#I had it outlined in chapters

[raycatzdraws]

Wind and Spirit have a bad time in the Sacred Realm!

It's my Spirit Tracks x LU fic / concept / thing! There are a couple written scenes which can be read on AO3! This is one of them and can be read [here!]. I don't see myself continuing this project, but even so, I want to say some thank yous (under the read more)!

The animatic has no audio, but if it did, it would be Robot Soldiers from Castle in the Sky.

---

The project isn't something I think I'll be finishing, but that said, it's been fun to work on.

I know it's just a silly unfinished fic and some art and maybe I'll come back to it, however, I am just a little guy with so much gratitude! It meant so much to me to be so welcomed by the LU fandom when I initially posted that Spirit Tracks LU art compilation in 2021. (this one!) The art and fic couldn't have been made without the incredible art, writing, support, and headcanon brainstorming from the people around me and the inspiration I found in their works and ideas.

Thank you to everyone who's left comments and kind tags!

Thank you to @esthelle-wanders for the excited comments and support over the years.

Thank you to @snowylynxx for her Spirit Tracks LU comics which gave me so much motivation and whose Spirit design I've been borrowing.

To @theegh0st. I adore your art! A frame from the pump trolley animation has been your header for so long and it's so fun to see it when visiting your blog. It's been an honor!

And thank you so much to Wicked (@spirit-tracks) and Train (@fuckit-hero-of-trains) for 1) being unhinged in the best possible way about Spirit Tracks and 2) for your incredible writing <3

If you like Spirit in LU fics, then I really recommend Keeping Track of the Little Things by wickedcriminal. Wicked started a headcanon post about Spirit [here], it got picked up and added to, I made some art, and Wicked made a fic. Spirit worrying about his place in the group and stressing about time management is a headcanon I'm fond of. Worrying about schedules is something Time can probably relate on, and so it's something I wanted to include for them to connect over in a moment of downtime. Though the setting and stakes are different, Wicked has already written something similar to how I imagine the scene would play out, and it's absolutely wonderful.

!!! The project meant so much at the time! Some of the work I did on the lore is so cool!!! There's a bit of lore about the Triforce that was given in OoT which we hadn't seen happen in a game, but that I wanted for the Spirit Tracks fic, so I plotted it out. So then (spoilers for Echoes of Wisdom) to see it in Echoes was really cool!!!! It was really validating that, yeah I read that right and executed it how it was meant to! >:) There's other stuff too, but anyways aaaa

I just don't see myself completing it, though. It feels kind of bad to give it away but I also need to be free of it. It's been nearly four years... which is wild!

Thank you again for reading and for the support and enthusiasm up to now. It means a lot to know there were people invested in a story I made. It's small and fragmented, but still. Thank you.

(maybe maybe maybe I'll draw a couple more scenes as I have been, but for the fic, I am releasing writing while also saying it's going to be unfinished and discontinued asjdsahdgs sorry 'xD is that a thing people can do? I think the scenes are cool! That's just,,, all I'm able to write I think. Can people post just- isolated scenes? ,,,, That's definitely a thing. I still felt like I should say something. ANYWAYS <3 See ya!)

[doubletroubletag]

i got almost all the next month's updates sketched! i'm not doing the last one simply because i am feeling the burn out of composing these pages. (each have at least 6 pages, a good amount have the max 12!)

that said, these are all just sketched. i want to do it in this order: backgrounds -> lineart -> transcript. i got other projects i need to work on (winning hat and NightFell) so I can't really guarantee when Tag will start to update again.

[askblueandviolet]

I need to see the spider demons please 😭🙏

MASTER POST

Asks Start 💙💜

Previous 💙💜

Next 💙💜

[vodid]

officially at 9 separate bullet lists for the plot of vulnerability because "basic plot" (the main/final version plot list) ended up too long and convoluted because my ideas are all jumbled up in there and i need things organized bc i'm fast approaching the latter half of the fic 😭

[robininthelabyrinth]

how I learned to stop worrying and love my spouse - ao3 - Chapter 6

Pairing: Wen Ruohan/Lan Qiren, past Wen Ruohan/Sect Leader Nie

Summary:

Wen Ruohan was having a no-good, bad, awful, terrible sort of day. The sort of day that you don’t just get over. The sort of day that was so bad that it changed your entire outlook on life, usually in a negative way. Or, well, he had been, but that was before a juvenile Lan proposed to marry him. Marry! Him! What a ridiculous idea! (Wen Ruohan accepts.)

NOTE: this is not a chapter

For anyone who may have missed the initial author’s note, this fic was written and then abandoned due to me hitting writers’ block and overall depression very hard. Rather than let it continue to just sit in my files, I decided to post it and the outline of where it was going to go - if one day I decide to come back to it, I’ll probably take down the outline and post the remainder (which may grow to be a very different thing!), but for now, this is what I’ve got.

My outline process is actually usually a very random collection of ideas (literally a few words or sentences) and the story gets mapped out as it is written. However, in the interest of trying to convey the vibes, I’ve tried to consolidate and clarify all of my ideas and lay out the entire general story arc. It took forever and is still incomplete, but hope you enjoy anyway.

[141-jackal]

Ghost who has a daughter somewhere, he's never been allowed contact with her. The mother was a bitch, used and abused Simon. Just before the child was born, she left.

Ghost who goes out for a drink with Soap, on the kid's 18th birthday, to celebrate not having to pay child support anymore. "Never have to think about that whole shitshow ever again."

Years later, Ghost who is training some of the newbies on base. Near forgetting that night, Soap jokes how one of them kinda looks like Simon.

Ghost goes into panic, 'cause the newbies last name is the same as that bitch of a woman. Goes to Price, reads her file over and over.

It's her. How? Why the fuck was she here?

No matter. She probably doesn't know about him, knowing the mother. He can just try to forget it.

Annoyingly, this kid is more like him than he thought. Taking a liking to close combat and knives. He takes her under his wing, teaching her how to throw knives properly and all.

After a few missions, Ghost starts getting more protective of her. He doesn't even notice. Soap does, though. He teases him for it. "Only thought you'd take a bullet for me, eh, LT. But there she goes."

The kid, who after one mission going tits up, ends up in medical for a few days. Ghost and Soap go to check in on her. They get talking about why she joined. "Wanted t' get away from me mum, she weren't the nicest. 'Parently me dad is military, though, so thought why not?"

"Do you even know his name?" Soap asks.

"Simon R. I think. She didn't mention him much. Saw his name on a few bank statements before I ran away."

Soap looks between Ghost and the kid. "Ya gotta tell her, LT."

She takes it surprisingly well. Turns out it was just dumb luck that she was placed here, not any higher power attempting to fuck Ghost over.

And when they're all prepping for the next mission, Soap and Gaz joke about having a mini ghost on the team, even suggests she steals one of his old masks. And she does. Simon is annoyed at first, but he allows it.

The kid works with the team well. And, while Ghost refuses to admit how much he cares for her now, he still won't have her going on a mission without him.

[sunfloweraro]

Sky’s still got it

Sky plays a certain soothing tune on his harp to help Bunny get some rest. It works a little too well.

Tags: @thatonecrazysidekick and @tiredgaytheatrekid

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 .

Sky began to pluck the strings for one last song, his eyes slipping shut as he thought of his beloved back home, often troubled by nightmares after her journey, similar to the ones that plagued him. He would sit by their bed after a bad dream of hers, once he had comforted her and wiped her tears away with his thumb, and he would play her this song. Zelda would never fall asleep in the first play-through, rarely the second, but by the third, soft snores would always escape her despite her insistence that she wouldn’t be able to sleep again that night.

As Sky played the final note, letting it linger on the air sweetly, he opened his eyes, slow and calm. All around him, the Zora had fallen asleep, either leaning against each other or curled up on the floor. Four had drifted off against the railing, his relaxed features making him look much younger than he normally did. Time leaned back against the wall of the Domain, arms crossed and chin lowered to his chest, fast asleep.

And next to Sky, Bunny had slumped, his breathing deep and even as Sky had hoped it would be.

“Still got it,” Sky murmured to himself, pride glowing within his chest at having knocked out both their normally serious Smithy and the Old Man, and at having helped Bunny get some rest after such an eventful day.

“That ye do.” Sky jumped, raising a hand to his chest when he realised it was only Twilight, leaning against the railing of the stairs, staring down at him with a fanged smile. “Sorry, we didn’ mean tah scare ye.”

It was then Sky realised Wild stood across from Twilight, his slate out as he attempted to capture an image of Time, conked out against the wall. He snapped a couple before Twilight grabbed him by the back of the shirt and dragged him away.

“That’s enough. We need tuh wake ‘em up”—Twilight jerked a thumb back at the sleeping Zora—“and get this lot in bed. We’ve a busy day ahead of us tomorrow and the last thing I wan’ is to listen to the Old Man bitch about ‘is sore back.”

Sky couldn’t help but snort, raising a hand to his mouth to stifle the sound. Wild had no qualms with bursting into laughter, quickly achieving their task of waking the Zora with their sensitive hearing. Grumbles were sent his way, and they received a half-apologetic wave before they dispersed.

“Ah’ve got this one,” Twilight said, already crouching by Time. Rather than shaking him by the shoulder to wake him, Twilight carefully picked up Time, carrying him effortlessly in his arms like Time was a toddler who had fallen asleep at a family gathering. Sky couldn’t help but chuckle to himself at the thought, turning back to Bunny and Four.

“How strong are you feeling today, my dear Champion?”

“We both know these two will weigh about the same,” Wild shot back. “Your choice.”

Rolling his eyes, Sky pushed himself to his feet, dusting off the front of his pants, a force of habit from the many times he had been knocked down on his quest that he couldn’t quite shake. He passed his harp to Wild to be stored in his slate for the moment. “We both know while our Smithy is small, he’s all muscle. I’ll ask again, how strong are you feeling?”

“In that case, I’m taking Bunny.”

“Ye jus’ wanna cuddle ‘im.”

“Perhaps,” Wild said as he scooped Bunny up into his arms, cradling him close like Hyrule and Twilight always did. “Oh. Oh, I see why you two want to carry him all the time. He’s so soft.”

Twilight grinned a fanged grin. “That ‘e is. Be careful with ‘im, yeah?”

Where he might normally take the words as offensive, Wild merely nodded, as if the weight and warmth of a real, breathing creature on his shoulder gave something to Twilight’s words he never heard when he was handling an item. “I will,” he promised.

“In the case,” Sky said, not at all upset he missed out on carrying Bunny when it meant he got to ensure his close friend slept somewhere comfortable and warm. He gathered Four in his arms, grateful he had thought to consider Four’s strength rather than assuming their Smithy would weigh next to nothing with his height. “Shall we?” Sky asked, holding Four closer, smiling when Four leaned his head against Sky’s chest in his sleep, hands reaching out to grasp at the front of his shirt.

“Let’s.”

[missmorwen]

Chapters: 5/5 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America (Chris Evans Movies), Marvel 616 Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov Characters: Natasha Romanov (Marvel), James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers, Liho (Marvel), Alpine (Marvel) Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Secret Relationship, Shameless Smut, Bucky's favorite meal is Nat, Face-Sitting, Shower Sex, Clothed Sex, Fluff and Smut, Light Angst Summary:

It was one thing to have a supposedly eight-day mission turn into a month-plus-change mission, it was quite another thing for the trip home to take three full days. First getting delayed by a scheduling conflict with her and Clint’s extraction, then by Clint insisting that they picked something up for Laura and the kids as an apology for the delay. Natasha couldn’t argue with that last bit, not when Clint thought all she had to go back to was an apartment, empty except for the cat that the neighbor was feeding while she was away.

He didn’t know any better, and that was on her. Natasha wasn’t ready for the conversation that would follow if she admitted she was living with James and their cats. Had been living with them for a while and seeing him for even longer. That she wasn’t going back to one of her safehouses or the quarters at the Avengers Tower that Tony insisted was her second home. That she was going home to the apartment she and James had bought together and filled with furniture for them and their cats. The only home she had ever known.

*************

Bucky and Natasha try to decide if keeping their relationship a secret from their friends is fair nor not. While having a lot of sex. As you do.

[feelingthedisaster]

comments in my fic be like "i cant wait to see what happens next" and same bitch same

[beazt]

I need some full post formatting and to give a synopsis not hidden in replies cause I am SHAMELESS about sharing any predictions or thoughts I have (and think tumblr might have eaten some of my replies) but a lot of this is bouncing off of discussion with @toastling so major shoutout (but no pressure to check out this long ass post lol)

long deltarune theory/prediction discussion, major spoilers and speculation ahead

(asriel + ralsei focus with consistent themes of grief)

disclaimer for people (mostly non-mutuals) who may join the discussion via this post: I have not completed the chapter 4 snowgrave continuation! I do not know what I do not know. discussing the spoilers with me is perfectly fine rn but if you say something that happens in that route without detail, I may not realize you are telling me an actual clear canon point if it blends in with your theorizing from my perspective. nothing wrong with that, I think it’s an interesting way for me to go into my theorizing before I get caught up. I haven’t sought much to read yet until I catch up, but loving discussion with where im at. I just wanna clear up that misunderstanding before it happens

Hypothesis: Roaring Knight = Asriel (or Dess!) aka: reflections and foils oooo shiny

this is perhaps my most scandalous speculation. I don’t want to call it a theory, none of my proof is solid, and I don’t believe in it enough to call it a prediction yet. But it’s a potential path, and no matter what foreshadowing we pick up there will always be twice as much we couldn’t have known until hindsight. idc how much of a stretch a theory is. if it’s fun or clever then hell yeah

my evidence is at least as weak as any other, I have a handful of coincidences and a dream to differentiate it from other ralsei or roaring knight theories that may fit better. but. I have been trying to figure out the deal with ralsei as im sure everyone has. what is his tie to asriel yknow? and when, what, where, is asriels role in deltarune??

Foundational sub-theory 1: Ralsei is *a* Dark **World** representation of Asriel.

semantics highlight: I also don’t think he is Asriel’s only dark world representation. I am convinced that Ralsei is not of typical/accepted darkner origin. When describing darkner/dark world lore, he often says things along the lines of “and that applies to me, too.” He may be a darkner, but I don’t fully believe that he always was, or that he was….. created? in the same way. He is a prince, and the King and Queen we’ve encountered in the dark world are of no relation.

Unless, of course, one of the Holiday family is the princess in question. Probably not Noelle, as she seems far too intertwined with Susie. Dess and Asriel keep showing up together when Kris and Noelle show up together, but not much else other than dialogue and Deep Lore™ (what im calling things that take some deducing and are not confirmed the exact significance of/unresolved). They’re definitely contrasted in some ways there. Dess and Asriel are definitely close.

Much to Toriel’s displeasure, characters have discussed Asgore having what could be seen as an affair with Carol, Noelle’s mom. The king of spades… lancer’s dad, is obviously a king, as is Asgore, and they are visually similar. Asgore is goofy and large, so is King of Spades. He also comes barreling in, wrecking things, homewrecker.

Thinking of how Noelle always says “Kris, I know this is one of your pranks! Kris, quit pranking us!” And Lancer’s always goofing off, I think Lancer is genuinely representative of Kris. From one of the Holiday’s perspective. Also the name Lancer… Susie asks kris if they are always carrying that knife. I wonder if they did tend to carry pointy things throughout youth.

Lancer also refers to a “lesser dad” that is trying to push himself into a polycule, is scrawny, not super liked, trying really hard to be as important as the people he is surrounded by, and still a fatherly figure to Lancer. Rudy Holiday shares letters with Rouxls Kaard and he is a jokester that has a wife with very strict rules.

Cyber queen would therefore be representative of Carol Holiday. Queen because she has a big ego, big head, and strict rule. She also tries to steal Noelle away from her friends, but is somewhat alright with Berdly sorta maybe. The cyber world chapter is also where Noelle entered deltarune so significantly between being the princess to be saved.

That establishes the King and Queen as some parental and pseudo-parental figures for either Asriel or Dess. And I do believe the dark world/dark fountain representations we experience in chapters 1 and 2 are reflected from a Holiday’s light world perspective, in general. And this could be from Dess’s perspective, if she is the roaring knight creating dark fountains. It could also be Noelle’s, as she has a grand role to play in the story that isn’t fully revealed (especially to me.) ….And I do think some dark world things can be influenced by player soul possession stuff and individualized perception in real time after the fountain is created. but that’s a can of worms too squirmy for even this post

Foundational sub-theory 1, clarification: Ralsei is the Dark World representation of (Attachment To) Asriel.

By that I mean, probably a manifestation of either Kris’s pure intangible attachment to Asriel, or an item/plushie that becomes Kris’s mental image of Asriel in the Dark World. I do think it is possible, but increasingly unlikely, that Ralsei is the real Asriel stuck in the dark world. This one doesn’t get juicy on its own so let’s move on

Foundational sub-theory 2, the foundening: The prophecy ends with the Prince dying.

I haven’t seen the end of the prophecy yet, have you? I saw Susie smash it. I also saw a shitton of Ralsei trying to prevent her from seeing it. I also saw Ralsei beg for everyone to not worry about him and to let him take the pain let him be the one to get hurt. I don’t think that’s just because he’s a soft healer boy. I think that’s because he knows what’s coming. And he knows he’s the prince.

But…. What if there is another prince, and that prince is Asriel?

Sub theory 2 again, wording revised: The prophecy has one ending: the prince will KILL OR BE KILLED.

Sub theory 3: Ralsei will die at the hands of Asriel, or vice versa. A prince will kill, and a prince will be killed.

Sub theory 3 remix edition so it’s technically a different album theory: Either Ralsei or Asriel must die at the hands of the other.

Sub theory 4 with an apology note and a bouquet: Ralsei will be killed (by Asriel), as a true or non-true ending.

This is the most important piece to the entire rest of the theory. It will show up throughout the rest of this post. This is the piece that sets motives and takes personalities and foreshadowing and plot loose ends, if there is any subtheory in this that does. Therefore the rest of the subtheories are dissecting this.

Consideration because it doesn’t fit the linear number scheme: Unfortunate.

Carol, Asgore/maybe Toriel, and Undyne probably know what happened to Dess at the precipitating event of the storyline, which was not shown. There is no reason to believe that Asriel doesn’t know, and it’s unclear if he actually left for college. I do think he is stuck in the dark world situation with Dess… as the roaring knight. Not getting into how he became the roaring knight yet because I don’t know. Or what that transformation would imply about universal laws, or what the roaring knight means.

Sub(stitute) theory 5: Ralsei will not be targeted by Asriel, but rather, be killed by his brotherly image being shattered in Kris’s mind.

If Ralsei is a representation of asriel’s care and guidance and companionship even in his absence, Kris seeing their brother as the roaring knight that is destroying their world and taking everyone away will cast doubt, anger, betrayal, towards Asriel’s memory. When this perception of Asriel exists, Ralsei cannot— and will be killed or shifted to reflect the new perception. I think the roaring knight attacking Ralsei is quite possible, but not the most likely. I think Ralsei will be killed in the way an optical illusion is broken. In the way that him “not being real” can never be unlearned. And this may mean actual death for a darkner.

I think this shattering can reflect whatever happened to Asriel— that he didnt go to college, and that was a lie kris told themselves… something bad happened.

I think beyond that point, Asriel will get spared. But the roaring knight won’t. I think Ralsei being the horse in the westerns in TV TIME is related to Asriel being the knight. Or at least, part of the knight. I think the Roaring (K)night took Asriel away, and covered him in darkness. I think the roaring knight itself is that darkness and asriel is trapped in the same entity. The knight is being carried around by Asriel in a vessel/horse symbolism way.

And Kris will have to kill the Knight, and face the truth of whatever happened to Asriel. The perception of a studious quiet nerd lines up with how Kris might imagine Asriel at college, specifically. Ralsei will stay dead, as the illusion hiding all the darkness Kris could not face. Or…

Supertheory 6, ᴴᶦᵍʰ Quality™: the roaring knight defeats everyone until the plotline more immediate to undertale.

Flowers bloom from Ralsei’s death. Kris’s light shines down on where the flowers grow. The ruin walls are the color of Susie, who tried to protect him, too.

But the roaring knight had already impacted the image of Asriel. There was a seed of doubt, a seed of evil, that grows into Flowey. A little of Asriel’s image, but mostly the darkness of the roaring knight. A little of Ralsei’s knowledge, about determination and saving and the prophecy and asriel, taken by the knight as a way to exploit the world.

Let me be clear: I do not think Flowey is evil Ralsei, or that Ralsei is evil. I think Ralsei being composed of perceptions of Asriel, mostly died, except for that seed of doubt on whether he was good or evil.

And fighting Flowey/Asriel, in the true pacifist run, is the souls from deltarune coming together to finally beat the Knight’s control over Asriel and his memory. Asriel’s memory goes back to the flowers, which I’m assuming is where parts of Asriel’s memory stay. No longer violent, any of them.

there’s also yellow flowers in the sword route that shoot and one split in half in the normal board, I think that distinctly references flowey and that half of flowey is from the dark world and half from the light. The dark half is not seen in the sword route. The dark half is missing because the roaring knight is not part of flowey yet or smth. hadn’t gotten that far with that part of the theory yet lmao

I also think the “it’s me, your best friend” line is directly channeling Ralsei (the illusion of asriel being okay). And that the song “Hopes and Dreams” playing during Asriel’s fight is referring to the hopes and dreams of Asriel being okay, of the prophecy not coming true

I think this dialogue from Toriel in the asriel fight will come to hold a double meaning of letting Asriel or the player leave at expense of Kris

And I think this is all the proof necessary to say that the roaring knight is present in the asriel fight, if not one of the major forces posing as asriel:

Endtheory?: The roaring knight contains every soul of the underground at this point, and Ralsei is in there. He takes the form of Ralsei, for dramatic/dark world perception shenanigans/prophecy reasons.

Ralsei begging to take all the pain, because he is Asriel’s image- he can take it, even if Kris doesn’t believe that. But Ralsei, through his dark world adventures with Kris, became Real and Distinct from Asriel. The memory of Ralsei as his own character makes Ralsei real in his own right, by dark world rules

“I’ll reduce all your memories to zero, and we’ll do it over, and over, and over again”

Starting Deltarune after already knowing the end.

“And we’ll do it again and again and again!”

Having to play all the routes to know the story

That you have to put through hell, murder, and genocide to understand everything that came before this moment.

“Every time you die, your friends forget you a little more” is asriel speaking from experience and the fragments of his memory being spread across so many characters

“Within the depths of Asriel’s soul, something’s resonating…!” hence the WiFi signal symbol I made a freaked out I KNOW THAT SYMBOL post about

I am convinced this is Kris’s voice, speaking up for the first time where we can hear, directly to the red heart. That Kris is the last one we need to save.

with a missing heart on their chest and their hands, which is where the player would be most symbolically represented in Kris. the chest for obvious anatomical and character sprite reasons, and the hands are where actions are done

and Kris sees another human for what seems like the first time… and says “youre not really Chara. what’s your name?” and recognizes that the player is inside Frisk too, but that Frisk probably does not know that. the player is Chara all along. the player is the only other human Kris knows, before Frisk, if Kris knows the player is a human

I’m still shaky on so many things about this theory. and I probably will be until a while after the final chapter releases. I’m shaky on if Asriel, through all those layers, is the reason we play: to learn all about who he is, who he was, and keep his memory alive. I’m shaky on if Asriel himself is real, or got fragmented up, and I had to make some leaps over anticipated plot gaps.

but June is a heavy grief month for me. June 13, yesterday, is a major grief anniversary for me. And I spent the whole night thinking about how Ralsei is a way of keeping Asriel’s memory alive and thinking about my own grief. and learning about him even though we never got to see when he was alive… but maybe that’s one of the many points. that remembering him is enough to keep him alive. that his memory will always be there in the dark. that pursuing happiness is okay, even if it’s without him. that he doesn’t want kris to be hurt, or hurt others.

and as the players, we have to do that, we have to find all the memories about him and piece them together, and we will keep hope and dreams alive with him as the symbol of them. and I think Asriel is also the most reflective character of the player heart, and his story might be tied into the “despite everything, it’s still you” mirrors

I’m open to people discussing inaccuracies and whatever in this theory and any level of spoilers I just ask that if you made it this far in the post to be kind as it does touch into grief a lot, and I think there are many lenses and interpretations, I think that’s a perk of toby using so many motifs to connect everything in such complex ways. but this one aspect of the story gripped me all night until I processed it this far

[xabi0407]

i drew a bunch of kouichis inspired by the fanfic chapter i've been trying to write for 7 months

check out my commissions

[ship-of-skitties]

[darlingpoppet]

Where The Dead Forget — Chapter 8: Glory

Hades Gameverse Memory Loss AU | Achilles/Patroclus | E | Chapters: 8/22 | Words: 87,923 (Ch 8: 16,680) words)

Chapter 8 Summary: A treatment of the Scyros episode from the Achilles myths. Patroclus is called upon to honor his allegiance to war, and Achilles is keen to join him, for the sake of love and glory. His mother Thetis, however, has different plans.

Excerpt:

“Father,” Achilles began, “We have been told there are tidings you wish to share with us.”

“Indeed,” Peleus said. “I have called you both here—however, these are matters that primarily concern Patroclus.”

Next to Achilles, Patroclus’ bowed head lifted.

“Me?”

“Yes,” Peleus answered him. “I have just gotten word of a disturbing incident out of Sparta—a grievous crime in violation of the sacred customs of hospitality. Prince Paris, son of Priam of Troy, has abducted Queen Helen, the wife of Menelaus, son of Atreus. And since Helen’s former suitors from all over our kingdoms had sworn by oath to honor and protect their union, King Menelaus, along with his older brother, King Agamemnon of Mycenae, have called upon all those men bound by that oath to assist in ensuring Helen’s safe return to her rightful place.”

Achilles turned to Patroclus, astonished by this news. Patroclus, however, did not seem to notice him. He lowered his head once more, closing his eyes as a small, knowing smile appeared on his face.

“Ah,” he said simply.

“They intend to wage war against Troy?” Achilles asked, turning back to address his father. “And you mean to tell us that they wish for Patroclus to join them? Because—“ he blinked, quickly putting the pieces together, “—because he is among those who made the oath?”

“That is correct,” Peleus answered.

Achilles turned again to Patroclus. “I did not know of this.” He hoped his tone did not come off as aggrieved, even if he did feel a considerable degree of shock.

Patroclus looked back at him, his expression solemn, but strained.

“I am sorry. I did not mean to keep any more secrets from you. The truth is, it is something I simply did not think would ever come to pass, so I had put it out of my mind completely. I was so young then—not even ten—I had petitioned for Helen’s hand at my father’s behest.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I did not have a choice back then… and it appears I do not have a choice in the matter now, either. So I shall go, and honor my duty. I suppose since I am no longer a prince, it is simpler this way. I have no army of men at my command, so I will be able to leave at once for Mycenae on my own.”

Achilles shook his head.

“What are you saying, Pat?” he exclaimed. “What in all of the heavens and earth makes you presume that I wouldn’t come with you?”

Patroclus’ eyebrows lifted, eyeing him seriously. “I presume nothing. You are not bound to this war,” he said.

“But I am bound to you, aren’t I? You are my dear companion, and my duty to you is just as important as your duty to myself. If this is something you must do, then of course I will be by your side to protect you, and keep you company. And it does not matter that you are not a prince, without an army to call your own. You are a Myrmidon now—one of us. If you have no contingent, then you may share mine, and together we will muster the most splendid army in all of our kingdoms!”

Peleus, who had been listening to their conversation all the while, appeared delighted. He grinned handsomely.

“A magnificent plan, my son,” he said. “Of course, the kingdom of Phthia would be honored to do right by Patroclus, and extend its means to assist the Atreides brothers in their righteous cause. The both of you shall secure glory and victory for yourselves, and for us all. How particularly fortunate you are as well, Achilles. A man could not ask for a finer gift for his coming of age. You should be very pleased.”

Achilles nodded, flushed with pleasure and excitement. “There, Pat, you see? We all love you. And I don’t just mean those of us here in this chamber. Every one of us in Phthia.”

Patroclus eyes darted between father and son, both of them smiling widely at him with warm enthusiasm. At first, he appeared almost stunned by this, but then he bowed his head once again, his eyes glistening.

“Thank you,” he murmured softly, his voice tight with barely suppressed emotion. “I am grateful.”

Read the rest here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43292178/chapters/150227206

Previous Chapters: 1. Drown | 2. Grief | 3. Grace | 4. Weakness | 5. Together | 6. Guilt | 7. Known

[strifesolution]

30 and vtubert (or I guess pick any rt if song 30 sucks with vtubert)

Get Used To It - Ricky Montgomery

kept the song, different RT. for an abandoned teacher au

[goatpaste]

sighs.. what if i make this the year i finally make some form of comic for my jojo ocs huh.. would anyone be interested in that...

[tarantula-hawk-wasp]

as in the plot and chapters are more about the build up to the relationship and then the fic ends once they've gotten together (including with just a short epilogue afterwards).