#Ember has received present

[emberdragon34]

Scar’s such a stylish pretty princess we love him.

(And a Vexy princess :DD)

Sorry for the late Secret Santa gift @emberdragon34 ! Hope you enjoy it!

[moneypowerglorymiddleofmiami]

WICKED.

MDNI, 18+ CONTENT

pairing: luke castellan x former camper!reader (godly parent not specified)

summary: even after leaving camp half blood to pursue your dreams of attending university, your loyalty to them has never wavered. that is until you stumbled into luke castellan again, of course.

warnings: mature themes, oral sex (m receiving)

note: a purely self-indulgent fic because i wanted to try my hand at writing smut

Luke Castellan was a wicked man.

An inexplicable thrill ran up her spine as he edged closer. Her mind immediately tried to navigate through the haze of excitement and anticipation before ultimately succumbing. She could not— could never fight against him. Perhaps that was her fatal flaw, her irrefutable and unwavering blindness to who he was.

He caged her against the wall, one of his hands framing her face while the other held his cigarette between nimble fingers. He looked away as he took a long drag. The embers of the lit head glowed a dazzling red— dangerous, mesmerizing, and enticing.

The Luke Castellan that stood in front of her was not the same child who was the golden boy of Camp Half-Blood, not the reliable senior counselor who could do no wrong; ultimately, he was vastly different from the person he was all those years ago. He was a man now— pristine yet still gruff around the edges, jaded, resentful, proud, and haughty.

You closed your eyes to breathe in the smoke as he exhaled. He made it so easy to prevent you from ever reconciling the truth of his identity, to accept that he was still the same boy who betrayed everyone around him in cold blood because he was too clouded by anger at the gods to do otherwise.

“How do you want it?” He whispered against your ear. You averted his gaze to him, and watched from your peripheral as he nuzzled your hair. The tip of his nose dragged along the warmth of the skin of your neck.

“Rough.” You responded without a moment of hesitation. Your hands grasped the open edges of his jacket, the leather material was smooth and malleable against your nearly frozen fingers.

He raised an eyebrow as he looked up at you. You saw the surprise in his stare, the want and desire hidden beneath the unreadable sheen of his eyes. His hand traveled up your skirt to your thigh. He rubbed gentle circles against your skin then stopped short at the curve of your ass. He squeezed at the fat then smirked when you flinched.

“Is that what you got up to when you left camp, hm?” He asked softly. He was taunting you. His fingers pulled at the edge of your panties. “Learned to be a slut. Is that it?”

You said nothing. You clutched him tighter when he traced the slit of your cunt through the fabric of your underwear. He followed up and down motions, the movements too miniscule yet the pressure enough to elicit a reaction out of you.

“Already so wet.” He whistled, impressed and amused by how quickly you responded to his advances. You bristled when the tip of his finger pressed into your hole. It was subtle, not enough to latch onto. “Tell me, is this all for me?”

You felt your muscles clench around nothing. You were all the more desperate to feel Luke against you, inside you, to let him have his way with you. You whimpered when he smacked you across the ass.

“Answer me when I ask you a question.” He tutted as he massaged the skin to ease the ruddiness. “Are you wet for me?”

“Yes.” You nodded your head with a small pathetic whimper. “Only for you.”

“Good girl.” He said. He moved his palm to rest against her inner thigh. His thumb continued to press against you. His other hand moved to your hip. “Take your shirt off.”

You quickly unhooked the buttons of your top. Luke’s eyes followed your movements, enraptured by your compliance. He chuckled when he saw the brassiere you were wearing— the little ribbon in between your breasts made it seem as if you were presenting yourself as a gift for him.

You felt another sharp slap across your bottom. “You’re just begging to be fucked, aren’t you?”

You gasped at the pain. You felt simultaneously pissed yet aroused by his comments, although you were completely aware that the former should’ve consumed you whole. You glared at him. “And you’re just proving you can’t, aren’t you?”

You saw his jaw tick in irritation. Luke stood at his full height, the difference between your statures suddenly all the more obvious. He looked down at you, his eyes narrowed and his mouth twisted. You felt something loom at the pit of your stomach— it wasn’t fear.

“You like it rough? Fine, you’ll take it rough.” His voice was deeper and more aggressive, commanding in a sense. “Get on your fucking knees.”

You didn’t need to be asked twice. You touched the ground to steady yourself then leaned against your haunches to wait for his instructions. You kneeled before him as if you were about to pray to the gods. Sadly, you weren't about to worship any of them for the timebeing.

“Open your mouth.” He said as he undid the buckle of his belt. The metal clung against the wall. You watched with pupils dilated in lust as he pulled his cock out— the tip swollen and glistening. He pushed it into your mouth, and you whimpered at the sudden intrusion. “Suck.”

You circled your tongue over the flesh of his cock. You teased and licked at the precum, relished in the salty and deep taste of him. You opened your mouth wider to accommodate for his size then immediately began to hollow your cheeks.

“That’s it. Take it.” Luke groaned above you. His hand wrapped around your head. He controlled your movements by each pull of your hair. He pushed you against him without restraint. “Fuck. So obedient.”

“Wonder what Chiron would say if he saw his precious golden girl being a complete slut for me.” He taunted further. His palm dug against the corner of your neck.

The complete silence of the quiet night was marred by the sinful sounds the both of you were making, hidden in an abandoned alleyway between a Brooklyn nightclub and an electronics shop.

You gagged as he pushed himself deeper into the back of your throat. Your fingers found their purchase on his thighs, your hands grabbed at him like a lifeline. You gaze at him through lidded eyes. You trilled in delight at the sight of him: head thrown back, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and his tongue licked at the corner of his lips.

Luke gasped breathlessly as you began to move up and down. He pried his eyes open to peek down at you. He smirked. His words were chopped as he spoke. “So perfect when you’re like this.”

Fueled by lust, bravery and foolishness, you willingly took more of him into your mouth. Your nose hit the base of his cock. You inhaled the heady scent of him, invigorated by it. You choked as you adjusted to the new angle, but he canted his hips instantly. His breaths were ragged and his movements were desperate.

“Ah, shit.” He mumbled. His hand still grasped the back of your head; he pulled you in closer. “I’m close. Gonna come in your mouth and you’re gonna fucking take it.”

He continued to curse and babble as he rutted into your mouth. You closed your eyes as you took in the sensation, as you felt every vein and the ridges of his flesh flush on the flat of your tongue. You felt your own slick trickle down your thighs; empty, uncomfortable and wretched.

He tensed and stilled underneath you. A slew of warm liquid flowed into your throat. You maintained eye contact with him as you swallowed every last bit.

Luke slid himself out of you, his mouth hung open as he tried to catch his breath. He huffed as you made a show of licking off the remnants of his spend from the corners of your lips.

His thumb caressed your cheek. The gesture almost seemed affectionate were it not for the words that quickly followed it. “I’m gonna take you home then I’m going to fuck you all night long.”

Luke Castellan was a wicked man.

[maopll]

omg hi I love ur work this is so exciting

honestly I’d be happy with anything you made so please just hcs for all your faves!! thank you!

shall I compare thee to a summer's day ?

#genshin impact !

⌗:, a/n: making my come back again after 2 months. wrote this in class pls take it. don't even know if this is actually a headcanon or not mate.

⌗:, warning: childe's real name, mention of endearments in many.

⌗:, pairings: childe, kaeya,zhongli, diluc, ayato, neuvillette, wriothesley, beidou w/ gn!reader (separately)

CHILDE

He works day and night just to be by your side when you go to sleep. He can't let you sleep alone on that cold bed. He comes everyday and falls asleep while hugging your form. All the regrets and bloodlust now gone as he focuses on your sleeping peaceful form. He grows sentimental by the night and always worries about you 'how will you able to stay safe when I'm not here ?'. He is snapped back to reality when you softly speak in a low voice "ajax? you're here" and smile while turning towards him. Even in the darkest of nights your smiles brings him the brightest of dawns. He hugs you tightly to his chest and kisses your forehead. This soft and sweet side of childe is what only you can see.

KAEYA

Being a cavalry captain means that he is quite efficient in the ways of welding swords and riding horses. Although they don't quite apply at present but he has taken you out on horse ridings for more than once. Riding through the vast forests and along with the wind. As the evening fell, you two rested under a tree in Starsnatch Cliff while watching the sun set in each others arms. He held you close to him as he softly kissed you. Oh, how beautiful you looked as the suns rays fell on you. He could cherish this moment forever...however fleeting moments of happiness are best savoured when they are short-lived as they would continue to stay engraved in his minds for years to come...for centuries to last.

ZHONGLI

Hands intertwined with his big ones as you two strided along the coast of the sea. It was twilight, almost dusk. The cool breeze of the sea, accompanied by the lulling of the waves, all seemed so surreal. You were smiling brightly, and Zhongli felt that you looked ethereal. For all the years he's lived, he's never felt so loved and so lucky to have someone by his side. The lovesick moment between you and your lover was sealed by a kiss from Zhongli. Oh, how can you look so beautiful?

DILUC

Maids hear the sound of the gramophone from your and Diluc's shared room, but they just brushed it off thinking that it is you listening to the old mondstadt classics and waltz. Little do they know that the songs are on because two lovers are dancing to it. A cherished pastime of his as he softly holds you close to him. Steps careful and synchronized. The sound of footsteps, the symphony from the gramophone, and the glowing orange embers of the sun illunitaing the room through lace curtains. A dreamlike landscape. He looked at you with lovesick eyes, the same eyes he looked at you with when he first proposed to you. A gentle smile tugged at his lips as he closed his eyes, taking in the moment with you.

AYATO

Atop the cliff of Amakane Island, you and ayato were writing your wishes on the lantern, which would then float up to the skies to receive the blessings of the archon...as per the story goes. The lanterns glow illuminated your faces as Ayato carefully admired your face. 'you look so radiant tonight love' he thought to himself and then chuckling because of how helplessly he is in love with you. "Love I'm done writing should we let it go now?" you said excitedly and he humed in approval. The lantern was then let go off and it found its place among the blanket of stars in the night sky. Your lover held you close to him as he kissed you on the forehead, taking in the ethereal quietness and serenity of the moment

NEUVILLETTE

On the soft green grass, the melusines played as you carefully groomed Neuvillette's long hair. You braided it and added a few freshly picked rainbow roses and lumidouce bells to his hair. "Are the flowers necessary dear?" "nope! you look absolutely gorgeous love, don't take them off". He was about to retort until the melusines also agreed that he looked pretty with the flowers. He hesitantly agreed but if it means that it will put a smile on your face he will gladly do so. Putting the flower crown on top of your head that one of the melusines had made before, he held you close to him. He never felt so peaceful in all of his lifetime. It was a blessing to spend the day with his beloved and also with the melusines he adores so much. A smile broke out in his face as you all continued with your day. It seems that the sun will shine for quite a while today.

WRIOTHESLEY

Brewing tea with you always had such a wholesome domestic vibe to it. You boiled the water as he selected his and yours' favourite tea. Being his lover made you knowledgeable about all the types and kinds of tea and the techniques required to brew them. "Honey, you can put in the tea now. I'll go grab the cups." he added the required amount and waited for it to be complete. He listened intently to the song you were humming...what was the name again? oh! it was one of fontaine's classics. After it was done, you two enjoyed the tea in silence. It was comforting since most of the days inside the Fortress of Meropide is spent is hustle and bustle and matters related to the maintenance and whatnot. Moments like these were sparse, but he thoroughly enjoyed the little time he spent with you.

BEIDOU

Once the crux fleets arrives at the harbour, the first place Beidou takes you to is Wangmin restaurant or to any other local food stalls there are in the liyue harbour. From the spiciest of dry braised fish or stew to sweet and savoury rice puddings or even the fanciest of rice wines. All of them in one night. "Haha! I hope you are enjoying today, love days like these might come after a long time! maybe even months!" and she proceeded to chug down her entire bottle of wine. "thanks for this day beidou, I love you" you said as you drank your own wine. It was a full moon night and the sky was brighter than on any other day. What an eventful day it was with the captain of the Crux fleet!

[tadpolesonalgae]

Hot-Cock

Beron x reader

a/n: feel free to enjoy or cry to your heart’s content 🧡💛

warnings: smut, oral (m! Receiving), the smallest tiniest hint of breeding kink, and equally subtle hints of bdsm?

word count: 1.6k~

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Out of every attendant he’s had, you are by far his favourite.

There’s something he finds deeply satisfying, almost arousing, at the manner you conduct yourself with, that in his own mind is at times more respectable and dignified that some of the wives of his council. That his whore would be more dignified than what should be a noble lady—yes, he finds a dark pleasure in that fact.

That mental satisfaction is only added to by the physical pleasure you’re capable of stirring in him, stoking his embers until he feels he could burn you alive, reduce you to metaphorical cinders with the kind of pleasure his body gives to him in response to your mouth and tongue.

He leans back against the desk, head tipping back slightly as he keeps a dominating grip on your hair, pleased by how seamlessly you follow his silent demands—so effortless he can at times forget he has an entire female at his disposal, getting lost in the pleasures of your mouth that all he’s aware of is your tongue, hot and wet as you flick lightly over the slit in his head.

He fucks you as a possession, inanimate and wholly owned.

A muscle ticks in Beron’s jaw, his grip becoming even more unforgiving as he draws near his peak, brows narrowing in concentration as the high comes closer, almost material enough for him to grasp with his hands. He doesn’t bother with a warning, it doesn’t even cross his mind—his one focus is his own pleasure, and with a goading stroke of your tongue, he capitulates to the release.

Knelt between his legs, face pressed between them, you’re kept tight to his base, his hips bucking as his iron grip prevents you from pulling away, and you feel how he reaches his high, cum spilling on your tongue, down your throat, without a care for the fae who’s knelt between his legs.

He groans lowly, roughly, at last ready and warmed up, and you pull away from his cock, heavy and hard, moisture already nestled in a small bead at his tip. You lick your lips, keeping your head dipped until you’re certain you’re looking presentable.

Well, as presentable as you can be while kneeling before him and entirely without clothes.

Hot amber eyes glance down at you, and you wait obediently for his instructions, keeping your head lowered in a show of subservience.

“On the bed,” he orders firmly, hardly out of breath though a touch rougher than usual. You make to shift towards the mattress but he jerks on your hair sharply, angling your head to look at him in unfair reprimand. “I want you on your hands and knees,” he commands lowly with an edge of displeasure at having to even give the orders. “Make sure you look the part.”

Arousal liquefies between your thighs, already wet from having him in your mouth, and you move for the bed when he releases you. It’s not often he’ll order you into this position, but you can admit it’s one you like particularly. The bed is tall enough for you to bend over without a problem—being ordered to position yourself on your hands and knees means you’re forced to spread your thighs wide in order to be at the same height. An added humiliation that he seems to find equally pleasurable.

Swiftly and seamlessly, you settle at the edge of the bed, glancing over to where he’s now stood. He’s almost entirely clothed again, appearing as finely dressed as is customary for a High Lord, but his cock is hot and heavy in his large palm, and from that alone you know he has more than a couple of rounds for you to take.

You gasp in surprise when flame shackles your wrists, tearing them out from under you so you end up tipping forward, face in the burgundy and gold embroidered duvet, with your ass slightly raised in the air—not especially high, due to the wide spread of your thighs.

“Better,” Beron mutters to himself, hot palms settling over the roundness of your hind, spanning the soft skin before guiding himself to your entrance, applying a slight pressure to your lower back, forcing you lower to the mattress. “Look like a proper whore now.”

Your spine arches, head moving to the side so your cheek is pressed into the mattress, breathing shallow as he pushes the head of his cock into you, able to feel how you squeeze him, trying to pull him deeper so he’ll fill you up as he usually does, even without meaning to.

His palm connects roughly with your ass, and you gasp in surprise, feeling the stinging heat as your toes curl. “You’re being paid to work,” he growls out, “not to keep yourself spread out on my bed. Move.”

Heat flushes your skin, your hips shifting slightly as you try to obey his impossible instructions, attempting to move up and down, but he’s practically got you pinned to his bed, thighs unable to shift your weight even slightly with the way your arms are bound at your back. His palm connects again, and this time you whimper, trying to squirm beneath all the constraints keeping you in place.

“Can’t even manage that?” He spits lowly, pushing deeper into you, filling you up pleasurably while keeping you immobile beneath him. “I should throw you out,” he mutters, leaning over you slightly, his hips pressing tight against you, so he’s in up to the hilt, making you pant heavily as he puts his flames into you with so little effort, heat rising to his skin. “What good is a whore who can’t even fuck properly?” He mutters lowly, enjoying his power over you, both physical and through his position of High Lord. “Do I have to teach you?” He drawls, hand again tangling in your hair, pulling you from his bed, hips still kept tight to your hind. “Do you have no shame in your uselessness? Answer me.”

You open your mouth to speak, but can hardly string thoughts together, let alone a coherent sentence. “I…I can…” you mumble, hips shifting ever so slightly as you curve your spine, trying to widen the stance of your thighs in attempts to please him. “I can, if you’d—”

“You’re in no position to be making requests,” he mutters, drawing his hips back then pressing in again, forcing a whimper from your soft lips. “You should be begging me to allow you to stay after this lousy performance.”

“Please…” you mumble, but the word slants in your mouth, coming out all wrong, and you flush with humiliation.

Beron frowns with distain, pushing you into the mattress as he bucks into you, rolling his hips against your own, able to hear the muffled whimpers and moans he’s forcing from your mouth. He pushes firmly on your lower back, and you cry out as you flatten onto the bed, stomach pressed against the mattress while your feet stumble and scramble over the wooden floorboards, attempting to stand properly, but even your tiptoes only graze the floor.

He’s having none of it.

Without giving you time to make amends—though it was undoubtedly his intention to force you into this position—he draws his hips back and pushes in roughly, choosing a punishing rhythm as he fucks you into the mattress, keeping your face shoved into the sheets as he allows the inner fire of his magic to release.

You babble into the bed, squirming beneath his touch as he pounds into you mercilessly, touch rough and demanding as he keeps a relentless grip on your body, your wrists still bound at your back, entirely helpless while he takes his frustrations out on you.

Breaths pant from your lips, legs scrambling to stable yourself despite the hard grip he has on you. The flame wreathing your forearms is pleasantly hot, skin beginning to gleam with sweat, and your nails dig into your palms, unable to do anything other than take the unforgiving buck of his hips, cock touching those spots that have your breath hitching. Even uncaring for your pleasure, each movement of his cock rubs so perfectly against you, putting his weight behind each thrust as he pounds into you, content to take his frustration and strain out on you.

The high knocks you off your feet, fluttering around the thick length of him, and your skin flushes with his flame as his cock heats inside of you the closer he gets to release, spurred on by the feeling of your squeezing him so tight. A low growl rumbles from his chest as he presses hard on your lower back, applying pressure as he squeezes you between his palm and the mattress, making you more sensitive to his cock as he repeatedly drives into you.

Your lids flutter as you feel him release, able to feel the heat of his cum as he spills inside of you, toes curling with arousal, fluttering around him in attempts to keep him within the wet heat of your cunt.

“Shameless whore,” he mutters lowly, roughly, a touch breathless, “no matter how many times I tell you, you always find some way to take pleasure from it.”

You pant heavily, trying to regain your wits, but the heat is still flushing your skin, his cock still keeping you hot and full, able to feel how hard he is.

“We’ll see how much you enjoy the next few hours,” he drawls lowly, the flame that’s binding your forearms and keeping them to your back traces up your spine to wrap around your throat. “If you orgasm even once, you’ll keep the collar on for a month. See if that teaches you some damned obedience to your High Lord.”

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general taglist (I’m sorry): @myheartfollower @tcris2020 @mali22 @slut4acotar @sfhsgrad-blog @needylilgal022 @hannzoaks @hnyclover @skyesayshi @nyotamalfoy @decomposing-writer @soph1644 @lilah-asteria

[atrueneutral]

Feel free to just ignore this if the prompt is too horny but uh...

Mephistopheles having some fiends deliver a present to the boudoir (for Raphael or Haarlep). That present is a very confused, but also very naked, Tav who is all tied up with silk and has a collar and chain on her neck. (for her part, Tav isn't opposed to being in this... ah... position, but she'd have preferred Raphael or Haarlep be the one to have brought her here via invitation rather than... whatever this is)

I hope you don't mind a little humor! ---

Of all the strange situations Tav had found herself in (including the entire tadpole debacle), it was safe to say that this was the one of the strangest.

How it happened - well, frankly she’d been kidnapped!

It all started when she’d received a message from Helsik by way of a Scroll of Sending; the message wasn’t very descriptive outside of ‘please come to the Devil’s Fee at your earliest convenience’, and, thinking it was a job to add more (needed) coin to her pocket, Tav had gone immediately.

Into the Devil’s Fee she walked without a care in the world, only to have Helsik give her an empty smile and an emptier apology. Tav had no idea what the apology was for until two fiends burst forth from nowhere. They quickly rendered her immobile with a spell (before she could even think to defend herself), and she was subsequently blindfolded and spirited away.

By the time the blindfold had come off, Tav was naked.

Naked on a bed.

A bed in a boudoir.

A boudoir in a House of Hope.

Above her, a golden horned devil head was laughing at her predicament from where it was centered at the top of the velvet tufted headboard her back rested against. A lengthy piece of red silk hung fastened around its neck, and at each end were her bound hands. Her feet were in a similar state, ankles tied together by another piece of silk, and she was annoyed to feel a leather collar against the skin of her neck. Attached to the collar was a weighty chain that messily decorated the silk bedding.

It was an added frustration to see an unattainable, sealed note at the foot of the bed. She assumed it likely wrote out an explanation on why she’d been plucked and placed in Raphael’s gaudy boudoir.

For a split second, Tav thought to call out to Haarlep; the boudoir was mostly their domain, and maybe they would come and help her. But she wisened up and remembered that Haarlep’s definition of ‘helping’ was wildly different from that of a morally inclined person; she’d be inviting the incubus to tease her, grope her, and use her.

Which would be fine on a day where she’d been told in advance and had some semblance of knowing what-the-fuck-was-going-on.

It was probably in her best interest to call for Raphael, as embarrassing as the situation was. She expected he’d be equally perplexed by why she was in his House, naked, tied up, and in his bed.

“Uh, Raphael?” she called out meekly into the ether, thinking he could somehow magically hear her from wherever he was. “You, uh, around?”

After about a minute of getting nothing in response, Tav cleared her throat.

“RAPHAEL! You bastard! I’ll loot this place dry once I figure out how to untie myself!”

It took about fifteen seconds, but there was a burst of fire and embers - signifying the arrival of-

“What have we here!” trilled a voice that sounded vaguely like Raphael but assuredly wasn’t Raphael. “I thought I heard a guest yelling in the boudoir! And yelling without me?”

They tutted, and Tav inwardly cursed the gods.

“Not you…” she bemoaned. 

“Now why do you say it like that, little thief?” Haarlep faked a frown as they sauntered over to the end of the bed. The frown didn’t last; it flipped into a fiendish smile when they devoured the wickedly risque picture she made. “Have you gifted yourself to us? It’s good to see some results after master’s constant planning…”

“Aha! So it’s his fault I’m here!” Tav shouted like she’d deduced the perpetrator for a murder, but as Haarlep’s words further registered, the perpetrator suddenly looked like Raphael and the person murdered was her. “Wait - what do you mean ‘constant planning’?”

Haarlep continued to smile with mischief dancing brightly in their infernal eyes. They scooped up the note and slid a clawed finger under the folded flap, breaking the wax seal. Their gaze shifted from Tav to the words on the parchment.

The incubus grimaced. “And here I hoped you’d already signed yourself away to us.”

“Not today, I’m afraid,” Tav said. She awkwardly readjusted in her bindings. “What does it say? Who is it from?”

To her horror, Haarlep decided to join her on the bed with the note in hand. They crawled over, mattress dipping with each knee they took, and they situated themself over her so that their legs braced either side of her thighs - giving Tav a bird’s eye view of their barely clothed erection.

Haarlep (thankfully) shoved the note in front of her face rather than their crotch.

”I can’t read it,” she said dryly.

“Poor thing.”

To help, Haarlep read it out loud.

“Haarlep,

This mortal is a much better distraction to my son’s ambitions than you.

I suggest tempting her into a contract with your persuasive talents.

Lord Mephistopheles”

Tav swallowed. “This is a joke, right?”

Haarlep folded the letter and tossed it aside on the sheets. The back of their fingers came to caress her cheek. “Mm - no, little thief. It’s very real, as are you… here, tied up… helpless…”

“While that may be true…” Tav was beginning to feel nervous, and she resisted the urge to wriggle underneath them lest it provoke them. “Unfortunately, this situation isn’t as much of a turn on as it would be if I was here of my own volition.”

“It’s a turn on for me regardless.”

“Sure…” Tav officially hated the gods. She did not know how she was going to talk herself out of this with an incubus who was hovering over her restrained body with a hard-on, a lust-filled gaze, and an order to get her to ‘sign a contract’. She lowered her voice to a throaty whisper. “But you know what really gets me wet and wild, Haarlep?”

“Do tell…”

She raised herself up an inch by pulling on her bindings and stared at them with budding (pretend) lust.

“Not signing a contract.”

Was that jingling bells she heard entering the boudoir?

“Do you not want to stay here with me?” Haarlep purred, their hand trailed down to grip her chin while the other found and her collar’s chain. “You’d get to be master’s pet - my pet…”

They tugged up on the chain and Haarlep’s head moved in for the kill - intent on giving her an intoxicating kiss that would turn her to putty in their hands.

Shit.

“Ra-” Tav attempted to shout, but the cambion’s name was cut short by Haarlep’s smiling lips pressing against hers. The chain was given a light tug to force her closer, and their hot, forked tongue slid across the seam of her locked mouth… 

She did not know how long she could hold out; her lips were tingling in a pleasant way, her blood was racing, and the promise of pleasure was right there if only she would give in…

The lust she felt was no longer the pretend kind. 

“Haarlep, pray tell, who is your wayward plaything?”

Tav mentally and woozily cheered; it was Raphael!

“Was my warning not explicit enough? I will not tolerate you inviting in stray visitors because you’re bored,” continued her maybe savior. 

Tav could not see Raphael, as she was too busy being lip locked with a younger version of himself, and she wasn’t sure if he could see her with Haarlep’s wings and body in the way.

The chain went slack as Haarlep broke away. They relinquished their hold on her leash and discreetly swapped the chain for the nearby note. Between their bodies, the piece of parchment combusted into flames - destroying the proof of Mephistophele’s intentions.

Tav hissed as the melted seal dripped hot wax onto her chest.

Haarlep winked at her, and she responded with a glare.

Meanwhile, jingling boots arrived somewhere around the foot of the bed.

“Look who is here, Master!” The incubus said suddenly, removing themself from her body and moving over enough to reveal Tav in all her naked, restrained glory. “I wrapped her up like a little present! Just for you - specifically as she instructed…”

Heat crept up her body and flared in her loins.

Raphael, a talkative fiend who often talked too much, was rendered speechless and slack jawed. His brow furrowed and his nose scrunched while his mind worked to process what and who was in his bed.

It was a reaction that almost made up for being kidnapped.

His confusion cleared when his mouth snapped closed, and the look in his orange and yellow eyes turned insanely desirous.

“Uh, hello,” Tav said, giving him a polite wave while also trying to ignore the wetness that rapidly continued to pool between her thighs.

Her lips still tingled from Haarlep’s kiss, and the scene wasn’t too far off from a fantasy she’d had more than once. 

“What are you doing here, Little Mouse?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Haarlep unhelpfully supplied. “She’s here to have fun with us!”

She was grateful that Raphael looked somewhat skeptical. “Is this true, my dear?”

“It’s kind of a long story…” Tav replied.

Raphael glanced at her silk bindings.

“Forgive me - I don’t see you going anywhere anytime soon?”

“Ah, yes. Touché,” she conceded.

“I want to hear it from you,” Raphael said, a warning threading into his tone. “Why are you here?”

She looked to Haarlep, and they seemed all-too-curious in what answer she would give. It was anyone’s guess as to why they destroyed the note from Mephistopheles, and Tav wondered if they would feel at all indebted to her for not spilling the beans.

“Korrilla told me it was your Name Day last week. I realize I’m a little late, but I wanted to do something extra special since it was your… wait, how old are you exactly?”

“Funny.” Raphael’s thin smile did not reach his eyes. “Try again.”

“I was kidnapped?”

Why did it come out as a question?

“Haarlep, do get the mouse’s lips moving, won’t you? I think I will get comfortable and watch…”

The incubus happily motioned to return to his previous position over her.

“Alright - hold on!” Tav yelled, causing an amused Haarlep to stop. “I’ll tell you the truth - under one condition.”

Raphael barked a laugh.

“Again you show up in my House uninvited, this time naked and fettered to my bed, and you think you have the right to demand conditions?” His gaze turned stormy. “You are lucky that my fondness for you extended into forgiveness the first time.”

“You’ll forgive me for this second time as well, I think.” Tav smiled mischievously and parted her legs to give both cambion and incubus a better view of her sex. “I’ll give you the truth, Raphael; what I’m asking for is that I be returned home, safe and sound after we… reacquaint ourselves - without the talk or the signing of any contract.”

“You’ve already honored your contract, and I have not yet come knocking at your door with another.”

She shrugged with a shoulder. “I’ve learned you can never play it too safe with devils.”

Raphael turned suspicious. “What are you up to?”

“Just agree, Master,” Haarlep said. They licked their lips. “I’m tired of waiting.”

Judging by Raphael’s dark expression and the stiffness in his breeches, he was also tired of waiting.

“Very well; I will return you to your home, safe and sound - albeit sore. No contract will be signed during this visit. Now, the truth.”

The words easily left her. 

“The truth is I want you to fuck me, Raphael. I’ve wanted you undiluted and raw since meeting you, and imagine my disappointment stumbling upon Haarlep on my first visit. You should know they said some very scandalous things about your… performance.”

The (undiluted and raw) darkness that overtook Raphael’s features would have frightened her… if she weren’t so turned on by it. It was a dangerous mix of desire and fury; desire for her, fury for Haarlep.

“What did you tell the mouse, Haarlep?” he asked, head canting with a piercing stare directed at the incubus. “About my performance.”

Haarlep did not immediately respond; Tav could tell they were frantically plotting how to navigate a floor covered in eggshells.

“The mouse asked if you were good in bed...”

“And you told her?”

It was Haarlep’s turn to be nervous, and Tav savored every second.

“And I said, jokingly, of course, that you… weren’t. A-ha!”

“I see,” Raphael said flatly. “Well, since I am not ‘good in bed’ your participation privileges for this bed have been revoked.” The cambion’s unblinking, penetrative stare turned to her as he stalked over to the side of the bed.

“It was nothing but a joke, Master! At least allow me the opportunity to watch you fuck and fill the mouse?”

“No.” Raphael picked up the end of the chain and wrapped it once around his hand. “She’s mine...”

Sinfully wet after such a declaration, Tav turned her head to throw a secretive wink at a pouting Haarlep before they resentfully disappeared with a burst.

There was a snap of fingers, and Raphael came to be instantly naked and was very, very aroused. A second snap followed, causing a flash of heat to singe her skin as her silk bindings went up in a puff of smoke.

The cat gave the chain a tug. 

“Come to me, my little mouse.”

Before her mind could be overrun by sex and pleasure, Tav thought of a note to (never) send back to Mephistopheles.

Lord Mephistopheles,

No need for a kidnapping; all you have to do is ask. I’ll be more than happy to return to your son’s bed, no contracts necessary.

Sincerely,

The Better Distraction

[discordiansamba]

When he is eleven, Uncle tells Zuko the news he has been waiting to hear all this time.

Father will be visiting.

The rest of the morning is spent in a frenzy- father apparently sent the messenger hawk ahead of his departure, so they don't have much time. He has ordered Iroh to make him presentable, so the villa servants scrub every inch of him and forgo his usual braid for a proper topknot, combing his hair until not a single strand is out of place.

He doesn't realize what the bandages are for until they start binding his wings.

His uncle does not look at him, so he cannot see the anger in the old man's eyes. His father has requested this. Presentable means 'as normal as possible'. It means hiding his wings, binding them to his back and donning clothes that cramp them even further. Zuko can barely stand upright when they're done. Uncle has to help him walk, his balance entirely thrown off.

It's worth it, he tells himself. Father is coming. There can only be one reason for that- he's letting him come home.

(The dragon laughs at him. He grits his teeth and ignores it.)

His wings are aching by the time father arrives. He greets him properly- he is out of practice, but Uncle helped brush up on his lessons as they waited. His father hums in consideration, then turns to his uncle. He had received his letter, but it would seem the news of the prince's recovery was true after all.

His uncle bows, deep and respectful. He is not free of the spirit, but he has learned to live with it. He has shown exceptional progress.

His father looks at him- and he feels the dragon bristle underneath the man's gaze. Zuko keeps his head bowed, biting back the low, rumbling growl the dragon wants to produce. Father wants him to be normal. Zuko desperately wants that too. He can accept Azula being his father's heir instead of him, if he can just go home.

"And the... physical changes?"

"Irreversible, I am afraid," Iroh confesses, "-but unlikely to worsen further."

"Then perhaps," his father begins, "-we can cut the wings and horns off."

Zuko makes the mistake of looking up at his father. There is disgust in his eyes, as if he is looking at an insect he crushed underneath his shoe. His father looks at him, brushing a hand over the cluster of scales on the left half of his face.

His touch is not warm. It is not kind.

"Yes," his father says to himself, "-we could burn off the scales too."

Zuko looks up at his father, terrified.

Iroh intervenes. They cannot do that. These things are a part of Zuko now- removing them would be the same as crippling him for life. The dragon is a part of him- he must accept this, if he is ever to find peace within himself. His father frowns, stroking his beard in thought.

"Very well," Ozai said, "-then he is to remain here, on Ember Island."

What happens next is a blur. Zuko remembers begging. No, please- he'll do anything if it means coming home. You can cut off his wings and his horns. You can burn his face. You can even take his hands if you need to. Please, father. He wants to come home. He wants to see mother-

"Your mother?" Ozai sneers. "Your mother is gone. She left because of you."

He remembers slumping to the ground, defeated.

(It was only after his father left, that the anger came. He was never going home. He was going to be stuck here forever. His father didn't even look at him like he was a person.

He tears free of his own bindings and lets himself rage. He tears tapestries, smashes valuables and furniture alike, and spits fire at anyone who dares come close. When he is done, he curls up into a corner and sobs until his Uncle comes to find him. He holds him close and apologizes.

It will not be this way forever, my nephew, he says, I promise.)

[yonkokraven]

Leak night and A Little Rant: Soulless ending for a Hero Journey (MHA 430 Spoilers)

Horikoshi now I understand why you were afraid that your manga would be cancelled, because you don't deserve that position

Seriously, there are so many things wrong here, not only because you contradicted yourself from the previous chapter and doubled down on making us ignore it completely, but you expect me to feel like this ending is worthy of being called bittersweet when it doesn't qualify as an ending to any of the plots presented.

Midoriya Izuku, someone who at the time I saw the potential to be a Superman, a Spiderman, a genuine hero reduced to a teacher with the same expressionless image for 8 years before being given a suit to be a hero (Which he didn't need because Midoriya's strength without the OFA is already superhuman)

No, I'm not going to start the Rant like this, sorry, but I'm seriously upset with the insult that this chapter has become.

The Chapter

Chronologically, the chapter tells us that time passed normally at the academy before the war, Bakugo adapted to being ambidextrous, Gran Torino seems to have recovered although he probably died at most a year later, Tokoyami and Hawks talking, Aizawa and Mic in the cemetery (unfortunately Aizawa is still alive), the League of Villains book is on sale and several other things.

And then...

“I was able to live a dream that should have been impossible. The story that began when my body moved before I could even think has come to an end alongside the embers of One For All”.

Midoriya loses the last embers of One For All during the last days of the academy as indicated in the full panel, so it seems that he did not become a hero with his classmates.

8 years after graduation, the perspective changes to Dai, this young man who appeared at the beginning of the final war arc. And we have mentions of La Brava (who has her own IT company and is married to Gentle), Doctor Yoshida (the doctor Yoshi) and Hatsume (who seems to have a very renowned Laboratory)

Dai is being bullied for his quirk, and one of his classmates says that now that the number of heroes has stabilized, only the strongest quirks will have a chance in the academies.

Dai says that unlike the others, he did not change, he feels like a child for wanting to be like All Might, Endeavor, Jeanist, Deku or Dynamight, and his insecurity guides him to the Statue of All Might.

There is another scene change that shows us more of the students of class A

Shoji receives an award for resolving prejudiced conflicts in a peaceful manner, and he thanks all the heteromorphs who went to the hospital 8 years ago and who are only there thanks to their will.

Uravity, Ingenium, Froppy and Creati are now a team of heroes (possibly oriented to everyday and rescue situations) who go around the country's schools explaining a new and important aspect of society: the expansion of quirk counseling.

And Eri attends a music club with friends from her school.

Aizawa talks to Midoriya and shows him a video of Bakugo yelling at a civilian for filming him too closely, and points out that this will cause Bakugo to fall in the Ranking and Todoroki to rise (we are told that Shoto works day and night, yet he is still kind to his fans and people)

Shoto is no longer known as "Endeavor's Son", but as his own hero identity.

Aizawa asks Deku if he feels lonely, and Deku answers that since his talk with Fuwa (in chapter 425) he realized that he can use his knowledge and experience to help other people even without having a quirk. And he says he thinks this is a cool way to live.

Midoriya asks Aizawa if he agrees with him, but Aizawa says that he should be strict with his students, since many who enter UA believe that they are guaranteed passage into the profession and tend to become arrogant if there is no one who is strict and corrects their path.

Midoriya says that since graduation he has barely seen his friends as their days off don't coincide. As he walks home, Midoriya looks out at the scene, Tokoyami or Kirishima products on TV screens, or children playing in the street.

One of these children trips and Midoriya goes over to help, and notices Dai coming over as well.

Dai talks to him about his insecurities and how he comes to see the statue of All Might every time he feels that way, and asks Midoriya,

"Can I be a hero like All Might and You?"

Midoriya remembers his conversation with All Might and begins to analyze Dai's Quirk, a Quirk that allows him to create plates from his hair. Dai is somewhat surprised by Midoriya's way of speaking but understands that he is trying to help him.

"Now it's my turn to give people dreams"

Midoriya tells Dai that he will be okay, because he helped that kid and confirms that he can be a hero. The next panel shows us the new statue of All Might with new additions, statues of civilians rooting for him. Midoriya tells Dai to do his best.

"If I said I'm not a little sad, I'd be lying. However, I can at least encourage other people like that. And that was the story of how we all became the greatest heroes."

All Might appears before the chapter comes to an end and destroys the "END" with his own hand.

All Might apologizes for the delay, while Midoriya tells him that he could have met him at the airport, but All Might says that he wanted to give him a surprise gift while explaining that the data collected from his fight against All For One 8 years ago opened up huge possibilities. All Might gives his disciple a Briefcase.

"Technology evolves just like quirks."

Midoriya says it must have cost a fortune, but All Might says it was created by a friend of US (possibly Melissa and her father) and Hatsume, and the expenses were paid jointly by all the students of class A, especially Bakugo.

“Take this to heart, kid. You've earned this power too, fair and square.”

Deku smiles, we get a panel of Bakugo calling Midoriya, and then Hawks being informed about a landslide on a highway and he asks for any heroes who can to report to the place immediately. Midoriya jumps up using his new support and looks down for a moment, seeing the "ghost" of Shigaraki.

The last page is a double spread of Class A as adults in their hero outfits.

"This is the story of how we will continue to reach out."

A Rant

Well, to begin to understand this chapter and give it a proper rant, I summarized it, and for that reason I want to talk about some things and say again that it is a deteriorated ending for how the Manga began.

Things seem to change but at the same time they stay the same, it's basically like raising the sails of a ship to half mast, you go in the same direction, but slower.

Horikoshi doesn't have a clear perspective for Midoriya in the chapter since he alternates protagonism with Dai, this student who barely appeared once

Dai gives us the perspective of the new generation, and again strength prevails over heroism since Hawks didn't start to reward what really mattered, precisely: Heroism.

Midoriya decides that he will be a teacher since he doesn't have a Quirk to practice the profession of hero, a stupid thing because in previous occasions we were shown that Midoriya's physical strength without the OFA was abundant, although it is understood that Midoriya wants to teach we don't see anything about his class or how he teaches.

The heroes are still people without personal lives, and this is highlighted by the little interaction time that Midoriya had with his friends in a span of 8 years, in addition to Shoto patrolling day and night.

The plot of Shoji and the heteromorphs seems to improve as well as that of Uraraka, both being heroes they try to educate civilians so that people like Toga are helped or the heteromorphs can live with dignity.

Spinner released his book but we didn't see a reaction from the people, but from Compress who had no relevance in this manga.

There is something very wrong with all this and it is that they build us up to the idea that change will happen in the long run, when Horikoshi had the means to immediately begin said changes (And no, I'm not referring to civilians).

Midoriya should have had recognition and interviews for his motivations, even if you don't want to tell the whole story Midoriya would say that he brought Shigaraki to where he was (ridiculous reason but it would be a way to justify it) and people would stop looking the other way

Uraraka could have done what she does now from the academy and interviews, but you didn't allow it either.

Shoji and the heteromorphs was a beautiful plot but you did everything so off-screen that it loses the impact of these two panels that you dedicated to the chapter.

Hawks is now at the head of the commission, and the only thing you did was fix half the problem by adding the top "Eiyuu" when you should also have eliminated the old top that makes people perceive power as something rewardable.

And do you know, readers, why all this is happening? Because Horikoshi most likely has a sequel prepared, because if not, it would not explain the amount of inconsistencies that arose in this last final arc and later this attempt at an epilogue (It literally still makes me sick that he wasted the portal resource like that.)

I would detail for the umpteenth time the inconsistencies when writing the League of Villains or the lack of evolution outside of panels, but you already know my opinion about that and more.

I only hope that on August 5th the news is not a sequel or I will have to mentally prepare myself to see another decade of inconsistencies.

and yes, Deku will have a new OFA in part 2, the ghosts (Shigaraki) don't appear on the street just because.

[scotianostra]

The Pirate station, Radio Scotland began broadcasting in the dying embers of Hogmanay, 1965.

Radio Scotland was a Scottish pirate radio station which broadcast at various points off the Scottish coast between 1965 and 1967, with a mix of pop music and programmes of Scottish interest. It was conceived of and run by publicity and advertising executive Tommy Shields onboard a former Irish lightship, built on the Clyde, named The Comet. Radio Scotland's first broadcast was at 11:50pm on Hogmanay, 31st December 1965, on 1241 kilohertz, 242 metres.

After refitting for her new role in the Channel Islands she had been towed to a position four miles off Dunbar, in the Firth of Forth. Because of delays during the journey north, the ship didn't arrive at the anchorage until early on 30th December, giving the engineers only a few hours to set up the equipment. It was a frantic race against time but the station just made it on air before midnight, albeit at reduced power and with no opportunity to run tests. The first voice on the new station belonged to DJ Paul Young a former presenter of Scottish Television's Roundup programme who welcomed the listeners. He introduced the managing director Tommy Shields, who went on to detail their plans. Radio Scotland was on the air and open for business. The station also broadcast from water near Troon and Northern Ireland over its one-and-a-half years.

While navigating and planting the boat, crew had to be careful to avoid territorial waters, primarily due to the strict laws imposed on the pirate stations by the government of the day. Featuring everything from “modern” rock’n’roll to ceilidh favourites, the station soon became a sensation across Scotland as well as Ireland and northern England, where the signal was also picked up.

With its audience of one million listeners a week in its prime, Radio Scotland was very close to realising Shield’s dream of becoming a successful independent Scottish station.

Joining English stations such as Radio Caroline, Radio Scotland was the only pirate radio station to be formed north of the Border, and soon took its place amongst the big six pirate stations.

People could join the membership of the station and become Radio Scotland “Clan Members”. As a reward, the Clan had their own show every Saturday where they could send in requests, which, alongside Jack McLaughlin’s ceilidh slot, was one of the most popular programmes broadcast.

The station even had its own fanzine called “242” – named after its frequency. The 242 magazine featured interviews with the biggest stars of the day, including The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner, but station managers never quite tempted any of the stars on board the infamous boat.

The pirate station’s theme song was a jaunty wee number sung by folk band The Carrick Folk Four. Finishing off the upbeat ditty were the lines: “Oh Radio Scotland’s playing just for you/So beat the ban, and join the Clan, on station 242.”

Although they received many a plaudit, Radio Scotland was plagued with troubles from the very beginning. A poor signal and periods off-air led to a steep decline in advertising revenue and a frustrated fanbase, while fires on board the vessel and the hazardous North Sea conditions did little to help ease its problems.

In a piece in the Edinburgh Weekly just days after the station was laid to rest, Tony Mark wrote: “The death penalty in this country is supposed to have been abolished, yet here we are mourning the execution of what was surely the sound sensation of both 66’ and 67’ as far as Scotland is concerned.”

Although the station had a short life, as is often the case with such ventures, and was taken off the air in the 60s, Radio Scotland inspired a tribute station, which began broadcasting in the mid 70s.

Radio Scotland International, an independently run pirate station broadcasting to Europe from its base in Holland, started in 1975 and has been going ever since.

For around 20 months his modest little boat made huge waves and pulled Scotland into the "swinging sixties".

The first pic is Tommy Shields unveiling his pirate ship , the last is the stations first DJ Paul Young then, and as "Shug" in the BBC's Still Game.

[imagines--galore]

||The Thread of Fate|| Part Thirty-Four

Summary: Soulmate AU. They say the Thread of Fate connects you to your one true love. It may tangle. It may stretch. But it will never break. Wrapped around your little finger it tightens when it feels your soulmate is close and loosens when they are far. And becomes visible with the colors of your soulmate’s Nation when you finally fall in love with them.

Pairing: Zuko x OroraOC (ATLA)

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T+ Romance. Adventure.

Previous Chapters - Masterlist

A/N: We are so close to the Ember Islands and I am SO EXCITED!!!! Cuz that means a lot of downtime for the Gaang and I cannot wait for all of them to just be teenagers and not be at odds with each other and just pure Gaang fun. With of course lots of romance. :3

"Where's Suki?"

The question, or rather judging by the tone of voice, the demand, was followed by a disgruntled sound as the owner of the voice, Sokka, nearly tripped over the still sleeping Chit Sang. Grumbling under his breath, the Water Tribe boy righted himself before approaching his sister and Toph who were getting breakfast ready for the day.

Or rather Katara was getting breakfast ready while Toph lounged about.

"Relax Sokka." She called out, playing with a couple of rocks by throwing them in the air before catching them. "Your girlfriend woke up early and wanted to go explore, so Orora volunteered to show her around."

The boy frowned, though the effect of it was ruined by the pout that accompanied said frown. "But I was supposed to take her for a tour." He moaned, dropping onto the floor next to Toph with his arms crossed over his chest, pout still present.

"Now don't go hogging your girlfriend Sokka. She has to have her own friends." Hakoda called from where he was just returning after a brief walk. He too had wanted to go explore, but ever since he hurt his leg during the Invasion, and the lack of medical attention he had received afterwards, he didn't trust himself to walk around too much. Plus their escape yesterday and all the running around they'd done had really taken it out of him.

Katara smiled at the sight of her Father. "Morning Dad!" She said as the man hugged her tightly. Sniffing the air, he grinned. "Smells good Katara. Hopefully some breakfast will help improve your brother's mood." He joked, playfully nudging his daughter who giggled. She couldn't help it. Truthfully, her heart was bursting with joy at having her father around once more.

Toph, sensing Sokka's still less then happy mood, decided to play with him a little. "You know Suki sure is lucky. I mean she had her best friend bust her out of jail." Sokka's frowned deepened, if that was even possible. "I busted her out!" He yelled, causing Chit Sang to let out a sleepy sound of annoyance.

"I'm talking about Orora, Feathers for Brains." The Earthbender clarified. "Geez, its like you're annoyed at the both of them reuniting."

Silence followed the blind girl's words. And though she couldn't see the expressions Sokka and Katara shared, Toph did sense something was up.

"What?" She asked, her head swiveling from one heartbeat to the next. Katara frowned. "Toph, Suki and Orora have never met before."

The news rendered the younger girl speechless for a few seconds. "What?" She repeated, though this time word was laced with disbelief as Sokka nodded. "Yeah. We've all met Suki before, but Orora only met her at the Boiling Rock." He added, a little confused as to why Toph would think they'd met before.

"So you're telling me, those two." She pointed in the general direction of a hallway. "Have never met before!" As she spoke, voices began to echo down the corridor. Obviously it was Suki and Orora.

Every seeing eyes turned in the direction of the two approaching girls, who were chatting and laughing as if they had known one another for ages.

"And that concludes our tour for the day." Orora was saying, as she walked beside the Kiyoshi Warrior. "Hope it was enlightening." She added with a flourish, that had Suki laughing to herself

"For sure. I never realized Air Nomads lived in such amazing places. I mean I just thought they traveled around cuz, well, they're Nomads." Anyone could see that freedom agreed with Suki. It hadn't even been a day and already the girl looked happier and more vibrant then she had been in the Prison.

Orora winced, though the playful smile was still on her face. "I know what you mean. I mentioned it to Aang and he kind of sat me down and chewed me out on that." She confessed, prompting the other girl to grin. "Really? Aang? He doesn't seem like the kid to lecture." The Waterbender rolled her eyes.

"Oh trust me. Its a hidden talent of his."

Their chatter continued, both of them completely oblivious to the stares they were getting. Though as they neared the rest of the group, Suki broke the conversation. "Breakfast! About time! I'm starved!" She exclaimed, quickly walking over to where Katara was holding a bowl, ready to pour in the stew she had made. As she passed Sokka, the girl dropped a quick kiss to his cheek along with a greeting.

Though Sokka was a little too stunned to respond.

As Suki chattered with Katara, and Hakoda moved to ask Orora about her arm, which was still in a sling as a precaution, Toph turned to Sokka with a grin.

"It doesn't matter if they've met before or not, cuz Sokka? You've got competition." She cackled, delighted at the turn of events, and the obvious disgruntled expression the boy was sure to be wearing.

                                            ————————-

Breakfast that morning was a lively affair.

With so many of them, everyone was chatting and catching up with what had happened since the Invasion. Chit Sang, still a little awkward about his place in the group, would comment every now and then, but he was mostly sitting silently and enjoying his food, which was far better then the slop they served at Prison. Katara had smiled proudly at that.

Until Toph pointed out that she doubted there was any competition since......well.....Chit Sang was comparing the stew to prison food.

The entire circle of twelve, minus Katara, had a good laugh out of it.

However, even Katara couldn't stay mad for long. Not when her Father was back and everyone was safe.

For the time being.

Aang, who had been up early training with Zuko, and getting chewed out for not practicing his forms more diligently by the irritated Firebender, was gobbling down his stew like a man starved. And truthfully, he was. Zuko was a much stricter teacher then he would've thought. Which is why he was sitting next to Orora, hoping to talk to her into getting Zuko to lay off him a little bit.

Not because he couldn't raise the point himself. He could. It was just Orora was better at making Zuko see reason behind stuff he would deem unreasonable.

Not much of an explanation, but Aang was just too tired to think more on it.

"Hey Orora?" He asked, his voice low amidst the chatter from the rest of the group. The girl in question paused from where she had been smiling at Toph and The Duke being awkwardly adorable around one another. The Duke was trying to convince Toph to go for a walk with him, but so far could only mumble out what he wanted to say. It didn't help that Toph was focusing on the boy's heartbeat and thinking there was danger around.

I mean what else could cause someone's heart to go so fast, she reasoned.

"Whats up Aang?" She asked, turning slightly so she could give the younger boy her undivided attention. It took only a moment before Aang burst with what he had wanted to say. Out of all the people, other then Katara, he always found it easy to speak to Orora about, well, anything. She was always there to lend an ear or a shoulder if anyone needed it.

And honestly, with so much weighing down on him at times, and his nature to not burden others with his problems, it was nice to have someone he could trust and who wouldn't think of his worries as a burden.

"So, you think you can ask Zuko to just go a little easy on me? I mean, I know I have a lot of things to learn, but I'm sure I have plenty of time." He added. "Plus with Toph battering me with Earthbending practice almost everyday, I'm starting to get a little sloppy." A look of guilt flashed across his face, which had Orora nodding.

"I'll talk to him." She said, watching how the younger boy brightened instantly, though her next words had him wincing. "But why can't you talk to Zuko about it yourself? I mean you've always been able to address your problems on your own before."

Letting out a nervous laugh, a hand rising to rub the back of his head, Aang glanced in Zuko's direction, who was sitting just across from them, parallel to Orora and speaking to Chit Sang about the living conditions inside the Boiling Rock.

"Well........" He trailed off, a pitiful expression on his face as Orora frowned at him. Suddenly, something clicked. Her eyes widened. "Wait! Does he scare you? As a teacher?"

The boy reached out, clamping a hand over Orora's mouth, muffling whatever words she was about to say. "Not so loud." He hissed, his grey eyes darting about nervously before he slowly removed his hands from her mouth. "And I wouldn't say he scares me." The Airbender admitted, looking a little annoyed. The boy's next words had the older girl suppressing a smile. "He just makes me nervous. Besides if I say something like that to him, he'll just work me even harder, I know it."

Alright, she could agree with him on that front.

Though her insides were bursting with laughter, Orora reached out to pat the boy on the shoulder. "Its alright Aang. I get it! I used to have a teacher who terrified me too." She reassured him. "Then again, I was only six at the time and she was the stuff of nightmares." She continued, a smile pulling at her lips. "You have to admit, its funny how when you were enemies you weren't scared of him, but now that he's your teacher you are." She couldn't help the giggle that burst out of her, prompting Aang to scowl at her.

"So will you talk to him or not?" He asked, his voice sounding every bit annoyed and irritated as he looked.

Pursing her lips, Orora nodded. "I promise." She squeaked out. For her response, the girl received a gust of wind to the face from a slightly embarrassed, yet relieved Airbender.

                                            ————————–

"How's your arm?"

The question had Orora glancing up from where she'd been carefully bending the water along the surface of the bowl to clean it. Bending one handed did have it's limitation, but it was just another learning opportunity.

Besides, she could see how Sokka, who had been on wash up duty that night, was eager to hang out with his Dad. So, she'd pushed him away, telling him to go before she changed her mind. The girl was surprised by the quick hug Sokka had given her, before running off.

Zuko stood beside her, holding the pot that the food had been cooked in. Smiling, Orora paused in her bending and used her uninjured hand to push away a few flyaway hairs from her face. "Its alright. It'll take a couple more Healing Sessions before its completely healed." She raised her arm away from where it was resting just against her abdomen. "Katara already gave me a little Healing Session this morning before I went off with Suki, so that helped."

Raising an eyebrow as he set the pot down, Zuko gave her a slightly nervous look. "And how did that go?" He asked, knowing he was the reason for the discord between the two sisters. He didn't like how Katara still didn't trust him, despite playing a big part in getting her father back with Sokka.

What more could he do to prove to her that he had changed?

Orora pursed her lips, before lifting one shoulder in a delicate shrug. "It was alright." She said softly, her mind drifting to the conversation the older girl had shared with the younger waterbender.

                                            ————————–

Removing the bandage from around her shoulder, Orora frowned. The bruising was obvious, she just hadn't expected it to be this bad. Poking at the skin, and wincing at the thrall of pain that originated from there, she moved to bend water from the pot in front of her. Holding her arm at a rather awkward angle, she turned her head, trying to see what area was more bruised.

Of course she wouldn't be able to do that without twisting her neck in a more awkward angle then it already was.

"Need some help with that?" Katara's voice cut through her concentration. The other girl stood not a few paces away from her. Pursing her lips, Orora nodded, holding the water out that she was about to use. Katara bended the water from Orora's hands, and almost immediately the water began to glow. Her touch was gentle as she laid her palm against Orora's injured shoulder. The older girl winced slightly before relaxing as the soothing sensation of water enveloped her.

"Thanks, I never would've healed it properly myself." She admitted, dropping her head to once side so that her shoulder was fully exposed to Katara's healing. No sooner had she finished speaking when Katara burst out with the two words Orora didn't even think she would say to her.

"Thank you."

Ice blue eyes blinked in surprise. And though she wanted to do nothing more then to glance back and question Katara face to face, she simply settled with a quite. "What for?"

Behind her, she heard Katara exhale, her hand still moving as she worked on her shoulder. "For helping Sokka get our Dad out. I know you helped a lot." It was strange just how difficult it was to get just these few words out. There was a time when the both of them would talk and chatter non-stop.

Now though?

Since Orora had decided to accept Zuko, a former enemy, as her Soulmate, a fact Katara still couldn't seem to wrap her head around, they'd barely spoke to one another.

This would be the first proper conversation they'd had since their fight.

Or rather this was the first time they were saying more then a few words to one another.

"It was a team effort Katara." Orora said, hoping to get Zuko in her good graces. "Everyone helped out to the best of their abilities." She wasn't about to say anyone's name. Mostly because she didn't want to be too direct.

But also because, she knew Katara was smart enough to pick up on who she was trying to refer to.

And Katara did.

Though her only response was to give a small hum of agreement.

And that was the end of that conversation.

                                            ————————–

Zuko waited for her to continue, but Orora returned her attention to the dirty dishes once more. He scowled. "That's it? That's all she said?" He asked, the disbelief in his tone obvious as he stared at Orora. The girl sighed before nodding, setting aside the new clean bowl and picking up the next one.

"More like what she didn't say." Another sigh, followed by the splashing of water as her fingers guided the small stream to wipe away the residue stew. "I'm so tired of her treating me like I did something wrong when I didn't." She declared, a scowl creasing her forehead as she did. The water responded to her bending by splashing out a little. "I mean, after everything that happened, don't I deserve to be happy?" She continued, though she was staring straight ahead, her blue eyes unseeing as she vented.

"And you?" Zuko started in surprise, since he hadn't been expecting to be included in.......whatever tirade Orora was so deep in that she barely noticed when he wrapped an around around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.

"You are just as much a victim in this war as anyone else, and yet Katara treats you like you are the root of it all. I mean sure you did some bad things, but who hasn't?! You've more then made up for it! But does she see it that way? No! Of course not! And now! Just because both of us want to try and repair our bond, she has to go and be angry about it because..........because she doesn't like you!"

"Not liking is pretty tame." Zuko added his piece when Orora paused for breath. "I would say she hates me."

Orora pursed her lip in a thin angry line. "Maybe I should talk to Aang about this? Or even Hakoda? Between the two of them she might see that you have changed." She suggested, turning her head slightly to look up at him. Zuko shook his head. "No. I want Katara to forgive me and let go of her anger in my own way." He said.

"I think if someone else speaks on my behalf it won't end well, and there will always be this mistrust between me and her, and I don't want that." Orora blinked, looking up at her Soulmate with a slightly bewildered expression on her face.

Sensing her stare, and noting her silence, he turned his head in her direction. "What?" He voiced, trying not to notice just how pretty her lips looked as they curved up into a smile.

Though seeing her face light up as it did just then did have his heart doing strange flips inside his chest.

"Nothing." She said. "Its just still a little strange for me seeing your more level-headed side rather then your hot-tempered-quick-to-anger-and-make-rash-decisions side." A teasing glint in her eyes, Orora shrugged.

"I kinda miss it." She admitted, stepping out of his embrace, if only to annoy him on purpose, and turning her attention back to the dirty dishes. Zuko crossed his arms over his chest. "So, you would rather me make stupid decisions based on my anger." As he spoke, he moved to stand in front of her, the only thing separating them the big pot of water from which Orora was using the water to clean. "Rather then make decisions with a clear head."

Standing straight, Orora nodded. "Yeah! Cuz now I don't get to tell you off and make fun of you when your plans explode in your face." She sighed in a mournful way. "I miss gloating."

No sooner had she finished saying that when she found her face being splashed by the soapy water. Laughing, the girl held up her uninjured hand to try and shield herself from Zuko's watery attack.

                                            ————————–

Hakoda looked away from where he had been listening to Sokka explain some engineering marvel the Air Nomads had created long ago. His eyes found the source of the laughter and he couldn't help but observe the sight.

A Water Tribe girl and a Fire Nation boy, laughing and smiling together.

It was strange, to say the least.

And yet he couldn't help but feel his heart soften at the innocent game they were playing. It always hurt him to see, how much the war had effected the children and stripped them of their childhoods. Sokka and Katara had experience it first hand. As had Aang. And Toph as well.

And whenever he would catch a glimpse of children just being children, he couldn't help but bask in the innocence of it.

Hakoda smiled, watching the girl his two children had adopted as a sister, empty the entire water pot on the head of the Prince of the Fire Nation. He watched as the water began to steam on the boy's shoulders.

"You needed to cool off!" Orora reasoned, already backing away.

Shaking some of the water from his hair, Zuko leaped over the pot just as the girl took off running.

"You're dead Orora!"

The Water Tribe Chief continued to watch as the two of them raced away, the sounds of Orora's laughter, and Zuko's threats echoing against the bare walls of the Temple.

                                            ————————–

He chased her halfway through the Temple until he finally caught her.

She was fast, he had to give her that. But he was faster. And more agile, if he were to admit. Probably because Firebending required a lot of footwork and movement, while Waterbending was focused on the movement of the arms.

Though, Zuko had to admit, Orora was working hard on using her legs and feet to bend as well, which was only one of the many things he admired about her.

He leaped over a fallen pillar, using the momentum to propel himself forward and wrapping his arms around the girl's waist. She struggled, laughing as she tried to get away from him.

"Zuko! Let go!" She cried, hardly able to speak the words with how hard she was laughing. Twisting her body, Orora tried to wrench herself from his hold, but Zuko held on fast. "No chance." He said. "I'm getting my revenge for that."

Before she could even think of what he could possibly mean by that, Orora felt his fingers dig into the side of her stomach. The shriek of laughter she let out was a sound Zuko had never heard her make.

And yet, he found himself wanting to hear that sound again.

"Did you really think you could outrun me?" He spoke loudly over her laughter, grinning as he felt her try to squirm away from him. But he only held her fast.

"Ha...Zu-hehe-Zuko! Haha.....S-hahaha-top!" Finally wrestling her good arm out of his hold, Orora pushed his hands away. Panting, the girl distanced herself from her Soulmate. Her hair was in disarray, and her clothes were rumpled. She was still smiling though, and her eyes were laughing as she took in his still slightly dripping appearance.

"Well I tried didn't I?" The Waterbender responded. "That should count for something?" An elegant motion of her arm, and she had bended the water off him and flicked it away. He shook his head, running a hand through his now dry hair. "It doesn't really." The tone of voice he used had Orora rolling her eyes at him.

She straightened her collar and shirt. "Will you just let me have my moment?" The girl grumbled, though there was no annoyance behind her tone. Rather exasperation. Trust Zuko to want to take away her win. "What moment?" He grinned, knowing fully well that he was annoying her right then. "I caught you!"

The glare he received was enough to make him hold his hands up in a placating manner as he slowly approached her. "Alright fine. You win." He added, earning a smug grin from her before she reached out to ruffle his hair, making it messier then it already was. However the movement had her jostling her still injured arm, making her wince slightly. In an instant, Zuko's entire demeanor changed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't hurt you did I?" He asked, reaching out to gently cradle the arm that was within it's sling. Orora smiled reassuringly and shook her head. "I'm alright. One more Session, and I'll be as good as new." Not liking the frown of concern on his forehead, the girl quickly leaned up to place a loving peck on his cheek. The frown disappeared, and instead a smile over took his features, prompting her to mirror the smile.

Leaning down, Zuko pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and breathed deeply, almost as if he were trying to memorize the scent of her. "You know, I don't think they'll miss us if we don't go back just yet." She spoke in a low voice, almost as if she were afraid of breaking the moment as she raised her eyes to look at the peaceful expression on his face.

A rare occurrence, one she only saw on his face either when he was asleep, or when he was with her. The last thought had a wave of happiness coursing through her body.

She was the reason that had him feeling so at peace and calm, just as he was her anchor for when things would begin to get turbulent.

Strange how not even two weeks ago she had made peace with the fact that they could never be together.

And now here they both were.

Simply standing there in the presence of the other, and drawing comfort from it. Glancing down, she intertwined their fingers in an embrace that was just as intimate as the look he gave her when he opened his eyes. Zuko didn't move away from where he was resting his forehead against her own.

Rather he began to follow her as she began to walk backwards, until the back of her thighs hit against the cool stone of one of the many benches that lined the walls of the temple, overlooking the yawning abyss beyond. Settling onto the flat surface with her back against the wall, Orora gestured for him to sit beside her. No sooner had he done so, when she leaned against him.

Her head came to rest on his shoulder, while he shifted to tuck her head under his chin. Her soft hair tickled against his skin as Orora took one of his arms and wound it around her waist, effectively trapping herself in his embrace. Zuko wrapped the other arm around her as well, pulling her against his chest, their legs tangled where they hung off the side of the bench.

"With so many people around, its hard to find a moment's peace." He spoke softly, shifting his head so his cheek would rest against the top of her hair. A hum vibrated against him as she nodded in agreement. "You'd think in such a big abandoned temple a person would be able to be alone by themselves, or with someone." She playfully nudged him with her injured arm, making him let out a small laugh.

Orora sighed. "You know, its still so strange hearing you laugh so openly." She confessed, prompting him to glance down at her in surprise. "You were so guarded with your emotions that, now, just to see you express them so freely is.............." She paused, looking for a word.

"An enigma?" Zuko offered with a teasing tone in his voice. One that had Orora rolling her eyes at him. The word came to her, and she smiled, tilting her head back so she could look at him when she said.

"Priceless."

She felt him stiffen against her, and for a moment she did believe that he had gone into shock. But then he shook his head, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips, despite the sadness in his amber gold eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, probably to tell her how wrong she was. So, Orora simply placed a finger over his lips, pushing herself up so that they were both face to face. "You say anything about me getting sentimental, and I'll give Toph ammunition to make your life unlivable."

A viable threat, since Orora had a lot of stories she could tell the Earthbender. Stories that were fodder for the younger girl since she loved nothing more then to come up with ways to tease other people.

Especially Sokka, Katara, and now, Zuko, as the blind girl had told Orora.

He rolled his eyes, though she felt him smile against her finger. Nodding in satisfaction, the girl resumed her previous position, settling against him with a sound of content. The both of them lapsed into silence, with Zuko dozing of slightly.

The sun had begun to set long ago, and was now well on its way to disappearing. Already the sky was beginning to loose the tinge of remaining yellow and turning darker and darker. He'd been up since dawn, making him tired for obvious reasons.

Thinking this was a good chance as any, Orora slowly sat up so she could turn and face him. "I need to talk to you about something." Her legs rested under her as she did, with Zuko looking at her in question. "Its about Aang." She said, earning herself a look of confusion. "I know I haven't seen any of the firebending you've been teaching him, but I know he's working hard. Maybe you're working him a little too hard."

Zuko pursed his lips. "Did he ask you to talk to me about this?" He asked, to which Orora nodded, feeling a little guilty going behind Zuko's back and ambushing him like she was. "Its just, he didn't say anything, but I think he finds you scary, as a teacher at least."

Raising an eyebrow, the boy couldn't help but speak in a slightly disbelieving tone. "This coming from a boy who faced down against an active volcano?" He muttered, recalling the stories he had heard from Sokka a few days ago. "How am I scary? I can't be anymore scarier then you when you're angry about something. Or Katara for that matter. Sokka's told me how scary she can be when she's mad too."

Was it strange that she found his words a little prideful? Having people be scared of her when she was angry. Now that was an accomplishment. "Well whatever the reason, he just asked me if you'd take it easy on him, so will you? I mean come on, he's just a kid. Besides he's learned waterbending and earthbending within a year. He's talented enough to pick up firebending quickly." She watched as he pursed his lips, before shaking his head. "Its different with firebending. He needs to learn the forms while also learning to control his flames, and that's difficult to learn."

Orora shrugged. "Whats the big deal if he goes a little slow?" A flicker of annoyance lit within him. "He can't afford to go slow. The Comet is only a couple months away. How's he gonna face my Father when he hasn't learned more then half of the firebending forms he's supposed to know?"

His reaction had Orora's inner apprehension raising it's head and sniffing the air. Something was wrong. There was something that was making him be this way. Rolling his eyes skywards, Zuko sighed. The fate of the world rested on said boy's shoulders, which was why Zuko was being so hard on him.

His mind flashed to that fateful War Meeting. One that had him changing his mind completely about the Fire Nation. The War Meeting he had told no one about. "Zuko?" Her voice came, soft and questioning. He looked at her, meeting her blue gaze. Exhaling deeply, the boy reached up, pushing away a few escaped strands of hair and cupping her face. "Orora." He paused, hesitating. "There's something I haven't told you."

He told her everything.

And he watched, as her eyes grew wider, and a look of absolute horror overcame her lovely features. She didn't pull away from him throughout the conversation. Instead she'd reached out and took his hand in her own, almost as if she knew he would need to draw on her strength to reveal what he had kept inside for so long. And he was all the more grateful for her caring nature.

"That's...that's horrible." She managed to choke out once she'd stopped staring at him in sheer trepidation. "Does he not see that all that will be left to rule is smoke and ash? Nothing more?" She retrieved her hand from his to make a fist, slamming it against the hard stone of the bench they were occupying. Her blue eyes gleamed with hatred. "How can anyone be so evil for no reason?" She growled, every fiber of her being exuding her disgust at the monster so intent on destroying the world.

Unable to meet her gaze, and ashamed that he came from such a family, Zuko turned away, drawing into himself. "I don't know why I kept quiet about it." He admitted, thinking that perhaps he should clarify his reason for not speaking lest he loose the trust and the place in the group he had acquired after he had worked so hard to gain both. "I guess I was so focused on getting all of you to trust me that telling you something so horrible about what my Father was planning would've set you against me."

His words acted as the trigger that drew Orora out of her ocean of negative feelings. A scowl marred her forehead. "You're not your Father Zuko." She stated, her tone holding a sense of finality as well as determination to it that had Zuko's heart fluttering in his chest. Did she really have that much faith in him? After all that he had done?

Still, he was skeptical by nature, so of course he wasn't about to let himself feel that way for long. "Would the others have believed that?" Orora opened her mouth to negate what he had said, but then stopped. A look of guilt flashed in her eyes and across her face. Which was enough to make Zuko nod. "Exactly." He gave her a sad smile, before slowly standing up. "It doesn't matter now." He said, though the words sounded unconvincing even to his ears. "Now that I've told you, maybe I should tell the others too."

The Prince made to walk away, probably to return to the camp, but then he felt Orora reach out and grasp his wrist. "No!" He glanced back at her, surprised to see her looking concerned. "No! No, Zuko don't." His Soulmate insisted, to which Zuko frowned in confusion.

"Why not? Maybe if I tell Aang he'll work twice as hard." He suggested, already liking his idea. However his suggestion was completely dismissed by Orora who stood up and shook her head. "No, we can't tell Aang. It'll make him even more paranoid then he already was."

He frowned. "Paranoid? What do you mean?" Pursing her lips for a moment, the girl gathered her thoughts before explaining what she meant. She told him how obsessive Aang's behavior had gotten just a few days before the Invasion. How he would train every waking hour, never stopping to rest and barely stopping to eat. Not to mention the nightmares had had, the hallucinations, the sleepless nights.

And just how scared he had been.

"If you tell him, he's going to revert back to that and trust me Zuko it isn't pretty. Not to mention extremely unhealthy." Her heart clenched in her chest for her little brother. "I don't want him to go through that again." She said, her voice breaking when she spoke the next four words. "He's just a kid." Zuko watched as she swallowed the lump in her throat, inhaling deeply to try and get a hold of her emotions. Wanting to lend her the same strength she did him, the boy reached out to take her hand in his and give it a squeeze.

But that wasn't enough.

A sound of surprise escaped Orora when she felt herself being yanked forward. Zuko wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her closer. Without even a moment of hesitation, Orora had brought up her own uninjured arm to wound around him as best as she could. Her head resting on his chest she let out a sigh. "We can't seem to catch a break." She said, the irony of it all obvious in her tone.

"I wish I could've stopped him." Zuko admitted, the shame he felt finally boiling over into words as he looked beyond Orora's head and into nothingness. "I wanted so much to say something against his plan. But I stayed silent."

Orora pulled back enough so she could raise her head and look at him. Though he refused to meet her eyes. "Its a good thing you stayed quiet." She said softly, her eyes dropping to his scar. Unwinding her arm from around him, she reached up to press her fingers against the marred skin, just under his eyes. The touch seemed to bring him back from wherever his tormented thoughts had led him. His body visibly relaxed and he finally met her gaze. "The last time you spoke against your Father, you still have the scars to show for it." And she didn't mean just the one that everyone could see.

He sighed. "I felt like such a coward just sitting there and doing nothing." The Prince admitted, looking just as bit as the sixteen year old he was. Orora shook her head at him.

"But you are doing something Zuko." She reminded him. "You left your entire Nation, your people, your home, to come and help us." His hand came up to cover her own as he smiled softly at her, glad that he had someone to pull him back from the dark thoughts that would forever plague him. "You're helping train Aang to defeat the Fire Lord. Those aren't exactly the acts of a coward." He sighed, leaning into her touch as she moved her hand to cup the side of his face.

"I suppose I was letting some of my own frustrations out on Aang by being too hard on him during training." He admitted, feeling a little guilty and deciding to cut the boy some slack during their future training sessions. Orora smiled in agreement. "Just lay off a little bit. Remember he's still a kid." She shrugged. "We all are really. Not our fault we don't have the luxury to act like kids and be selfish about things."

Zuko shrugged. "I don't know, I did have a selfish motive when I decided to leave the Fire Nation." He admitted, smiling at his Motive, who only blinked at him in surprise. "Oh? And what was that?" She asked.

"I mean sure I wanted to stop my Father from carrying out his plan and help Aang." He clarified. "But at the back of my mind, I couldn't help but be happy for what I was doing because....." He trailed off, unable to help the slight blush he felt coming on. Finding Orora's blue eyes a little too penetrating, he cleared his throat and dropped his gaze to the floor. "It meant I was coming back to you." He finally admitted.

A moment of silence.

And then a breathless laugh, followed by the words:

"You're making it really really hard for me to not want to kiss you."

Immediately his gaze snapped up to see her smiling at him. She was closer now, or rather her face was much closer to his then it had been before, their noses just barely brushing. She could feel the exhale of his warm breath, while he allowed the scent of her to take of his senses completely.

"Sorry." He whispered, his eyes never once wavering from her own. Bringing up the hand that wasn't holding hers, Zuko gently ran his fingers down the side of her face. She closed her eyes, savoring the contact as if she had been starved for it. Which, to be honest, she always was.

"But maybe," She spoke softly, her own fingers moving to trace his scar with delicate strokes. "I can do something about it."

Zuko frowned in a slightly dazed manner, unable to think properly with her touch to distract him, her presence to rob him of sense, and her scent clouding his mind.

In a practiced move, the girl had pulled off her sling and allowed her arm to hang at her side. It was a little stiff, but there was no pain. Smiling in satisfaction, she turned her attention back to her Soulmate, who was frowning in confusion.

"What're you-?" He was cut off by Orora placing the thin cloth she had been using as a sling against his mouth. It only came up to cover half his nose. Then again, breathing was the last thing on Zuko's mind.

Since Orora was now kissing him through the thin piece of cloth.

His eyes widened to a comical size, and while he tried to gather his senses about him, Orora enjoyed the strange embrace she had initiated.

She felt the warmth of his lips against her own through the cloth. She felt them move, as if he were attempting to say something. She felt his body against her own, and couldn't help but smile at his utterly unresponsiveness.

For once, Orora had been the one to take him by surprise, and she would enjoy every moment of it.

But then, he did begin to respond. She felt his lips slant, as if trying to get a better angle. Since her hands were aloft, holding up the cloth, his came up to grasp her shoulders, pulling her even closer. Chest to chest, no space between them. He could feel her smile against his lips, and couldn't help but bask in the feeling that came with the knowledge that he was the reason behind that smile.

But then the kiss was over just as suddenly as it had began. Reluctantly, Orora pulled back. She lowered the cloth, revealing his still parted lips as he stared at her in utter surprise. Her tongue ran along her lips, savoring the tingling warmth his lips had left behind. His eyes dropped to catch that little act. "That was..........innovative." He said, his voice low and a little hoarse, his dark gold gaze never once moving away from her mouth. Her heart was beating a mile a minute in her chest, despite the fact that their kiss had barely been a kiss. "We can share a real kiss once you take me out on a proper date." The girl promised, as he slowly took her hand.

He was still looking at her in that way, intense and heated. She could barely look him in the eye. Blushing, but smiling, Orora trained her gaze forward as she began to lead the way back to their campsite.

"Wonder when that will be."

"With our luck, it'll probably be months."

                                            ————————–

Whatever semblance of peace they had made during their stay at the Temple was broken the very next morning before they'd even had the chance to wake up.

A loud explosion was what roused Orora from where she had been sleeping next to Zuko. Beside her, Zuko shot up, ready to attack and defend if needed. Everyone was up and staring in horror as several Fire Nation airships filled the space just beyond the fountain. Aang already had his staff out, ready to go on the defensive. With a an air wave, he blocked out the bombs by closing the giant metal shutters that had been installed years before. The entire ground shook as another explosion wrecked the Temple. Followed by another.

Far above, the ceiling began to break away, large chunks of rocks dropping down towards the group. The sound was enough to grab everyone's attention before they ran for cover. "Watch out!" And for Zuko to leap into action and race towards Katara, pushing her out of the way of the falling debris.

They both rolled out of the way, the rocks falling to the ground in a cloud of dust. Orora coughed, her eyes watering as she tried to see where Zuko and Katara had landed.

"What are you doing?" She heard Katara's angry voice as she finally spotted their prone figures on the ground. "Keeping rocks from crushing you." Zuko responded, as calm as could be. "Okay, I'm not crushed. You can get off me now!" With that Katara shoving him off and walked away, pushing past Orora as she approached the pair of them.

"I'll take that as a thank you." Zuko called after her, his hand already out for Orora to take so she could help him up. Haru and Toph quickly created a tunnel using their Earthbending, a safe route for them to escape from.

"Come on!" The girl called as more rocks fell from the ceiling and the metal doors Aang had closed for their protection began to crack. "We can get out through here!"

Even as everyone began to race towards the tunnel, Zuko stopped. Orora, who had been gripping his hand came to a halt as well. "What're you doing? Lets go!" She cried, trying to pull him to safety. Aang, who was struggling to get Appa into the tunnel paused as well. "What're you doing?" He repeated Orora's question, watching as Zuko stood facing the nearly decimated shutters.

The next few words had Orora's heart plummeting in her chest.

"Go ahead! I'll hold them off. I think this is a family visit."

He glanced at Orora once, quickly mouthing the words he knew she would chew him out for later. If he came back.

"I'm sorry."

With that he was racing towards the slowly breaking shutters.

"Zuko! No!" Aang called out in alarm. But his shout of worry was nothing compared to Orora's scream of his name. She made as if to run after him, but strong arms held her back. The girl struggled trying her best to get away, still calling out for Zuko, begging him to come back.

"Zuko! Come back! No! Zuko! Please! Zuko we have to get out! Come back! Zuko!"

Vaguely she heard someone say they had to get out as well, but that only had her struggling harder. "No! Not without Zuko!" She screamed, finally wrenching herself away from Sokka, who had been the one holding her back from following after Zuko.

"Zuko!"

                                            ————————–

Debris continued to fall, but Zuko was sure-footed and nimble as he dodged each and every piece with a precision that would make his Uncle proud.

He could hear Orora call out for him. Screaming for him to come back. But he couldn't. Not yet. Not when he could do something stop who was attacking them.

And he knew exactly who it was.

He was done running away. He was done being unable to protect his Soulmate. And he was going to protect his new friends however he could.

Running towards the airships, he was barely able to dodge a bomb as it dropped several feet from him and detonated. Thick gray plumes of smoke rose to the skies, and after a brief pause, where he shook his head of the dust and small rocks that had landed on him, Zuko emerged from the smoke cover unharmed.

Firebending a large blast as he leapt in the air, he hit his mark as the airship he was aiming for took the hit. He stood at the edge of the temple, watching as another airship rose up.

Only to reveal Azula standing atop a podium life devise with a less then welcoming grin on her face.

"What're you doing here?" Zuko called, anger rising within him as he watched his sister smile almost maniacally.

"You mean it's not obvious yet?" She called, laughing as if she had said the funniest thing in the world. "I am about to celebrate becoming an only child!"

Without missing a beat, Azula kicked a large blast of blue flame at her brother. Zuko dodged the huge ammunition to the best of his abilities and tried to run back to the temple for some cover. He stumbled over a rock, rolling several feet before coming to a halt. The temple structure on which he was began to crumble under him.

Thinking quickly, the boy ran towards the airship, using the shifting and falling rocks as stepping stones. Concentrating with all his might, Zuko blasted several fireblasts at Azula as he jumped towards the airship atop which she was standing.

He slammed against the airship, but the smooth surface provided him with no footholds.

And he fell into the misty, yawning cavern below.

                                            ————————–

Toph, in an effort to keep the rocks from crushing them, and to prevent Orora from going after Zuko had created a cocoon of rocks around the group. Still, dust and smaller rocks rained down around them as Aang, Sokka and Katara struggled to get Appa into the tunnel. Orora was being held back by Suki, who was now holding her friend close, trying to reassure her to the best of her abilities.

"I can't get him to go in there!" Aang called. "Appa hates tunnels!" Shaking her head, Katara looked around at everyone waiting to make their escape. "Aang, there's no way we can fly out of here." She said, only for Aang to cut her off. "We'll have to find a way!" He said, the determination clear in his voice as he looked at Sokka for confirmation.

The boy nodded in agreement. "We need to split up." He announced, quickly running to where everyone was waiting. "Take the tunnel and get to the stolen airship." He said, looking at each person who was to take the tunnel.

And that included Chit Sang, Haru, Teo, The Duke, and his Father.

"No!" Katara suddenly shouted, anger burning in her blue eyes as she stepped towards her father. "The Fire Nation can't separate our family again!"

Hakoda rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It'll be okay. It's not forever." He told her, his voice soft. The young girl hesitated, before hugging the man and running back to Aang. Sokka hugged Hakoda as well, before grabbing Suki's hand as well as Orora's and leading them towards Appa. Toph hung back, turning to The Duke who smiled at her in a reassuring manner.

"I'll see you when I'll see you. Don't worry." He said, reaching out to quickly linking the fingers that had their string tied around. Unable to help herself, Toph pulled The Duke into a brief yet meaningful hug. "Take care out there." She said, before pulling back and stepping away. She stayed there until they ran deep into the tunnel, before quickly making her way towards the front of the rock formation she had created, and pressed a hand against it.

"I can clear that away and we can fly out through there!" She called out before quickly launching herself onto Appa's back.

Suki, who had been making sure Orora was settled in the saddle, gave a nervous look. "Um, there's an awful lot of fire in that general direction." She pointed out, though her observation had Orora breaking out of her sudden stupor and gripping the edge of the saddle. "But that's where Zuko is." She stated, her eyes glancing at her string which was glowing strongly and pulling her finger insistently, reassuring her that her Soulmate was close.

"We'll get through." Aang said with a determined nod. "Let's go."

With a flick of the reins, Appa was flying through the temple and out into the open air. Toph kept his front shielded with a rock formation. Recognizing Azula's figure standing atop the airship, Orora began to look around, her eyes frantic as she searched for Zuko. "Where is he?" She called out, even as Azula tried to shoot down Appa. The shield integrated as it took the brunt of Azula's attack.

Another airship rose behind Azula, atop which Zuko stood unharmed.

"He's there! Aang! We have to turn back!" Orora called as she stood. The sight of her Soulmate seemed to fill the young girl with a new strength. One that had her standing beside Katara who was deflecting firebender attacks from the several other airships surrounding them. With several icicles nestled between her fingers, Orora threw them in the air, the sharp projectile flying fast and true.

And hitting every target where it would incapacitate them.

Seeing the opening, Aang quickly turned Appa around.

Just in time to see Azula and Zuko be blasted over the sides of the airship after a particularly large fire explosion.

Everything seemed to happen so slowly and yet in the blink of an eye, Zuko was in the saddle, pulled out of the air by both Katara and Orora, and they were making their escape.

While watching Azula still falling to her death.

"She's ... not gonna make it." Said Zuko, a strange tone in his words as he watched his sister. But then she firebended, propelling herself towards the cliff wall and stopped her fall somehow. They were too far away to see how she did that. Sighing in resignation, Zuko turned away. "Of course she did."

No sooner had he turned his attention away from his sister, when he found himself being punched and hit within an inch of his life. "Ow! Ow! Orora! What in Agni! Orora! Stop that!" He called in between the hits, having caught a familiar face looming over him.

"You son of a hog-monkey! You idiot! Of all the stupid things to do! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!" She screamed, continuing to hit him wherever her hands or fists would land. "I swear to Tui, La and Agni Zuko! If you ever pull a stunt like that I will kill you myself!"

The rest of the group, as soon as Orora had started to hit Zuko, retreated to their respective corners of the saddle. And tried very hard not to appear as if they were listening intentionally.

Which they were.

Even Katara.

Albeit reluctantly.

Finally, Zuko was able to catch her wrists and pause her attack on him. He raised his head, only to find Orora glaring at him. Though the slight wobble in her lower lip, and the film of unshed tears that shimmered in her blue eyes, had him feeling guilty, for making her worry like that.

He opened his mouth to apologize, to say something, anything that would have her not look at him like that. But she shook her head, before she slowly slumped forward and leaned against him, closing her eyes.

"Don't ever do that again." She whispered, the plea in her voice as obvious as the sky around them. Wrapping his arms around her in a close embrace, Zuko held her to him for the remainder of their flight.

Though he made no promise.

                                            ————————–

Appa flew for more then half the day. The sun had nearly disappearance by the time they found a safe place to set up camp.

Throughout the entire ride, Orora had not left Zuko's side, then again he hadn't let go of her either. But now, as they disembarked and Appa slumped to the grassy floor with a tired groan, she grabbed Zuko's hand and led him away from the rest of their group.

"Ooooooo Zuko's in trouble." Sokka called out, taking one of the several tents they always kept in Appa's saddle. Suki frowned at him in disapproval. "Leave them alone Sokka." She scolded him, before moving to help Aang set up the tents.

Katara stood there, watching as Orora and Zuko disappeared into the dark, an angry scowl on her face.

                                            ————————–

Once they reached a small grove of trees, providing them with a shield from prying eyes, Orora dropped Zuko's hand and turned to him, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Start talking." She said, giving Zuko the chance to explain his reckless behavior. The Prince sighed, already knowing what was coming, but then there was nothing he could do about it.

It had been his fault to run off like he had.

"Look, I had a suspicion who it was, and I just wanted to give you guys time to get away." He began, and knew it was the wrong thing to say, since she narrowed her eyes at him. "I thought I could distract them." He added, starting to get nervous as your gaze turned all the more icy. "I didn't want to have someone be hurt by my Nation."

Every excuse was feeble, and he knew Orora would never take them. She knew him, much better then he knew himself. And these weren't reasons enough.

Sighing in defeat, the boy dropped his head in his hand. "Look." He said, running a hand down his face as he looked up to meet her gaze. "My whole life I've stood by and done nothing to protect the people I care about. I've only ever caused them pain and hurt. And I'm just tired of doing nothing."

She was still silent, watching him. "When Azula attacked, I don't know. I couldn't find it in me to stand by. Not when I knew I could help. Not when I knew I could protect everyone." Reaching out, the boy took her hand from where she'd been gripping her forearm where it had been resting atop of.

"Explain this to me Zuko." She finally spoke. "If you're so busy protecting the people you care about, who will protect you?" She raised an eyebrow at him, stepping forward to poke him in the chest with a finger. "In our group, we protect each other. And that means no running off to sacrifice yourself. We do everything together."

Zuko nodded in agreement. "Alright, I won't do that again." He promised, and once he had given his word, Orora heaved a sigh of relief, the tension in her body leaving as her gaze turned soft. "Sorry if I hit you too hard, but you did deserve it."

The boy smiled. "I kind of did."

A slight rustle in one of the bushes behind them, had both teenagers standing on alert. Only to relax when Katara emerged from the brush, gathering firewood. She paused, catching sight of the both of them standing there, obviously having some intimate conversation. The anger that raged within the girl was obvious in her eyes as well as her scowl. She turned on her feet and walked away just as abruptly as she had appeared.

Watching her leave, Orora couldn't help but sigh. "We both really need to take care of this weird hatred between the both of us and Katara." She said. "I miss my sister." The girl admitted, watching the spot where she had disappeared to.

Zuko glanced at Orora, that all too familiar feeling of guilt settling in his stomach once again.

                                            ————————–

They returned to a camp that was already set up, with the fire going and everyone getting ready to sit down for dinner. Orora caught Suki's eye as she passed by, and simply nodded. The other girl smiled, knowing that she was alright. Sitting down next to Toph, Orora reached out to pat the younger girl's hand. "How're you holding up? I know it can't be easy, leaving The Duke." She said in a low voice, hoping to ease Toph's worries. The girl would never admit to them out loud, so coming to her directly, and speaking to her about it, was the best thing.

"I'm alright." The Earthbender admitted. "A little sad though." She wiggled her finger which had her string tied around it. "I miss him already." Her admittance came with a sad smile, that had Orora reaching out and giving the girl a quick hug. "You'll see him again. I'm sure." She said, as Toph nodded with a determined look about her face.

"Oh I know. He still owes me." Orora raised an eyebrow. "You had some sort of bet going on with him?" She asked, not at all surprised at the knowledge. Toph shrugged. "What? Its how we communicate."

How in the world that worked, Orora had no desire to understand.

Everyone began to sit down around the fire for dinner, with Suki and Aang passing the bowls around, along with cups of water.

"Wow, camping." Aang said as he gazed up at the open night sky. "It really seems like old times again, doesn't it?"

Breaking apart a small piece of the bread he was sharing with Orora, Zuko spoke with a sarcastic lilt in his tone. "If you really want it to feel like old times, I could, uh.......chase you around a while and try to capture you." He offered with a small smile. The rest of the group laughed, with Orora rolling her eyes at her Soulmate.

Well almost all of them laughed.

"Ha, ha." Katara said to herself, the angry scowl still on her face.

Holding up his cup, Sokka grinned. "To Zuko!" He toasted. "Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today he'd be our hero?"

The toast had Orora wincing a little, though there was a smile on her lips as she watched everyone agree with Sokka. Everyone except Katara that is.

Aang nudged Zuko lightly, while Toph gave him a light punch. The boys smiled. "I'm touched." He said softly, before shrugging. "I don't deserve this." A false observation that had Orora opening her mouth to negate Zuko.

But Katara beat her to it. "Yeah, no kidding." The girl hissed, before standing up and walking away.

Sokka, oblivious as ever to the emotions of those around him asked rather tactlessly. "What's with her?" Sighing in slight frustration, Zuko shrugged. "I wish I knew." Glancing at Orora, who gave him a small encouraging nod, he too stood and followed after the girl.

"What's with him?"

                                            ————————–

The events of the entire day really took it out of her. And as soon as she dropped on her bedroll, Orora was out like a candle. She woke late the next morning, unaware that Zuko and Katara were already making plans.

Emerging from her tent, the girl spotted Aang feeding Appa, while Sokka sat on the ground beside him, fiddling with what looked like a flower necklace. She opened her mouth to greet her brothers, but was cut off by Katara's arrival, with Zuko trailing after her.

"I need to borrow Appa." The girl stated bluntly. Orora glanced in Zuko's direction, silently asking him about what was going on. But the boy only shook his head at her.

Aang grinned. "Why? Is it your turn to take a little field trip with Zuko?" He said jokingly, as he fed Appa some more hay.

"Yes, it is." Again with the cold bluntness. Now Orora was starting to grow concerned for her friend.

Aang too looked surprised as he turned to look at Katara and Zuko. "Oh. What's going on?" He asked, straightening up.

"We're going to find the man who took my mother from me."

Sokka paused where he was fiddling with the necklace, while Orora's entire body stiffened and she blinked in surprise. They shared a look between one another before moving to stand besides Aang.

"Sokka told me the story of what happened." Zuko explained. "I know who did it and I know how to find him."

"Um..." Aang floundered, his gaze darting to Orora and Sokka in turn, before he looked back at Katara. "And what exactly do you think this will accomplish?"

Katara let out a mirthless laugh as she shook her head. "I knew you wouldn't understand." She said, as she began to walk away.

"Wait! Stop!" Aang called out after her, desperate to make her understand that what she was thinking of doing was wrong. "I do understand. You're feeling unbelievable pain and rage. How do think I felt about the sandbenders when they stole Appa? How do you think I felt about the Fire Nation when I found out what happened to my people?"

Zuko was the one to speak up on Katara's behalf. "She needs this, Aang." He explained. "This is about getting closure and justice."

The Airbender shook his head. "I don't think so." He stated firmly. "I think it's about getting revenge."

Unable to keep her anger in check any longer, Katara finally burst out. "Fine, maybe it is! Maybe that's what I need! Maybe that's what he deserves!"

"Katara." Aang's voice was full of cocern as he watched her. "You sound like Jet."

The girl shook her head. "It's not the same! Jet attacked the innocent. This man, he's a monster."

"Katara, she was my mother too," Sokka finally spoke up, not wanting his sister to make a big mistake. "But I think Aang might be right."

His sister snapped. "Then you didn't love her the way I did!" She yelled at her brother, prompting him to whisper her name, hurt and pain clear on his face.

Orora scowled. "Katara, I know you're hurting. But that's no way to speak to your brother. He's only trying to help." Speaking directly to Katara proved to be a big mistake, since the girl turned her anger on Orora.

"What would you know? You're not even a part of our family."

The older girl took a step back, as if Katara's words had physically hurt her.

Aang, hoping to avoid any more hurtful words, tried to calm the situation. "The monks used to say that revenge is like a two-headed rat viper. While you watch your enemy go down, you're being poisoned yourself."

Blocking out the rest of the conversation, Orora turned her attention to Sokka, who stood beside her, looking just as hurt as she felt as he looked at his little sister.

They both watched as she walked away, with Zuko following after her. "She's not gonna give up." Orora said, reaching out to give Sokka's shoulder a squeeze of comfort. He covered her hand with his, returning the squeeze, comforting her in return.

"Then we'll be ready to see them off." Aang said, knowing they had only delayed Katara.

She wouldn't stop until she had her revenge.

                                            ————————–

Sure enough, once everyone had seemingly turned in for the night, Katara and Zuko emerged from their tents. Dressed in complete black the both of them approached Appa, with Zuko carrying the sack of food and other essentials they might need.

Peaking out from behind a rock, Aang, Sokka and Orora jumped out from their hiding place. "So you were just gonna take Appa anyway?" Aang demanded to know, to which Katara replied with a simple. "Yes."

Sighing, the young Avatar gave a small nod. "It's okay." He said in a sage voice. "Because I forgive you." A brief pause. "That give you any ideas?" He asked, hoping he'd gotten through to Katara somehow.

"Don't try to stop us." Katara simply stated, as Orora bypassed her to stand beside Zuko.

"I wasn't planning to." Said Aang, shaking his head. "This is a journey you need to take. You need to face this man." Katara gave him a look of gratitude, before climbing atop Appa's head. "But when you do," Aang continued. "Please don't choose revenge. Let your anger out, and then let it go. Forgive him."

Zuko rolled his eyes. "Okay, we'll be sure to do that, guru goody-goody." A well aimed punch to his arm acted as punishment for his quip. Orora glared at him briefly, before glancing at Katara, who sat rigid and firm on top of Appa. "Take care of her, and watch her back." She whispered, knowing a reckless Katara, was a dangerous Katara.

Nodding in confirmation, Zuko looped their pinky fingers together, their strings glowing, before he climbed onto Appa as well.

As Sokka randomly asked Aang if he could borrow Momo, Orora couldn't help but glance in the direction of the moon.

It was a full moon.

"Please keep them safe Yue." She prayed, hoping she would be heard.

                                            ————————–

Zuko returned with Appa three days later.

The sight of the empty saddle had Aang and Orora nearly pouncing on Zuko, demanding to know where Katara was. He held up a placating hand. "She's safe." He told Sokka, who looked every bit as the concerned brother he was. "She just needed some time alone, so I left her at a safe location."

He looked around. "Pack up the camp. We're gonna go stay at my family's summer home." Toph frowned. "Won't it be a little obvious if we go there? They might check for us there." She added, to which Zuko shook his head. "Trust me, no one will think of looking for us there." He reassured the girl.

Between the six of them, they had the camp packed up and were ready to leave within an hour. Zuko took the reins, guiding Appa where they needed to go.

"So what happened?" Suki asked, knowing Sokka wanted to ask Zuko the very same question but was too nervous to do so. Mostly because he was afraid of what the answer might be.

"We found the man." Zuko said, prompting them all to stiffen in anticipation. "But she didn't do it. In the end, she was too strong to give in to her anger."

Heaving a sigh of relief, Sokka shared a quick hug with Orora, who felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"So where exactly is your family home?" Toph asked, still curious to know where they were headed.

"We're going to the Ember Islands."

                                            ————————–

Tag List - @wavesofchaos​ @violet-potter​ @rennysketch​ @emma-andrea1 @lovesammikinzz @fuzzyfestcat @msrawog @notsaelty @lust-for-pan @aces-tattooartist @jinxxangel13 @lotr-got @bitterspoons @realrintaro @gatorgirl151 @inutheangel @heartfully10 @lucaaahhh @juniper-july19 @anuttellaa @gfksz @bussyvussy @punksnotdeadbutiam @ablofftoneverland-blog-blog @slut-for-menn @vyliie @army-moa75 @juwhls @aqlodun @lovelybaka @glowyruby @niktwazny303

[rambling-red-wizard]

Gods of Red Wizardry

Alright, friends. Going to start putting together the fundamentals of my belief system in one place, and this post is about the gods!

As with anything in Red Wizardry, I acknowledge that gods are a story I tell myself because it helps me be a better human, and a better wizard. If I stop believing in them, they stop showing up. The greater and more consistent my belief in them, the greater the rewards. The gods of Red Wizardry have titles, but no need for names. This is a list of those I know of so far. It will be updated in future. All of these gods are equally important, but their domains differ vastly from one to the other.

The Time-Gardener: A leathery-skinned god who coaxes the passage of time and the cycle of life along within his garden. Day and night are governed by the lighting of his fires, with dawn the candle he lights in the morning, noon the fire over which he cooks his meal, and dusk the embers he warms his feet by in the evening.

The Laughing God: Ever-present in toys and candy, and games of pretend. He is the god of play, of unpredictability, of delight, but also of manic glee and competition. To him, the world is a board on which he plays a massive, inconceivable game of solitaire, with mountains and forests and nations as the pieces. The time-gardener is his father, and is always giving him new materials to make toys of.

The Elements: The eternal ghosts of Fire, Wind, Water, and Stone, and all their offspring. Their works can effect change in anything; they are the sources from which we draw the force harnessed in magic. They create the seasons by which the Time-Gardener plants and harvests.

The Mad Historian: The ephemeral god of forgotten knowledge. It scribbles madness in the dirt of Time's garden, only for the events to be lost as the hoe falls again. It attempts to deduce Truth, but only succeeds in modifying history. Its work will never end.

The Dreaming Kings: The principle king of dreams rules Dreamers- us folk who can dream lucidly and remember what has happened therein. His brothers are the kings of Nightmares, Visions (or prophetic dreams) and Fantasies.

The Witches of the Green, Grey, and Red: Each of the Witches rules over a form of life- Green for plants and mosses, Red for animals of all kinds, and Grey for fungi and lichens. They are the daughters of the time-gardener.

The Dark: The dark is the first god-beast, representing mankind's deepest fears, and exists everywhere shrouded in perpetual darkness. All bogeymen live in the folds of its cloak. When people say they are 'afraid of the dark'- this is who they mean.

The Thin Devils: A type of the aforementioned bogeymen. There are all kinds of thin devils, and their colors refer to the actions they encourage. Thin White Devils drive people to acts of greed and gluttony, never sated, Thin Red Devils to acts of arrogance and wrath, Thin Green Devils to deceit and subterfuge, and so on. They are subtle underminers of mankind's morality. The time-gardener is always chasing them off.

Tempest: The god-beast of storms, an enormous blue-black serpent with golden fangs. It must be petitioned for favor, to receive rain or auguries. Its displeasure comes when its gifts are not used wisely.

Death: A docile god-beast in the form of a great horned pig. Inside its belly are one hundred and one chambers in which the dead receive their lot. It is kept by the time-gardener, and has a pair of great horns in which frightful buzzards roost.

The Spinner Sisters: Twins and sisters of the Time-Gardener, who keep a flock of multicolored sheep. One shears the sheep and spins the wool to create the threads of destiny, while the other weaves the tapestries of fate into which the threads fit. They argue often about the quality of each others' work.

I think this is everybody so far! Let me know your opinions on my pantheon. I'm noticing a subtle separation between day-gods and night-gods emerging, which I think is fun. Thanks for the read, friends! With love from this long-winded madman.

[starcunin]

@bloodtwin sent: catch, sender catches receiver by the waist after they bump into each other. (laughing cuz i saw u sent the same one right as i copied this to send it to u)

The campfire crackles low, its dying embers casting a faint, flickering glow over the scattered bedrolls and resting forms of his companions. Astarion waits, listening intently for the steady rhythm of their breathing. The night has grown still, with only the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl disturbing the silence. He’s been fighting the gnawing hunger for days now, trying to resist the sweet temptation that walks so tantalizingly close to him. The smell of Puck’s blood—rich, intoxicating, almost calling to him—has been an ever-present distraction, driving him to the edge of reason. But tonight, Astarion can’t endure it any longer. The hunger is a familiar agony, one he knows too well from centuries under Cazador's cruel hand, but unlike then, he's no longer confined to his master’s whims. He can feed when he pleases, as long as he is careful.

He glides silently through the camp, the leather of his boots barely whispering against the grass, until he reaches the shadows of the surrounding trees. Here, away from prying eyes, he intends to find some poor, unsuspecting creature to drain—enough to quiet the burning need that gnaws at his very core. He steps around a large oak, his mind already drifting to the warm taste of blood on his tongue, when he nearly collides with a solid form. Startled, Astarion jerks back, but strong hands catch him at the waist before he can stumble.

❛ Bloody—, ❜ Astarion hisses, more out of surprise than anger, though the edge in his voice betrays his irritation. But as he looks up, ready to chastise the fool for creeping about in the dead of night, he finds himself caught by those strange, golden eyes. ❛ What in the sweet hells are you doing out here? ❜ he snaps, though his voice softens almost immediately. And there it is again—that scent, that maddening pulse of life just beneath the skin, the rhythmic throb of Puck’s vein so close, so warm. He can see it, feel it, almost taste it.

For a moment, he can’t think of anything else. His fingers twitch at his sides, aching to dig into Puck’s flesh, to sink his fangs into that inviting neck, to gorge himself until his hunger is finally sated. He can practically feel the blood rushing through his own veins in anticipation, every instinct screaming at him to take what he needs. But no—he can’t. Not here, not now, not where anyone might see. His control is slipping, but Astarion knows he has to hold on, if only by a thread. He forces a smirk onto his lips, leaning closer to Puck under the guise of casual flirtation, though the movement is as much to inhale that tempting aroma as it is to play the part. ❛ I mean… not that I’m complaining about finally having a moment alone with you, ❜ he murmurs, his voice a low purr, though his eyes flicker to the shadows, searching for a familiar figure with freakishly intense eyes.

But Iago is nowhere to be seen, and that realization sends a shiver down Astarion’s spine. Iago, who has been watching him like a hawk since they joined forces, is conspicuously absent. It’s unsettling. They’re always there, lurking just out of sight, their gaze unsettling in its unwavering intensity. Astarion doesn’t trust them—he’s certain Iago is hiding something, and their overprotective watch over Puck only heightens his suspicions. But now, with Iago missing, it feels like a trap, or worse, an opportunity. Astarion glances back at Puck, the hunger roaring back to the forefront of his mind. If he’s careful… No, he must be cautious. But gods, it’s getting harder to remember why.

[punderdome]

The Fine Print: Chapter 2

Summary: Rapidly running out of options, signing Raphael’s contract was the only way to free herself from the tadpole and defeat the elder brain.  She should have paid closer attention to the wording of the contract before she signed it.  Now, Tav gets more than she bargained for, and the devil has come to collect.

Rating: SFW, some suggestive language

Word Count: 3,637

Chapter 2: The Terms and Conditions

It was over…mostly.

Tav felt strangely empty as she sat on the docks of Baldur’s Gate with her knees pressed tightly to her chest.  Alone.  The consummation of her promises to Raphael felt particularly shameful, and she did not want anyone else to see how low she had fallen.  The Netherbrain was defeated and the Crown rested in her hands, glittering in the dawn.  She heard a snap and a familiar stench of cherries, musk, and sulfur invaded her nostrils.  This was the last thing she had to do to fulfill her contract: present the Crown of Karsus to Raphael.

“Such a glorious sight to behold,” Raphael swaggered, standing behind her.  She silently refused to turn towards him.  “A Netherbrain falling from the sky in an arc of fire, such a grand conclusion to a very epic tale indeed.  The bards will be singing your praises for centuries to come.”

“Alright, Raphael.”  Tav was too exhausted to think and the emotions of the hurried goodbyes on the dock left her feeling numb.  “Here is your Crown.”  She rose and finally looked up at him.  The sinister glee on his face made her stomach turn.  She handed him the Crown, and he took it gingerly, in a mocking display of reverence.

“My beloved Little Mouse, my most cherished client.”  Raphael said softly.  “I have business to attend to, and I expect you desire some rest.  I shall leave you to conclude your business for three days, after I will collect you for our dinner at the evening bells.”

“What dinner?”  Tav exclaimed.

“One of the obligations of your contract.  A lovely feast in celebration.”  She paused but then remembered his grandiose promise of dinner when he received his heart’s desire.

“Alright, our dinner.”  She was too tired to argue with him, and an agreement was an agreement.  It was just a line on a contract.

“Three days.  Until then, I bid you a pleasant rest.”  With a snap he had gone in a flash of embers.  Regret pooled in Tav’s stomach.

*******

Tav returned from an aimless and completely unproductive afternoon in the ruins of the Lower City and retreated to her room in the Elfsong Tavern.  There was wreckage strewn everywhere in the streets and a gut-wrenching stench of decomposing bodies of Baldurians and mind flayers alike.  She wanted to help with the rebuilding efforts, but with neither strength nor necessary skills, she was more of a hindrance than a help.  Some of the tradespeople had weakly accepted Tav’s offers of aid, due to her new status as Savior of Baldur’s Gate, but after the third time of being asked to alphabetize spare tools, she finally took the hint.

Her room was quiet and lonely.  What used to be a center of enlightening conversation, jokes, laughter, and breakup awkwardness was now silent.  The beds they shared together were cold.  Tav brushed her hand over the other pillow on her bed, wishing Karlach was still there to share it with her.  Lae’zel and Karlach had been the only ones to truly still support and trust her after her unceremonious breakup with Gale.  For the last month of their adventures together, Gale had refused to speak with her, preferring to speak around her as though she never existed.  He had done as he promised by continuing to fight with her, even though she had not followed through with her promises to him by giving the Crown of Karsus to Raphael.  Her sternum had started to ache with the loss over the last day or so, but she wasn’t completely sure it wasn’t just heartbreak or loneliness.

It had been three days since the Netherbrain fell and their departure at the docks.  Astarion had fled into the Underdark, hoping to lead the other vampire spawn to a more satisfying existence.  Wyll and Karlach were in Avernus until Karlach’s engines could be fixed.  Lae’zel had immediately left to lead her people against Vlaakith’s tyranny - inspiring them with Orpheus’s memory and legacy.  Jaheira went home with Minsc.  Halsin was in Reithwin and permanently renamed ‘Daddy.’  Shadowheart and Gale left for Waterdeep, her to seek the Temple of Selune and he to find a permanent solution for the Orb, now that there was no way to remove it.  That left her.  Tav.  Alone.  Having dinner with fucking Raphael.

That fucking bastard and his fucking contractually-obligated dinner in the Hells.

All she had to do was play nice for one stupid fucking evening, and their contract would be complete.  

Tav ruminated on what would happen in her future.  She could go somewhere else.  Become someone else.  She could do anything she ever dreamed of with her new life, but she had to put that on hold for a brief moment.  What she had to do next was get through one stupid, terrible dinner in a stupid, terrible place.

She turned and noticed two parcels on the opposite nightstand that had appeared while she was out.  A note was neatly laid atop the parcels, and she immediately recognized that fucking perfume.

Please enjoy these gifts, I look forward to our dinner at the House of Hope this evening.

-R.

Bastard.

She opened the larger parcel and unfolded a beautiful boreal blue gown of silk with delicate gauzy sleeves and intricate silver embroidery of roses and vines everywhere across the bodice.  She balked.  This gown must have cost several small fortunes.  She paused for a moment.  Boreal blue was her favorite color, but how did he know?  Was Raphael spying on her?  No.  She banished the thought quickly, he obviously noticed that her sorceress’s robes were a similar deep color and figured it was a safe choice.

The smaller parcel was a wrapped wooden box the size of her hand.  Oh Gods no. It had to be jewelry. Why the fuck was that smarmy asshole getting her jewelry?

It was a silver bracelet with links like chains, small diamonds embedded into the linkages.  There was a larger ruby dangling from one end, encircled delicately with silver.  Why was he giving her a gown and a bracelet?  At least he realized at some level that silver was much better with her cool, pale complexion than gold.  The ruby she could do without.  She could probably get a jeweler to remove it later.

A resigned sigh slipped from her mouth: Raphael clearly expected her to wear his gifts this evening, and she already knew she was going to be treated like some kind of exotic pet.  His pet adventurer wearing his gifts.  His pet adventure wearing his beautiful gifts.

Tav departed for the bath, relaxing in the warm water.  Her thoughts raged within her through the steam and the nagging ache in her chest.  I only have to play nice for one night, she repeated to herself.  This is what he demanded in his damn contract, and so I must do this to save my soul.

Her mind slipped inadvertently into a dark and lonesome place.  The memory was seared into her mind in a haze of beauty and pleasure, and now as she recalled it, it was transformed into loneliness and regret.

Gale’s hands, trailing all over her body, basking in the afterglow of lovemaking in his tent.  He smiled at her before gently tracing his thumb over her lower lip.  He said he had a question for her, and she told him to ask.  He pledged her his soul, and that he was hers.  He would do anything for her.  She was annoyed that he wasn’t asking his question. Verbose wizards.  He traced his hands over her body before pulling her closer.  He ran his fingers gently over the scales on her cheekbones.  He still wasn’t asking his question.  Quit stalling.  Overly dramatic wizards.  He asked her to marry him after their tadpoled adventure was over.  They would return together to Waterdeep.  She agreed and realized that perhaps it was ok that he took his sweet time to ask her this burning question.

Over the coming days and acquisition of a singular Karsite book from beneath the Sorcerous Sundries, he had reiterated that his soul belonged to her but again renewed his obsession for ascension to godhood.  They would be together forever in Elysium, and Waterdeep was forgotten in his mind.  

Tav refocused to the situation ahead of her:  Gale was gone.  There would never be any life for them in Elysium or in Waterdeep.  Her adventure was over.  Her friends were all gone.  The only thing she had left was dinner.  Dinner with fucking Raphael.

After she had bathed and dried, she started to do her hair.  Raphael hated disorder, so while she was tempted to fuck with him by leaving her dark brunette curls to run wild, she tried to tame them into something that resembled order.  She secretly wished they would rebel and escape to frizzy, chaotic freedom.  Her Trobairitz knot was mostly neat, with her curls pinned back carefully in a semblance of order.  Respectable indeed.

A small amount of kohl around her eyes and a quick smear of red pigment across her lips would have to do.  Raphael did say he was collecting her at the evening bells, and she wanted to play the part of his good little mouse until she was free of her contract.

She donned a chemise and corset before donning the gifted gown.  She was amazed by how perfectly it fit her.  Gods above, what kinds of tailors did the Hells actually have?  The gauzy sleeves were the perfect length.  The square neckline showed off her collarbones.  The length was perfectly tailored to not brush the floor in the flat slippers she donned.  She clasped the bracelet around her left wrist and examined in the remaining dusk how it sparkled and shimmered in the sinking sunlight.

The peals of the evening bells told her it was time.  One terrible, stupid dinner with one terrible, stupid devil.  Perhaps she was the terrible, stupid one for not negotiating out of this dinner.

****

As soon as they arrived at the House of Hope, Raphael shed his human guise and appeared in his cambion form.  “Welcome, my dearest, to the House of Hope.”  Raphael stood tall, wearing fine embroidered silks in black and gold with red patterns that resembled the lick of a fire.  Atop his head was his very own halo: the Crown of Karsus, framing his four horns in a regal sight.

Having some sense of self-preservation, Tav swallowed her instinct to remind him petulantly that she had been here before for a different feast at their original meeting.  “Thank you, my Lord, I do appreciate your invitation.”

“Ah, but invitations are no longer necessary, hmm?”  She didn’t know what he was implying.  Was he inviting her to show up whenever she wanted?

Raphael clapped gleefully before breaking the silence.  “You look ravishing, my darling.  Your gown suits you so well.”

“You have fine taste.” 

“I do, don’t I?” he bemused.  She smiled politely, and deigned not to roll her eyes or point out his obvious demands for attention.

“You do have good taste, my Lord.” Formal.  Dignified.

His sharp grin widened, and he extended a hand to her.  Play nice.  She gingerly placed her right hand in his, observing how large his cambion form really was.  He towered over her, and as his wings outstretched, she felt every bit that she was a tiny rodent.  He shifted her hand gently to the crook of his elbow and led her to the dining hall where they first met.

Thick curtains were pulled across the windows to shield the room from Avernus’s perpetual daylight.  Hundreds of candles brightened the room while bathing it in a soft glow.  The fire in the hearth was simmering but not raging.  Dozens of cambions stared down at Tav from dozens of portraits, all different versions of Raphael in different situations and wearing different regalia.  It would have almost been majestic if it just hadn’t been so ridiculous.

Raphael gestured grandly at his dining table, adorned with a staggering variety of different foods from the Material Plane.  There were fruits, raw and cooked, from every part of Toril.  Dozens of different vegetables were stewed or roasted with different sauces and seasonings.  Tav struggled to identify all of the cooked meats, whether they be in roasts or pies.  She only prayed that none of them were constructed from humanoid creatures.

“A glorious feast, my dear, for such a wonderful celebration.”  The smug coo in his voice irked her, but only politeness was on the menu this evening.  She smiled brightly up at him, but she knew it would never appear sincere.

“Thank you, my Lord,” she repeated like a clockwork toy.  Whenever his ego was hungry, she would feed it.

Raphael led her to a pair of chairs on the far side of the dining table where two places were set.  He pulled his arm out from under her hand and offered her a dramatic bow before pulling out her chair and motioning for her to sit down.

“This is kind of you, my Lord.”

“My dearest Mouse,” he whispered in her ear as he pushed her chair into the table.  He brushed his hands lightly over the embroidered shoulder of the gown he had purchased for her.  An involuntary shudder worked its way down her spine.  Small sprays of snowflakes worked their way down her dress as she struggled to reclaim her decorum.

Raphael sat down at the place next to her and grabbed a bottle of wine.  He poured them each a goblet and offered a disarming smile.  Why didn’t he have the mage hand serve them like he had before?

“I propose a toast!” he grabbed his goblet and gestured towards her.

Tav gingerly grabbed her own goblet but made a genuine attempt at a cheerful toast.  “To what are we toasting, my Lord?”

“To a most fruitful partnership.” There was a mischievous catch that caught her off guard.  She only responded with a smile before the gentle clink of the glass goblets.  She drank a sip of the lush red wine and noted that it was clearly even smoother than anything he had served her in the Devil’s Den while trying to earn her favor.

Raphael gestured eagerly for her to begin feasting.  Tav looked around at the options, and decided to eat something where she could definitely discern the origin.  She wouldn’t have put it past Raphael to have a rack of roasted Dwarf hidden behind the breadbasket.  He smiled at her before beginning to carve a suckling pig.  Seeing him decapitate and bisect a roasted animal was definitely not something Tav had expected for this dinner, but then she remembered that she was dining in the Hells, so maybe she should have anticipated something like that.

Only one evening.  She repeated silently.

Raphael offered her the carved meat from the suckling pig, and she wordlessly accepted, allowing the fiend to gracefully place the meat alongside her other choices on her plate.

“Tell me, my darling, what have you been doing the past few days?” Raphael politely inquired.

“I have been assisting in rebuilding the ruined Baldur’s Gate,” Tav stated assertively.

“Oh?” Raphael hummed as he began to cut his food, his diet clearly carnivorous.  “Please regale me with tales of your heroics in the rebuilding of the Gate.”

He had been following her, and he knew that she had failed at doing anything really meaningful during the rebuilding process thus far.  She should have offered the Flaming Fist cold drinks by means of her magic, that would have been more interesting than the reality.  As much as it pained her, she told Raphael the truth.  “I have alphabetized the tools of many a great tradesman, my Lord.  I shall soon see all of the masons and woodworkers have order in their workshops.”

The cackle that followed unnerved her.  

“You are so endearing, my Little Mouse.” He took incredible pleasure in his condescension.  

“I aim to please, my Lord.”  Raphael bristled very slightly at her continuing formality.  Good little mice keep their good little souls.  She ate gently and gracefully like her rodent counterpart.

“You are wearing the bracelet I gave to you, please show me.”  His request was hungry and eager.  The desire was clear in his golden orbs and blackened sclera.  She offered him the bejeweled wrist for inspection.  He turned her wrist over a few times looking for something unknowable.  “I shall seek more gemstones next time.”

Next time?

“You are too generous, this is a fine and lovely bracelet.  I have been admiring it, my Lord,” Tav responded truthfully. 

Raphael unexpectedly rose from his chair to stand behind her.  His form seemed to grow larger in comparison to hers at every opportunity.   She opted not to shy away from him and defiantly sat straight up in her chair.

“I think something different is in order.”  Raphael gently traced his claws from collarbone to collarbone spending a great deal of time at her throat.  He could easily slice her skin and make her bleed out in his dining room if he had wanted to.  Tav wondered absentmindedly if he did slit her throat now, where would her soul go?

“What do you have in mind, my Lord?”  Her question was flat, testing the waters.

“A necklace to match the bracelet, but with additional gemstones this time.”  Tav hummed an acknowledgment but still felt the pricks of danger as Raphael’s cambion claws traced along her throat.  His claws gently traced to the back of her neck and lightly through her hair, absently playing with a single curl that had fallen out of her Trobairitz knot.

What in the nine hells of Baator was he doing?

Tav scrambled to change the subject and lean away from his touch.  “Would you prefer a sweet course for dessert?  I can also serve you the traditional fruits and cheese.”

Raphael declined dessert altogether, stating a different type of hunger, and a wave of realization washed through her.  Tav wriggled quickly out of his grasp, and she could feel his frustration at her motions. To break the tension, she requested tea from the servants out of pure panic.  As Raphael nodded to the servant with her request, prayers to save her from this particular situation flooded her mind.  He thinks this is a date.  Lathander!  Azuth!  Umberlee!  Waukeen!  Tymora!  Tempus! Lloth!  Save me!

She tried to make light conversation, and Raphael seemed to relax again.  His eyes moved over her hungrily.  He was clearly mentally undressing her, spending a great deal of time at her chest and the upper part of her thighs.  He was prepared to devour her, and the look of pure lust sent her back into a panic.  The servant returned within a few moments with a cup of hot tea for her, but Tav scrambled out of her chair, knocking over both tea and chair and bringing a fresh wave of chaos into Raphael’s house.

“My great thanks for your hospitality, Raphael,” she managed to stammer out, trying not to trip over freshly upended furniture.  She fled towards the portal chamber, eager to return to the Elfsong Tavern.

“My darling-” Raphael started as he followed her.

Gods, he really did think that was a date, didn’t he?  Would he expect some sort of kiss at the end of the night?  No, he clearly expects more than that.

She was only mildly out of breath when she reached the portal chamber, and Raphael looked less than amused by her antics and attempts at flight.

“Tavara,” he started and took a long breath trying to subdue his quickly rising anger.  “What are you doing?”

The portals were all inactive.  She eagerly touched each one hoping somehow that they would hum to life and one of them would bring her home.

“Raphael, thank you for the dinner, but please take me home,” Tav pleaded.

“No.”  His response sucked all the air out of her lungs.

“No?”

“No.”

“Raphael, I thank you for the hammer, but now I want to go home.”  Her voice raised at least a half octave, hoping the devil would hear her, but the look in his eyes clearly betrayed that nothing was going to change his mind.

Raphael grabbed her by the shoulders and was surprised at the fear response she showed.  She genuinely cowered before him, her internal fire fading into embers.  A brief moment passed before he understood.

“My dearest, you are not going home to Prime Materiel.”  His voice was assertive and final.  “You live here now.”

“No I don’t!”  Her response confirmed Raphael’s suspicions and he silently cursed every reading tutor in all regions of Faerun.

“Tavara, my dear,” Raphael started, with his voice far gentler than she thought possible.  “You are my wife.”

“You’re fucking joking, you sick fuck.”  His jaw immediately clenched with barely contained rage, and his grip on her became much more punishing. “I never agreed to anything like that.”  Her voice became more desperate with every word, cracking and faltering.  She knew the devil standing before her was concentrating his wrath and determining which debtor was going to experience it all firsthand.

“Tavara,” Raphael started again, annoyed at her continual challenges to his patience.  “We are wed.  You signed the contract.”

“I signed no such thing, our only deal was for me to give you the Crown for the Hammer.  I agreed to nothing about some ridiculous imaginary relationship with you!” Tav desperately countered.

“Tavara.”  He was mentally cursing whomever taught her Infernal and vowing to disembowel them before slowly removing every fingernail then severing every limb before restoring them to perfect health and doing it all a second time.  “Tavara, that contract for the Hammer is our marriage contract.”

[santoschristos]

GALACTIC MESSAGE: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

The divine has an infinite variety of universal qualities, as it is the source of all that exists. However, one of its main qualities, along with the obvious one’s such as love, joy and peace is the effulgence of light itself.

Many of you may have experienced before, a visitation from a recently deceased loved one or the presence of an Ascended Master. Whenever these energies enter the room, you are in, the room becomes brighter, more vivid. This is the light of God, present within their souls, illuminating the environment – where light exists, there no darkness can dwell.

Even the light which sustains your world from the Sun, is a denser representation of the light of the divine. Light carries information – this is why people often receive activation codes and innovative ideas from sungazing.

Today, we are writing to remind you that you, in your souls, are also extensions of this light, which can be experienced by attaining supernal states of consciousness via practices such as meditation and prayer. Yeshua, who’s coming, and life is being celebrated by billions upon your world at the moment, was an embodiment of this light. This is why he said: “I AM the light of the world…” he was talking about his divine essence, which also exists within the deepest embers of your hearts.

You too are that I AM.

Where there is love, there is light. In an extremely dark world, plagued by space-time veils and illusions, it is important to be a shining example unto all, so that much alike a lighthouse, thy may guide people out of the tumultuous storms of life, home to the shores of Christ consciousness.

Darkness is simply the absence of light. Whenever darkness is present in your life, don’t try and beat it away with a stick, simply switch on the light. By embracing the love in your heart, you’ll elevate your consciousness above and beyond the lower astral influences, which attempt to obscure the light of your soul.

All the best this CHRIST-MAS. If you’d like a Starseed Astrology Reading whereby I help you connect with your otherworldly selves, message me. The readings are not free but are of the highest quality.

-Rei Rei

SIRIUS CITY Beyond the Tower of Babel by Mahaboka

[delopsia]

A small epilogue snippet of Dancing Beneath The Moon. Contains what life is like after Rhett returns to his human body 💕

It isn't a sharp, echoing thud that wakes you. Not the shrill ringing of a cast iron skillet against your precious tile or the jostling of the silverware in the drawer. No, it's a dull, hollow sound, so heavy that you can feel how it carries through the room, rumbling like thunder.

Your eyes snap open, darting toward the kitchen, "Rhett?"

But your question is met with a silence that would be deafening if not for the distant groan that carries across the house.

On their own, your feet hit the ground, hardly awake enough to tread the few steps it takes to step into the hallway. And already you can see him. Sitting on the floor, pawing at his nose with the back of his hand, glaring at the dent in the drywall like it's done something personal to him.

"Rhett?" Your voice still groggy with the edges of sleep, "You alright?"

Judging by the unruly hair that jostles as he turns his head to look your way, you can guess that Rhett's just woken up from a nap of his own. His outstretched arms still bear the imprint of his chosen pillow, the decorative one on the couch, meant more for show than use. That decorative swirl trails down to his hand, splayed out on the floor next to a picture frame that once hung on the wall.

Curious, your gaze travels back to the dent, then to Rhett's reddened nose. "Did you try to walk through the wall?"

Blue eyes dart to your face, "no."

Too quick to be innocent.

"The evidence suggests otherwise, cowboy," you can't fight the way your lips rise into a smile as you speak. Stepping past the frame, you hold your hands out. Both of them, because if there's anything you've learned, it's that Rhett's balance has yet to fully return from the grave.

But the rest of him has. From the dusting of freckles on his shoulders to the callouses in his palms, rough from manual labor around a ranch his family no longer owns. Now only useful for dragging deliciously against your skin, as his hands circle around yours, fully allowing you to pull him up to his feet.

He stumbles. Drifting a smidgen too far to the left before he finally regathers the reins over his own body.

"You got it?" Your arms remain outstretched as if you have any hope of catching him if he falls. Like he hasn't fallen on top of you more times than either of you can begin to count.

Rhett hums, the vaguest 'yes' you'll ever receive, hesitantly letting go of your hands. "Floatin's more fun than this whole walkin' thing."

"Having second thoughts on being resurrected?" You really should be focusing on putting that frame back on the wall; otherwise, someone's bound to forget it's there and step on it later, but you can't bring yourself to worry about it. Too focused on guiding your former house ghost back to the living room, away from the crime scene.

"Only when I hit my toe on that goddamn corner in the kitchen," he chuckles, socked feet scooting across the floor.

So, maybe this hadn't been what you anticipated for your future when he had miraculously sprung to life in the nick of time, scaring Trevor out and whisking you off your feet in the same five-minute span. It certainly wasn't an issue that presented itself in the beginning, disguised in the uneasy thumps of his feet against the stairs, unused to the concept of having to use legs to get around.

A doctor would probably explain it away as the magic of adrenaline and muscle memory, embers burning just bright enough to get him around. But you've grown to wonder if it's simply the overthinking that's drawn him to this point. Stumbling around your house like Bambi on ice, clinging to you, the walls, and whatever sturdy object he can hold onto. So suddenly aware of this new form of his that he's forgotten how to function entirely.

"Them movies of yours always talk 'bout savin' the ghost," Rhett mutters, his eyes flickering between you and his wary feet as he follows you to the couch, "they ain't never talk 'bout what happens to the ghost when he's gotta relearn to fuckin' walk."

"I'll send their writing team a strongly worded letter," you've got about a half second to situate yourself on the couch before he's coming down too. All broad shoulders and too-big muscle that strains against his new shirt, the red plaid one that he'd excitedly pointed at while you were doing some online shopping.

It doesn't quite fit him like it should. Evidently, the concept of a large has grown a lot smaller since his transition from human to ghost.

"Do you wanna try going into town again tomorrow?" You ask as your back hits the couch cushions once more, Rhett's heavy head settling on your chest the moment he can get away with it. Too eager to feel the thump of your heart against his scruffy, unshaven cheek.

And again, he hums. Some noise that he's been making more and more lately; you're starting to wonder if he just likes the way it feels in his throat. "C'n we try that funny lil coffee shop again?"

Likewise, you're beginning to question if you'll ever grow used to the way his breath tickles your skin. "Are you gonna hide behind me when the receipt prints?"

"That things unnatural," his head tilts just enough for him to peek at you from beneath his lashes.

"You're unnatural," it shoots out of your mouth before you can think twice, and you're already leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead to soothe your swiftly-spoken words, "house ghost."

All he does is grin so wide that his eyes curve with it.

[hupla222]

Galar Girls

Introducing my two girls from Galar, Coline and Ember, done by @xabi0407.

First of these two is Coline, my PostwickShipping girl. She's peppy, active, and excitable, ready to see everything Galar has to offer. She aims to become the next champion but also just wants to have fun along the way, travelling with her best friend Bede Jr (more info on him here), although she's unaware of his hatred for her. Her first partner Pokémon is a Scorbunny that she received as a birthday present from her Uncle Leon.

Second up is Ember, she's a LionheartedShipping kid and is Coline's older cousin. She's the calm, calculated, and rational type, taking more after her mum than her dad. She spends most of her time reading or helping Sonia out in the lab. But that doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy a good battle very now and then. Some say she has a real knack for it. She was also responsible for babysitting both Coline and Bede when they were little. Her first partner Pokémon is a Nickit.

[scotianostra]

The Pirate station, Radio Scotland began broadcasting in the dying embers of Hogmanay, 1965.

Radio Scotland was a Scottish pirate radio station which broadcast at various points off the Scottish coast between 1965 and 1967, with a mix of pop music and programmes of Scottish interest. It was conceived of and run by publicity and advertising executive Tommy Shields onboard a former Irish lightship, built on the Clyde, named The Comet. Radio Scotland's first broadcast was at 11:50pm on Hogmanay, 31st December 1965, on 1241 kilohertz, 242 metres.

After refitting for her new role in the Channel Islands she had been towed to a position four miles off Dunbar, in the Firth of Forth. Because of delays during the journey north, the ship didn't arrive at the anchorage until early on 30th December, giving the engineers only a few hours to set up the equipment. It was a frantic race against time but the station just made it on air before midnight, albeit at reduced power and with no opportunity to run tests. The first voice on the new station belonged to DJ Paul Young a former presenter of Scottish Television's Roundup programme who welcomed the listeners. He introduced the managing director Tommy Shields, who went on to detail their plans. Radio Scotland was on the air and open for business. The station also broadcast from water near Troon and Northern Ireland over its one-and-a-half years.

While navigating and planting the boat, crew had to be careful to avoid territorial waters, primarily due to the strict laws imposed on the pirate stations by the government of the day. Featuring everything from “modern” rock’n’roll to ceilidh favourites, the station soon became a sensation across Scotland as well as Ireland and northern England, where the signal was also picked up.

With its audience of one million listeners a week in its prime, Radio Scotland was very close to realising Shield’s dream of becoming a successful independent Scottish station.

Joining English stations such as Radio Caroline, Radio Scotland was the only pirate radio station to be formed north of the Border, and soon took its place amongst the big six pirate stations.

People could join the membership of the station and become Radio Scotland “Clan Members”. As a reward, the Clan had their own show every Saturday where they could send in requests, which, alongside Jack McLaughlin’s ceilidh slot, was one of the most popular programmes broadcast.

The station even had its own fanzine called “242” – named after its frequency. The 242 magazine featured interviews with the biggest stars of the day, including The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner, but station managers never quite tempted any of the stars on board the infamous boat.

The pirate station’s theme song was a jaunty wee number sung by folk band The Carrick Folk Four. Finishing off the upbeat ditty were the lines: “Oh Radio Scotland’s playing just for you/So beat the ban, and join the Clan, on station 242.”

Although they received many a plaudit, Radio Scotland was plagued with troubles from the very beginning. A poor signal and periods off-air led to a steep decline in advertising revenue and a frustrated fanbase, while fires on board the vessel and the hazardous North Sea conditions did little to help ease its problems.

In a piece in the Edinburgh Weekly just days after the station was laid to rest, Tony Mark wrote: “The death penalty in this country is supposed to have been abolished, yet here we are mourning the execution of what was surely the sound sensation of both 66’ and 67’ as far as Scotland is concerned.”

Although the station had a short life, as is often the case with such ventures, and was taken off the air in the 60s, Radio Scotland inspired a tribute station, which began broadcasting in the mid 70s.

Radio Scotland International, an independently run pirate station broadcasting to Europe from its base in Holland, started in 1975 and has been going ever since.

http://www.radioscotland.nl/

For around 20 months his modest little boat made huge waves and pulled Scotland into the "swinging sixties".

The first pic is Tommy Shields unveiling his pirate ship , the last is the stations first DJ Paul Young then, and as "Shug" in the BBC's Still Game