#Have a Rook being Rook and showing off how good his detection is

[gamenu]

          [ distance ] across a large space, sender blows receiver a kiss - from Rook

                                                  -- @wishkept

Give her the smooches!

          The little fairy had been hiding out, she truthfully didn't feel a need to participate in flying class. Why, so she could stand there and go through drills she's done since she first came into being? Besides, she's got a perfect grade in the class. She could stand to miss a few. And i wasn't like she wasn't being productive either!

          Perched in the tree, carefully hidden behind a bit of the foliage, Naira was working on blueprints. She had a lot of plans, and a lot of projects she wanted to get done. Using this time, she could make head on a lot of them. With her glow dimmed, hidden as best she can without dangers around her, she worked. Occasionally looking down at her peers doing their drills, something struck her odd.

          As small as she was, and as hidden as she was, no one should have been able to see her. But. . .it almost felt like Rook was looking at her from under the bill of his hat. What was only a very tiny window of foliage to her, should have been damn near invisible to anyone that far from her, and that big as well. And especially on the ground. Yet. . .she couldn't shake the feeling.

          It wasn't with malice, but more with a playful mirth. Like he knew she was there. Only mildly startled by the revalation that her speculation was true when he subtly blew her a kiss while others were focused on their own drills. All the little fairy could do was wave back, Rook was a friend. And he had eyes sharper than a hawk's.

          Honestly. . .he could rival the Far-Seeing-talent fairies back home. He might be able to give them a run for their money, she thinks.

          Still, if nothing else, Naira can take solace in the fact Rook knows she's there. If something should happen to her in her little hiding spot, at least one person would know where she was. And who better than a trusted friend?

[lillotte17]

The Rook

AN: Mildly endgame spoiler stuff if you are really paying attention. I have no idea how far I think I'll get with this, but the idea showed up and kicked down my door to make me write it, so here we are!

~

“Why are you always arranging clandestine meetings for us in seedy bars that stink of piss and stale beer? They never go well.”

“Hey now, I didn’t pick this one!” Varric laughs as they step out the door and back into the damp streets of Minrathous. The buildings in this part of the city are shabby and moldering. Covered in peeling paint and bright with spellwork glinting off the dark cobblestones. The Archon’s Palace floats ominously above their heads like a circling vulture. “This one was all Neve’s idea.”

“You never take me anywhere nice.”

“Well, I’m sure Dumat Plaza is going to be downright cozy.”

“Let’s hope that it’s not too far from the place where Solas is conducting his ritual.”

“Fingers crossed,” Varric hums in agreement. “I’m a little surprised that it’s not out in some crumbling ruin somewhere.”

“Relieved that you don’t have to go tromping through the wilderness again?”

“You’re not wrong,” he huffs, “But I was actually thinking about collateral damage. Minrathous is huge, and the last plan Solas had to bring down the Veil leveled a mountain top.”

His companion stops walking abruptly.

“…Rook?” Varric calls back to them.

They don’t respond, lost in thought. The rain soaks through the dark wool of their hood. Silence stretches our for a few moments before the dwarf finally walks back and places a broad warm hand on their arm.

“Hey. Don’t worry too much, alright?” he says, “We’re going to get there in time to stop him.”

They nod their head once. Tug their hood down a little further. Adjust the mask covering the entirety of their face.

“We should find Harding. We need to move fast if we want to rescue your detective from those Venatori. The Veil feels…strange.”

“I’ll take your word for it, kid.”

They don’t get far before things to go sideways, as they always seem to.

The Archon’s Palace begins targeting people from above. A handful of roving spotlights, possibly searching for them. The Veil buckles, snaps, and finally rips wide. A dozen or more rifts, not unlike the ones the that had ravaged the South a decade ago, blink into existence across the Minrathous skyline. Which means demons. A lot of them.

“Demons. Ventatori. Fade rifts. Feeling nostalgic yet, Varric?” Rook grunts, landing a shot at the dead center of a despair demon, watching its essence shatter and disappear into nothing.

“Yeah yeah, so long as no one asks me to go digging around for any more of those creepy Fade shards again, I’ll fight all the damn demons you want.”

They find their wayward scout a few blocks later, protecting civilians. Red hair and freckles. Always ready to pull out a cheery smile or a nocked arrow, depending on what the situation called for. She’s already got the lay of the land, despite being raised out in Fereldan farmlands, and easily begins navigating them through cramped Tevinter streets.

“You know, I’m honestly surprised that this isn’t more of a regular occurrence in Minrathous.” Harding pants out after another bout of fighting.

“Oh, demons an cultists are everyday fare in this city,” Rook confirms with a dry laugh as the last enemy falls and the way clears for them to press forwards once again. “But I think there’s something to be said for the scale of the current crisis.”

The allegedly imperiled Neve Gallus is waiting for them in Dumat Plaza, calm and cool as the barrier of ice she had thrown up to halt the Venatori cultists who had tried to drag her off.

“Varric. Harding. Not the worst timing.” Neve greets, “And..?”

“Rook.” They reply with a nod of their head.

“Like the chess piece?”

“One of the strongest pieces on the board. Tends to think in straight lines, though.” Varric chuckles, giving them a good natured pat on the back.

“Someone around here has to.” Rook grumbles in reply, although they don’t sound mad about it.

“So, it’s one of Varric’s nicknames?”

“Seems to be.”

“But it’s how you’re introducing yourself to people?”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“Hm. Rook. I think the Viper’s mentioned you before. You’re one of the Shadows?”

“I’ve done a fair amount of work for them. But they’ve asked me to keep some distance, for now. Apparently the way I free slaves is too conspicuous.”

“I see you’ve picked up some of Ashur’s charming fashion sense.”

“Can’t let the Orlesians have all the fun.”

“I hate to interrupt the witty banter, but we do have an ancient elvhen ritual to be stopping.” Varric interjects.

“Sorry, never could resist a good mystery,” Neve grins.

“But you have a lead, yes?” Harding presses, full of hope.

Neve beckons them with a wave of her hand, turns on her heel, and begins whisking them down a dark alley, through another building and out into the city proper again. An ominous rumble shakes the rafters of the roof above them. The human mage pauses for a moment to glance back at them, dark eyes brimming with questions and concern.

“You’ve seen him?” Rook asks as they trot up beside her. “You’ve seen Solas?”

“No, I haven’t. Not in person.” Neve shakes her head. “But I did find hints of old magic. Very old. Similar to what you get in elvhen ruins.

She stops walking long enough to point with her staff.

“I traced it to a building beneath Our Lady of Victory. That’s where your man is hiding.”

“Best news we’ve had all night.” Varric sighs. “Let’s get there and stop him before this ritual gets any worse.”

“Worse?” Neve gapes. “This ritual is already drawing more power than I’d expect from a dozen mages. You told me he was working alone.”

“I also told you he was an ancient elvhen god.” Varric sighs.

“And he’s not working alone.” Rook tells her plainly. “He’s got his own fanatical followers, just like the other gods. But he tends to keep them at a distance, when he can. Reduces the odds of betrayal.”

“Who would have thought that the god of lies would have trust issues?” Harding quips.

“An elvhen god,” Neve repeats, tightening her grip on her staff. “Well, whatever he is, he’s causing trouble in my city. We’ve got to stop him- Let’s go.”

“That’s the idea, Slick.”

The group continues on, fighting cultist mages and demons as needed. Stepping over far too many corpses. Winding their way down to the canals before finding the passage to the building under the statue Neve had told them about.

“Looks old,” Harding notes, pausing long enough to study some of the paintings on the roughcut stone walls, “I wonder how long this has been here.”

“Solas has been around before Minrathous itself, who knows how long this has been here.” Varric hums.

“Tevinter was built on the ruins of Elvhenan,” Rook says, “Bones upon bones. For all we know, this could have existed before the fall of the empire.”

They stop beside Harding.

“That looks like… A magister? And sentinels? The Dread Wolf howling at the Black city locked behind the Veil, maybe?”

“He never could resist the urge to paint cryptic shit on the walls.” Varric grumbles.

“So, you think this is Solas’ hideout?” Neve wonders. “Seems pretty sparse down here.”

“One of them,” Varric replies. “If I had a sovereign for every bolt hole of his that we’ve tracked down over the years, I could retire to Rivain and live like a king.”

“You’re the Viscount of Kirkwall, Varric. And the sole heir to a powerful family in the dwarven merchants’ guild.” Rook laughs. “Don’t try to tell me you’re in this for the money.”

“No, but the money would still be nice.”

“The next time we send an update back to the Inquisition, I’ll make sure to add a note saying that you’re expecting a bonus.” Harding grins. She tosses Rook a wink. “I know some people.”

“Hazard pay for everyone!” Rook cheers.

The Tevene detective nudges a pile of chains on the floor with the toe of her metal leg.

“Broken. Looks like Solas has been freeing slaves.” She notes with a hint of surprise.

“Solas hates slavery.” Varric tells her. “One of the few things we actually agreed on.”

“Solas said the other gods were tyrants who oppressed his people. He was trying to help them.” Harding explains.

“By starting a rebellion, among other things.” Varric agrees. “And everything went to shit, as usual. That’s why he locked them away behind the Veil in the first place.”

“You mean he created the Veil?” Neve asks.

“Yup.” Says Varric.

“Shit.”

“Yup.” Rook echoes.

There really is not much down here beyond more crumbling ruins, though. No furniture. No books. No ancient elf trying to end the world.

“Is that a light up ahead?” Rook wonders.

“Feels like magic.” Neve confirms.

“I don’t think I see a way to get to where it’s coming from though…” Rook trails off.

“Over here!” Harding waves them over to a crack in the wall just wide enough for them to all press through.

“I can’t- imagine- Chuckles- squeezing his big- bald- head- through this thing every time he came down here.” Varric grates out as he wriggles his way through, somewhat short of breath. “If Bianca got a scratch, I’m never speaking to him again.”

“More paintings,” Harding points out, ignoring the other dwarf’s complaints.

“Looks like the ancient elves were binding dragons,” says Rook thoughtfully.

“That sounds bad.” Harding winces.

“Are we surprised that the evil gods were doing evil shit?” Varric scowls.

Another room. A desk this time. A few small magical artifacts. A work station. A narrow cot with a thin blanket and -inexplicably- a mandolin. Everything cold, surrounded by piles of dust and rumble.

“This place is just…sad.” Rook decides, somewhat subdued, reaching out to pluck a single string on the abandoned instrument. Their fingers brush across the blanket beside it before pulling away.

“Hey, don’t feel too bad for him,” Varric says bumping their elbow with his own, “Solas chose to live like this. Probably as some form of penance. Although, I personally think he just enjoys being miserable.”

“I was also expecting a bit more from an evil villain’s lair,” Neve smirks. “Something with a touch more romance, perhaps. Panache. A bit of drama.”

“Well, once we talk him down, you can give him your scathing review on his living arrangements.”

“I’m not sure I have much room to talk, truth be told.” She laughs.

“He doesn’t need to know that.”

“I think that the source of the magic Neve felt might be through that door,” Harding calls out, pointing at the only visible exit to the room they are standing in, “I can see the same light from earlier at the bottom.”

“Excellent scouting, as always, Harding,” Rook praises, striding over to pull the door back on its hinges. “Not even locked. The Dread Wolf is getting sloppy.”

“Or he just figured that it wouldn’t matter if anyone managed to reach him at this point.”

“We are thinking in positives, Varric.”

“Right, right, sorry.”

“Ugh.” Neve makes a face. “Why is this room flooded?”

“The building is old, and we were near the canals?” Harding suggests.

“Just be grateful it only goes up to your ankles, Slick.”

“An elvuian,” Rook breathes out. Tipping their head back to see the whole of the enormous glowing mirror covering the wall along the right side of the room.

“A what?” Neve blinks in the blinding blue light.

“More old elf shit.” Varric sighs.

“They’re kind of like magic doorways. They can transport you almost anywhere.” Harding explains.

“Solas uses them to get around. Half the reason keeping up with him has been such a pain in the ass.”

“He must have gone through it,” Rook says, their hands balling into fists at their sides. “Alright, everyone be careful stepping through. We don’t know where this connects to.”

“Do you think he’s not actually in the city?”

“Let’s find out.”

It’s still raining on the other side, but now there are open skies and grass underfoot. A heavy line of trees surrounds the jagged elvhen ruins looming up ahead of them. The tops of eight enormous statues peer out from the crumbling walls, each bearing the symbol of one of the elvhen gods. The Creators.

Varric’s boots squelch loudly in the mud. He turns and makes a face at Rook.

“Well. So much for not having to tromp through the wilderness.” He grouses.

“I know, I know,” Rook laughs, “Drinks are on me later, alright? Just try to think of your favorite terrible ale instead of the water leaking into your shoes.”

“You always know how to cheer me up.”

There were demons here, too. Driven mad by the realities of the world they had been pulled into by the Dread Wolf’s ritual. Even so, it does not take the team long to reach the source of all the magical turmoil.

A lone elf standing at the top of a crumbling set of stairs, bathed in the glow of his own summoned power. Taller than most elves of this age, with broad shoulders and a regal bearing. His back is turned to them, lost in the intricacies of the spell he is weaving.

“So, do we have a plan here, or what?” Neve wonders, sizing up the elvhen mage with mild apprehension.

“…I’m going to talk to him.”

“Varric-”

“It’ll be fine, Rook.”

“But-”

“Solas is doing this because he can’t see any other options.” The dwarf says firmly. “So, he needs someone to sell him a way out. I’m a businessman, and a storyteller, and a friend. I’ve got a reputation to uphold for being irresistibly charming. And…if he won’t listen to me, then he’ll hear from Bianca.”

He pats the crossbow in question while the others exchange worried glances.

“I could take the shot from here,” Harding offers, frowning with uncertainty. “It’s clear. I don’t have to aim for anything vital, I could just-”

“No.” Varric insists, shaking his head. “You’d just piss him off, and if this comes to straight up fight, we’re all dead.”

He turns to walk up the stairs when Rook snags him by the elbow.

“Wait, Varric. Maybe-”

“You’re my second in command, remember, Rook?” He says gently, placing his large hand over their much smaller one. “That means you need to watch out for the team while I take care of this. I promise, if it seems like things are going south, I’ll yell for you. Alright?”

They take a half step closer, bowing their head, the smooth silver of their mask edged in blue from Solas’ magic.

“I don’t like it.”

He smiles.

“I know, kid.”

“I just feel like… Like we’re missing something. Like it can’t possibly be as simple as ending the chase like this after all this time.”

“Not every story has to end with some big flashy climax, you know.”

“All of yours do.”

“Only the ones I want to sell.”

“Think you can sell this one?”

“Won’t know until I try.”

He pauses for a moment, taking a long look at them. Short. Scrawny. Soaked from head to heel.

“I know it’s not what you want, but trust me- This is the right call.” He says quietly. “If we’re wrong about this- If I’m wrong about this- Someone has to be ready in the wings to stand against whatever magic crap Chuckles pulls out of his ass. That’s you. It’s got to be you. You know that.”

Rook takes a deep shaky breath. Nodding slowly in acceptance. They reluctantly let go of his elbow.

The dwarf turns away and walks up the stairs. Magic buzzes and crackles through the air around them, making it difficult to catch his words. However, the figure standing above them stills in apparent surprise for a moment before deciding to stop and face his former friend.

Solas has sharp features. Distinct, even from this distance. Untouched by the passage of time.

He looks tired.

His expression is fluid for a few seconds. Pleasure melting into mild annoyance before finally settling into something firm and unrelenting. Stubborn.

Bianca shatters in Varric’s hands, tumbling down the stairs in fragments of polished wood and finely crafted metal.

“I can’t hear what they’re saying!” Harding complains.

“It doesn’t seem to be going very well.” Neve Frowns. “We need to do something about this ritual while Varric has him distracted.”

Rook glances around for solutions. Nothing seems to be immediately forthcoming. Then they raise their arm, pointing to the far corner of the ritual site.

“There. The scaffolding.” They say. “The statue on that side is barely standing on its own. If we could bring it down…”

“Would that kill him?” Harding asks.

“I…I don’t think so. But if his concentration is broken, it should at least give us some more time.”

“We can’t topple it from here.” Neve frowns. “Too far. Even for one of my spells. And to get over to it, we’d have to walk through raw magic. That’s suicide.”

“Someone’s got to keep the demons off of Varric while he’s dealing with Solas, too.” Harding points out. Her brow knits with worry as she stares at Rook. “Are you going to go anyway?”

Rook’s gaze seems to move from the statue, to Varric’s broad shoulders, and back again.

“I… No. I have to- I told Varric I would watch his back. I can’t just leave him here.”

“Well, I’m not just going to stand around and wait for some ancient elvhen mage to ruin the world,” Neve scowls, striding away at a clipped pace.

“Neve, wait- Oh, void take it all!” Rook curses, “Harding, go with her! Get her there safe. I’ll keep an eye on these two.”

“You got it!”

“Nothing crazy, understood?” They call after the dwarf as she races to catch up with the human mage, “I want everyone to walk away from this in one piece!”

The scout raises a hand in acknowledgement. The gesture does little to soothe their nerves. One or two demons try to pick a fight, but not enough to even warrant a decent distraction from their own thoughts. They begin to pace, trying to get a better view of the elf and the dwarf as they continue their argument while still staying out of sight.

They wish they could hear what they were saying.

They hear it when the statue falls, though.

Everything afterwards seems to flow over them in slow motion. Solas yelling in anger and surprise. Varric reaching to grab something from his hands. A scuffle. Varric falling, his body heavy and loose as it follows Bianca to the foot of the stairs. The Veil rips wide, two dark towering figures looming out of the bright blue-green depths of the Fade.

Rook screams. Wordless with rage and guilt and grief. Rushing out into the open to throw themselves to their knees at their friend’s side. There is a dagger, strange and humming. Deep. Too Deep. Too much blood.

They raise their head, and see Solas looking at them.

There are tears streaming down his face.

Something crackles. Thunders. Blasts out wide and bright and searing.

Rook flies backwards like a puppet with cut strings. Their head collides with stone. Their vision swims. Their ears ring. A strong arm wraps around their waist. Somewhere in the midst of all of it, they think they might still be screaming. Or someone else is screaming. Or crying. Something is very wrong.

And then everything is black.

~

In the blackness, there is a face. Then a figure. Proud and tall. Surrounded by shadow and queer grey light.

Solas.

Solas, standing in ruins and rubble. Separated from them only by a chasm and the fury written plainly on his face. He does not move to strike them, however. He does not draw his magic to his hands to blast them with a spell. He simply snaps and snarls at them like a wolf caught in a trap.

“You have no idea what you have done.”

Rook gets to their feet, limbs sore and knees shaky. They dust off their pants. Rub their hands a little, testing the strength of their left wrist.

“Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea of what I’ve done, actually.” They reply casually.

“So, it was your intention to release Elgar’nan and Ghila’nain out into the world, where they may freely blight the innocent and raze whole cities to the ground?” He growls out.

They recoil half a step, and their form flickers briefly. A flash of pale hair, and the scent of lavender. Solas shakes his head, as though clearing away the remnants of a dream. When he looks at them again, their stance is strong. Defiant. They are small and dark and sharp as a knife. The silver of their mask cutting through the gloom around them.

“My intention was to stop you from tearing down the Veil.” They gesture to their surroundings. “A feat I believe you once said would ‘burn this world in raw chaos.’ And since we both seem to be standing somewhere in the Fade, and you aren’t running off through another eluvian, I’m guessing that I must have succeeded. You were stopped, and the world wasn’t destroyed.”

“I was not destroying the world.”

“Yet.”

He takes a sharp breath in through his nose.

“When you disrupted my ritual, the magical energies pulled me here, into the Fade.”

“I think that sounds very fitting.” Rook says, folding their arms across their chest. “If I got caught in the same blast, then I guess we’re going to be neighbors. I’ll bake you a pie.”

“Your physical body is merely unconscious.” Solas sneers, waving a hand dismissively. “But you shed a few drops of blood at the ritual site. Enough for a tenuous connection.”

“Ah. So, it’s blood magic, then.”

“Firstly, I abhor the use of blood magic.” Solas barks, nearly to the point of shouting. “Secondly, had I the power to control you, I would have already used it.”

Rook cocks their head to one side as they regard him in silence for a moment.

“…Magic is magic, it matters only how it is used.”

Solas blinks at that.

“Excuse me?”

“That was what you told me, wasn’t it?” They ask, reaching up slowly to pull away their mask and lower their hood. Soft curls pulled back into a long simple braid. Vallaslin. Eyes nearly as haunted as his own. “When we were talking together at Haven…all those years ago.”

It is his turn to stagger back a step, almost as though he had been struck. The anger in his face chased away by a sudden flood of sorrow. He shakes his head again, as though it will somehow change the visage of the person standing before him.

“Hello, Solas.”

“Vhenan.”

[stormgardenscurse]

Vil + Late night calls please! Feel free to delete if you wish and remember you can always say no to requests. Some writers feel pressured, I know I do. Take care of yourself. 💜

Summary: Vil calls you after a long day of work, and while he'd rather you sleep earlier for your health's sake, he has to admit that seeing your familiar antics lightens his mood.

Notes: Reader is somewhat sleep deprived here (not in a serious way, just in a 'stayed up until late hours reading' type of way)

Wordcount: 900+

When Vil gets the ‘okay’ from you to call despite how it’s pretty late at night, he more or less expects it to be a regular greeting and doesn't plan to keep you for long. He’s just finished filming for one of his jobs, it’s the holidays so you’re probably trying to relax, and he was feeling a little tired himself (but wanted to hear your voice again anyways).

He’s in for a surprise when you pick up, and before he can even say hello, receives a rustling noise from your end of the phone paired with a muffled ‘hold on a sec!’

His phone screen starts to flicker to life, revealing a close-up of you while you try to adjust the angle of your camera. You’re so focused that Vil forgets what he was about to say, instead mindlessly matching your actions by turning on his own camera, giving you an odd look. “What are you doing?”

You blow an imaginary strand of hair out of your face, ever the dramatic. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to position this so I don’t have to hold it.” More rustling, something falls off the table which immediately elicits a curse under your breath. “Wait, hold on a second– I just need to… Okay! There. Finally.” You give him a smile and a wave through the phone screen. “How was filming? Did you manage to eat yet?”

“I’ve eaten, yes.” Vil is trying to keep his expression neutral, but a smile tugs at his mouth from your chaotic greeting. “Everything went smoothly, but I’d rather talk about something that isn’t work.” After all, he's much more curious about what you’re doing. “What are you up to? You know sleeping too late isn’t good for you.”

“I’ll get to sleep soon,” you’re both well aware that’s a bold-faced lie, “but I was just sorting out some of the stuff I have in my room, and would you guess what I found?”

His brow raises in recognition; it’s a leaflet of a movie he once tried to introduce you to. Tried being the keyword, but it wasn’t the type of genre you liked - and he wasn’t too invested in it himself since it was just a recommendation from a costar, so Vil hasn’t tried to convince you about it since. To his surprise, you pick up the notes you’ve been working on to show him, filled with arrows and highlighting and question marks all around. “You’ve been… studying it?”

“Studying the origins behind it.” You clarify. “Sure, the movie was kind of boring—“

“You and Epel were quite desperate to leave once it ended…”

“—And compared to the other stuff that we watched together, even you didn’t seem that interested.” You pause. “Rook complimented it, but he always sees the beauty in things.”

Vil allows you to continue on your tangent, resting his cheek against the palm of his hand. In all honesty, he’s just kind of glad you’re this energetic at all, even if he’s half-sure you don’t know what you’re saying yourself. It’s a contagious sort of fervor, but also balances out with how he's physically drained from working all day.

You point towards the table (where he assumes your notes are) with the look of a very invested detective. “It’s based on a very interesting book, with an even more interesting plot! No wonder it didn’t work as a movie, they had to cut so much out, and…” With a moment of triumph, you give him a teasing look. “The author never finished the trilogy. No one’s heard of them since the release of the second novel.”

Vil snorts, already knowing where this is going. “So you’ve been up until now researching conspiracy theories?”

“Holidays are holidays, I might as well do whatever comes to mind.” You’re well-aware this curiosity will only last as long as your adrenaline, so you try to make it as fun as possible for both you and your now increased audience of one (1) Vil Schoenheit. Folding your hands atop each-other, you lean forward as if to tempt him into joining you. “Wanna hear what I have so far?”

With an amused quirk to his lips, Vil leans forward, as if to listen better… Before turning off his camera and sending you a picture of himself he took at set earlier. He’s waving at the camera, which is quite appropriate for this situation if he does say so himself.

“Sorry, but I’m not about to fall into insanity with you tonight.” Maybe next time, his unspoken words tease. At the sound of your indignant protests, Vil shushes you with a smile. His tone turns soft, effectively quieting you. “…While I must thank you for paying me company, my dearest potato, I do have to go if I’m to be at my best for tomorrow’s schedule.” The smile is evident in his speech, but Vil was never one to hide his expressions from you. “But if you’re able to update me through text, I’ll give it a read and share my thoughts in the morning.” Or maybe tell you that you’re delirious, whichever one fits.

You both exchange your goodnights, and as a last-minute remark Vil reminds you again to not stay up too late. From what he could tell on his phone screen, it seems like you haven’t been getting enough sleep - he can’t magically kiss the dark circles under your eyes away, you know? So try to take better care of yourself. It’ll make him happy, if you require the joy of your queen to motivate you.

[aztarion]

Happy Valentine’s Day, lovely person 🌹

It’s been wonderful to see your art! I really love how you draw Mason and your style in general and am looking forward to seeing more of your art!

Here’s a romance-themed OC question for any OC(s) of your choosing (no pressure to answer on Valentine’s day itself, or at all):

What combination of random objects would your OC use to describe their LI? What do they represent? Bonus question: What would their LI use to describe them?

AND HAPPY belated VALENTINES TO YOU 🥹

im sorry i didnt get to this earlier, i was waiting to be more awake but im literally getting worse LOL. but it made me so happy ;_; thank you thank you thank you, for being far too kind abt my art 😭 im so fuckingglad i finally got a tablet during my crazy ass wayhaven renaissance because there could not be a sweeter group of people to share stuff with 🫂♥️

for the oc ask… well i just gotta do dev/mason theyre in my minds microwave 24/7 rn (hope the ceiling fan falls on them btw)

some of this is a bit more association than true description of character bc i could go on forever listing stuff for both of them.. but for dev w mason it would be two big things at their current standstill:

- marlboro reds; her favourite — she is in the middle of quitting smoking in book 1 so him constantly lighting up with her cigs of choice, as well as just being rude and grating on her already thin nerves, drove her barking mad insane. by book 2 she is floundering hard and asks for one after he shows up at the station. when he says no and that she’s supposed to be quitting she gets a bit pissed and makes him put out smokes anytime thereafter out of pettiness. also reds…… strong, numbingly intense, addictive, etc. sums up the early stages of their arrangement :D

- definitely the wolf cub from the carnival game! deva is hugely sentimental (to a concerning degree — she is a hoarder yay disaster apartment option) though would never admit to it. she still keeps raggedy decades old stuffed animals from when rook was around that she just cannot say goodbye to 🤦‍♀️ and she refuses to let herself get attached to mason on any meaningful emotional level so those budding feelings in book 3 kind of manifest on the wolf cub without her realizing it (i was so glad there’s a little part abt the detective saving their carnival prize after the apartment gets flooded because Very Deva, that thang is her whole support network) (plus when mason inevitably bails during the night she has smth to cuddle because objects dont leave no sir . Rebecca get this girl a therapist)

- and one smaller thing im still playing w is red jasper crystal 🙇🏻‍♀️

maybe she sees them in the crystal store. I colour pick from these when i draw him LOL

for mason wrt deva — not an object but just straight up chaos tbh. at where they are in book 3 i imagine every time he sees the detective his brain is going question mark question mark. and hes definitely not sentimental in the way Dev is that certain objects would have any sort of emotional stir in reminding him of her. mason definitely goes more on how she makes him feel; really fucking good, really fucking confused, really fucking messy (like her apartment which he HAAAAATES), and on a few occasions now… weirdly serene. cant make sense of it; doesnt even understand why hes bothering TRYING to make sense of it but here he is and it’s happening and it has never happened before and THAT is probably the best way he could encapsulate her at this point in their relationship… other than, yknow, encapsulating in other ways 🫢

ty so much for sending this and sorry for sleepy rambling!!!! AND COME OFF ANON LET ME DRAW SMTH FOR YOU♥️♥️♥️

[ofgentleresolve]

kinged him~ ( ;D )

♔ ———–

   Right now, Hyuk truly could care less about the lack of formal tone in the other’s words. Whilst others would probably try to set boundaries, Hyuk is more bothered about hands pressing onto his body to be sent steps back. The detective responds out of instinct, lifting his hands and making them land on the other’s wrist as to toss limbs away from him. There’s the sudden urge to do the same thing this stranger did, yet he refrains with a tightened jaw. If he gets into a physical fight right now, there’s probably no way he’ll be able to gain access to this coffee shop unless he has some sort of warrant — which he doesn’t have at the moment and is very difficult to get when not being part of the official law enforcement anymore. 

    He takes a deep breath; straightens his back and places palms on his hips. Eyes narrow for a moment, staring at the other when he speaks. It sounds like a bad excuse made on the spot, if you ask him. Hyuk looks over stranger’s shoulder, then back at him. 

  “And the whole place is closed over a single machine you can unplug so the smoke ceases? And if there’s smoke, then where is it? I don’t see or smell it.” 

   He’d know how smoke looks and smells like, wouldn’t he? Some of his most unsettling experiences are tied to fire, after all.  

   “Shouldn’t you also empty the place if there’s a problem like that, for safety? I can see people inside.” 

    Not that he could see the faces, or how they looked like, exactly — he could only pinpoint faded silhouettes behind the glass. 

    “So, based on that, I don’t believe you. I’m not—” 

    He frowns at the random suggestions he keeps sending his way.

     “Yah! What’s with you, huh? Are you high?! Do you work here? I could arrest you for operating under the influence and for battery.” 

———– ♔

“It’ll show up. I’d give it about…” He looks behind him again. “A minute or two? Yeah, maybe like 1.5 minutes- you’ll get your SMOKE then.”

So perhaps he shouldn’t be so lackadaisical in this moment, considering that if the King does get inside, there will be…well, Alfred doesn’t actually know what would happen, but it will probably come at the price of property damage. Property damage that he’ll have to pay in full out of pocket. Inconvenient and not to mention expensive too.

But more importantly, he smirks in spite of the former detective’s wrath and wipes off the metaphorical dust from the King’s suit. “And with what authority, sir?” The address is said almost mockingly. “Unless I see a badge on you, you’ve got no chance of getting in.” Not that he’d let anyone from the Gangnam Police Station in anyways. Or at least to the back of the house. That’s where the King is looking to enter, probably. 

The important part, however, is that the King is pissed and if he’s yelling, then Myungdae’s bound to get the hint. At this point, it’s a matter of riling up the bull to the point of no return and truly, there’s nothing Alfred is better at than pissing people off.

“I’m not high, but it looks like you might need it more.” Granted, they’d have to be in another country to do weed- it’s times like that, however, when Alfred misses good ol’ New York City. Maybe he should take a vacation there when this is all over- he’ll drag Nell and Myungdae with him too. “You should try it some time, none of the hard stuff, but a good blunt of weed- it’d do wonders for your nervous system." He sounds almost nostalgic at this made up scenario. “But since you’re asking for smoke right now, it’ll be here in three, two, one…”

KA-BOOM.

And with that, as the smoke leaks through the window, the Rook lifts his arm, finally letting the King through the entrance.

[lovee-infected]

hi! could i see your insights about ace? i saw a anon say from another blog that kinda has unrealistic expectations in a relationship and it kinda stuck with me. i mean in his ghost marriage he already knows the things he wants in a partner but he didn't show guilt about dumping his girlfriend, even. i think if you date him because he sees these quality in you and as the relationship last, he'll dump you if you get boring to him lol

I never thought that I'd say this but, wow, I'm impressed. I've been really curious about Ace since I get to see a variety of different content with different representations of his personality, so I decided to stick with his canon stories and lines. This analysis was so much fun to write and I'd assure you all that not only Ace but rather all of the first year characters are WAY more than they seem to be! Many just decide to ignore them and pass away, calling them good boys or precious stupid beanies at first.

Speaking of Ace, we've all seen how trending he's been recently. Many theories, thoughts and new arguments exist through the fandom as many want to get to know this boy better.

Theories like "Ace's betrayal theory" as well have been mentioned a lot lately, some agree and some disagree. While we aren't going to talk about that theory or any other theories in this analysis, I'd like to take time to talk about the reasons why those theories might seem appealing and accurate. In other words, we're going to talk about where they are coming from!

1) Ace is incredibly smart and brave

It's true that characters like Jade or Azul's remarkable genius often stands out as it's clearly visible through their presence in the game, from iconic decisions to stunning strategies. But what we need to realize is how characters like Ace can be just as inspiring while their true intelligence is often shallowed by extras and giving them much of a dumb picture in the game.

To begin with, let us note that Ace's brother himself was one of the considerably strong magicians in Heartslabyul's history and even his presence through the magicshift is still remarkable even though years has passed. As the second child of the family, Ace's change to achieve success is even higher than his brother's as he already has a role model he really looks up to, so in that point Ace isn't one to underestimate. But, let me point that his relationship with his brother also contains lots of jealousy and sometimes negativity. His brother was one to always trick Ace and he continues to do so even nowadays! Ace on the other hand doesn't enjoy being pissed off over and over even as he's used to it. Well, we can say that it's another reason for him to train his hardest and become a greater magician than his brother therefore he won't be the bully material of the Trappola household anymore.

Regardless of how effective his brother might've been on him, Ace himself has shown plenty of strong hints that reveal not only his high IQ but also EQ:

He can solve math problems in second, which is a rather important feature to note because the way you deal with math can directly effect the way you deal with life. Not saying that one has to be great at math to be great at something else but it's rather about the perspective and ability of logical thinking that it gives to one. I'd say that this effect is quite visible if you take a look at the way he speaks in serious situations; he's got much of an analytical brain. Let's not forget that Cater as well confirmed that he's much of a skill stealer, is pretty good at remembering things and is a quick thinker! These are go on to show how much of an underestimated genius he is.

Whenever something goes wrong, Ace would be the first one to notice it even if it's a silly matter. And it always begins with a seemingly childish argument, but ends incrucial matters that not a single soul had noticed before! Just take a look at chapter one, what would've happened if Ace hadn't spoken up? He was just one of the hundreds of students having to be severely punished under Riddle's strict rules and he surely wasn't the first one to go through this. Him taking the urge to fight Riddle sounded stupid and naïve at first, many even told him off because he was just acting like a pissed off child. But as he continued to argue and oppose toward Riddle's way as a leader, even Trey realized how he's been keeping his eye shut on all this problems for so long. The way Ace stood against Trey was iconic, he confidently defended his point not by his personal demands and feelings but with facts and logical comments on why Trey's way of threatening Riddle is wrong. He did the same thing again at he ghost marriage, just think of it! Not a single soul ever cared to tell the bride about true love but Ace was there, and he was the one and only to do this after more than 500 years of the bride's existence! This Ace, this serious and mature face of Ace is something that can surely fascinate anyone. His bravery, the way he puts all that strength through words, hisextremely logical point of view and his enthusiasm to solve the problems no matter how unimportant they seem to be is indeed appreciatble. Seriously though, what would've happened to Riddle is Ace wasn't there? When Ace firstly begun to oppose to him, everyone thought that is was just a childish argument. They had no idea how severe and destructive Riddle's temper issues were and how harmful they were down inside.

2) He's one of the dumbest characters in the whole game

You know what? He is dumb. Yes he's incredibly smart but this isn't going to change the fact that he is dumb as hell, so I'm never going to argue when someone's nagging on how much of an idiot he is. But most importantly, we need to know what's making him so dumb:

His presence through the stories has proved that Ace is eventually pretty good at detecting the main source of problems both on the mental and physical side. He was the first to realize Riddle's issues, Trey's huge mistake with Riddle, Ghost bride's unawareness and Epel's gloomy and sad aura in chapter 4. Ace's also one to easily tell whether what someone is doing is wrong or not, he can see through people and bring their mistakes to their attention. The problem is... he can't be quite the same with himself. That's what makes him awfully dumb.

Back in chapter one, he did have a point about Riddle's way of leadership being so unfair and messed up, but when he decided to challenge Riddle and even take his place as the dorm leader he was a total idiot who didn't how weak and unpractical his own magic was, he was being too dramatic. When he talked about his ex girlfriend, he just talked about how she held him back from doing what he wanted and was too uncool to spend time with, but he didn't mention a single thing about himself doing anything wrong in that relationship. He often fails to realize that he's got his own incompleteness and lacks just like anyone else, or prefers to put an blind eye to them most of the time (not all of the time)

Ace sets the perfect goals, but chooses the wrong path to achieve them. He needs to realize that just like everyone else, he can be sometimes wrong. He should take his time to get to know himself better; his abilities, his attitude, his faults and his mistakes and learn to be more patient and logical in order to achieve his goals. He's still young an inexperienced, by learning to put that brilliance of him into the perfect use he'd be able to become the great magician he wishes to be, and I'd say that in case that he continues to grow stronger and smarter, he'll have a high chance of being hesrtslabyul's next dorm leader!

3) He legit wants to be the "Ace"

This part's more of an attempt to do a name analyis and see how much it's been effective on Ace's personality. It actually makes a lot of snese since the word "Ace" itself has several meanings, and he used these different terms quite a few times in his personal stories. This point would also be explained in part (4) so for now, let's take a look at direct name definitions:

First of, remember what what an Ace is in a card game? "A playing card with a simple spot on it, ranked as the highest card in its suit" This goes on to tell us a lot, it's telling us what an Ace is. A loner yet the most powerful one of its own, just like how Ace wants to be.

Wanting to be an actuall Ace is definitely one of the things that sometimes makes Ace sound so jerky and he's aware of it! If you give it a closer look, you'll see that Ace doesn't really treat his friends like friends, especially with Deuce and Grim. He's often insulting or challenging them, and even during his birthday SSR when MC asked him about what he thinks of each of other first years (Who are basically his closest friends) he mainly criticized them and all, not a single word was said about things he likes about them and he didn't even call any of them his friend!

Well that's much of a jerky attitude to have toward people whom you spend almost all of your time with, especially your best of time.

He to play the role of the bad guy, the type to hang out with everyone without feeling any attached to them as even friends. Seems like our boy is trying to be a loner, a true Ace of cards and hearts. And he doesn't mind his friends calling him a bastard or jerk because of this. It's even confirmed that he's more of the popular guy type therefore he's mainly used to having people around!

On the other hand, he's trying his best to achieve success no matter what the obstacles are. It's true that he often messes up and fails, but we cannot say that he isn't trying. He almost lost his head for real during his SSR story where Riddle's favorite hedgehogs were lost because of Ace's impatience, but at last with the help of monsieur Rook and his own ability to imitate Rook's mole language skills Ace saved his neck one more time, and ended his story with a dramatic "Of course, I always Ace it!"

4) Ace does care, but pretends that he does not

In contrast to the fact that he wants to sound tricky,manipulative and mean, or how he's denying his friends' true worth to him like stated in part (3), Ace is probably one of the most caring and supportive characters in the game. Not saying that he's just as bright as someone like Kalim, but his way of seeing through people and wishing them to be better, wealthier and happier than they already are is surely something. This fact is often ignored because, well...everyone's too busy calling him either dumb or sus/ jk!

Just imagine having a friend or at least, a classmate you know like Ace. How's he supposed to be? He'd realize it when someone's bullying/bothering/ or intentionally harming you, and he isn't going to be silent about it. If you see that you're permanently sad, angry, rude or loud then again he'd speak up, he isn't going to just pull up with anyone's unhealthy habit like nothing's happened. He's got much of a big brain as well so you should expect him to say a bunch of helpful and meaningful stuff when he's using that brain, mainly in serious situations. He may not be a permanently mutual to have around, but when the troubles arrive, know that having Ace around is always an advantage.

To top it off, he's even shown sympathy toward people whom he seemed to like the least at first like Riddle; he wishes Riddle to be happier, to smile more, to be more open about his emotions with other students. At some point he even admits that he looks up to him, he used to overestimate his powers and challenged Riddle, but during the ghost marriage he said that he knows how powerful and strong Riddle is, therefore he should work his hardest to study and train to become strong just like him! He already seems to be more cheerful and bright when MC is talking to him, but when it comes to Grim and Deuce...it gets quite complicated. What we see the most is often Ace insulting them or saying that he's going to kick their asses, but they're also his closest friends all though he refuses to admit to it.

Just wait for Deuce or Grim to get in a serious danger or pain, and see how much of a protective one Ace can be! He isn't going to remain silent when one is in danger, but he's surely going to deny all that effort and affection he gave into action afterwards. When Ace can feel this cautious and understanding toward Riddle, someone who isn't even a friend of his then imagine how supportive and caring he would be toward his close friends like Deuce, MC and Grim!

In his ghost marriage as well, his words and the way he spoke of the meaning of true love left everyone, even Crowley, impressed (Crowley even said that he's fallen in love with this side of Ace's personality), but refused to admit that he was speaking of his true feelings after the ceremony. Someone like Grim is too bold to recognize how much of a different person Ace can be inside, so he claimed that Ace was just rambling nonsense without thinking of what he was saying back then, and Ace agreed with him! This is a continuation to part (3) where we talked about how he wants to be a loner, he doesn't want anyone to see how caring and sometimes, emotional he can be inside! Poor boy is quite shy showing his true feelings we can tell~

5) Ace can be quite tricky and manipulative

This part will also explain some of the main reasons behind famous theories like "Ace's betrayal theory", and I wanted to have a certain part to talk about this point specifically because it's been quite trending through the whole fandom, and many are wondering why theorizers are considering his betrayal a possibility, so here we go!

As said, one of the main factors the makes Ace seem suspicious would be his incredible intelligence. The fact that he can actually be that smart all the time but isn't openly showing his talents and abilities can be quite questionable, more details regarding his intelligence and most likely high IQ and EQ were discussed in part (1)!

Enough with intelligence, let's focus on his personality! This is mainly what this part is talking about, his trickiness. Just like his father and older brother, Ace is pretty good with magic tricks. Small and fun tricks are a convenient yet easy ways to inspire others and Ace doesn't mind showing the crowd what he's got up in sleeve when possible. But the thing is...this isn't just about fancy tricks.

This ability can be expanded into any other field such as mental terms and enable him to indirectly control and play with one's mind. That's more of a possibility though! He hasn't yet shown any signs of being any manipulative but, well, we can't say that it's beyond his abilities. Ace himself can be quite sarcastic and mean at the time, he doesn't seem to mind slightly tricking his friends either. Nothing about him seems to be serious, but the possibilities remain still.

The way he learnt those tricks as well is mentionable; no one ever teached himm any of those tricks, he learnt them through being repeatedly tricked, and learning to copy and redo what he saw. Both Rook and Cater so far have confirmed that Ace's ability to learn so quickly and learn and redo techniques just by watching them is fantastic.

His genius and ability to learn and memorize everything that he needs to learn pretty fast, along side his tricky and sometimes personality can make Ace quite dangerous. If someone like him decides to choose such a remarkable talent for evil purposes, that's surely going to be bad news. That's much and less of what makes Ace's betrayal theory make sense although there're still fans who find it quite questionable. I'm not a supporter of this theory myself as I hadn't seen any signs of Ace having any bad intentions so far, but I do get where the theorizers are coming from and that makes sense. Ace has been trying to put on much of a mean and lowkey evil face on through the story and no one can really say what's exactly going on in that brain. We'll that about this uncertainty in part (7)!

6) His past relationship was...uh

For now, Ace is the only character who is confirmed to have experience in love and relationships, and this was a rather effective factor since many have been talking about Ace's past relationship afterwards. The thing is...Ace did talk about how his girlfriend held him back from having fun and living the life he wanted to live. Well there's actually a lot we should say about this one so I'm not gonna rush to the end, let's think about all of the aspects of this situation logically:

First of, the relationship itself. I'd say that it was a wrong attempt for them to date each other in the first place because obviously, Ace and his girlfriend weren't made for each other. They were total opposites in interests and they couldn't even have fun together. If Ace chose to go on a wild roller coater ride, the girl would've freaked out and when she chose a small, childish ride that she liked Ace instead didn't enjoy it at all. It's surely an issue when you and your partner can't even watch a movie which both of you can enjoy together since their tastes were totally different, just jow was this relationship going to last? Ace wasn't happy, and if he was going to do what made him happy the girl in return would've been sad. They were two different people of two different points, dating at this point was nothing but a mistake.

On the other hand, Ace as well is guilty. First off, she shouldn't have dated the girl in the first place if he was aware of how different her tastes were. Second, from what he said he never showed any signs of dissatisfaction when he had to give up on what he liked to listen to what the girl friend liked. The girl friend obviously told him that she was scared of a horror movie, but Ace just kept his mouth shut and felt awfully annoyed as he watched a romance movie with her while he didn't like it at all. If he'd at least told her girlfriend about this, she wouldn't have felt as injured and cheated when Ace broke up with her. Ace shouldn't have bottled it up, he deserved to enjoy the relationship just as much as the girl did. He shouldn't have expected things to get any better if he wasn't going to solve anything about it in the first place. If he'd talked about his personal desires and favorites as well, and had his uncomfortableness with most of the girl's choices discussed before hand, there could've been a chance of them coming into a conclusion and even not breaking up! The girl could've tried to be braver for him, and Ace could've agreed to be softer because of her. There would've been a HUGE difference if they'd talked about it logically.

Also, keep this in mind that the girl had no idea about Ace's uncomfortableness which was low key naïve of her (It's not cool when you don't even realize that your boyfriend doesn't like something) but this also made him awfully unprepared for a break up! Ace should've st least talked about his feelings and how he was unable to continue that relationship with her instead of just dropping her out of nowhere. That would've also decreased the chance of having to deal with the girl's friends after wards!

Finally, let's say that this relationship was wrong in too many aspects. They weren't each other's type, and we can't really blame Ace for dropping someone whom he couldn't be happy with. The main of being in a relationship is spending time with someone whom you can enjoy your time with. He as well was guilty because he can't just drop the girl like he just didn't care and had gotten tired of her while he had his own reasons for dropping her, he should've let the girl know that it wasn't necessarily her fault, it was about Ace not being able to relate to her tastes and habits.

Also, let's be honest. Not much is expected when a 15 year old is dating. Being in a relationship is an awfully sensitive and important choice and someone like Ace hasn't reached that level of maturity to be ready to date someone, let alone doing it at his 15s! Honestly... they should've learnt a lot before dating each other because it isn't a silly thing. Dating like this is nothing but playing around for a while for fun, it's a childish game of spending some time together until they break up.

For now, Ace is finds love quite silly and meaningless so we can clearly see that his past relationship has pissed him off. Well Ace needs to realize that his relationship with his ex wasn't a serious one, so it's normal for it to seem unimportant and silly. He needs to learn a lot without dating someone again, such as knowing how crucial it is to make sure that his hobbies would match his partners, to make sure tjat they get along, and simply, he needs to find his own type! Not all people are made for each other, and he isn't supposed to fall for anyone with any possible personality that pops up on his way.

Also, I'd say that he still needs to focus on studying instead of dating. He needs to reach the required level of maturity to be ready to start a healthy and successful relationship again. Also, he might end up being totally different from what we've seen about him being in a relationship do far when he grows up! Idealistics do change a lot olin teenagehood.

7) We need to talk about our first years a lot more!!!

This point isn't just about him, but rather all of the first years! If I were to rate the most ignored and shallowed personalities of twst, the first years should've gone on the top of this list. Even when we're speaking of the mischaracterized characters of the game, many consider Ace and Deuce to be the least mischaracterized while they happen to be the most mischaracterized as no one evencares to see through them and feel like we aren't mischaracterizing them just because we're ignoring them! Come on guys, Ace's design and personality is a lot more complicated and harder to read than characters like Vil and even Leona!

Out of all first years Sebek was the only one to get some proper shout outs so far but why isn't anyone talking about Ace and Deuce the way they deserve to be talked about? Their presence through the game is even more important than the dorm leaders as they are the closest characters to MC, and their personality design is just incredible, no just because of how perfectly detailed it is, but also because of giving them this unpredictability and incompleteness which totally matches their age!

Studies have shown that judging one's personality based on how they're doing at the age of 16 or younger is prettyhard and impossible, and it's a totally serious fact. At the age of 16, human's personality is under severe effects and changes until reaching it's final-developed shape. That's accurate toward almost all of the first years except Jack since he seems to have more of a mature personality.

NRC's first years are really complicated, especially a character like Ace. That why I said that we can't yet tell if he's a good guy or not, because at this level of life he can choose to be anything. He can be good, he can be bad, he can be neutral. That's why he's showing too much of opposite actions at the moment. One second he's being the biggest idiot in the whole world, the other second he's planning like a 50 year old genius. One second he's being protective over his friends, the other second he sighs and tells MC how annoying they are.

That's why Ace is hard to read, we can't tell what his true feelings are until he reaches the required mental stability to be judged as a mature and complete personality. 18 year olds like Vil have already reached that level of maturity and completeness, finding their unique magics as well is another sign of it. But our first years still need to learn and experience until they find their real selves, to see who they are.

This is one of the most adorable facts about their design because they really gave him this young and wild and incomplete nature to show that they're still young! This is quite incredible how careful Yana was to remember that they all needed some this childishness in their design, their designs are just as accurate and realistic as a real 16 year old's! They still need to learn, and that's why they're the closest ones to MC.

MC needs to learn and get to see more and more of this world, and so do the first years! They're just as unexperienced and new to this world, and they can relate to MC better than anyone else can!

So please, from now on, let's remember to talk about not only Ace, but also all of the first years more often. Ace and Deuce's designs especially are the most detailed and beautiful ones if you take time to know them better. Remember that after the 7 dorm leaders, Ace and Deuce's roles as the protagonist's closest allies are the most crucial in the game, so let's not just decide to ignore all these creative features and pass by them without thinking how much they can mean.

Woah, this one was quite harder to write than I'd expected! There are way too many things to say about him which made me have to summarize this into just this 7 parts for now. Ace is surely and odd yet interesting one to study, even more interesting than usually famous characters like Leona and Azul, which is partly because of how unpredictable he is!

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Long Live the Queen

“A special spell”, as @panacea-wishes would say, but this time for the Sorceress herself!

***Warning: Mild chapter 5 spoilers!***

Imagine this...

Any affair hosted by Pomefiore was sure to be an opulent one—but today, the dormitory was decked out even moreso than usual. Decorations dripping with gold, tablecloths of shimmering silk, gourmet catering, a private orchestra, and immaculate outfits for each attendee... No expense was spared for the special occasion.

You were but one face in that shining sea, dressed in your finest garb—the only outsider invited to join the festivities. To your left and to your right, strangers in long robes and ties drifted about. They moved so fluidly, cutting across the polished floor like swans upon a lake of glass.

You shifted your feet uncomfortably, feeling a bit out of place in such a glamorous space. You took an anxious sip from your flute of sparkling apple juice. Bubbles danced up and tickled your nose as the beverage went down.

“Did you hear?” a nearby mob student said—not to you, but to a few of his friends. “Schoenheit-sama will be interning with Potions & Lotions, that famous skincare company from the Land of Pyroxene.”

“I heard, I heard! He’s going to be working with their prestigious Research and Development deparment, isn’t he? His proficiency in magical pharmecuticals will serve him well there.”

“Amazing, as expected of Schoenheit-sama! He makes me proud to be a student of Pomefiore!”

You took another swig of your apple juice, trying to avoid eavesdropping. But your curiousity got the better of you, and the mob students’ words floated over yet again.

“What of Hunt-senpai?”

“I heard he will be interning at a detective agency in Pyroxene’s capitol! He was scouted by the police chief himself for his eye for detail.”

“Wow... I hope we’re able to get fancy internship offers like that when our fourth year arrives.”

That’s right. People are moving on. Growing up. Advancing in the world.

Good for them.

You took a third sip—this time, the juice was somewhat bittersweet. Your eyes flitted about, seeking a familiar face, not gossip, to latch onto. Luckily for you, you did not have to search for very long.

“Your attention, please.” A clear, commanding voice announced—and at once, the orchestra silenced. All heads, including yours, turned to the peacock throne at the head of the room.

There stood Vil, in all of his beauty. Today, he wore a form-fitting suit, woven in the colors of green, blue, and violet—the colors of a peacock. His golden hair was up, held in place by a jeweled pin with feathers that jutted out. Vil’s eye makeup mimicked the colors of his suit, cool hues flaring out and making him seem even more bold and imposing than before.

He nodded in satisfaction at those in attendance. “Thank you for being here for the ascension ceremony this evening. As you all know, I will soon be departing to complete an internship—as will your vice-dorm leader, Rook. Therefore, the time has come to crown a new queen for Pomefiore. He will be responsible for selecting a new vice-dorm leader... as well as leading you potatoes to greater heights.”

A mob student before you started to clap. Then a few others joined in.

You wondered if you should set down your class and join in the applause, but Vil was quick to bring a hand up. The beginnings of clapping ceased.

“Hold your applause for your new dorm leader,” he insisted. Vil raised his voice. “Epel Felmier.”

“Yes.”

You swallowed hard at the mention of his name, at the swell of his soft voice.

He stepped up from the crowd, which parted to make way for him. Epel had grown several centimeters in the past few years, now only a bit shorter than Vil. He maintained the delicate beauty he had held in his time as a first year, those wispy lavender locks, long lashes, and full lips. But his eyes—they had sharpened into sapphires circled with makeup moonlight, and he walked with a newfound confidence.

Pomefiore’s dorm leader uniform fitted his new form well. Flowing cloth cascaded over his long arms and legs, and formed a train of fabric wherever he walked. Click, click, went his boots, the cords that bound his waist falling in time with his steps.

All that he was missing was the coveted crown.

“Vil-senpai.” Epel stopped before his dorm leader—soon to be ex-dorm leader—and knelt.

“I am entrusting you with the safety and the security of Pomefiore’s students—and the dorm’s future,” Vil declared, chin raised. “Are you prepared to take on the responsibilites of a dorm leader?”

“I am,” Epel replied with quiet conviction. “I swear...!! I will lead Pomefiore to greatness, just as you and Rook-senpai have before me.”

“Hmph. Don’t let me down, then.” Vil smirked before turning and calling out, “the crown.”

Rook, in a violet suit and crimson bowtie, approached with a plush cushion—and upon it, an intricate crown. The same crown Vil had once worn himself, wrought of gold. A sword piercing a heart as the centerpiece.

The huntsman kneeled, bowing his head and holding out the cushion to his queen. He didn’t need to look to know that Vil had nodded to him before plucking the accessory up.

“With this crown, I pass the torch to you. With this crown, you are Queen undisputed.” Vil recited, raising the glittering diadem over Epel’s head. He brought it down upon the boy’s hair. Gold dug into lilac locks, finding a new home nestled on his head. “You may now rise.”

Epel slowly stood—his back to the crowd, to you. He lifted his head and looked Vil right in the eyes.

Sapphire and amethyst colliding.

“May you carry on the unrelenting efforts of the Beautiful Queen in my place.” Vil took his junior by the shoulders and spun him around. “Pomefiore—your new dorm leader, Epel Felmier.”

The crowd erupted into applause and whistles, cheers and elated well wishes. You, too, were swept up in the frenzy. What little remained of your sparkling apple juice had been set aside in favor of clapping.

Clapping, clapping—one palm hitting the other in rapid succession. Hard, loud. Until your hands were red and swollen and raw.

Raising a dainty hand, Epel waved back.

“... Hey.”

You jumped at the familiar voice that greeted you as you picked up a new flute of apple juice. You dared to look—and there was Epel, in his full, regal dorm leader regalia. Crown and all.

“O-Oh... Hey!!” you stammered, trying to play off your nerves (and failing). “Nice party, huh? Thanks for inviting me as your plus one... I don’t think I’d ever be invited to a shindig as fancy as this one if it weren’t for you.”

Epel offered a gentle smile. “I wanted you to be here. I should be the one thanking you for coming.”

“Of course I’d come. I wouldn’t want to miss your big coronation,” you reached out to give him a playful shove on the arm—but paused midway and let your arm fall. It wouldn’t be appropriate to act so casual with a dorm leader, you scolded yourself.

“You’re all grown up now, Epel,” you whispered, clutching a hand to your chest. “Congratulations, Mr. Pomefiore dorm leader.”

“Ah, well...” Epel rested a hand on the back of his neck. “It’s a new title, but... I like to think that I’m still ‘just Epel’, the Pomefiore student. I’ll always be that farm boy that tried to pick a fight with Vil-senpai—Great Seven knows how many times.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve come a long way since your first year. Especially during VDC—you shone really brightly on that stage.”

“That’s true, but I’ve still got a long way to go. Vil-senpai helped me to realize that.” Epel glanced to the surrounding Pomefiore students. Eating, chatting, laughing. “I just hope I can live up to the legacy he left behind. It’s some pretty big shoes to fill in.”

“You’ll do just fine. You always do,” you reassured him with a pat on the shoulder—before quickly jerking your hand back.

Too familiar, too causal.

Epel raised an eyebrow. “Is... Is something the matter? You’ve been a little jittery all evening.”

“I...” Your voice trailed off as soon as you gazed into his curious blue eyes. Like the ocean, welling up with sincerity. You couldn’t lie to him—you just couldn’t. “I’m just worried that we’ll grow apart now that you’re a dorm leader.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because!” You gestured vaguely to the celebration. “A dorm leader has more important things to do than hanging out with people like me. You have students to lead, events to plan. I... I think I’d only get in the way of your progress.”

“... Don’t say that,” Epel pleaded, suddenly grasping your hands. “Please, please don’t say that.”

You stared at the contact—where his hands met yours. “I... I don’t understand...”

“I couldn’t have made it this far without your support, either. You picked me up when I was down, and you cheered me on when I was at my lowest and about to quit.” Epel’s delicate featured hardened—from glass to diamond. “So don’t ever say those awful things about yourself.”

“But... You’ve made it so far, and I’m still—“

“A farmer never forgets his roots,” Epel said mysteriously, a finger taped to his lips, “and it’s not just me. We all flower one day. You may just be a late bloomer—but when you finally do bloom... I bet you’ll be the prettiest apple blossom in the whole orchard.”

Your cheeks flamed. He laughed, giving your hand a squeeze, and pulling you close to him. You fell against his chest—sturdy and secure and warm—and glanced up at him in shock.

“What are you...”

“Dance with me,” Epel suggested with a light-hearted smile, “and I’ll show you that you’re worthy of this queen.”

The orchestra had started up again, the strings to a new song flowing like water. Turn, twirl, dip, went the pairs on the dance floor, in time with the music. All of this, set in golden lamplight.

Outside, the sky was a dark blue, the starlight reflected in his sapphire eyes. And here he was, offering his outstretched hand to you.

He was still the same sweet, loyal Epel you had always known. The same young man that set your heart aflutter, whether he was soft-spoken or brash. He was both—just as he was both a dorm leader and your beloved.

You melted, and your hesitation dissipated like the winter snow.

You slipped your hand into his and beamed. “Long live the Queen.”

[fridaythe13ththeseries]

Eye of Death

Episode Recap #39: Eye of Death Original Airdate: February 4, 1989

Starring: John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion Louise Robey as Micki Foster Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast: Tom McCamus as Atticus Rook Brooke Johnson as Abigail Bodine Jack Creley as Edward Easton Patrushka Sarakula as Lydia David Bolt as Colonel Danny Pawlick as Wounded Soldier Bernard Behrens as General Robert E. Lee Al Koslik (as Al Kozlik) as Murphy Richard Waugh as Zack Bodine Reg Dreger as Detective Howard Michael Beattie as Photographer MacLeod

Written by Peter Jobin & Timothy Bond and Roy Sallows Directed by Timothy Bond

Open with a man writing a letter to Jefferson Davis about the casualties his troops are suffering, and the further trouble ahead for them with advancing Union troops. Turns out the man is Robert E. Lee and this is the Civil War.

We see shots of people around this camp, many dead, dying or severely wounded. In a house used as a make-shift hospital, it is more the same, the horrors of war. A man is trying to convince Lee that they need to retreat, but Lee won't hear of it. Then a strange man approaches and tells them they will be safe if they stay. Lee seems to know this man, and while he is apprehensive, he listens. The man, Mr. Rook, asks if has ever been wrong before?

More shots of wounded and dying, then Rook stealing from a dead soldier. We meet a wounded soldier, Zack, is being tended to by his wife Abigail. Rook arrives saying he is the doctor and sends Abby for supplies. He takes the flask that stopped the bullet from killing Zack, then twists his neck and runs off. He is shot at and chased but vanishes into a square of light.

Rook then appears and runs out of a Civil War slide photo projected on a wall. He dumps out his bag of all the items he stole from the past and calls Edward, telling him he got a shipment of pristine antiques.

Cut to the auction, and Jack is admiring the flask with the bullet hole, while Micki and Ryan scan the crowd for Rook. Jack calls Rook a picker, like himself, who find items to sell. Jack thinks Rook would have sold the magic lantern from Curious Goods.

Rook is admiring an antique slide, but the owner says its not for sale. The man says Rook should make $100,000 at least, tonight. Micki spots him and wonders if Rook is aware of the curse. The auction begins, the flask the first item. Ryan chats up Rook's date. The flask sells for $15,000.

Rook asks Edward, the auctioneer, what Lee's broken sword would get. Edward says about a half million. Jack appears and Rook recognizes him. Jack compliments his good fortune and tells him he took over Louis' store, mentioning that he knows Rook was a customer. Rook and his date leave, Ryan relates that the woman said Rook has been in town for weeks, but Micki is confused. He never answers his phone. Ryan goes to follow Rook.

Rook and his date, Lydia, head to his place. Ryan watches. Having a drink, she is surprised by Rook in his old-time outfit. He says it is for a history lesson. He shows her the lantern, lights it, and tells her it lasts three hours and lets him go anywhere. The slide he puts in is from 1862, and says 22,000 men died, leaving a fortune in antiques. He creeps Lydia out, then snaps her neck so the cursed item will work. Outside, Ryan sees Rook dump her body in the trash. Back in the apartment, Rook prepares to enter the slide when Ryan jumps him, and they are both transported to 1862. They struggle, Ryan falls and Rook takes off. Ryan is shocked by the sound of gunfire, then knocked out by Rook.

At the store, Micki and Jack are frustrated reading on the lantern and worried about Ryan. Micki speculates on how Rook specializes in one specific year and battle. Jack guesses how the curse works and they rush off.

Ryan wakes in a bed, bandaged. Abby and her father saved him, but when Ryan says he is from Chicago, the old man grabs his rifle. Abby stops him, and they question Ryan, who says he's looking for Rook and they think Ryan is a bounty hunter. They wonder if he can help them find the man who killed Zack, unaware Rook is that man. Ryan clues them in. Ryan says he has to see Lee.

Abby gives Ryan some appropriate clothes that were her late husband's. Abby also gives Ryan Zack's gun, hoping he can kill Rook with it.

At Rook's apartment, the cops are swarming because of Lydia's found body, and one stops Jack and Micki, asking if they live in the building, Jack says yes, calling himself Rook, and Micki his daughter. The cop asks if they recognize Lydia, they say no. They enter the apartment and find the lantern in use. Jack stops Micki from interrupting the lantern, and they look at the picture on the wall. Jack finds blood on the floor, then tries to figure out the lantern.

In 1862, Abby's dad catches Rook with his rifle and leads him off.

Micki finds a book Rook was reading to learn about the past. Jack says the lantern will burn for awhile, and tells Micki it might be Ryan's only way back if he did end up in the past.

Rook tells the old man he has plans for Lee, then tricks him and kills him. Ryan watches and shoots but Rook escapes back to the present and blows out the lantern, trapping Ryan. Ryan tries to rouse the old man, but soldiers spot him and chase and shoot after him. Ryan hides in a tree.

At Curious Goods, Jack and Micki do research on that specific date. Micki wonders if Rook kills to go forward in time, too. Jack thinks so. Then Micki finds Ryan in photo from 1862 with Lee. Jack tries to explain how Ryan could have died in the past to a confused Micki.

Ryan listens as Lee continues to disregard his aide in favor of waiting on Rook and the promised plans from the Union side.

The cop knocks on Rook's door and wants a statement about Lydia's body. The cop doesn't seem to remember Jack pretending to be Rook, but asks for ID. Rook overpowers him, strangles him and kills him. But the slide is broken in the struggle.

A soldier show's Abby her father's body and the description of his supposed killer shocks Abby. She rushes off to find Ryan first.

Rook calls Edward, saying he can still get the sword if the man can get the money.

Ryan startles Abigail, and says Rook killed her father. She grabs the rifle, unsure. Ryan tries to come clean and explain that he is from the future. He shows her items from his wallet. She is confused.

Jack and Micki drive back to Rook's and see him leaving. They follow.

Abby is having a hard time believing Ryan, who tries to convince her that her family didn't die in vain. He says he needs to stop Rook from getting Lee's sword. His plan is for her to turn him in to Lee.

Edward can't get the money at night, but Rook says he can take antiques instead, and tells the man to get the other slide from 1862. When Edward does, Rook puts it in the projector, then kills the old man. Before he can step into the past, Micki tackles him and they both vanish. Jack is too late and remains in the present.

Rook punches Micki and takes off. A photographer wants a photo of Lee and his aides. He takes one and wants another as Abby leads Ryan at gunpoint to Lee, who asks why she think he's a spy. As Lee, his men and Ryan enter the building, the photographer snaps a photo. The one Micki saw in the book.

Micki wanders, looking for Ryan and finds a stray horse. Jack checks on the flame, which is still burning.

Lee questions Ryan about Union plans, but Ryan has a hard time remembering his history. Rook appears and gives Lee the plans he promised. Ryan tries to dissuade Lee, but he has Ryan taken away. Abigail sees Ryan hauled off and Rook leave with Lee's sword. She follows.

Micki races to camp on horseback and rushes up and rescues Ryan.

Abby shoots toward Rook, who tries to stop her, then grabs the gun that goes off and shoots Abigail. Ryan hits Rook, then rushes to Abby who dies. Ryan wants to kill him, but Micki stops him. She tells him they have to run to the square of light to get back, which appeared when Abby died. They rush off with Rook chasing them. Ryan and Micki leap through into the present, with Rook following and shooting. Jack does the only thing he can and blows out the lantern. Rook is caught in the wall, dead.

Later, Ryan is amazed to see his photo in the Civil War history book. Ryan wonders if anything Rook or he did in the past changed things. Jack says maybe the past happened as it was supposed to. Micki thinks Lee's sword should be worth something. Jack says maybe a couple of bucks, cause everyone knows Lee broke his sword. This one would be seen as a fake.

My thoughts:

I've always like this episode. I think they handled the scenes in 1862 very well, doing their best in their budget to make you feel like you've gone back in time.

Also like the cursed item. Quite a potential with this one, imagine going anywhere in time as long as you had a slide for the projector?

Rook could have been a little more subtle in his actions. He kills Zack in the midst of people, kills Lydia and dumps her right outside his building. Playing with fire, this guy.

Ryan wonders if they affected the past. Well, who knows what was changed with Zack, Abby and her father being killed. Maybe they would have changed history, or one of their descendants could have? But as Jack speculates, maybe history played out just as it was supposed to.

Loved Micki riding in on horseback to save Ryan. She has come a long way from the beginning. Also loved Jack not just grabbing the latern, realizing they needed to proceed cautiously to make sure Ryan could get back.

The cop investigating Lydia's death was not great, and in fact reminded me of the cop from Badge of Honor.

Also, what the heck did the landlord and cops think when they found Rook stuck INSIDE the wall? Good thing Jack didn't give them his real name.

And very cool to have a photo of Ryan from 1862!

Next week: Face of Evil

[homeformyheart]

no feelings - mason x f!detective (twc)

author’s note: my original intention was to do a post-bakery, heartbreak moment for mason and I started this before the demo updated, but needed to change it since and hopefully it still works. I have no idea if I’ll do a part 2, my original plans don’t spark joy atm, and I was tired of seeing this in my WIPs xD. very minor book 3 spoilers (allusions but no specific mentions). enjoy! *thank you @silma-words for giving this a read-through all those months ago when i was stuck and to @narrativefoiltrope for the parentheses suggestion!

copyright: all characters, except my oc detective, are owned by mishka jenkins @seraphinitegames. series/pairing: the wayhaven chronicles – mason x f!detective (ria knight) rating/warnings: 16+; swearing, angst word count: 1.7k summary: ria wants to end things with mason before she catches feelings for someone who won’t return them. mason isn’t sure what he wants but knows he doesn’t want to give up what they have.

no feelings

mason just stared at the door to ria’s office, the shades obscuring the sight of her but he could still hear the sound of her heartbeat. solid and steady, like her.

he didn’t know why he said what he did. he just knew that she was hurt, even though she pretended not to be. and even though he wanted to talk to her, he didn’t know what he wanted to say.

it didn’t matter though, seeing as how she didn’t seem like she wanted to talk to him anytime soon.

but he couldn’t bring himself to walk away.

he knocked, hesitantly. once. twice.

“come in,” a voice called out, loud to his senses, vibrating ever so slightly.

he opened the door and paused in the doorway, eyes searching hers for permission.

her head rose from where it had been resting on her arms, fists clenching once she noticed him. she lowered her hands to her lap, but mason had no doubt that her knuckles were white.

“what do you want?” she asked, her features stitching together a mask of indifference.

but he could see the truth in her light blue eyes. it was his special skill after all, being able to read people and get the truth from them.

a skill he tried to avoid using with ria as much as possible for some reason.

when did that happen?

even now, as he was holding her gaze, he knew he wasn’t trying to read her. but he could still sense that something was off. and he wanted, no needed, to figure out what it was.

the silence between them grew as ria’s gaze shifted. she looked expectantly at him. “well? if you don’t have anything new to report on the case, you should leave. i have a lot of work to do.”

he shook his head, a force of habit. he really didn’t know what to say.

she glanced away, eyes flitting across the posters and papers pinned to the wall next to her desk, but mason could see the gears turning in her mind. when she turned back to look at him, the pain from before was replaced by a newfound intensity that slammed into him and sent a prickly, but still pleasant, tingle across his chest and down his arms.

a knowing smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as her eyes appraised him, and not unlike the first time they flirted, the motion sent something warm and soothing down south. as her eyes met his again, the warmth turned into a simmering heat and he took a step forward, her darkened irises drawing him in.

he raised an eyebrow at her. while he was no stranger to the constant attraction between them, which pushed and pulled like the tides but always met each other at dusk and dawn, it didn’t seem like the time.

for once, he wanted to talk.

“look, about what i said before,” he started, folding his arms across his chest.

ria made her way around her desk until she was standing in front of him. “you were right. you made it clear that you were only interested in fun, and i agreed,” she shrugged, tapping her fingers lightly on his chest.

his brow furrowed. while he did say something to that affect, it wasn’t what he wanted.

“that’s all this is and all it’s going to be, so i’ll see you later at my apartment?” ria asked pointedly, her lip curling into a smirk.

a frustrated rumble crouched low in the back of his throat. “i never said that this is all it’s going to be,” he snapped, flinching at the volume of his own voice.

ria didn’t move a muscle. her light blue eyes had darkened to a cloudy grey, only a few shades lighter than his own.

“you didn’t have to, sunshine. i’m saying it. so am i seeing you later or not?” she asked, the glare on her face reminding him of the daggers she had hidden under her jacket sleeves.

an uncomfortable itch started in his belly and he subconsciously scratched at the fabric of his shirt, blunt nails digging in harder before he realized the itch was under his skin.

and it was spreading. traveling up toward his chest and out before making its way down his arms. leaving behind a tiny, circular weight in his stomach that he didn’t care for.

he could recognize it for what it was, a form of conflict. swirling counter-clockwise as a hurricane does when it approaches shore. but he didn’t understand why it was there.

what he did understand is that if she wanted to see him, he wanted to see her.

he gave her a slow nod. “i’ll see you later,” he said, hesitating for a brief second with his hand on the doorknob.

he glanced back at her and said softly, “sweetheart.”

~ against her better judgment, ria met mason’s gaze before he left, the murmured pet name on his lips seeming to glide through the air and hit her in the chest. her body slumped back against the desk as he left, energy draining out of her and leaving behind the tempestuous grey look now seared in her mind. his words left an uncomfortable lump in her throat, and she hoped no one else came into her office.

she looked at the clock, a feeble attempt to fast-forward to the end of the day, only for her shoulders to sag at the realization that she basically still had eight hours to go. despite the tension in their earlier conversation and the uncomfortable moments they’ve had since breakfast, ria wasn’t mad at mason.

even though she had stormed out while trying to blink back tears and then he stormed away from her after finding out about bobby, she didn’t blame him.

no, the only person she was fucking pissed off at was herself.

it wasn’t supposed to get this far.

she wasn’t good with feelings. it was always easier to push away any uncomfortable thoughts or emotions by keeping her body physically distracted, preferably with either a partner in the gym or a partner in her bed.

learning how to box and working her way through all the various martial art forms gave her focus after quitting ballet.

(though it did little to quell the feelings of inadequacy caused by things completely out of her control.)

teaching herself how to use knives and rook’s family dagger was a welcome distraction after she was forced to abandon her aspirations to join the army.

(though digging through rook’s old stuff in the attic in desperate protest – to find anything that would tell her he would’ve supported her – only drowned her in the loss.)

flirting and sleeping with every person who showed interest in her and seemed even an inch better than bobby fucking marks.

(though every little fling, whether a one-night stand or a string of awkward first dates, only added supporting evidence to the story she told herself that no one would stick around for her.)

and it was supposed to be the same with mason.

no strings. no baggage. no goddamn feelings.

ria gripped the edge of her desk with her hands until her knuckles turned white. she already broke her first rule of dating: don’t catch feelings.

you can’t get hurt if there aren’t feelings involved, she reminded herself of the mantra that got her out of several attempts at relationships after breaking up with bobby.

but she could still implement her second rule.

~ instead of heading back to the warehouse right away, mason wandered toward the trees bordering the station that offered a shady respite from the scorching sun against his sensitive skin.

the heat was only going to get worse, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave just yet. even in the dark shade of the trees around him, the sun burned against his skin almost as if it were bare. he winced, not even wanting to think about how much worse it might feel if he wasn’t at least wearing a long-sleeved shirt.

they still needed to work together.

he pushed the seemingly random thought out of his mind as quickly as it had appeared, his body reacting viscerally in disagreement to the sentiment.

this wasn’t about maintaining a working relationship with ria.

this was bigger than that.

at least, he assumed, though he wasn’t exactly sure why.

he lit a cigarette, trying to distract from how his shirt is quickly becoming an incubator for the heat. smoke curled upward as he leaned his head back against the trunk of a tree.

he was always in it for the fun. it made traveling around and the downtime between missions more bearable.

he didn’t really care for hobbies and interests the way nate and felix did. and he could only take a beating from adam every so often.

having fun, especially with humans – who were so easy to rile up and even easier to read – made the endless time pass in a way that felt normal. for him anyway.

learning all the different ways he could elicit sounds from them. figuring out how quickly he could make them peak. knowing exactly what to do to leave them wanting more.

he took a long drag of the cigarette, closing his eyes and wishing the burn in his lungs would linger a little longer. it numbed the burn on the outside of his body.

but no feelings. that always took the fun out of things.

that was the rule.

and ria was fun, there was no denying that. maybe even the most fun he’s had in a very long time.

she knew his rule. hell, it was her rule too.

it was the perfect situation for him.

maybe he didn’t want to lose out on such an ideal situation. or mess up the team dynamic.

he dumped the cigarette butt onto the floor and put out the embers with his shoe.

whatever it was, he knew he wasn’t ready for things with her to end.

* * * * * taglist: @kelseaaa; @kat-tia801; @anotherbeingsworld; @babycracker; @writer-ish; @gloynporslen; @sosolenoo; @alyssalauren; @wayhavenots; @pearlsandsteel; @gingerbreton; @takemyopenheart; @mevnraels;

[theangrycomet]

Functional Engines AU

What if Caesar fixed the research Pod engines faster? What if they were in better condition and only needed 3 minutes to repair?

Long so going under the cut

Rough Timeline Thus Far

Caesar comes out of the research pod to find his family dead, his life’s work destroyed, and the world in shambles. As in Canon, he tracks down the Rylander and with it the Omega Nanite.

There is an unfortunate meeting between Van Kliess and his freshly forming pack, but the two are able to get away due to Van Kliess still mastering his powers.

Breach remains curious about the strange man though, and ends up following him out of curiosity.

After some discussion with Rylander involving the Nanite event, Caesar realizes Rex may still be alive; and sets to tracking him.

This is around the Time that Six finds Rex (as in canon). The events of Promises, Promises occur as in canon until the Lab scene.

As Rex’s nanites begin to overload- a breach is detected by Providence.

The Molecular Disection Process isn’t started for a few more minutes as they are distracted by this new threat

Caesar (despite Rylander’s protests) enters Providence in the same way he does Mixed Signals

White Knight and Six continue fight (as in canon) ignoring orders until Dr. Kell sedates him

Holiday reaches the controls around the same time as Caesar (in his weird suit thing) does

She rushes past him to get Rex out of there as he gets to the dissection room

Upon entering the examination room, he goes from the unconcious- but stirring- mercenary to the Dr.Kell and White Knight, the former who is trying to further sedate his clearly distressed little brother

One can imagine his level of rage

After promptly using his devices to take out the two as he did with the other Provdience Agents, he sees Holiday grabbing Rex (as in Canon) and makes it up to the room where she’s doing a check up

Holiday explains the situation- and Caesar begrudgingly accepts this as she doesn’t appear to be happy with the situation any more than he is

Six comes up and suggests his earlier plan of hiding Rex

Caesar doesn’t really care- the quicker he can get Rex out of there the better- and six suggests a small town in southwest america

The signals are weird enough there that it keeps pinging on Providence’s radar, but nothing’s ever there

At this point they block the signals unless there is a direct call from one of the nearby military bases because of how often empty reports of strange people happen

Rex comes too at some point in the midst of this conversation and asks Six who the heck Caesar is

Thus his amnesia is brought up (maybe some set up for future exploring of earlier treatment bringing back some vague fuzzy memories for Rex as Caesar knows exactly what he’s working with??? Idk)

Wrapping up the details (Six and Holiday checking in and distracting Providence, where the location is, etc) Caesar takes Rex with him (who is surprisingly complacent about the whole thing once Caesar showed him some proof they were related)

Holiday and Six are left to clean up the mess as Bobo makes his own exit

Caesar gets Rex to the rescue pod and scares the h*** out of Rylander

Caesar and Rylander spend a good 4 hours checking everything before confirming Six wasn’t lying about the strange readings and how Rex and the Rescue Pod will barely be so much as a blip on the radar

And that’s how the three end up in BellWood

NOTE: this is with Reboot Ben 10; everything that happened over the summer is the same except

There’s obviously no Ben Gen 10.

Kevin and Ben’s are also trying to hide the fact that they’re the ones that can turn into aliens so they (and Ben’s family) don’t get bothered by others

Glitch is fully repaired and is adopted by Carl and Sandra

Kevin rebuilt the Antitrix and (with Glitch’s help) added some more upgrades

Sandra and Carl know about the Omnitrix and aren’t really happy about it

With that being said...

The Incruseans are at war with the DNAliens for new planets, and several have been destroyed

The Plumbers are playing both sides and helping no one

Many people have been forced to flee their home planets to avoid complete annihilation

Revonnah is only being protected by the Plumber’s for their Amber Ogia

The Tennyson’s are unaware of this

The kiddos are more focused on shifting gears to heroing in the summer to slaving away at the notebook

The schools surprised that Tennyson and Levin are getting along (they even have “friendship watches”)

Kevin tried to beat up the first kid who mentioned that

There’s a large amount of new kids at both Ben and Gwen’s school

Gwen has to show around a Mr. Blonko Rook

She initially thought he was trans as he mentioned that he had recently acquired his name

She quickly realizes that this kid is REALLY new and has no idea of the social nuances of the American middles school system

Rex was initially enrolled in Gwen’s school but was heavily suggested to be sent to the other school after a particularly interesting science class

Before that, he’d actually been doing fairly well and had befriended the redhead

Switching to Ben’s school, Rex met Noah and the two quickly clicked

Needless to say shenanigans ensue 

EVO’s are becoming an increasing problem people don’t know how to deal with

The Omnitrix goes a little wonky sometimes around them

It tries to repair the damaged DNA (like the DNAlien damage to Ken in Alien Force) but the Nanites keep activating more mutations to counteract it

Ben and Kevin find the best way to deal with the EVO’s is to lure them away from the City and book it before Providence arrives 

Luckily this doesn’t happen to often and that it does, Rex is generally close enough by to cure them himself

Glitch accidentally discover’s Rex is an Technopath when he used his driving service

This was a critical discovery, as Glitch can offload Rex’s excess Nanites with no har, to either himself or Rex.

They cause a minor “growth spurt” before settling amongst his own nanites

Rex figures out Ben and Kevin’s “secret” way before they figure out him

SIx and White Knight have been assigned to find the kid by the higher ups

Six is playing dumb, claiming that he was unconscious the entire time of Rex’s disappearance

He’s on thin ice, but is leading them astray anyways

Holiday sticks around purely for Beverly 

Also plays dumb saying that she was stuck in an EVO cage and only got out once the Armored Man (what the call Caesar) was leaving

Holiday quite providence (Bev is not an EVO) and has to spend a little while getting them off her tail before going to find Rex

[dontmindmyshadowhunting]

To never being parted - Part 2 Chap 3 - First and last kiss

This is the Chapter 3 of the mini sequel to my flower cards inspired Kitty Fan Fic “Am I Forgotten?”

AO3 Link here.

****

“You are definitely rocking this dress,” said Livvy. She was seated on Kit’s desk, her long legs dangling from the edge, her Blackthorn blue-green eyes glittering as she watched him. She looked like she was trying very hard not to burst out laughing.

Kit sighed. Tessa had showed up in New York with a dress specially made for him. A very girly, lacy dress. A magically sparkling dress, courtesy of Magnus Bane.

“I am just trying it on for your sake. I won’t be caught dead in it.”

Livvy raised an eyebrow at him.

“You’re not going to chicken out, are you? I thought Herondales never resisted a challenge.”

Damn she was good.

“I’d rather pop out of the cake butt naked.”

“I am sure you would. But again, Herondales are not really bothered by nudity so there is no real challenge in that.”

Kit sighed again. When he had told Jem he wanted to pop out of a giant cake in a dress to surprise Jace for his birthday, it had been a joke. Well, the joke was on him now. Jem had told Clary, who had been really excited about the idea and had ordered a giant cake just for him, with vanilla buttercream frost and pink bows. Emma was the one who had found the dress, at a shop in Los Angeles called Hidden Treasures and Tessa had travelled through a Portal to get it in time for the party. She had used her sewing skills to make it fit Kit's bulky silhouette. He ought to give her props for that.

He was not really bothered by the show, he was just wondering what his boyfriend would think, seeing him in a dress. Boyfriend. Such a common word to describe what Ty was to him. Still, he couldn’t help but feel gooey at the sound of that.

As if she had read his mind, Livvy asked, “So you and Ty are… a thing now? For guys who fancy themselves detectives, you certainly took your time to solve that mystery.”

“Yep, I still need time to wrap my head around the idea.”

“You do realize that you are the one who gave me my first… and last kiss. And now, you gave Ty his first kiss… and will probably be the one to give him his last as well.” She gazed at him intently, daring him to contradict her.

Kit’s lips parted in shock. “I… I gave Ty his first kiss?”

“You didn’t know?”

Kit swallowed. He had avoided thinking about it too much, but he had imagined that Ty had had a few experiences at the Scholomance. Hell, he had given him head in the Institute’s library like he was an expert who had done it a hundred times. Kit suddenly felt a bit queasy. They hadn’t had sex yet, but they certainly hadn’t taken it slow.

As he heard footsteps in the corridor, Kit hurriedly took the dress off. He’d rather be standing in his boxer shorts, after all - as Livvy had pointed out - nudity didn’t bother him that much.

The door opened to reveal… Ty.

When he saw Kit and Livvy together, his whole face lit up.

Livvy gave him a broad smile and winked, as if they were sharing a secret.

“Oh here you are, Ty. Kit wanted to show you his dress. He’s a bit worried you won’t like it, but I told him it looked perfect on him. You can help him in, and judge for yourself.”

Kit turned to glance at Ty, who was closing the door, his back to him, then back at Livvy.

“Thank you,” Kit mouthed sarcastically, as he flipped her the bird.

Livvy stuck out her tongue at him.

Over the past years, Livvy had visited Kit regularly, and they had gotten used to teasing each other. Admittedly, Livvy had managed to prank Kit way more often than he had succeeded himself, being a ghost and all. But who was counting?

Ty shrugged. “I don’t care what you wear. I know what’s underneath.”

Kit felt his cheeks flush furiously. He certainly did. Every inch of it.

“I am going to leave you guys some privacy.” Livvy said, looking conspiratorially at Ty. She blew him a kiss and disappeared.

Ty moved to stand before Kit and absently brushed a lock of Kit’s hair out of his face. He started tracing one of his fingers along Kit’s collarbone.

“I have been thinking about what you told me yesterday. About me leaving you with nothing all these years.”

“Ty- You don’t have to…”

“There is only one Blackthorn ring, for now, and Emma is wearing it at least until the wedding. But I do have this.” Ty reached behind his neck to untie the chain bearing Livvy’s locket.

Kit’s breath hitched.

“Ty! No Ty- I can’t accept this. This is Livvy’s…”

“It’s Livvy’s idea as much as it is mine. She is part of me, and you are part of us.”

Ty moved to stand behind Kit and started fastening the necklace around his neck. Kit was frozen in shock. Although Livvy’s locket was cold against his sternum, he felt as though heat were surging from it and shooting through his entire body.

“Now, Kit Rook, how does it feel to end up belonging to three Shadowhunter families, the Herondales, the Carstairs and the Blackthorns?”

Kit chuckled, but didn’t say anything. He was still too much in a daze to speak.

****

Tagging @darkkitai ;)

[amewillie]

i haven’t written in years but i was struck with the want to get back into it and the wayhaven chronicles is still in my mind 24/7 so i took a gander.

here’s a little writing for rook x rebecca. no beta we die like bobby’s chances of ever getting back with the detective

word count: 1910

If there was one thing Rebecca hated, it was being told to sit still. It never suited her. Even from a young age she was always on the move, needing to do something to occupy her mind. It only became worse as she aged, growing into a career that needed her attention and full dedication.

The Agency had taken a lot of time from Rebecca when she first entered the organization. Finding, protecting, and in some cases pursuing supernatural’s wasn’t a forgiving nor kind job. It always kept Rebecca’s mind occupied and for her, left little time for social interaction. Of course, she conversed with the other agents and those outside of the agency if need be. Usually with small talk or polite conversation but it always felt superficial. Rebecca’s mind would be elsewhere, on the next task or next mission. Going, going, going.

 And then Rook showed up.

 Another lead agent had introduced him at that time - “Agent Rebecca Lewis, meet Jeremiah Johnson, currently an officer stationed here in Wayhaven. You’ll be taking him under your wing for the time being.”

 “But please, call me Rook,” he said, giving her that smile that undoubtedly would make her weak in the knees every single time.

 Rook was… he always felt like a complete opposite to Rebecca. He was cheeky and possibly the liveliest individual she had ever come across. Was certainly never afraid to speak his mind (something that got him in trouble more often than she would like) and despite how dedicated he was to his work, had always skirted the rules. And somehow always got away with it! But if there was one thing that really baffled Rebecca when it came to Rook it was that, despite his job and all his responsibilities to the Agency, and to Wayhaven, and even to her once they became a couple, was his ability to just….let go.

 No matter how hectic his job may have gotten, Rook always found the time to simply be. Rebecca had decided early on to give the Agency most, if not all her attention but Rook always took his free time to worry about himself and later, her. There was no “I’m staying after to finish working on this report” or “No I did eat. What do you mean a handful of peanuts and an energy drink doesn’t count?”  

 “Becca darling,” Rook would start, in that tone Rebecca knew he was getting ready to scold her in the most loving way possible. “When was the last time you actually stepped outside?”

 Rebecca scrunched up her nose, her eyes darting in every direction but at Rook. She had been working on a particular case involving some rather impish fairies who had evaded the Agency for much longer than they would like. The Agency was breathing down her team's neck the past few weeks to get this case finished and closed. By this point she was living at her desk, her coat doubling as a blanket and her desk littered with empty coffee cups and ramen containers.

 “I happened to step away from my desk, er, earlier today. Happened to have a meeting with one of my superiors about the case.” Rebecca found herself shuffling papers at her desk, still avoiding Rook’s eyes as they were now looking at her with a look leaking of utter skepticism it would be almost funny if she weren’t suffering from a lack of sleep. When she finally did dare to avert her eyes towards him, she found the exact expression she expected within those hazel eyes.

 Skepticism, of course. But his eyes also leaked an adoring amount of warmth and amusement, almost as if he were looking at a child doing something naughty. “Becca, love, you need to rest. You haven’t taken a break in days. I’ve barely even seen you outside of this office except to use the bathroom! Let alone outside of this building. Have you ever heard of the great outdoors? Trees? Sun? Air that isn’t circulated through a complex system of ducts that probably haven’t been cleaned years?”

 Rebecca chuckled, fiddling with one of the empty coffee cups on her desk. Leave it to Rook to turn a lecture into a lighthearted conversation.

 “You mean to tell me you enjoy the smell of petrol exhaust, baking in the sun like a crisp and…nature?”

 It was Rook’s turn to laugh as he positioned himself closer to Rebecca, his hip leaning against the side of her desk with arms crossed over his middle. “Okay, so the petrol does smell a bit gross. But I for one enjoy a good crisp and my complexion –“he paused, waving a hand over his very much handsome, brown face – “needs all the vitamin D it can get. Something you need desperately. You look ghastly, love. Or no. Ghostly. Possibly both.”

 Rebecca placed her arm on her desk, her hand cradling the side of her face as she squinted up at Rook, a faux offended expression on her face. “Wow. You have offended me greatly sir. Any more dazzling snipes you have in your repertoire?”

 “Only if it gets you out of this office,” Rook said, giving her a dazzling smile. And how could she say no to that smile. With a dramatic sigh, Rebecca stood from her seat, bones cracking in the process. Either she had been here for too long, or she was getting old. Probably both.

 “Ah, there she is,” Rook said, pushing himself off her desk and taking a step closer to her, his arms wrapping around her waist as his lips met the top of her forehead. Rebecca only hummed as her own arms found their way around Rook’s waist, the warmth and solidness of him easing out all the tension she’d been carrying.

 “I’m sorry,” Rebecca said after a moment of silence.

 Rook pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a warm smile on his face. “Whatever for?”

 “Working?” While Rebecca did not mean for it come out as a question, she couldn’t help but laughing at herself once it did. Rook joined in for a moment with her before his expression changed into a more serious one. He tucked a strand of her red, frizzy hair behind her ear before his hand came to rest at the side of neck, caressing a spot with his thumb that always left her feeling as if she were walking on air.

 “Rebecca, I love you. I’ve told you that before and I will continue to tell you that for as long as you’ll have me. Flaws included. I know how much your work means to you and I would never want to impede on any of your accomplishments. You’re going to go so far here; I know you will. And I’ll be there to support you along the way, but I just need you know, I need you to promise me that you will always come home. To me. To us. To whatever us may look like in the future.”

 The heaviness that Rebecca felt in her heart had her eyes burning from unshed tears. Rook had been such a pillar of strength for her the moment they met and while other people who knew Rebecca found her to often to be a hard worker and ambitious, they could never see Rebecca  (and it’s funny to say considering where she works) as a human being. Some were even intimidated by Rebecca, but Rook saw right through her. He knew how to get under her skin in the best and worst ways. Knew that she was much more than the Agency’s best and brightest. Knew she was a human and like many humans (and supernatural’s alike) had flaws and was never afraid to call her out on them. And God she loved him for it. Felt it early on in their time together that he got her. Understood her. Rebecca had never believed in the concept of soulmates. To think there was someone, in the world that your soul was tied to seemed ridiculous.

 Vampires? Fairies? Demons? Sure, she could believe in that. She lived that. But how many people truly found their soulmates? How would you ever know?

 Rebecca almost laughs from the thought as she buried her face into Rook’s chest. Oh, how she loved this man.

 “I love you,” she said, voice muffling into his shirt.

 “And I love you.”

[regrettablewritings]

I, u, y for bodhi rook please!

As the words process in my mind, a tear rolls upon my cheek . . .

Could it be? I dare wonder. An lo: It is.

He has returned, after so far away in time . . .

I = Impression (What was their first impression?):

Well, he certainly wasn’t what you had expected, that was for sure. Defecting from the Empire was no easy feat, even for somebody as unassuming as a delivery pilot. To the enemy, every literal body counted — even if only to assure complete dominance over the individual. So when you had learned that one of their own had not only detected, but potentially played key in helping to locate Galen Erso?

You couldn’t help it: Your imagination went wild. You imagined someone big and strong, teeth gritting from years of pent up anger towards the unjust causes of the tyranny spreading across the galaxy.

What you got was a scrawny, sheepish, possibly traumatized (thanks, Saw, you absolute nerf-herder) slip of a man who seemed to be afraid of taking up any space he happened to exist in. It was...disappointing to say the least. But you had to commend him regardless for defecting and even surviving Saw, and there was no gain in looking down on him.  

And then came the Scarif mission.

Nobody had expected him to go -- well, nobody was excpected to go, given that the Alliance Council turned down Erso’s idea, but least of all you expected him to be willing to go and do it. You expected the blind guy to go sailing off to a certified death mission before you did this guy! And honestly, that had you worried for him. Unfulfilled expectations or not, he wasn’t someone who had incurred your ire or even your indifference; you may not have gotten the chance to actually know him beyond a few words exchanged during the very brief time he’d been on base (“Welcome to the right side.” “Uh, y-yes . . . Thank you . . .”), but he certainly didn’t strike you as someone who needed to go on this type of outing. Enough people died unnecessarily in this damned war . . .

To learn, eventually, that he wasn’t one of them was therefore all the more shocking to you.

While the mission to steal the Death Star blueprints had been successful, it clearly didn’t come easy. Everyone who had survived had been wounded to some degree, with Captain Andor appearing to receive the worst of it as he was carted off to the infirmary. Bodhi, to your relief, wasn’t especially harmed. Roughed up, certainly, and clearly shaken from the experience, but that didn’t change what you now knew for certain: Bodhi Rook, this timid bean pole of a defector, was one of the bravest men you had the pleasure of knowing existed.

Even though he apparently was intimidated by you when you two first met. Granted, everyone intimidated him: He had just went AWOL with the government he’d been employed by, he was “taken in” by people whom he’d been taught by propaganda to fear and be distrustful in, he was still trying to regain his frazzled sanity after being interrogated by that . . . that thing, and he’d just witnessed his home get bombed. Needless to say, the anxious-by-nature man was simply not in an especially welcoming mood.

Still, he tried to be civilized (maybe because he feared getting beat up if he didn’t). He wasn’t sure what to say in response to your, er, “greeting” when you hustled up war-battered clothes besides an awkward thank you. He really wasn’t sure what to make of you that would separate you from his overall feelings towards nearly everyone in this whole operation: You were strong, you had been through enough and were surely hardened by it, and you could probably snap his spine over your knew if you particularly cared to.

Of course, he’d spent next to no time with you when he thought these things of everyone involved in the Rebellion. He had no time to: He had to fly around the Maker’s galaxy and back! It actually wasn’t until after the Scarif mission that he was given ample time to readily wipe his impressions and assumptions clean. He felt he needed to, given what dedication he’d seen on those beaches.

Besides, you approaching him afterward certainly helped. You picked up that he wasn’t fond of crowds during evening mess when he quietly slinked away from the group gathering to hear retellings of the infiltration on Scarif. You figured perhaps a one-on-one situation might’ve sufficed. Better yet, inquiring about his current state might’ve been preferable to reliving the experience.

He appreciated the gesture on your part. Maybe . . . you weren’t nearly as ice-cold as he’d thought you were. At the very least, definitely not as bad as Cassian.

U = Unencumbered (What helps them relax?):

Bodhi is a naturally anxious person, and the hardships and experiences he’s encountered haven’t exactly made that any better. Sure, he’s a lot braver now and more willing to act, but he’s still nowhere near as gung-ho or fiery as his companions.

He’s had some methods in the past that clearly didn’t work out in his favor (fun fact: he’s got a record for gambling), but one of the best tried and trues is simply going somewhere quiet. His thoughts are in a constant buzz, he benefits from a lack of outside stimuli when he feels overwhelmed. The problem is . . . quiet is so very hard to find when you’re in the middle of a war. As an Imperial cargo pilot, you could just plain forget about the idea of having time to yourself: You belong to the Empire, your time is the Empire’s time and you are in no position to use it up.

Being a part of the Rebellion is better by legions, but the base on Yavin IV leaves much to be desired in terms of privacy and quiet. Luckily, the planet is lush and forested: If Bodhi is on base and feels the need to sit in the quiet and gather his thoughts and calm down, he need only walk in any given direction, find a tree to sit under, and just stay there for a while. The places he chooses are far enough to where he can relax and not have his thoughts and heartbeat disturbed by the banging of machinery or the hollers of drill sergeants, but never so far as to be unable to get help should he need it.

It wasn’t long before he began to incorporate you into these relaxation methods, however. As it turns out, as much as he may enjoy being able to sit by himself in the brush, he very much likes being able to sit with you anywhere. You’re almost like a walking calming center for him, especially when you touch him: Hold his hand, rub his back, let him lay his head on your lap so you can play with his hair . . . It’s like a missing link he never knew he’d been missing to begin with! They’re seemingly small things, but they make a big difference. You can always feel him losing his tension beneath your touch, often announced by quiet sighs or tiny shudders. It’s truly the cutest thing and you’re so glad to be the cause of it and help him calm down. Just not nearly as glad as he is to have you there to calm him.

Y = Yes (Do they ever think of getting married/proposing?):

The thought of marriage has switched on and off throughout Bodhi’s life; really, it depends on the exact moment. As a child, he certainly thought about it more, if only because children are want to do such things. But as an adult, it begins to falter. By the time the events of the story show up, he can go long stretches without even once thinking about his stance on whether or not he should get married. Because really, it’s more based on the exact moment: If he’s in a surprisingly good way or even in a moment where he must think about how short life can be, the certainly he gives it some thought.

But in his usual misery and anxiety while serving the Empire, such silly concerns are the furthest thing from his mind; they’re so far on the back burner that they may as well have fallen behind the stove, forgotten, dusty, and moldy!

Even when he meets you, the thought surprisingly doesn’t come up for a while. It’s not that you don’t make him happy or inspire any intention of long-term romance -- far from it, actually! You make him feel the happiest and most comfortable than he’s felt in literal years! In fact, that’s honestly probably why the subject of marriage doesn’t pop up to him so immediately: His life as of late has become a bit of a balancing act, what with him now being a part of a rebellion he hadn’t planned on joining and, consequentially, trying not to get him or his new comrades killed. Normally, this sort of thing would’ve sent him into a panic-induced coma. But with you present in his life, giving him a sense of calm and someone to fight hard enough to come back to, you actually make him start to enjoy the present. (Well, the calmer ones, at least.)

He’s not as caught up about the past or afraid of the future as he used to be; he’s actually enjoying the moment with you as is. Sure, every now and again, if he does (or doesn’t) mean to think about it, his mind does slip and he finds himself thinking, “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind being with them after all this . . .” He even dares to dream about the two of you sharing a life together on a nice, simple planet with lots of trees and greenery. Maybe somewhere quiet. A farm might be nice: He can so some gardening there and you two can build a house together, all big and roomy like you’d always wanted instead of cramped and stuffy like the living quarters you always complained about . . .

But then his attention would be dragged elsewhere (to a meeting, to training, to you calling him to join you for dinner). He doesn’t mind. He’s not brushing aside the possibilities of proposing to you and marrying you, but the dreams can wait: All in all, you’re here right now and he’s perfectly content being there with you. For now.

Thank you for asking and for being patient!

[duskpigeon]

@trvelyans I will happily give you some more facts about Mira!! Here are some of my favorites!!

A few fun facts about Detective Mira LaBeau!

Mira took up guitar in honor of her father, Rook. She has his guitar and plays it often. She’s not a strong singer, but you can catch her singing the song Rook always played for her when she plays it.

Mira loves to roller skate. She was on a roller derby team in college. She was called Mira the Malicious. But she was also the team mom

Mira originally wanted to go to school for forensics. But she had a change of heart, thinking of her dad she knew she’d be happier following his foot steps. But despite that, she still really loves forensics and it’s something she bonded with Verda over.

Rook is the reason Mira and Rebecca have a good relationship. After his death, Mira tried hard to keep in touch with her knowing it’s what he’d want for them.  Rook made Rebecca a big part of Mira’s life, when he was around, despite her being gone by talking about her. While she can’t remember much od them, he told stories of her, talked about the stuff she loved, and did little things with Mira to welcome Rebecca home. Mira never felt her mom was truly absent because of that. After he passed, Mira made an effort to keep a good relationship with her.

Mira collects records. She inherited Rook’s collection and she plays them on her days off.

Mira met Bobby at a college party her cousin dragged her to after to help her get off her recent break up with her long term girlfriend. Her and Bobby started dating a few weeks later.

Her and Bobby started talking because she beat one of the guys in a drinking contest and he was very impressed.

Mira is taller than Bobby. It hasn’t said how tall he is, but in my head canon, she’s taller.

Mira and Tina became instant friends in the academy and have been inseparable since. They also got caught sneaking out twice.

Mira once got arrested for accidentally stealing a dog in highschool, but charges were dropped.

Mira is a fantastic cook and will bring food once a week for everyone at the station.

Mira named her car Herbert.

Mira is a history nerd. She loves weird history and really loves folklore and myths. She didn’t expect anything odd from Unit B at first, but once she did...she thought she was going crazy or she needed sleep and to cut back on the podcasts. But was relieved when she found out.

Became instant friends with Farrah/Felix. She tries to keep them out of trouble, but she easily gets wrapped into their chaos.

Mira will teach F modern slang to confuse and annoy Unit B.

Mira’s main romance is Nate. She tried really hard to keep herself from falling for any of Unit B. She tried hard to be professional, but before she realized it she was smitten by Nate.

Mira really loves introducing Nate to modern movies, shows, and technology. In return she asks him about things from a time he might have a better understanding of.

[masonscig]

Hi! It's so sweet that you wanna hear about everyone's detectives, you're doing the lord's work! I don't really know how to start this so I'll just go with what I noticed you seem to enjoy: angsty anti-good relationship with Rebecca headcanons!

My detective, Zuri (I can't specify who she's romancing because I lowkey see her with everyone💀), developed a bit of a complex about being an entertainer. She used to do gymnastics and Rook was there for every competition. Rebecca was there 60% of the time thanks to him. I headcanon that Rook died when she was 8 years old, and ever since then Rebecca never showed. She carried on for a while, hoping that the amount of cheers she got would cancel out her absence, but she stopped once she reached highschool because there was a girl who would constantly point out that she wasn't there and it started affecting her performance.

She got into musical theatre in highschool and was really involved. She managed to charm people into funding a huge project of hers that got recognized by someone who held musical theatre competitions. Her school entered, and out of all of them she ended up winning the best leading actress award. It felt good to make people smile and experience something moving, and Rebecca was actually there! But after that, she went right back to work and had an agent drop her off at home.

What I'm getting at is Zuri is used to being a good time for people. She'll make you laugh, she'll make you comfortable, and then leave you with fond memories before moving on to the next person. Almost like a temporary fix. She can't fathom the idea of someone missing/wanting her without all the fun theatrics, but she can't stand being alone. So she'll go out and be the life of the party in a room full of strangers if she has to, give them a good story to tell their friends and have that be that. She has a degree in psychology and is very charming (to the point of manipulation while she was in college and Bobby was her bff), so she's good at drawing people in and preventing negative feelings when she leaves. She's only been in three relationships, two of which her partners bared their souls and she got out of there without having to scratch the surface of her baggage.

Her relationship with Rebecca is just so messy, and this is without me touching on the fact that she made her feel like an inconvenience which also adds to her whole "entertain them" shtick (ie, if she isn't actively doing something for someone then she is only taking up space). Gosh, I have so much to say! I feel like I didn't even explain this properly with how summarized this is💀

THANK U FOR THIS LONG ASK I LOVE IT SO MUCH !!!!!! tbh you’re so supportive and always liking/reblogging people’s content so no YOU’RE doing the lord’s work queen !!! (putting it under the cut just in case bc i rambled LMAO)

NO OH MY GOD YOU MADE SO MUCH SENSE !!!!! holy shit i love zuri so much – she’s SO well thought out and i get such a sense of who she is from this omg??? she’s such a strong character already – omg an athletic/arts centered detective???? I LOVE ITTTTT

also please the first like... 6 months i played twc i played only w sofía and romanced EVERYONE so its honestly hard if you have an attachment to her? but i love that zuri’s able to mesh so well with everyone regardless of her personality !!!!!! who do you think you lean towards the most? who do you think zuri could be long term with? to be honest from what you’ve said i think she’d be good with m because if she’s never bared her soul..... whew i wonder how THAT plays out. and i think f would be a challenge for zuri??? god how would she handle someone that’s all in from the get go??? please answer im so curious !!!!!!

[fancoloredglasses]

Ghostbusters vs. The Real Ghostbusters (This isn’t gonna be complicated at all)

(Thanks to DirRudy)

[The Real Ghostbusters is owned by DIC animation and Columbia Pictures, while The Ghost Busters and Ghostbusters are owned by Filmation. Please don’t sue, dematerialize, or zap me]

Ghostbusters: Venkman, Spengler, Stantz, and Zedmore

Ya know ‘em...ya love ‘em (even if Bill Murray was being his usual creepy self), but yet when the movie was adapted for children’s programing, it was called The Real Ghostbusters. A lot of people (myself included) scratched their heads about that.

The show followed the Ghostbusters in weekly adventures dealing with the ghost of the week. Joining the team is...

...the “Class 5 Full-Roaming Vapor” from the movie, who had a change of heart (though still has the same voracious appetite) and became a mascot for the team. The boys named him Slimer.

The team is a G-Rated version of the characters in the film. Peter is just as sleazy (but more a “check your wallet” sort rather than a “take out a restraining order” sort), Ray is a bit more innocent, Winston is a bit more grounded, and Egon...really didn’t change much.

There actually is an in-show reason for the show’s title in the Season 1 episode “Take 2″ in which the guys go to Hollywood to consult for a movie about them (starring some guys named Murray, Ramis, and Ackroyd) However, the truth is a bit more complicated (and involves less ghosts trying to kill the guys)

In the mid-70s, Filmation did a live-action “comedy” show called The Ghost Busters. Columbia paid Filmation for the use of the name.

(Thanks to ClassicTelevisionFan)

The series starred F Troop stars Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch as bumbling private detectives Kong and Spencer along with their pet gorilla Tracy, collectively known as the Ghost Busters (I’m not entirely certain how or why the Ghost Busters acquired and trained a gorilla to help them...or for that matter, why the writers thought the show needed a guy in a gorilla suit)

The show tries (and fails) to be the next Abbott and Costello (and their sidekick gorilla, apparently) The Ghost Busters are complete idiots, and the bad guys they face aren’t much better.

Fast forward to the movie, and suddenly there’s interest in making an animated show...well, two. The first is the one we all know and love (a sequel to the movie), but the second, called Ghostbusters, is a sequel to the Filmation show (and is also done by Filmation)

(Thanks to ArisGreek30)

The series follows Kong and Spencer’s sons Jake and Eddie (respectively) who inherited Tracy along with the family business (given gorillas live about 35 years it’s possible that Tracy could have survived the 10 years between series) This group is far more competent than their fathers were. However, some changes have happened in the intervening years...

First off, apparently the Ghostbusters’ office and jalopy have been haunted by spirits who (more or less) want to help the team (tho’ their phone “Ansabone” is a wiseass and their jalopy “GB” (for Ghost Buggy, I guess?) complains about having to carry an 800 pound gorilla around). Second, instead of the “random ghost bad guy of the week”, Filmation decided to go the route of their most popular (at the time) property, He-Man, and gave the team a group of evil ghosts to face off against every week, led by...

...Prime Evil, a cyborg ghost who nearly blows a gasket every time he mentions the Ghostbusters. He and his semi-competent crew of evil ghosts cause trouble every episode, to which the gang changes into their work attire in a space-defying manner that makes me wonder if one of them is a Time Lord...

(Thanks to Jer The Rook)

One has to wonder why Eddie looks so happy at the beginning of the sequence when he’s obviously not having a good time during it.

The show usually ends with Prime Evil’s goons getting hit with a device that was a holdover from the original series called the de-materializer, which dis-corporates the ghosts who then float away until they can get enough ghost energy (or whatever) to re-form (kind of like eating a power pellet in Pac-Man)

And of course, this being Filmation, there’s a moral at the end of the episode that the show subtly beats the kids over the head with as the show progresses.

As always, let me know if anyone would like to see episodes of any of the three shows