#It's interesting. I doubt Hyena remembers it at all. But it's something that I probably always will

[astrolotte]

Here's a random story along the same vein:

When I was, say, 10, I happened to stumbling across Project Pokemon on Roblox, which was a fan made recreation of the first Pokemon games, but with the chance to encounter any modern Pokemon in the grass.

This was technically my first Pokemon game, and I was.. very inexperienced. I knew the basics, but not anything smart.

During what was only my first hour or two of playing, someone asked to battle me (specifically) over the in-game chat, and I assume they were just looking for someone new to bully/fight lmao.

As they got ready, someone else reached out to me, someone called Hyena. They offered to trade me a slightly more powerful Pokemon than my level 7 Rattatas and starter Chimchar for the battle, and I accepted.

The battle didn't go through. I think I was too new to battle at that point, I don't think I had completed any gym badges lmao. After we figured out it wasn't going to work, I offered to trade the Pokemon back to Hyena, but they... declined.

Now, it wasn't a very powerful Pokemon. In fact, it was only a Buizel. I highly doubt Hyena cared too much about it, and that's why they let it go so easily. But that little kindness really stuck out to me, even all these years later, and it's the clearest memory I have of that Roblox game. It may have been a small kindness, but it was big to me.

About a month ago, soon after Pokemon SV came out, I was playing Violet and decided to revisit the first areas of the game. And I just so happened to stumble across a shiny Houndour- it wasn't my first shiny (ily Sparkles the Gastly from PLA), and it wasn't my first in Violet, either (ily Sage the Skiddo from Violet), but ended up as my third shiny.. ever.

I don't like Houndour that much. It's fine, it's a cool Pokemon, I just.. like others more. And I tend to lean towards cute Pokemon. And it was only level 3 but... it was a shiny. And shinies are rare, they're important. It's considered impressive to have one.

But I thought back to Hyena's kindness, a stranger in a Roblox game that's now been shut down. They may have only given me a Buizel, but I always treasure that memory. I've kept it with me all these years...

I already had a shiny, and considering the fact that Skiddo is one of my favorite Pokemon, I was more happy with it than my shiny Houndour. So.. I elected to trade Houndour away.

I believe I got a level 5 Lechonk in response, which is vastly different in importance to a shiny, but I didn't mind. I hope whoever got it liked their shiny Houndour.

People I met for a few moments that live in my head forever.

[adobe-outdesign]

DOG! JUST TALK ABOUT A DOG POKÉMON! ANY DOG POKÉMON!/j (aka I’ve just now realized you’ve also talked about Fidough)

(I'm going to do the Electrike line solely because it's one of the few dog (not wolf or hyena) Pokemon I haven't reviewed)

Electrike is an odd little thing. The head is really strange in particular, with lobed three segments (I guess two of them are ears, though they definitely don't look like it). Green is also an usual color for an electric-type, which, points for doing something different, but I'm not sure why they felt the need to change it instead of just using the blue from Manectric. Hell, the shiny actually does already anyway:

It also feels a bit vague and hard to grasp conceptually. The thunderbolt across the eye and spikes along the tail kind of convey electricity, but I don't know what they're going for beyond that. Supposedly it's based off of the raijū, a blue wolf (more obvious in its evo) with yellow electricity, but it doesn't look like one much beyond that.

I think it might've made more sense to make it blue, remove that half stripe from the back (or continue it down into the tail, I don't care, just don't have it end partway down the back), and maybe raise the middle lobe up so the ears and lobe form a vague lightning-bolt shape that would be mimicked by the yellow streak. That might at least help it convey something a big more clearly. As is, I kind of like it for how odd it is, but it's hard to remember it exists at times.

On the one hand, Manectric at least makes the raijū thing a bit clearer... but on the other hand, the awkwardness is unfortunately increased by a lot. None of these elements really go together; you have the super straight head point with the yellow stopping at the neck in weird shapes, the random fur on the front paws and only the front paws that also has no defined shape and leaves a weird blue band on the toes, the spikes on the haunches, which go in a different direction than the ones on the head, and the tail, which goes in a different direction than either of those two.

There's also just one or two more questionable things in there as well; for example, the random hole in the side of the head (is that supposed to be an ear?? that's not how dog ears work) and the incredibly small hind body with a completely messed up haunch (mentally make the yellow bits blue and remove the spikes and you'll get what I mean).

I think that if all the elements—head, haunches, and tail—pointed backwards, if you removed the chest fur and yellow fur on the front, and if you made the yellow accents flow more naturally, there could be an interesting design here.

Thankfully, the mega helps a lot here. Don't get me wrong, it's goofy looking as hell, but... well, so was Manectric, and at least this design gives a clear visual to latch on to, a clearer indication of typing, and a much more streamlined design with sense of flow.

Visually, the yellow bits are now all focused on the lightning-bolt back (and the front legs; still not fond of that, but they probably felt obligated to keep them seeing as they were on the original design). The colors are also more saturated. Everything flows backward, reducing some of the awkwardness of the original design, and the whole thing now has a sense of movement instead of being stiff. It reminds me a bit of a aardwolf, though I doubt that was intentional:

I do think that the back lightning bolt is too large and could've stood to be about 20% smaller; the red nails also distract from the eye. Here's a sloppy five-minute edit to show what I mean (original on left; ignore the weird looking ear placement on the edit):

While I didn't edit it, I also think the middle segment shouldn't have gone down past the body, instead ending at the same spot the thrid does, and the ear should be folded back to match the same diagonals as the lightning bolt. However, the mega is still a substantial improvement over the original design overall.

I really wish that the mega had been its own evolution. Many mega designs look too similar to the originals to work as evolutions; but in this case, the design has been altered so radically as to basically be its own thing. All you'd need to do is change the colors (as Electrike has a different color, and the line would be uneven if it was one green and two blue); maybe white with blue lightning to reference the raijū thing. It's not like there was any reason it shouldn't evolve, after all.

So overall, kind of an awkward line with a massively improved mega that unfortunately isn't around any more. Ain't that just the way.

[dirtyoatmeall]

Bokuto’s Cool Sister (Tsukishima Kei x Reader)

A/N: Here is an actual fic! I have a list of shit to write I’m slowly working through, next will either be more head canons or a one shot. I’m re-watching AOT rn to get caught up with the new season so sorry about being absent! Luv u guys a lot

Pairing: Tsukishima x Bokuto sibling reader (No pronouns or gendered language used toward reader, not referred to as sister just used for title purposes), Bokuto x Akaashi, Kenma x Kuroo

Word Count: 2k! (longest ever!)

Warnings: Mentions of underage drinking (everyone at least 20), mentions of secs

~~~

You groaned as you neared the door to your apartment, seeing that the door was not cracked open a little for you to nudge open like you had asked your brother to do as you pulled into the complex. You remember him vaguely mentioning friends coming over, and you can hear music faintly coming from the apartment, but he always checks his phone, especially when you're coming from the store. 

You try to balance the milk on your knee to open the door, and just as you think you have it, the door doesn’t budge. You close your eyes and take a deep breath. Your brother never locks the doors, why would he now? His car is in the parking lot and you can hear noise inside, so he’s home. Instead of putting groceries on the ground and fishing your keys out of your purse like a normal person, you make the decision to kick the door, not very hard, but hard enough to be heard in the apartment. 

“Kou! Why is the door locked? Will you come open it for me, I have groceries!” You can hear your brother tumbling towards the door, apologies flying out of his mouth a mile a minute. The door swings open, revealing your brother, grimace on his face. “Sorry! I totally forgot you were at the store, I think ‘Kaashi might’ve locked it.” You sighed, not being able to stay mad at your brother’s friend. 

You walk in, jerking your head in the general direction of the parking lot, “I have some more in my car, can you go grab it?” He nods, grabbing his key ring and jogging out. Both of you had the spare key to each other’s cars, which turned out to be more convenient then you originally thought. 

You move toward the kitchen, yelling out a greeting to your brother’s boyfriend. “Akaashi! Next time you come over to fuck my brother let me know before so I can have my keys out, or just leave the door unlocked and go in his room!” You had a joking, yet scolding tone of voice, imagining his flustered state at your words. What you did not expect, was a hyena-like laugh to come from the direction of the living room. You were almost positive your brother said Akaashi was here. 

You place the groceries on the counter and make your way to the living room, freezing in the doorway. Akaashi was there, but so were 3 other people. Akaashi was red, shaking his head that was resting in his palms. There was someone playing on a gaming console on the couch who had their legs thrown over the lap of the laughing one, and one on the other couch, tall and blonde, who looked weirdly familiar, who had a faint smirk on their face. You grimace, you didn’t realize your brother had actual friends over, he usually just meant Akaashi or the occasionally Hinata. “Oops sorry ‘Kaashi, didn't know Kou was having other people over.”

He lifted his head, face still slightly flushed and smiled. “It’s fine (Y/N)-san, do you need help with the groceries?” You shook your head, pointing behind you in the direction of the kitchen, where you could hear your brother rummaging around. “Nah, I made Koutaro get the rest. If you guys are staying for dinner let me know and I’ll make something instead of making him go to the food truck for me. By the way, who are the rest of you? I literally thought Kou was lying about having friends.” 

The blonde one snorted, you narrowed your eyes slightly, he looked so familiar, you just couldn’t quite place it. The one playing the console seemed familiar too, you think you might’ve seen him on Twitter. The only one you didn’t recognize was the first to speak. “I’m Kuroo Tetsuro, we all played volleyball together in high school, I’m surprised he hasn’t talked about us before.” 

You nod in understanding, “Oh so that’s where. I’m sure he has, I just probably wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying. I mean you guys seem kinda familiar, more the other two than you, were you like benched a lot?” The quiet one next to him looks up to see his reaction and snorts at the disbelief on Kuroo’s face. “Yeah, Kuro wasn’t very good.” The half blonde says, giggling softly as Kuroo gasps and yells at him. “Kenma!” He turns to you, “I was the captain and a very good player actually.” You laugh as Kenma behind him makes a face that says ‘That’s what you think.’ Before Kuroo could whine some more, Akaashi speaks.

“Kenma-san is a YouTuber, which is probably where you’ve seen him. He and Kuroo-san played for Nekoma, I’m surprised you didn’t remember them from that, you remembered Lev-san.” Kenma actually laughs at that, and Kuroo is pouting as Akaashi continues, a cheeky smile on his face that told you he purposefully sprinkled that last little tidbit in. 

“Tsukishima-san, aren’t you a museum-studies major?” The blonde on the loveseat across from the other three nods, and you snap your fingers, finally realizing where you know him from. “Oh, that makes sense! I think we’ve had a class or two together. I’m an archaeology major.” Tsukishima’s eyebrows raise in surprise, but before he could speak, your brother finally comes in from the kitchen.

“(Y/NNNNN), I put everything away, we were going to go to Onigiri Miya tonight, wanna come?” You nod and swat at his had when he ruffles your hair before plopping down to his boyfriend. You go to leave your brother and his friends, taking one last glance at Tsukishima, who seemed to have the same idea, he averted his eyes the moment yours met, and you smirked to yourself on the way to the kitchen to re-put away the groceries. You loved your brother, but he definitely did not know where to put things, your thought validified as you pull the eggs from the pantry, switching it with the instant ramen packets in the fridge. Good thing he was a great volleyball player. ` Later that night, you join the boys for dinner at Onigiri Miya. You take two separate cars, you driving your brother and Akaashi and Kuroo driving Kenma and Tsukishima. Kuroo made a joke about racing there, which you took as a personal challenge, much to the dismay of Akaashi. You would’ve won too, but you had to pull over to kick Koutaro in the backseat for playing Nickelback. He buys your food as an apology, and Kuroo’s food because he won (you venomed him later for your share of food, which he promptly venomed back to you with angry faces in the description.). The 6 of you sat in a corner booth, you were sandwiched between Akaashi and Tsukkishima with Kuroo between your brother and Kenma on the other side.

The table was loud with jokes, laughing, and yelling as everyone ate their meals. You snuck drinks of ‘Akaashi’s’ margarita when the waitress wasn’t looking (You were 20 and Akaashi submits to peer pressure from you easily). “(Y/N), are you not 21 yet?” Kuroo asked as he watched you nudge the drink toward Akaashi as the waitress talked to the other table. You turned to Kuroo, cheeks just barely flushed. “Hm? Oh no I’m not, I’m two years younger than you guys, I turn 21 in a few months.” 

Kuroo hummed in understanding and got a suspiciously mischievous look on his face. “Oh, you’re the same age as Tsukkishima, and you guys have similar majors, how interesting” Your eyebrows furrow and you snort. “So do over a thousand other people Kuroo, its not a super niche subject.” You turn to Tsukkishima and continue, “Hm I didn’t realize we were in the same year, I thought you were older, must be your grumpy grandpa like disposition.” Akaashi explained what disposition meant to your brother and Kuroo snickered before he was shut down by Kenma, who has been doing an excellent job of roasting Kuroo at every chance he gets. “You laugh like everyone doesn’t call you old man behind your back.” 

You laughed for the umpth time that night, Tsukishima watching you, he could really see the sibling resemblance when you laughed. You throw your head back and laugh loudly, from your gut much like your brother. Tsukishima looks away from you, catching Kuroos eye in the process, the blonde rolls his eyes at the smirk on Kuroos face. Out of the 5 of them, he was the only one not in a relationship and Kuroo has been trying to set him up since Bokuto and Akaashi finally got together at Akaashi’s graduation. 

Tsukishima looks at you again, watching you take a sip of the margarita, and subsequently watches it almost come out of your nose as you laugh at something Akaashi said to Bokuto, clutching the former's shoulder, hand over your nose. There was no doubt that you were pretty, and you did have similar interests. His thoughts were interrupted by you turning to him, knee-knocking against his thigh. “Have you taken Anth 267?” He nods “I took it last quarter.” He replies and watches you sigh in relief. “Oh thank god, I’m having trouble meeting her insane essay expectations. I usually have ‘Kaashi read through mine but would it be ok if I sent them to you? Or at least bounced topics off you?” When he agrees you smile, unlocking your phone and sliding it towards him, a new contact open. “Oh great, here, why don’t you put your number in?” As he fills it out, his eyes involuntarily flit to the text message appearing at the top of your screen. From: That Sunny Bitch

Ew you think Tsukki’s hot? He’s a good volleyball player but he was a meanie in high school 😝

He held back the urge to smirk. That must be Hinata based on the name. He quickly finished the contact and gave your phone back before giving his to you, and you quickly typed in your contact info, as well as snapping a quick contact photo. It was super close to your face with your tongue out, a good tell of your personality. You give his phone back and the two of you talk more about school and classes before everyone gets ready to leave. 

Your brother stands up first, and you take advantage of his large frame and chug the rest of the margarita down, smiling big at Akaashi who chastises you about drinking it so fast. You all wave to Osamu as you leave, and before Tsukishima can get to Kuroo’s car, he turns to the group, smirking. “I've got to run Kenma by our apartment to grab his charger, we’ll meet you guys.” You nod, handing your keys to Akaashi and turn to Tsukishima. “You can sit in the back with me Tsukishima!” Though you might be promoted to passenger if Bokuto makes bad music choices again.” You glare at your brother as you finish the sentence, and he whines about how his taste ‘isn’t that bad!’ 

The car ride back to your apartment is short, and you spend it chatting with Tsukki, as you’re now allowed to call him, and you spend the rest of the night with the boys, playing games and watching movies until early morning. Kuroo and Kenma leave first, and Kenma made your night when he looked you in the eye and said goodbye. Tsukki left about an hour later, his roommate picked him up. Akaashi ended up staying over, and you were glad your bedroom was on the other side of the apartment from your brother’s. You fell into bed content with the day, happy you were able to meet your brother’s friends.

You awoke mid-day, and you browsed your notifications before dropping your phone on your bed when you read one text message, heat spreading over your cheeks. You definitely do not remember changing his contact name.

From: Hot classmate Tsukki

Hey, how about we go over your essay over some coffee tonight?

[catherdrashepard]

Atlas au Raa

So, I finished Dark Age not that long ago and it came with so many brand new questions. And so many thoughts about the characters. But, as the title suggests, the character who has been at the forefront of my mind is Atlas au Raa. There’s just so little we know about him but there’s pieces there that I think just need to be put together. It will in no way reveal the full puzzle that is Mr. au Raa but I do hope that it can give some idea as to what he’s about. Spoilers ahead. This post is very long and a but rambly, apologies in advance.

What DO we know about Atlas au Raa? Shout out to @hyena-frog for helping me with this part. (Read: pretty much doing this part for me.) He’s a Rim Gold and brother to Romulus au Raa. He grew up in Octavia's court as a ward because she required each Rim family to send a kid to her as a hostage to prevent another rebellion. Apparently he was a favored student of hers. He mostly stuck to himself there but loved the library. Octavia forced him to have a child with Aja (Ajax, AKA the Core’s Storm Knight.) Atlas himself is the Fear Knight. He was best friends with Lysander’s parents, Brutus and Anastasia and, at some point after they died, he was sent to the Kuiper Belt to supposedly deal with the Ascomanni. Although, we’re pretty sure Octavia sent him there in order to eliminate him. He tortures people in order to kill enemies psychologically, preventing further deaths. He also controls Volsung and Xenophon. There is also the implication that he views the Rim as enemies and is more loyal to the Core. He makes meditation totems out of those who make him question his prejudices. Currently he has totems of (that we know of): Daedre, a Red woman. And a WIP Darrow.

The whole “question his prejudices” thing is really Interesting to me. Golds are taught that they are at the top, that they are the pinnacle of humanity (which they are but....that’s only because they MADE it that way) which definitely gives them some biases against the other Colors. I haven’t quite puzzled out if he counts these people as exceptions or if he realised that Color isn’t indicative to someone’s ability and he needs to remember to judge them based on individual ability. My money’s on the latter tbh because he doesn’t seem like the type of person to assume everyone is going to fit into the place they were assigned. As @hyena-frog beautifully put “He's learned not to let his biases blind him to how dangerous even LowColors can be.” But you know who doesn’t have the same critical thinking skills as Atlas? Lysander.

There’s also the question of his motivations, and what exactly he uses the Fear Knight persona for. Something specific that’s been nagging at me is the story about the Ascomanni that Pax told to Ephraim. I already mentioned it briefly in the first paragraph but I’d like to expand on why I think he was involved in what happened with the Ascomanni.

First, I’d like to go through the timeline. From what I got from the Wiki, some Obsidians escaped to the Kuiper Belt around Late 3rd Century PCE (Post Conquering Era) and approximately 736 years later, Atlas au Raa was banished to the Kuiper Belt by Octavia au Lune. 11 years after that in 747 PCE, Atlas returned to the Core to allegedly help fight against the Rising. In 754 PCE, 7 years after Atlas’ return, the Ascomanni attack the Pandora over Mars. Darrow enters the Institute 2 years prior to Atlas’ banishment. The majority of the first trilogy happens while Atlas is in the Kuiper Belt, including the entirety of Morning Star. So Atlas returns sometime in between the end of Morning Star and the beginning of Iron Gold. I’m not really finding any answers on how long it might have take Atlas to travel to the Kuiper Belt. Pardon some weird math for a second. Based on the Wiki: “the novels depict travel time between planets taking several weeks and often two or three months without layovers...” For simplicity’s sake, I’m going to assume it takes about 3 months to get from one planet to the next. I’m sure it will vary depending on distance between planets but...3 months is a good average. I’m also going to include the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. If Atlas was travelling from Luna to the Kuiper Belt, assuming he made no stops in between, my guess is it would have taken him probably about 2 years to get there. Theoretically then, Atlas would have spent 7 years in the Kuiper Belt doing whatever he was doing.

Something else that I’ve been thinking about is why Atlas joined the Core Golds and why Octavia appointed him as the Fear Knight. I don’t believe for a second that it would’ve been to foster peace between the Rim and Core Golds. Atlas’ parents were most likely alive during the First Moon Lord Rebellion considering their oldest child was born 9 years after it took place. We don’t really know a lot about Atlas’ parents but we have gotten little bits of information that I’ll do my best to analyse. Revus au Raa, Atlas’ father was said to be involved in the death of Lysander’s parents so that puts his death to sometime after 739 PCE and I believe before 742 PCE. I am not the cultural anthropologist that my sister, @saiikavon is so I got her opinion on Atlus’ potential motives for joining the Core. Her thoughts are that Atlas joined because he wants to understand the Core. The Rim Golds believe the Core is “barbaric and has corrupted itself with a sense of entitlement...” so it’s safe to say they have heavy prejudice against them. My sister mentioned that based on Atlas’ totems, he seems to be the type who would question the prejudices the Rim has against the Core and prefer to do his own research in person. From what little I know about Revus au Raa, I doubt he would have approved of his son’s choice.

Since I don’t know exactly when Atlas became the Fear Knight, I have to make guesses on which events he was on the Core for. I think it’s entirely possible that he was present for Eo’s song and her death. He also wasn’t sent to the Kuiper Belt until a year after Darrow finished at the Institute so I don’t think it’s farfetched to think that he witnessed all of what happened with that. He was also friends with Lysander’s parents, one of which who was planning a coup against Octavia. As we know, Lysander’s parents were killed because of this plan and, if Atlas was in on it as well, that could explain why he was sent to the Kuiper Belt. Octavia obviously didn’t want him to return from his exile, but she couldn’t outright kill him because that might have started a war between the Core and the Rim. And I don’t think Revus would have wanted to risk a war either had his son been able to succeed in the coup. Which would explain why he became involved in the death of Lysander’s parents and why he allowed his son to be sent away. Revus was then killed which I suppose could’ve been Octavia tying up loose ends.

This finally brings us to the Ascomanni. 736-738 (to account for Atlas’ travel time) years is a long time to be isolated in and beyond an asteroid belt. My guess is that they were incredibly far behind in technology until Atlas showed up. If we consider the above paragraph as canon, I suspect Atlas would have tried to recruit the Ascomanni to help him overthrow Octavia. If we take account the 3-4 years that it probably took for Atlas to reach the Kuiper belt, he spent about 7-8 years with the Ascomanni. We can only speculate (until Pierce Brown maybe tells us please) as to what happened between them but I feel like it’s safe to say that Atlas helped the Ascomanni obtain at least some of the technology they used during the attack on the Pandora. Also, because the Ascomanni didn’t arrive until 7 years after Atlas did, he had plenty of time to make plans and recruit Xenophon.

The only thing is, I think Atlas’ plans must have changed during that time, at least to some degree. In one of the previous paragraphs, I mentioned that Atlas returned to the Core sometime after the end of Morning Star. I’m sure that on his journey back, he learned that Octavia was killed and that Lysander was taken away by Cassius. Whether or not he knows WHO Cassius is is unknown. I think it’s possible depending on how closely he followed the events at the Institute. But as Cassius trained with Aja in 740, Atlas probably didn’t have a close relationship with him or know him all that well. This makes me think that it’s possible that Atlas assumed (like most people now that I think about it) that Lysander was dead.

Where does this leave Atlas then? Octavia is dead, Lysander is also presumed dead, and the Core has been taken over by a new group. I’m reluctant to say that he is entirely for restoring the Core back to how it was, but I imagine that he sees the Rising (and defeating the Rising) as a way to reshape the Core to be what he thinks it should be. I feel like his motives are similar to Lysander’s in that he wants to fix what he thought was broken about the Core. Although, Lysander’s (stupid) opinions on what’s broken and Atlas’ are probably different.

Anyway, I don’t really feel like I answered any questions about our beloved(?) Fear Knight but here are my thoughts. I really hope we get more of him in the next book.

[random-thought-depository]

@soulvomit​

Continuation from my last post, I’m thinking some more about how a 3+ sex species might work...

If you’ve got a species with four sexes where only one sex actually incubates/gestates the offspring, in terms of demographic implications that’s equivalent to having a species that 75% male. This is true regardless of the other details of how reproduction works, it’s an inevitable consequence of a set-up where there are four sexes and one sex does 99.9...% of the direct work of reproduction up to birth.

So that means replacement rate reproduction for this species is going to be 4-6 children per “woman” (incubator sex), instead of 2-3 like with humans. That’s with modern medicine, in primitive times when average lifespan was 25-40 and about half of children died before adulthood it would be more like 8-12 children per “woman,” as opposed to 4-6 children per woman for humans.

I suspect the tendency of the sex that incubates the offspring also doing a disproportionate amount of the post-birth child-care would also be stronger with this species, because with a four-way chromosome split paternity is going to be even more of a best guess than it is with humans (I suspect women’s disproportionate contribution to child-care is partly a selection pressure consequence of women being able to be much more confident that the child they’re raising actually shares their genes).

So I expect a Star Trek forehead alien species (well, antennae and blue skin alien in this case) like this would look like kind of like a 75% male 25% female society with normative MMMF polyamory and a rather tradwifey feminine gender role. If Andorians are like this they might have a bit of a IIRC Space Japan vibe, being an accepted member of the twenty-third century equivalent of the WEIRD club but lagging behind on a lot of conventional feminism metrics (especially economic ones) and struggling to maintain a long-term sustainable birth rate. “I’m going to be real with you Prime Minister Shran: this will not reverse Andoria’s declining birth rate!” (of 3.2 children per woman, but that’s sub-replacement-rate for them! No doubt many of them feel seeing these memes coming from a species that’s doing just fine with a TFR fluctuating around 2.2 rubs salt in the wound).

Don’t know if that’s the sort of society you want to depict (I get the feeling maybe, maybe not). If not, some suggestions for alternatives:

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

Rather than thinking of sexes with each sex being an essential component of the reproductive process, maybe think of genders with gender being a reproductive strategy.

For instance, maybe there are two physically distinct female genders, one similar to human women, and one that goes more the spotted hyena route. The latter sort of women might be less fertile and less behaviorally inclined to get pregnant, but have similar size and strength to men (or maybe even be bigger and stronger), so in primitive times they’d be a way for the community to have more flexibility in shifting between investing in reproduction and investing in strength-intensive manual labor and military power. And in primitive times for individual females there would be obvious potential safety and other advantages in having a man’s size and strength (but also potential disadvantages in increased caloric needs, reduced protection by “benevolent sexism,” and being less attractive to high-status men as a potential wife or concubine due to lower fertility). With this set-up there’d be two physically distinct genders that can both get pregnant, so you don’t get the “this is demographically equivalent to a species that’s 75% male” issue. Combine those two ideas and you could have a species with two sexes but  physically distinct genders, plus the sort of rainbow of gender outliers and intersex people humans have.

For an alternate take on a species like this, you could take inspiration from Humon’s animal lives comic about side-blotched lizards. I think realistically side-blotched lizard behavior wouldn’t map that straightforwardly onto a more human-like species, but I could see a human-like society that works sort of like this with some modifications. For instance, maybe the blue males act similar to human men, while the red males are promiscuous and mostly don’t even know or much care who their biological children are but have a sort of worker ant social reproductive strategy, guarding and tending the children of their female relatives (who will share some of their DNA no matter who their fathers are). In primitive times a typical community might have been matrilineal, consisting of females, their red male relatives, blue male husbands assimilated from other tribes, and a few yellow males. The yellow male reproductive strategy probably wouldn’t rely on being literally mistaken for women but on women finding them attractive in a sort of lesbian-adjacent way, blue men often being like “me and my wife both think you’re cute, want to be our boyfriend?” and red men just not caring much who their female relatives are having sex with. In this set-up the actual sex ratio would probably be similar to humans, so reds, blues, and yellows will together only add up to about half the population. Since we were talking about incest, you’ll probably get a lot of that with that set-up as the red males might have rather bonobo-like sex lives (NSFW warning for that link) and are mostly hanging around with women who are at least their cousins (if it works like this the blues will just have to put up with their wives occasionally having fun with one of the stronger and more dominant reds, but with human-like beings I expect there’d be various social arrangements to make that go down smoother). But plausibly steady exchange of blue males with other tribes plus occasional conceptions between females and red males of other tribes would keep the inbreeding from getting too bad.

Combine those two ideas and you could have a species with two sexes but five physically distinct genders, plus the sort of rainbow of gender outliers and intersex people humans have.

That doesn’t really get the “triplicate chromosomes and their consequences” thing you were interested in though. Hmm, maybe...

-----------

I don’t remember where I read this, but I think there are some species that have females, males, and hermaphrodites? In this case theoretically the species would be fine with just males and females or just hermaphrodites, but I’m guessing they’re different reproductive strategies and one isn’t clearly better than the other?

This might work well with fun with triplicate sex chromosomes! A species with more than two sexes will likely have more than two sex chromosomes, allowing for various possible combinations! Let’s say we have a species with triple chromosomes, with sex chromosomes that work like this:

YXX gives you a male ZXX gives you a paramale XXX gives you a female YXZ gives you a hermaphrodite

(YYX, ZZX, YZZ, etc. are not possible in the same way you don’t get YY humans).

Without a hermaphrodite, you need a male, a paramale, and a female to reproduce. However, since a hermaphrodite has all three sex chromosomes, a hermaphrodite can make all types of gametes, and also a hermaphrodite can get pregnant and make a baby like a female. So a hermaphrodite can reproduce with a female, or with another hermaphrodite, or with a male and paramale, or possibly just with a male or a paramale if they can do a partial self-fertilization (hermaphrodite provides two gametes and male or paramale provides one). A hermaphrodite might also be able to fully self-fertilize and get itself pregnant too, it would depend on whether it’s physiology was set up to allow that (though I’m guessing that would be, like, super-incest and not a reproductive strategy the species would rely on much).

The hermaphrodite strategy would probably need to have some sort of cost to explain why males, paramales, and females are still around (honestly, I’m kind of puzzled why hermaphrodism isn’t the super-majority reproductive strategy of animals even IRL, it seems obviously more flexible and efficient than having males and females). Maybe it suffers from “jack of all trades, master of none” problem and hermaphrodites are less fertile than the reproductively specialized sexes.

I’m not sure what gender ratio this sort of sex chromosome set-up would work out to? Even fourths assuming no sex chromosome segregation distorters are present?

So, there you have a stable set-up for a species with triple chromosome and gamete sets, four sexes, and a medium to high ratio of womb-havers to non-womb-havers! Please feel free to use this concept if you like it, I’m not doing anything with it (though I might do something with the human side-blotched lizard concept, I don’t know)! If you want to make it more interesting, you could make males and paramales have different reproductive strategies and by implication significant physical and possibly neurotype differences. Like, maybe you could take that human side-blotched lizard society concept and say the blues are the males and the reds and yellows are the paramales.

[chironshorseass]

29 and 30 fluff for perachel or percabeth? Hehe I like both ships don’t @ me. Love your writing btw!

I kinda managed to do both...kinda lol. This was fun to do :) Sorry in advance for the bad puns.

writing prompts

“Detention? Again?”

“Look, I can explain.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes and sat back on her bed, too tired to stand up and listen to what Percy had to say, most likely.

“Sure you can.”

They’d been Iris Messaging for a few minutes now. Percy, exhausted from a day of school and homework, had taken the first chance off to fish out a drachma from his drawer and call one of the people he’d missed most since the summer.

It had slipped his mind that New York and San Francisco had different time zones. But luckily, Annabeth was still awake. He’d found her in her bedroom, curls pulled into a messy bun and eyebrows scrunched up in concentration as she read some textbook, still studying for the exam she’d talked about a week ago.

Despite her initial complaints about Percy interrupting her, he knew that she didn’t mind.

“So?” she asked, bringing him back to the present.

She pulled her legs under her and stared at him expectantly.

He blinked. “Huh?”

She raised an eyebrow, and Percy thought—in the back of his mind—that she looked unfairly pretty. At night, with the fairy lights illuminating her hair and her face, like an angel.

“Why’d you get detention?”

“Oh. That.”

“Yes, Seaweed Brain. That.”

“Uhm…” Percy scratched the back of his neck. “It’s kind of a funny story, I um…”

“Spit it out.”

Now that he thought about it, maybe he shouldn’t have said anything at all. Maybe he should’ve thought this through, to avoid any arguments. Or confrontations. Or another cold shoulder. They weren’t as awkward now that the school year had started, but the mention of her always put Annabeth on edge, anyway.

“You see, I was with, uh...Rachel.”

He paused, noticing the way she gripped her textbook tighter, slightly wrinkling the pages.

Why did I think this was a good idea? Stupid.

“I was with Rachel, and she sort of, um...” he laughed nervously, already cringing. “Made a bet?”

Technically, he’d made the bet. But that wasn’t important for Annabeth to know.

/

Chemistry, in Percy’s opinion, was the most boring class Goode had to offer. Useless. Irrelevant.

Confusing, most of all.

At least he was partners with Rachel. It was one of the few classes they had together. They sat at the very back, so they were rarely noticed anyway, mostly spending the forty five minutes of lectures about chemical equations doing little drawing games on their notebooks and playing hangman. Percy lost most of the time.

The teacher wasn’t that great, either. Most of the school knew her as Mrs. Jones. She was a short lady in her late sixties with thin, badly dyed hair who had a concerning addiction to gum—so to Percy and Rachel—she was known as Mrs. Gum-Gum. She turned to the board for some explanation that Percy had completely lost interest on since the first five minutes of class. Rachel let out a low moan, hands on her forehead.

“Kill me now,” she muttered.

“Sorry, I can’t. My sword doesn’t work on you.”

“I hate you.”

“Yeah,” he grinned, leaning backwards and tilting his chair. “I know.”

She hit him in the shin. “You’re going to fall one of these days, and the class will never let you forget it.”

“Eh,” Percy shrugged. “At least they’d get a laugh and you wouldn’t be so bored.”

Her green eyes twinkled with humor like she’d just remembered something. She snorted. “Okay. So this one time, a girl was doing the same thing as you, leaning back and all—and she like, fell. It was hilarious, because she just lay there, with her feet in the air.”

“Rachel Dare,” Gum-Gum called, narrowed eyes cast on them. She kind of sounded like a wounded hyena, in his humble opinion. “I sure hope you and Mr. Jackson are discussing the worksheet that I gave out.”

Rachel nodded and threw her a thumbs up, while Percy held a fist to his mouth to stop the smile forming on his face. Gum-Gum left her alone and went back to her lecture.

The class kept its monotone routine of worksheets and notes, so as a distraction, Rachel grabbed his arm and popped the lids off her sharpies, drawing little figurines. She was on his second tattoo when an idea came to him.

“Hey, Rach?” he whispered, making sure the teacher was facing the board.

“Hmm.”

“We should play truth or dare.”

She grabbed the green marker and spread the ink from side to side across his skin. “Mmm...No.”

“Come on,” he whined. “I’m bored.”

“Yeah, but we’ve done truth or dare so many times now. It’s gotten old. Besides, you’re such a pussy.”

“Am not.”

“Yes, you are. Remember that time I dared you to eat the gum from under the seat?”

Percy made a face. “That was so fucking gross. Nobody in their right mind would’ve done that. Maybe Mrs. Gum-Gum, but I am not on her level.”

“I figured, after you blatantly refused. And then there’s the time when I dared you to kiss Mary Andrews. On the cheek. And you couldn’t do it.”

“Oh my gods, I can’t just kiss girls. That’s leading them on.”

She exhaled, long and deep and stared at him as if he were a lost cause. “Okay. Whatever.”

She went back to drawing on his arm.

“If anyone’s the pussy right now,” he whispered. “It’s you.”

“Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that. You just wish you were as marginally cool as me.”

“Um...Then why won’t you play truth or dare?”

“Like I said: bo-ring.” She leaned closer to his arm, creating tiny details with the thinner side of the sharpie. “And don’t tell me I don’t do the dares, ‘cause I do. My last name’s Dare, after all. It would be a complete dishonor.”

“How long have you waited to say that?”

“Oh, you don’t wanna know. Now hold still. You’d look good with tattoos, by the way.”

He sighed. Okay, fine. She had a point, he wasn’t that great at doing “cool” stuff, likely because he was traumatized by the getting-kicked-out-of-schools thing he had going for him. You know, maybe it was that.

As Percy watched her work with her sharpies, he realized: maybe there was a way to prove to her that he could do daring stuff. A once in a lifetime thing. And in the process, he could make her smile.

“Fine,” he said. “If you don’t wanna do something, then let’s make a bet.”

“Depends on what you want to bet on, but go on.”

“How much money would you give me to flip this table, right here, right now, in the middle of class?”

The read-head stopped creating the swirly lines of the little wave she’d been working on, making his skin tingle from the loss of the pointy marker. She lifted her freckled face, watching him with raised eyebrows.

“Nah, you don’t have the guts.”

“Psh. ‘Course I do. I’m Percy Jackson.”

“Ohhh! Percy Jackson. I’m Rachel Dare, nice to meet you.” She lifted her hand like she wanted Percy to shake it.

He slapped it away. “Shut up. I can totally do it.”

“Do you not care about getting in trouble with dear ol’ Gum-Gum?”

“I’ll make it seem like an accident.”

“Nothing you do seems like an accident to teachers.”

“Good point. Still be worth it, though.” He lowered his voice even further. “Besides, I gotta prove to you that I can do cool stuff.”

Rachel snorted. “Now I could literally ask you to do drugs and you’d do it, apparently. Peer pressure is a dangerous thing, my dude.”

He grinned. “And I want your money. You’re like, rich, Dare.”

“Thanks for the reminder, Jackson.”

“No problem.”

Gum-Gum shot them an admonishing look, and they pretended to do their work.

“So,” she said after a few seconds passed. “How much money?”

“I knew you could work with me.”

“Ugh, I’m getting second thoughts from your dramatism.”

“You love it.”

They held gazes, green on green. Rachel narrowed hers and sighed. 

“Again, how much money?”

Percy shrugged. “You decide.”

“Fine.” She flipped some of her fiery curls over her shoulder. “I’m betting on a hundred bucks.”

He whistled under his breath. “Damn. You want me to do it that badly?”

“I do want to see everyone’s reaction to Percy Jackson losing his shit.” He shoved her, but she continued. “Especially Gum-Gum’s. But I know we’re getting in trouble, so we might as well go all out. What? It’s true! But at least you’d get your money.”

Percy shook his head. He’d probably regret this later.

Then he thought, what would Annabeth think?

But he couldn't dwell too much on that. At least it would be funny.

“We need to clear the desk, though.”

“Duh.”

So they worked, as quietly and discreetly as they could. When they’d finished, Percy turned to Rachel and nodded. She put a hand against her mouth to muffle her laughter.

On the third count, he flipped the desk. The table crashed with a resonating bang.

Rachel leaned backwards and let out a sound of surprise, probably because she’d half speculated that he wouldn’t pull through with it in the first place.

Immediately, everyone craned their heads to the back of the room. Some jumped at the sound. Others gasped or snickered, especially at the sight of Mrs. Gum-Gum. She yelped and dropped her marker, slapping a hand to her chest and retreating a few steps as if she were about to go into cardiac arrest.

“Percy Jackson!”

He winced a bit, but all in all, he thought he was keeping a straight face. But then he caught onto Rachel’s expression, arms crossed. He doubted they’d get off freely, just as she’d said.

/

As they shouldered their backpacks, heading for room 1345—detention—Rachel slipped her hand in the pocket of her paint-splattered uniform skirt.

“I didn’t know I had the money with me, but it seems as though he fates are in your favor, Jackson,” she said, taking the dollar bills from her pocket and handing them to him. They both knew all too well that she didn’t care for it. Daddy issues, he recalled.

Percy raised his eyebrow. “Thanks, Rach. Now, I can finally buy a new skateboard.”

“Nice to know that this was worth it.”

“Especially since now you have to do something...daring.”

She tapped her index finger to her temple mockingly. “Oh, I see. That’s why you wanted to do that bet. So then we could be on even ground.”

“Do you agree, Dare?”

“My gods, you’re so corny. But sure. Though let's not get ourselves a detention pass the next time, hmm? I feel bad for you. How many have you gotten this semester?” She clicked her tongue. “What will your mom say?”

1343, 1344 ... 1345. This was the place. Through the window, he could see many of the students already settling in, giving the teacher the strip of paper that he and Rachel had in their pockets.

He exhaled. “I don’t want to think about Mom just yet. But honestly, I don’t mind detention. And I don’t think she would, either. Better than getting kicked out.”

“Mmhmm. And I don’t really mind spending some more quality time with you. Even if we get in trouble, I kinda think you’re nice to be around, Jackson.” She smiled and held her arm out for him to pass. For some reason, that comment made his chest feel warm and fuzzy. “Gentlemen first.”

“Isn’t it ladies first?”

“Chivalry is dead. Now go on.” She nodded towards the door. “I like being fashionably late.”

“And you say I’m the dramatic one,” he grumbled.

[blueluneacy]

Otome Game

The first place fic for @pezahut ! It’s just a La Squadra/Reader!

Yes I’m naming it Otome Game because that’s all it is

3k words

Warnings: non con touching

You wondered if this really was your best purpose on La Squadra. While you couldn’t complain, exactly, I mean you weren’t exactly sure if you could really kill people, but when you were assigned here, this wasn’t exactly what you were planning on doing. Maybe cleaning countertops was easier than doing the dirty work the men of the team specialized in. Maybe it was better this way, just to clean. You had become quite good at getting blood out of fabric, though you were still working through what you only hoped was a hunk of mold in the bathroom. Yes, you probably got off a lot better than most people who had the misfortune of dealing with Passione.

Though estranged for years, a family member had used you as collateral and wracked up massive amounts of debts with Passione, before finally kicking the bucket through what you could only assume was mafia justice. Of course, that death apparently wasn’t even enough, and you were collected to repay the debt. With little choice, you ended up here, working with la Squadra for what could only be considered meager wages. But hey, it wasn’t all bad. What you assumed were going to be rough mafiosos were… Well, still rough mafiosos, but they weren’t all bad. They seemed nice enough, even if they were all weird. So, you continued to clean the countertops, hoping that you at least were doing that well enough. This base was always so busy, with people coming and going and eyes on you. 

Currently, you could feel Sorbet and Gelato’s eyes poring into you, the way they always seemed to look at other people the way a cat would taunt their prey. It was creepy, but you took at least a little solace in knowing they weren’t after you. They were lovers after all, and you weren’t going to get in the way of that. Of course… There was the time that Gelato seemed to get a little too close, touching your hair and commenting on it.

“It’s so soft, bella. You should let us tug on it more often~” He commented, leaving you to quickly back away while Gelato laughed like some sort of hyena. Sorbet just stared at you, his eyes practically bearing into your soul. He rarely ever said anything, and when he did, his voice was low, gruff. He only ever said sweet words to Gelato. You assumed that Gelato was just the teasing type, the type to enjoy watching someone squirm and try to wrangle themselves in from their own fear. They worked well together that way, both of them unnerving you in different ways. Occasionally, Sorbet would ask something of you, pressing his hand on your shoulder and speaking almost directly into your ear.

“The meeting is soon. Bring tea.” You sometimes noticed that when you shuddered from how close he was to you, Sorbet would smirk just the slightest bit. But you supposed they were nice enough, just trying to compliment you. Just trying to be nice in their own, weird way.

Then there was Formaggio. He seemed nice, but overly so. He was rough around the edges, for sure, but he seemed to work hard and be good at what he does. 

“What are we doing today, carina?” His voice was always a bit of a purr, and he tended to speak to you as if you were some sort of small animal. He tended to enjoy coming behind you and wrapping his arms around your waist, resting his head on your shoulder. The first time you squirmed and tried to get out his grasp, Formaggio pouted like a child.

“Come on, sweetie, I’m just trying to love on you a little bit. You’re so uptight sometimes.” He would complain, but your protests never deterred him much. Formaggio was certainly affectionate, but you assumed it was just a cultural thing. Italians tend to be a lot more touchy, after all. Formaggio seemed to have some weird inferiority thing, from the way you saw him interact with the others, so maybe he just felt powerful startling you the way he always did. You could never really tell.

Illuso seemed… Oddly curious of you. You swore, he always showed up the weirdest of times. You quickly had become aware of Illuso’s voyeuristic tendencies, from an incident when you were brushing your teeth. He just popped out of the mirror like some sort of ghost, but you hadn’t even said his name three times. When you scrambled back from him, shocked and honestly a little straight, he just laughed at you. 

“Oh, don’t be like that. Am I not allowed to visit now?  It’s not like you’re busy. But if you insist, I could visit you in your room. You know, you look so peaceful when you sleep…”

“You watched me sleep?!” 

“I was just checking up on you! After all, you’re part of La Squadra now? You should be thankful, the way I’m caring for you because you can’t pull your own height and protect yourself. I only want to make sure our resident sapling doesn’t get crushed.” He would always laugh at your discomfort, as if it were some sort of game. You supposed that Illuso did care, it was just in his own odd way. You did your best not to take it seriously. Though occasionally, you noticed his face next to your reflection, or him peeking out of a drinking glass. You decided just to turn the mirror in your room when you slept. Just in case.

Pesci liked to try and help cook dinner, but he wasn’t ever very good at it. You had quickly learned to keep a first aid kit in the kitchen, because god was this guy clumsy. But he was always so earnest about it, you couldn’t help but like him. You remember when he burnt his hand on a pot, forgetting about the pot holders you had put out. You just sighed, watching the way Pesci held his hand to his chest, taking it and looking at the burn.

“Thankfully, it isn’t that bad. Go run it under some cool water, but don’t wrap it up. It’ll keep in the heat.” 

“You… You’re not mad?” 

“Why would I be? It was an accident. I’m just glad you’re okay.” You turned and smiled at the man, not noticing how his face heated up. He was rather quiet for the rest of the time the two of you spent together cooking. You figured that Pesci was just a bit shy and less than confident with himself, the way he seemed to get bullied by the other members of La Squadra. You went out of your way to be nice to him, hoping that it would at least lift his spirits. Whenever he could, he still tried to help you cook dinner. Pesci had told you that one day, he wanted to cook for you by himself. You just smiled and told him that you were looking forward to it.

Prosciutto seemed to regard you at an arm's length. He was probably the most professional out of those in La Squadra, for better or for worse. Apparently, he believed that you shouldn’t be in the base at all, that it was too dangerous for you, a person without a stand. You didn’t exactly understand what a stand was, but apparently they were important, and made a person strong. You supposed that your weakness would be a pretty good reason for the entirety of the group to fuss over you the way that they did, but Prosciutto really wasn’t the type to fuss. He seemed to just regard you kindly, but he was also harsh, often criticizing your work cleaning.

“This is still a mess. These spices aren’t organized at all.” He once told you, looking over your cabinets after a day of going through and getting rid of all the expired stuff, putting together a true grocery list.

“Well, it’s the best way for me to know where all of them are. It may look a little chaotic, but those spices are the ones that I use the most, so they need to be up front. To have them any other way, it would just be a mess every time I needed to cook.” You explained, but Prosciutto just crossed his arms, looking down at you.

“That’s not really good enough. If anyone saw this, what would they think? What would our reputation be?” Ah, reputation. Prosciutto was always concerned with how he and the others appeared to the outside, his reputation as a mafioso meaning the most out of everything. Honestly, you didn’t really care. Although you were technically a mafioso, you barely acted like one, and you weren’t going to change yourself any time soon just for something as silly as fulfilling a stereotype.

“I think they would see that we use a lot of cilantro. Besides, I’m the only one who ever opens this cabinet. You guys are too busy with missions, so I doubt anyone but you would notice.” You replied sharply. While Pesci always seemed to bend to Prosciutto’s will, your tongue was quick. Prosciutto would stare at you for a moment, hoping that you would break, but to no avail. So, he would just pull at his collar, shaking his head.

“You don’t act proper in the slightest.”

“I was never trying to.” You never noticed the way your fire seemed to make Prosciutto’s face heat up. You always assumed that he was just mad at you.

Melone was extremely interested the moment he heard that woman was joining La Squadra. According to Formaggio, he had suggested to Risotto that you were assigned with him so that he would always have a mother for Babyface on hand. The thought actually… Disturbed you a little bit. He didn’t ever make a good impression on you either. He was definitely the loosest and most touchy of La Squadra too, the way he would drape himself off of you and the way he would look at you like a man starved. You could tell that maybe his intentions with you weren’t all that innocent, but you pushed the thought away. After all, he was your coworker! Nothing like that could ever happen between the two of you. 

“Oh, (Y/n)~! What’s on the agenda today, bella? Are you busy?” He would ask you almost every morning, his voice ringing out like a bell. You had gotten used to it at this point, Melone’s weirdness simply being just the way you started your day now. If anything, it would feel weird if he wasn’t there and he didn’t call you like that.

“The usual. Cleaning. Are you ever going to let me into that bathroom of yours so I can clean it, or are you still trying to scrape all the lipstick off the walls?” You found it easy to have a banter with Melone. The two of you bounced off each other easily, and you could find it easy to really just talk with him. Even if he was flirtatious, it all felt laid on way too thick to be truly serious. In all honesty, you weren’t even sure if Melone was into women.

“It’s not ready, I haven’t moved everything. Though, if you do want to help me, I just have the tiniest little request, just the tiniest thing that would barely take half an hour, if you would just be so kind-”

“No Babyface. Remember what Risotto said. I’m not supposed to go out on missions, remember?” You replied, easily seeing through Melone’s tricks. He wasn’t really good at fooling you, or maybe you had just gotten a lot better at seeing through his tricks. Either way, you saying that easily made him pout, leaving him to cross his arms just a little bit.

“You’re no fun. And who’s to say I want it for a mission? Maybe I just believe that we would make beautiful children together, is all.” He replied, leaving you just to laugh.

“Yeah, right. I’m not really looking to become a mother quite yet, thank you though.”

“Mmm. I’ll seduce you yet, (Y/n).” He told you, before slinking off. You never took it seriously, after all, that was just the way Melone was. You shook your head and chuckled.

“I look forward to it.” 

Ghiaccio was basically a ticking time bomb. You had gotten pretty good at figuring out when he was going to explode, but you didn’t really make much of an effort to avoid him when it happened anymore. He was basically all bark with no bite, and the littlest things tended to set him off. Apparently, he’s pretty much always been like this. Screamy, I mean. Like that one time he caught you reading a crummy romance novel late at night, and Ghiaccio had to let you know exactly how he felt in your taste in literature. 

“It’s not only unrealistic, but it puts up this standard for people that makes things absolutely unattainable, not to mention-!” He went on. It had been probably about 10 minutes now, with you half listening as you turned the page in your book. You were surprised someone else didn’t come in and tell him to shut up yet. Ghiaccio really didn’t have any in between volume, rather, he was usually a low grumble, or screaming. You were at the point where you had figured out how to listen to both. However, you were getting a little bit tired, and you wanted to go to bed sooner rather than later. This lecture was probably going to last another hour if you didn’t cut in soon enough, you were going to be here forever.

“I.. I get it, Ghiaccio, really. Thank you for your… Helpful advice.” You did your best to smile, but Ghiaccio only scowled. 

“Were you even listening to me about all this?! It’s important, you know!” He snapped back, but you sighed, crossing your arms.

“I was. But I don’t agree.” You held your ground fairly well against him, leaving Ghiaccio to be taken aback a bit, silent only for a moment. You took the opportunity to make your point, lest Ghiaccio fall back into his tangential rant.

“I mean, maybe it’s not entirely realistic all the time, but romance also makes people want to fall in love, and to be loved. I think it gives people a bit of a goal to strive towards. Yeah, maybe I’m not going to find a knight in shining armor, but I don’t expect that. All I want is to find someone I’m happy with.” You explained, leaving Ghiaccio a tad speechless. 

“Well… I still don’t like it. You should read something that’s actually realistic.” He told you, leaving you to sigh.

“Well, how about this? Why don’t you pick out a book for me to read, and I’ll read it and let you know what I think?” You smiled warmly, leaving Ghiaccio to sputter just a bit.

“I-I… Y-Yeah! If it’ll show you what real literature is like, then sure! I’ll make sure to pick something out that’ll blow you away!” Ghiaccio told you, leaving you just to laugh and smile. Even if he was loud and occasionally obnoxious, you could tell he had a good heart. And in the end, isn’t that all that really mattered?

Risotto was… Well, you couldn’t really put your thumb on it. You would call him cold, but that really wasn’t the right word. Stoic, maybe. The two of you really didn’t spend much time together, but he always seemed to be around, watching over you, and occasionally butting in when he felt like you were in over your head. You remembered the first time you met him, sitting across from him, recoiling in your chair. You felt like you were face to face with death itself, those red eyes bearing into you in a way that almost made you vomit. 

“So, no combat experience? No stand? No skills of any kind?” He asked you, leaving you to shiver just a little bit.

“No… B-But uh… Well, I don’t know, really. I’m not sure why I was assigned here, really, b-but… W-Well, I promise to work really hard at whatever you assign me to do! I know I’m not really strong, or brave, or cunning like a lot of other people, but I really want to try by best at everything that I do. I promise you that no matter what, I’m going to at least do my best, even if it isn’t good enough.” You told him. The way you spoke seemed to make Risotto’s eyes light up a bit. Even if you were scared and small and weak, you still wanted to at least work hard. This burden was put upon you when you didn’t deserve it, and yet you took it in stride. There was a small pang in Risotto’s chest, a thumping of his heart. He looked over his papers.

“Well… We need someone to take care of the base. Someone always has to be here, after all. It’ll be easy to make sure everything is in order with you here, so… Just take care of the place. That’ll be your duty. If anyone needs help, help them within reason.” He told you, leaving you to gasp a bit. Risotto… He seemed like he was cruel and unforgiving, but he really was a kind person. You smiled at him, nodding a bit.

“I promise I’ll work hard then, Mr. Nero! I won’t disappoint you!” You told him, leaving the man just to smile a bit. He reached over as you stood up, taking your hand and pressing his lips against it. 

“I know you won’t. Welcome to La Squadra, and feel free to call me Risotto.”

Yes, the men of La Squadra really were weird, weren’t they? And yet, you found yourself caring about all of them, wanting what’s best for all of them. While you didn’t really understand their weird ways of interacting with you, different from how they interacted with the others of the team, you had noticed, they all seemed to care about you greatly. You smiled as you finished up cleaning the counter, moving to get started on cooking for all of them. Soon, all of your boys would be home, and plenty hungry. While it may be difficult to navigate what fate had put forward for you, you decided to take it all in stride and see what would happen next. After all, who knows? There’s always twists and turns in every romance novel. Maybe all of that would bleed into real life too.

[liberolove]

Testing the Waters (pt. 2)

Summary: youve finally graduated high school and now youre moving on to college. youve decided to go to sendai university. its summer and youve become curious about checking out the dating pool in miyagi, so you download a dating app. you figure you might as well have fun before delving too deep into your studies

Part: [part two] out of ???

Pairings: nishinoya x reader / kuroo x reader / oikawa x reader / kiyoko x reader

A/N: theres tons of ships here, just me living out my hoe phase lmao please dont judge me. let me know what yall think

Genre: fluff, smut, crack

Warnings: flirting, college shinanigans

It’s been three days since the last time you saw Yuu. Gosh, even saying his name to yourself gave you goosebumps. You two have been texting non stop and honestly, it felt so refreshing. You were a pretty bad texter but he knew how to keep the conversation going. 

One of his favorite things to do was play 21 questions with you. He wasn’t like those fuckboys who would use this opportunity to ask you if you were a virgin or what your favorite position was. Yuu was different. He came up with the craziest scenarios and judged you on the way you answered. One time he asked you how you would escape a 300 lb lion that just broke out of the zoo you were visiting. You honestly had no idea how to respond but eventually you replied, 

“I’d make sure to run with a crowd and ‘accidentally’ trip a slow runner so that the lion could get distracted and probably (most likely) attack them. This would buy me some time to get the hell out there.”

This response caught Noya off guard but he loved the way you thought. You continued to come up with barbaric schemes to survive all the scenarios he would throw at you. He kept you guessing and that was what you liked so much about him. He was wild and so were you.

You were getting a little impatient over your next date so you took a deep breath and eventually asked him.

Y/N: Heeey, Yuu. I was wondering when you’d like to go out again. I’d really like to go out with you again.

Nishinoya Yuu: hey cutie! I’ve been wanting to see you again but I haven’t had any days off from work lately.. (; ･`д･´) IM DYING!! I just wanna see yoouuuuu

Y: Aw man.. :( That sucks. When do you think you’ll get your next day off?

N: idk tbh but hopefully it’s soon!!

Y: no worries, just let me know.

N: will do!!

Well, that was that. Now you wondered what you should do to pass the time. You were bored again and needed something to do. “Oh wait. I should check the app. I haven’t checked since I messaged Yuu on there. Maybe I have more matches.”

You opened up the app and you had 10 notifications. You had gotten some likes on the selfie you posted and several people viewed your profile. You checked who looked at your profile, and it was mostly ugly, older, men. “Gross,” you thought to yourself. Besides this, you noticed some new messages. 

You opened up the first message. 

“Hey sexy! Wanna come see me play? Click my link https://…..”

“Damn bots. So annoying.” You deleted the message. Next message:

“DTF?”

“I mean like yeah, but you could’ve been less forward in your message. What a turn off..” You had one last notification left. Maybe it wouldn’t be a let down.

“Are you made of Fluorine, Iodine, and Neon? 'Cause you are F-I-Ne.”

To be honest, this pick up line did make you giggle a little. You checked out the profile of the mysterious stranger who sent it and you were surprised that it was a bulked up biker. And damn, was he hot as hell. 

His hair stood up in an organized, weird bed head kind of way. It made him look like a rooster. Rather than smile in his photos, he smirked. And his eyes looked like he could undress you solely with his gaze. He looked like your typical bad boy, but that didn’t make sense. Why would he use a chemistry pick up line?

This made you become even more interested, so you replied back with another cheesy pick up line.

Y/N: I wish I were adenine because then I could get paired with U.

Kuroo Tetsuro: Hey, kitten. I thought you’d never reply. You had me waiting.

Y: umm??? calling me kitten already?

K: What’s wrong? Are you flustered already? We haven’t even met up yet.

Y: woah there cowboy! hold your horses

K: I’m not a cowboy, but I’ll gladly have you ride me instead.

Y: skskskks i cant even-

K: Sorry. Too much?

Y: YES TOO MUCH

K: Alright. Let me start over. Ahh, a fellow chemist, I presume?

Y: yeaaah, kind of. I have a love/hate relationship with chemistry.

K: Is that so? Maybe I can help with that.

Y: oh really? how so?

K: I am a chemistry major after all. I go to Sendai. Do you go to school?

Y: uhhh i’m going to start there in the fall. I still haven’t decided what to major in, just yet.

K: Maybe you’ll end up being a chemistry major like me and I can give you private one on one lessons? 

Y: I highly doubt that, but nice try. 

K: Have you gotten a tour of the campus yet? Or are you waiting for freshman orientation?

Y: nah, I haven’t seen all of it yet. 

K: Would you like to?

Y: um sure! When are you free for my private tour? (:

K: How about tomorrow in the morning? Maybe around 9am? I can pick you up too if you’d like.

Y: Sounds good and no thanks. I’m not riding on that motorcycle! Looks scary :(

K: Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll drive safely and make sure nothing happens to you.

Y: there you go again.

K: Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. No, but really. I don’t mind picking you up. Have you ever been on a motorcycle before?

Y: nope

K: Then, let’s change that. Send me your address tomorrow morning. And get some rest.

Y: alrighty it’s a plan then!

K: No. It’s a date.

Y: sksksk omg

After that conversation, all you could think about was how the hell did you get into this mess? Motorcycles are dangerous, yet this rooster convinced you so easily to take a ride with him.. 

It was an understatement to say that you were nervous for tomorrow.

You set an alarm for 7 am the next day and went to bed.

Your alarm woke you up and you immediately remembered why you were awake so early. You rushed into the shower and once you were out, you spent 30 minutes deciding on what to wear. You opted for some black, ripped skinny jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt. 

At 8am on the dot, your phone’s notification bell went off. It was Kuroo.

“What’s your address, baby?”

You sent him the details and continued getting ready. You put on some light makeup and brushed your hair. You checked the time, and it was already 8:55 am. Then, your phone went off again.

“I’m outside.”

Your heart almost beat out of your chest. You grabbed your purse and put on some chapstick. You know, just in case..

You locked up your apartment and walked down the stairs. You were greeted by the biggest shit eating grin on the sexiest man you’d ever seen. You never went for the bad boys but college is a time for experimenting. 

“Hey, Y/N. You ready to ride? I brought an extra helmet for you.”

“Hi, Kuroo. And yeah, I guess,” your voice shook as you replied. You were really nervous but you tried to hide it.

“Don’t worry, baby. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’ll keep you safe.”

His words made you melt and you had just met him. The way he cooed at you and looked your way made you blush. You felt your cheeks get hotter by the second.

“Alright. Hop on and hold on to my waist. Hold on tight or else you’re gonna fly away when I take off. Okay?”

“..okay..” you managed to mutter. You were shaking but you put on the helmet he gave you and lifted up your leg to sit on the metal machine. You slowly hugged Kuroo from behind and held on as tight as you could. Your head was smashed right up against his large, broad back.

“Ready?” he asked.

“..yeah,” you squeaked.

Before you finished saying this, he had taken off like the devil was chasing him. If this was his meaning of safe driving, you didn’t want to find out his meaning of reckless driving.

The ride to Sendai University only took about 5 minutes, when realistically it would take 20 minutes by bus. You arrived and Kuroo teased, “are you going to let go, kitty?”

You hadn’t realized you were still gripping onto him for dear life. You released him from your hold and your hands still tingled from the amount of force you applied to his shirt. “Sorry!”

“No worries. Hey, look! I brought you here alive. Aren’t you glad?” he cackled. 

His laugh sounded like a dying hyena but it did sound a little cute at the same time. “Yeah. Thank goodness. Your driving is insane, dude.”

He showed you all over campus, from the administrative buildings to the gymnasium, to the fields. Sendai was a pretty big campus, and it made you glad that you had a personal guide to show you all the different buildings. 

After your little tour was over, he asked, “wanna grab a bite to eat? I’ll be a gentleman and pay for you too.”

Of course, you couldn’t say no to food. Much less, FREE FOOD! You nodded and got ready to ride the devil’s machinery again.

He took you to a nearby sushi bar. “Order whatever you’d like, princess. Today, I want to spoil you rotten.”

You melted at his words and also at the variety of rolls on the menu. You didn’t ask him if he really meant that you could order anything. You just kind of went for it. You ordered everything from shrimp tempura, to octopus, to eel. Sushi was your favorite and being told that you could order everything was a dream come true.

“Damn, girl! I had no idea you had such a huge appetite!  I didn’t know you’d take me seriously on my offer. You’re gonna run my pockets dry.”

You blushed and looked away. “Sorry, Kuroo. I really couldn’t help myself. I love sushi so much.”

“I’m just teasing you, baby. You deserve to be treated like this everyday.”

You had no idea how to respond so you just kept stuffing your face with sushi.

After you finally had your fill, it was time to go home. It was getting late. Kuroo took you home and you were definitely more relaxed this time on the bike. 

“I hope you had a great time today, kitty. And I hope I met your standards.”

“Yes, I did! Thank you so much, Kuroo! This was honestly so much fun. Thanks for everything.”

“Of course. Nothing but the best for you. I just need one little favor from you, baby.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Can I get a kiss from your soft lips? I know you want to. I saw the way you kept staring at me, today.”

“Oh.. uhh.. Y-yea-yeah. Sure, of course.. Yeah,” you stammered. 

You looked at him with soft, shy eyes and before you knew it, he leaned in quickly and kissed you on the lips. Your eyes were wide open in surprise but as he deepened the kiss, your eyes slowly shut.

The kiss felt like electricity coursing through your body. You didn’t know what it was, but this man definitely already had you wrapped around his long, slender finger. 

As soon as you realized his hold on you, he backed off, and left you wanting more. He was such a tease.

“I can’t just let you have everything today, kitten. I need you wanting more.”

You didn’t know what to respond so you looked down at the ground shyly. 

“I’ll message you later, y/n. Don’t make me wait too long, again.”

You waved and muttered, “Thank you, Kuroo.”

He revved up his bike and was gone in seconds.

You remained in a daze as you walked back up to your apartment. Once you got inside, you plopped down on your couch and released a long sigh. “Who knew that college was going to be so exciting..”

[link to kuroo pic i found]

[mobagehelllocal]

“i can hold the world in my hands” extra notes i - vi:

My god... it’s been more than a month since I started writing for TWST, and this was what started it all.  I hope I can keep writing, and not just for TWST for that matter! I have like... one non-TWST request sitting in my inbox and I’m really excited to work on it xD

*please do not read if you haven’t read “i can hold the world in my hands” ver i - vi.

This was actually inspired by a prompt of the same name in a different fandom. I’m pretty sure it was Fire Emblem, but I can’t seem to find or remember which blog posted about it. When I saw that nobody had written it for TWST yet, and because I was pretty impatient, I went full Thanos and thought: “fine I’ll do it myself.” xD

Whenever I type ‘hold’ it autocorrects to (ʘ‿ʘ)ノ✿. It’s one of those keyboard short cut things on my phone that somehow is also on my laptop lmao. So this series was pretty difficult to right because ‘hold’ kept changing to (ʘ‿ʘ)ノ✿ 

For ver i, the order of writing was something like Riddle, Leona, Azul, Malleus, Kalim, Idia and Vil.

Riddle was super easy for this prompt, honestly. I wanted it to be incredibly cute, and the best way to do that was to just... fluster him. 

I tried to be very descriptive for this one. I wanted his surprise to be the highlight of this story. I especially enjoyed differentiating the red on Riddle’s face hahah--from pretty shade of red to furious HAHA.

Riddle strikes me as a super logical type. So he really won’t believe it’s possible until you show him how to hold the world. He also sees it as very high praise--that to think--you saw him as your world. Every time he thinks about it, he probably goes beet red. 

When I wrote Leona’s part, I was still actually pretty iffy with him. I’ve noted before that he was far from my favourite hahah. However, just because that’s how I felt, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do my hardest to give him justice. Looking back on this piece, I appreciate it a lot because Leona’s definitely got a soft spot in my heart now--this piece being one such catalyst that made me appreciate him more. 

One of my primary concerns with this piece, was not only ensuring that I did him justice, but also to make sure that none of my personal feelings affected how i wrote Leona. I like to think I was pretty successful--as I read it now, I wonder how I could’ve actually disliked Leona at any point. (I MEAN... that ending IS PRETTY THIRSTY. I wonder what I was thinking kFKFK)

Leona... is another logical one, and he’s not going to be patient with you. So he’s just going to immediately call out the impossibility of “holding the world in your hands.” However, when you do talk about what you actually mean... Leona would actually be moved. He loves how you acknowledge him--that you see him. 

The Azul piece was written closely after I had watched the entirety of Octavinelle, and I could see all my thirst for the Octavinelle trio on it. That’s right, from the very beginning, I loved to enjoy hinting at Poly!Octavinelle. I’ll likely continue to hint it actually... unless requested otherwise. 

Azul has one of the biggest praise kinks around (Riddle and Jamil have it too), and of course something as sweet as “i can hold the world in my hands” is going to set Azul off running for his octopus pot. Also, he cries very easily--like when he’s too happy and too sad. Azul’s story in this is definitely my favourite, because I just genuinely had such a good time working on it. 

His reaction--his affection for you is likely to lead him to listen to what you have to say first before saying anything else. That’s why unlike Riddle and Leona, he actually heard you out instead of telling you immediately that what you’re saying “is impossible.” 

This prompt and Kalim worked really well honestly. Kalim is just so much positivity, so writing his reaction to this was so easy, and it flowed so much quicker than I thought it would. 

Kalim... honestly, he wrote himself hAHAH. It was easy to know that he’d immediately try to say it back to you--because he’s that sweet. Also, I quoted “A Whole New World” in this story. I wonder if anyone spotted it. 

His reaction--well, it was obvious that he would believe you without a doubt. xD Sure he probably knows it’s not possible, so he’s more than willing to hear you out on it. 

Because Vil was a model, I thought to approach this piece in a, “what can I say that he hasn’t heard yet?” I also wanted to approach this with a certain sensitivity--to Vil’s job as a model. The importance of respecting his craft, sort of thing.

Vil so far... has just been portrayed as being perfect. He’s good looking, he’s smart, he’s charismatic...so it’s obvious to everyone that there’s something deeper to him that we haven’t gotten to see yet. This makes it difficult to write him, because we haven’t gotten Pomefiore’s chapter yet. 

Vil is someone who I figure would be smart enough to wonder if you’re speaking in a metaphorical or literal sense. I can’t remember where it’s mentioned, but if I remember correctly--Vil considers being intelligent a part of being beautiful too. (I’m so genuinely excited for Pomefiore’s chapter because I need to sink my hands into all that lore). 

The reason I think Idia is much easier to write compared to Vil is because he exemplifies the introverted gamer trope so much. His personality is so clear cut, and loud. 

Idia is also pretty fun to write, because of the way he regards the world, and how he sort of deals with everything around him.

For Idia’s reaction, I figured he’d tend to go for gamer terms, hence he thought you could code too lmao. He also tended to process things as if his life is a game, hence his thought process as he figured out what you were trying to say. 

Malleus, because of both his age and prowess, strikes me as the type of person who could do every single type of magic with barely a blink. That’s why I thought to use that as the primary theme for his story.

I thought it would be adorable if you told Malleus, you could do something he couldn’t. Which, as you can see in Malleus’s thoughts--you are a powerful influence to him as well. You could perhaps, destroy the world, if you told Malleus it made you unhappy. 

Malleus’s reaction... he’d humor you, but at the same time, he’d be the one to gently attempt to tell you it’s impossible. If he couldn’t do it, how could you? Of course... he’s quickly corrected. 

Ver ii was written in the order it was arranged! Quite a rarity for me. So Deuce first, followed by Jade, Floyd then Silver. I consider version ii as the one stuffed with personal favourites hahah. Though... Deuce was actually written for my editor hahha. 

I wanted Deuce’s piece to be both funny and cute since it was dedicated to our very hardworking editor hahaha. 

Of course Deuce would not immediately understand what you were trying to say hahaha. Look... he thought the unfertilized eggs would turn into chicks. 

The decision to make him say it back, was fueled by the fact that Deuce is an all around nice guy--he’d definitely want to return the favour. 

The Jade one was really just written for my sake hAHHA. I wrote it because I was super smitten with Jade. I always wrote Jade as the type of lover who enjoyed to pamper the hell out of his partner. This could often make it feel like he’s the one doing everything in the relationship.

That became the primary way I wanted to approach this story, by once more--making it about the reader doing something for Jade, or essentially showing him how much he meant to the reader. I also wanted to find a way to make Jade blush. 

Much like Azul, he’s willing to humor/hear you out first before saying anything else. He’s always interested in what you have to say, and he enjoys your more unpredictable opinions. 

Honestly, who wouldn’t want to cuddle with Floyd? He (and Jade) probably give the best hugs. 

My thoughts for this, was--when would be the best time to tell Floyd something like that? You wanted him calm enough to actually listen to you, so I figured it be when he was particularly sad and in need of cheering up.

On another note, I felt like Floyd isn’t really the type to listen nor care about you saying such a statement. You only really get all his attention when you explain to him what you mean. 

I’m so biased to Octavinelle, I’m so sorry hAHAH. But honestly, it happened by complete accident that both their stories happened in the bedroom ( ͡º ͜ʖ ͡º) 

Silver is... aesthetically very pleasing. However, there’s little we know of him so I also had a lot of difficulty writing for him. That being said, because he was a character who fell asleep pretty quickly, I of course thought it would be incredibly cute to have the “lap pillow” situation happen. 

For this piece, I thought to talk about my worry for Silver. That he falls asleep just anywhere is a little scary. He fell asleep in a place as noisy as the courtyard... so I thought to express that worry through the reader for this piece. 

Silver does, however, strike me as the type of person to always listen to you first before making a judgement. That’s why upon being told that you could hold the world, he’ll listen to you first. 

Ver iii was just solely Jamil! 

Jamil is another one of those characters who prefer to do the pampering instead of being pampered. So I thought to write a reader who was grateful, and wanted to show their appreciation to him.

For this piece, I also really wanted to fluster the hell out of Jamil. I mean, who doesn’t like making the calm, controlled one blush? It’s insanely cute.

While Jamil does say he doesn’t believe in it, he is always willing to hear you out. 

Ver iv is Ruggie, Rook and Lilia! I think Lilia was written first, followed by Ruggie then Rook. 

For Ruggie... I think I was a little stumped on how to write him. So I think I searched up how hyenas greeted each other. Apparently, they sniffed each other. So I thought it would be cute that Ruggie liked to scent you. 

I made him get a little jealous because Floyd’s very affectionate--even if you aren’t in a relationship with him. 

Ruggie--I thought would give you the benefit of the doubt--and think that there was actually magic in your world hahah. Until you tell him what you truly meant.

I’ve probably said this a billion times at this point, but god is Rook hard to write for hahah. Nevertheless, I keep writing him anyways because I enjoy the challenge. 

I thought that Rook’s story becomes the opposite to Ruggie’s, wherein the reader is the one who wants to ensure that Rook is also looking/paying attention to them, 

Rook wasn’t actually paying attention to you when you were saying “i can hold the world in my hands”, he only really does notice when you repeat it twice. He’s a guy I think you have to be firm with, if you want to get your point across.

Lilia is a character that I’m sure is pretty self-assured, and aware of what he wants. This means, that he’s actually a pretty huge tease to the other person in the relationship. This isn’t necessarily a romantic headcanon either. I can see him teasing his friends too.

I also highlighted immortality again, how Lilia is rarely surprised. That you are capable of surprising him means a lot to him actually. 

Lilia, I think, is the type of person who is willing to lean new things from people younger than him. That’s why when you state you can hold the world, he’s willing to believe you. 

Ver v is Trey!

Say it with me everyone, Trey is the sexiest student at NRC lmao. That smirk??? of his??? SENDS ME? It’s also why I made him smirk so much in this. Hey, I had to feed myself too.

How could I forget Trey? Trey is the third person in the “i will pamper the hell out of my lover” with Jade and Jamil. Trey would be another one who actually enjoys teasing the hell out of you too.

Trey is another one who won’t believe you, but will be willing to hear you out because you’re just so cute, and he wants to hear what you think.

Ver vi is Ace, Jack, Epel and Sebek. I think I wrote Ace, then Sebek, Jack with Epel being the last one. 

Ace strikes me as a typical charismatic tease tbh. Like, he’s popular, and well known for being a troublemaker but everyone likes him anyways.

He’s not a person who blushes easily, so I think you really have to catch him unaware for him to blush. 

He’s the type of person to say something mean, then immediately apologize and retract it when he sees that it hurts you. So he’s normally blunt, but then back tracks. 

Jack isn’t a very affectionate person--neither is he the type to tell you how much he appreciates you. I believe it’s something you have to learn in the way he acts (aka, how hard he’s wagging his tail haha).

I think for a relationship with Jack, you have to really reach out to him because he doesn’t quite know how to reach back to you. Like he’ll certainly try, but he’s easily embarrassed... hence why I wrote him the way I did. 

Jack, once you told him you could ‘hold the world’ was initially confused, but sees no reason to not believe you unless you prove otherwise... essentially xD

Epel... super difficult as always. I wanted to talk about how he wasn’t very happy with how he looked. How he wanted to change himself. It was a topic I was worried about, because if mishandled, it would just leave a sour taste in people’s mouths.

I wanted to make the reader someone who wanted Epel to love himself, to accept his beauty and to use it as a source of strength. I want Epel to be comfortable in his own skin, and be able to use it to his advantage. This was really inspired by Lilia’s SR Lab Coat episodes actually. 

The reader is someone conscious about Epel’s struggles, and they want to get one thing across to Epel: that he can be beautiful and strong at the same time. Just because the may seem opposite, doesn’t mean they cannot coexist. 

Sebek... I feel like I discussed how I felt about Sebek some time ago. Essentially... I think that Sebek is someone who, in a romantic relationship, has to make a choice. His devotion and single minded adoration to Malleus makes him challenging to write romantically for. 

Unlike the other readers, Sebek’s uses the prompt to prove a point to him--that they chose him. Could he chose them too?

At the end, it’s not really about choosing one person, it’s more like--can Sebek understand the importance of being in a relationship? Can he understand that what you might share with him has value? Really, a question about his priorities. 

[sohannabarberaesque]

“Underwater America with Peter Potamus” (episode 5: Monterey Bay, California)

Herewith, another contrived transcript for another episode of Underwater America with Peter Potamus, imagined as a syndicated documentary series in the early 1970′s where Peter Potamus leads a crew of close friends in a series of SCUBA-diving misadventures to demonstrate the fun and friendship inherent in SCUBA.

[The inevitable corny aerial view of the Monterey Peninsula and Monterey Bay to open the show, with a rather reechy-sounding--perhaps 78 rpm--rendering of “In Old Monterey” to try and evoke attraction to the scene, when--]

PETER POTAMUS, standing near Point Lobos and with a decent view of the Lone Cypress in the background: I’ve heard it been said that the waters off Monterey, where I’m standing now, are something of a paradise for the diving fraternity, rivalled only by Catalina Island. Admittedly chilly by virtue of location, but just picturing our diving company in such waters ought to be rather interesting in and of itself ... particularly considering where yours truly happens to be rather fat himself ...

[Whereupon we find the three lupines of the company, Loopy De Loop, Hokey Wolf and Mildew Wolf, come up on set almost unbidden ...]

HOKEY WOLF, going into Sgt. Bilko-type histrionics: Uh, Peter, if I understand it correctly, doesn’t Point Lobos translate as “Wolf Point” from the Spanish?

PETER POTAMUS: Now that you mention it, Hokey ... indeed, it does. And it’s rather interesting to note that Point Lobos is one of the better spots on the California coast for beach-based diving. After all, getting a dive boat anchored in the middle of the kelp forests offshore without digging up kelp when the anchor comes up is probably a crazy sort of scenario to be imagined ... 

LOOPY DE LOOP, trying not to get obnoxious in the “charm offensive”: Yet I believe we were reading somewhere heading up that you’ve got some rather diverse marine life here--sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, grouper, sea bass,--

PETER POTAMUS: Point taken, Loopy! [Trying to get back to rational--] Steinbeck aside, what with Cannery Row itself in decline, Point Lobos was chosen for the dive here in Monterey Bay because, as Loopy pointed out, you’ve got such diversity of sea life to be had in a beach-entry diving scenario. And yet you don’t want to look ridiculous entering the water in a normal sort of manner, especially when it’s chilly (generally 50-60 degrees the year round) and yet you want to be natural for the most part ...

[The action goes into a sort of “flashback” during a breakfast session in a diner not far from the Cannery Row district, which, at the time this show is imagined as in production, was down but to one operating cannery in contrast to the half-dozen such running when John Steinbeck’s novel came out in 1945.]

Over breakfast, which is how our crew likes planning dive misadventures--no doubt including much in the way of coffee (although Wally Gator prefers orange juice)--

WALLY GATOR, explaining: I’m one with a rather tender stomach for coffee, and besides, being the Florida type myself, I’d rather prefer OJ for my breakfasts, don’t you know?!

PETER POTAMUS, getting back to track: --we do a little research from dive-spot maps picked up at a decent little dive shop down the way. Not to mention the waitresses, one of whom is a regular Monterey Bay diver and acknowledges some experience with the local waters....

JILL, the waitress in question: I was rather stunned to find such a diving party as a hippo, three wolves, a gorilla, a polar bear, an alligator, a lion, a hyena and an octopus as underwater cameraman at breakfast ... but I admit to having much acquaintenance with Point Lobos as a dive spot, so I felt like recommending it.

[Onward to the preparations, which include not just the gearing up and the safety lecture, but also some advice on dealing with the colder waters than accustomed to in previous dives--and on the beach, at that!]

PETER POTAMUS: And so it was on Point Lobos that we assembled for an early evening sort of dive. Not unlike the late-afternoon sort of scenario which surfers call “the evening glass,” which finds milder water temperatures and calmer seas. As well as clearer waters, but still, expect Monterey Bay to be as chilly. [Several divers getting ready to leave take notice of such an anthro diving party suiting up, and must be rather perplexed themselves] And as it’s one of those “beach entry” sort of dive spots, we walk in backwards, just to make sure we enter on the safe side of things ...

[The dive-in ... taking underwater ballet-type entrances to sillier and sillier extremes, or maybe not. And it’s in the middle of a major kelp grove such as Point Lobos is legendary for in the diving world]

BREEZLY BRUIN, taking stock of the dive some time later: Just picturing such massive kelp plants, their stalks approaching the surface of the water ... you don’t find such off Alaska these days, let alone some giant crab....

MAGILLA GORILLA, likewise: How exactly it is that I took up with Peter Potamus’ crowd and joined such a crazy diving troupe is anybody’s guess ... especially after the near-fiasco with the surfer crowd at Gremmie Gulch, if you still remember that one. But for a gorilla like myself, sensing such spectacular kelp groves as these has got to be something new.

[We soon can discern Peter Potamus pointing out a surprising-looking underwater cave about 30 feet down, which finds a couple of sea otters at play as if guarding the cave for some reason otherwise mysterious]

PETER POTAMUS, commenting on the discovery: I could never get too much over this moment of a couple of rather playful sea otters, part of a rather substantial colony which inhabits Monterey Bay, acting as if they were guards to some underwater treasure not otherwise known among the diving crowd here ... but somehow, those sea otters, once hunted almost to extinction for fur pelts, can get to be rather likable critters.... ohhh, here comes one such, pointing out a bed of abalone shells somehow interesting-looking ...

And we could never get over such oversized kelp groves, reminding me of those giant redwood trees in Yosemite and further northward in California, past San Francisco even ... [Witness the sheer astonishment of all in the party at such a kelp forest as they never experienced before, not even off Catalina ... and with twilight coming on, time to surface ... eventually to find our party hilariously reacting to a warm-up fire in a fire pit at a park near Point Lobos beach, with some chicken stock heated up as well]

I must certainly admit, though, for the experience, Point Lobos would have to be the kind of dive stretching all possible adjectives just to describe such diversity of marine life ... even when a couple of sea otters jealously looking like guards to an Aladdin’s Cave of sorts underwater turn out being playful. Even if one such tried to bite at my finger, which, thankfully, was gloved.

[And even as twilight descends on Monterey Bay, the Lone Cypress can still be discerned in clear view, a sort of sentinel of the Monterey Bay experience ... even as the whole pans out aerially to find the last sunset rays discerning in the waters of Monterey Bay and the Pacific to finish out this episode.]

[facepalming-since-chernobyl]

Sumbission

Thanks for replying to my submission.  Funny thing, you took so long to do it that I thought you got sick of the topic and deleted it lol.  Which is cool.  If you’re tired of talking about it, feel free to delete this too.

Since you did reply though, I just want to reply to a few things.  I agree with Peggy that I don’t believe the writers hated Mon El for two years.  The Kreisberg excuse has no bearing on what happened to him.  Look, here’s an example: after the Harvey Weinstein debacle, do you think the writers/producers of his projects took their hate of him out onto his projects?  Why would they?  It makes no sense.

So why such a difference between s2 Mon El and s3 Mon El?  It’s not because they hated him, it’s because they’re shitty writers who got painted into a corner because of the Mon El hate and let it negatively affect what they did with him in s3,hence making a total fucking mess.  s2 Mon El wasn’t written like anyone hated him, he was spoiled but also funny, goofy and genuinely loving and along the way he evolved into a wannabe hero who fell in love and Kara fell back in love with him too.  What part of that seems like he written from writers who hated him?  Not only that, but you can’t blame it on Kreisberg being there either, he was a producer, not the writers, he didn’t write the scripts so you can’t say Kreisberg is why s2 Mon El was written like that.  I doubt Kreisberg stood over the writers and pointed a gun to their heads saying to write Mon El in that way or else.  The far more logical explanation to me is the writers wrote him that way because they planned to make him a hero and eventual endgame for Kara.  

So why s3 Mon El and the total pile of shit with the way he was written then?  Because not only did scs make their lives hell with the constant barraging of complaining, nastiness and hate, but they also got hate from Sanvers shippers and the moron “feminists” who screamed bloody murder at Kara getting ANY love interest, saying it made her weak, an anti-feminist, and all that BS.  A smart group of writers would’ve just rolled their eyes and kept on with their original plan [to make Mon El a hero and karamel endgame] and muted the bullies or better yet blocked them but these idiots writers literally believed with all the immensely vocal morons screaming over and over that that’s what all the fans wanted.  They tried to rehabilitate Mon El to placate the moron/bully trifecta - they fucked it up not because they hated Mon El but because they got painted into a corner and so came out their weak, shitty writing, not realizing instead of making Mon El look better to the bullies, they were actually making him look worse - and all they did was piss off karamel/Mon El fans but I can assure you that wasn’t their intention.  They didn’t realize the real hate of Mon El was ship-related and they thought the turgid mess that was s3 would make Mon El acceptable to the bullies, which of course it wasn’t acceptable to anyone.  In the end, who knows what happened?  Maybe they gave up and decided it wasn’t worth it to deal with the psychos and just wrote him off BADLY.  Or maybe Chris had had enough, decided to go.  Insert your favorite conspiracy theory here, Area 51 peeps need not apply.

Anyway, one last thing for people who think fans have no say in how a show is run, trust me, they’ve always had a say even back in the days when there was no social media.  Some writers listen more to fans than others but these days, everyone monitors the fan reactions on social media with every show.  There have been many shows who’ve basically kept characters around they never meant to JUST because they’re so popular with fans.  The actor playing the youngest kid from One Day at a Time basically took over all the storylines.  Steve Urkel in Family Matters was meant to be a one-time guest star, and he basically became THE star of the show.  When the writers realized Will on Alias was getting so much hate, they admitted in an interview they retooled the entire character because of it.  I remember the funniest comment of that era coming from an online fan who posted a huge rant about him online and ended it with the line that everyone quoted for a while “And BUY THE BOY A HAIRBRUSH!” (they were complaining about his hair).  But I digress.  And of course Felicity Smoak was never meant to be Oliver’s love interest either till she developed a fan following, I’m pretty sure Laurel Lance was supposed to be his initial endgame.  Point being, I don’t think Mon El was gotten rid of because of nothing but fan hate.  But I definitely do think it was a huge factor in how they ended up writing him in s3 and it’s also why they’ve gotten to the point where they’re afraid to even breathe a word of him now.  Anytime they do, the hyenas go batshit crazy.  And we all know how afraid of the hyenas they are, hence also why SG has become the Luthor hour now.  

Thanks again for putting up with another submission from me.   :)

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

Yeah, sorry. As I said I’m on fence with this topic. One day I think that, the next this blah blah.

I guess I didn’t make myself clear. I don’t think they hated him because of AK, I think they just didn’t like his character as a whole, a frat boy from Daxam, LI for Kara instead of James etc. But the whole AK drama helped them. There was something about that they could not use AK’s ideas after they kicked him out. I have heard Legion was his baby (while Reign was Queller’s) and they had to changed things. And comparing Legion 3B storyline with 3A storyline – it makes absolutely no sense, there are missing parts, ignored things and simply dumb things – I think, personally, there is some germ of truth in it. Also, well AK was a face of Arrowverse and I don’t think he had at that time other projects. And he is not Weinstein (fuck him very much) league.

Well, they couldn’t have written him differently in s2, because they were supervised. Also, writers can’t openly write their characters like they hate them, because it’s not professional. No writer can admit that, it’s like a say sayonara to your career. We can talk about Dark Angel and Supernatural and about writers who hated characters. Small things. Like writing a dialogue about microagression that haters can twist. Also, you want to tell me executive producers just allow the writers to write anything they want? Plus, I need to check how many writers were changed between s 2 and 3 to have some, hmm, clearer picture.

And I think we didn’t understand each other. I don’t think s2 Mon-El was a problem or that he was written like writers didn’t like him. Problem started in s3. After AK left and Queller and Rowner got more power.

In s2 yes, but in s3 he was written as an end game bait. Imo.

The hate probably was the factor, but just one of many. The same goes for my “writers hated him and karamels”. I don’t think it was the only one possibility (did I sound like that earlier? Sorry).

We all know what fucking FANSERVICE is. It basically killed Teen Wolf and sooo many other shows. When writers and producers become fan’s bitches, you know show is going to drown in shit :’)

But you know, there is fanservice when people demand something JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT SOMETHING, and there is change in plan when something simply doesn’t work. There is fine line between fanservice and throwing away not working plan.

(They were hating on poor Will? Thank god I was not in the fandoms back then xD)

Anyway, all we do here is speculating. Basically I agree with you, just with different proportions. And we won’t know the truth. Maybe in 20 years when some of the writers will write autobiography :P

Thanks for the submission :D

[welcometoteamz]

I’ve ranted about what I didn’t like in iZombie S4 and what I would do differently, but tbh, I would go back and apply a lil bit in S3 tbh as well.Most of it involves my trash boi Blaine.

I had multiple verses set during the year long hiatus between S2 and S3 where I wrote Blaine’s amnesia as being legitimate. That said, I’ve made my peace with the fact it became a lie. It honestly makes more sense for him to try to turn his life around, but get caught in a lie and fuck it up for himself due to his own insecurities and fear of rejection. I’ll stand firm on that.

Which is why the reveal of having him be the one steal the cure irritates me.It’d honestly would have more tragic if he still tried to behave himself even after his lie was exposed, and it was the hit from Angus that dragged him back into his old life after he got his retribution.The fact he was with Peyton while lying is no doubt problematic and I’m mad at them for getting me on board with that and then pulling the rug out from under me... but in my mind?He was still going to try and start anew even if she chose Ravi. If Ravi hadn’t slept with Katty Kupps, and Pavi sailed in S3, and Blaine continued to be a lounge singer while working at Shady Plots…I think he would have been content.

Which goes into ways he could have gotten out of his lie, which someone as cunning as Blaine should have thought about.Like. Why not get out of the lie, with another lie? Say that Ravi’s memory serum works? That way Major is injected with both at the same time, and no one suspects anything is afoot when his memories came back? Then they do the same thing to all the other zombies when it is possible to mass produce the cure.Blaine gets his fresh start, a new job, and to be happy with Peyton.

Sure, he loses the brain business, but I think he’d give all that up for being actually truly content and happy. Let’s not forget, that was the same episode Angus took his inheritance back. Had that not happened, would that be something Blaine would have done? Knowing that even if he didn’t have the business, he had those millions to fall back on? I think so.Going back to his stealing the cure, though… and why that doesn’t entirely work for me…

Let’s be honest. There was a lot of inconsistency. At the end of episode six Blaine apparently is cooking up blue brain juice, and you may think ok, he is still thinking about the brain business. It may be possible he stole the cures after all.

The very next episode, though. He was in a depressed funk. He had caring about the business when he was in his depressed funk. Candy had to get on him about the orders. When Don E. and Dino show up at Shady Plots to tell him they’re taking his brain supply and customers, he’s visibly angry, but also looks defeated before Dino shoots him. Like he’s just so broken down at that point that he’s just accepted it. Would that guy even have bothered to steal the cures, if he didn’t care about the business?

Hell, if you hadn’t seen the prior episode, would you have thought that Blaine bothered to cook up blue brain juice before going to drunkenly sing at his lounge gig?It’s not until his sense of self preservation kicks in when he’s shot, that he has a sense of what to do with himself. First things first, that’s revenge.

Then he discovers Angus’ plan to team up with Fillmore-Graves (WHICH DOESN’T EVEN COME INTO PLAY AT ALL IN S4 WHEN FUCKFACE RETURNS. NO ONE CALLS HIM OUT ON HATING FILLMORE-GRAVES, REMINDING HIM OF HIS PLAN. HOW AWESOME WOULD IT HAVE BEEN IF THIS WAS EXPOSED TO HIS CHURCH AND THEY TORE HIM APART LIKE THE HYENAS DID SCAR IN THE LION KING) and that’s what reinvigorates him.

Now there are two tangents I could go into here. So I will.

The first is how Blaine’s storyline in the back half of S3 may have suffered due to Andrea Savage leaving the show for her own series, I’m Sorry. It’s possible we would have seen her and Blaine face off if she learned he presumably killed her husband Harrison.Which. Is an issue I have with S4 as well. Chase is Harrison’s brother. He works with Blaine.

Upon meeting him, he would be smart enough and would easily be able to figure out that Blaine was the OG brain supplier and would have been the one to kill his brother.Once he no longer needed Blaine, i.e. was done with his blackmail? He would have put him in the guillotine. I expected this, honestly. I expected Blaine to pull the same card he pulled on Liv in S1. That without him, they have a zombie apocalypse on their hands. There was a brain shortage prior to the outbreak when Blaine approached him in the S3 finale. In S4 it’s even worse than it was then. There’s even a plot about Major tracking down watered down brain tube dealers.

Chase is a proud man, he wouldn’t have gone back to Blaine automatically… but after the US Government cuts off the brain supply in the finale, Major enlists Blaine to increase his operations.You don’t think that in the middle of the brain shortage crisis, Chase would have bitten the bullet and remembered Blaine’s proposal? Ok, at this point, you’re probably asking yourself. “Mmhm, okay, so maybe that’s a better plot for Blaine… but then who did steal the cures?”

Osborn Oates.

Don’t remember him? Yeah, neither do any of the characters, apparently.He was the guy who was Natalie’s captor. Who apparently had the the influence to bribe Max Rager guards under Vaughn Du Clark’s nose. He was described by Ravi as being like a Bond villain.Natalie warns Major that wherever he goes, he’ll find her, but then… he doesn’t. She travels the world. He doesn’t track her down. Even when she herself would have been vulnerable and amnesiac.He doesn’t even try to track down Major and find out what he knows, or if he was responsible for her escape. We know he is aware of Major. Major and Ravi followed he and his body guard.His body guard even checked Ravi’s morgue ID, and would have known where the cures were kept had he known about the cures.

Which… I think, Natalie might have told him about, in an effort to barter her freedom.Remember when we first met her? She said that since she was paid in brains by Blaine, who had become her pimp after turning her, that she ran through her savings and was broke.Yet… when she returns in S3, she tells Major that she traveled the world and had a place in Italy that she got thanks to her savings earned as sex worker.So… what is the truth?

I don’t want to speculate about a villainous lying Natalie. I actually liked her character, and she was certainly victimized and I don’t want to take away from that at all. Given her desperate situation though, might she have made some choices out of self preservation? Her own best interest?I think there was more to the Natalie situation than we got. I think it suffered because they went from 19 episodes in season 2 back to a 13 episode order. I don’t know if her exit had more to do with propelling Major’s character’s decisions, or if because Natalie’s actress Brooke Lyons had gotten work as a series regular on the show Life Sentence. Maybe a bit of both?

Maybe they did plan to kill her at the end of the arc, but the arc happened sooner than anticipated due to the shortened season? Knowing that they’d be losing her, they couldn’t carry that thread over to S4? So instead they just dropped Osborn Oates, and over the summer Rob Thomas decided to change it to Blaine in S4 because no one would question it?

Sorry Rob, I question it. You said in post S3 interviews that you planned to reveal who stole the cures in the finale, but there was no time so you’d get to it in S4.Really? That’s why? No time? If you had the time, how would it have come into play? The way it did come into play was Blaine seeking out Mama Leone, because Chase was blackmailing him. Are you telling me Chase would have done so in the S3 finale? That you would have seeded Renegade as a plotline even then?

I’m calling bullshit.I think it’s far more likely that your plans fell through, and you needed the time over the hiatus to do a rewrite.Even if Natalie had nothing to do with the cures being stolen, if it was planned to be Blaine all along…

You kill her off, and she doesn’t even get to confront Blaine? They never have a scene together? He’s responsible for her being a zombie, which led to her being kidnapped, and then held hostage.Yet he helped Major find her when he could have pleaded ignorance. He gave him Oates’ address and let him know when he was back in town.

He didn’t have to do that. He could have said that it’s not the address on record, said “I guess Oates is thorough and has someone else handle his pickups” and Major wouldn’t have questioned him.

He could have elected not to tip Major off that he was back in town. To stay out of it. Had he done so? Major wouldn’t have been able to find Natalie and give her the cure when he did.I’m not saying this excuses Blaine of what he did to her at all, or that the two would have been “even” or made peace. Not at all. There is no retribution for what he did to her.It does however, go back to my belief he was legit trying to change.

As for why Chase never mentions or figures out Blaine killed his brother? Why wasn’t that a thing? Why didn’t we get more time to know Chase and see his conflict, rather than having it rushed to him buckling under the pressure of the job?

In hindsight, knowing what we do about the actor who played Blaine’s father… I kind of wish Chase had gotten that series regular promotion instead. What did the Angus stuff really add to the season, at the end of the day? Blaine would have taken Major’s deal regardless, whether or not he was in debt. He would have done it just if it meant he wouldn’t be put in prison, and because he’d get a kick out of having Major at his mercy.

Which… he shouldn’t be in debt right now either... because now Angus is dead for real and he should have those millions. Or did he spend those millions, when he came back, to feed his flock? I imagine someone else took over his business, but he still had all his personal accounts.

At the end of the day, all the Brother Love stuff was just a bunch of filler. You know what would have been interesting? If Brother Love used Enzo to reach out to those remaining dissenting Fillmore-Graves employees that Carey Gold told us existed but we never saw in S4. We saw corruption in S4 with Russ Roche, but the only real zombie supremacist within the organization was Enzo himself.

Speaking of which, what happened to Enzo? Did he die along with Angus’ flock? It seemed like they were building to a big finale that was going to be Angus’ church throwing a revolution against Fillmore-Graves, with Liv and her Renegade folks stuck in the middle.By the filming of the last episode, did they just decide they didn’t want to give Angus’ actor any more screentime than it would take to organically write him out? Cause his exit was anticlimactic. I mean, the actor didn’t deserve any more screentime. I wouldn’t want to see him on my screen, but...

It happened in a news report.Thing is though, I don’t know if that was why. I mean, they made Angus a regular, and he only interacted with each series regular save Blaine once. He interacted with Peyton in 3x03, before he was even a regular. His only conscious interaction with Major was when he and his squad checked out the church. He interacted with Liv when she and Levon went there seeing if he could help them get more brains. Another thing which is never touched upon after that episode.His only interaction with Ravi and Clive took place at the same time in the interrogation room

.Yet we had that whole subplot of that kid Tucker who was a zombie hater who became a Brother Love devotee after being kicked out of the Romero’s basement by Blaine? Okay, what happened to that kid? Did he die with the flock as well? We never saw him. We spent all that time with him, and why? Just so he could kill someone and Enzo could let him go, and pass word on to Angus?

…Enzo couldn’t have just approached Angus himself, after attending his sermon? Or did he feel like he needed to prove himself, considering Angus’ distrust of Fillmore-Graves? Ok, but then...

Again, Angus himself wanted to partner up with them in S3. Inconsistent. Yes, you could say he changed his mind after seeing their regime and how Chase led them. That he lost his mind in the well, which he did.…but in hindsight… given what they did with him, and the fact he was played by a man accused of multiple accounts of sexual assault?

I wish we hadn’t seen him come back at all. He should have been left in the well to turn into a Romero. Blaine should have just not fed him. All that extra screentime, we could have gotten Blaine vs Chase (in the wake of Vivian) with Liv caught in the middle and just trying to help people. Instead we got… a mess…

In my personal opinion.

[tjkiahgb]

Episode Recap: 2.19, “Andi’s Choice”

The episode begins with a cold open that’s a solid instructional video for good oral hygiene. Which is important. Take care of your teeth, folks. Always remember to floss.

It really has nothing to do with the plot of the episode, though, other than to inform us that Andi’s breath probably doesn’t stink in any of the scenes that follow.

Bowie and Jonah hang out at the music store talking about how Jonah didn’t go to the high pressure music audition. Jonah talks about how something came up and worries Andi doesn’t like him anymore. Bowie says last he heard, Andi thought he didn’t like her. But now Jonah really likes her. And Bowie wants to know if she knows that. And the answer to that, Bowie, is nobody knows. Maybe? Probably? Maybe.

Jonah says he bought her a gnome, and Bowie says “A gnome is nice...”

Counterpoint:

No.

Bowie knows something Andi would like, though: writing her a song. It’s also easy, he says. Just sing your feelings. Jonah says feelings? He says he doesn’t talk about his feelings, coming oh so close to really nailing the problem but still coming up empty.

If it makes Jonah feel better though, that doesn’t disqualify him from a successful career in music. There’s more than enough room on the market for another singer doing meaningless, catchy songs about nothing. Whoa. You didn’t come here for jokes about the state of the music industry, but you got ‘em anyway!

Bowie presses on. Talking about liking someone and them liking you back? That’s feelings! Bowie asks Jonah for a word that rhymes with back. Jonah says quack. Bowie asks for a non-duck word. Jonah says plaque. In fairness, Bowie didn’t stipulate that these words be any good.

Andi heads into The Spoon when Walker facetimes her. Andi explains how Buffy’s moving in a few days. Walker says if she can, get a bubble machine, it makes you happy.

But listen, I want to warn anyone considering this: rent, don’t buy a bubble machine. First, no one ever factors in the cost of maintenance for your bubble machine. But, second, the happiness bubbles give you reaches a level of diminishing returns very quickly. Sooner rather than later, you’re making excuses to use it just because you have it and you feel you need to. You take it out to the yard and turn it on, but the happiness is never the same. The bubbles float down to the earth and pop like so many unrealized dreams. Eventually you stop using it all together. It gathers dust in the closet. Things pile up on top of it. One day, you accidentally come across it and sigh. Where did the spark go? That old adage is an adage for a reason: the two best days of a bubble machine owner’s life are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.

Andi says she’s already got a bubble machine, and I think the fact we’ve seen how little use it gets throughout the course of this show proves my point.

Over at The Fringe, Bex is covering the store with sticky notes for free makeup appointments she’s got coming up.

Brittany tells her that they can’t do free makeup appointments anymore, things have been too slow around the store. Bex says she can’t just start charging for them, but, Bex, yes you can. Obviously you can. That was the point of getting your certificate of completion from the beauty school: to get paiiiiiiid. Frankly, it’s sort of nuts that you were going to do all of those for free. That’s so much makeup and time to just give away.

Hey, listen, I know I got in some trouble last week for talking about people’s choice of expression, but I have to say something again.

I hope those are earrings meant to look like screws and not real screws. The thought of Brittany jamming a real screw through her ear hole is making me wince. Do you twist it in? Could you use a screwdriver to do it? (Phillips head, clearly.) Also, she has to realize if she bumps the side of her head into something, she’s going to stab herself in the base of her skull. The risk of it all! I’m just going to assume they’re earrings. I need to to move on.

Brittany was close to laying Bex off, but she won’t now that Bex is the top rated cosmetologist on Whelp. Whelp: it’s the “Property” of internet review sites.

Property: Now With 40% Less Lead™

Brittany thinks Bex has left all those fake positive reviews for herself to increase her status among the local cosmetology ranks, but Bex hasn’t. Bex realizes Celia must’ve done it.

Buffy joins Andi and Cyrus at The Spoon with a box full of stuff they’ve left at her house.

She presents Andi with Noodle, which is clearly a stand-in for Tamagotchi, which made me wonder, do you kids still know what Tamagotchis are? I had one when I was a kid but only because we didn’t have smartphones back then that had whole worlds of much more interesting stuff than a stupid pixel-y digi-pet that would whine all the time and die constantly. I wouldn’t guess there’s any way a child of Andi’s age would’ve had one.

Andi realizes Noodle’s dead because she hasn’t fed him for seven years. A moment of silence for Noodle please.

♪ ♪ In the arms of the Angel ♪ ♪

Buffy then takes out a letter of recommendation Cyrus’s mom wrote on behalf of Cyrus when they were in the second grade, which is embarrassing, sure, but it’s also a strong letter. After reading that, I’d definitely consider adding him to my friend group. I’d need to see his résumé, first, of course, but a good letter of rec goes a long way.

Walker then shows up and for some reason Andi acts like a horse wearing a hat just walked into The Spoon: surprised and mildly upset?

It’s a weird reaction that gets carried over into the scene after the commercial.

Listen, Walker seems like a perfectly fine young man to me. Charming, if quirky, as artists can tend to be. But I feel like the show’s done him wrong by making some of his interactions play out stranger than they needed to be.

Like, I think the facetime convo from a few episodes ago was not meant to come off as stilted as it did. I think it’s the product of editing together two people who aren’t really having a conversation, especially because his interactions with her in real life were much more natural. (The facetime scene from earlier in this episode was better, but still not totally fluid. They probably should stop doing scenes like that as a general rule.)

And the reaction in this scene? I still have no idea what effect they were going for here.

Even after Walker has introduced himself to Cyrus and Buffy and they’re cool with him and happy to have him sketch them, Andi continues throughout this scene with this body language.

On Mack Chat, they suggested that while Walker is comfortable with Andi, she’s not as confident with him. Is she still trying to get a feel for his personality? I suppose it could be that. My best guess was it being guilt for going on a date with him while still being in limbo with Jonah? But again, I’m really not sure about the whole mood of the scene, at least from Andi’s perspective.

About the actual scene though, Walker introduces himself to Cyrus and Buffy as the caricature artist from the Bash Mitzvah, which, by the way, did we ever get an answer as to why the party planner or whoever hired a child to work a large Bar Mitzvah party? Then again, they also hired what, given what we know now, appears to be a fortune teller with legitimate psychic abilities.

She’s 3 for 3 on nailing Andi’s, Buffy’s, and TJ’s fortunes, and we won’t know about Cyrus’s fortune until he goes to college, so, her track record is perfect as far as I’m concerned.

All that considered, maybe hiring a child isn’t the weirdest thing.

Walker wanted to meet Buffy before she left and wanted to sketch the whole group as a going away present for her and so Cyrus leans in to what’s bound to be a long, uncomfortable pose for that.

At The Fringe, Zoe, a rival cosmetologist comes in looking for a fight. She thinks that Bex is using fake Whelp profiles to attack her business. She reads the fake name on the review and Brittany gasps and Zoe has determined that’s enough to take Bex to court and sue her. I disagree. Seems like flimsy evidence at best but what do I know, I’m only the assistant professor of law at Yale.

At the music store, Jonah rehearses his song for Andi. Jonah isn’t confident but Bowie tells him performing is all about confidence. He says the audience will know if you’re doubting yourself and then they’ll rip you to shreds like a pack of hyenas. Oh, by the way, you’re performing in front of an audience tomorrow.

Again, I’m but a humble professor of law at Yale, not a trained psychologist, but is treating panic attacks by trying to force the person experiencing them into constant high pressure situations a thing? I’m starting to feel like Bowie is not a trained psychologist, either.

Jonah reminds him he has panic attacks and Bowie says he won’t have them because he’ll be playing guitar. Jonah thinks maybe he should just go to Andi’s house late at night and throw a rock at her window and perform it for her like that. Bowie thinks that’s too cliché. I mean, in movies maybe. In real life, it wouldn’t be. It’s actually pretty rare in real life because it more often than not leads to too much broken glass and the police being called.

Plus, Bowie suggests, everything is so much cooler on a stage.

This somehow assuages Jonah of his fears.

The GHC gather to discuss Andi’s two-guy dilemma. Cyrus says Andi’s been keeping stuff from them, but it’s probably more that they haven’t really hung out together since “Perfect Day 2.0″ which was like a week ago in show-time?

Andi says Walker was just one date, but Buffy and Cyrus still think it’s a big deal. Cyrus says Andi’s life is a romcom now and he’s her “sassy friend Cyrus.”

Really feels like there’s an adjective missing there. “Sassy __ friend Cyrus.” Sassy something friend Cyrus. I can’t put my finger on what that word would be.

Buffy argues she’s Andi’s sassy friend. It’s kind of equal parts funny and sad that they both realize they’re the supporting characters of the Andi show. Things are getting real meta up in here.

Andi’s having a tough time figuring out how she feels about both Jonah and Walker. Cyrus says it’s a real job being her sassy friend. Almost like it’s a thing he has to do. Almost like he’s paid every week to be around Andi and get involved with what’s going on in her life. Like it’s a role he has to play. Like everything’s scripted. We’re all just pawns, moving where others tell us, saying words others write for us. This isn’t a house! It’s a set! Are we even real?! I’m freaking out here, man!

Anyway, Bex goes to talk to Celia about her reviews. Celia doesn’t want to take them down even though Bex is worried about being sued. Celia says no one’s going to sue Bex because all they would get is a used motorcycle and a punch card for a free taco, which is just a devastating slam.

The best slams on this show always seem to come off-handed.

Bex wants to succeed on her own. Celia will take down the reviews if Bex lets her help in other ways. Bex doesn’t want it, but Celia tells her she won’t get anywhere if she doesn’t think big and take action. She wants to know what’s next for Bex but Bex leaves.

Hey, I have a question. Why is The Spoon populated almost entirely by loose children?

Do none of these kids have parents who eat? Is The Spoon a daycare center?

Cyrus and Buffy continue to razz Andi about picking between Walker and Jonah when Jonah shows up to invite people to the show that night.

He tells the GHC about the open mic and invites them. He says he’s performing a song and everyone seems surprised. Andi didn’t know he sang or played guitar, but Jonah says he didn’t know either. As of a week ago he hadn’t ever picked up a guitar and now he’s performing original music on stage. Oh what a week it’s been!

At The Fringe, Bex has run out of sticky notes to make appointments on when Celia shows up in time with a day planner. Bex thanks her for the gift, but Celia says she has another gift: The Fringe. Bex is rightfully confused, but Celia says the business wasn’t doing well and it wasn’t even that much. This store is mostly full of the cheap stuff you win at a carnival and the walls are made of papier-mâché! I bought it with the loose cash I had rolling around in my purse!

Hey, where is Ham? Is he ok? I wonder how Ham feels about this. Buying a small, failing business. In this economy. Looks like they’re delaying traveling the world for another year.

Also, Bex couldn’t figure out to buy a planner for herself. She kept filling up the store with sticky notes until she ran out of them. That was her long term plan for that system. Anyway, here’s a small business to run.

Celia wants Bex to take action and this is action. Bex asks if Celia remembers promising to let Bex succeed on her own, and the way Celia says “No.” is perfect.

Also, she didn’t.

At the music store (Red Rooster Records, I’m going to try to commit this to memory eventually), there’s an accordion girl on stage and she is, no lie, killing it.

They say accordions are only for old mustached men to play at romantic Italian restaurants and Weird Al Yankovics, but don’t listen to them. I love what you’re doing. You go, Accordion Girl.

Jonah, intimidated by the other acts, heads backstage to talk to Bowie. He’s nervous, but Bowie says he was nervous before performing, too. He got over it by finding Bex in the audience and singing to her.

Jonah asks if he should look at Bex while he sings.

“Explain this to me as if I was a Golden Retriever in a boy suit.”

“What?”

“Nothing. No reason.”

Bowie tells him to look at Andi and that he’s got this.

Meanwhile, on stage, Accordion Girl finishes with a heck of a flourish and not a single philistine in the audience throws her a damn rose. Shame on them all.

Bowie comes out and introduces Jonah. Jonah gets out there with his guitar and sort of sits around awkwardly. Things are looking bad.

Then he starts playing. It’s going alright, but then he looks at Andi and does start getting into it.

The GHC start realizing this might be about Andi.

(The song is actually pretty sweet. And Asher performs it well.)

The performance goes well and Jonah gets applause as the open mic ends. People start filing out. Buffy touches Andi’s shoulder and I’m thinking DON’T DO THAT!

You’re going to rip the pearls off!

Jonah asks Bowie how it went, but Bowie directs him towards Andi for his answer.

Andi walks up to Jonah, grabs his hand, and gives him a kiss and the episode ends with them smiling at one another.

So... I guess this is going to be the worst thing I ever say on this blog, but... I didn’t hate that.

If you aren’t a Jandi fan, I wouldn’t panic too much. I very much doubt this is the final iteration of that relationship.

The show is about change and growth. First season Jandi obviously wasn’t going to work because both Andi and Jonah weren’t in an honest place. Andi was trying to change herself too much to make Jonah happy. Jonah was everybody’s friend, carefree Jonah Beck who doesn’t have labels.

This version is better, but still not quite there. Jonah still has trouble confronting his feelings and is definitely leaning too hard on a relationship to fix things. Andi, at least, is more comfortable being herself with him.

But for things to advance anywhere plot-wise, this needs to happen. They have to figure out what works and doesn’t work: with relationships, with themselves. Maybe this will be the beginning of the last version of Jandi, or maybe it’ll eventually return and be endgame. Who can say? But the only way to know is to try.

As much as I joked about Bowie pushing Jonah too much, too fast with the music, there’s a certain wisdom to the idea of just getting on stage and going for it. There are certain things you don’t learn until you test the idea yourself.

[formerprincess]

A tale written with fangs and claws || Chapter 50

Chapters: 50/? Fandom: Teen Wolf (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Liam Dunbar/Theo Raeken, Corey Bryant/Mason Hewitt Characters: Liam Dunbar, Theo Raeken, Mason Hewitt, Corey Bryant, Nolan (Teen Wolf) Additional Tags: Alpha Liam Dunbar, Slow Build, Friends to Lovers, Dunbar Pack, Bisexual Liam Dunbar, Werewolf Theo Raeken, Alpha Theo Raeken, Canon-Typical Violence, Smut, Mates, Liam and Theo are mates, Top Theo Raeken, Bottom Theo Raeken, Top Liam, Bottom Liam Dunbar Series: Part 1 of Morning Dew Pack

New adversaries show their faces in town and the core pack gets some valuable insight from no other than Peter Hale himself. In the end, Liam has to make a decision that breaks his heart.

Liam came down the stairs and made his way over to the coffee maker to fill himself a cup full of the tasty drink. The only other person in the kitchen was Nolan who sat perched at the kitchen island and read a magazine.  “Good morning,” Liam greeted. “Morning,” Nolan replied but continued to read. Out of curiosity, Liam glanced at the article that had captured his friend’s attention so much.  “20 signs he’s into you?” He read out loud and Nolan jumped. He dropped the magazine (one of Sadie’s as Liam realized) on the counter and squeaked. “I was just curious!” “About what exactly? How you detect someone liking you?”  Nolan looked like he really wanted to lie but then decided to be honest instead. He sighed gravely. “Yeah.”

Liam narrowed his eyes. Now he was on a case since he remembered a similar talk a few days prior. “Is there someone you would want to like you?” “Maybe,” Nolan said evasively.  “And is this somebody a tall werewolf who works in a flower shop?” Nolan squeaked again. “Are you that good or do you have cameras around? Or is it in my chemosignals? Please don’t say it’s the latter because that would mean he can smell it too and I would probably die of embarrassment!”  “Relax! Your chemosignals are fine. I’m just that good.” Liam grinned. “To be fair, I was just assuming and you confirmed I was right.” “Oh.” Nolan looked stunned. “You got sneaky!” Liam chuckled and shrugged. “Sorry, not sorry. So you like Brett. That’s awesome. You should absolutely ask him on a date.” “Hah! Hah! No!” Nolan shook his head. “If he says No I will be humiliated and would have disturbed the pack dynamic. No way, Jose!” “And if he says yes?” Nolan shook his head again. “Nope. My imagination is not big enough for that!” “Oh my god!" Liam could not with these two. They were both ridiculous. Had he and Theo been that ridiculous before they started dating? 

“Just go and ask him, Nolan, I’m sure it will be fine!” The hunter tapped at the magazine. “According to this article, Brett is not into me! That settles it and I can spare myself the humiliation.” “Those articles are garbage.” “Don’t let Sadie hear it, those are basically her bible.” “You both are being ridiculous! You for believing that shit and she for even subscribing to it!” But Nolan held his ground and grabbed the magazine. “I won’t ask him out!” He declared and then left the kitchen in the direction of the living room. Liam groaned. 

Theo entered the kitchen just as his boyfriend considered locking Brett and Nolan into a tiny room together. “Good morning, baby.” “Good morning.” Liam popped his elbow on the counter and put his chin on the palm of his hand. “I am so happy I never had to ask you out.” Theo had opened the fridge but now closed it without taking something out. “A part of me feels insulted,” he declared.  “No! I meant I’m happy I never had to worry if you would say yes before I asked you. I just acted and it worked out fine. I’m happy it did, obviously.” The First Beta stepped on the other side of the kitchen island and braced his arms on top of it. “Is there a special reason why you’re talking about this?” “Nolan and Brett are driving me nuts. I trust you to keep quiet about it so I’m telling you. Brett likes Nolan and Nolan likes Brett but both are too chicken shit to do something about it because Liam you are absolutely crazy and what are you even thinking?” “And you’re the only one who knows about it,” Theo realized.  Liam grinned innocently. “Now you know as well.” “I’m not helping you setting our friends up. I’m not good at playing matchmaker, puppy.” “We could do it the Thiam way!” “The Thiam way would mean one of them becoming an Alpha and making the other his Beta, gaining a pack, let the Betas gain control, and then just kiss the other. I doubt you can recreate the Thiam way.” Liam sulked and Theo chortled. He walked around the island and wrapped his arms around Liam. “Our way is pretty unique, little Alpha, and I am happy about it. It was perfect for us and nobody else.” He was right, Liam realized, and he just nodded and leaned in to brush his lips against Theo’s. “My logical Beta is right like so often. Doesn’t it get boring to be right so many times?” “Nope,” Theo smirked and kissed Liam again. 

****** “The giraffe baby was so cute. It’s still a baby but already so tall. I like the dots the giraffes have and how they walk.” “The dots are amazing but I also liked the seals. How they played in the water was really entertaining.” “Thank you for taking me to the zoo, Liam.” Liam squeezed Landon’s shoulder. “Anytime, buddy.” They just came home from a fun day at the zoo, just the two of them. Liam had promised Landon a day where it was just the two brothers doing stuff and Landon had wanted to go to the zoo. It had been an amazing day. 

They now entered the pack house. Tim sat in the living room and read a comic. Now he raised his head and smiled at them. “Hey, you two, how has your trip been?” “It was so funny. We could see how the lions got fed and then we watched the seals play around and there was a giraffe baby. The meerkats got a new compound and we saw rhinos and elephants. Liam bought me some things at the zoo shop and look at that.” Landon showed Tim a picture of the two brothers they had taken on one of those picture machines set all around the zoo. It had a cheetah patterned frame and the zoo mascot in the right upper corner. Landon and Liam both had a picture and Landon proudly showed his copy while Liam’s was currently sitting in his bag.  “It was really fun. Here, we made some videos.” The young Alpha pulled his phone out of his jeans and opened his video folder. “This one was in front of the hyena habitat.” He started the video. Liam had filmed the habitat with the animals chilling in the sun or gnawing at some flesh and bones they got fed earlier on and then the camera panned around, showed Landon watching the hyenas and then Liam had filmed himself waving at the camera. In the background, you suddenly heard the hyenas laughing. “It was so funny, I never heard those sounds before. I know people said hyenas laugh but I seriously never heard it until now. Listen to that,” Liam explained to Tim right as Lori walked in, munching on a sandwich. 

Suddenly Tim pointed at the phone. “They laugh like this annoying group!” He exclaimed loudly.  Everybody stared at him. It was weird seeing the usual quiet Tim being so agitated.  “Is this normal or scary?” Landon asked and looked at Liam.  “Right now he's scaring me,” Liam replied and made a face. “Remember how I told you about this group with their loud and obnoxious laughs? They sounded just like the hyenas!” “Laughing like a hyena? Isn’t this something people sometimes say?” Lori shrugged her shoulders and took another bite from her sandwich. “Where’s the big deal?”  “It’s not a big deal but when you hear this over and over it gets annoying. And it wasn’t just alike, it sounded exactly like those animals in Liam’s video.”  “I’m sure about the annoying part. It was fun at the zoo but having a group of people doing it? That gets old very fast,” Liam agreed with it.  “I’m the last person to trash talk somebody’s habits or whatever but that was just plain weird,” Tim defended himself.  “I know you’re not making fun of anybody. When you notice something unusual about somebody else it is just normal to react. And if it’s an annoying habit, it’s only more noticeable.” Liam smiled at his Beta. Tim really was one of the nicest people he knew. So when he said something, it must have been absolutely annoying.

****** "Ten bucks saying the housemaid killed the wife,” Theo betted from his place on the couch. He was rested with his head against Liam’s chest and the couple watched some sort of detective series Corey had dug out. It was an old one but Corey liked old movies and series and had convinced the others to watch it with him.

Not all members of the pack were there though. The girls had decided on a girls night out and had dressed up to go out and dance the night away. Landon was at a friend’s house and stayed the night there as well so the guys could watch some movies about murder without worrying about a child seeing something he was not supposed to see. 

Liam now gave his boyfriend an amused look and reached into Theo’s lap where the bowl of popcorn was placed. He grabbed a handful and threw some into his mouth to chew on it.  “I’m saying it was the wife’s sister,” Caden betted against Theo.  “Now it’s getting interesting! Okay, I accept. Let’s see who wins.” Theo took some of the popcorn Liam had gathered for himself, ignored the Alpha’s noises of protest, and put it in his mouth. He chewed and smirked at Caden.  “What if you both are wrong?” Mason asked.  “Then they both keep their money and everyone is happy,” Liam decided and ran his hand through Theo’s hair. His mate leaned his head back and enjoyed the soft treatment.  “Hmm, sounds fair,” he mumbled and Liam chuckled.  “If you’re getting handsy, I’m leaving,” Tim warned from his place at the floor.  “Hey, be happy we have an Alpha couple that is that much in love and shows it like this. I met packs where the Alpha kept such a strict grip on their SO, it was clear there was no love and just fear. I rather have them get handsy and lovey-dovey than Theo cowering in front of Liam and never see them touching,” Brett suddenly said. He was curled up in one of the settles and had his arms wrapped around a pillow. Liam had tried to sit him and Nolan next to each other in the beginning, but Nolan ended up on the other couch with Corey and Mason.  “Really?” Tim craned his neck to look at Brett.  “Yeah.” The tall werewolf nodded. “Some Alphas are... let’s call it what it is, they’re assholes and control freaks. Their Betas are not allowed to do much and they have to follow strict rules. Of course, that also applies to the Alpha’s mate.” “I can’t imagine that. Especially after knowing these two.” Corey jabbed his thumb in the direction of Liam and Theo. Liam had listened to the conversation but wrapped his arms around his boyfriend. He couldn’t imagine ordering Theo around as well. Not only because it would never work with Theo’s character but also because he saw Theo as his equal. And when Theo submitted to him because he wanted to, it was beautiful and intimate and just for the two of them. Liam would never take advantage of it. 

“I honestly never thought about what kind of Alpha I wanted to be. A good one, yes, but I never really considered what that would entail. I just went with my gut feeling. You guys made it easy for me and now we have the wonderful pack we have,” he praised his Betas.  “You’re sweet, Liam, but we all know we didn’t make it easy for you. Some of us gave you a run for your money,” Mike retorted.  “Okay, yes, but that also shaped me as an Alpha. And you all came around in the end. Sadie, you, Tim, Brett. I’m happy about that.” “We realized what you and the pack offered was a family, something some of us never really knew. That’s why.” Mike shrugged and Brett hummed affirmatively.  “Heartwarming but, guys, the detective is about to solve the case.” Corey pointed at the screen and immediately had everyone’s attention. They watched the man on screen reconstruct the crime and when he was about to announce the killer, the front door flew open and the girls came in.

“You won’t believe what happened!” Sadie called out but was shushed by Caden and Theo.  “Shh, I’m about to win ten dollars!” Both said at the same time and the blonde blinked owlishly. Then she glanced at the screen and scoffed.  “Stop that video, what we have to say is important!”  “Really, guys, you need to hear this,” Lori backed Sadie up while Maya and Ever nodded. Corey sighed but then pressed the pause button. “Okay, we’re all ears,” he said.  “So, we’re at this club and it’s not completely empty but not overly crowded either. You had to wait a while for your drinks but that’s fine. Music was good and we talked while we waited. But there were those two girls who acted absolutely entitled and like the world belonged to them. One asked the barkeeper something and she didn’t like what he answered so they started to argue.” Sadie was completely riled up and talked fastly. “All of sudden, she reaches over the bar, grabs one of the glasses there, and slams it over his head. Just like that. It was like a scene from a bad soap opera.” “What?” The boys could not believe that. It seemed like something from a bad movie.  “And here’s the thing why we’re telling you this: Not only were they aggressive as hell but when she turned to look at her friend, their eyes flashed. Just not like a werewolf’s eyes,” Maya added to the story. “What do you mean not like a werewolf?” Theo inquired.  “Well, a wendigo’s eyes are white, right? A werewolf’s eyes are golden. Their eyes looked like a mixture of these two. Very pale and almost impossible to make out a color.” Now Ever took over. “The friend of the girl looks at Sadie and goes: Out of my way, Blondie, or I will claw your face off. And then the girls plus three guys who belonged with them stormed off.”  “You all know I can get angry,” Sadie said, “But they were completely off the rails. Their chemosignals basically glowed with aggression. It was crazy.” “Thankfully every other patron thought the light in the club had been the reason for their eyes looking strange. That way we didn’t have mass panic,” Lori summed it up.  “So what? We now have to worry about a group of unknown weres on top of somebody watching us and trying to run us over by car?” Caden questioned and they all looked at each other quite unsure.  Corey hummed. “I wouldn’t care about them, to be honest. Seattle is a big city, only logical we’re not the only supernaturals here. This is not Beacon Hills and even in Beacon Hills, there were other supernaturals not in contact with the McCall Pack. If the other weres can’t keep their emotions in check and lash out, it’s not our problem. Sure, if we meet them again we might interfere and try to talk to them, but in the end, it’s their business. We have enough on our plate already.” Mason stared at him in wonder. “Wow, you're usually all about helping others.” “I am but how high are the chances any of us will meet this group again? It was one club in the city, it didn’t even happen in our closest environment. There are other packs out there except we are not the police for the supernaturals. They have to keep themselves in check and we have to worry about our pack. Landon may call us Avengers but we are not. It was fine back home but this city is just too large to police every other supernatural running around. And Caden already named it, we still haven’t figured out who wanted to run Liam over and who’s watching us. That is more important than some crazy were-creature.”   Corey had a valid point. Theo nodded. “What we can do is call Chris Argent. Maybe he can check on that. It’s his profession, right?” “Who is Chris Argent?” Caden inquired.  “He’s a hunter but a hunter only hunting the supernaturals posing as a threat for humans and good supernaturals. He���s on our side. I will try to get a hold off him tomorrow,” Liam explained. 

****** Getting a hold off Chris Argent wasn’t that much of a problem. The problem was that he was busy with another werewolf problem somewhere in Canada. When Liam called to alert him of some supernaturals causing troubles in Seattle, he sighed brokenly and Liam could basically see the frown on the man’s face.  “I will be honest with you, Liam, compared to what I’m about to deal with here, this sounds like child’s play. Doesn’t mean it’s not important but I’m currently hunting a group of werewolves who killed an entire party. Not one single person survived the attack. I hope the barkeeper will get well soon and I promise you I will check on it as soon as I can but for right now, I trust you to deal with the problem. Is that alright with you?” Really, what was Liam supposed to answer? That sounded really bad and clearly needed Argent’s attention. He had monitored the daily news in Seattle and no new reports about strange attacks or something surfaced so maybe it just had been one were on the loose.  “Yeah, we can handle it, don’t worry. Just be careful up there.” “I have a backup, don’t worry,” Argent said grimly and ended the call. Liam sighed but then grabbed his gym back and met Mason by his car. He had promised his best friend a round of good training and that’s where they were heading now. 

“We’re all on our own, okay. We handled wendigoes and psychotic witches, we can handle that as well. Or do you want to call Scott and ask for help?” Mason asked after Liam filled him in.  “Help with what? There was one girl going crazy in a club and aside from the flashing eyes nothing supernatural happened. To call Scott to town would honestly be a bit too dramatic, don’t you think? Also, I’m the Alpha and don’t need another Alpha’s help with that.” Liam shook his head.  “True. I have the utmost faith in you. You will manage whatever this turns out to be. You’re quite good at saving the day.” Liam laughed. “Thanks. Means a lot coming from you.”

The best friends joked around during the ride to the gym and even when they got out of the car. They made their way to the entrance when the door opened and a guy stepped out. He was bulky, had almost no neck, and a buzzcut. His skin was leathery and Liam would highly advise him to stop tanning so much if he had a say in this.  When the guy left the gym he bumped into Mason. Mason huffed at the impact and even staggered a few steps back. “Whoa, dude!” The dude glared at him. “Don’t get into my way and you don’t have to worry about a thing,” he snapped at Mason and then continued his way over the parking lot. Liam and Mason stared after him.  “The effects steroids have on people,” Mason grumbled and dusted off his shirt.  He noticed Liam still staring after the guy. “Come on, don’t blow up, I’m fine.” But Liam shook his head. “It’s not that. I mean, I could kick his ass for being so rude to you but something about this guy was strange. His scent was strange.” “How so?” Mason asked curiously.  “Don’t know. Since I learned to work with my wolf and pay closer attention to the world around me, there are some people whose scent is just off. Not just their chemosignals, just their natural scent. It’s off.” “In Germany, they say Jemanden nicht riechen können, which literally translates to not being able to smell somebody. It means you can’t stand a person. It’s very fitting.” The twenty-year-old gave Mason an amused look. “Always teaching me new things. How do you remember all this stuff?” “How do you remember historic stuff?” Mason asked back and laughed. He slung one arm around Liam’s shoulders. “Come on, the gym is waiting for us!”

****** Liam fried some meat in a pan and at the same time gave instructions to Mason. His best friend helped him in the kitchen tonight and Theo was currently laying the dinner table in the dining room. Again there were only Liam and his Betas, Landon was with a friend again. The two boys had a school project together and Landon would stay the night at his friend’s house. Liam would pick him up tomorrow.  “The chicken is ready, I think we can already gather the others. Guys, dinner’s ready!!”  Liam swayed the pan and carried it over to the table. Mason followed with the salad. The rest of the pack gradually filtered into the dining room and took their places. One look at the table and Liam realized they were missing the salad dressing and the tortillas for the wraps they were making.  “I’ll help you get the tortillas,” Mason stated and followed Liam back into the kitchen where he grabbed the tortillas. Liam walked over to the fridge to get the dressing but then haltered in his movements. 

He had pinned his copy of the picture Landon and him took at the zoo to the fridge and now that he looked at it, remembered something.  “Something’s wrong?” He heard Mason ask behind him. Liam looked over his shoulder and pointed at the picture.  “Remember the rude guy at the gym yesterday? I said his scent was off. It reminded me of something but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I just remembered. I caught the same smell at the zoo, only stronger. One of the habitats smelled like that.”  He opened the fridge and grabbed the dressing. “You know which habitat it was? The hyenas’ habitat.” Liam closed the door again and Mason gave him an impressive look. “You sure?” “I am absolutely sure,” Liam confirmed while the friends walked back into the dining room.  “What are you absolutely sure of?” Theo had overheard the last part of their conversation and now was eager to get an answer.  “The guy at the gym yesterday, his scent was the same as the one surrounding the hyenas’ habitat at the zoo.”

“Uhm, that’s nice, baby?” They all looked at Liam like he had lost his mind and he realized they could absolutely not follow him or get why this was worth talking about. He didn’t know it himself. But something told him, it was worth mentioning.  Tim came to Liam’s aid. “See? You meet a guy smelling like a hyena, I meet a group laughing like hyenas. Coincidence? I think not!” “Or maybe, and I’m just putting this out there, you two are just a tiny bit neurotic and need to lay down for a while?” Mike interfered. “Who cares how people laugh or smell?” Mason looked from Tim to Liam. “Your mind is reeling. You’ve got that look on your face, like always when you’re piecing something together. What are you thinking about?”

Liam would admit freely he wasn’t the brightest and there were other people smarter and more intelligent than him in this pack. But every now and then his mind got on a roll and he came up with a theory. Sometimes crazy but no matter the times, his theories always managed to capture Liam’s interest. He just had a hard time voicing his thoughts, so he shrugged. “We have a group of unknown weres in the city. People smell like a certain animal and even laugh like that animal. Do were-hyenas exist?” He finally concluded lamely, put the dressing on the table and sat down.

His friends laughed, except for Theo, who just stared at him. “You might not be wrong,” the twenty-two-year-old finally said calmly.  “What?” When everybody laughed, Liam had realized how ridiculous that had sounded and already discarded the thought. It had been dumb anyway. But that Theo took it serious surprised him.  “We know there are different kinds of weres. Wolves, coyotes, chameleons, jaguars, lions. Who says there aren’t more we know nothing about? Also, keep in mind, there is a group of unknown weres running around. I wouldn’t pass the possibility of them being were-hyenas completely aside.”  “Theo, I was just making a silly comment. There are no such things as were-hyenas.” “You said that about werewolves once too.” Liam’s eye twitched. Theo beat him at his own game and used Liam’s own history and arguments against him. He didn’t like it one bit. Mason had to help! “Mase, did you ever came across were-hyenas during your studies?” Mason shook his head. “No, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. We both know this is not really a science, Lee.” “See,” Liam crooned triumphantly but then his face faltered. “Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side!” “I am on your side, you both are saying the same thing.” “Oh and if you didn’t read about them who could possibly help us?” Liam asked sarcastically.  “Scott maybe?” Nolan offered from his place. “Or he could ask Deaton.”

If Liam was honest with himself, he was kind of curious if he had been right. If he had been, he could chalk it up as one of the little times he had been right on the first try. So he went to fetch his cellphone and called Scott while he returned to the dining room again.  Scott picked up after the fourth ring. “Liam, hello!” “Hey, Scott, I hope I’m not disturbing you or something. You’re on speaker, by the way, the pack can hear you too.” “Hello, guys! No, you’re not disturbing, I’m just at Derek’s loft, having pizza with Malia.” “Hello, stranger!” Malia called from the background while Liam’s Betas also greeted Scott and Malia.  “Scott, I’ll make it quick, it’s just a tiny question. Do you know if there are other types of weres out there than we already know?” Liam questioned and Scott was silent for a while.  “Aside from wolves, coyotes, jaguars and such?”  “Aside from them, yeah,” Theo confirmed.  “I don’t know. I never met other types than the ones we knew. Not in Beacon Hills and not anywhere else. Has this something to do with you calling Chris, Liam?” “We’re trying to figure this out ourselves. See, we had some encounters all around the city that makes us think there might be were-hyenas. They share certain traits with the animals, the people we met, and since there is a group of unknown weres in the city, it was just a silly thought. Maybe you could have helped us but we will figure it out ourselves.” “What do they smell like?” Malia asked. Scott seemingly had also put the call on speaker.  “Like the hyena habitat in the zoo, just a bit fainter.”  “I never met someone smelling like a hyena. It must smell weird.”  “It does smell weird,” Liam agreed with her on that one.  “Maybe it’s just us getting a bit paranoid. There are always things happening and we’re looking for an explanation. We’re probably just throwing everything together while in reality, it’s completely unrelated.” Liam was backpedaling. His theory had been silly from the start and that it was now turning into this expert talk was embarrassing for Liam. 

“You should probably ask somebody who actually knows things.” Liam jumped in his seat when the voice of no other than Peter Hale came through the speakers.  “Oh yeah, Peter is here too,” Scott cheerfully announced.  “Yeah, thanks for the heads up,” Liam mumbled.  “You said we should ask somebody who knows things. Figured you’re talking about yourself, hm?” Theo now asked Peter.  Peter chuckled lowly. “I suppose you could continue to ask around, maybe someone else can give you the answer in a few months. Probably years. Yeah, years is more likely.” “You do not know the answers to all questions of the universe,” Malia snubbed but her father ignored her.  “I’m in a good mood today so I will share part of my knowledge with you. Gather round, children, this will be educational.” “He sounds like an adult Theo sometimes,” Sadie noticed. Theo stared indignantly at her.  “What did I ever do to you?” “Shh,” Liam hissed. He wanted to hear what Peter was willing to share.  “To answer your initial question: Yes, there are indeed were-hyenas out there. There are actually many kinds of weres out there, some you never heard of. Tigers, bears, leopards, just to name a few. That’s where the problem starts. You must understand, there is a hierarchy between the weres. On top are the strong ones like wolves or lions, us wolves being the better species obviously.” Malia growled lowly in the background. Peter ignored his daughter. “For most weres this is fine but there are some of the lower weres who feel cheated about their place in the food chain. Some coyotes share this mindset but they are mostly loners so they rarely act out on this, but hyenas, for example, clearly belong to the ones unsatisfied with their stance. They have a deep-rooted hatred for the ones standing above them and they live to cause trouble for them.” “Define trouble,” Corey cut in sharply.  “All kinds of stuff. Hyenas live to cause havoc, they’re belligerent, aggressive, and they want to change the hierarchy in their favor. In order to do that, nothing is off limits for them. They’re dangerous, mostly because they are shifty.” “So trouble could mean watching someone from the shadows and trying to run an Alpha over with a car?” Maya guessed. Scott shrieked. “Somebody tried to run you over with a car??”  “I’m fine, Scott,” Liam called out. “Peter, since you know so much about hyenas, do you know anything about how they attack? It would be good to know that to be prepared.” “They won’t attack you. They are cowards. Hyenas are always in a group and rarely alone but even as a group they would not attack a werewolf, less alone a pack of wolves. They will continue to make your life difficult until they lose interest and leave town again. That’s what they do. You surely can fight them but if hyenas are threatened, they will fight back and they bite. They fight unfair, that you should be worried about. Little ankle biters. Nasty creatures. They will search for your weakness and use it against you.”  “So your advice is to do nothing and ride it out?” Sadie needed clarification.  “I’m not telling you what to do. I admit, seeing you get pummeled by a pack of hyenas would be hilarious to see. Don’t give me that look, Scott, your former Beta is not the most impressive Alpha around.” “I just don’t understand why they targeted us. You said they hate all wolves but we did nothing to them.” Tim could not wrap his head around that part.  Peter sighed. “Your Alpha is very young, you all are. It makes sense they see you as less of a threat than a pack with an older, more experienced Alpha.” Liam gritted his teeth. He was getting tired of people underestimating him just because of his age. It was getting old. He may be young but he already had some accomplishments, okay? People needed to give him some credit.  “Thank you, Peter. Scott, talk to you soon.” He ended the call and leaned back in his chair. 

“What’s on your mind?” Theo asked and put a hand on Liam’s knee. “I’m pissed. Pissed at people assuming it is okay to target my pack because I’m just twenty years old and not the tallest guy on the field. I’m pissed because me being me brings problems to my pack. I hate it!” “Hey, no, this is not your fault. You heard what Peter said about hyenas.  They are supernatural bullies and pick on who they deem weak because they feel picked on themselves,” Lori hurried to encourage her Alpha.  “But they picked us because I’m just me,” Liam argued back.  “And they will see how wrong they have been. We are strong, Liam, and we are because you are strong, Alpha. You hold us all together. They don’t know who they’re messing with,” Theo backed Lori up and squeezed Liam’s leg.  “Let them come and make our life miserable, we will get through this. I mean, this wolf would love to snatch a hyena but I���m also okay with waiting until they come to us.” Sadie shrugged.  “The question is if they come or if they continue to lurk in the shadows. To me, their behavior is absolutely not logical.” Mason shook his head.  “Really? To me, it is very logical,” Theo answered, “I mean, step one was clearly just watching us. Step two is slowly making themselves known. They’re like we are here now, are you scared? and they will become more and more prominent, just to annoy us. There is a system behind. Maybe they think it intimidates us, who knows?” "It’s good that we now know what they are and what they want. It makes us more cautious. I still would say we continue with our lives as if nothing happened. If they want to tease us and get a reaction out of us, just doing what we normally do and ignoring they’re lurking might probably make them so mad they leave cause they didn’t get a rise out of us.” Corey, in his role as the consultant, always the voice of reason.  “Uh, ignoring the problem until it goes away. I’m a fan of that,” Mike said jokingly.  Liam was still pissed but even he had to admit Corey was right. Maybe this time they didn’t have to fight and could sit out the problem. Maybe one time they could have the luck on their side. He sincerely hoped so. 

****** Liam strolled into the coffee shop and smiled. Theo was working the late shift on this day and he had decided to pay his boyfriend a little visit. Only three tables were occupied and nobody was ordering at the counter. Theo was wiping the machine but he stopped when Liam walked in and smiled at the young Alpha.  “Is your boss still here?” Liam inquired. “Left an hour ago,” Theo informed and smirked. He rounded the corner to meet Liam there and wrap his arms around his boyfriend’s waist.  “Good. So I can do that.” Liam grabbed Theo by the collar of his shirt and dragged him into a deep kiss. Theo’s hold on him tightened and he kissed Liam back with fervor. Theo’s boss would have probably yelled at them for making a disgusting scene but since she wasn’t here Liam saw no problem in kissing his boyfriend. The two elderly women at one table even whooped at them so they must give a nice picture. 

The bell above the door announced new customers and several pair of steps told the Alpha couple a group had arrived. The steps stopped in front of the counter and suddenly a scornful scoff sounded up.  The couple broke apart and turned their heads. The group’s members ware all about the same age as Liam; three guys, all looking like the newest issue of Rich White Guys and two girls, one with black hair and one brunette. The girls looked like they could give Blair Waldorf a run for her money. Literally, both could have been the main characters in Gossip Girl. Their outfits were expensive as hell, the brunette one had a designer bag hanging off her elbow, wore a plaided miniskirt, a white blouse with a yellow bow matching her skirt, and her makeup, as well as her manicure, was perfectly executed. She had her perfectly shaped eyebrow raised and looked Liam up and down, her full lips twisted in a sneery smirk. 

“Can I help you?” Theo asked. “Want to order something?” She ignored him and rather addressed Liam. “You are the most unimpressive Alpha I’ve ever met.”  Liam raised an eyebrow and let go of Theo. “Excuse me?” “I mean, you are so normal. We have class.” She pointed at her friends and herself. They all snickered maliciously. “Which makes me wonder even more why you wolves are on top while we have to scrape at the bottom.” It clicked who they were. “Oh, so you are the hyenas.” The black-haired girl nudged her friend. “Did you hear that? He knows who we are. Our reputation caught up with us.” The other girl laughed. “We are just that perfect.”  “Oh come on, we had our fair share of arrogant women this year already,” Theo scolded. “Listen, I have no idea what your problem is, but I suggest you get a good therapist and leave us alone. We didn’t do anything so let us live in peace and be bitchy somewhere else.” The brunette one glared at him and raised her hand to press her fingers together at the tips. “Don’t talk to me ever again. You are nothing more than the Alpha’s bitch and you’re really not worth my time. I talk to the Alpha and the Alpha alone.”  Liam growled. “Want to say those things about my mate again?” He snarled, ready to stalk over and slap her self-righteous smile off her face.  But Theo held him back. “Liam, no. They’re not worth your breath.” The hyenas giggled and she continued to insult the couple. “Actually, you both are not worth my time. Just know this, we deserve to be at the top and we will do what it takes to get there. You wolves lived long enough on the sunny side, it’s our turn now. Be warned.” She flashed her eyes in the same pale, indescribable color Maya had told the pack about, then she turned around on her heels and the group marched out of the shop.  Liam growled again, his wolf was ready to pounce. “Want to take this outside and see who will come up on top?” She just giggled again and then said something Liam didn’t quite get. “Sorry? What did you say?” She turned around in the doorway, a fake smile on her face. “I said your little brother is very cute.” Then she started laughing, alongside her friends, and left the shop. Tim had been right, they really laughed like their animalistic counterparts.  Liam snarled and lunged forward but Theo wrapped both arms around his waist. “There are humans in the shop, there are humans in the shop,” he told Liam repeated and pulled him flush against his chest. Liam pressed his face against his mate’s shoulder and closed his eyes. Everything inside him screamed to run after her and rip her apart but Theo was right, he only would expose werewolves again.  “I’m here. It’s okay,” Theo mumbled into his ear and stroked over his hair.  Well, Liam wasn’t so sure of that. 

****** He laid in bed and stared at the ceiling. The night had been short, Liam didn’t sleep long, and then he had laid there and watched the light at the ceiling turn greyish pink and then brighter while the sun rose more and more. The encounter with the hyenas yesterday played in his mind like a broken record and he couldn’t shake it off. So he laid there and pondered about all the possibilities this could go while he played with the strands of his hair absentmindedly. 

“You barely slept during the night. What’s on your mind?” Theo said softly. He laid on his side, facing Liam, and watched his boyfriend.  Liam didn’t reply and kept in twisting his hair between his fingertips ere he sat up. “I made the decision to bring Landon out of town,” he announced brokenly.  “What?” Theo sat up too and put a hand on Liam’s shoulder. “Why?” Liam braced his arms on his tucked up knees. When he now looked at Theo, he looked sad. “I have no idea what these hyenas are going to do. Peter said they’re going for our weaknesses. Landon is human and he is a child. I could never forgive myself if something happened to him. I can protect all of you but only to a certain point. I know you guys can take care of yourself but what is he supposed to do? No, I rather bring him out of town and know he is safe. The minute it’s safe to come back, I will get him again but for now, I have to make sure nothing happens to Landon.” “And where will you take him?” “The lake. There is no safer place for him than there.” Liam wiped his eyes. “I see if he’s awake and tell him to pack.”  “Are you really sure about this, Lee?” “It’s the only option. Imagine them kidnapping him. He endured so much already in his young life, he doesn’t need another traumatic experience.” Theo seemed to understand. He gave him a comforting smile and kissed his cheek and then Liam rolled out of bed and left the room. 

Liam slowly opened the door to Landon’s room after a soft knock and peeked inside. Landon said on the floor and solved a puzzle. When he spotted Liam, he smiled brightly. “Good morning!” “Good morning.” Liam stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He smiled sadly. “Laddie, I need to talk to you.”  “Sure.” Landon moved away from his puzzle and looked expectantly at his big brother. Liam felt his heart actually break a little bit. He needed to do this and he decided to not beat around the bush. He crouched down in front of Landon and put his hands on his baby brother’s shoulders. “I want you to know that I love you and I will never stop loving you. But there are bad people out there and I have to fight them. They are mean and very devious and I cannot let them continue. But I can only fight them when I know you are safe. You’re not safe when you’re staying in Seattle.” He exhaled loudly. “Therefore I have to bring you out of town, okay? To know you are safe there and I can fight the bad guys. Do you understand that?” Landon listened and his eyes filled with tears. “But I don’t want to leave you! Please, don’t send me away!” Liam felt his own eyes stinging with tears. “I want you around all the time but it is too dangerous for you right now! I promise you, as soon as the bad guys are gone, I’ll bring you back home. Please, don’t think I don't want you around. I love you so much, Landon, but I have to protect you. I need to protect you.”  “Where are you taking me?” Lanson’s voice was quivering and he cried. “To a beautiful place. You meet the rest of my pack and they are awesome. You will love it there. It has a wonderful lake and nature around is just so amazing. I always loved being there. And again, as soon as it’s safe here again, I will take you back here.” Liam now cried as well and hugged his brother tightly. Landon clung to him.  “Do you still love me, Liam?” “I will never stop loving you. You’re my little brother, we always stick together. And we will talk and video chat every day, okay? Just because we’re not together doesn’t mean we can’t talk. You can always call me. I want you to know that.” He felt Landon nod. “I know that. I love you, Liam. Why can’t we both live at the lake?” “I wish we could, Landon, but it’s not possible right now. I know this is all too much and happens so fast but somebody has to stop them.” They hugged for some moments longer and then they separated again. Liam smiled weakly. “Get dressed and I get dressed and then I will help you pack your stuff and then we will drive.” The young boy nodded and wiped his tears away. It was just as hard for him as it was for Liam. 

The rest of the morning was quiet and solemn and when it was finally time for the brothers' departure all pack members hugged Landon and wished him the best. Liam helped Landon put his bags in his car and then Landon hopped in on the passenger seat.  “I can come with you, support you,” Theo offered.  “No, I need you here as Second Alpha when I’m gone in case those hyenas show their ugly faces. I will be okay.” Liam kissed his boyfriend goodbye and then got into the driver’s seat of his car. The pack had gathered in the driveway and they waved when the car slowly rolled into the street. Liam saw some of his Betas wiping away their tears. They all had become fond of Landon and it was hard letting him go, even if it was for his safety. 

“Tell me about where you’re bringing me, please,” Landon prompted after they had been on the road for a while.  “It’s a beautiful lake with woods around and the people live there in cozy cabins. It is actually where I became an Alpha after the former Alpha transferred his power to me. The rest of my pack lives there and you will come to love them as much as me. They are good people and I wouldn’t be the Liam I am today without them. They helped me a lot, mostly Byron, he is the former Alpha.” Liam glanced at Landon. “You know I’m not sending you away because I don’t want you around but because I want you to be safe, right?” “I know.” Landon looked out of the window. “It’s because of those stupid evil people.” “Yeah. As soon as they are defeated, I will bring you back home and we will do all the things we want. Going to the zoo again, the cinema, eating lots of ice cream. Everything you want.” Landon turned his head and looked at Liam. “You promise me this? That you come back?” “Of course. Hey, you are my little brother, I love to have you around.” He went for a comforting smile but Landon still didn’t seem sold.  “I didn’t mean if you meant to come and get me. Do you promise me to come back and not die? Please, don’t die like mom.” It came as a shock to Liam that his brother was thinking in that direction. Then again, he should have seen it coming. He pulled his car to the side of the road and halted there. Once the vehicle stopped, Liam turned in his seat to face Landon. “I promise, no I swear, that I will come back to you. I won’t be dying for a long time. We have way too much stuff to do and adventures to experience for me to die soon. You’re not losing me that quickly.” Liam reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out the little wooden wolf Byron had once gifted him. “Here. Byron gave me this wolf when I had a difficult time and now I want to give it to you. It means you’re never alone, I’m always with you, even though we are apart. And it can remind you of my promises to come back.” He held the wolf out and Landon took it with shaky hands. He turned it around and ran his fingers over the wood.  “It’s beautiful. You really want to give me this? It was a gift to you.” “Byron won’t mind. He will understand why I gave it to you.” “Thank you, Liam.” The brothers hugged over the console and Liam kissed the top of Landon’s head.

****** Liam always loved arriving at the lake and no matter how often he went there, it never lost its beauty but today a big part of him just wished it wasn’t for such a sad reason to drop his brother off. He knew it was the right decision, Landon’s safety was the most important thing, but that didn’t mean it was any less hard.  He parked in front of Byron’s and Lana’s house and got out of the car. Lana was in the front and tended to her flowers. Once she spotted Liam, she looked surprised.  “Liam, I wasn’t aware you would be coming. Is everything okay?” “Hey, Lana.” He hugged her. “Is Byron there too?” “He is. Byron! Can you come here, please? Liam’s here!” She called into the open front door. Soon enough Byron appeared and he looked as confused as his wife.  “Liam, always great to see you but your face tells me something is wrong.” The young Alpha looked back to his car. “Landon, it’s okay, you can come here.” The child slowly followed his invite and stepped around the car. He smiled shyly at Lana and Byron and finally grasped Liam’s hand. Liam focused on the former Alpha couple. “I told you about Landon when we last talked. I now need you to take my little brother in for a while. Please.” Lana switched from surprised to worried. “Maybe we should sit down and then you explain. Follow me, I have some fresh lemonade.”

And so the four of them found themselves in the living room and Liam explained everything to Lana and Byron. “I don’t know how serious she really was but what she said clearly targeted Landon and I’m not having it. I cannot be around Landon 24/7, none of us can, but I need him to be safe. If something happened to Landon, I would lose my freaking mind. Yes, sending him away hurts me but it is the best decision I can make at this point. I know, what I’m asking for has a huge impact on your life, but I don’t know where else to take him so he’s safe,” he finally ended.  “Liam, when I asked you to become my successor and you agreed, it changed your entire life. There is nothing you could ask from us that would be too much. And we will happily give Landon a home and protect him while you take care of the hyenas,” Byron explained in his usual calm and collected ways.  Landon smiled shyly. “Thank you. Your house is very nice, I like the colors. You surely won’t mind having me around?” “You are as polite and amazing as your brother so we will love to have you around,” Lana assured him. “You can have our guest room and we will get you some toys and things you need. I know the teacher of the local school, he can go there, we will take care of everything.” “I will give you the money for everything,” Liam offered immediately.  Lana huffed. “Don’t be silly. We have that covered. You have other things to take care of right now.”

Liam smiled gratefully at her and she patted his knee. Then she smiled warmly at Landon. “Want me to introduce you to the pack and show you around?”  Landon nodded but then glanced questioningly at Liam. The twenty-year-old nodded encouragingly. “Go ahead. I will stick around for a few hours before I drive back to Seattle.” His baby brother smiled. “Okay.” And then he followed Lana. 

Byron and Liam followed a little bit behind. 

“Will this ever get easier?” Liam asked the former Alpha. His heart was still breaking to know he would leave Landon behind.  “Decisions like that? No,” Byron denied. “They only would get easier if you stopped caring, simply because you would not care enough to make them. And that is not the type of person you are.” “It tears me apart to leave without Landon. I trust all of you and I know he will have a wonderful time here but leaving him just hurts so damn much. I hope we can get rid of the hyenas soon and he can come back.” Byron gave Liam a pat on the back. “If you need any help, you know we’re just one call away.” He gave the older man a crooked smile. “I know.” Liam turned serious again. “It just annoys me so much that people constantly think they can overpower me because of my age or my looks.” “But this a problem of our society. People have a certain image of what somebody is supposed to be. If you don’t fit in the image, they think it’s okay to walk over you. I wish I could say it will stop one day but there will always be people underestimating you. The only thing you can do is to pick your battles and prove them wrong in the way right for you. I know you have a bright future ahead as Alpha of your pack, Liam. I can’t wait to see what you will do with this pack in the next years. We all are eager to see and we all support you. No matter if you’re twenty or fifty.” It helped Liam to talk with Byron and hear those words. Having people look down on you didn’t help your self-esteem but having people believing in him did. They all counted on him and he had great support.  “Thank you, Byron.”

****** Landon got a warm welcome from the rest of the pack and the other kids immediately accepted him in their group and they began to play. Liam smiled when he saw Landon so carefree and happy. It was the right decision.

But then it was time to say goodbye and the brother found each other hugging tightly. Liam tried to will down the tears, he didn’t want to make this harder for Landon than it already was.  “I love you so much, buddy,” he whispered into his brother's ear and Landon sniffled.  “I love you too, Liam. Please be careful.” Liam smiled and ran a hand through Landon’s hair when they parted. “I will be.” He slowly got up to his full height and hugged Byron and Lana. “Thank you again, guys.” “No need to thank us. Be careful and if you need help, call us.”  “Yeah.” Liam waved. “Bye. And, Landon, I will call you tonight.” The boy nodded eagerly. “We will talk every night over the phone and tell us about our days. Starting tonight.” “Exactly. Be nice to Byron and Lana and do good in school. Bye.” He hugged the kid one last time then he got into his car. He waved out of the rolled-down window, the former Alpha couple and Landon waved back, and the car slowly drove towards the street. He waved until he couldn’t see them anymore. 

When he was finally on the highway, Liam called Theo over the speakerphone. His mate immediately picked up.  “Hey, I’m on my way home. Everything okay?” His voice was thick with emotions.  “Everything quiet, no hyena showed up. Are you okay?” Theo asked softly. Liam took a deep breath and fought back the tears. “He is happy and safe, that’s all that matters. It still hurts though.” “I can imagine. Are you okay to drive? I can come and pick you up with Mason.” “No need, I will be fine. There is not much traffic, I should be home soon. And then I’m ready to kick some hyenas’ asses.”

At least, the new danger now has a name and a face. Also, I was bawling when writing the last part of the chapter. What have I done? But on the other hand, Liam now can focus on the threat at hand and believe me, they have no idea who they're messing with. Like stated in the chapter, people underestimate him and that is never a good idea. What do you think? As always comments/theories/wishes/and what else you can think of are highly appreciated! I hope you don't hate me too much for this emotional rollercoaster I sent us all on.

Love you guys!

[floralseokjin]

hooking up with the guy you’re neutral towards isn’t how you expected your night to go, especially dressed as a pumpkin…

pairing | jeon jungkook x reader  genre/warnings | halloween costumes gone wrong, smut, FLUFF SOMEHOW IDEK ANYMORE words | 6,406

author’s note | lowkey am questioning myself after this one… but thank you @keehyung for giving me the idea—although I warped it so much haha. For reference, Jungkook is wearing this…hot, right? 

“____, get out the car,” Jungkook whines, forearm leaning against the driver’s door as he watches you in the passenger’s seat.

You ignore him as best you can, arms crossed over the pumpkin head you’ve ripped off in defiance, hoping that if you keep this up he’d have no choice but to drive you all the way home, so you could run inside and never come back out again. You’re humiliated—tricked, and you can’t ever show your face around these parts of town again. Actually. Just the whole town. You will become a recluse, a hermit.

And it was all because of Park Minhee and Kim Seokjin. Beautifully heartbreaking Kim-fucking-Seokjin. The love of your life, you are sure of it, and that rat who has stolen him for herself down to filthy sabotage. You hadn’t even known she’d liked him. She’d tricked you, swindled you out of your own love story with Seokjin and now here you are, stuck in Jeon Jungcock’s car dressed as a pumpkin and hating your entire existence.

“Get inside before I drag your ass out,” he threatens as you pout, and you continue not to listen. You just want to go home, you’ll walk if you have to.

“Fuck, come on!” He groans, stomping his feet like a petulant child. “I came here to actually attend the party.”

“Go inside and enjoy then,” you tell him, finally looking at him. He’s dressed in the most dramatic costume you could imagine, face painted white and black while he wears a brown cloak over his normal attire, tatted at the edges and the sleeves. You’d already had to ask what he came as when he’d picked you up and when he’d replied grim reaper, you’d scoffed. Didn’t he wear black? And not look like a wrinkly old man?

“I can’t,” he shoots. “I need you, remember? This damn place was free if you came with a date and you were the one that begged me to take you.”

That was true. You had to admit it. You had persuaded him to come along with you because you didn’t want to pay for entry. Parties weren’t your thing, so why waste the money. So, why had you even thought about coming in the first place? Easy. Kim Seokjin was going to be there and you didn’t want to miss your chance. Or a chance…or now, safe to say, Park Minhee’s chance…

It was all planned and you’d been excited. You’d practically blackmailed Jungkook to take you, using the best basis—he was a homework plagiariser. Every class he was in of yours he’d take every chance he could at stealing your answers. You can’t even remember how it started or why you continued to let him do as you please. But now, a few months on, he was sat next to you at every desk, like some annoying entity that wouldn’t go away.

You’d needed a date and you’d taken the chance. Then, you’d somehow gotten Minhee’s attention in the bathroom one day when you’d told her you were going with him. She seemed to be shocked at first and then suspicious. “I didn’t know you liked Jeon,” and when you’d lied out of your ass and said it was a first date kind of thing—testing the waters, some would say, she’d laughed in your face. “I thought you had eyes for only one man, and his name is Kim Seokjin.”

Were you that transparent? How did someone who barely knew know you liked the God himself? You were so taken back you’d ended up confessing your plan right there and then and that’s when she’d let you in on a little secret—she knew what Jin was dressing up as this year. And that’s right, well done for guessing, it was a pumpkin. You don’t know what had been going through your head when you’d decided showing up in a matching costume would equate to love story of the century for you two… But off you’d gone and now you looked like a world class idiot.

Seokjin was in no pumpkin costume, you don’t even know why that would have been believable anyways. You were the only pumpkin in this part of town. Minhee had lied to you. You gathered that by the way she’d giggled bitchily when you’d walked in. You’d bolted before you could see anyone else’s reactions and now you were here wondering how you could have been such a fool? It was obvious Minhee had some kind of ulterior motive looking back. She liked Seokjin too, that much was obvious now, unless she was just a spiteful bitch. All you could do was pray she hadn’t told anybody else about her cruel trick…which was doubtful to say the least—the whole place was probably laughing like hyenas at you right now.

“I can’t go in there again,” you almost whimper, looking Jungkook in the eye to show him how sincere you’re being right now.

To your surprise he doesn’t curse or continue to groan, instead he watches you for a moment, mouth open but jaw locked like he’s thinking twice about whatever it is he wants to say and then he bends down and gets back in the driver’s seat, letting out a sigh as his head fall back against the headrest.

“Is this about Kim Seokjin?”

You freeze, mouth open in horror at the possibility that Jungkook may know something. Is it that obvious? When you don’t confirm anything, he carries on.

“I’m pretty sure the whole campus knows by now that you’re in love with him, or something. He probably knows too,” and that’s when your heart rate begins to pound through the roof. Just imagining that Seokjin may know something is unbearable and humiliating and now you don’t ever want to leave your home. You’re a laughing stock.

“—and I hate to break it to you,” Jungkook mumbles. “But he probably isn’t interested if he hasn’t tried to make a move yet.”

Your face crumbles. You’re not going to cry, you already know deep down Seokjin doesn’t like you and will never like you. But just knowing Jungkook knows and thinks the same makes you feel like shit, and that doesn’t count the other people that probably realise too…Park Minhee for one…

“Oh no, oh shit,” Jungkook stammers, rushing over his words when he realises he’s fucked up. He reaches over to place a hand gingerly on your hunched back. “l’m sorry, I was trying to make you feel better.”

“How does that make me feel any better?!” You exclaim, turning your face to look his way, deeply insulted.

He watches you for a moment, eyes flickering over your face. It’s like he wants to say something but thinks better of it, shrugging before giving you something else—something that wasn’t the first option. “It just shows you he’s not worth the attention.”

 You take in his words, knowing he’s correct but it’s not like you can stop yourself anyway and when you don’t reply, Jungkook sighs again, dropping his hand from your back to fall against the driver’s seat once again.

“What’s with that dude anyway? Why does every girl fawn over him, does he have a golden dick?”

“I wouldn’t know,” you tell him sombrely—pathetically really, but you’re still sad you’ll never get to see that perfect, pretty dick in real life…

Jungkook is silent at your reply and you wonder if you should take the chance to ask him to drive you home, but for some reason the atmosphere is kind of comforting. It feels good to talk about this, even if neither of you are speaking right now. It’s another couple of minutes until he does again.

“Can I ask you one question…?”

“What,” you mutter, afraid of where this is going to go.

“Why the giant pumpkin tonight? If you were going to run out as soon as you entered, what was the point?”

You bit back a groan of embarrassment, using your fingers to pull at the stupid pumpkin head that was still sat on your lap. You hated the sight of it now. How could you have been so stupid?!

“Minhee told me Jin was going as one,” you let out quietly, hating the own sound of your voice.

He scoffs loudly. “Park Minhee? The infamous bitch? And you trusted her? She’s been horny for his dick ever since he arrived here. She obviously had an ulterior motive.”

You hang your head in shame. Yes, it should have been obvious but at the time you weren’t thinking straight. At that, a sudden thought comes to you and you ask Jungkook before even thinking about it properly.

“Do you think he likes her? Do you think he knew I was coming here to make a fool out of myself?”

“I hope not because then he’s even more of a dick than I first thought,” he bites, annoyance colouring his tone but your too overcome with self pity to analyse it.

“What’s wrong with me?” You ponder out loud, probably melodramatically too. “Am I grotesque or something?”

“No,” he practically exclaims. “You’re pretty, super pretty.”

You narrow your eyes at his unusual behaviour. You’ve never seen him like this…so…nice…it’s confusing and slightly off putting…kind of unnatural—

A puff of air leaves your nostrils as you huff, realising what he’s up to. “Buttering me up won’t work to get me through those doors.”

“That-that wasn’t what I was trying to do,” he stutters, trying to look you in the eye but it fails when he speaks again, a quiet “you’re alright” leaving him and you swear a red tinge has formed on his cheeks. You can’t be sure because it’s dark and the only light you have is from the moon outside, but to you it’s a blush and the pit of your stomach jostles about weirdly. You chose to ignore it.

“Gee, thanks,” you thank sarcastically instead, wanting this awkward atmosphere to disappear.

“Really though, why do you waste thought space on that guy?”

His question only adds to your discomfort. Especially when you look to see he’s leaned in, face centimetres away from yours. He seems annoyed almost…his tone almost a huff. Hard and short as if he’s…jealous… The thought is a strange one but what else can it be? You’re confused, but for some reason you find yourself agreeing with him…as if you want to show him you’ll listen. He’s right after all…there’s probably other guys who are worthier of your time anyway…

You can’t take your eyes off him and as you stare you realise something; he’s actually really handsome. You’ve never let yourself truly look at him this close up before, and it’s weird you would think such a thing when he’s dressed as the keeper of death, face painted white and black. He still looks good though...

“I won’t anymore,” you whisper, and there’s something in your tone. You can’t place it.

“Good,” he quips. You’re still looking into each other’s eyes and your stomach is now doing somersaults. It’s like you’re magnetised to him and you can’t turn away, in fact you’re just getting closer and it’s when his gaze falls to your lips that you feel your heart jump too. You go to part them, you want to say something, the air is all stuffy and weird, but with your motion he shakes himself, swallowing loudly before he goes to straighten his back.

“Er, I should drive you home now…if you don’t want to go back tonight, I won’t force yo—

You launch yourself at him before you can overthink it—or rethink it…you’re unsure. You don’t even get what’s happening, but you want to kiss him. You want to feel your mouth on his, and for a second you do, flush and wet. His lips feel nice and you want more, but before you can push harder he’s gripping your arms and pushing you away.

“—wow, wait,” he gasps, eyes wide and glassy.

“Oh, fuck!” You groan, actually facepalming when you realise your mistake. “I’m so sorry—this is the worst night ever—

“No, it’s okay,” he hushes you and you stop to look at him, gaze careful as he carries on. “You just went from 0 to 100 real quick, wasn’t expecting it.”

“I misread the signs, which I seem really good at doing lately,” you try to chuckle and now you hate the sound of your own laugh too. You go to pull away from his grip, but he still holds you and you raise an eyebrow. He’s watching you seriously, his brows furrowed together as if he’s contemplating something. You sigh loudly. “This is so embarrassing. Ignore me—

“Just shut up and kiss me again,” he interrupts, voice firm.

Your eyes nearly bulge out of your head. He sounds so certain, like he actually wants you to kiss him again. Well, he does. That’s why he’s asking, or telling you, you’re unsure but this whole thing is so unexpected and crazy. You think you need some time to process it all.

Jungkook pulls a face, turning awkward now because of the prolonged silence and he chuckles quietly, scratching the back of his neck. “I mean, if you want to…”

Do you want to? You’re the one who just made a move and he’s the one who pulled away, but now he’s suggesting you do it again and just imagining it isn’t creeping you out like you’d thought. It seems kind of exciting… Your eyes fall to his lips again, they’re wet, like he’s dragged his tongue across them anxiously. You want more. You want to kiss him again.

You take a deep breath and go for it. His breath catches in his throat and to your surprise he stays perfectly still, like he’s frozen. You look up to see he’s closed his eyes. He looks cute almost, lids scrunched up as he waits for you to move and you let yourself relax fully, closing your own eyelids too as you press your mouth harder into his.

Kissing Jungkook is nice—good. His lips are smooth, nothing like the chapped mess you’d thought they’d be. His breath smells minty and after a moment of getting comfortable, he takes the lead. His hands loosen their grip on your arms to slide up your shoulder and one goes further than that, cupping your jaw as he parts his mouth, taking yours with him. It’s when you feel the first hint of tongue against yours that you move to hold him too, one of your hands leaving the stupid pumpkin head to wrap around his waist. The angle is cramped and uncomfortable, your torso twisted in his direction but you can’t get enough and it’s not long before you’re lost a little, sweet sights of pleasure leaving you as he grunts and hums into your mouth. You only pull away when things get to sloppy and you can’t catch your breath, otherwise you’d probably still be going at it.

“Your make up smudged,” you tell him, your hand that was behind his back reaching out to caress his face lightly. The black lipstick has spread all around his chin and cheeks, seeping into the white.

“It’s on your face too,” he informs you and you instinctively go to wipe your mouth. You can’t feel anything but when you pull back there’s grey on your fingertips.

“Wow okay, I can’t believe you just let me kiss you,” Jungkook sighs in disbelief and you frown; why is that so cute?

“Well technically you asked me to kiss you,” you quip, a wry smile on you face as you look back at him. He returns it, but it’s definitely wider and happier. It makes your belly begin to do weird things again.

“Can we carry on?” He asks bravely and this time you hide the shock on your face well. You were not expecting that, but the idea isn’t gross.

“I mean, I’m kind of intent on cheering you up now, and…it seems like it’s working?” He trails off hopefully.

“It’s working I guess,” you wrinkle your nose. Does he really want to make you happy, or is just a selfish excuse? “Why are you so eager to cheer me up?”

“I just don’t like seeing you sad…or hung up on that prick.”

There we go. The jealously was back and you have to bite down on your lip to stop yourself from grinning. You want to tell him you haven’t thought about Kim Seokjin since you started kissing, but you think better than mentioning that prick’s name. You catch Jungkook’s eye and he purses his lips. The black lipstick is worn in the middle and you can see the redness of the flesh, they’re slightly swollen too.  

“Okay, so…wanna get on my lap?”

“I…” you trail off, looking around outside. You’re shocked to realise you’re not even thinking about saying no, you’re just paranoid you may get caught. “...we’re in a parking lot right now…”

“Everyone’s inside,” he shrugs, slightly pushy, “no one will see, trust me.”

You hesitate for a moment and he must think he’s crossed a line because he’s apologising, words rushing from him as he tries to backtrack. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to if you don’t want to, it’s your deci—

He’s cut off in shock when you move suddenly, crawling over the middle to sit on his lap in one solid movement, throwing your pumpkin head to the back seat with a whoosh.

“Oh, okay,” he utters, eyes wide once again as he looks up at you. His arms come out to settle on your hips and you find yourself unable to stop looking at his face. Even with smudged make up and dressed like a total weirdo he looks great—hot even, the brown hood of his cloak having fallen off and his black hair ruffled over his eyes. He’s biting down on his lip too and it makes your heart thud a little faster. You realise it’s because he’s watching you lean further and further down, your lips nearing his once again and then finally they’re touching.

This time the kiss is more frantic, wilder. You’re both hungry for something more now, line already crossed, barrier broken down. He smells good too, musky and manly. How come you’re never noticed before? He sits next to you in your classes all the time. He tastes even better, tongue warm and skilled, it snakes around yours, flicking across your teeth and the roof of your mouth as he tries to taste each bit of you. You’re moaning now, and you’re too far gone to get embarrassed. He’s oddly quiet and you can tell he’s holding his breath slightly, body stiff under you, but he’s also warm—so warm…the heat between you is almost tangible. You can smell, feel it and when you shift in his lap he finally lets out a groan, his hands sliding to your ass as he can’t help but squeeze a handful.

You’re wearing a skirt and it makes you even more sensitive to his touch when you feel the pads of his fingertips tickle the curve of each butt cheek. You moan and he pauses, basking in the sound and then he’s moulding the flesh in his palms, grabbing onto anything, desperate to pleasure you again. By now your body is heating up, every nerve end tingling as you press your body against his, circling your hips to the rhythm of his squeezes.

“Fuck,” he drags out, fingers now falling between your legs. It’s like fire inside there. You can feel the burn, the pressure, the need. He feels it too and pulls away from your mouth.

“Can I?” He murmurs, your eyes locking and you nod instantly, knowing for sure what he means. You can feel his fingertips playing with the sides of your underwear.

“Yeah?” He makes sure and you nod again, whimpering a little in relief when you feel his index and middle finger push aside the cotton, cold air traveling to your centre.

You’re wet—like really wet. You’re kind of shocked to realise how much. You can hear it when he runs his digits over your slit. You expect him to comment on it, maybe even brag a little, but he stays silent, face serious as he concentrates on each motion. You shift a little, straightening your back to let him gain better access, and his eyes travel to your core. He can’t see much, if anything; your skirt has ruffled up your hips but it’s dark and your panties still cover most of your centre, but his eyes still glaze over and his breath gets a little shaky. Your walls clench around nothing when his two fingers travel down to your entrance but he doesn’t enter, just rubs your arousal around, catching your clit when he slides back up. You groan a little and his irises sparkle, as if he realises he’s teasing you. He repeats the action a couple of time until you’ve finally had enough. You want him to enter you. You want to feel him inside of you.

“Don’t tease.”

He obeys almost instantly, as if he was waiting for you to say something, to spur him on and then one finger slips inside of you, gentle and slowly as he reaches his last knuckle. It feels nice and you moan a little when he begins dragging the digit against your walls. All you can concentrate on is the pleasure and you’re vaguely aware he only has eyes for your messy stained face, taking in each sign of euphoria etched on it.

“Another?” He whispers and you feel his middle finger rubbing at your entrance. You nod and he pushes it inside. The stretch is better this time, it feels fuller. More pleasurable and you can’t help but grunt and shut your eyes when he pumps then in and out of you. Your wetter now, if that’s possible. It’s a mess. You can feel the sloppiness between your legs, hear it too, the slick noises as he plunges in and out.

It’s when he begins curling the digits against your walls you open your eyes. The pleasure was getting enough and with your eyelids blocking out what was really happening you were losing yourself. Was he really going to make you come right now? It sure felt like it. His hand was determined, fingertips pressing against your g-spot and in the back of your mind you realise how weird this was…Jeon Jungkook was about to give you an orgasm…

However, what was even more weird was how he was dressed right now. You were drop kicked back into reality when your eyes fluttered open to see the grim reaper fingering you in the driver’s seat of his own car.

“This is so weird,” you cringe back a little.

“Why?” He asks, stopping inside you instantly as his forehead crinkles, like he’s offended.

“Because you’re dressed like this,” you explain, a hand reaching out to tug at his ripped cloak.

You watch his expression relax and you can’t help but wonder if he thought you meant it was weird getting it on with him? It wasn’t. If you’d ever thought about this before tonight, your answer would have been a yes, but now it was happening it really wasn’t. It was good. Anything but weird.

He shrugs. “And you’re dressed as a pumpkin, it’s fine.”

“Yeah but I took the head off, i’m really just in an orange shirt right now,” you argue. He’s the weird one here, not you…well…you are the one super horny and wet for him right now and he’s dressed like this…so on second thoughts…

“Semantics,” he shrugs again. “You still came to this party dressed as a pumpkin wanting to impress Kim Seokjin—” and the way he bites the other guy’s name with his fingers buried deep inside you has you feeling some type of way.  You squeeze around them, unstoppable. “—and now you’re in my car getting fingered by yours truly so…”

You go to speak, you don’t know what but at the same time he pulls back and thrusts his digits inside of you harder.

“Jungkook,” you moan, falling into him, hands clamped around his shoulders as you gasp against his ear.

“Fuck, moan my name more,” he practically begs. “It’s hot.”

You don’t really have a choice because he’s now fucking you with his fingers so hard you’re jiggling around and moaning his name like your life depends on it. He knows he has the right spot, he can tell by the way you’ve turned to jelly. You can’t think straight, not even about his supposed jealously. All you want is him. All you want is him to make you come. All over his hand.

You’re on your knees now, pressed against the seat around his thighs, one hand on his shoulder the other flush on his chest, trying desperately to brace yourself for the grand finale. Getting caught or spied on is the least of your worries.

At the final hurdle your hand slips and falls to his crotch. Right on his dick. He gasps and stalls any movement inside of you, your orgasm begins to ebb away…

“Do that again,” he murmurs.

“What hit your dick?” You ask, confused a little.

“No,” he shakes his head, almost whining as he looks up at you. “Touch me.”

You listen automatically, rubbing your palm against his erection and squeezing the hard flesh. He’s into it, so much so, his fingers begin to go limp and fall out of you. You’re not mad, mainly because he looks so into your touch it turns you on enough just to watch. He looks a little fucked out. He looks hot.

“There’s not much room,” you whisper after a while.

The cloak may have ridden up to reveal his black jeans underneath but you still can’t truly pleasure him over them. The fabric is stiff and you can’t feel him like you want to.

“Take it out then,” he tells you and your heart stops for a moment before you do just that.

His dick is smooth and hard—really hard, verging on the point of painful you’re sure. How was he able to ignore this for so long? You waste no time running your fist over him, squeezing the head before you go back down each time. He’s watching your every move and to be honest, so are you… You can’t take your eyes away. You bet his dick could stretch you out way more than his fingers could. As if he can read your mind, he speaks, stuttering almost nervously, unsure…

“D-do you want to?”

“Want to what?” You ask, although you have no idea why because you already know what he means, but you’re awkward and stunted and you still can’t believe this is really happening, or why it seems so natural.

“Do it,” he mumbles, just as awkward it seems. “Have sex…”

It’s cute. You’ve never seen him like this before, and the last word you’d ever thought you’d use to describe him would be cute. But here you are. You hide your excitement and chose to lighten the moment, relax the tension a little.

“You just want to get your dick wet?”

“No,” he shakes his head, sounding worried until he looks up at you again to see you’re grinning and then he’s joining you… “Just…I’ve already made you so wet, it’s only fair I join in…”

There it was. You knew him well. He had to brag, if even just a little.

“Is that you trying to convince me?” You raise an eyebrow and before he can answer you cut in. “Fine, but only because we’ve gone this far.”

That’s a lie of course. But you’re not in the mood to analyse your thoughts and feelings right now. Especially when you’re dripping wet and hungry for him. You’ll work it out later, it’s not like you never seen him—you have class with him Monday, for crying out loud.

“Really?” He exclaims, shocked and you nod, already leaning up on your knees to try and angle his dick between your legs. He groans, eyes fluttering closed as he hums. “Yeah? Okay—wait!” He stops you suddenly and you pull away startled.

“I don’t have a condom in here, I didn’t think we’d be, y’know…”

The way he tries to explain himself is cute and you wonder if he’s ever thought it a possibility you two would or could hook up…

You continue to try and push your underwear back with his dick as you reassure him, “it’s okay, i’m on the pill—wait, you don’t have any diseases, do you?” You demand on second thought.

“I haven’t been with anyone since last semester when Rebecca nearly bit my cock in half,” he tells you and you pull a face. “True stor—

“Shush, just come on,” you stop him, not wanting to hear the weird details. “—in case someone catches us.”

He shuts up instantly and lets you take control. The first squeeze of his dick hurts a little, stretching you out wider than his fingers but once he’s half way in the pain eases off and before you realise it he’s buried in between your thighs, snug and warm inside your core.

“Oh, god,” he groans, head falling back against the headrest and his hands grip around your hips, holding you as he begins to thrust inside of you. He’s going slowly but when you push back and meet each one the sensation is stronger, enticing moans from the back of your throat.

He’s watching you with his mouth wide open and you hadn’t noticed before, but he’s sweating. Little damp spots sit at his hairline and his make up has rubbed away from his little sweat wrinkles around his mouth and forehead, his skin visible under the white and black.

“You look freaky right now, like old and creepy…”

“Mhm, you like this old cock though?” He hums and you hit his shoulder, grimacing but unable to stop the giggle that gargles in your throat.

“Jungkook, stop,” you whine, looking at him grin up at you, teeth on show. He looks good and your heart flutters. “This is honestly so crazy.”

Which one? The situation or the feelings you seem to be battling right now? Both probably…

“I’ve cheered you up though, yeah?” He asks, keeping conversation even though he’s still pounding into you, huffing and puffing as he tries to keep his voice steady. “Made you forget about Kim Seokjin?”

You nod, the way he bites that idiot’s name again causing you to squeeze around his dick harder. “I bet he couldn’t fuck you like this, he doesn’t have it in him.”

He’s jealous. There’s no way around it and it makes you feel things... Has he been jealous this whole time? Biding his time until a situation like this presents itself…

“Kiss me,” you utter, letting your head fall and then your lips meet and you’re losing it. His hands are everywhere, caressing your thighs and ass, pushing your skirt up to get at what he can, murmurs of, ‘wanna get you naked’ and ‘you feel so good’ leaving him as you go, tongues messy and urgent against one another.

You kind of wish you were naked too right now; it’s boiling hot inside the car, you’re sure the windows have steamed up and you’re sweating now too, Jungkook’s thick material of his costume pressing against your own clothing. You’re out of breath and panting and that’s when he pulls away to ask you if you’re okay.  

“I’m really hot,” you admit, blowing air up into your face.

“Tell me about it,” he smirks.

“Shurrup,” you dismiss, although you’re grinning. “It’s really warm in here, we’ve steamed up the windows. People are going to know we’re having sex,” you whine.

“I told you there’s no one about.” He’s kissing your neck now, probably spreading his face paint as he goes, but it feels so good you can’t will yourself to stop him. “—and if there was— good,” he carries on. “Let’s hope it’s Minhee—show her you’re not bothered one little bit over her scheming.”

And then you’re kissing again, needier than the last time, teeth scraping against each other and tongues tangled together as his dick moves inside you, squelching noises filling the vehicle. You feel his hand meet between your bodies, thumb rubbing against your soaked panties.

“Wanna make you cum,” he moans against your mouth, but his movements are messy and uneven. The pressure feels nice but it’s not enough—

“Want me to do it?” You offer and he nods, letting you continue.

“Fuck, that’s so hot,” he lets out, breaking away from your mouth to watch. “Damn, be quick because I’m about to go.”

You roll your eyes. It’s as if he’s never seen a girl masturbate before—has he never watched porn? But you listen, mainly because you’re super close yourself. You know just the right pressure to add and pace to keep as you rub your forefinger around your hardened clit, fresh squelching sounding around you now as Jungkook just stops dead, dick buried inside you to feel you come around him. It’s not long and you’re holding your breath, willing the feeling to come over and then you’re squeezing around his length, walls spasming with the intensity of your orgasm.

“Oh shit,” you gasp, letting yourself breathe once more. “Oh, fuck—Jungkook.”

His name sounds good coming from you like that…

You fall into his chest, mouth on his throat as you kiss up it, feeling his adam’s apple bob up and down as he gasps and comes to.

“You feel so warm and tight,” he rasps out, breath shaky. “You came all over my dick.”

He sounds amazed, as if his wildest dreams have just come true and you’re filled with something…pride? Pleasure? You’re unsure, but your whole body is tingling and you just want him to fill you up.

You kiss up to his ear, whispering ‘your turn,’ into the shell before sucking on the lobe, nibbling on the sensitive flesh and then he’s practically roaring, gripping your hips to pound quickly inside of you, desperate to come.

It takes him no longer than a few moments and then you feel warmth shoot inside you, his white seed painting your walls uncontrollably, his grip finally loosening as he catches his breath.

“Fucking hell,” he sighs, pure bliss on his face as you pull away from his neck, taking in his worn out form. He’s wiping his hair out of his eyes and he looks a mess, sweaty complete with rubbed off make up.

You take a while to calm down and pull away from one another. As he slides out of you your panties fall back into place, trapping his come that’s trickling out by now. It feels nice. It’s a strange way to describe it, but it does…

“Okay so, party now?” He asks once you straighten up his outfit and your nostrils flare in anger, whacking his chest and making him yelp out an ouch.

“If that was a ploy to get me inside—

“No, no, you misunderstand me,” he frets, looking worried, hands coming out to hold your forearms and keep you to him. “Honestly me agreeing to be your date tonight was also a sort of ploy for myself. I really wanted to go with you,” he admits and you frown, the butterflies in your stomach foreign as he looks you square in the eyes. He’s nervous but he’s being brave…for you. He likes you, you realise. For how long you are unsure.

“—even if it was just for you to make dick cheese jealous,” he adds and you’re taken back by how selfless he is. He would really accompany you to a party just to help you make some guy who doesn’t give two shits about you jealous…? You’re touched.

“So, still want to make him jealous?” He presses when you don’t reply and you instantly shake your head, smiling sweetly as you cup his face, not caring if you get more of his make up on you. Not even caring what he looks like, because you probably look a mess too…

“I’d rather just go inside and enjoy the party with you.”

He’s shocked for a moment, not expecting your answer, but there’s some unexplained, unspoken words between you both as you sit on his lap inside his now, hot and steamed up car… He gets what you mean and you get what he means. You have plenty of time to speak properly another time. Tonight you may as well enjoy the party. You’d both made the effort after all, even if you had come dressed as a giant pumpkin…

“Okay,” he finally smiles—coyly and unlike him, but it has your heart jumping around inside your chest again. “I have wipes in the glovebox, let’s get this make up off, we look a little strange right now.”

After you’ve cleaned up, looking semi—presentable now, you shove the wipes back in the compartment and turn to face him again. You haven’t left his lap and a part of you just wants to stay here until the night’s over. But you don’t, because it seems like Jungkook really wants to go to the party.

“Ready?” You ask.  

He nods before holding a finger up. “One thing,” and you watch him turn behind to the back seat, grabbing the stupid pumpkin head that you only have to look at before it starts to trigger you again. You groan loudly, head falling back in despair.

“You have to put it on, it completes the outfit,” he tells you, holding it towards you now and when you don’t take it he pulls you forward and places it on your head himself. He straps it on as you pout and pats it affectionately.

“Besides, you look hella cute— a cute pumpkin,” he grins, adding a small but proud, “my pumpkin,” that you are unsure if you’re supposed to have heard, but you do anyway, and you hide your own grin but blush regardless…

[fableweaver]

Arc of the Dwarven Warden

They sat in a tent on a thick layer of blankets, servants pouring drinks of a bitter black liquid and dishing out food full of spices and flavors Darin had never tasted. The Prophet of the Sands sat at the apex of the arch they had formed, to her left sat her advisors, and to the right their party of travelers. Her advisers consisted of a blonde clerk, a scared desert warrior, and a city guard. They had not had a formal discussion, and the men did not question the girl when she had insisted on hosting the strange band of travelers in her tent for a meal.

They finished eating and the servants cleared away the dishes and trays. Once the servants had served another cup of the bitter drink and left did the girl speak.

“I need to introduce those here I believe,” the girl said. “This is High Sect Samson, Captain Jinan of the First Battalion, and Rais rah Sair of the Dunesmen.”

Xavier bowed to them and introduced Zaire, Donar, and Darin. The advisers did not seem too interested in their guests, except the High Sect.

“The Aldan have chosen to venture from the forest now is it?” Samson said after he blew smoke from his mouth after inhaling from a roll of paper between his fingers.

“Alda is at war much like Xin,” Xavier answered.

“So, I’ve heard,” Samson said. “But why is one Aldan here? And why might I ask do you look like Terrian Alvar risen from the grave?”

“You knew my father?” Xavier said surprised.

“Met him once when I was a child, I’m a Drasir,” Samson answered. “You’re a bastard I take it.”

“My mother was Selene Lonelove,” Xavier answered. Telling by Samson’s reaction he knew what that meant so Xavier explained briefly his history.

“I see,” Samson answered seeming tired. “Well then I guess you’re going to make a claim then on the High Throne?”

“When all this is said and done, no I don’t think I will,” Xavier answered. “I don’t think there will be a High King after all this.”

“Hm,” Samson said and shrugged. “Well, you never answered my question. Why are you here?”

“He is seeking the Palace of Glass,” Demi answered, and Samson sputtered and laughed.

“You mean form the Tales of the Lost?” Samson asked. “The legendary city made of glass that wanders the desert? The one Tí Re Laricar was said to lead five thousand slaves to where they lived in paradise?”

“Yes,” Demi said looking to the Sect who sobered under her gaze.

“The Palace really exists?” Jinan asked amazed.

“It does and it awaits the spirit that resides in Xavier,” Demi answered. “I cannot tell you how to find it, I swore I would not tell others of it. But if you travel to the Ró-Urt to the east you will find those who can guide you.”

“Thank you,” Donar said. “But we will need guides through the rest of the desert as well. I do not believe we can even reach the place you just named without a guide and beasts to travel upon.”

“Until the Pridesmen fall you will not find any able to guide you,” Rais said. “Nor do I believe you would be able to travel east unmolested.”

“That is what we expected,” Xavier said with a heavy sigh. “How can we help?”

“Kill Zar Ne Zar,” Samson said sarcastically.

“Very well,” Xavier answered and Samson laughed.

“I was joking boy.”

“And I am serious,” Xavier answered. “I am decent fighter.”

“And Zar Ne Zar is the greatest warrior of all the Pridesmen,” Rais said. “He has united them with force. Many of my warriors have tried to best him in battle and always he has won.”

“Then if I defeat him they’ll leave,” Xavier said.

“He is right,” Demi said calmly. “Right now if we wish to end this war, defeating Zar Ne Zar is our best option. I thank you Xavier for this aid.”

“Thank me if I win,” Xavier said. Darin frowned, unsure if they should be risking the life of Eileen reborn like this, but chose not to argue. He knew Xavier’s powers in the Elder and High Magic so he was sure with such power at his command he would win through.

“There is more,” Demi said and reached behind her, dragging over a basket. She opened the basket and reached in, pulling out a large viper. Darin could immediately tell this was no ordinary snake, it was no creature of Miread. The serpent had violet eyes and mane of scales and was large enough for Demi to drape around her like a shawl.

“This is Sha, the Serpent King reincarnate,” Demi said.

“You should not be here,” Donar said, his eyes narrow and fists clenched. Darin looked at Donar, knowing that tone of voice well, the spirit of Emir was with him. “Not now with the aether stirred by the song and Miread as it is. You risk the whole world being swallowed.”

“I risk little as I am,” Sha answered. “I have resided in Miread all this time after all.”

“How?” Darin asked.

“My spirit was diffused across the sands when I fell,” Sha answered. “The earth soaked up my spirit and so I hear the place I fell became known as the Ró-Ky, the Dead Sands. The earth itself even turns creatures to stone, much like my breath did when I lived.”

“I awakened him,” Demi answered.

“That was foolish,” Donar said.

“He is needed to banish the Crippled One from the hyena,” Demi answered. “Unless you have the power to do so.”

“You do not?” Darin asked. “I see what you are, you are not a human spirit.”

“The Color Weaver wove my spirit to fit this vessel I live in,” Demi answered. “It took Kur granting me power to even command the Wild Kin.”

“Kur!” Donar said.

“Yes, she too is alive,” Demi answered. “She lives under the lake here in the city.”

“Kur is alive,” Donar said. “I must go see her.”

“The palace is sealed,” Samson said. “The King still has his head up his ass.”

“I don’t care,” Donar said as he stood. “I am going to see Kur.”

“Wait,” Xavier said. “Is it really that important you see Kur Donar? Who is she?”

“She was once King of the Dragons, having dreamed their entire race, and the first of the Phay to come to Miread,” Donar said.

“And she has been asleep all this time,” Demi answered. “She was not even aware of Phay marching.”

“No, she wouldn’t be,” Donar said. “Kur could never leave Miread, she tied her spirit here. Many of the other Phay feared making her mistake so only a few had tied themselves like she had. The dwarves were ones who had, as well as the Merrow.”

“Donar I still don’t understand why you must see her now,” Xavier said. “If she has been asleep all this time she doesn’t know where the song is. Unless she can aid the Phay to March?”

“If she could she would have given me that aid,” Demi said. “I told her of the march, and that I wish to help.”

“I’m not so sure,” Donar said. “That is why I need to speak with her.”

“Very well,” Demi said and stood. “Let us go to the palace then.”

“Not if you plan bringing that serpent,” Donar said.

“Do I really look like I could cause any damage?” Sha asked with a flick of his tongue.

“I will guard him,” Demi said. “I know his true name, don’t worry.”

“One of his names,” Donar said and Demi looked at him puzzled. “The Serpent King had five heads with a name to each.”

Demi stood frozen a moment then gasped as the serpent around her tightened.

“Well seems my ruse didn’t last as long as planned,” Sha said as weapons were drawn.

“Release her,” Xavier said.

“No, I don’t think I will,” Sha said. “You will take me to Kur or the girl dies. Despite her spirit she still lives in this mortal shell.”

Demi was turning blue, her eyes bulging.

“Fine, we will take you to Kur,” Darin said and Donar turned to him shocked. Darin looked up at him, unable to say anything of the thin plan he had. All the years he knew Donar though paid off well, all they needed was a look.

“Very well,” Donar said sounding defeated. Xavier nodded as well, and the serpent released his grip on Demi.

“Well, lead on little one,” Sha said. Demi frowned at him but nodded, leading the way out of the tent. Everyone else followed, others gathering as they left the tent. Samson waved off the people gathering around them and gave orders at the same time.

They walked through the city as dusk started to rise, people venturing from their homes slowly. Darin noted there was little sign of damage to the buildings, some fire marks and broken doors. The real signs of battle came in the blood drenched earth and walls. He supposed the Pridesmen fought with weapons and the Panthra, not with munitions and siege weapons. That was probably why the siege had lasted so long, and why the people of the city seemed so drawn.

They began to leave the nomad quarter, crossing a canal up into a finer part of the city. Here blood was not spilled as much, though there were signs still of battle here and there. The Pridesmen seemed to take what they could but never hold, telling by the sporadic nature of the signs. Darin looked at it all and wondered what the Pridesmen thought they were accomplishing, holding and taking the city seemed far out of their minds. It seemed more like they only cared about killing.

Darin decided to ignore the foolishness of men and turned to Donar instead.

“Can she help?” Darin said lowly in the dwarvish tongue.

“I don’t know,” Donar said.

“You seemed very intent on seeing her,” Darin said. “It has something to do with Emir doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” Donar answered. “But I can’t remember what, Emir knew Kur briefly, she was ancient by the time our race was born. His memories are the hardest for me to remember.”

“Perhaps that is why Xavier struggles with Eileen’s memories as well,” Darin said.

“Partly, though Emir is more generations between me and him,” Donar said.

“Do you think he is feeling the same need to see Kur?” Darin asked but Donar just shrugged. Darin looked to Xavier, but he doubted now was the time to ask him.

They continued through the wealthy quarter of the city, no one offering the name of the district or remarking on any landmark they passed. A grim silence hung over the group, none daring to break the silence. At one point they even passed a grand temple, a golden sun on a dome just reflecting the rising sun. Demi stopped a moment to give hands signs to the sky, the other desert dwellers following suit.

They continued on as if the moment of worship had been second nature, Darin wondering the nature of the worship. He had heard of the Sky gods as they had traveled but much of those, they met didn’t seem to hold them in much reverence. Here they did, and Darin found it ironic it was from a people that had a young deity born among them.

They reached the palace, Darin surprised by how small it seemed. All he could see was a white plaster wall and a gate house, he had been expecting a palace more in line with the keep in Hólmstead or Alma. Yet all he could see beyond the walls was sky. They were met with armed guards and a bared gate, men gathering as they reached the gate.

“Halt!” A man in a burnished bronze helm and rich robes hailed once they were in bow shot. “None will enter here.”

“I am more than none,” Demi answered continued to approach. The guard called out, and an arrow was let loose. The wind suddenly howled as a sylph swooped down and snatched at the arrow, causing it to stray and skip against the cobble stones. Two more arrows flew and once again the sylph made them go awry.

“She isn’t commanding it,” Darin said.

“What do you mean?” Donar asked, they had started to follow Demi, the guards closing ranks.

“It is protecting her of its own will,” Darin answered. “She isn’t using the Elder Magic.”

“She did before,” Donar said. “When she commanded the sylph to make her fly.”

“That was superfluous,” Darin said. “When her life is in danger the Wild Kin protect her without her asking.”

Donar nodded but little more could be said as weapons were now being drawn.

“You will stand aside,” Demi said, then Darin saw her exerting her will on the sylphs. Many gathered to her call, forming into a mighty whirlwind. Dust flew, Darin having to cover his face as the wind blew. Then it stopped and Darin looked up to see dust settling. The guards had all been blown aside, some starting to gather again.

“Leave this to me,” Xavier said stepping forward. He went to the gate and drew a sigil, Darin only seeing the motion of his hand and fingers, not the lines of power of the High magic as he drew them. The air thinned for a moment and then there was a loud bang as the gates flew open as if kicked by a mule.

They hurried through, no one bothering to close the gate behind them as they charged through the gate house out onto a lake. Darin stumbled as they ran out onto a pier, staring around in awe at the mirror smooth water before them. Donar had stopped as well, sensing what Darin had sensed as well. The water before them held life and aether in it, thinned but still there. It was a making of the Elder Magic Darin had never seen before but knew a making such as this could have only come from one creature of the Phay.

“She weeps,” Donar said, “These are Kur’s tears.”

“Hurry!” Xavier shouted. Darin and Donar jumped and saw the others had reach a boat, already punting it out onto the water. Donar and Darin ran for it and leapt aboard, Jinan pushing them off the dock. They drifted off onto the peaceful waters as if out into a world of calm free of war and bloodshed.

“Can either of you sense it?” Donar asked Xavier and Zaire.

“No,” Zaire said looking to Xavier who was gazing out over the lake.

“I can taste the aether here yes,” Xavier said, his eyes still on the water. “It is a meeting of the lines?”

“Well it is now,” Donar said. “The water here is Kur’s tears.”

“This lake is the origin of the Ark River,” Demi said. “Without the Ark the Sía-Be Róza would have no life.”

“The Burning Sands were born of Kur and the Serpent King’s battle,” Donar said.

“And Kur is glad she has restored some life to it with her tears,” Demi said. “If she wakens the river will dry up.”

“If she is so glad why does she still weep?” Darin said. “They river has not gone dry has it.”

Demi hesitated but it was Xavier who answered.

“She weeps because she is alone,” Xavier said.

“Xavier,” Darin said carefully. “Do you remember meeting Kur?”

Xavier turned to him; his violet eyes glowing. Darin met those eyes and realized for a moment he was looking at a stranger. And then Xavier blinked, and the moment passed.

“What were we talking about?” Xavier asked frowning.

“Nothing,” Zaire said taking his hand. Xavier looked at her a smiled, before he looked over her shoulder.

“I can see the palace,” Xavier said.

Darin looked as well and was rewarded with the palace he had expected. Delicate minarets, giant domes, and grand towers made a city of itself on the island in the center of the lake. It was beautiful, a work of man that Darin had to admit almost met the workings of the Phay or at the very least the Dwarves.

No one said anything else as their boat approached the palace, entrapped by the sight, until Sha broke the silence.

“Kur is below the water,” Sha said. “Not there in the palace, we will descend now.”

“There is a way to the lakebed in the palace,” Samson said. “Wouldn’t want to get your scales wet would we?”

Sha glared at him, but Demi spoke next.

“He is right Sha,” Demi said. “Would the Wild Kin grant you the aid you need to get to the lakebed? It is too deep to go without their aid.”

“Very well,” Sha said before tightening around Demi again making her wince. “But if this is a trap…”

“No, there is a way,” Samson said calmly. Sha nodded and loosened again, his eyes watching everyone closely.

They reached the dock, disembarking the boat and walking to the palace. There were no guards at the dock, after all no one had expected anyone to get passed the gate. Demi led the way through the place grounds, giving little time to look at the splendid gardens they walked through. Guards stood at the palace entrance, looking startled before they drew the swords at their sides.

“Stand aside,” Demi said not stopping. The guards, men who had spent most of their time just making sure a drunk lord didn’t fall and break his neck, hesitated. Demi marched passed them, but shouts followed the party as they walked through the palace.

They marched through several rooms, the next more impressive than the last, Darin wondering where Demi was leading them. He noticed then that Samson was gesturing where they should go, Demi only leading the way in that she was walking ahead with Samson guiding her. They did not keep to the fine halls and rooms long, soon they were walking through narrow servant quarters, servants and slaves hurrying out of their way.

They went through huge kitchens and then larders and storerooms. They opened one door to reach a large basement room, dank with water in the air. Xavier cast a quick light sigil so that Zaire could light a lamp that hung in the corner. The room was dominated by a large well made of stacked stones, the water a deep dark blue.

“This is as close to the lakebed as we can get,” Samson said. “Maybe you can swim from here.”

“No,” Sha said. “This is good enough; she should hear us from here. Right Kur?”

“Well enough Coal,” Kur said.

“I am Sha’s head,” Sha answered.

“Which ever,” Kur answered unconcerned. “I suppose you came seeking your heart.”

“Return it to me and I will not kill the little deity you so kindly leant power to,” Sha said.

“I cannot give you your heart Sha,” Kur said mildly. “It withered after I ripped it from you.”

“Lies,” Sha said snickering. “How else have you lived?”

“I lived because I cannot die,” Kur answered. “My spirit is broken but it is part of Miread so as long as this world lives, I live.”

Demi gasped in pain as Sha began to tighten around her.

“Give me my heart,” Sha hissed, his mane prickling.

“Come little one,” Kur said kindly. “Do not waste your life so.”

“We need him,” Demi gasped. “To fight the Crippled One.”

“You do not,” Kur said. “You are enough, and you know it.”

Demi closed her eyes, falling to her knees as Sha tightened. Rais started to draw his sword but Xavier stopped him, shaking his head.

“Kur give it to me!” Sha shouted.

“Go on little one,” Kur said kindly.

Demi sighed and Darin felt her spirit swell. Sha screamed smoke rising from his coils around Demi, her spirit swelling with power. The serpent unraveled and slithered away into the darkness, disappearing in a crack in the wall.

“Leave him,” Demi said when Rais tried to follow. Her voice rang with power and looking at her now her aura was visible to the naked eye, blazing gold and russet yellow. “He has no power; he will be meddlesome to the world but that is all.”

“What power is this?” Samson said in awe. “The High Magic?”

“No, nor the Elder,” Xavier said. “It is her own.”

“I knew what I was but did not want it to be true,” Demi said sadly, Darin understanding.

“Not yet,” Darin said, and she looked at him. “You aren’t too big for this world yet.”

Demi looked at him with a broken heart and nodded, he had said yet. He wasn’t sure when she would outgrow the physical realm, but she would, and she could never return when she did.

“Kur!” Donar said hurrying to the well to look into the water. “It is me, Emir reborn.”

“Ah, dear little rock head,” Kur said fondly. “What brings you here? Come to see me? I am not my best now I confess.”

“No Kur, our kin mean to march, the Dullahan slumber, we need your help,” Donar said.

“I have little help to give,” Kur said. “I have become much like the greater of the Wild Kin, my spirit diffused into the water of the great river. My body the mountains and the earth north of here. What aid could I give?”

“You must!” Donar said, sounding much like a child begging for help. “There must be something you can do.”

“There is not much you need from me,” Kur said. “You have it all well in hand.”

“We do not even have the song!” Darin said.

“We will soon,” Xavier said, and Darin looked at him. His eyes held the same strange light once again.

“Eileen,” Kur said warmly like greeting an old friend. “Your spirit is mortal now.”

“I shed it, for the one I love,” Xavier answered taking Zaire’s hand.

“I see, we’ve both changed much over the centuries haven’t we?” Kur said.

“I’m sorry we disturbed you,” Xavier said. “This is what you’ve wanted isn’t it, to become one with Miread.”

Donar looked at Xavier stricken and then back to the water.

“Eileen don’t reveal an old dragon’s deep wishes,” Kur said.

“But you miss your kin,” Demi said sadly. “You said you wanted to see them again.”

“I do, and I would love to have them walk Miread once more, I will be the sky and water and earth they walk upon,” Kur said. “There is no need for you to keep your word little one, this is what I want.”

“You can’t,” Donar said sounding lost. “We need you Kur, you were always the one to guide us. You kept the peace when all we wished was to fight.”

“And what chaos you all caused,” Kur said. “We are no longer one Emir, peace comes with strife, pain with love, life with death. Did you not choose to live closer to Miread than the others?”

Donar didn’t answer, his head bowed over the water. Darin went to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“You came with hope,” Darin said softly. “Nothing more.”

“She was the greatest of us all,” Donar said.

“Then we need to be better,” Darin answered. Donar closed his eyes and nodded before looking back into the water.

“Farewell Kur.”

“You will see me in the earth and water,” Kur said kindly. “Always remember that.”

“I will,” Donar said and turned away, not bothering to wipe away the tears that fell. He turned away from the well and froze, Darin following his gaze.

“Halt intruders!” a guard shouted a sword raised in his hand, several other guards filling the doorway and the hall beyond.

“We aren’t going anywhere,” Samson said dryly.

“You will surrender your weapons,” the guard said unphased by Samson’s remark. “You are under arrest; you will await the King’s judgement in the dungeon.”

“No,” Demi said, her aura glowing. “You will take us to the King, he can pass judgement upon us now.”

The guard looked surprised, he hesitated but then nodded.

“You will surrender your weapons,” he repeated. Xavier, Donar, Darin, Jinan, and Rais removed their weapons and handed them to the guards. They left the chamber, guards surrounding them as they were marched back through the servant’s quarters back into the palace proper. They walked through several splendid rooms, passing courtiers in fine robes and silks. The courtiers stopped and stared before hurrying to follow the party as the guards escorted them to the throne room.

Here they found court gathering, a young boy sitting on a throne of wicker and giant cushions on a dais. A fat man stood at his side, anger lighting his face when he saw who the guards had brough before them. The boy had a mixture of surprise and sourness to his expression. Next to him stood another man, a mage who looked old yet sharp. Xavier froze when he saw the mage, Zaire taking his hand as she stared at the old man.

“Demi, what has happened to you?” the King of Xin said lowly.

“Nothing that would not have happened given the time, Akeem,” Demi answered.

“Watch your tongue girl,” the fat man said. “You dare speak to your king with such familiarity?”

“I speak to a boy yet to be a king truly,” Demi answered. “And you should stay out of matters beyond you Rashad.”

“Lord Rashad to you welp,” Rashad said angrily.

“Enough Rashad,” Akeem said angrily and then turned to the elderly mage. “Lord Varas, can you tell me what power this girl has?”

“No Majesty,” Varas said, his arms crossed. “It is not the High Magic that she uses. Though I would warn you the greater danger lays with the Aldan man with her. He is a half breed mage and wanted criminal from Dridia. I believe he was the one to have assassinated the King of Dridia.”

Akeem looked at Xavier with fear, but Xavier stepped forward.

“I did not kill the King of Dridia, Prince Ilya did,” Xavier said. “Lord Varas is my grandfather and wishes me dead for the stain and curse I am on his family. I am the un-recognized bastard of Terrian Alvar, the last Aldan High King. I was Varas failed gambit at the High Throne.”

“This man is a criminal and a liar,” Varas said smoothly.

“He is not,” Samson said. “I can attest to his similarity to Terrian Alvar. He has also sworn to challenge Zar Ne Zar and end this war. I have no doubt he would be able to defeat Zar Ne Zar when all others had failed.”

“And why should we believe a heretic of the Sect?” Rashad said crossly. “I’ve heard you preaching about this whore of a girl to the city, painting her a prophet of the gods, only to further your own gains.”

“My gains are the lives of the people of this city!” Samson shouted. “You are a filthy fat pig, a glutton! You care nothing about the lives of those you rule!”

The arguments continued but Xavier stood back, a frown of his face.

“What is it?” Darin heard Zaire whisper to Xavier.

“Why is he here?” Xavier asked. “He is working with Ilya.”

“Maybe the High King sent him,” Zaire answered.

“He has never been commanded by anyone,” Xavier said. “He would have wriggled out of an order like that.”

“He is working with the Crippled One?” Darin asked and Xavier looked at him.

“Yes, the mages have formed an alliance, trying to make a body for the Crippled One so they might unlock immortality.”

“Then wouldn’t the best way to be sure the city fell is if the king died?” Darin asked.

“If you ask me the city can stand just fine without the King,” Xavier said. “If anything it is…”

His head snapped up and Darin followed his gaze to see Varus was slowly drawing with his fingers. Xavier shouted and started to cast a ward, but he was too slow.

Light blazed, enveloping Demi in a blast of power that shook the palace to the foundations. Darin fell back by the force of the blow, everyone sent flying by the power of the mage. Darin stood shakily, reaching for a sword he did not have, blinking the spots from his eyes. At last his vision cleared enough to see a burnt ring in the floor, courtiers and the King also having been blown back by the attack.

Demi stood untouched, her aura just as bright and eyes fixed on the mage Varas.

“Well more than I anticipated,” Varas said, but he was already drawing a new sigil.

“Such power does not touch me,” Demi said mildly.

“Then I’ll just have to bring the palace down around your ears,” Varas said. Movement to his side made Darin turn to see Xavier running forward, Zaire at his side. He started to draw in the air and Varas turned to him and laughed.

“What is this?” Varas said. “Your power could never beat my own welp.”

“I have more than just the High Magic now grandfather,” Xavier said and Darin could see now the casting he was making. He was drawing on the aether, filling his sigil with the Elder Magic like filling a glass with water. He saw then that Zaire was helping him, drawing the High Magic as he fed her power and drew on the Elder.

Varas seemed to sense this as well, so he turned his magic to Xavier and Zaire. Darin reached into his pocket and grabbed a munition, throwing the flash grenade at the mage. His throw was far off, and he was far away, but the flash of light burst into the room all the same. Blinded Varas cried out, stumbling back. Darin opened his eyes to see Xavier and Zaire just as blinded, but Xavier ran forward following Varas’ cry.

He activated his sigil on Varas, the High Magic forcing the aether into the Mage. He screamed, falling to his knees. Darin ran up, Zaire reaching Xavier’s side as he stood over his grandfather.

“Did you kill him?” Darin asked.

“No, I filled him with the Elder Magic, negating his High Magic,” Xavier said. “He will never wield the High Magic ever again.”

“I should have killed you long ago,” Varas said glaring up at Xavier.

Xavier turned away, ignoring the old mage.

“What now?” Darin asked following. “What will we do with him.”

“Let him live for the short time he has,” Xavier said. “Forgotten.”

Zaire took his hand, and he smiled at her.

“Guards!” Akeem shouted having gotten to his feet. “Arrest the mage!”

He pointed to Varas and guards hurried to pull him away.

“What crime have I done to you!” Varas objected.

“Attempt of murder of my future first wife,” Akeem said. “Take him away!”

Varas couldn’t fight the guards as they dragged him away.

“Do not kill him majesty,” Xavier said. “Lock him away until he passes of old age, it shouldn’t take long.”

“Of course,” Akeem said as he nodded.

“Akeem!” Rashad said as he stood, his bald head bare having lost his turban. “What do you mean your future wife?”

“I will marry Demi,” Akeem said. “I am king here not you Rashad. And if you object further I will have your head on the chopping block.”

“I… yes majesty,” Rashad whined bowing to Akeem. Akeem nodded pleased and then turned to Demi.

“No Akeem,” Demi answered. “I cannot be your wife.”

“Demi, I love you despite what you are,” Akeem said smiling at her and Demi sneered.

“Ignoring flaws is not love,” Demi answered. “Besides which I have changed, beyond the vessel that lets me walk Miread. My spirit grows while the vessel I inhabit changes.”

“Changes?” Rashad said.

“I know already, this body will not age or wither, it will not change from the way it is now.”

Darin knew what that meant and felt fear and sorrow for the girl.

“I don’t care,” Akeem said.

“Akeem, I will outlive you, your children, and the many generations that come,” Demi said scolding. “I will forever be in the body of a child.”

Akeem understood then, his eyes going wide.

“The throne of Xin needs heirs,” Rashad said understanding as well. “This child cannot give you heirs.”

“So what?” Akeem snapped. “I can sire children on my other wives.”

“Only the children of the first wife may inherit Akeem,” Rashad said.

“Then I will change the law,” Akeem snapped. “I am king.”

“Enough,” Demi said sounding tired as she turned away. “I will not marry you Akeem.”

“No!” Akeem shouted. “Guards stop her!”

Guards appeared but stopped before Demi, whose aura was pulsing with power.

“Stand aside,” she commanded and they did, not out of fear Darin saw but because Demi had commanded them with her will. They followed her as Akeem shouted after her, but the guards did not follow.

“A new deity walks Miread,” Donar said lowly.

“Be glad she is on our side,” Darin answered but the dark look in Donar’s eyes made him reconsider. How long would Demi be on the side of the Phay? For now they worked together, but if Demi was to live as long as the Phay things might change. Darin recalled many histories where the Phay had warred with each other, then became allies centuries later. For a people who did not die from age, time and allies shifted over centuries.

They reached the lake again and rowed back out over the water to the gate house again. They were let out of the gates and back into the city, Demi leading the way again.

“Are you ready?” Demi asked Xavier as they walked.

“To face Zar Ne Zar?” Xavier asked. “I suppose, are there rituals we have to follow?”

“The Pridesmen have always been impatient,” Demi answered. “If you challenge Zar Ne Zar now he will fight you in that very moment.”

“Looks like the day’s battle has begun,” Xavier said, their position on the hill giving view of the far distant armies clashing. “How do I challenge him?”

“Stand on the walls and shouting seems to have worked in the past,” Samson answered.

“Will the battle stop for our fight?” Xavier asked.

“No, it will continue, though some will stop to watch,” Samson answered.

“Then Zaire should say where it is safe,” Xavier said looking to his lover. Zaire nodded, looking worried but afraid. “And we shouldn’t waste any time.”

“Let us go then while we can,” Rais said and started off. Jinan, Demi, Xavier, Darin, and Donar followed, leaving Samson and Zaire to find refuge. They jogged through the city, arriving back at the temple of Mercore in the late morning.

“The only thing to stop the battle ever is Sol,” Demi said as they stopped to catch their breath and drink some water at a well. “His wrath will be strongest soon.”

“I have a sigil to guard against the heat,” Xavier said as he drew a sigil around himself. “Zar doesn’t have that trick I bet, I will challenge him now and maybe the heat will aid me.”

“Zar Ne Zar is a warrior of the desert,” Demi answered. “He will fight in the heat.”

Xavier nodded and they went to the walls. Here the battle was thick, giant millipedes and centipedes swarmed the walls as the lions did the same. It was hard to make their way to the top of the wall, Jinan and Rais working to clear the way while Darin and Donar guarded their backs.

They reached the top of the wall and Xavier drew a sigil before he leapt up. Immediately a Panthra lunged at him but fell back yowling as if struck by lightning.

“ZAR NE ZAR!” Xavier bellowed, a sigil making his voice carry far. “I CHALLENGE YOU COWARD!”

Motion drew Darin’s eye as something hurled out of the mass of Pridesmen below. A glaive flew at Xavier, bouncing off an invisible force around him before skittering away across the wall.

“Well,” a man called from below, the crowd parting to show a man astride a very large male Panthra. “You have some devil tricks up your sleeve.”

Xavier rolled his shoulders and leapt down from the wall, landing lightly as he called on a few sylph to soften his fall. Zar NE Zar grabbed another glaive from a nearby warrior, spinning deftly.

“No tricks then,” Xavier said, making a hand gesture as if brushing something off himself.

“Foolish,” Zar Ne Zar said with a wicked grin. “You’ll need all the tricks you can get.”

He dug his heels into his lion’s side, the Panthra leaping at Xavier as he danced aside.

“He is fighting with his lion?” Darin asked confused and afraid.

“All Pridesmen fight with their Panthra,” Demi said.

“You didn’t tell Xavier that,” Darin said.

“I did not think it needed telling,” Demi answered.

“Easy Darin,” Donar said. “Watch.”

Darin watched as Xavier ducked and dodged around the Panthra, avoiding the lashing claws and fangs as if he had done this before. Darin realized then he probably had, having lived a while with the Griffins he was bound to have gotten into a few fights given the Griffins claim of warriorship. Still a Panthra was a different beast than the Griffins, with six legs instead of four it moved faster and had more limbs at its disposal.

Darin watched expecting Xavier to use the High Magic, but he continued to simply dodge. Then an opening appeared, the Panthra stumbled, and Xavier lashed out with his sword. The beast yowled, pawing at its face where Xavier’s blade had cut deep. Xavier closed the gap, going for the Panthra’s throat but Zar lashed out with his glaive, forcing Xavier back. The Panthra recovered shaking it great head, blood spattering across the sands. The beast attached now with more vigor, Zar Ne Zar lashing out with his glaive.

Xavier dodged a talon swipe and swayed to avoid the glaive before snatching the weapon. He tried to pull it away from Zar but the Pridesman pulled back, yanking Xavier towards the Panthra’s maw. Xavier turned the motion into a leap, vaulting off the Panthra’s head. His sword descended, Zar Ne Zar just barely saving his neck by rolling off his lion’s back. Xavier landed on the Panthra’s back and stabbed three times before leaping away.

The Panthra yowled and roared as it rolled around, bloody foam spewing from its mouth. It fell to the ground, panting and moaning. Zar Ne Zar walked up to it and stabbed it with his glaive, the Panthra groaning as it died. He withdrew his blade and turned to face Xavier, spinning the glaive and sending blood splattering across the sands.

“You will pay for that,” Zar Ne Zar said loudly. Xavier just shrugged and waited, a moment passing before Zar Ne Zar realized Xavier would not bring the attack. The Pridesman growled and lashed out, Xavier dodging aside easily. Watching the match Darin realized Zar Ne Zar was the leader of the Pridesmen for a reason. He moved with fluid purposeful strikes, able to keep Xavier at a distance easily with his longer weapon. He fought with a ferocity like his Panthra yet he was purposeful and intent in his attacks he had a cunning beyond that of a beast.

This time it was Xavier’s turn to stumble and Zar Ne Zar’s turn to take advantage and lash out. Xavier just barely managed to turn the blade, the glaive skittering off his armor. All the same that blow must have fractured a few ribs Darin bet. Xavier didn’t let his pain slow him, dodging away again as Zar chased him down. Xavier continued to widen the gap, running backwards and Zar Ne Zar chased him. Then Xavier did the unthinkable, he threw his sword at Zar Ne Zar. Caught off guard on the offensive Zar Ne Zar didn’t react in time. The blade took him in the forehead, cleaving through his skull, felling him in one blow.

Silence reigned as Zar Ne Zar fell to the ground, no one daring to break the silence that came after the fall of the King of Kings. Xavier walked over and withdrew his blade, looking up at the gathered Pridesmen.

“Well?” Xavier said mildly. The Pridesmen sat on the lions mutely a moment, before a horn blew among their ranks. A battle cry sounded and the line of Pridesmen charged forward. Xavier bolted back for the walls, someone tossing a rope down so he could be pulled up, Panthra nipping at his heels. He scrambled up over the wall as the battle started a new, arrows and cries following them.

Darin hurried to Xavier’s side and with his help they brought Xavier down to where a medic tent was set up. Zaire came running from the tent, Darin not surprised to see she had come here to wait.

“Are you hurt?” Zaire asked worried.

“I’ll live,” Xavier said short of breath. Darin and Donar helped him out of his mage armor, an easy task given how light it was. Xavier’s side was purple and red from armpit to waist, Zaire immediately drawing a sigil. She frowned, looking concerned.

“There’s internal bleeding,” she said worried. “It will take a greater healing sigil to heal you.”

“Can you draw it?” Xavier asked.

“Yes, but I don’t have the power to work it,” Zaire said.

“I’ll give you the power,” Xavier said weakly.

“I’m not sure you can,” Zaire answered.

“Not much choice is there?” Xavier answered and Zaire nodded. Darin turned away to let them do their working, he was sure they would be able to heal Xavier. He found Demi had followed them and went up to her.

“Were they supposed to attach?” Darin asked.

“We have won,” Demi said confidently. “Come Isra’s night the Pridesmen will stop as usual. Only this time tribes will leave in the night. Without Zar Ne Zar the tribes will not stay united. Some will try to take his place, and some tribes might stay for a few more days. But the Pridesmen will tire of the assault in a few days and return to the desert. They will begin fighting amongst themselves again, as they had before Zar Ne Zar.”

“And the Hyena?” Darin asked.

“I will deal with them tonight,” Demi said, and Darin shivered, wondering how she would perform such a working. He sighed and turned away to find Donar. He found him by a well taking a drink, Donar handing him a ladle which he drank from as well.

“Come, we should aid in the battle,” Donar said loosening his sword in the sheath. Darin nodded and followed Donar back to the wall.

It was not a long battle, soon the desert sun rose over the city and the Pridesmen stopped their attack to take shelter from the heat of the day. Donar and Darin did the same, though even in the shelter of a tent Darin found the heat immense. They ate a meal of the strange desert food, spiced vegetables and grains, goats meat grilled on skewers, and fresh fruit was served to them. Darin did not know most of the names of what he ate, but it had been so since they had come to the lands of men so he ate without qualm. It was delicious all the same, especially the fruits which Darin had no name to most.

Their meal finished they checked on Zaire and Xavier to find both were resting, so went to do the same. The sun dropped and shouts called them to the wall. They returned to find the Pridesmen had continued their attack, but a look out onto the plain told Darin immediately that already some of the tribes had left. They defended the city and people until the light faded into the twilight of night. Darin killed one last desert warrior and looked around, finding there were no more enemies to fight.

Looking around though he could feel the air charged with power, like just before a storm. He went to Donar, grabbing his arm.

“Yes, even I feel it,” Donar said. “A working.”

“It is coming from the temple,” Darin said. Donar nodded and the hurried down from the wall and back into the city. They reached the temple, Darin noticing the light Xavier had cast was gone. They hurried up the steps to the top of the temple, where Demi was sat with her legs crossed and head down.

“Her spirit is wandering,” Darin said, the glowing aura that lit her was gone.

“Then who is doing the working?” Donar asked. Darin looked around and realized dark clouds were gathering.

“The Crippled One,” Darin answered.

“You have to go after her,” Donar said.

“No need,” Demi said, her aura glowing to life as she lifted her head. “I was seeking the Sandman.”

Darin didn’t want to ask who that was, the name was not a true name but all the same held more power than the name of any mortal. Demi stood and looked to the sky.

“He has abandoned the Hyena,” she said.

“Why?” Darin asked.

“I do not know,” Demi answered. “But he is seeking to kill me here in this working.”

“Aren’t you going to do something then?” Darin asked.

“You should move away,” Demi answered, her eyes glowing gold now.

Darin and Donar moved down form the top, but stood guard on the steps, looking back up at the top. Demi stood waiting, Darin feeling the power of the Crippled One growing. Demi however wasn’t doing anything; Darin could not sense any working of power. He wondered if she had a different power, something like the High Magic, but he couldn’t be sure. He was about to go back to the top of the temple to help cast a ward when suddenly lightning struck out of the sky.

Blinded Darin nearly fell down the steps but Donar grabbed him. They held onto the steps, Darin blinking rapidly to clear his eyes. He waited until he could see again, spots dancing before his eyes. He realized then he had not heard the clap of thunder after the bolt of lightning and looked up to the top of the temple.

The lightning still blazed and crackled, held in Demi’s hand like a serpent, her aura burning around her in golden waves.

“I am not so easily disposed,” Demi said calmly to the sky. “But you are, I banish you back to the aether!”

She hurled the lightning back into the sky, the power now glowing gold as it shot back into the clouds. Then the thunder howled as the clouds crackled with the power through them, dissolving the darkness and revealing the stars and twilight sky. Demi stood unharmed; her aura just as bright as before. They hurried back up the steps, Demi turning to them with eyes glowing gold.

“The Crippled One will not return to Xin,” Demi said.

“You did not kill him though,” Darin said.

“No, just the power he had here,” Demi answered. “I do not know if he can be killed.”

“Thank you,” Darin said.

“We share the same enemy,” Demi answered bowing her head. “I thank you for your aid as well.”

“We share the same enemy and the same purpose,” Donar said. “To see the Phay March. Will you guide us to the Palace of Glass?”

“I cannot,” Demi said. “I have other matters to see to. But there are many who can guide you to the Palace, I will request the Dunesmen take you. They are the swiftest of the tribes over the sands.”

“Thank you,” Donar said.

“In the times to come I hope we will see each other again,” Demi said bowing to Donar.

“I as well,” Donar said. “Be well Prophet of the Sands.”

“Safe travels on the roads that lie ahead,” Demi answered. “You will walk many in your time.”

They bowed to each other and left, leaving Demi at the top of the temple to keep guard in case the Crippled One returned. As they left Darin wondered what Demi’s last words had meant, it almost felt like a prophecy. Words from a spirit that was growing in power by the day, they would never be simple words. Roads were opening, Darin only hoped they were the right roads.