#I can't wait to get to Delphi

[sephospaganplace]

The Temple of Apollo, Korinth

Assassins Creed - Odyssey

[thebrokenbean]

... Somehow I fully anticipated you being the first/only person to respond, and I thought I was prepared for the angst I knew you were going to throw my way.

I wasn't prepared.

I had to re-read LL #25. It's been a year and a half, and it hurts just as bad.

Anyway, 3 hours, two wiki pages, and too many tears later… I think I'm done? Might do a better proofread tomorrow when I'm not tired, might not. Either way, enjoy the angst!

"Your eyes… your aura… have you been drinking?"

The door hisses shut behind him as he enters his habsuite. He leaves the light off.

The flight back to the Exitus was… fine. Thunderclash greeted him personally, which was… cool? But his optics were sympathetic, observant - even more than what might be called for, when a friend is grieving a loss. Which is ridiculous, because Rodimus is fine.

...Ratchet's gone.

It's fine.

Rodimus glances at the datapad that was handed to him on his way to his quarters. The screen is dark. The bot who handed it to him seemed so hesitant, like they were trying not to spook him or something. Captain Thunderclash said not to rush you. It's only a few reports. They can wait.

He drops the pad on the table as he passes by with a light flick of his wrist. It skids across the surface to join the rest, all addressed to 'Assistant Navigator'.

He's not putting it off because he needs time. He just hates reports.

Magnus knew that.

Meg- Everyone knew that.

He swipes a cube off the counter, only half-filling it from the dispenser in the corner.

He glances at the board on the wall as he takes a slow sip of energon. Scribbles of drawings are pinned there. A few photos he printed off. A daily to-do list he rarely follows. The board was a gift, years ago - from Magnus, of course. A way to keep himself organized.

A ping comes across his HUD, cheerfully reminding all crew members that tomorrow Captain Thunderclash will be leading the Exitus out of the Acklaw System, towards their next exciting destination! Captain Thunderclash encourages all crew members to be prepared for the next adventure in-

He dismisses the ping and drops his unfinished drink on the counter. He's not really hungry.

His foot catches a bottle as he moves further into his habsuite, sending it spinning into the shadows under his berth with a clink.

Another grand adventure.

"It's not the same though, is it?"

One of his friends would have said that it's impossible to recreate something we hold dear, especially when it comes to treasured memories. It would probably be Drift who said it, or Cyclonus. They're both poetic enough for that. Rodimus is pretty sure there's someone else, but he can't quite remember who he's thinking about.

It doesn't matter anyway.

"A few quantum jumps into the neighboring system and back - with no detours, no mishaps, and no mutinies. One last jaunt."

He still has the top of his desk, from his co-captain's office. The worn, scarred slab is leaning in the corner against the wall, his lovingly-carved map on display.

Hedonia. Temptoria. Scarvix.

The Nanocons. Time-travel. The Vis Vitalis.

"As far as I can make out, all you do is argue, crack jokes, and get sidetracked doing pointless, silly things that only you find amusing!"

He scoffs at the memory of what Skids recounted to him, amused for a moment. The Lost Light did far more than that!

Delphi. Luna 1. Swearth.

The Functionist Universe.

Necroworld.

… Far more.

"I suppose you had to be there."

The berth creaks when he flops down on it to stare up at the ceiling, his feet still brushing the floor. He should recharge. He really should. He doesn't feel tired, but his energy readings are low enough Ratchet would have smacked him upside the helm with that wrench of his.

Ratchet.

"Even in death, he chose life."

"…A month, a week, a year… what's the difference? There'll always be an ending - and if you're lucky, you'll get to see it coming."

Rodimus blinks a few times, his brow furrowing as he fights the sudden stinging sensation.

"If we're doing this, I'd rather do it properly. A proper ending. No going back."

"We'll all drink to that."

He presses the heels of his palms to his optics, inventing sharply. The air catches in his throat, his ventilations stuttering. He grits his teeth.

Not everyone came to the funeral.

Not everyone could.

"Do you think I should-" "Go. Go with him."

"Shut up! I gave you that-" "819 years ago, yes. It's never left my possession."

"…They've reached a verdict."

"Whatever happens next - whatever my fate…"

A frustrated noise escapes him as he pulls his feet onto the berth and rolls over, curling up. His ventilation cycle refuses to keep from stuttering, no matter what he does.

His hands are resting on the berth in front of him, now. They're trembling. He curls them into fists with a huff and tucks them close to his chassis.

It's fine.

Everything's fine.

Everything's great.

"… Do you think it worked?"

Ha.

… No going back.

[lord-squiggletits]

Actually Pharma couldn't have set off the Red Rust on the DJD base himself because

1. He's a doctor, not a trained and seasoned aerial combatant. Whether he tried to drop it off like a payload or just kamikaze straight into them, he literally does not have the flying skills to pull off that kind of maneuver unless he's like, flying in heavy snow for cover (and how would he be guaranteed to survive that) or literally just zooms in a straight line hoping for the best

2. The DJD are some of the best killers the Decepticons have to offer so if he somehow gets into a confrontation with them without being able to set off the bomb yet, he's cooked

3. Wouldn't the DJD have some sort of surveillance or defense to see Pharma coming? They're seasoned killers that literally can hunt down and kill phase sixers, it's not like Pharma would be able to approach without them finding out and being there waiting for him to show up

4. Pharma would be not only killing himself, but also betting the lives of everyone in Delphi on the assumption that he can get to the DJD and set off the bomb and kill them with the rust. Because if he just flies up and they shoot him down either while he's trying to dive bomb OR when Pharma is trying to talk his way through them, Tarn would take that as betrayal of the deal, so after Pharma is dead he and his crew would proceed to destroy Delphi.

5. Would Pharma even know where the DJD are??? Presumably Sonic and Boom might be able to tell him, but they also might not out of fear of them telling Pharma, Pharma tries to kill the DJD and fails, the DJD extract from him how he got their location, the DJD come and murder Sonic and Boom. So they probably wouldn't tell Pharma, which means Pharma has no way of finding the DJD short of just... trying to scout himself? Do intel on his own? And again, as a doctor who has zero training in combat flying, spying, or espionage, how exactly is he supposed to get that?

~

I don't even care any more man, Pharma literally could not have done any better than setting off the virus inside of Delphi. Sure, it would've been better with fewer Autobot casualties if Pharma had tried to set it off near the DJD, but the odds of Pharma actually pulling that off IN REALITY are slim to none. Setting off the virus in Delphi and hoping for an evac order was the best option Pharma had to stop Autobot deaths by escaping the deal that he could actually, feasibly pull off successfully.

A shitty plan that leads to some deaths on the Autobot side, but ultimately is likely to result in an evacuation order that takes them off Messatine and thus free of Tarn's/the DJD's grip (meaning Pharma no longer has to kill people and thus lives are spared in the future) is better than a plan that would only kill the DJD (and Pharma), but has like a <1% chance of being executed correctly.

And Pharma is the kind of analytical, controlling person where he would never choose a plan with so many variables unknown/outside of his control in enemy territory where he'd likely perish before finishing his mission. He would pick the plan on his own territory (Delphi) where he can spare at least some people (First Aid and Ambulon, who can't/don't transform), and where he can pull off the plan without being found out.

Because his own comrades' reaction to finding out was to call him a piece of shit person, leave him for dead, harvest his organs, and then leave without even checking he was dead. So yeah Pharma was 10000000% justified in not wanting anyone to know what he did if it meant that he'd escape a living hell only for the Autobots to turn on him for 'not doing better' alkdsfjlsdkfsl.

[rebbiasisback]

part 2, he put u back in the tank for context bc u tried to prank him back

Rebbias had thought that being trapped in a human-sized fishbowl was the worst thing that could happen to him, but he was wrong. Eric had a new plan, one that was even more twisted and sinister.

One day, Eric came to the tank and said, "Rebbias, I've been thinking. You've been a good fish, and I think it's time for you to start a family."

Rebbias was confused. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Eric grinned. "I've arranged for you to mate with a dolphin. You're going to be a father, Rebbias!"

Rebbias was horrified. "You can't be serious," he said. "I'm a human being, not a dolphin. I'm not capable of mating with a dolphin."

Eric just laughed. "Oh, don't worry about that," he said. "I've taken care of all the details. The dolphin is waiting for you in the next tank over. Her name is Delphi, and she's very eager to meet you."

Rebbias was shocked and disgusted. He couldn't believe that Eric was actually suggesting that he mate with a dolphin. It was absurd, and it was also morally reprehensible.

But Eric didn't care. He was determined to see his plan through, no matter what. He opened the lid of the tank and said, "Time to go, Rebbias. Delphi is waiting for you."

Rebbias was dragged out of the tank and thrown into the next one over. He landed with a splash, and as he looked around, he saw a dolphin staring back at him.

The dolphin, Delphi, was a large female, with a sleek gray body and a curved dorsal fin. She looked at Rebbias with a curious expression, and Rebbias could sense her intelligence and awareness.

Eric watched from the side of the tank, a grin spreading across his face. "Go ahead, Rebbias," he said. "Get to know Delphi. You're going to be spending a lot of time together."

Rebbias was horrified. He didn't know what to do, or how to react. He was trapped in a tank with a dolphin, and he was being forced to mate with her. It was a nightmare come true.

As the days passed, Rebbias grew more and more desperate. He tried to communicate with Delphi, but she didn't seem to understand him. She would swim around him, clicking and whistling, but Rebbias couldn't respond.

Eric would come to visit them every day, bringing food and watching them with a twisted fascination. He seemed to be enjoying Rebbias's misery, and Rebbias couldn't understand why.

As the weeks turned into months, Rebbias began to lose hope. He was trapped in a tank with a dolphin, and he was being forced to mate with her. He didn't know how much longer he could survive.

But then, something unexpected happened. Delphi began to change. She started to act strangely, swimming around the tank in a frantic manner. Rebbias watched her, confused, as she clicked and whistled loudly.

And then, it happened. Delphi gave birth to a baby dolphin, and Rebbias was shocked to see that it was a hybrid. The baby dolphin had human-like features, and Rebbias realized that he was the father.

Eric was overjoyed. "Congratulations, Rebbias," he said. "You're a father. You've successfully mated with a dolphin and produced a hybrid offspring."

Rebbias was horrified. He didn't know what to do, or how to react. He was trapped in a tank with a dolphin and their hybrid baby, and he was being forced to live with the consequences of Eric's twisted plan.

As he looked at Delphi and their baby, Rebbias realized that he had to escape. He had to find a way out of the tank and back to the real world. He couldn't stay trapped in this nightmare forever.

But as he looked at Eric, he knew that it wouldn't be easy. Eric was determined to keep him trapped, and he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Rebbias was in for the fight of his life, and he didn't know if he would survive.

This is so gross man oh my god

[saintsenara]

More ships! (I can't even find the original prompt you reblogged that's how many you must've gotten by now)

Albus Dumbledore/Nicolas Flamel

Snape/Filch

McGonagall/Sprout

Hermione/Grindelwald

thank you very much for the ask, anon! we are now almost a full calendar year into these ship asks - and i hope they continue for a very long time to come.

albus dumbledore/nicholas flamel

ok, so we've all thought about just how bonkers it is that dumbledore straight-up tells flamel to kill himself, right?

like, he's told flamel that he will keep the philosopher's stone under impregnable protection at hogwarts, and then he turns up at his house one day and says "yeah, so the obstacle course guarding the thing which has made you immortal was low-effort for an eleven-year-old... and - btw - the stone has been destroyed for a reason i have no intention of elaborating on"... i know he tells us that flamel is unafraid of death, but:

a. we only have his word for it.

b. the very fact that flamel takes the elixir actually suggests to me that he's probably got a slightly... voldemort-ish view of the whole dying lark...

which is to say, i actually really like the idea of a pretty dark dynamic between dumbledore and flamel - especially one which is, in essence, a reversal of the dynamic between dumbledore and grindelwald, in which dumbledore becomes the bored cynic with the desire to push the boundaries of magic and flamel becomes the innocent scholar who is delighted to have met someone on the same intellectual level...

which is why i was recently delighted to stumble across alone and palely loitering by @squibstress... an absolute banger!

argus filch/severus snape

i have been very taken with the way this pairing is written by delphi - especially because of the way they play with the shared grubbiness which contributes to snape and filch's respective outsider statuses within hogwarts.

but i do, generally, think it's probably flopping. snape's vibe with filch is very "even i look down on you", and i suspect that the idea of doing it with a squib is something which makes the death eater in him jump out, even when he's on the path towards reformation...

minerva mcgonagall/pomona sprout

yes.

not only because i really like the mismatch potential of mcgonagall's rather buttoned-up vibe having to come undone as she gets into the funky way in a greenhouse, but because i really like the hints we get in canon of them being comrades-in-arms [especially against the male teachers].

i think they're falling into bed the first time while they split a bottle of firewhisky and complain about umbridge. i think it's turning into something more as they help each other endure through the horrible year in which snape's headmaster.

hermione granger/gellert grindelwald

do you know what... we're going with... yes.

my unpopular view is that - in contrast to fandom slander which portrays ron as someone who can't wait to put the mudbloods in their place - hermione is the member of the trio who'd make the best death eater, on account of her tendency towards people-pleasing and her general deference to authority.

so if she finds herself yeeted back in time to the 1940s? sorry lads, she's not fixing tom riddle through the force of her intellect [he would - with my apologies to tomione nation - think her a narrow-minded bluestocking who wouldn't recognise magical creativity if it punched her in the face]...

she's becoming a fascist.

[renaultphile]

Phaedrus part 3: All the tangle of man's mortality

I've been rambling about the Phaedrus on this re-read - part one is here and part two is here. The great thing about the Phaedrus is that it works by osmosis.  Now it is in Laurie’s leg-pocket, waiting for his time of need.

The trigger in chapter 9 is a phone message from Ralph, whom he never thought to hear from again.  Just as he reached for the Phaedrus after an uncomfortable row with Andrew, so he reaches 'involuntarily' for it in his pocket when he has to decide whether to contact Ralph again.

What it represents to him has changed now that actual Ralph has re-appeared in his life. 

“Now it no longer stood for something rounded off and complete, but for confusion and uncertainty and pain and compassion, and all the tangle of man's mortality. And yet, he thought again, it was for such a world that it had been written.”

Was it written for an imperfect world?  Or, as Ralph seems to imply, as an escape from it?  Either way, at this point we are firmly back at school.  Ralph’s request to speak to Laurie reminds him of being told 'Lanyon wants you in his study after prayers.'

After Ralph gives him the news about the transfer, and discovers that Laurie is in love with Andrew, he tries desperately hard to switch from lover to mentor, and, just as he is about to offer him a drink, Laurie ‘thanks’ him by show him the Phaedrus, resulting in one of the most dramatic and mysterious moments in the book, that impromptu departure.

When Ralph returns, he seems to Laurie like an actor giving a performance.  To me the hint that Ralph has popped some Benzedrine (or Laurie thinks he might have) on his way back is pretty strong:

“For a moment Laurie wondered if he had had a couple of drinks on the way; but when he looked again he could see it wasn't that.  He looked sharp-edged rather than blurred…..”

The idea that Ralph might have sought some kind of pharmaceutical assistance only adds to the poignancy.  Laurie is looking to him for moral support, and he must act the part as best he can.  He makes a good start, pouring some of Laurie’s drink into his own glass when he realises he is going to see Andrew.  But he can’t keep it up for long:

"Different my foot. Don't fool yourself, Spud. He'll come back in a year or two and tell you all about his boy friend. That one's a classic, didn't you know?"

Spuds reminds him that ‘Once you wouldn’t have talked like that,’ at which point Ralph makes a desperate bid to resign from the role of mentor, “For God’s sake, what does it matter to you what I meant?” to which Laurie replies, “I can't imagine there ever being a time when it wouldn't."

Ralph can’t give the advice he wants to give because Laurie refuses to see beyond the fantasy figure he has built up.

But the next part is even more interesting.  They change the subject, and Laurie gets Ralph talking about the sea.  But while he is doing that, Laurie is trying to work out why he has a ‘strange feeling of fulfilment’ in this room next to the fire, and realises it is linked to a memory of reading the Phaedrus back at home and returning home to the fire in his bedroom to imaginary Ralph.  He puts his hands over his face to recreate this imaginary version, as he sits in the room with the real Ralph.  He may not be paying much attention to Ralph’s story, but the reader is in no doubt about the contrast.  The story Ralph is actually telling is colourful, gritty and real.  Then Laurie is faced again with reality and makes a completely different ancient Greek connection, Apollo at Delphi, smiling and saying,

“But I don’t mean what you mean.” 

That eerie giggle from Bunny on the stairs seems to echo it.  Perhaps Laurie is beginning to free himself from the grip of the Phaedrus after all, painful as it is. 

He has a long night ahead.  He goes back to the hospital to face a dressing-down from the Major, and then argues with Andrew over Charlot.  But when they talk about it afterwards, Andrew makes it clear to Laurie that he doesn’t need protecting,

“You oughtn't to think of me as a person whose head has to be stuck in a bag.”

Laurie’s response is to kiss him, and he believes he is not harming Andrew or corrupting their relationship. And then he has an erotic dream about Ralph and realises that the person he might talk to about this cannot be the same person as the subject of the dream.  He knows Ralph cannot be a mentor and a lover to him, he has to choose.  At the end of chapter 11 he rings Ralph and they talk about nothing in particular and he feels better.  He seems to have settled something.

But the legacy of the Phaedrus has only just begun to play out……Now it has landed like a hot potato on Ralph’s desk after seven years.  Now it is a talisman for Ralph, the key to Laurie’s heart.  But does Laurie mean what he thinks he means?

Let's see how Ralph manages to grapple with that one…...

[attic-club-sandwich]

"you look so cozy" with mammon and Shae please👀

Ahh thank you for the request, Hack! 💛 I thought those prompts were so adorable i'm so glad you sent one in! I hope you like it, it's just a short little drabble of what immediately came to mind!

Anon, yours is next it's waiting in my inbox for me <3

List of Gentle Prompts

Shae x Mammon

Summary: A short little piece about Shae and Mammon having a cozy evening in after being out in the cold winter air of the Devildom. (Where I headcanon that the Devildom seasonal conditions are way more extreme than a human world seasonal conditions lol)

Taglist: @amberrskiies, @obey-me-posts @sassykattery @delphi-dreamin, @a-hidden-gem @otomefoxystar @todothedodo @marvelous-maniac @nonbinary-disaster @selfmadender @animeismyhappyplace @vampire-tr4mp @ana-dear @gaychaosgremlin @sidgethegamer @meiloorun-tea @temnuk0 @starshineandbooks

You Look So Cozy

Shivering, Shae breathes a puff of hot air into her hands in an attempt to warm them. Even the thick wool of her gloves isn't enough to keep out the bite of the cold, winter air of the Devildom. They had just gotten dinner at Hell's Kitchen, and despite having a full stomach she was no where near warm. "You doin' alright, Shae?" Mammon asks, guiding her down the snowy streets of Deviltown. . "Y-Yeah it's just s-so cold..." Shae said, her teeth chattering. Mammon's eyebrows furrow together as he pulls her into his side. He knew Devildom winters were pretty extreme compared to what Shae was probably used to. "Don't ya worry, the Great Mammon will keep ya warm until we make it home!" Shae giggles, leaning into him as they made their way back to the House of Lamentation.

The warmth of the house welcomes them with a cozy embrace as they wander through the doors. Shae sighs, feeling herself begin to thaw out almost immediately. "I've never been so cold in my life." She mumbles, stripping off her jacket. Mammon chuckles, plucking Shae's hat off of her head, leaving her raven black hair tousled and messy. "Ugh, Mams, why-" but her words are silenced as his lips meet hers. "Cause you are just so damned cute, ya know? I can't help it." Shae blushes, leaning in to bury her face into his chest. "Well you don't have to mess up my hair." Mammon laughs, reaching his hand up to mess up her hair even more. "Go get into something comfy and meet me in the living room, I'll get us something warm to drink."

Shae makes her way to her room, slipping out of her cold, damp clothing. She pulls on a pair of leggings, along with one of Mammon's hoodies she had kept after she had asked to "borrow" it one day. Lastly, she pulls on a pair of fuzzy socks, hoping that they will help bring feeling back to her toes. Grabbing her blanket off of her bed, she hurries back down the hall to claim her spot on the couch in front of the fireplace. Snuggling down in her blanket, she waits patiently for Mammon.

Her eyes begin to droop as her body relaxes, finally feeling warm again from the fire. "Oi, you ain't gonna fall asleep on me already, are ya?" Mammon's voice startles her, causing her eyes to shoot open. He's standing above her, staring at her over the back of the couch as he holds a mug in each hand. She notices he's also changed into a pair of sweatpants and a t shirt. Shaking her head, Shae pulls the blanket up past her nose, attempting to hide the blush that she's pretty sure has formed on her cheeks. "Of course not, I was just bored waiting for you!" Mammon chuckles, his golden gaze shining down at her with adoration. "You look so cozy." Shae reaches a hand out from under the blanket to pat the vacant spot next to her. "Then come join me?" The white haired demon doesn't hesitate as he sets the mugs of tea down on the coffee table. He slides comfortably onto the couch next to her, his arms instinctively wrapping themselves around her. Shae sighs softly as he gently pulls her into his familiar embrace. "I love you, Mams." She murmurs, resting her head against his chest. Mammon hums, leaning in to press a kiss against her forehead. Shae's heart flutters in her chest as she feels his lips form into a slow grin. "Now don't go tellin' anyone or anything but uh...I love ya too."

[twoidiotwriters1]

The Curse of Oenone (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: I'll take a break to focus on the actual book I'm writing, but don't worry, I promise the final book will be the best one of all. See you in August! -Danny Words: 2,203 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter // Next Book Listen to: 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' -by U2

LXIII: Which Boss Do I Have to Fight to Get Some Validation Around Here?

She knows all the people in this room, but the way she thinks about them, and how they interact with her now that she's physically different, is kind of off.

"We talked to Apollo," Ara starts explaining. "He said Gaia reawakened the Python, keeping the Oracle of Delphi prisoner—that's why Rachel can't see anything now."

Ella the harpy, Tyson, and Rachel will leave with the Romans, they'll try to rewrite the Sibylline books, which is why Ara called for a meeting.

"But Gaia is permanently asleep now," Will reasons. "That means Dad can kill the Python now!"

Ara grimaces. "But your father angered Zeus. We might not see him a while, or worse—"

"Wait, if we stop getting prophecies, that's completely alright," Nyssa replies. She's the counselor for Cabin Nine because Jake refused to step back in. "We lost two great inventors already, and it's not like Hephaestus goes out of his way to have tons of kids, our numbers are thinning—"

"I'm perfectly aware of it, Nyssa, thank you." Ara silences the girl. "But we should be worried about Apollo."

"Why? No more prophecies means peace!" Percy argues.

Ara gives him a look. "No more prophecies means we'll face our future problems blindly, and trust me, there will be problems. We've been stripped of our advantage, and that's not all that worries me."

"What is?" Piper asks reluctantly.

"Zeus will punish Apollo for his delulus of greatness, and he has a special way of humiliating Apollo... I'm pretty sure he'll use it again."

Will's face loses color. "That's terrible news! We could be left powerless! Our whole cabin!"

"I'm aware of that too," Ara sighs. "If this doesn't end well, you might lose them forever..."

"Hold on, time out," Percy intervenes. "I'm lost."

Annabeth explains. "Zeus once punished Apollo by stripping him of his godly status. He turned into a mortal, and was forced to do a series of trials until Zeus considered he'd humbled him enough."

Jason looks concerned. "What could've happened if he'd failed those trials?"

"He would've died, most likely," Ara says. "None of his descendants would've kept their powers, maybe. Some traits at best, whatever they could've learned in training, but stuff like—"

"Magic healing, music powers, perfect aim, the light..." Will shudders. "All gone."

"Your job is important," Ara turns to Rachel and Ella. "The books have information concerning what's next, maybe it'll tell us if we need to prepare in case Apollo's absence causes another conflict in Olympus. We mustn't get too comfortable in our peace."

She scans the room and sees the campers' good mood dying before her eyes. Ara's expression turns guilty, but she keeps going.

"Keep your eyes open. Apollo might reach out to any of us, he could show up at camp and have no memory of who he is—Gods, he might not even look like himself at all! But balance is needed whether we like it or not, if you find him, bring him to me."

No one is happy with her lecture, but Ara ends the meeting and sends the group of Romans away. Nico approaches her and nudges her arm. "You didn't need us after all. You kept them under control the whole time."

She smiles a little. "I thought they would fight me more on it."

"You're too scary now, but don't worry," Jason grins. "You'll get used to being almighty."

Almighty raises her myth. 

What if that line was about her as much as it was about the sword? She's powerful nowadays, but hardly a myth. She would need to become history for that, and her death doesn't feel any closer.

"Ara?"

"Hmm?" She gives a start.

"I said, can you do me a favor now?" Nico asks, his eyes fixed on the Big House's entrance. "Stay near."

Ara is intrigued, she follows him out and sees what he'd been staring at from inside. "Hey, guys," Percy smiles at them. "Annabeth just told me some good news!"

"We're going to spend our senior year together," Annabeth beams, "here in New York. And after graduation—"

"College in New Rome!" Percy punches the air. "Four years with no monsters to fight, no battles, no stupid prophecies. Just me and Annabeth, getting our degrees, hanging out at cafés, enjoying California—"

"And after that..." Annabeth smiles sweetly at the boy. "Well, Reyna and Frank said we could live in New Rome as long as we like."

"That's great," Nico says, sounding genuine. "I'm staying too, here at Camp Half-Blood."

"What?" Ara looks at him with shock.

"Awesome!" Percy exclaims.

"So," Nico clears his throat, "since we're going to be spending at least a year seeing each other at camp, I think I should clear the air."

Percy hesitates. "What do you mean?"

"For a long time, I had a crush on you." Nico shrugs. "I just wanted you to know."

Percy looks at the boy blankly. "You—"

"Yeah. You're a great person. But I'm over that," he smiles a bit. "I'm happy for you guys."

"You... so you mean—"

"Right."

"Wait," Percy frowns. "So you mean—"

"Right. But it's cool. We're cool. I mean, I see now... you're cute, but you're not my type."

Ara snorts, not believing her ears.

"I'm not your type..." Percy blinks. "Wait. So—"

"This is gonna take a while," Ara guides Nico away with amusement.

The boy snickers. "See you around, Percy. Annabeth."

If that isn't surreal enough, Annabeth and Nico high-five, and then the boy openly smiles at Ara and pats her shoulder. Even if it's a closed smile, it's enough to bewild her. Nico makes his way down the porch steps and shouts at someone to wait for him. Will Solace, out of all people. Almost immediately, both boys glow in the same bright yellow light.

"Holy shit," Ara breathes.

"Huh," Lily says, coming out of nowhere. "Yeah, I can see it."

Ara jumps. "Gods, Lily, stop doing that!" She lowers her voice with confusion. "Did you see that, though?"

"What?" Annabeth grins at the girls. "Don't tell me you couldn't tell! I'm sure you were the first to find out!"

Ara looks at her smiling. "Yeah, what an idiot, right? But no, I meant..." She hesitates, it's still not her place to tell others what she just saw. "Nevermind. You know where Reyna is?"

"Talking to Piper by the lake," Lily responds. "Need me to come along?"

"Nah, it's fine, I gotta feed Pollo anyway," Ara shows her a lighthearted smile before walking away. "Go waste time with your elf."

"Don't call him that!"

"Don't forget Mom picks us up in an hour!" Percy shouts, coming out of his dazzled state.

"There you are!" Ara finds Reyna and Piper. "Ready to go?"

"Yes. Again, thank you for letting us stretch our stay."

"You're always welcome here," Piper says. "If you need to take a break, get away... you've got Frank now—he could assume more responsibility for a while. It might do you good to make some time for yourself, when nobody is going to be looking at you as praetor."

"Would I be expected to sing that odd song about how Grandma puts on her armor?"

"Not unless you really want to," Piper grins. "But we might have to ban you from capture the flag. I have a feeling you could go against the entire camp solo and still beat us."

"I'll consider the offer. Thank you." Reyna pauses. "I wonder... You two are children of Venus. I mean Aphrodite. Perhaps—perhaps you could explain something your mother said."

Piper and Ara share a look, and the younger girl crosses her arms. "Go ahead."

"Once in Charleston, Venus told me something. She said: You will not find love where you wish or where you hope. No demigod shall heal your heart. I—I have struggled with that for..."

The answer comes easily to Ara. "Don't have to be scared. Love is a vast concept and its fulfillment comes in many forms, rarely is it ever another human. Before Leo, love would come to me by helping people and not dating. It really is in the most random places."

"You are an incredible person," Piper adds. "And you have friends, sometimes that's even better than a partner."

"I can attest to that," Ara nods, then adds playfully. "But if you ever feel like giving dating a try, I'm available until my boyfriend comes back from the dead."

Reyna stares at her. "I can't tell if you're being serious."

"This is a special offer with a deadline," Ara retorts half-joking. "I find you frustratingly attractive."

Reyna laughs and Ara feels like she just accomplished a great deed. She perks up at the sound but then something hits her across the face. The girl groans and looks around in confusion. "What the..."

Ara looks down and it takes her a moment to understand what she's seeing. She picks up the item and Piper gasps. "Is that—?"

"Oh my gods," Ara's hands are shaking. "Oh, gods! What do I do?"

"What is that?" Reyna asks.

"That's Leo's!" Piper says. "It fell from the sky!"

Ara feels like maybe she should sit down before she opens it, but her impatience gets the best of her and she opens the scroll with trembling, clumsy fingers.

"Hey, guys!" Leo's tiny projection comes out of the scroll. Ara makes a bizarre noise with her throat and holds tighter onto it, unable to look away. Reyna and Piper get closer."Sorry to leave you like that. Bad news: I died. Good news: I got better! I had to help my bud Cal. We're taking Festus to—" 

The image glitches and Ara shakes the scroll impatiently. 

"Back as soon as—" 

More glitching and static.

"Cook tacos when—" 

More static. 

"¡Vaya con queso! Love ya!"

The scroll turns off and Ara gets angry. "That's it?!"

"Leo's alive!" Piper hugs her. "It worked!"

"Smart," Reyna hums approvingly. "Seems like our date will never come to be, Strategus."

Ara twists the scroll in her hands. "An entire freaking week where we both almost died and all he has to say is Vaya con queso?" She's fuming. "Well, good for his bud Cal! I hope they bring me a shirt from whatever stupid countries they visit on their super fun holiday away from everyone else!"

Piper steps back. "I should get Lily."

"I should leave," Reyna says promptly.

The girls hurry away while also spreading the news about Leo. Soon enough, Ara is surrounded by an eager crowd that wants to hear the message. Ara plays it back, glaring at the projection. 

Lily sees her expression and nudges Nico, both taking her away from the congratulating crowd that calls her boyfriend cool and intelligent before she can kill them.

Steam is practically coming out of Ara's ears. She's forgotten all about her duties, her hurt ego stops her from thinking clearly while she paces around her room.

"Look at the bright side, Queen B, he'll be back soon and you won't mope for months like with Percy!"

"Hey! It wasn't my fault!"

"No one's saying that," Annabeth replies, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Ara keeps throwing her tantrum. "This is the same boy that used to send me weekly scrolls to my apartment to tell me I looked pretty in a dream he had—and now I get nothing!"

"For all we know that 'Love ya!' in the end might've been just for you," Nico pokes fun at her.

"I'm gonna strangle you," Ara warns him.

"Dude, why are you angry? He broke the curse!" Lily insists. She had to catch up quickly with Annabeth's help to understand the full context of what was happening.

"I'm happy but I'm angry that he kicked me out of the ship like I was getting on the way, and now he's taking his sweet time to talk to me!" Ara glares at the pinboard in front of her, packed with pictures of the boy. "Ugh, look at this! Oh, you should've seen the way I cried for him—Ugh, I hate him!"

The group shares a roguish look. They know Ara can't handle big emotions, especially when it comes to Leo, so right now she's fighting to regulate herself. But if Leo doesn't get there fast, Ara's high will suffocate her until it knocks her down and leaves her unable to get out of bed.

"Birdy," Percy approaches and places a hand on her shoulder. "Leo's probably saving his romantic speech for when he sees you in person. He knows you love it when he makes a show out of it."

"The scroll was a perfect opportunity to show off," Ara argues with a pout, but she's calming down.

"Yeah, but he had no way of knowing you would be the one to get it and have it slap you across the face," Nico replies. "Besides, you know he worships the ground you walk on—What's the big deal?"

Ara takes a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "The big deal is that the curse is broken," Her fingers skim the picture of him in the bunker's platform, smiling big while showing a thumbs up to the camera. "And he's traveling with a goddess whose sole purpose is to tempt men so they stay with her..."

"Hey, Calypso isn't like that," Percy tries to defend the girl's honor, but Annabeth pulls him back and shakes her head, now is not the time to try and reason with a frightened Ara.

"You're saying you don't trust Leo?" Lily questions with disbelief.

"I'm saying I have no way to contact him, and if something happens mid-journey, or Apollo shows up and I'm not here..." Ara scowls at the drawing of the Argo II in the middle of her pinboard. "Without the oracles here to guide us, anything can happen."

Next Book –>

Taglist.

@siriuslysirius1107 @ask-giggles1303 @im-planning-something-look @bandshirts-andbooks @coolninjapaper @thewaterlily @whenisthefall @1randomcomic @you-bloody-shank @sunflowergraves @owlalex44 @taylordaughter @typicalsolangelolover @writingmia @espressopatronum454 @slytherinnqueen @orbitingpolaris @obxstiles @ellipsisspelled @thepixiechicksh @ebony-reine-vibes

[delphi-shield]

Hi Delphi! from your wips, PLEASE yap about rotten work - ada wong snippets? crumbs? what's the synopsis? I'm curious tell me more!! <33

Chuuunk, hi!! 💛

omg I started writing Rotten Work when Separate Ways came out for 4r, my roommate and i were trading off playing the chapters and I'd jot down little lines when it wasn't my turn to play. I'm so fond of this fic for that specific reason LMAO im a sap.

basically, it spans pre-4 to post-4. reader works under wesker ensuring delivery of payment to contractors. they live in self-imposed ignorance, like a real clock-in, clock-out deal, want no part of the moral hell that is working with wesker, etc. ada knows a naive mutt when she sees one, realizes that wesker plans on escalating very soon after 4r, tries to get you out of the danger you don't even realize you're in before it's too late. basically-- Ada got sentimental about the person who hands her paycheck over.

the vibe of the fic is very as seen below.

You put her out of your mind. You're good at that sort of thing. Keeps you out of trouble.

and then the immediate next paragraph:

Is Ada Wong her real name, you wonder? It can't be. No one in this business uses their real name - except maybe Wesker. Does she have a boyfriend waiting on her? A girlfriend back home that she spends all this cash on? Where does a woman like her call home? A penthouse, maybe. A lavish country home, left empty and occupied by staff more than herself. Or is it on foreign soil, tracking designer logos into mud – or crouched in helicopters, wind whipping her hair from her face, sun on her skin and haloed by a weariness that runs bone deep.

all while ada is stressed the fuck out in the background lmfao

[delphi-dreamin]

Hi dearest

Question: does Lucifer kiss your skin goodbye before you tattoo it?

- 🌞

Oh, my darling. This gave me such delicious ideas...

Kiss Goodbye

Word Count: 654

Genre: Fluff, lightly suggestive

Relationship: Lucifer x Delphi

Lucifer watches with a soft smile as his little human bustles about the room, her hair tied back in a messy bun, his own black button-down shirt draped tantalizingly over her petite frame. The sleeves are bunched at her elbows, the buttons undone to her navel, and the hem only barely covers her rear, giving him the barest glimpse of her red lace panties when she bends over. He doesn't think he'll ever understand why she likes sleeping in the shirt, but seeing her in it and only it makes an odd feeling of pride swell in his chest.

“You have a meeting with Diavolo first thing tomorrow at RAD, then we're having lunch with Simeon at noon,” she reminds him as she packs her laptop into her school bag. “We’ve got reservations at Ristorante Six at 8. And don't forget I have a tattoo appointment at 3, so I'll be out for a few hours after classes. I'll meet you back here before dinner.”

Lucifer frowns. “You have a tattoo appointment?”

Delphi looks up at him, her brow raised with amusement. “There's a visiting artist at the shop I like this weekend. I told you about the appointment last week! You seriously forgot?”

“I've had a bit of a busy week, darling,” he reminds her with an amused grin of his own. “Remind me what you're having done?”

Her eyes light up and he smiles. She loves talking about her tattoos, and he loves listening to her. Her excitement and passion are infectious when she's explaining her newest body art.

“I've been messaging them about a design based on one of my drawings. It's a honey bee with honeycomb and a crown,” she explains, the twinkle in her eyes and the light flush in her cheeks betraying her excitement. She sets her bag on the sofa and approaches where he sits on the bed, slotting herself between his thighs and draping her arms over his shoulders. “It's been almost a year since my last big piece, and I can't wait!”

“And where will this one go?” Lucifer asks, his gaze lingering on her bright eyes even as his fingers begin to undo the remaining buttons on the shirt she's appropriated.

He doesn't miss the darkening of her cheeks and the way her gaze flies down to his lips when she says, “It's going to be an under-bust. They're going to incorporate my pact mark into the design as the crown.”

“So, here?” he asks, gently splaying his hand over the soft skin above her lower sternum. His ruby eyes never leave hers as she nods, her lips parting slightly. Her heartbeat quickens under his hand and he smiles. He dips his head to press his lips to the warm skin there and grins when she gasps at the contact.

“Right there,” she breathes, her head falling back as his hands spread over either side of her ribcage. Warmth begins to pool in her belly as his lips wander her upper stomach. Her fingers find his hair of their own accord, burying themselves in his soft locks.

“What are you doing?” she asks, chuckling softly as goosebumps raise on her skin.

“I’m saying goodbye to this lovely patch of bare skin,” Lucifer whispers against her, sending heat directly to her core. He continues to murmur against her, “I love your tattoos and your piercings because you love them and they make you feel beautiful. But you have such gorgeous, delicate skin. And this might be the last time I get to see this particular patch.”

His tongue flicks out and caresses the unmarked flesh below her pact mark and a moan escapes her lips. His breath feels cool against the trail of his tongue, and it makes sparks bloom within her, makes her skin prickle with want. He continues placing open-mouthed kisses on her chest and stomach, smiling as she trembles beneath him.

“You sound almost like Asmo,” she huffs, grinning like a cat.

Lucifer chuckles, “Sometimes he has the right idea.”

Taglist: @sassykattery @bite-sized-devil @sparkbeast20 @kyungjoon-do @attic-club-sandwich @consolationblog @flemmingbamse @syren201

[your-local-squip-fanatic]

Alright I apologize for lack of actual content minus reposts as of late, creative block sucks cuck. But I guess that gives me an excuse to share more of what I've cooked up for the Double Lester AU/The Son of the Priest!

-The books have their own titles in this to seperate them from the OG. A Fallen God's Plea, The Wrath of Neos Helios, Blood Moon Rising, and The Last Trial all correspond to, respectively, The Hidden Oracle, The Burning Maze, The Tyrant's Tomb, and The Tower of Nero. You may notice The Dark Prophecy isn't here, that's because I can't think of a good alternative title for the story told in the AU version, it might just stay the same idk yet.

-I'm aging up Meg just a little, to 14 from the start. I confess I do this because it's hard for me to keep Meg in character, so I'm going the cheap route to make her a bit more flexible to me. Don't fire me pls I'll try to keep her close to canon

-Nifty idea I had while doing my notes for Blood Moon Rising: Lester progressively becomes more ghostlike as Apollo's infection worsens (since the Body-Soul Link connects them.) At first, it just makes Lester's veins more purple and it more difficult not to break into his true aoroi self, but over time he simply can't go back into his human state and has to keep a tight handle on himself so as to not attack people. His aoroi appearance has a distinct violet tinge instead of pale blue, and the poison in him (well, more Apollo) shows as glowing lavender veins, much like if you injected glowstick fluid in your bloodstream. By the time we reach the end with Tarquin, Lester is struggling so badly not to give in to the violent urges, Tarquin's beckoning to join him, and the amount of pain he's in, but he pushes through everything knowing there's still that smallest chance of help... of hope.

-I AM SOOOO excited to get to Nero and Python. Netos death won't be so anticlimatic- if fact he goes out with a bang- and Python... well for one it's serious Lester abuse ouch, but it's the peak of Apollo and Lester's character arcs. Neither of them are afraid to face Python because they have each other and aren't alone. They aren't afraid to die, hell Lester just goes into Badass Mode the whole fight, a stark contrast to the wimpy coward we met at the very beginning of everything. He does everything he can to assist Apollo knowing damn well there is no chance of him surviving the battle. The lil fucker just refuses to die.

And that's before I get to Apollo. He feels horrible knowing Lester is almost guaranteed to die in Delphi, and he will not let him. He will do whatever it takes to save Lester from the fate Python bestowed on him, consequences be damned. He's willing to die for Lester, and Lester's willing to die for Apollo. That's what love does bby

-A snippet of the many abilities of the Body-Soul Link is that Lester, on a few occasions, can actually SORT OF see Apollo's true appearance. In reality he looks like a fuzzy, glowing gold 3D lineart and his face is really hard to make out, but Lester's Mist-piercing vision helps him a bit... and he gets flustered every time. "A-am I gay now?"

-also Lester, despite his temper, is such a sweetheart to everyone hnngh too precious. For one, he's such a big brother to Meg, he cried when Meg said she sees him and Apollo as siblings. He gives back to the poor. He cares about nature. Fuck I can't wait to this precious little bean to yall aaaaaa

[autobot-ratchet]

MTMTE 4-6 (plus Spotlight Trailcutter and Hoist)

MTMTE 4

oh hell yeah time for one of my favorite arcs in the whole story, it's Delphi time baybeeeeeeee

oh my god I forgot Red Alert and Swerve were roommates in early MTMTE lmfAO god poor Red Alert

aww man Pipes is sweet. Can't wait to get my heart broken all over again when he gets stomped lmAO

love Drift pretending to be brave like “would I even be here if the DJD scared me in the slightest” hard cut to Drift begging Ratchet to kill him before the DJD can get him

also love Drift slicing some poor dude into ribbons for the crime of shuffling unnervingly toward Pipes. But he's not nervous or anything, not on edge, perfectly calm

and Tailgate learns the truth of the war

damn, Cyclonus didn't have to do all that to Tailgate, I know he barely even felt that punch

Love Drift surrounding Ratchet with his swords, also love Ratchet holding Drift's arm down to keep him from attacking Pipes, god they're both so good, I fucking love Drift and I fucking love Ratchet

straight up if Drift wasn't such a show off with all his fancy moves and shit he wouldn't have gotten hit with the rust disease lmAO but he HAD to go vehicle mode to dodge Pipes's shuffling

eeeeeyyyyyy Fort Max is back

MTMTE 5

fuckin rip to those two rando decepticons

ooh get his ass First Aid

LOVE Ratchet changing into alt mode before Ambulon is even done begging him not to, guy's gotta do what he can to save his patients that's all there is to it

gdhfsghjl god it is so funny how often they trust what the autopedia says, Tailgate really just edited his own wiki page like “and he was super strong and smart and cool and the records show that his meat was huge and he was best friends with the president”

“predominantly organic universe,” interesting. I know we later see different kinds of mechanical beings but I didn't realize that there were significantly less kinds of mechanical races than organic, I figured they were closer to 50/50

slurps up all this foreshadowing

fuckin Pharma doing the “camera angle when an anime character is about to go insane” thing. God it is still so funny how fast he jumped headfirst into his joker arc. Also kinda sad if you think too hard about it, like he is so clearly not the villain type, he is so bad at it. But he must have felt so guilty that he truly believed there was no redemption that could save him, which is incredibly tragic, but also he is very difficult to take seriously when he says all this cartoon villain shit

“I'm miles from anyone I truly care about” fuckin liar lmAO

god. Still love that Drift is the one to stop Pharma from shooting Ratchet. How'd he even get up here. Who let him leave the medbay and shuffle his rusty ass all the way to the roof of this fucking building

Spotlight: Trailcutter

Teebs is also very sweet. Can't wait to get my heart broken all over again by him as well

“Brainstorm, Chromedome, and Highbrow- you're all heads, I just thought it was funny” a HEE HEE HOO

“I wish I was normal and I wish everyone would just shut up” fucking MOOD Teebs you are so valid

lol get owned, Lockdown

Rodimus really gave Hoist a gold-plated pin-up of himself. Not even his current self, that's his Hot Rod design

Spotlight: Hoist

I will never be able to see this panel with Hoist telling Swerve about the scanner scope without thinking of that edit someone did to make it say “See that, Swerve? That thing there?" “The internet?” “Do not trust the internet. The internet lies.”

gfdsjks Swerve just “um actually'd” Perceptor shut the hell up

I do like these little glimpses of characters that ultimately didn't get much screentime outside these spotlights, like it's so easy to forget that Sunstreaker was ever on the Lost Light bc he didn't get to do much before he was transferred back over to Barber's comic (it's been years since I've read those as well and I do not remember what the comic's name was at that point and I refuse to look it up)

damn I forgot how rude Swerve is in early MTMTE, he's just out here roasting people unprompted

oh it's bc he's deflecting the fact that he's dying lmfAO fuck forgot about that part

“I know it's neither the time nor the place but damn we look good” it is always the time and place Sunstreaker, you are so FUCKING valid

honestly? Love the idea of the phobia shield. Love that kind of mind-fuckery, would've loved to see it used on more characters lmAO

MTMTE 6

absolutely love the combo of Rung and Whirl being Fort Max's hostages, love how harsh Whirl is, gimme that CONFLICT

aw come on Max don't deadname Roddy like that

oooouuhhguhgh Whirl tells his backstory only when Rung's life is threatened *points at Whirl* haha you caaaaaaaare

god I love how fucked up the way they pacify Fort Max is. Honestly this whole issue is fucked up and I love it

Knowing that Drift is on Overlord duty, his talk about how Red Alert is snooping around too much hits different lmAO

[edogawa-division]

ARB Birthday Special 2023: Kaoru Shinozaki

~~ September 15th ~~

“There is no great genius without a mixture of madness.”

Login Lines:

“Zzzzzzz…. Gah! I'm up! I'm awake! Oh shit, you scared me! Don't do that! I can feel my heart pounding! Huh? Is this a present?” 

“Why are you even giving this to me? It’s not like my birthday is anytime soon. Wait, what do you mean today is my birthday? Athena dammit! I forgot again!” 

Voice Lines:

“I can't believe I forgot about my birthday for the second year in a row. I mean, I did spend the last few days working on an invention. Oh well, I might as well see what chaos I can get up to today.” 

“Alright! “Operation: Birthday Bash” is a go! Mwahahaha! Major intelligence agencies all across the world are currently waking up to a malware virus that I just sent to their servers!*giggles* It's nothing too bad. All it's going to do is forcibly take control of their speaker systems and play “Never Gonna Give You Up” on repeat all day. Take that you fuckers!”

“Hi Mama, Papa, Nii-san. It's me. I’m doing alright, just turned 23, but I'm sure you all knew that.*sighs* Lately, I've been thinking about what my life would be like if the accident never happened. I think…I would've been miserable, and isn't that a horrible thought? I never said this, but for all that you loved me, none of you ever bothered to understand me. How could you? I was too different. What? You don't think I heard you talking at night? That you thought I walked the line between genius and insanity. That you thought I would grow up to be a villain? That some days you were even afraid of me? Ha! A part of me resents you for that even now.” 

“You know A.D.A is usually the first one to wish me happy birthday, but I haven't heard from her all day, which is pretty strange. I think she’s planning something because she asked me a while back if I had any plans for my birthday all while looking like the cat who ate the canary. Ehhhh…I should probably prepare for the worst. A.D.A can get pretty vindictive when the mood hits her.” 

“Yurikoooo! What did you get me? Noooo! Betrayed by my own mother! Next thing you know I’ll be left out on the cold streets to fend for myself. Oh, the horror! *wheezes* Okay, okay, I’m done! Oh, come on, Yuriko! It's my birthday. Let me live a little! Anyway, did you not really get me anything? Hahaha! I knew you’d never let me down! So, whatcha get me?” 

“A string of numbers? Wait, are these what I think they are? Fuck…Yuriko that place is literally one of the best guarded networks in the world. I could spend years attempting to hack it as Delphi, and even then, I would only be able to make a dent in their firewall. Literally, the only ones allowed to have access to that place are the top and, I mean, top dogs of the underworld. So why? Why give this to me? Why give me access to… somewhere where I make the worst of my genius blossom to life with no consequences? A storm, huh? You can count on me, Yuriko. I promise.” 

“No wait Kanra! *crunch* K-K-Kanra it seems like your birthday hugs get stronger every year huh? My ribs certainly can tell. Oh, what are we waiting for then? You know I love your cakes Kanra! Hahaha! Okay, then what did you get me?” 

“Pfffffftt! Kanra that thing is nearly as tall as you are! Hahaha! No, but seriously Kanra thank you. I've always wanted one of these. How did you even get one anyway? This thing is kinda of expensive. *wheeze* Kanra please! You can't treat a fight like it's a Pokémon battle. Hahaha! Never change Kanra.” 

“A.D.A! There you are! You're even in your android body, too! So I can only assume you have something special planned for me today. A.D.A…your grin is kind of scaring me. The last time you grinned like that, you didn't let me have coffee for 2 weeks. Oh gods, you are banning me from coffee again! A.D.A, please! I need coffee to survive! A.D.A…you’re still not filling me with confidence, but alright, what did you get me?”

“Uhhh…A.D.A? This is just a piece of paper with a time and a set of directions on it. Of course a…A.D.A WHAT DO YOU MEAN DATE??? Y-y-you…dinner…him…error…error…asdkhgkjiwenfkdklyyxgsitzfzjfzkfoxyoaryhdftwehadghffnjkelfhewnejwnjb…*faints*”

Yuriko Lines:

“Happy Birthday, Kaoru. *raises eyebrow* Does it look like I'm carrying a gift for you? *sighs* Are you done with your little charade Kaoru? Birthday or not, please do not wail like you’re the ghost of a Victorian child. Really?  Do you truly believe I would get you anything? What kind of mother would I be if I didn't get my own daughter anything? Now I'm sure you’ll find this quite interesting.” 

“Not just any set of numbers, Kaoru. I had to pull quite a few strings for these numbers. As you know, there's the black market which even a regular citizen can get access to if they look hard enough and then there's █ █ █ █ █ █ █. A global network of various dealers and brokers, hidden behind a series of codes and unknown numbers. Where only the truly dangerous lie, both people and items. It’s so well hidden that not even the various governments are aware of its existence, or if they do, all they know is rumors. Kaoru, I won't lie. A storm is brewing and heading our way. I’m not sure when or how, but I’ll be damned if I don't do everything in my power to make sure the three of us survive. If that means giving you access to someplace where you can be the worst version of yourself, then so be it. I know Kaoru, I know.”

Kanra Lines:

“Happy Birthday Kaoru! *hugs* Eh? Sorry! Guess I got a little too excited. Ah! Nevermind that! Come on Kaoru! I have your birthday cake in the kitchen! First I have to give you your present! I hope you like it!”

“Ta-da! Your very own giant Mareep doll! It is not! I can see over it! Hm? Oh right. So every time I beat someone unconscious I rummage through their wallets and steal all the cash they have on them. Why not? Winner’s rights! If people wanna pick a fight with me they better be prepared to fork over some cash when they lose!”

Bonus! A.D.A Lines:

“Kaoru my dear! Happy Birthday! Oh, I have just a little something special for you today. *grins widely*  Hm? Hahaha! Don’t be so scared, Kaoru, it's nothing like that. I will admit that it was a bit hard to work on the plan without you noticing, but I succeeded. Now, here I have something for you!”

“Why is it the time and location for your dinner reservation for your date with that pretty goth boy! Of course! He seemed surprised when I asked him. He was under the impression that you would be spending your birthday with Yuriko and Kanra, but I waved off his concern and told him you would love it if he took you out for dinner! Oh dear, her mind is erroring. Are you alright, Kaoru? Kaoru? AHH! SHE FAINTED!”

[disorganizedkitten]

The Road To Ruin(?): you mentioned twenty three hours of slideshow. What else is there?

Okay okay SO! It's not a 23 hour long slideshow, as much as that would definitely be my magnum opus, it just took me 23 hours to make. Although I did sleep, so more like 17. BUT I've added a slide or two since then so technically it's a 24h slideshow ;0

There are. So many people on this slideshow. I didn't REALIZE how many OCs I was making until I put them all in one place. There are TWENTY SEVEN character slides, plus an extra slide for "I need to remember their name but they are NOT going to end up Important"(tm). Sadly, Cole from Into The Mixing Bowl is not on it yet, and they will likely garner an entire slide. As soon as I learn their birthday XD

Anyway I try to make a slide for every important person I build myself, plus NOPC Fay Dunbar because at this point she's so divorced from canon that she requires an explanation xD I love her immensely.

So! Not everyone but here's the two Delphis I sometimes mention, Calli, Fay, and the various Potter Twins that have been mentioned so far.

Starting with The Boys!

I hope the slides explain them well enough but I will answer any and all questions I love them so much. Charlie's from the first twin au I ever made - don't think it counts as a wbwl because at that time I didn't know the trope and the "Chosen One" shenanigans focus on both of them.

I'm like 98% sure I wrote Sorrel having glasses in TRTR but it's fine he looks 16 here, sometimes you grow out of them.

FUN FACT when I was building NOPC, I got to the point where you Have To Have A Name but I couldn't pick one, so I handed the phone to my little sister and told her to. That's why there's no theme to the name Connor, unlike the other twins.

We're going to ignore the fact that his name is spelled two different ways, I spell it one, autocorrect spells it the other. The fact that Tristan is somehow a week older than William seems extremely fake to me, but google docs dates my documents and that's what they say.

WILLIAM! He's such a Person. I love him so. Both Will and NOPC get to feature copious Encyclopedia Brown references and it makes me so happy.

Fay! She's my blorbo! Fay Malfoy was an errant thought in War Crimes and spawned her own au. Long before that, THIS Fay was born! I think she's from 2020? I didn't date NOPC's conception, partially bc the twins are only dated so the Ordered By Birthday Slideshow can have them ordered too, and partially because it's the result of multiple aus breeding plot bunnies over three years.

I have so many picrews of her because Metamorphmagery makes her that much more fun to do. I love her so much. Alongside becoming the Astronomy teacher, she contracts with Gringotts to break in and then point out flaws in their security.

Calli! She's Delphi Lyn's soulmate and she's such a person. I can't wait to get NOPC out and get reactions.

I saved the best for last; it's Delphi Lyn, mwah. Gosh this woman does. so much. I love her. It's SO MUCH FUN to run plotlines with her. Delphi Is Not Paid Enough For This is going to be a series of aus spawning from DoM/Horcrux shenanigans and it's lovely.

[firsttarotreader]

Wow, finally found your blog! 🤩 I was looking for it for days, you are getting quite famous on the fandom! can I request a reading? I dont know if you had answer this already but: of what P is more afraid of when it comes to a stable relationship that is making him closes himself to one? cheating? being dumped out of nowhere? changing his life for the person? or something else?

Awww 🥹🥹🥹 I am getting “quite famous” in the fandom? Omg, that is so kind of you to say and it makes me so happy 🙈🙈🙈!! Now about the reading, I might have answered similar questions but I don’t think I have asked it this way? We also know he has said in the Wired interview that he doesn’t have kids and stays out of relationships and at least one of the reasons was because he doesn’t want to risk losing them somehow, but I asked the cards about it, so we’ll see what came up.

The first cards were the Queen of Hedgehogs, Justice and 9 of Teacups. You see, when I first saw these cards, I wasn’t really sure what to make of them because they are actually happy cards, so I was like “wait, is he afraid of being…happy?” But then things made sense when I pulled other cards. Queen of Hedgehogs is a great omen for a happy and stable relationship and home life, as she is stable, grounded, reliable, secure, and she is a nurturer. Then you have Justice with more stability, moderation, balance, fairness, and 9 of Teacups representing more happiness, satisfaction, luck, feeling comfortable and like a wish has come true. Very good cards, right? They could also be referring to the way he would try to be in a relationship, the way he would try to give his best to the person.

The next cards were the 7 of Teacups, 2 of Flowers and 8 of Spears. 7 of Teacups is the card of daydreaming, of having so many options and so many choices and ways to go and just fantasizing and being lost in the possibilities. 2 of Flowers is another card about possibilities, about choices and having plans and starting to iron out new goals, but not just daydreaming and actually having the impulse to act on them. BUT look at the last card, 8 of Spears, the one about feeling stuck, restricted, limited, like you can't choose and you can't go anywhere and you're feeling tied up and indecisive. So what could this be about? I took it as two possible ways, one of them being Pedro becoming stuck and feeling that happy relationships could limit him, could stop him from making decisions and choosing what is best for him and his life and his career. Like he would be always in a crossroad. OR it could be that he might fear the other person being unable to choose him and to choose staying with him, stalling and not really committing and only keeping him trapped in their web.

The last cards were the Knight of Teacups reversed, The Hermit and 7 of Hedgehogs reversed. Knight of Teacups reversed could be representing someone not being sincere in the relationship. Someone who could be lying, deceiving him, cheating on him or manipulating his feelings, someone he could not trust. The Hermit right after could mean he would end up feeling alone, isolated, and lonely in the relationship. 7 of Hedgehogs reversed is about putting a lot of effort into something and never getting anything in return, investing time and energy in the relationship and things just not working out.

So, to put it simply, I take it as he possibly being afraid of thinking he has it all and then realizing he is really not getting anything back, being cheated on, delluded, abandoned, of putting everything he can into a relationship and seeing it be worthless.

To get more info about it, I asked my Oracle of Delphi the same question and the cards were Pastime, Blindness and Multiple Loves. Well, let's put it this way, he could be afraid to be a Pastime to the person, to think he actually has someone who loves him and cares for him and be blind about it, not really see what's in front of him, unable to realize the truth. He's afraid of the person having Multiple Loves, of maybe being cheated on, of maybe not being the only one, or simply not being a priority in the person's life because they have other things that are more important than him.

So I would say that he could potentially fear that everything would be just an illusion, that he would be fooling himself and then all of a sudden he would be left alone in the end. You see, those fears, if true, are actually quite relatable, aren't they? But of course I am not saying this is the absolute truth or that they are the only reasons and fears he could have about it…

[citrusreadstoa]

The Burning Maze Predictions (TOA SPOILERS)

The third and fourth books are always the best. Were with PJO and HOO, will be with TOA. It looks like we'll be starting off with the trio of Apollo, Meg, and Grover. Y'all have no idea how excited I am to see Grover again after his absence from a whole series. And he won't be there just for the start, either. He's on the cover, so he'll be present throughout most of the book!

Speaking of the cover, that does look like the Labyrinth, all right: mishmash of modern and ancient architecture. The maze is surely going to be the main battleground, not just a way to get to the west coast as quickly as possible. I, uh, see a lot of owls. Did someone slight Athena? They're someone else's owls, probably, though I can't imagine who. It looks like Meg has saved them with her vines. There's fire in front of them but that can't be Festus' because he's too big for these hallways. It doesn't seem like Leo's, either, because I can see the faintest glimpse of an upper and lower jaw -- definitely a monster.

Now, predictions from the prophecy. (Fourteen lines, gahhhh.......... *head in hands, shaking* Who decided... why....) Changeling lord. Frank. Best title 10/10. He might even save the camp since the prophecy says he faces a challenge dire and bodies are filling the Tiber. Also, there are two Sybils, apparently. Ffs... Rhea, Rhea Silvia... Sybil of Cumae, Sybil of Erythraea... They're not gonna kill off Ella, obviously. They wouldn't do that. I think I saw Reyna on the cover of the fourth book, so she may also play a support role in this one and then step into the spotlight for the book after.

The lands of scorching death are southward... Guess what's to the south of Cali? Arizona. Guess what's in Arizona? The junkyard of the gods where Bianca died. Goodness gravy, I'm perpetually on edge about that line.

However, on a brighter note and in a different direction, westward might be where we find Zephyros. Apollo and the west wind have made amends so he may be willing to help out our questers. Speaking of questers, the "When three are known" line has me extremely anxious. When what three are known? And what number do we start with? Is it three Oracles and we've already got two in the bag so this is number three? Or is it three questers? That's the interpretation that scares me the most. If we start with two questers, then it's fine if we pick up someone on the way. If we start with four or five questers, that means our party is going to get trimmed like in The Titan's Curse. The Dark Prophecy doesn't say who or how many have to reach the Tiber alive, after all.

Wait wait wait. Does this Dark Prophecy span more than one book? Two Oracles (both Sybils) are mentioned in it. We only have five Oracles, so unless there's a secret sixth one (please tell me there's a secret sixth one, that would be so metal), we're missing an Oracle for the fourth book. We took care of the Grove of Dodona in book one, the Cave of Trophonius in book two, we're gearing toward both Sybil of Cumae and Sybil of Erythraea in book three, and Pythia of Delphi is obviously to be left for book five. What about book four? What Oracle are we going to commandeer/destroy in The Tyrant's Tomb?

This felt less like predictions and more like ~5 paragraphs of questions and confusion because it sound like so much is going to be going on. Anyway, that's that. Time to actually read the book.

P.S. There are totally six Oracles. 110%