stopped at a backed up red light, she checks her phone and finds a missed call from Deeks. Damn it. If she doesn’t call him back in the next twenty minutes, she probably won’t get another opportunity until tonight.

“Was that Deeks?”

Shoving her phone back in her pocket, she covers her disappointment with a shrug. “Yeah, we usually talk before work, but Deeks has an off-campus training today, so his schedule is a little different.”

“Is he doing ok?” Callen asks politely. Or at least that’s how she reads it. Maybe he’s just trying to tiptoe around what’s been a tenuous situation.

“He’s good. It’s FLETC, you know, so it’s not exactly fun,” she answers, recalling Deeks’ descriptions of the long runs cadets had every morning and afternoon. She’d mostly blocked that detail out of her memory since her own FLETC days. “Especially since he’s stuck with a bunch of 23 year olds. Not that that’s a problem. You know Deeks is a people person and is in amazing shape. It’s just not what you want to be doing in your forties.” She presses her lips together to hold back further rambling.

Callen didn’t need to know about the mild hazing Deeks received at the hands of the less kind instructors the first couple of weeks. Or the expectations that came with Deeks’ years of experience, as well as the unexpected notoriety that came with their more infamous cases. Finding out that FLETC instructors not only used Deeks and Sam’s abduction by Sidorov as case study had come as an extremely unpleasant and jarring surprise.

“Yeah, that’s to be expected,” Callen comments neutrally. Something about it irritates her. At least Sam would offer some sage advice. He’d remind her that Deeks was strong and intelligent and they both would make it through the next couple months.

Callen’s more matter-of-fact for any of that, which is pretty damn infuriating when it feel as if her life might implode at any second. An awkward silence rises and goes on until they reach their destination and Callen tentatively breaches the tension.

“Are you ok?”

This time he sounds more uncertain, even concerned, and for some reason, it instantly makes her eyes burn with the beginnings of tears. She also feels bad for her uncharitable thoughts.

“Yeah, I just miss him,” she admits. She doesn’t add that there’s a lot riding on Deeks successfully completing FLETC. That she might be looking for a new partner even if he does.

“Why don’t you call Deeks back? I’ll give you a few minutes to catch up.

“Thanks, Callen.”

He acknowledges that with a nod, gets out of the SUV, and paces a few yards away. She quickly calls Deeks back, and he picks up after the second ring.

“Kensi,” he answers, his voice instantly soothing her.

“Hi baby,” she murmurs back, briefly closing her eyes. She wants to tell him how hard this is. That she misses him. That she needs him here. Instead, she forces a smile into her voice. “How was your run?”

Leaning back in her seat, she closes her eyes as he talks, and for a few minutes, pretends he’s right beside her.

***

A/N: This story involves a number of my personal head canons and references several stories and the backstory I’ve written in my FLETC series (all posted to my ff.net page). So, most of this is not actually canon.

[monsterblogging]

List of Official/Official-Adjacent Pacific Rim Media

Here's a list of Pacific Rim media for y'all Pacific Rim fans who want to check out as much of it as possible!

PACIFIC RIM (2013 FILM) Usually considered the primary text of this franchise. Pacific Rim fans mostly agree it's good.

PACIFIC RIM NOVELIZATION BY ALEX IRVINE The novelization of the 2013 film. The book's writer, Alex Irvine, had texts from Legendary Pictures work with, but some of the information was outdated. Furthermore, the book has a cynical, smug tone and comes off like it's written for the type of audience who thinks CinemaSins is actual media criticism. The only thing it's really good for is for scraping out lore, but it's full of contradictions and occasionally uses outdated lore, so you have to compare/contrast it with other materials.

TALES FROM YEAR ZERO Authored by Travis Beacham, this comic explores the origins of the PPDC and the Jaeger program. It's interesting for lore, but story-wise, it might not be engaging if you aren't into Travis Beacham's particular romantic storytelling tastes. Also, if you're a puritan who gets offended when main characters are kinda fucked up people, this isn't for you.

TALES FROM THE DRIFT Authored by Travis Beacham, this comic tells the haters-to-lovers story of Duc and Kaori Jessop, pilots of Tacit Ronin. Mildly interesting for lore, and another romance-oriented story. (Beacham loves those.)

PACIFIC RIM: MAN, MACHINES, & MONSTERS The official artbook. Has some interesting information and lore, though it also contains a few typos and references outdated worldbuilding.

TRAVIS BEACHAM'S TUMBLR After Pacific Rim's release, Travis Beacham answered many fans' questions. While he was often cryptic and straight-up refused to answer certain questions for fear that he'd spoil a future story, he still provided quite a bit of insight. You can visit his old blog at travisbeacham.tumblr.com

PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING Largely panned by fans of the original film. Partway through production, the sequel to Pacific Rim was handed off to another director, and many plot elements were hastily changed with little to no regard for the rich worldbuilding developed by Travis Beacham and Guillermo del Toro, or even story coherency. The film never gives really your brain space to breathe, so it's very difficult to follow the story. Moreover, it misses the thematic and allegorical tones of the first movie, and lacks its occult influences. Overall, it's a hollow followup to Pacific Rim.

PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING NOVELIZATION BY ALEX IRVINE Fundamentally, it's the same story as Pacific Rim: Uprising. The upside is that Alex Irvine's writing is significantly improved, and the story is much easier to follow in novel format. The downside is that you don't have John Boyega's acting talent.

PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING JUNIOR NOVELIZATION BY BECKY MATHESON It's more or less the same as above, but edited down for a younger audience.

THE ART AND MAKING OF PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING The PRU artbook. I've never read this one, so I couldn't tell you what's in it aside from the very obvious.

PACIFIC RIM: AFTERMATH A prequel comic to Pacific Rim: Uprising written by Cavan Scott, Aftermath tells two stories: one focuses on Jake Pentecost and his relationship with his father; the other on what happened to Hannibal Chau and Joshua Griffin (one of Vulcan Specter's pilots) after the kaiju war. The comic makes excellent use of the lore, and the stories are great.

PACIFIC RIM: AMARA A prequel comic that focuses specifically on Amara Namari. I have mixed feelings about it; the mini-Jaeger designs were great but I felt that the actual storyline was a little melodramatic. I dunno, read it for yourself and see what you think.

PACIFIC RIM: ASCENSION A prequel novel to Uprising by Greg Keyes, this story gives life and focus to many characters who didn't get a lot of attention, including the Kaidonovskys and the cadets. Mako Mori is given the narrative respect she deserves, and Hermann Gottlieb's characterization is top-notch. The author makes use of the lore provided by Legendary Pictures to weave a rich and fascinating narrative that puts the actual Uprising film to shame.

MAKING OF/BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE There's a number of videos out there on YouTube, which you can find by searching up.

PACIFIC RIM CONCEPT ART There's quite a lot of concept art out there. You can start here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, or search Pinterest or whatever search engine for Pacific Rim concept art.

PACIFIC RIM: THE BLACK A cash grab produced by Netflix, The Black disregards Pacific Rim's rich worldbuilding and follows bland, generic cartoon protagonists through a bland, generic cartoon plot loosely - loosely, mind you - based on the films. It tries to be dark, but it has all the skill of a sixteen year old edgelord about it. Also, the production values are nonexistent. You will miss absolutely nothing worthwhile by skipping over it. If for some reason you really want a Pacific Rim story where child soldiers are framed as a good thing, just read Pacific Rim: Ascension. If you want dark, watch Pulp Fiction or From Dusk 'Til Dawn. If you want a story where somebody makes a religion out of turning people into monsters, watch Midnight Mass or play/watch a no-commentary playthrough of Resident Evil 4 or 8. If you want an AI that looks after two stranded children, watch 3Below. Seriously, there is nothing The Black does that something else doesn't do infinitely better. "But most of these aren't Pacific Rim stories-" Wrong. Any story can be a Pacific Rim story if you're not a coward. And just about anything is a better Pacific Rim story than The Black.

PACIFIC RIM: BLACKOUT Prequel comic to Pacific Rim: The Black. Haven't read it, but it's written by the same guy who wrote Aftermath so it's probably a sight better than The Black.

[holly-fixation]

I’m sorry to hear you don’t get too many asks!!! 😭❤️ I can definitely relate on the kinda fomo it can create, so I’m right there with you, friend!! 🤝 With that said, you are wonderful person with SO many interesting, insightful, and brilliant takes to share with the world!! ❤️ I wish you much love and attention in the future!!! NO ONE can do angst quite like you can!!! 💕

And with that said…!

Angeal funeral scenario??? >:)c (perhaps mumsy comes to pay Sephiroth’s distraught mind a visit?)

It's a small service.

It would've been large, once upon a time. His family, his friends, his family's friends, friends of the small town he grew up in. But that was gone now. Even the scientist that attempted to aid did not return. His family was dead. His town was bombed. His childhood friend disserted them.

There was no body, only a jar to hold the ashes that remained. A jar specifically intended for cookies, because even in death he would not spend his hard earned gil on something flashy he would never see.

The two Firsts sat in the front row. Behind them Thirds. And behind them the cadets that always looked up to him.

Dreams. Honor. What did they mean to the dead?

Zack couldn't keep it together, attempting to hide every tightened fist and shaken head in denial. He didn't hide the angry glares as the minister spoke of key points of Angeal's life and key principles the man beside him ignored.

Sephiroth did not move, his head hung solemnly, his body as still as a statue. Though every other rank dismissed themselves after the service was over, he and the young First remained.

Zack tried to get a rise out of him. Zack accused and screamed and cursed the Silver Soldier. You made me kill him. You left ME to make that choice! Coward! The new First even struck Shinra's greatest hero before storming out.

But Sephiroth did not move, not even as the lights dimmed automatically from the lack of life in the room.

He wished he was dead too.

[republicsecurity]

The AI in your Helmet

The instructor's voice, crisp and unwavering, cut through the ambient noise of the workshop. "Listen closely, Cadet. The HUD you see before you is not merely a display. It is your lifeline, your guide, and your most trusted advisor. Every object, every person highlighted in your field of vision carries significance, a message from the AI that resides within your helmet. It distinguishes between the mundane and the crucial, ensuring your attention is always where it matters."

I nodded, my eyes fixed on the intricate interface projected inside the helmet. The HUD pulsed with information, a dance of symbols and data that seemed to possess a life of its own. The instructor continued, his tone carrying the weight of experience. "The AI is not just a tool, Cadet. It is your constant companion, your overseer, and your protector. It processes every piece of data available, analyzing your surroundings, your actions, and even your physiological responses. It understands you better than you understand yourself."

A sense of awe mingled with trepidation as I absorbed his words. The integration of AI into my very perception was both exhilarating and daunting. I wondered about the implications of such constant surveillance, about the erosion of privacy in the face of this all-seeing technology. The instructor seemed to sense my thoughts, his gaze steady as he continued his explanation.

"The AI is not here to intrude, but to enhance. It refines your decision-making, offering insights and suggestions based on its analysis of the situation. It anticipates your needs, providing guidance when you are uncertain. In the field, seconds matter, and the AI ensures you act swiftly and decisively."

The instructor's stern expression softened, as if he understood the weight of my contemplation. "Cadet, remember this: the AI is a tool, a guide, but it is not infallible. Your instincts, your empathy, your humanity—they are what make you a paramedic. The technology augments your abilities, but it does not define you. Trust your training, your experience, and let the AI be your ally, not your master."

[salternateunreality2]

Preggoroth: Nesting

---------

Sephiroth: How can I help you, Genesis?

Genesis: *plunks down in chair, kicks feet up on Seph's desk, starts talking about his day*

One-Winged Angel: *starts playing*

Genesis: *jumps* What the fuck?

Sephiroth: You disturbed the nest. Prepare for war.

The single innocent paperclip that started all this by being moved 3cm to the left: 📎

---------

Poor Cloud Strife. He and Zack have been identified by Seph's lizard brain as "BABIES".

Kidnapping, surprise cuddling, feeding, swaddling, and lots and lots of proud staring and purring.

My babies. My perfect, beautiful babies.

---------

ALL THE SOFT THINGS.

Sephiroth's inner child is being HEALED through this process. He has built nests EVERYWHERE, from his office to Lazard's office to his apartment to Angeal's kitchen to Cloud's barracks to Genesis' closet -- any space that Sephiroth has ever felt a little bit safe or a little bit comfortable has at minimum a very soft blanket.

Zack is HERE for it, and has bought him ALL THE PLUSHIES. Not content with the Shinra SOLDIER propaganda plushies, homeboy found an entire zoo's worth of (hopefully) stuffed animals and even hand-made a few extra.

One of the homemade ones is an octopus/squid/tarantula/chameleon monstrosity that is Sephiroth's second favorite, after his lizard.

Zack created the chimera after years of listening to Sephiroth's voice warm slightly when talking about how a tentacle could hug you really well, that many eyes in weird places would be great for recon, and how he felt like he could never be his whole, true self, like a chameleon.

----------

Shinra Official Baby Shower

Boring AF, with lots of stupid gifts, schmoozing, and ceremony.

Scarlet gifted him a bunch of mechanical mobiles, which Genesis "accidentally" firagad later.

President Shinra gifted a (for him) measly check and publicly announced that the children will be "Sons of the Company" and offered "medical" treatment for life and an apartment closer to said "medical" treatment, and "nannies". Fortunately, the Turks jiggled some wires and oops the broadcast was fucked. President Shinra was uninformed about who the father is, but those in the know laughed at him behind his back for the "Sons of the Company" thing.

Heidegger had his people prepare a gift basket, but Cloud got a hold of the order and makes it secretly great, with boring stuff on top. Lots of tasty and helpful gifts for the expectant Sephiroth buried under bland diapers and onesies.

Reeve made some unhackable baby monitors to prevent Hojo's tampering or observations. He told Sephiroth about the unhackability in private, when he also gave him a mobile and a white noise machine, all also unhackable.

Hojo somehow came down with the flu and didn't make it, and his gift got accidentally incinerated. Oops.

Rufus gave Sephiroth the majority of the registry's big ticket items, like strollers, car seats, etc.

Palmer had his administrative assistant buy something off the registry, and Anne, a surprisingly insightful woman, got it in blue with a bunch of squirmy sea creatures on it. Sephiroth wrote a thank you note just to her.

Other employees brought generic cards and cheap registry items.

---------

Cadet Baby Shower

The cadets couldn't afford jack shit, but organized a diaper drive and it turned out to be one of the best and most needed gifts of all.

---------

SOLDIER and Turk Shower

This was actually more like a rager, with a ton of fun games and the rest of the registry getting filled out.

Many of the Turks and SOLDIERS gave miniature weapons of all sorts that Sephiroth was completely delighted with and squirreled away almost immediately. To this day, Lazard is still emptying tiny-weapons caches all over the Tower. The SOLDIER-Turk merch war was absurd as well.

His closest friends gave him a set of 150 bug-out bags hidden around the city and Gaia. Each bag contained cash, food, and clothes for him, a friend, and his babies, and...

His most treasured gift: a USB with a photo album plus a handful of physical pics, including 4 Lucrecia hard copies in each bag. All his friends and comrades were represented, and his closest friends had written letters to be stored on the USBs. AGSL had each hidden a quarter of them, and no one except Sephiroth himself knew the location of all of the bags.

Zack was not permitted to know the location of more than 3. It's not his fault his mouth is so fast! He's a speedy guy!

---------

Sephiroth, unable to sleep, has repainted the entire SOLDIER floor and all of his nest areas 300 times by now.

He has also done heavy and light construction work all over his and his friends' apartments.

He considered building a "baby gate" to Cloud's dorm, but stopped himself while carrying the lumber and a drill onto the elevator, realizing he didn't want to become his father. To be perfectly clear, it wasn't the "imprisoning an adult employee against his will", it was the "anti-Hojo sentiment" that stopped him.

------------

"Sephiroth, darling, we need to talk about the 3am construction," said Lazard, holding Sephiroth's hand and looking him in the eye.

"Oh, yes, I can't sleep, so I prepare for the babies. They seem to enjoy it, as they stop kicking my bladder every 2 seconds while I'm up," Sephiroth replied, glaring gently at his belly. "In fact, they're getting excited now. It is the third time this hour!"

Lazard winced.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, that sounds awful. I'll let you go in just a second, but could you please give some thought to another hobby? Several of your colleagues and even myself are experiencing fatigue due to the construction noise. Perhaps knitting would help? I know you're preparing for the babies, and you're doing an excellent job."

"Oh! Thank you for bringing this to my attention, I forget sometimes that not everyone is used to sleep deprivation. I will certainly consider it. Now if you'll excuse me, the children are getting restless and I drank a gallon of water."

"Of course," said Lazard, and let him go, relieved at the easy acquiescence.

It wasn't until the next day when he woke up to newly knitted carpeting throughout the entire SOLDIER floor that he began to question his suggestion.

"It's better than the construction," he muttered under his breath...until he passed Cloud and Zack knitted into the wall.

Excess blankets/tiny socks/hats/etc. get donated and save some cold children's lives ❤️ Helpfulroth ❤️

@snowbanshee

[ussjellyfish]

Here's an ask for you! Was there a specific on-screen moment when you started shipping Michael/Laira?

Oh thank you!!

They have an ARC. They have an on screen arc, and I'm so accustomed to making things up (Beverly Crusher/Kathryn Janeway), or working with a handful of episodes that don't have an arc (Maleficent/Regina Mills).

Long post!

Michael is finally captain, which has been a long time coming, and she loves it, she's good at it. Season 4 is peak Michael.

I have wanted to have a ship for Michael since the show started, because I adore Michael, and nothing really hit me until Laira and Michael started talking to each other.

Episode 1 - wrecking ball era

They don't really like each other at first. Laira is "using a moment that should be about the cadets" and Michael is "a huge swing of the pendulum" who doesn't understand that sometimes she might lose.

Michael hasn't lost for awhile, so Laira has a point. Michael needs to save everyone (this is a really common rock star captain thing).

And fate has handed Michael a whole set of events where she was literally the only person in the galaxy who could fix it. Michael found a way to peacefully end the Klingon war without going as dark as parts of Starfleet wanted too.

Michael and her crew literally saved the future by going ahead in time, preventing control from getting the sphere data. It's a huge sacrifice, and they were willing to make it, and it's also a huge win. Everyone was saved.

They have this really honest, almost brutal conversation, where they both have very valid points and they're polite to each other, but they are in opposite places. Michael wants to bring everyone home. She doesn't want to mitigate life and death. Laira thinks she might need too.

And they're from very different places. Michael's from this incredibly optimistic time, where bad things happened (the Klingon war, losing Captain Georgiou, Control tries to evolve and Starfleet really grasps at straws) but the bad things are brief, and traumatic, but they persevere. They're rebuilding after the war and maybe they can be allies with the Klingons some day: Michael has retained her hope, and for good reason. Things improve, she has solutions. Her skillset is phenomenal.

Laira grew up in a universe with scarcity. She was a cargo pilot, and didn't go to the Science Academy, or the Academy on Earth, or even really see the Federation or Starfleet as what they were in Michael's time. Starfleet has hundreds of ships where Michael came from, Starfleet is a force for hope. Laira's whole life has been in a galaxy where Starfleet is tiny, and can't help, and they try, but the needs are so great, and everyone is so isolated that hope is a harder thing.

They have a whole set of conversations about leadership, and balance, and hope, and Laira pushes Michael to be better in the beginning.

They start out standing together, and end standing on opposite ends of a table. The blocking is fun, their whole conversation is so fun. They're an mildly antagonistic allies to lovers at this point. They believe in the Federation, but have differing approaches to leadership, and don't have a high opinion of each other but the mutual respect is there.

I rewatch this episode when they need banter, or I need to have them argue. I desperately wanted them to talk more after this episode. I loved Laira immediately, but I didn't write fic for them yet.

So I had interest, but I wasn't shipping shipping yet.

Episode 4 is when I did that.

In episode 4, mutual respect era, Laira conspires with Vance to get Michael and Saru to come help her with diplomacy. It's an fun insight into Laira's personality that she asked Vance to pretend to be sick, or told him to, because she wasn't sure if she wanted to ask Michael and Saru directly.

She moves pieces, and Michael's a really powerful piece.

Laira (and T'Rina) perform their political theater (and you find out at the end that they've been friends for a long time, and kind of set it up together, which is also interesting. I like the world building in this ep.

The shipping comes when Michael goes to convince Laira that they shouldn't give up. Michael and Saru come up with a plan, and it's a very Michael plan. It wouldn't work if she wasn't who she is.

Bringing Michael in is Laira's last ditch gamble, and it works. Michael throws herself at the problem and comes up with an elegant solution and proves that she is actually so adept at the thing she doesn't like. (politics).

(the table is BACK and they're at opposite sides again, but they move closer to each other! There's a whole meta I need to write about this table.)

The last scene of this episode is the one that launched my ship. They're achieved the mission. Ni'Var is coming back into the Federation. Saru and T'Rina are flirting so they're both amused by that. They're alone together and there's a fire and Ni'Var conference rooms are romantic, pretty lighting.

Laira walks around Michael, and sits on the conference table. It's one of the first times we see her relax. She sits down, not because the meeting is sitting, but because she wants to. Maybe when it's just Michael she can?

It's this shift in power and an opening and vulnerability because she must have had such a long day, and Michael saved it, and she doesn't have to be the President for Michael.

They open up to each other! Laira complements Michael for being good at politics even though she hates it. Laira admits that Vance wasn't really sick (in a roundabout way, she's coy and flirty about it, so it's not a real admission, which suits her).

Michael looks at her like THAT. Sonequa has the most beautiful face and this looks absolutely destroys me.

Laira tells Michael that she had to protect President T'Rina (who warned her that the negotiations were going to implode).

They have this exchange.

Michael walks over to her. "If you wanted my help, you could have just asked me."

They lean on the table together. Laira bites her lip. "Truth be told, I wasn't sure you were the right person for the job, but I'm glad you were."

"I appreciate that. I know transparency isn't always possible in your position but it is what I need, to best serve you and the Federation. So if you could be more forthcoming in the future, I'd appreciate that as well."

"Understood, Captain."

So much happens here. Michael says what she needs, and she's direct and polite. She has the most impeccable etiquette and always calls Laira 'ma'am'. Here she doesn't. Laira listens, nods, accepts what Michael needs and she's the one who uses her rank as a sign of respect.

Then they shake hands, which Laira initiates and it's beautifully shot with the fire in the background, AND Laira covers Michael's hand with hers before she leaves. The music swells. There are strings and horns!! (it's so fun!).

(Also this was on during touch starved COVID era and holding hands felt like a BIG DEAL).

Laira takes Michael's request to heart and asks her for help the next time she needs it.

I shipped them, so very much after this. Laira's not in the next two episodes, but she is in episode 7!

Episode 7 - power couple era.

Michael teases Laira about wanting Earth back in the Federation, Laira admits that her mother's family is from Earth and her mother never got to see it. (Vulnerability! ambition! Michael reading her so easily).

Michael stands next to Laira through the negotiations. Laira tells Michael that she has to be neutral but she thinks Michael can steer the negotiation, if she's ready for that.

(transparency!)

Michael gives an fantastic speech for peaceful first contact, and they're successful. (Laira's hands her are really cute).

Then there's "Captain, I need you with me" and I was so gone. They work together so well to accomplish things. Laira sees Michael's incredible abilities. Michael reads what Laira is thinking. They achieve something they both want together.

Episode 8 - not many people have the ability to surprise me, captain.

The episode starts out with Laira livid. She paces, her diction is razor sharp, and she fidgets with her hands. It's the most unsettled we've seen her so far.

Laira not being able to deal with something and Michael trying to help was what set off my 170,000+ word WIP that is over two years old. Something unexpected should happen and Laira should be mad about it was the starting point.

(also the episode bookends with this shot, which is really clever).

I have a whole set of thoughts about episode 10 and the end of the season, but this was how I got started. This look helped. Michael surprises Laira by how competent she is. Michael does looking several steps ahead thing and turns a loss into a win and it's very coy and fun.

Laira wings her hands later in engineering and that obviously meant she needed to go through something with michael and the Discovery crew could help and...

I did the most shipper me thing I could possibly do and started a fic where she got pregnant.

Thank you so much for asking!!! this was so fun to put together. (and took days).

Special mention to the way Laira can make "captain" both a compliment and an insult, depending on her mood. (it's the other half of my Michael saying "ma'am" kink.

[cadet-aviator]

Immersion (3)

It’s good to write about this, now, years later, as you tend to get a better insight in your motivations, hopes, dreams and desires, in retrospect, but I confess that I’m still largely in the dark about what drove me to this remarkable self-discipline, this total immersion in order and restraint and obedience. 

No one forced me. Certainly not my parents, who were mostly puzzled by it, but by and large were pleased that I was clean, healthy, normal and an excellent student.

There were no tantrums nor were there the kind of incidents that other boys my age would get into – things with alcohol, trouble at school, vandalism, I had none of that.

Nobody made me wear uniform in my spare time. Yes, drill was mandatory at school, but the majority of my classmates just went through the motions, and changed out of uniform immediately after school. And I didn’t. I put on a fresh shirt and re-tied my tie.

I mentioned before that none of these fairly extreme things – keeping a boy waiting for an hour while he faces a wall, inspecting a boy’s uniform three or four times in that hour, visiting a cadet at home, going through his private things in his private bedroom, handing out endless demerits, making a 14-year old sit down every Sunday to write a few hundred mind-numbing lines – seemed wrong to me. I accepted it and embraced it. 

When a cadet in my drill team did something wrong and was punished, I approved of the punishment, and I also approved of the punishments I was given. I would meet up with my fellow cadets and we would inspect our uniforms ourselves.

We went to the beach in uniform. We even made a vow to stay ‘pure’, to not diminish our focus on discipline by touching ourselves. 

And so obediently I signed up for this Elite Cadet Camp. The consequences became clear very quickly. The date of departure was still months away, but I was now ordered to present myself in the Army Cadet uniform – the not-so-pretty green shirt – once a week at HQ, for ‘further instruction’, which meant more inspections, a much shorter haircut, and a whole new manual to digest and learn by heart.

And whenever the Admiral was in the building, I got down on my knees again and pressed my forehead to the floor. 

He was particularly friendly to me – as I was prostrated before him – always encouraging me ‘to keep up standards my boy’, ‘make your parents proud’ and ‘focus completely on what’s ahead’.

I confess that – in retrospect – I didn’t think being on my knees like that, once a week, was strange.

I was 14 going on 15. I did my utmost do perform perfectly. It was an honour. Like everything else in this cadet life, I began to love it. 

I prepared to go to Camp. It had to happen.

(All images AI-generated)

[manasastuff-blog]

Morning Herbal Tea Distribution at Manasa Defence Academy #trending #viral #ytshorts

Discover the secret behind the morning herbal tea distribution at Manasa Defence Academy! In this video, we take you inside the daily routine at Manasa Defence Academy, where cadets start their day with a specially prepared herbal tea. Learn about the unique ingredients used, the health benefits they offer, and how this morning ritual sets the tone for the day. Watch as we explore the process from preparation to distribution, highlighting why this practice is an integral part of the academy's regimen. Whether you are a health enthusiast or curious about life at a defence academy, this video will provide you with insights and inspiration. Don’t miss out on this exclusive look at Manasa Defence Academy’s morning routine!

Call: 7799799221

Website: www.manasadefenceacademy.com

#ManasaDefenceAcademy#HerbalTea#MorningRoutine#HealthBenefits#TeaDistribution #HealthyLiving#CadetLife#DefenceAcademy#MorningRitual#Wellness#trending#viral#ytshorts#viralshorts#trendingshorts

[pbenvs3000w25]

Unit 1: Launching into Nature Interpretation

My relationship with nature is one of deep appreciation, connection, and continual evolution. Over the years, my experiences have fostered a profound respect for the natural world and a growing desire to understand and protect it. This journey has been shaped by my childhood adventures, academic pursuits, and recent encounters with diverse ecosystems and wildlife. 

My earliest connection to nature began at my family’s cottage as a child, exploring ponds to catch tadpoles and frogs with my hands and going fishing with my godmother with a catch-and-release philosophy, which taught me the importance of minimizing my impact on ecosystems. 

As a child, I was a boy scout (yes, I know I am a girl I was one of the first females to join the troop), where I learned survival skills such as building fires, using axes, and creating shelters. These skills were tested during camping trips in all seasons, including one memorable winter camp where we built and slept in shelters during a -15°C snowstorm. It sounds horrible to most people, but it was a lot of fun. The challenge of living in harmony with nature under extreme conditions instilled resilience and respect for the environment. My time as an army cadet further refined these skills, deepening my appreciation for the outdoors and teaching me to thrive in its unpredictable beauty. 

As I grew older, my role shifted from student to mentor. Working as a camp counselor, I introduced children to the wonders of nature, guiding them on nature walks and teaching them about nature. Their curiosity and excitement reignited my own sense of wonder, reminding me of the endless opportunities for discovery in the natural world. 

My academic journey has further enriched my relationship with nature. Beginning my university career in the Animal Biology program, I gained valuable insights into Canada’s agricultural systems, visiting dairy and fish farms and learning about sustainable practices. Courses like Ecology and Evolution broadened my understanding of wildlife, the evolution of species, and the pressured they face from natural and human influences. These experiences have provided me with a deeper awareness of humanity’s role in protecting biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance.  

Recently, my travels have added new dimensions to my relationship with nature. I just got back from a trip to Jamaica allowed me to explore tropical ecosystems and learn about their unique flora and fauna as well as the marine life. 

Each of these opportunities has expanded my perspective and appreciation for the natural world. Reflecting on the concept of “a sense of place”, I realize how pivotal mentors, peers and personal experiences have been in shaping my connection to nature. Scout leaders, army cadet officers, university professors, and even the children I’ve taught have all contributed to this journey. Their guidance and enthusiasm have helped me find a place within the natural world – one of curiosity, respect, and responsibility. 

This evolving relationship with nature inspires me daily to reflect on how I can contribute to preserving its beauty and complexity for future generations. Through both small actions and continued learning, I strive to honour this connection and deepen my sense of place in the world. 

[couldtransitionsaveher]

SIEGFRIED KIRCHEIS from LEGEND OF THE GALACTIC HEROES

JUSTIFICATION:

"Siegfried Kircheis chooses to dedicate her life to her childhood friend Reinhardt rather than develop her own path. Indeed, without Kircheis' help, it is doubtful Reinhardt's ascent to power would have been successful. No other subordinate was as loyal, as insightful, as dedicated, as selfless as Kircheis. She sublimated her drives to his so that at least one of them could be a successful man.

This leads her to a series of decisions that ultimately culminates in her death. Why? What would motivate an otherwise ambitious and promising young cadet to make this choice? Was it because she was afraid of what she would be called to do if she looked herself honestly in the mirror? What could have been if she had dedicated that courage and insight to her own development?

Transition could have saved Siegfried Kircheis" - Anonymous

Reminder: Submissions are always open! Submit here!

Did you make your daily click today?

[xerith-42]

tell us about your oc? i wanna hear EVERYTHING

Anon, I don't think you can comprehend the beast you have let out onto this world with this single ask. You wanna now EVERYTHING? I'LL FUCKIN TELL YOU EVERYTHING!!

obligatory reminder that this post is going to be long as hell (seriously this is the longest post I've ever put on this site) and I do not expect any of you to read all of this

This is Haven (no last name), the twice dead heir to the throne of Havas and she's a fucking freak!! (art by @/greenpumpkinart)

And I mean a freak! In both the neurodivergent and the sexual way, she's just a freakazoid! For a bit of insight as to why, she was the firstborn to the king of Havas, and destined to be the eventual Queen. Haven was raised by her mother who taught her how to play guitar and violin, as well as teaching her to sing and dance as a child. Music was one of the most important things to her mother, and Haven instantly inherited it and was said to have a gift with song from a very young age.

It was also at a young age that tragedy struck. When she was 6 years old, Haven's mother gave birth to her baby brother Nerrus, and didn't survive the process. A common phrase in Tu'la, especially in Havas, is the idea that "Menphina takes life as Irene gives life." There's a balance to the world that the Divine maintained, and this is one of the most literal representations of that. The joy of her brothers birth is nearly overshadowed by the tragedy of her mothers death.

Despite this, Haven swore she would take care of her brother, swore that he would get a life he deserves, swore that she would be the best big sister she ever could be-- For about 7 years. At the age of 13 the clerics and doctors of the castle staff became incredibly worried for Haven's health as she had shown significant irregularities in her development compared to her peers and her own family.

It was then that they made the diagnosis that she would never be able to bare children. Initially, this was something Haven was unbothered by. She was literally 13 and just developed her first crush on a young guard in training, and she might be able to sleep with him with no consequence? Sounds like a great deal. Until she remembers what her father values. Continuing Menphina's sacred bloodline. How can Haven take the throne if she will have no child of royal blood to take the throne when she passes? She could adopt one, but that would ruin the "sanctity of the inheritance".

Lucky for her father, Nerrus is right there! So he can become king when he's older! Gg ez!! There's a wedge driven between her and her brother as he trains to become king legitimately, while Haven still desperately holds onto her mothers memory and tries to be the queen she's meant to be.

Haven gets another 5 years in her castle where she just kind of... does her own thing. She still has her guards and attendants, but the cadet she once fancied died in combat, and the neglect her father was already prone to became far worse. Haven spent most of adolescence unsupervised as a pansexual polyamorous little goober with something deeply disturbed going on in her head, a song in her heart, and a massive chip on her shoulder.

Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, word spread through Haven's attendants that there was a hit on her life, one the King was aware of but would do nothing to prevent. As a result, Haven was rushed out of her home in the dead of the night and onto the ship of a known thief and scoundrel to the kingdom who promised to take Haven somewhere she wouldn't be recognized. That somewhere was O'Khasis, and Haven wasn't exactly told the details of her escape. Just that home wasn't safe anymore.

And she wasn't really bothered by this, at first. She always identified more with Kul'zak the Wanderer, someone who would jump at this opportunity, so she attempted to do the same once she was in O'Khasis. Where she was arrested for sleeping on the streets and being a fugitive. She was able to lie her way into the heart of the Ro'maeve family, threatening her father's wrath if she wasn't treated like she deserved. As a result, she was taken in for a night and got to meet the entire family (this all takes place literal days before Vylad is killed), particularly bonding with Zianna because Zianna is a literal treasure we do not deserve, and Vylad because he's also a musician.

Garroth and Garte both take a very neutral stance on her, though she does get to share a single brief but meaningful talk with Garroth. Zane on the other hand fucking hates her, doesn't trust her, and eventually picks Haven's cover story apart so well that her only recourse is to kiss him and then jump out of a window and book it out of there. This is one of the reasons Zane wears a mask, largely because he knows the chances of them running into one another are slim, but he's not gonna let her or anyone else get the jump on him like that.

It's during her escape that she stumbles into the village of Falcon Claw and makes quick friends with it's lord despite his seemingly standoffish nature due to their shared love of music. It might even have the potential to be more than friends, especially because Haven, the fuckin queer, also fancies his incredibly hot wife, but they have a kid and she doesn't want to be a total homewrecker. After spending a night in Falcon Claw, Haven is let loose onto Ru'aun to just... vibe.

She travels wherever she wants, finds odd people in strange places with the sound of a song, and makes her living off of befriending merchants and getting tips for her performances. She plays a lot of songs, I mean A LOT of songs (this playlist covers he entire story ashdfhjdsfg)

It's during these travels that she actually encounters quite a few canon characters, primarily the women :tm:. She and Lucinda have a brief romance after Lucinda is kicked out of Pikoro, before she moves onto Scaleswind and accidentally seduces the future lord Nicole without even knowing that she was the future lord, she just thought the redheaded woman was pretty. And then when she ends up in Brightport she gets to meet a few familiar merchants (Logan and Zoey), and she meets someone who would eventually become one of her closest friends. The first catfolk she's run into since running away from home: Nana.

Nana and Haven are absolute besties from second one, and when Nana tells Haven that she plans to open a bakery on the road from Meteli to Scaleswind, Haven tells her that she'll find her there once she's done visiting Phoenix Drop and Meteli. And Phoenix Drop is a nice little village, the lord is kind, as is his wife, and while the head guard never spoke to Haven, he didn't show outright animosity towards her like most guards.

Most guards don't trust Haven for one reason or another. Whether it's because of her music and magic combo that makes all the Lords and Ladies swoon, her tendency for a little bit of crime, or racism towards catfolk, Haven is used to guards not liking her. One not talking to her is like a breath of fresh air. What a nice little village, I sure hope nothing bad happens to them :)

On the road to Meteli she manages to semi-befriend a kooky shaman who has a fondness for her because his chickens really like her songs. Castor calls Haven the "Crazy Music Lady" and it's one of her favorite titles. Speaking of titles, she has a few. When she had a small stint with the leader of a thieves guild, she learned that Ru'aun has forgotten Kul'zak was a Wanderer and instead regards him as a fellow Keeper. So for quite some time, she goes by Haven the Wanderer. She later gets renamed to Haven the Undying, but we're a long ways away from that.

It's in Meteli that Haven's plans to just breeze through every village comes to a screeching halt when she comes face to face with the Zvahl siblings. One is eager to make clothing for a new model who fancies her in such a fun way, and the other is instantly smitten with her before he even hears a word out of her mouth. And in a frustrating twist of fate, she feels the same way about him, and ends up spending three months living with the two of them. Most of those three months are spent either helping Cadenza, or bothering/flirting/sleeping with Laurance.

Three months is the longest Haven has stayed in a village since she came to Ru'aun. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she's terrified that O'Khasis will find her and hurt the few fools she really cares about. Ultimately it's this paranoia and her desire to see Nana that gets Haven to finally leave. No fanfare, but not running. It's a quiet goodbye with Cadenza as she helps her get to bed, and a tearful kiss with Laurance when she's at the outskirts of Meteli. She promises they'll find one another again, in spite of her hopes that such a thing never happens for his own safety.

It's while she's at Nana's bakery that the plot of MCD finally catches up to her. Haven spends six months at Nana's bakery, largely as a performer/worker/caregiver when Nana exerts herself too much. To the unsuspecting eye just stopping into Nana's bakery for some sweet treats and the song of a lovely young lady, they're just really close friends. Just gal pals living together and running a business together and sleeping in the same bed-- What who said that?

N e ways, it's during an ordinary day like any other when a bright eyed woman comes bounding into Nana's bakery with so much life and love that Haven hasn't seen from someone during a first impression in so long. This woman is Irena (Aph), showing up in Episode 32 of MCD (one of the worst episodes) to finally drag Haven into the plot. This is really done when Nana shuts down shop and decides to move to Scaleswind while Haven decides to wait for Irena so she can go back to Phoenix Drop with her, see how the village has changed while she's been gone. And just when Irena is about to arrive at the bakery after finding Levin's mom, someone else swoops in on a wyvern and sweeps Haven off her feet all over again.

Haven returns to Phoenix Drop and is overjoyed to have Laurance back in her life and she finally learns the name of that silent guard she met about a year ago. And his name is Garroth?? And he sounds exactly like the one she met in O'Khasis??? Hm, odd coincidence huh? Laurance and Irena are quick to rush off to Meteli to try and rescue the missing Cadenza, and while Haven tags along, Laurance insists that she stays behind once they find out where Castor has been taken to. He can't risk her getting hurt.

Four days later Irena returned to Phoenix Drop with the news of Laurance's sacrifice. Haven spent the next month holed up in an old friends house in Brightport desperately researching the Divine, Realm Barriers, and the Shadow Abyss (Nether), hoping she could find the key to get him out of there. Or make sure he stayed there. She wasn't ever too sure of what she wanted, largely because the chance that Laurance's calling latched onto her was incredibly high given his fondness for her.

She returns to Phoenix Drop for Donna's wedding, and JUMPSCARE, that noble little prick you pissed off like three years ago is now the high priest of Irene, future lord of O'Khasis, and wants you fucking dead! Oh and while you're constantly paranoid, on edge, barely sleeping because you might be killed in your sleep, your boyfriend comes back from the other dimension he was in and is blind now! Horray! Aren't we having fun?

The rest of the plot is like this, largely being carried out in the same way, but Haven is there and contributing, primarily through her music and magic. She's a bard who can cast healing spells, and people just keep getting injured like every single plotline, so she keeps playing more and more songs to help aid them in the recovery process. Because she's previously befriended so many other characters she finds a sense of belonging as her friends move into Phoenix Drop, and while she never gets a house there, she couch surfs between the houses of all her girlfriends and also the guard tower when she feels like sleeping with Laurance, much to Garroth's chagrin.

This also means that when Katelyn shows up, she's petrified. She spends most of the end of the season hiding in Lucinda's house because she can't have anyone from O'Khasis finding her, or they will arrest her and anyone who gets in the way. Oh, and before all of that happens, she has a chance encounter with a man who's camped out around Phoenix Drop who is... eerily familiar. She can't put her finger on it.

The thing that makes Haven break her cover is when news gets out that Nicole is missing. That's when her desperation takes precedent over her need to survive and she starts searching. Katelyn is on their side at this point, but she doesn't know that, and is willingly risking her life just to ensure that Nicole is safe and Phoenix Drop doesn't go to war. And she's with the rest of the group when they go to the Irene Dimension.

Season 2 is when things start going a little off the rails due to Haven's presence, largely once Michi and Tu'la start becoming major players. When Michi kidnaps the small group, Haven is a part of it. And while Michi sells off her friends, she takes Haven herself and plans on taking her back to Tu'la, who believe Haven has been dead since she left about 18 years ago. Michi thinks that if she can take Haven back to Tu'la, she'll be forgiven for her crimes. This obviously doesn't work because Michi sucks at holding people hostage for longer than a day, but Haven gets hit with a one-two combo the minute she's safe.

Because she's safe in Scaleswind. Where Nicole is now lord, a position Haven once offered to help her run from, and she's a mother and lying to everyone about the father. Haven can see right through her bull shit and is honestly so disappointed. She leaves for 15 years and then everyone forgets that polyamory is an option. Smh. But Haven sure hasn't, especially once they stumble upon that cursed island and there's an incredibly handsome, flirty, awkward dork who's absolutely smitten with her from minute one.

I'm so serious about this Haven and Travis know each other for like five hours, share one meal together, and then sleep together. It's her current personal best for "Sleeping with a new party companion any%". Honestly when they get back to Ru'aun, Haven's feeling actually pretty okay with life. Her and Katelyn are becoming friends, she's rebuilding her friend group that's also a polycule, the cat is and has been out of the bag about who Aaron is since the end of Season 1 (and he is part of the polycule, just quieter than everyone else). Vylad is in her life again and slowly becoming a surrogate brother, and Irena wants them to go traveling? She gets to go back to Nahkra and visit the old thieves guild, It's like a dream come true--

WOMP WOMP YOUR DAD IS INVADING O'KHASIS AND YOUR BROTHER IS TRYING TO KILL YOU AND IF YOU DON'T SPILL ALL YOUR FAMILY SECRETS RIGHT THE FUCK NOW YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO DIE

And that's one of the main reasons Haven exists. Because the threat of Tu'la doesn't really feel like that big of a deal in the main story, at least not to the main character. It's a problem that she has to solve, but there's little to no personal stakes in the conflict until Garroth comes back. Well not anymore!! Now it's a direct threat to Haven's safety and she has what seems to be a blood thirsty monster hunting after her. Haven knows from personal experience how cruel her father and his kingdom can be, and she'll be damned if Ru'aun falls under their rule. She's the one who really starts driving the plot as Irena's scatterbrained and seemingly flippant attitude isn't suited for trying to prevent a war of this scale.

When they find the island, Haven is also a primary leader in getting stuff done there because the sooner they get this alliance set up, the sooner she can help lead an attack against Tu'la, even from the sidelines. And while progress is slow and steady, she manages to have a lot of meaningful moments with the people she cares about, she even manages to reveal to her traveling and wandering friends that she isn't dead. This, along with the knowledge that her kingdom and it's refugees regard her as dead is what causes Haven to take on her new title, Haven the Undying. The world has thought her dead twice, and yet here she is still kicking.

She holds a celebration after their alliance has been established. A celebration of their return, the new alliance, and just so she and her friends can all play in one place. It's a beautiful moment of Haven bringing her worlds together, expressing her love for others freely, and being able to just live in the moment.

The next day the refugees she met back in Scaleswind are attacked on their way to Phoenix Drop, and while Haven is in the middle of taking care of them, SOMEONE has to blow up!! I didn't go too in depth on it, but needless to say Aaron and haven were close. She was the only one in the group to know of his past before he joined, and as I said before, there was something happening between them when Haven first showed up in Ru'aun that blossomed into something real after the Irene Dimension. He was her favorite duet partner, and now he's dead.

Haven enters a grief spiral where she's unable to speak or play for a few days, but the memory of how happy Aaron looked when playing with her motivates her to play in his honor. It motivates her to keep going, to tell stories about him, sing songs about him, and even finishes the song they started writing together. Furthermore, once Garroth is back the two rekindle their old friendship, especially during the war.

But before the final push against Tu'la can take place, something... strange happens. While bothering Emmalyn in Kul'zak's crypt, Haven finds a hidden room home to many of his treasures. Including half of his relic, which instantly bonds to her and nearly kills her. She survives, but it starts really fucking with her life. She gets random memories, especially in the abandoned city, sometimes she disappears in her sleep and ends up in the lake that Kul'zak and Menphina once hung out in, and worst of all, one of the times she's there she sees Menphina. Or rather, Menphina's relic holder, her brother.

Eventually she leads the charge against Tu'la and they win!! Wahoo!! She gets to enjoy time in O'Khasis in peace, start some kind of real romance with Garroth, and just enjoy life. She even goes back to Falcon Claw to pay her respects to everyone there, along with getting some funky relic memories while in O'Khasis. She returns to the Alliance and becomes its Lord so Irena can focus on raising her children, and she even adopts a little Siamese cat and names it Gyb.

And that's as much as I have written out. I know where her story is inevitably going to end up, and it's not pretty. Before everything completely collapses she does get some respite. She gets to reunite with her brother and talk out what happened between them over their fathers rotting corpse. This is also when the two finally learn the truth about their relics. They both were given half a relic at birth. Haven was given half of Menphina's, and Nerrus was given half of Kul'zak's. And then they each got the other half of the relic they didn't have, which is very confusing for the both of them. But it does allow them to learn to love one another as family before the entire world is plunged into darkness.

Let's just say that in that battle against Araphel to decide the fate of the realms, she fights incredibly hard, she fights valiantly, she's one of the main people who's able to survive in the hellscape he spreads, but it isn't enough. In the end, she and what few of her friends remain have to make the hardest decisions they've ever had to make. In order to ensure that they can survive together, she has to become a Shadow Knight, a complete one. This means someone has to kill her, and then she has to kill the last mortal she holds dear in her heart.

In the end she does eventually get something she wanted. All Haven could ask for was a life with the ones she loved where they could live in peace. And in the end, she still has the one person who means more to her than anything. In the end, even if it feels superfluous at this point, she gets to fulfill a promise she made back when they were exploring and found Lilith on that island. In the end, she gets to marry the love of her life and live a twisted happily ever after with him.

TLDR: I'm literally in love with Laurance Zvahl and did all this so my self insert oc could marry him and have as much hot steamy sex with him as desired without worrying about having kids cause I hate kids.

[ginneke]

already too late (if we arrive at all) - #3

It's a little late, sorry, but here's part three! I know it's late, but firstly, I wasn't at my best yesterday. Secondly, it's longer. Those are my excuses.

Technically no Revali in this one, and only indirect Link. We've got some other perspectives this time. (Including insight into a certain character that some of my readers have met before, in a different story. Minor perception check ahoy for A Seed of Song.)

Note: there's hints at [hylia / the spirit of the hero] and zelink in this one, but only hints.

–

Pairing: Link / Revali Rating: T

(A soulmate AU, sort of.)

– Prompt #3: was it something i did? –

It is said that once, a very long time ago, so long ago that any records have faded into legend, and legend slowly morphing into myth…

Once, a long time ago, a goddess fell in love with a mortal.

But while she gave up her divine powers and came to live as humans did, for love of that brief life, still she could not overcome his mortality. He fell in battle and her hands could not turn back the blow, nor stem the fast elapsing time that raced towards a sunset when her own lifespan was an eternal dawn.

She grieved. Oh, how she grieved: for a goddess, half-mortal yet still half-divine, it must have been the first she felt of such an emotion. Sorrow, for the love she’d lost. Yet joy as well, for the happiness even a few short years had wrought.

And so it was writ upon her, a hope and a prayer to be reunited with that lost soul again as fate’s wheel turned; and to know, this time, just how long they might have: that she might know to be grateful for each day, and not waste time waiting for that inevitable end, hands spinning out a spool without knowing where the thread might snap.

—

Ah. But then the marks started appearing on others, too.

—

Link is twelve years old when the mark appears upon his wrist.

It's the first time in a very long time that one of Hateno's children has been so blessed, and some people point out -- well, of course it would be that child; why, he'd been marked out as special for so long already, since the day he claimed to see mighty Naydra in the sky above the dragon-god's mountain home; to say nothing of his strange self-possession around weapons, the one thing that everyone agreed was odd, but some children were like that, figuring out their interests from very early on and clinging to them tightly, without deviation. 

Well, that's besides the point, really. The point is this: at first, Link's soulmark is something positive, something innocent. Nobody in Hateno has the skill to read the threads, and there's no time to detour all the way to Zora's Domain, where their priest and their princess both have a reputation for being able to understand the mark of years, the unspooling thread and the countdown of time. How long the mark might bear the touch of gold, and just when the span of potential time would fade to ashen grey.

Bless her, but Hild tries to advocate for that anyway. Vicente knows her well enough to see through to the ulterior motive — to give Link the chance to see his friends among the Zora youths, since he's… always struggled, somewhat, at connecting with other Hylians. (The army’s cadets tend to see him as a threat.)

But duty calls, and Vicente cannot be away from his post much longer — and there are, at least, still options, even if they’re not the choices his wife thinks best. Still, he makes his promises: Hild is stubborn, and won’t be satisfied unless he agrees to have Link’s soulmark read. He has to know, she says - insists really - and Vicente can understand why. 

There might not be anyone capable of reading the threads here, in Necluda, but it’s different in the heartlands of Hyrule. So many hold the potential of the sages’ bloodlines, there. Better that they find answers for LInk soon, and from friendly quarters. 

Still, it isn't until their return to Central Hyrule that Vicente learns just how mixed a blessing the soulmark really is.

He argues for and wins a day’s leave further, long enough to take Link to the temple on the banks of the Regencia, and the sage who meets with them blanches at the sight of the gold around Link’s wrist. She’s quick to bid the boy sent away; she refuses to proclaim it within his earshot.

…The thread, she whispers to Vicente in hushed tones, is... a lot shorter than any other she's seen or heard of; why, she fears it won't even last six years.

--

Link's ears are sharper than the sage suspected. 

Link is, understandably, quite upset.

These things… aren’t unknown, though. And so Vicente can only repeat something he heard, once, from his own father, whose wrist had been marked by an ashen smudge by that point — “Not every bond is one of romantic love, lad…”

Link looks at him with an expression of fierce betrayal and refuses to talk to him for a sennight.

…Vicente should have seen this coming. A child like Link, so unlike the other children his age, would surely be attached to the thought of his bonded even without the reality of that person in front of them; and to know that that person wouldn’t survive much past his own entrance into adulthood…

Link always has had such a strong sense of justice.

Still, though there’s always that faint sense of a strain in their relationship now, his son does lapse back into obedience for a time; and if he refuses to speak to Vicente about the soulmark, well — that’s something he probably deserves, and something he hopes to fix with time…

Then his son goes missing.

Sending him to the training camp near Eldin was a mistake; it almost leads Vicente to blows with the man who’d ordered it. For all Link’s adaptivity, for all his skill and all his certainty with each and every weapon that finds its way to his hands — he’s just a boy, and Hild was right: he’s too young by far to be here. 

Vicente pleads to be allowed to leave his post; his commanding officer refuses. He petitions somebody else, and his requests fall on uncaring ears. 

He’s on the verge of leaving anyway, duty be damned, when Link reappears, a full week later, trailing an unfamiliar sword that’s almost as tall as he is. 

Unfamiliar to Vicente. The kingdom’s Sheikah allies, steeped in the histories and the dark whispers of their nation’s past, recognise it at once: Blade of Evil’s Bane. The Sword That Seals The Darkness.

The blade which, according to legend, answers to but a single hand.

If anyone still doubted the portents of the Calamity’s return, there’s no doubt now. Not now that sacred sword has been found. They drag Link in front of the young princess, who echoes the pretty words of ceremony and looks at him with pain shadowing her eyes: it’s been over five years since Her Royal Highness, the Queen, passed away; and despite her heartfelt efforts to awaken the sealing powers she’s meant to inherit, still the princess’ birthright eludes her. Vicente’s son must be a living symbol of everything she has yet to achieve.

Vicente can only try to watch out for the boy as best he can. 

He writes to Hild. She replies to him with silence. Still, at least Hild does write to Link; Aryll as well, in her clumsy six-year-old hand. Link shares the letters with him, the way he always did, and he doesn’t suspect a thing.

Vicente bears it quietly, the crumbling wilderness that his marriage has become: he reflects, and thinks it fair. Hild had never wanted this for Link. For him to be a soldier was the extent of what she could accept; she never wanted him to tread the path of knighthood. This is something out of a nightmare. There’s no chance at all that Link will be allowed to live out a quiet life in Hateno, now or at any time, and even the opportunities to visit home, which were always few and far between, will soon be beyond them.

The mistakes are his. He let Link follow too long in his shadow.

…But that’s not the only thing.

It would be one thing if it was just the sword. But soon a whisper starts to surge through the court, eyes trailing after Link with suspicion and fear. Not for anything he had done, but because of the mark on his wrist. The bloodline of the Goddess and the warrior fated to wield the Master Sword are entwined throughout history and legend, their destinies following the same path.

Princess Zelda is but eleven years old, still weeks shy of her twelfth birthday. Too young, yet, for any answering soulmark to appear upon her. But if it does —

If it does, and she is tied to Link —

If so, Princess Zelda has less than six years to live. 

—

“What did I do wrong?” Link wants to know, twelve and scared and overshadowed by the fears of the adults around him, and Vicente holds his son like he hasn’t since he was a tiny child, just seven years old. He’s still tiny, tucked into Vicente’s side and shaking like a sapling in a storm. “What did I…”

Nothing — Link did nothing wrong, and it’s cruel, so cruel, for these children to bear such a fate and the burden of an entire nation’s fears. But all Vicente can offer is this. He holds his son and lets the force of Link’s emotions shudder through him, lodging behind his ribs like blades.

He prays — not to Hylia, but to Hild’s ancient goddesses instead. Spare him, he pleads. Isn’t this enough? Hasn’t the soulmark brought Link enough pain? He doesn’t even know who his fated match is, and yet…

Spare him. Please.

—

Vicente’s prayer is answered.

The day of the princess’ twelfth birthday dawns, and her wrist remains quietly empty.

Princess Zelda is the only person disappointed by this. To hear the rumours, she thinks it is just another way that Fate has looked at her and found her wanting. Under other circumstances, Vicente might have felt some sympathy for the girl. But he, like so many others, can only feel relieved, even if his reasons stem from a different source.

The pressure on Link eases, the stares subsiding as though they’d never looked at him or his soulmark and seen the stain of treachery in them. But they can’t pretend it never happened. Even if he’ll never be allowed to act on it, Vicente remembers and quietly nurses the start of a lifelong grudge.

So does Link. Too-young Link, passionate enough to feel an impotent rage over the way they looked at him and inexperienced enough to show it, until Vicente has no choice but to take him aside and to bid him to try to temper his anguish, if but a little.

But Link can’t accept that. He turns wild eyes upon his father and demands, with all the premature grief of a loss Vicente cannot spare him from, “Why?”

Why. Oh, why indeed. What can he say to his son, that might explain the fickleness of people’s hearts? To  the experienced or the jaded it is obvious; because she is the princess of Hyrule, and its last remaining heir. The last potential claimant to the only certain power that stands between their country and the nigh-guaranteed destruction that awaits. 

But that’s not what his son is asking, is it?

In reality, it is only because she is of the royal line, the last of the royal line, and so she matters more, in the eyes of the kingdom, than some nameless, faceless someone.

Link stares at him like he’s a stranger. 

“They matter too,” he insists, that indomitable sense of justice raising its head again and stoking Link to a fury. “They matter!”

“They matter to you,” Vicente agrees. 

But he’s never had the gift of gentle speech, and what he means is this — he’s proud of Link. Proud of him for caring. Proud of Link’s principles and his unflinching sense of justice. He’s so, so proud and he wishes more than anything that he’d been granted more eloquence; maybe then Link would understand him.

That’s not what Link hears: to him, Vicente’s words are the blunt blow of reproach. He sees the way Link goes rigid, and doesn’t know how to prevent the distance that rips its way between them in that moment.

Link pulls away.

This time his silence doesn’t last a mere sennight. A fortnight, a month goes by, three months, and by the time Vicente realises that Link’s newfound silence goes far beyond stubbornness, it’s been more than a year and comes far too late. Link doesn’t speak to anyone, anymore. His secrets are locked up tight behind an impassive mask he learned to wear too young. 

Vicente suspects his anger still burns as fiercely as it ever did. But he cannot say for sure: the young man forming behind his son’s face is a stranger to him, and Vicente has long since lost his trust.

All that’s left to him is his duty and his prayers.

Let Link find that person soon.

Let the legends be true

Let him find a way to value the time they have, and not mourn the lost potential of years.

It’s a foolish hope. But for his son’s sake, Vicente hopes for it all the same.