#The Department of Magical Violations

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #6

Department of Magical Violations, here we go!

"With a pair quite strange!" Got it, got it.

Ooh, this title card implies Jorgen~!

SLKDJF, did Wanda become a seahorse immediately after they were complaining they spent so long as fish last episode?

Whoa, we're already 100 wishes forward in the future? That leaves a lot of wiggle room. Show me the moon phase; you know you want to...

Yep, she likes the fish guy from the theme. His name is Kennueth.

That cat photo is driving me up the wall. Is it Mittens, who hangs around Dinkleberg? I really feel like I've seen this cat...

Oh, Jorgen's gotten older! As he should have, I suppose, though you wouldn't think this would have been such a significant time jump for him. I'm not sure I love it.

sdfklj, I'm glad we're sticking with "Jorgen is in charge of godparents." Like... that man has no legal rights to Fairy World. He's over godparents and that has always kinda been his thing.

His braces are too big...

I'm glad SOMEONE here is yelling at them for not filing godparent paperwork. You sniped someone else's godkid assignment, you dummies!!

Wish Inspection! It's back! THE DMV! It's also back?? ... With fewer flying cars this time, but... wow. Didn't expect that one.

"Tedious structure and drab settings is my happy place" - Hazel, I know a race of magical beings you would love to hang out with.

I'm glad "I wish he had a trampoline instead" [of a parachute] turned out exactly the way I envisioned.

Jorgen has not changed at all, and he still loves dancing with bright lights around. I support him. I feel like they've not emphasized his sliced-off wings to new viewers, though.

Cookie: I know what you want. Hazel, who did not want a car:

I see where this is going.

Cosmo's cute pocket <3

Teacher's Pal

Nottttt sure it was a great idea to make one character's whole personality saying "Football," but let's see where it's going.

Aw, I like that Hazel's school has squirrels as a mascot since Timmy had the Squirrely Scouts.

... huh? was that Timmy?

Cosmo: Does she not know how a door works?

Tough talk for Fairies who like poofing doors away.

She likes mushrooms and anime... What a combo.

Having Dimmy as a nickname for the Dimmadomes is really gonna throw me off (Sounds like "Timmy").

Oof, did she wish for all the teachers to like her? And does that make the lady who doesn't like her... the principal? (Yes)

Wow, we are on a streak of brown and orange eyes. Who knew they were all hiding in Dimmadelphia?

... Is that Grey DeLisle / Grey Griffin voicing the principal? (It is!)

His shades are too big...

This is an attack against me specifically.

OKAY I thought I was going crazy during the quick glances earlier, but YES, that IS Timmy as the mascot! Oh, RIP...

He haunts history even when he's gone, as he should.

Bigfoot Club sounds like something Hazel's dad would want her to sign up for.

Okay, so it's end of 5th grade, so she's 10-turning-11?

OH, Wanda just called Hazel "squirt..." It's so similar to "sport." That's cute.

???

Where is Dev? Where is he?

Forget Dev- What is up with this kid?

Dev is running around somewhere, unsupervised. He just dipped out halfway through the episode. There were no teachers to make him stay and he's rich. I expect no less.

A little less upbeat and dramatic than the debut episode, but that's not a surprise. I'd say it fits the theme of the old show really well. I look forward to more, though I do think Jorgen's appearance wasn't pushed as far as it could've been. On the other hand, it's perfectly in character that he doesn't want to spook Hazel as much as he wants to spook Cosmo and Wanda.

Got through a bit faster than expected, so maybe a little more watching.

[milolunde]

If Fairy World oeprates on schooling and being tall enough for the job (ex. Cookie's Court; A New Wish) maybe Peri turned down dentistry because he was too short

[brittle-doughie]

Blueberry Blues (Parfaedia)

It had been quite sometime since you were given your suspension from Parfaedia Academy after your little…tradition of using uncontrolled spells without any sort of discipline within a dungeon you had found.

While the staff, including professor Espresso Cookie, were relieved to know you were safe, they still had to tack on consequences for violating your in-academy suspension and sent you home.

The solemn feelings you felt ate away at your desire to practice your spells and magic, blaming yourself for your predicament. While the academy hasn’t explicitly expelled you, the lack of word from them told you everything you needed to know.

What were you going to do?

Your parents were so proud of you to have enrolled in Parfaedia Academy and now what were you going to tell them?

That you were essentially expelled for your lack of control and practicing of dangerous, unregulated magic?

That for all their efforts, only to have you ruin that?

The guilt ate away at you and your desire to practice magic…

….

…

Maybe you should’ve…wait, was the mailbox outside your window not empty?

You head outside and open your mailbox to see a letter designated to you.

It was from…Blueberry Yogurt Academy?

———————————————————————

“Dear Mx. Y/N Cookie

On behalf of the Blueberry Community, we are delighted to announce an opportunity to offer you admission at Blueberry Yogurt Academy as a Day student in the Class of XXXX.

We feel strongly that based on the results that Parfaedia Academy has received about you that while you’re passionate about foraging your path in the realm of magic, you’ve nonetheless displayed the academic and personal qualities that make Blueberry Yogurt Academy the rich and engaging school that it is!

However, we have noticed that you are still enrolled within Parfaedia Academy and you haven’t made your final decision. We implore you to be thoughtful and careful over your choice, but here, we believe that you and Blueberry Yogurt Academy will make a wonderful match! We hope that you come to the same conclusion as we have!

We look forward to having you in the community as well as what we hope to be a lifelong connection with the wonders of the academy and with the warmth of its family. Again, our most geunine congratulations for you here at Blueberry Yogurt Academy!

Sincerely,

Assistant Head of the Admissions Department for Blueberry Yogurt Academy.”

———————————————————————

Blueberry Yogurt Academy.

An illustrious institute that houses brilliant minds and they were approaching you for a chance to enroll!

Y-you couldn’t believe it! This was it! If you had attended, you could make your parents and friends even more proud of what you dream to be: One of the greatest magic users in all of Crispia!

You headed back inside, all excited and giddy to share the news to your folks…when you looked around your room.

All this Parfaedia memorabilia on your walls and desk. A banner of the academy, a photo showing your first day at the academy, your awards in a number of classes you attended, you chuckle to yourself a little at remembering that you were always Latte Cookie’s favorite while Eclair Cookie was fascinated to know what you did to come up with such spells!

But the one class you never got one from was…Espresso Cookie’s class, he wanted you to follow the steps exactly and didn’t exactly enjoy when you always added a bit of your own pizzazz to the spells, always getting tired and needing caffeine afterwards..

Nothing you did seemed to be good enough to him, but you found following exact measurements and procedures to be unfitting to your style, leaving you at odds with Espresso constantly….

Maybe..by doing this and accepting into Blueberry Yogurt Academy, you can make him and your other professors proud by being a better magic user than before!

You could make them proud of you…

After thinking it over, your resolve was ignited and you began writing a letter.

It was time to get back in the magic saddle!

[makingqueerhistory]

Queer Books Challenged in Florida Schools and Libraries

There are some affiliate links below in case you want to support MQH.

Gender Queer: A Memoir, Maia Kobabe: Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears.

The Color Purple, Alice Walker: Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence. Through a series of letters spanning nearly thirty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown, the novel draws readers into its rich and memorable portrayals of Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery and Sofia and their experience. The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery.

Julián Is a Mermaid, Jessica Love: While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes -- and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love's author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.

Drama: A Graphic Novel, Raina Telgemeier: Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

Cemetery Boys, Aiden Thomas: Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

I Am Billie Jean King, Brad Meltzer: This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great--the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos. This volume features Billie Jean King, the world champion tennis player who fought successfully for women's rights. From a young age, Billie Jean King loved sports--especially tennis! But as she got older, she realized that plenty of people, even respected male athletes, didn't take women athletes seriously. She set to prove them wrong and show girls everywhere that sports are for everyone, regardless of gender.

This One Summer, Mariko Tamaki: Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. One of the local teens - just a couple of years older than Rose and Windy - is caught up in something bad... Something life threatening. It's a summer of secrets, and sorrow, and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

Marriage of a Thousand Lies, Sj Sindu: Lucky and her husband, Krishna, are gay. They present an illusion of marital bliss to their conservative Sri Lankan-American families, while each dates on the side. It's not ideal, but for Lucky, it seems to be working. She goes out dancing, she drinks a bit, she makes ends meet by doing digital art on commission. But when Lucky's grandmother has a nasty fall, Lucky returns to her childhood home and unexpectedly reconnects with her former best friend and first lover, Nisha, who is preparing for her own arranged wedding with a man she's never met.

And Tango Makes Three, Peter Parnell: At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.

More Happy Than Not, Adam Silvera: In the months following his father's suicide, sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto can't seem to find happiness again, despite the support of his girlfriend, Genevieve, and his overworked mom. Grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist won't let him forget the pain. But when Aaron meets Thomas, a new kid in the neighborhood, something starts to shift inside him. Aaron can't deny his unexpected feelings for Thomas despite the tensions their friendship has created with Genevieve and his tight-knit crew. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound happiness, he considers taking drastic actions. The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-altering procedure will straighten him out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is.

Melissa, Alex Gino: When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

Melissa thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. Melissa really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part... because she's a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities, Mady G, Jules Zuckerberg: In this quick and easy guide to queer and trans identities, cartoonists Mady G and Jules Zuckerberg guide you through the basics of the LGBT+ world! Covering essential topics like sexuality, gender identity, coming out, and navigating relationships, this guide explains the spectrum of human experience through informative comics, interviews, worksheets, and imaginative examples. A great starting point for anyone curious about queer and trans life, and helpful for those already on their own journeys!

This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson: This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it's like to grow up LGBTQ also includes real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations.

Little & Lion, Brandy Colbert: When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she's isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. L.A. is where her friends and family are (as well as her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support. But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new...the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself--or worse.

King and the Dragonflies, Kacen Callender: Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.

It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy-that he thinks he might be gay. "You don't want anyone to think you're gay too, do you?"

Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place: A Transgender Memoir, Jackson Bird: An unflinching and endearing memoir from LGBTQ+ advocate Jackson Bird about how he finally sorted things out and came out as a transgender man.When Jackson Bird was twenty-five, he came out as transgender to his friends, family, and anyone in the world with an internet connection. Assigned female at birth and raised as a girl, he often wondered if he should have been born a boy. Jackson didn't share this thought with anyone because he didn't think he could share it with anyone.

The Black Flamingo, Dean Atta: Michael is a mixed-race gay teen growing up in London. All his life, he's navigated what it means to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican--but never quite feeling Greek or Black enough.

As he gets older, Michael's coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs--and the Black Flamingo is born

Explore the full list here.

[itsanidiom]

OFFICE BLS RANKED BY THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE VENEER OF APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE BEHAVIOUR

Because I saw @sorry-bonebag's tag and had to.

Here we go! Disclaimer: I'm not going to list every Office BL™ these are just the ones I've seen. Sorry if your fav is missing! Let's start with our lowest scorer that definitely sets the tone for the bottom of the barrel.

CHECK OUT - The veneer is tracing paper if not completely transparent. Fucking in the office. Yeah. That's an HR violation for sure. Thankfully your company is too small to have an HR department. But you're definitely getting fired by your boss who is also your boyfriend who you are also cheating on.

BED FRIEND - The veneer is only considered opaque because everyone else in the office is blind as hell. HR is pretty sure you two fucked in the office bathroom, but they have no proof so could only give you a warning.

LOVE MATE - Veneer is 1-ply. I mean, if the whole office ships it, is it truely an issue? HR thanks you for keeping things PG.

WE BEST LOVE: FIGHTING MR. 2ND - The veneer is definitely paper thin, but it's 2-ply. At least you avoided fucking in the office. Just a good smack in the face and some mutual sexual harassment. HR win...I guess.

HISTORY4: CLOSE TO YOU - Veneer is getting a little thicker, but depends on the light. Rooftop and in-office grandiose love confessions aside, HR thanks you for keeping your higher heat make out sessions off business hours. Still, gossiping about your romantic interests with your coworkers is grounds for a warning.

OUR DATING SIM - Veneer is about as thick as the space between your legs through which HR can see that you're literally holding hands in the office right now, stop it.

STEP BY STEP - The veneer is solid. Mainly office stuff happens in the office. HR approves of this boring as hell vibe. Still, you get marked down slightly because you did almost get down in the company parking garage.

CHERRY MAGIC - The veneer is a wholesome thickness, but no kissing in the company elevator. HR slap on the wrist for sure. We don't care how quickly the doors closed. There is CCTV in that elevator, sirs.

JUN & JUN - The veneer is currently in the process of being painted on so we'll have to wait and see, but it's looking pretty thin so far. HR has their pens ready to write up the report.

OLD FASHION CUPCAKE - The veneer is solid, but HR saw you hugging in the coffee station. Thank you for waiting until you were off work hours to make out, I guess. Enjoy your fancy desserts.

ROOMATES OF POONGDUCK 304 - The veneer is there. HR heard some weird noises over the zoom call, but we're just going to ignore those for now.

[felassan]

July 22nd DA:TV Game Informer article (their last DA:TV coverage article) on Everything we Know about Bellara - cliff notes:

Bellara is Dalish elf (played by Jee Young Han as we know). There might be more to her than meets the eye

"Now, with two of [the elven] gods on the loose, magic has poured back into the world in a big way"

CC is expansive

Bellara is the first companion we will recruit (Neve and Harding join automatically it seems)

She is a mage, a Veil Jumper (who she represents), quirky, energetic, effervescent, optimistic, bubbly, academic, a tinkerer, an explorer of ancient elven ruins

John Epler wrote her and led her development, and collective team effort from lots of departments brought her to life

The BW team really love her

Gary McKay quote: "I love Bellara, I think she's fantastic. I see people that I know in her and so that's how she really resonates with me. I love the whole tinkerer aspect to her. It was a collective to bring that character to life. It was everything from the writers, to the editors, the animators, to character modelers, to the texturing, to how we light her. I'm really proud of that character."

She is a good choice in combat for both support and elemental combos. She starts out as a support character, but can be built in other ways

She attacks with a bow at range using electrically-charged arrows. She can also cast time-slow and healing spells (she can be built to heal Rook autonomously). She does this by channeling magical energy into her gauntlet

As such she leans into electrical damage

Damage type matters a lot in the strategy and tactics of combat

She can unleash a devastating vortex to pull enemies into an electrical storm (an AOE spell)

She can debuff enemies with the shocked affliction, which makes them take passive damage

Corinne Busche quote: "Oh my goodness, she is amazing. [The Veil Jumpers] investigate the ancient ruins of Arlathan. Everything about her character as a mage leans into that, but she also challenges the kind of archetypal idea of a mage."

The Veil Jumpers journey through Arlathan where the ancient empire used to exist and left a lot of artifacts and magical technology behind when it disappeared

Bellara represents this yearning to find the truth of who the elves were after they lost their magic, immortality and a lot of their history

"they still left a lot of their artifacts and a lot of their, for lack of a better term, magical technology behind"

John Epler quote: "A lot of what they know of their past is based on myth, it's based on rumor. Bellara is a knowledge seeker. She wants to find out what's true, what's not; she wants to find the pieces of who the elves used to be and really understand what their story was, where they came from, as well as figure out where they're going next, and find a future for the elves. And within the context of The Veilguard, she joins the team, first of all, to help stop the gods because Bellara feels at least partially responsible since they are elven gods, but also to maybe find a little bit more of who they used to be. Because again, you're dealing with these elves that were around millennia ago that have now reemerged into the world, and who better to teach her who the elves used to be than them."

Magic's place in the world in DA:TV differs from prior games. In Tevinter and other spaces in DA:TV it's much more present by definition and the lore (though the devs wanted to make sure magic didn't violate previously-established lore rules)

Solas is a "determined and tragic character" who "tends to wallow". [nb, these are quotes from the article]. in contrast, Bellara has seen a lot of tragedy in her backstory (we will see this as we get into her arc), but instead of wallowing, she has forced herself to push past it. "She looks at her regrets, and she tells herself, 'I don't want to feel regret'

John: "Whereas again, Solas tends to wallow in his to a large degree. And it allows us to create a very big differentiation. Part of it is also because Solas is an ancient elf, whereas Bellara is a Dalish elf, but she just sees a problem and wants to solve it. She feels a tremendous amount of responsibility to her people [...] to the Dalish, and to the Veil Jumpers, and that drives her forward. That said, she does have her moments where she has doubt, she has moments where she has a more grim outlook, and there are moments where you realize that some of her sunny, optimistic outlook is kind of a mask that she puts on to hide the fact that she's hurting, she's in pain. But in general, she doesn't see any benefit to wallowing in those regrets."

[source]

[cantsayidont]

When attempting to critique the values of a long-running franchise like STAR TREK, it's important to draw a distinction between superficial issues and structural ones.

"Superficial" in this sense doesn't mean "minor" or "unimportant"; it simply means that an issue is not so intrinsic to the premise that the franchise would collapse (or would be radically different) were it changed or removed. For example, misogyny has been a pervasive problem across many generations of STAR TREK media, which have often been characterized by a particular type of leering-creep sexism that was distasteful at the time and has not improved with age. However, sexism and misogyny are not structural elements of the TREK premise; one can do a STAR TREK story where the female characters have agency and even pants without it becoming something fundamentally different from other TREK iterations (even TOS, although there are certainly specific TOS episodes that would collapse if you excised the sexism).

By contrast, the colonialism and imperialism are structural elements — STAR TREK is explicitly about colonizing "the final frontier" and about defending the borders, however defined, of an interstellar colonial power. Different iterations of STAR TREK may approach that premise in slightly different ways, emphasizing or deemphasizing certain specific aspects of it, but that is literally and specifically what the franchise is about. Moreover, because STAR TREK has always been heavily focused on Starfleet and has tended to shy away from depicting life outside of that regimented environment, there are definite limits to how far the series is able to depart from the basic narrative structure of TOS and TNG (a captain and crew on a Starfleet ship) without collapsing in on itself, as PICARD ended up demonstrating rather painfully.

This means that some of the things baked into the formula of STAR TREK are obviously in conflict with the franchise's self-image of progressive utopianism, but cannot really be removed or significantly altered, even if the writers were inclined to try (which they generally are not).

What I find intensely frustrating about most modern STAR TREK media, including TNG and its various successors, is not that it can't magically break its own formula, but that writer and fan attachment to the idea of TREK as the epitome of progressive science fiction has become a more and more intractable barrier to any kind of meaningful self-critique. It's a problem that's become increasingly acute with the recent batch of live-action shows, which routinely depict the Federation or Starfleet doing awful things (like the recent SNW storyline about Una being prosecuted for being a genetically engineered person in violation of Federation law) and then insist, often in the same breath, that it's a progressive utopia, best of all possible worlds.

This is one area where TOS (and to some extent the TOS cast movies) has a significant advantage over its successors. TOS professes to be a better world than ours, but it doesn't claim to be a perfect world (and indeed is very suspicious of any kind of purported utopia). The value TOS most consistently emphasizes is striving: working to be better, and making constructive choices. Although this can sometimes get very sticky and uncomfortable in its own right (for instance, Kirk often rails against what he sees as "stagnant" cultures), it doesn't presuppose the moral infallibility of the Federation, of Starfleet, or of the characters themselves. There's room for them to be wrong, so long as they're still willing to learn and grow.

The newer shows are less and less willing to allow for that, and, even more troublingly, sometimes take pains to undermine their predecessors' attempts along those lines. One appalling recent example is SNW's treatment of the Gorn, which presents the Gorn as intrinsically evil (and quite horrifying) in a way they're not in "Arena," the TOS episode where they were first introduced. The whole point of "Arena" is that while Kirk responds to the Gorn with outrage and anger, he eventually concedes that he may be wrong: There's a good chance that the Gorn are really the injured party, responding to what they reasonably see as an alien invasion, and while that may be an arguable point, sorting it out further should be the purview of diplomats rather than warships. By contrast, SNW presents the Gorn as so irredeemably awful as to make Kirk's (chronologically later) epiphany at best misguided: The SNW Gorn are brutal conquerors who lay eggs in their captives (a gruesome rape metaphor, and in presentation obviously inspired by ALIENS) when they aren't killing each other for sport, and even Gorn newborns are monsters to be feared. Not a lot of nuance there, and no space at all for the kind of detente found in TOS episodes like "The Devil in the Dark."

[corseque]

Hi! I've been following you for ages for your great Solas takes and immaculate taste in sad men. I've been thinking about this because I have a Dragon Age Inquisitor who is an abomination, what do you think Solas would think about abominations/do you recall him ever talking about them? Both Anders/Justice and the more demonic unwilling variety.

Personally I would assume he'd be initially horrified because that might seem like a violation of consent for both parties, but after learning more about them he might grow more curious/respect actual unions a mage might have as an abomination. I am basically just workshopping an OC and hitting a wall and you're the local Solas sage, so... XO

Oh, that's so nice..

Solas is more chill with willing abominations than you might think. And he seems to know all about it already. In Jaws of Hakkon, in the quest called “In Exile” you meet a young mage named Sigrid Gulsdotten who had been willingly possessed by a friendly spirit in order to teach her magic. Which is what the Avvar do culturally to make mages safer.

Sigrid was getting old enough that it was time for her and the spirit to part ways, but she didn’t want to give it up because she didn’t want to lose the spirit as a friend/confidant. Solas has a surprising amount to say in Jaws of Hakkon in general about how the Avvar interact with and relate to spirits, and he talks a lot in this quest too. He is very gentle with her. Let me look up exactly what he says. When you find clues about the mage's failed ritual to part with her spirit, Solas says (a mage in your party always speaks here):

"Residual magic. Someone was casting a spell, and was interrupted. Or stopped."

"If a mage was performing a ritual to part with a spirit, she may have needed to replenish her strength."

Then later, when you talk to her, the conversation goes like this:

Sigrid: "I could not do it! I have no close companions in the hold! No kin! I cannot lose my only friend!"

Inquisitor: "You're friends with this… spirit?"

Sigrid: "It has taught me with patience and kindness since I was a child, frightened of the fire I could suddenly call down."

Solas: "A great comfort. But you are no longer a child."

Sigrid: "Some mages need the help of a god all their lives."

Solas: "Very well. Perhaps, however, ask yourself if it is help you need, or companionship."

Sigrid: "I do not wish to lose the one who loves me."

Here is a playthrough that has this dialogue:

At the end of the quest, if you recruit Sigrid for the Inquisition, Varric, Sera, Vivienne, Iron Bull and Cassandra have strong negative feelings about it, while Cole approves. Solas doesn't seem to approve or disapprove, as far as I can tell. He doesn't say anything, at least. When talking to the Shaman about this Avvar practice, you get this conversation:

Inquisitor: "You let spirits possess your mages on purpose?"

Shaman: "What better teacher than one woven from magic? The spirits in the hold have helped us in this way for hundreds of years. Once a mage masters their powers, their teacher departs, duty ended. Unless the mage is weak."

Inquisitor: "What happens to these "weak" mages?"

Shaman: "Their teachers stay with them and the other gods watch them both, so neither soul turns sick. If one does sicken, or the mage stands in risk of harming the hold… One day, they do not wake in their bed. It is very sad. It is what must be done."

Solas: "It is kinder than what happens in many mage Circles."

So Solas seems to understand the reality that abominations become corrupted more easily, and that it's probably best for abominations to separate willingly.

Solas offers to separate Lucanis and Spite, and says their forceful combination was "a crime against [them] both" so I can only assume that it's the willingness factor that he gets upset by, along with him always being upset at the thought of spirits becoming corrupted.

[sleepysheepy6]

When Dev wandered off he came across the Department Of Magical Violations booth. And signs the paper and becomes a Fairy before Peri shows up.

[themurphyzone]

Gravity Falls AU Concept: Grunkle Bear AU

I was thinking about how the other name for the little dipper constellation is the ursa minor, so I thought it would be cute if Dipper and Mabel were bear cubs being raised by Stan (who is literally a grumpy bear).

And somehow this concept turned into the plot of Brother Bear.

Backstory

Stan started out as a human and he has the same backstory of his fallout with Ford, getting kicked out, and being homeless for ten years before finally arriving at Gravity Falls upon receiving a postcard from Ford.

Then it diverges from canon when Ford leads Stan into a clearing in the deepest part of the forest, explaining that he's been studying the spirit realm which exists parallel to their own world since he came, and he shows Stan a gateway carved from ancient runes and stones that could could potentially connect their worlds. Except that it turned out to be too dangerous, and now Ford wants Stan to take his translated notes and diagrams and hide them somewhere far away.

Stan becomes angry and things escalate into a physical brawl. Ford accidentally knocks Stan against a set of magic runes which burns his back and gives him his distinct scar. Then Stan accidentally shoves Ford into the portal, banishing him into the spirit realm.

As Stan shouts at the gateway for Ford to come back, the clearing suddenly starts to glow. The brothers had spilt each other's blood, violating the clearing's sanctity, and Stan is transformed into a bear as punishment.

The gateway and runes are in ruins, and Stan is alone, though he vows to get Ford back from the spirit realm no matter the cost.

Interim

Many years later, Stan has adapted to life as a bear. He's stayed in the forest gathering any stones or magical items to try and bring Ford home, but to no avail. His fur is graying from age, and he has a bare patch on his shoulder where his healed scar is.

He doesn't particularly care about going back to being a human beyond worrying about Ford not recognizing him, and he entertains himself by scaring tourists and vandalizing their cars for food and valuables. He also likes to stroll into the convenience store and takes whatever he wants, because nobody who values their life wants to mess with a large, hungry bear.

The Oregon Wildlife Department has a wanted poster and a huge reward for his capture, but no hunter has ever come close. In fact, Stan once broke into the department and claimed the reward for himself, then scratched 'SUCKER' onto the warden's desk to rub it in.

He lives in a cave and has a giant horde of stuff he collected over the years.

So yes, he's still a menace to society.

Meeting Dipper and Mabel

They're a pair of orphaned bear cubs who stumbled across a mysterious cave while Stan was out trying to rebuild the gateway. Mabel immediately starts playing with everything she finds, while Dipper is more cautious but can't resist poking around too. He picks up on a strange scent, then realizes there's a bunch of gray fur everywhere.

Dipper says they need to leave immediately. Something already lives here and it could potentially eat them if they stick around any longer. Mabel protests that's it warm in here and cold outside, and there was so much shiny treasure to try on.

"What part of 'we're gonna be eaten' do you not understand?" Dipper asks, just as a shadow falls across him. "We have to leave, right now!"

Mabel stops playing and gasps, and Dipper turns around, his fur standing on end as he looks up at the biggest bear he's ever seen in his life.

"You kids ain't going anywhere. It's not every day I get a two for one breakfast deal," the bear says, blocking the cubs' escape.

....

And that's how Stan accidentally adopted two bear cubs.

[iamnmbr3]

Any thoughts on the breakdown and difference between different Ministry law enforcement areas? Hit wizards vs Aurors, positions like Arthur Weasley or Amelia Bones?

Arthur Weasley essentially is a civil employee of a regulatory agency. He seems to be involved in investigation (and mitigation) of potential policy violations as well as drafting of new legislation/policy regarding his area. So his activities include things like writing/updating laws and regulations about enchanting muggle objects (and intentionally putting in loopholes to benefit himself because the Ministry is super corrupt), conducting searches and investigations, and seizing illegal artifacts or reversing spells targeting objects/locations used by muggles.

Amelia Bones is involved with the Wizengamot in and running the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. So her duties involve overseeing enforcing the law, determining guilt/innocence of people on trial, and determining penalties for criminal actions.

Hit Wizards vs Aurors is a bit less clear. Seems like Hit wizards are more like extra muscle...or possibly straight up just killing squads whereas as Auorors are more highly trained and have an investigative role that allows them to deal more broadly withcomplex and powerful threats involving dark magic, as well as a purely combat role.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Ryan Adamczeski at The Advocate:

A Christian lifeguard is suing the city of Los Angeles for "severe emotional distress" after he was stationed near a Pride flag last year. Jeffery Little, who has worked for the city for 22 years, filed a lawsuit on Friday claiming he is being discriminated against for his evangelical faith by being made to stand in the same vicinity as the Progress Pride flag. Little alleges he was suspended from his role with the department’s background investigation unit last year after he took down three LGBTQ+ flags during Pride month. The Los Angeles county board of supervisors voted last year to require the rainbow banner be flown during the month of June at government buildings, which includes lifeguard stands. Little, who claimed the flags present a “direct conflict” with his religious beliefs, fought to be placed at stations that would not fly the flag, as they did not have the right flag poles to fly any banner.

Little arrived to his station at Dockweiler Beach on June 21, 2023 and found three nearby facilities displaying the flag, ordered by the lifeguard division's chief, according to the complaint. After he removed them, Little said he was given a "direct order" from the chief to ensure the flag was displayed throughout the month.

Little is accusing the department of “religious discrimination” and “retaliation," alleging that officials did not “substantively engage" with his objections and instead threatened "discipline and eventual termination for failure to raise the Progress Pride flag.” He is asking for damages based on "severe emotional distress" and a “standing exemption” from raising the flag. The lifeguard seemed particularly triggered by the turquoise and pink stripes on the original Pride flag designed by Gilbert Baker, which represent magic and sex, respectively. Those two stripes are, notably, not on the Progress Pride flag, the subject of Little's suit. Still, Little claimed that queer identity goes against the "purpose of the human person."

Evangelical Christian lifeguard Jeffrey Little got triggered by a Progress Pride Flag while being a lifeguard on at Will Rogers State Beach near LA. Cry me a river and boo freakin' hoo! Little is suing the city of Los Angeles, California as a result.🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

See Also:

LGBTQ Nation: Lifeguard sues city because flying Pride flags violates his Christianity

[milolunde]

Every wish (and rule + misc. magic) in Fairly Oddparents: A New Wish

Edit: Some wishes and notable magic might be missing or misrepresented. Now that the show is on Netflix, I'll revise the list and double check anything I misheard when I have time.

Season 1

Episode 1, Fly!

Hazel: I wish Antony were here to help me unpack. And keep me talking to a bunch of rocks. (no fairies)

Hazel: I’d like to wish for… unlimited wishes! (Rocktilda is not a fairy)

(Not wishes: Cosmo poofs up a jar of pennies; A can of condensed milk; Wanda poofs a venus fly trap; Cosmo, a portrait of him and Wanda…Cosmo shrinks Angela’s book… Wanda rebuilds a shelf…Cosmo fixes a crack in the wall then covers it with a picture of himself; Wanda replaces the picture. Wanda poofs the door open/poofs it out of existence… they magic up random mail. Wanda teleports in front of the apartment building door. Cosmo crashes into her and that opens the door, I guess.)

Hazel: I wish (Wanda: Uh oh, she said the magic word.) Hazel: I wish! (Cosmo: She said it again! Wanda: You know what happens when we hear the magic word!) Hazel: I wish I could just fly to Antony myself! (They both poof into fairies; their wands uncontrollably turn Hazel into a fly… Wanda: The intensity of your wish activated our magic)

(Cosmo makes a trail of fries back to the apartment then traps Fly-Hazel in a jar)

(Trying to turn Hazel back into a human, Cosmo turns a plant, a toaster, and himself, into Hazel… possibly other things off screen. Note: He hits his wand after a few times and says, “Why can’t I work this thing?”)

Hazel: I wish I was human Hazel again

(Cosmo: We have a spell on the front door that lets us choose what world we go out into [Fairy World or Earth])

Episode 2a, The Department of Magical Violations

Hazel has already made 99 wishes and her 100th wish was “on Cosmo and Wanda” for a “Fun Fantasy” where Cosmo is a princess in distress by Wanda, an evil seahorse, and Hazel- a knight- has to rescue him.

Hazel: I wish we were back at my house. Thanks for granting my fun wish

Hazel: Ok… I wish- oh no- mind break! Brain bad! THE PRESSURE! (Wish fart)

Jorgen: For this first trial, I am stirpping Cosmo of his wings and his magic and YOU have to make a wish to save his puny life before the time runs out (Jorgen poofs up a giant tower) Hazel: I wish Cosmo had a parachute! No, wait… I wish he had a trampoline instead- is that better?.. I-I wish for a mattress!

Jorgen: You must get everyone dancing or else… Hazel: I wish for a DJ- No! A robot DJ that plays mumble rap- no, beethoven, no! Death Metal!

Hazel: I know exactly what I want. Antony and I used to joke about how silly this bike would look if it were real. Ok, I wish for one of those… those old-timey bicycles? It’s old and it’s got a big wheel and a little wheel and it’s mixed with one of those bikes that Antony likes to ride.

Cookie: Don’t worry Hazel, Cookie knows what you’re wishing for (a fancy car; this is not what Hazel was wishing for)

Da Rules: A child must always get what they want.

Cookie: Go ahead and wish for something. Here’s the latest doll./You want the latest makeup trend? Girl, Boot-IFY yourself!/ Of course! Cookies! All kids love cookies.

Hazel: I wish for a thing that exists but doesn’t. Oh no, I can't think of the name. It's, like, big, but also small. (Wish fart)

Hazel: I wish Cosmo and Wanda were my Fairy Godparents!

Hazel: Without all the pressure, I remember my wish! Penny Farthing Dirt Bike! (Cosmo made a Penny Farting Dirt Bike for himself)

Episode 2b, Teacher’s Pal

(Cosmo and Wanda poof a helmet and safety gear onto Hazel then become the wheels of a skateboard so they can steer it)

Hazel: I wish I could be friends with my teachers (Decreases the teachers’ maturity)

Hazel: I sure wish this (Teacher’s breakroom) were a place for a child

Hazel: I wish everyday could be as fun as today was

Hazel: I wish the teachers were back to normal

Episode 3a, A Dinosaur in Dimmadelphia

Hazel: I wish to see a live dinosaur

Hazel: I wish Barry (the dinosaur) could speak English

Hazel: I wish people weren’t afraid of (Barry)

Hazel: I wish Barry got a job in a dinosaur movie

Hazel: I wish (Barry) had a job at the Dimmsonian museum

Hazel: I wish Barry had a job working with his hands

Hazel: Electric Light Ice Cream for everyone

Episode 3b, Fearless

Hazel: I wish Jasmine was fearless

Hazel: I wish Jasmine was afraid again

Hazel: I wish they were gone (Doesn’t work; fear must be faced once released)

Hazel: I wish for a Hazel stand-in so no one notices I’m gone

(Wanda: According to Da Rules… Fears can only be fought by the one whose fear it is)

Episode 4a, The Wellsington Hotellsington

Hazel: I wish my apartment were a five-star luxury hotel

Hazel: Cosmo, I wish you were a bellhop

Hazel: Wanda I wish you were a concierge

Hazel: I wish I had a security system to keep my mom and dad locked away all night. (Bank vault door and two guard chihuahuas)

Hazel: I wish I had a chicken nugget machine, a giant emu, and a helicopter to call my own

Hazel: I wish you two (Tina Churner and Camera Man) would leave me alone (sends them to the moon…)

Hazel: I wish everything were back to normal

Episode 4b, 1500 Minutes of Fame

Hazel: I wish everyone in the school knew me. I wish to be famous. (Cosmo + Wanda: Fifteen minutes of fame, coming up! [this summons Father Time])

Hazel: Well, whoever’s job it is, then, I wish I was famous at my school! (She gets 1500 minutes- 25 hours)

Hazel: I wish Father TIme was here

Hazel, to Father Time: I need you to end my fifteen minutes of fame early. (Nick of Time shows up and turns Hazel’s regular minutes into New York Minutes)

Hazel, in song: I wish I knew more New York-y things

Episode 5a, 28 Puddings Later

Hazel: I wish everyone had an unlimited supply of School Pudding

Hazel: I wish the pudding was being served after the class picture

Hazel: I wish everyone had an unlimited supply of broccoli pudding

Episode 5b, Trial and Hair-ror

Hazel: I wish my hair had spirit (brings her hair to life. Her name is Diana the Diva. Cosmo thought she wanted her hair to have A spirit)

Hazel: Silk scarf lasso, please

Hazel: Release the hair gel!

(Hazel wins Most Spirited Hair, this somehow isn’t cheating)

Episode 6a, Weird Science

Hazel: I wish my science project worked (this changes the laws of science; also somehow does not count as cheating)

Hazel: I wish everything were back to normal (Wanda: Can it wait, squirt? I’m busy transcending my body. [even when they do cast their magic it doesn’t work])

Hazel: I wish the laws of science were back to normal

Episode 6b, Mystery She Wished

Hazel: I wish I could solve a mystery as a genuine Gumshoe (Cosmo turns her into a shoe stuck in gum. Wanda turns her into a detective)

Hazel: Wish over, I want to be normal Hazel! (Wanda: You wished to be a detective like the ones you saw on TV,. None of them used magic to solve the case. You’re stuck until you solve the mystery.)

Episode 7a, Prime Meridian Love

Hazel: I wish I could go to the dance with Kennueth

Hazel: Oops, I wish Kennueth could breathe air

(Hazel: Why aren’t you hiding? He can’t know about magic. Wanda: Actually, since he’s a fictional character and not a real person Da Rule doesn’t apply)

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, I wish Kennueth had a cool outfit for the dance.

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, I wish we were at the docks

Episode 7b, Stanky Danky

Hazel: I just wish people wouldn’t be such trash monsters. (Cosmo: Did I hear a wish? Wanda: I heard “trash monster” Cosmo: One Trash Monster coming up!)

Hazel: I wish Stanky could say at least a few words

Hazel: I wish this box would take me to Danky

Episode 8a, Peace of Pizza

Hazel: I wish I could convince Dev to participate in kindness day

Hazel: I wish Dev had extra milk he could spare

Hazel: I wish the Pe-Az’s had something big to carry then Dev could do a kind act by holding the door open for them

Hazel: You know, Dev, I sure wish we had some pizza for you right now

Episode 8b, A New Development

Hazel: Dev is so mean, I wish I knew why he acted like that (this pairs Dev and Hazel together for the scavenger hunt)

Episode 9, Lost and Founder’s Day

Hazel: I wish to speak to a Dimmadelphia History Expert- A Dimmastorian.

Hazel: I wish that miserable kid had a new ice cream cone

Hazel: I wish that line moved faster

Hazel: I wish that bouncy was bigger, better, and bouncier!

Dev: I wish I could stay and talk (Not a real wish and it doesn’t get granted, but he said the words so…)

Hazel: I wish the statues weren’t magic anymore (they were never magic)

Episode 10a, Cookie’s Court

(Hazel had a streak of wishes, I’m not counting the hole punches to figure out how many, and earned another fun adventure on Cosmo and Wanda… again, whatever that means. Hazel must save Coswanda rock from a meteor, then she defeats Seahorse Wanda… Hazel says she wished for a talking gut the day before; she still has it)

Hazel: I wish Ferray could talk (Jorgen grants this)

Episode 10b, Work Her Magic

Hazel: I wish I was my mom’s assistant

Hazel: Can you guys…? (Hazel stand-in at school)

Hazel: I need backup! I wish you were in the meeting with me

Hazel: I wish that everything was back to normal! And that I was a kid again!

Episode 11a, Crock to the Future

Marcus: I sure wish (AJ) was coming… Hazel: Dad said the magic word! I wish tonight was extra special for him!

Hazel: I wish Crocker stopped trying to reveal fairies! (the building is covered in a butterfly net so they have no magic… [they can still float])

Episode 11b, Battle of the Dimmsonian

Dev: I wish everyone will think I'm really cool when I get out of the helicopter!... Wait, no! I wish everyone will think I look really powerful! … no, no, no, no wait!... hahaha, I’m just messing with ya’. Now, execute my wish!

(Dev spent “all morning wishing for the perfect cupcake”)

Dev: I wish I had Viozalia’s staff

Hazel: I wish I had Viozalia’s staff!

Dev wishes for Viozalia’s staff off screen

Hazel: I wish I had the staff

Dev: I wish I had the staff

Hazel: I wish I had the staff

Dev: I wish I had the staff

Hazel, offscreen: I wish I had the staff

Dev: I wish the spirit of Viozalia would come back to life (Peri is able to do this... Marcus says it’s a “Level 9 Spector”)

Dev: Viozalia, bring this museum to life. (She gets her staff back and brings everything to life)

Peri, reading Da Rules: What to do when your godkid tries to start a ghost apocalypse… NOTHING?!

Dev and Hazel: I wish Viozalia and her spirits would return to the spirit realm! (Peri, Cosmo, and Wanda all use their magic to grant this)

Episode 12a, Patty Possum’s Party Playground

Hazel: I wish Patty Possum would come to life

Hazel: I need to unwish my wish!!! (Wanda: sorry, kiddo. We can’t grant wishes without our wands)

Episode 12b, A Date to Remember

(Hazel had Cosmo and Wanda help her with her mom and dad’s anniversary presentation)

Hazel: I wish my parents could fall in love all over again.

Hazel: I wish they were back in love (Wanda: We can do the setup but according to Da Rules only cupid can make people fall in love)

Hazel: then I wish Cupid was here

Hazel: I wish a had a microphone and piano

Episode 13, Operation Birthday Takeback

Hazel wished for a Prime Meridian Love manga that was only released underseas so she could give it to Dev for his birthday

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, I wish for a pair of rocket boots for Dev (Dev: Why didn’t you think to get these for me, Pickle-Brained Peri? Peri: because my job is to grant you wishes. Not to read your mind.)

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, I need you! Dev: Peri, get in here! (They don’t show up)

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, Peri, where the heck are you! (They still don’t show up)

Hazel: Movie night! And you know what goes great with movies? Really big ice cream!

Dev: I wish you would leave me alone! (Peri: I… As you wish, kid.)

Episode 14a, Potazel Potahzel

Hazel: I wish I could have unlimited french fries

You are what you eat is literal with magic food

Hazel: Turn me back into a human, right this minute (they have to consult Mother Nature)

Episode 14b, The Haunting of Wells House

Hazel: I wish we were on our own paranormal investigation show

Hazel: I wish there was no fairy evidence on the video

Episode 15a, Lost in Fairy World

(Hazel still has a talking gut)

Dev: I want to go to Fairy World! At all costs! (Cosmo: sorry, Dev, Fairy World is reserved for special occasions. Like being tested by Jorgen in the Wish Trials, being tested by Jorgen in a giant cage match, or being tested by Jorgen in a- well, you get it… Peri: You’re not his Fairy Godparents! I am! I’ll handle this. Ahem. Dev, Fairy World is reserved for special occasions, like being tested by Jorgen, and as your Fairy Godparent I cannot let you go.)

Dev: Fine. I wish to go to Fairy World and not be tested by Jorgen (Peri: You can’t do that! Cosmo and Wanda: Aw, our son’s first wish loophole!)

Hazel: My gut is telling me I wish to go, too!

Dev: That’s where I want to go! The one place I can’t! The Hocus-Pogo-Stick or whatever! (Peri: Don’t worry, Hazel, it’s off limits t- Cosmo: IT’S OFF LIMITS TO HUMANS! <3 Peri: Yes. Thanks dad. And y- Wanda: You need a magic wand to travel Fairy World and only fairies have those.)

Dev: Well, I WISH I had a wand! (Peri: Uhm. I can’t do that. Can I do that? I’m not gonna do that.)

Dev: To the Hiccus-Pickle-Star or whatever. (Dev uses Peri’s wand, it transports them to StarDome)

Hazel makes a wand and casts rainbows. Dev makes a ladybug car. Dev poofs Hazel into a toaster, I think. Hazel poofs Dev into (or Dev poofs himself into) an Obtuse Rubber Goose on a skateboard. Hazel (or a rogue wish) freezes dev. A rogue star unfreezes him.

Dev accidentally unwishes him and Hazel into the Hocus Poconos. (Though they weren’t wishes in the first place. But I’m just writing this.)

There’s an unwish dragon that eats unwishes

Peri poofs him, Cosmo, Wanda, Dev, and Hazel out of Jorgen’s office and back to his parent’s house. (Still in Fairy World)

Episode 15b, The Treble with Rivals

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, I wish I could play all instruments. (This summons the nMusic Fairy)

Hazel: I wish for a trumpet and a violin

Hazel makes a miscellaneous wish to be in two places at once. This doesn’t clone her, it looks like it just poofs her between rooms but no one seems to care about her randomly appearing and disappearing.

Hazel: I wish that the band and orchestra kids had nothing to be rivals about (This gets rid of music)

Hazel: Just take me to the nMusic Fairy, please

The nMusic Fairy gives Hazel a note to temporarily restore music

Hazel is put in the nMusical Hall of Fame

Episode 16a, Rattleconda Racers

Hazel: I wish he was into (Rattleconda Racers) now.

Hazel: I wish we were out of the game! (They can't, that would be cheating)

Episode 16b, Dig a Little Deeper

Hazel: I wish we were in a cave

Hazel: I wish I could find the coolest, shiniest, most out of this world rock! (They poof it from the “opposite end of the universe”)

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, I wish we were safely back at home (they don’t have their wands)

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, I wish we were back at home

Episode 17a, Best of Luck

Cosmo and Wanda have their home in Hazel’s school desk

Dev: Get me that free T-shirt, I wish for that free t-shirt. (Peri: I can get you a T-shirt, but I can’t get you that T-shirt because it’s a prize. Da Rules state that-)

Dev: Of course Hazel won, she probably wished for it (Peri: Doubtful, Da Rules state that-)

Peri: Hazel having two fairies has nothing to do with the luck of-

Dev: I wish to be in tomorrow’s school-wide tournament (Peri: Dev, that’s cheating! I can’t-)

Dev: I wish for straight A’s (Peri: Da Rules-)

Dev: I wish for Hazel to have all F’s (Peri: I can’t-)

Peri: You know what, Dev, I’m done! (This counts as a resignation)

Dev: I wish it was tomorrow! (Irep grants this)

Dev: I wish to be back in the tournament today

Dev: I wish for Hazel Wells to have bad luck!

Hazel: I wish to have good luck (Wanda: Something is preventing our wands from granting your wish! [Wanda doesn’t think wishing for good luck counts as cheating])

Hazel: I wish for as many good luck charms as possible!

Da Rules: Once a fairy quits, any magical being can take their place

Dev: I wish Bev loved me/ I wish for a ton of money/ I wish to be king of America

Wanda turns some man into a racoon

Irep turns Cosmo into an ostrich

Dev: Irep, I wish Cosmo and Wanda were NOTHING (Jorgen intercepts this wish, nullifying it)

Peri: when I quit, I never gave two-weeks notice so Dev is still my godkid

Jorgen reverses all of the wishes Irep granted… then physically throws Irep back to Anti-Fairy World

Episode 17b, Hazel Wells and the Multiverse of Jenkins

Hazel: I wish I had a do-over (Wanda, technically: If the wish involves time, we’ll have to call- Hazel: Father Time, yeah, sure sure sure, just do it.)

Hazel: Father Time, I need a do-over (time loops cereal- 568+ times; ruptures the space-time continuum)

Episode 18a, Growing Pains

Hazel: I wish I was thirteen so I could see Gregory by myself (they used fairymones to age her up)

Hazel: I wish we were at the theater

Pasta Puberty: When fairies reach a certain age, powerful fairymones cause big emotional and physical changes like pesto-pits, (unintelligible)-acne, and even mozzarella mood swings.

Hazel: I wish you two would just get lost

Hazel: I wish I was ten again!

Episode 18b, Fairy for a Day

Hazel: I wish I could go to Fairycon (Cosmo: sorry, Hazel, but this is a fairies only event)

Hazel signs a fairyfication certificate and becomes a fairy (Hazel: I thought you said godkids couldn't be fairies. Wanda: Godkids cant wish to be fairies)

Becoming an official fairy means you get your own anti-fairy

Lady: This macrochip powers all the wands in Fairy World. If this isn’t plugged in properly, no fairy can use their magic

Hazel: Cosmo, Wanda, I wish I was a kid again (Wanda: according to Da Rules we didn't make you a fairy so we can’t unmake you a fairy)

Hazel makes another of herself. It basically has no soul

Lezah makes two- then more- then gives them all papers- then turns herself into Hazel

Hazel destroys the certificate with magic- this gets rid of Lezah.. Not her shoes, though.

Episode 19a, Stuck in My Head

Hazel: I wish Winn and Jasmine were inside my head, that way they could really get to know me

Hazel: I wish the mind worm was gone (Wanda: We can’t do that. The mind worm is a part of you)

Hazel: I wish we were back at home

Episode 19b, Mind the Gap

Hazel: I wish my gap was gone (Tooth Fairy)

Hazel: I wish I had floss

Hazel: I wish for cinnamon toothpaste

Hazel: I wish the Tooth Fairy were here

Episode 20, The Battle of Big Wand

Cosmo: Don’t you wish to land safely? (Hazel: of course I do)

Wanda: Don’t you wish you were already dressed for school? (Hazel: Sure, why not)

Hazel: Did you magically brush my teeth? (Cosmo: Only because you wished for it! You did wish for it, right?)

Hazel has made 999,999 wishes. 1,000,000 wishes means you get a rule free wish

Hazel: I wish that drool was dried! (1,000,000)

Fairies have an Information Technology department

Dev: That Fairy World sign, fix it (Irep: Done and doner *It says Dev World*/ *Irep poofs sunglasses onto Jorgan’s office, then makes it bigger*)

Irep: (About the DMV) What are we thinking? (Dev: Slap an E on it!)

Dev: Seize them! (Hazel, Cosmo, and Wanda)

Anti Fairies started an Anti-web that humans (or at least Dev) can access

Irep tapes Dale’s mouth shut

Dev: Irep, I wish all godkid were reassigned to anti-fairies. (Hazel doesn’t get a fairy. Irep poofs her back to her home)

Dev: If I’m lactose intolerant then I wont tolerate lactose. Remove it!

Dev: Geography’s too hard, let's make it one place

Dev: The trouble (he might say treble here, in reference to the episode) with music is that there’s too many options. Try a new beat. I’ll call it Dev-step

All competitions have winners/ Couples are breaking up willy nilly/ pets are coming to life from their cemetery

Hazel: For the past year I have had Fairy godparents (just lore/ she has made 1,000,000 wishes in a year.)

Hazel: Wanda I wish you would restore Fairy World back to normal (Despite experiencing magic build up, Wanda can grant this- this also heals Peri and Cosmo [and anyone else])

Jorgen wipes Earth’s memories of fairies

Hazel: Wait I’m still owed one rule-free wish! … I want (Jasmine, Winn, and Antony) to keep their memories and be allowed to know about fairies forever. 

Jorgen poofs all seven of them back to Earth

Seven Penny Farthing-Farting Dirt Bikes (and four helmets)

[aplthree]

LISTEEEEN CAN SOMEONE WRITE THIS PLEASE

Draco was gone after the Battle of Hogwarts. His family, family, and officials never found him or his body. Everyone thinks he is dead.

After 5/10 years Harry & Hermione raided a warehouse full of magical and rare creatures trapped and being sold to the black market.

They discovers a room that has full of wards (they easily remove them of course) and inside was a cage with a creature in chains.

Its wings are severed and cut, and its body was full of bruises from different healing stage and dried blood. A dirty cloth to cover it’s back side.

The creature turn its head by the noise they make and both of them was shock to see it was Draco Malfoy.

Ps. Draco lost his memories and can’t speak words. He is violated/abused by his owner and when he didn’t listen they would cut his wings.

Pps. I know Veelas are strong I just want my angst

Ppps. Harry is an Auror and Hermione works for The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures ☺️

[twisted-drawritings]

A Thousand and One

Prologue - Part Four (1, 2, 3) (AO3 Link)

…my I offer my fellow Americans some escapism in these trying times?

.

.

.

“I Ain’t From ‘Round Here”

~~~~~

“Off With Your Head!”

Clang!

The cold metal clamps around his neck mid-fireball and Grim winces as his magic flow is suddenly cut off. “Huh? W-What gives?! My fire ain’t workin’!”

The red haired human glares down at him. “Hmph. The Queen of Hearts’ Rule 23-“

“Doesn’t apply in this situation, actually.”

Yuuval easily inserts themselves between Rosehearts and Grim with a sharp smile, their eyes locked with Riddle’s.

“Grimmy here’s a direbeast, not a cat. Therefore, we’re not currently violating any of the Queen’s rules, now are we~?”

Riddle’s eye twitches visibly. “You-!”

“Harris!” Crowley exclaims before Riddle can begin another tirade. “Was not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar?!”

“Right, right. Sorry, Mr. Headmage…”

They scoop the direbeast into their arms gently and easily, catching Grim off guard. “Grim, apologize for the trouble, please.”

Grim balks at them, scowling and squirming in their grip. “Eh?! Why the heck should I listen to you?!”

Seriously, this human is acting way too familiar with him! What gives?!

Yuuval sighs and shakes their head fondly. “Headmage, I need to speak with Grim privately for a moment.”

“Hmph. Do whatever you need to do to get that thing under control.”

Yuuval nods. As they drag Grim over to a quiet corner, the Headmage declares that Orientation is over and students begin to trail out.

They turn away from the others, and though the smile doesn’t leave their face, it grows noticeably tighter. Grim almost catches a hint of desperation in their eyes as they kneel down to his level and speak.

“…I know you don’t know me, but just hear me out. Please. If you follow my lead, I can help us both become official students here, ok?”

“Pfft! As if- you can’t even use magic, how are you supposed to make us both students?”

Yuuval takes a deep breath. “Look, I have a plan. But it only works if we work together.” Their light grey eyes meet his own, seemingly staring straight into his soul. “You want to be a student here, right?”

Grim straightens as Yuuval’s tone shifts to something more serious. “More than anything.”

“Then trust me. If you follow my lead, then by this time tomorrow, you’ll be officially enrolled. I guarantee it.”

They extend a hand to him, their grin widening.

“What’dya say, partner?”

“….you really can help me become a student? Not just your familiar or somethin’?”

Yuuval smirks, amused. “Please! You? My familiar? If anything, consider me your hench-human.”

Grim immediately preens, grinning. “I like the sound of that! Alright, human, consider it a deal!”

They shake on it, and the tiniest bit of tension leaves Yuuval’s shoulders. “Sounds good, Boss. First step of the plan, though-“

They tap the collar currently cutting off his magic, making a metallic tinging noise. “You gotta apologize for nearly burning down the place. If you foster some goodwill with the Headmage, he’ll be more accepting to the enrollment idea, you know?”

Grim nods. “Right!”

Yuuval settles him onto their shoulders with ease and they stroll back over to the Headmage, any trace of tension completely erased. Riddle is still on standby, looking visibly irritated.

“Now then, Grimmy, what do we say~?”

The direbeast’s ears lower as he nods. “Sorry for the damage…”

Yuuval grins. “See? He won’t be setting fire to any more buildings anytime soon, so… collar off, please!”

Crowley sighs deeply. “…very well. Rosehearts, if you would.”

Riddle grumbles, but nonetheless the collar disappears in a flash of magic. The redhead narrows his eyes at the two of them.

“Consider yourselves lucky.” He nods to the Headmage before quickly departing, and the man in question sighs.

“What an unfortunate turn of events- I’m afraid you won’t be attending Night Raven College after all.”

Grim stiffens on Yuuval’s shoulder.

‘What?!’

Crowley continues. “Surely, you realize that I cannot very well admit a student with no magical abilities into my academy.”

Yuuval nods amicably, not wavering once. “Of course. I just step back into the coffin and imagine my home to leave, yes?”

“Myah-?!” Grim wants to protest when Yuuval’s grip tightens on him. He glares at the human.

‘Leaving?! That’s the OPPOSITE of what they just promised!’

Yuuval strolls over to the coffin Grim pried open, their eyes meeting Grim’s for a moment as they mouth-

Trust me.

They close their eyes and lean back into the coffin, shivering imperceptibly as Crowley turns to the Dark Mirror and speaks, his voice echoing through the empty room.

“O, Dark Mirror! Return this soul to where it belongs!

…

…

…?

Grim raises a brow at Yuuval, whose eyes are still closed as they presumably wait for the magic to…!

‘…they knew it wasn’t gonna work.’ Grim quickly realized, seeing the human’s lips nearly twitch into a smirk.

The Headmage tried once more, oblivious to Yuuval’s plot.

“Ahem. L-Let us, er, try this again. O, Dark Mirror! Return this soul-!”

“There is no such place.”

“…What?”

*~*~*~*

Dire Crowley forced his face to remain neutral and not look as panicked as he felt.

‘What do you mean, no such place?!’

The Dark Mirror continues as Yuuval peeks an eye open, the green-haired teen raising a brow curiously at him.

“There is no place in this world where this soul belongs. None.”

“How can that be? My, but today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena!”

In all his years, never has anything even remotely close to this happened!

The dark mirror is silent as Yuuval climbs out of the gate, Grim still draped around their shoulders.

Despite Harris’ apparent confusion, he’d say the direbeast looked almost pleased at this outcome. He elects to push that aside for the moment as he addresses the teen.

“This has never happened throughout my long tenure… I must confess that I am at something of a loss. Tell me: From what land do you hail?”

“Baltimore, Maryland. America. Or, well, I suppose the U.S. is more appropriate. U.S.A, that is. United States of America. Earth- the planet Earth.”

Yuuval answers without hesitation, either oblivious to or uncaring of Dire’s rapidly growing confusion.

“…I’m afraid I am not familiar with such a place.” He finally answers. “I am intimately acquainted with the origins of every student who has ever come here, and yet…”

‘Just what is going on here…?’

“This mysterious homeland of yours eludes me. Let us go to the library and look it up, shall we?”

…

…

‘…this is just getting ridiculous, now.’ Dire thinks, utterly exasperated at the whole situation.

Crowley turns back to Yuuval, who’s studying an old map as Grim snores away in a nearby chair. The two of them don’t seem the least bit surprised or concerned about this entire ordeal.

He closes the book of maps he’s currently holding loudly, causing Yuuval’s eyes to flick over to him and Grim to jolt awake.

“Myagh-?!”

“Just as I suspected. Nothing.”

Despite spending the last two hours combing the library for historical maps, current maps, and even fictional places, there was nothing, positively nothing on Yuuval’s homeland. Nothing to suggest that it does, or ever had existed. Anywhere. Dire sighs.

“Now, are you QUITE sure that you came from such a place? That wasn’t some kind of lie, or jape?”

“No lies, no jokes- hell, you can even test me for memory altering magic, if you want. I’m from either another planet, or another dimension. Well, actually I’m fairly certain it’s both- another planet that’s also in another dimension. That’s my working theory, anyway.”

Dire can only really stare down at them. Despite everything, Yuuval was being so exceedingly… nonchalant about everything. As though being upended from your life and thrown through space-time was simply another Tuesday.

“Mister Headmage…?” They lean over and loudly whisper to Grim, clearly intending for Crowley to hear. “…I think I broke him.” They’re not at all concerned by the idea, if the small grin on their face was anything to go by.

“Myagh?! Well then un-break him, or we’ll never be able to become real students!”

Dire clears his throat, clearing his mind as well. “A-hem! I’m fine. Merely surprised… unlike you, I should mention.”

No sooner does he speak than is the calm, collected student in front of him replace with a hysterical mess on the verge of tears. The…memory? Vision? Illusion? Looks like a watercolor painting, slipping in and out rapidly.

Yuuval drags him down to their level, shaking him by his vest.

“YOUR STUPID MAGIC BROUGHT ME HERE! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T SEND ME BACK-?!”

It’s over as soon as it began, if it ever happened at all. Dire blinks and Yuuval is sitting there with Grim on their lap, calm and collected, as seems to be their usual state.

The world returns to as it always was; watercolor washes away once again.

Yuuval shrugs at him with a grin. “Well, with all this magic around, l figure there’s gotta be some way to get me home, you know?”

“…Indeed. Do you have some form of identification, a driver’s license perhaps? Or even a��shoe? You seem a tad bit empty handed.” He looks over them as they shift, moving Grim into their lap. The direbeast purrs. “Mmrrr…”

Yuuval laughs, though it comes off as forced as they smile sheepishly.

“I, uh, don’t have anything, haha. Guess I dropped my wallet in the inter-dimensional wormhole?”

Dire sighs to himself, shaking his head. “Well, this is quite the predicament… I cannot have someone with no aptitude for magic bumbling about my magic academy-“

“Hey!” Grim huffs. So now he’s awake?

“-Yet as an educator, I’m loath to expel a young person without a cent to their name or any ability to contact their guardian… truly, my grace is boundless.”

Yuuval nods sagely. “I don’t suppose there’s any normal dorms we could stay in on campus?”

Dire snaps his fingers. Of course, what a brilliant idea!

“Ah-ha! There is, in fact, a vacant building on this campus. It was used as a dorm a long time ago… though with some proper cleaning it should be habitable enough.

Yuuval grins. “That’s very generous of you Mister Headmage, thank you.”

They nudge Grim, who also quickly nods his thanks. It seems they can control him… when they choose to.

“But of course… in the meantime, we will investigate other ways to send you home. Dear me, but I am a gracious man, indeed!”

“A model educator, sir.” Yuuval chimes in with a grin. Dire preens.

“My, aren’t you quite the judge of character? Now then, I shall take you two to your dorm straight away. It is an older building, but it has plenty of… character, one might say.”

Yuuval scoops Grim into their arms and follows after him. “Come on, Grimmy, wake up a little, hm?”

‘It’s probably exhausted from causing so much chaos at Orientation…’ Dire can’t help but think.

The trio begin the trek across campus, towards Yuuval and Grim’s more permanent residence… though for some reason Dire can’t shake the feeling that his problems with this particular pair have only just begun.

~~~~

Sorry this took forever to get out; college is kicking my butt but I got a second wind :)

Stay safe out there, everybody!

[whoppert]

Sunna 8 (loki/reader) (stephen strange/reader)

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3087 words

warnings: the after effects of mind violation; vomit (not ED related); canon-typical violence.

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When I awake, it's deep into the night. The air was hot and muggy, and in my uneasy sleep I had almost garroted myself, my sheets coming untucked and twisted tightly around my middle. In a weak attempt to detangle myself, I roll too close to the edge of the bed, flopping onto the hard, wooden floor, my hands and knees screaming.

Why is everything such a mess? I think, pressing my face into the linen to muffle my groan.

The house is silent, overly so. Following Gorron’s advice, Wong had departed on some mission to find a mind magician good enough to help me and in the few days since that night I hadn’t seen Stephen at all. The risk of running into him had made me too anxious to leave my bedroom, so like the mature adult I am I resort to sneaking into the the kitchen for food. My headaches have gotten much worse, but I can’t face Stephen to get help. Stephen hasn't sought me out either. I guess he's trying to give me space.

AO3

Mercifully, despite the discomfort of the floor, it's still much cooler than the air.

“I’m such an idiot,” I mutter. Every time I think about it, an acute embarrassment hits me like a train. Why had I kissed him? Stephen was a friend trying to help me through what may be the worst time of my life, and I had been foolish enough think we were having a moment.  

In my exhausted state, it's easy to just fall asleep on the floor.

What must have been a few hours later I am drawn from my slumber, nauseous and sweating. I'm up quicker than I can move my limbs, tripping over the sheets and producing a loud thump as I fall on my face, gagging and dizzy, but I free myself, bursting through the door to my ensuite, and vomit into the toilet. All I had been eating recently was cereal, and said cereal is being hurled up into the bowl. I'm shaking and shivering, arms resting on each side of the seat for support. The burn radiates through my aching chest, which seizes with every violent retch.

A hand pats me on the back, but I am too busy hurling my guts up to acknowledge it. It's joined by another hand which gathers my hair back, securing it in place. After a few moments of dry heaving and coughing, I spit out the last of the vomit and turn to find Wong at my side. He pushes a glass of water into my hand, and I gargled it.

“Brush your teeth,” Wong instructed, “do you think you could shower too?”

I nodded and he stood up, turning the shower on with magic and handing me my toothbrush, prepared with paste. Wong departed the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

The tile was cool beneath me and by the time I had stepped into the shower the water is too hot. When I finish, I pull the shower curtain back to find a clean towel and set of pajamas in the steamy room.

Stepping into my room to find the mess tidied, my bed made and the window open. If I had possessed more energy, I might have gawked at the sight.

Wong appears, coming through the door. “Sit.”

I do so, slumping into the armchair by the window to take advantage of the influx of cool air. Wong places a tray of porridge, fruit and a large glass of orange juice on the side table and my stomach audibly groans at the sight. The silver tray glints in the dull light.

“Eat.”

Wong waited in silence until I make it through the meal, before disappearing with the dishes and returning with a large drink bottle of chilled water.

“What have you been eating since I’ve been gone?” he asks, dropping into the other armchair with a sound that suggested he desperately needed to sit down.

“Mostly cereal,” I replied.

Wong sighs incredulously, “that’s all Stephen’s been feeding you?”

“Not strictly speaking.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

There are many ways that you can describe Wong. His body was made up of curves and soft lines, and yet every part of him radiates sharpness, not in an unfeeling way, but in the practical, no-nonsense way a scalpel does. The man across from me contains magnitudes, infinitely powerful, and yet gentle enough to handle Latpian moths. “I have been out chasing leads for days. I’m exhausted. I’m grumpy. Tell me what you mean right now.”

“I kissed Stephen.”

Wong blanched, “oh. Congratulations.”

“Are not necessary,” I press my face into my palms. “I thought we were- well I don’t know what I thought, but I must have misread the situation because he made it very clear that I had overstepped a boundary. He hasn’t spoken to me in days.”

Wong’s eyebrows knitted together, but not in sympathy as I had expected. Rather he looked annoyed.

“Sorry, that’s probably T.M.I.-”

“No, that’s not- so you’ve just been in your room this whole time I’ve been gone?”

I nod.

“And he hasn’t checked on you?”

I shake my head.

“At all?”

I repeated the action. I am getting the impression I have gotten Stephen into a lot of trouble.

“You’re incredibly ill and he’s too embarrassed to check on you?”

“I mean, it’s my fault too, I haven’t exactly sought him out.”

“That shouldn’t matter, you’re his responsibility to- he needs to grow up,” a groan, and a shaken head. “Can’t leave the house for one second without it all turning to chaos.”

“Where did you go?” I ask, desperate for a change in subject.

Wong took a deep breath, “searching for anyone that might be able to look through your brain and figure out who put the enchantment on you in the first place. I spoke to a great many mystics.”

“Did you find anyone?”

“Perhaps. It depends on your opinion.”

“I’m not sure I'm qualified.”

Leaning forward in his seat, elbows resting on his thighs, Wong begins, “Stephen and I have been searching for someone that might be able to help you, but we've had a… disagreement about how to proceed. Stephen has been making his own communications from the Sanctum to various magical beings, but truth be told, he has been unsuccessful. Wanda has vanished, Master Xiong is busy and Onye is off-realm,” he rubs his temples. “I took it upon myself to try a different path. I’ve visited Asgard, drawing up an agreement.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but Wong raises his hand.

“What Loki did to you was- what I mean is that this is not something I am being flippant over. Stephen doesn’t know that I went to talk with Loki about this. In fact, he expressly forbade me from doing so. It is something we have clashed over.”

That’s why they were fighting.

“I disobeyed a command from the Supreme,” Wong sighs. “As far as the ethical ramifications of my actions... I will only bring Loki here if you give me permission, but before you make a decision, allow me to plead my case.” He pauses, waiting for my invitation, and I give it to him. “Loki, despite his faults, is one of the most powerful mind mystics in the realm. We might be able to find someone else that could do the work in your psyche, but we don’t know if they will be successful. I am concerned that waiting to act might have long-term consequences on your mind.”

“Well, that’s valid, I guess. I'm not mad that you talked to him or anything. I’m terrified about how this might affect me, and..” I trail off, searching for the right words to describe how I feel, an impossible task. “Ever since my rendezvous with Gorron, my perspective on the incident has shifted a little.”

“I didn’t know that Stephen had managed to secure a meeting with Gorron at such short-notice.”

How that little worm, pardon, grub, had such prestige amongst sorcerers, I will never know. “Yeah, I assumed that’s why you went to Asgard?”

“No, I must have departed before. What did Gorron have to say?”

It takes a few moments to get Wong caught up, but by the end of it, he looks thoughtful. “When I visited Asgard, I met with King Thor and told him your story. He was very sympathetic. A big focus of the new king has been maintaining good relations with Earth, so he called Loki to the throne room to defend himself.”

I listen intently.

"Loki insists that the damage was not his fault. He posits that he hasn't seen this happen in a thousand years of mind magic. He could have been lying, but with Gorron's confirmation... If you had not have this mystery enchantment place upon you, it's unlikely that Loki's involvement would have harmed you."

There is a potent mix of emotions swirling inside of me. On the one hand the idea of seeing Loki again, and allowing him such intimate reign over my head is nerve-wracking, but on the other hand, Wong has a point. For a second I swear I can feel Loki's cold hand on my arm.

"We can do it here, at the Sanctum?"

Wong nods.

"And Stephen?"

"You just focus on getting well."

"He's going to hate me if I agree to bring Loki back here."

"He does not hate you at all."

"I'm not happy about it, but I want Loki’s help.”

"There's more. Rather ambitiously, Thor is hoping to make Loki his ambassador to Earth. Something about a new era of public relations for Asgard."

"Well, if Loki is going to continue to act the way he does, they are going to have a hell of a time repairing his image."

"Quite," Wong agrees, "even though Loki wasn't at fault for your injuries, Thor was very angry for his involvement. He ordered Loki to help, and they argued as only brothers can, but Thor is his king, and his word is law bound in Odinmagic. There was some concession though. Loki was allowed to ask for something in return, something to make up for the inconvenience. An embassy, here on Earth."

There is a long pause before I get it. "Wait, here? The Sanctum?"

Wong cringes, "it was the only way to get him to agree. If he helps, Loki will have a right to this house for one year."

"Well, that sucks."

Wong stayed longer than expected, but the company was much appreciated. The sun was tugging at the edges of the sky by the time he departs. In the time I had known him, I had befriended a very unique version of Wong. I was essentially nothing to him, just a stranger from the street that had found their home at the Sanctum, much like a stray animal, and therefore there was little need to maintain his reputation. He is solemn, yes, but he is also friendly and incredibly fed up - all he wants is a little peace and quiet.

I pull myself together. This is my house too. Even if I had humiliated myself in front of Stephen, I can sit in the library. I probably won't even see him.

The artifacts drew me to the Sanctum, but it was the library that kept me hostage. Thousands upon thousands of books, crammed into the space, shelves teetering so dangerously they could only have been held up by magic. Unstable stacks taller than I am all over the floor. The arm chairs are comfortable, but in order to be a touch more conspicuous, I choose to sit at the bay window. It has a rich brown leather seat but with a pattern on its skin like peacock tail feathers; the hide of an animal I couldn’t identify. My favorite place to read. I selected the most interesting looking book from the pile stacked nearest, and settled in to read. The title is in cuneiform, but the gilded remnants of an old translation spell still lingered on the page.

Before long, I hear the soft padding of bare feet, and a freshly woken sorcerer appears, cutting through the library for quicker access to the kitchen. In his groggy state, Stephen didn’t notice me. The adrenaline rush subsides after a few minutes.

An hour passes, and I am stuck trying to decipher one line. If one cannot decide between the fruits of his labors and the cut of meat on the slab, the meat shall rot and become unclean. Since the beginning of living memory, the fruit has always been rancid. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Normally, Stephen helped with the indecipherable stuff. Even just talking it over helped. I debated whether the translation spell had become too worn to work correctly, the page didn’t seem to flow as it should.

Another set of footsteps echo through the library, and Stephen, who again hadn’t seemed to notice me, wanders in. He hovers at the bottom of one of the shelves, before the radiant glow of his magic floated him upwards out of sight. When he returned he held a book in his hands.

His feet made purchase with the ground and I watch him visibly tense as he notices me.

“How long have you been there?”

“All morning.” There it was again, that wave of embarrassment. I can’t believe I was so stupid to think that he might be interested in me. I turn my face back to the book to hide the blooming warmth there.

“Oh.”

There is a long awkward pause as he stands, watching as I clearly don’t continue reading. I try to focus my brain on the words, but I'm tired and my head throbs.

“How have you been feel-” but Stephen cut himself off when another presence joined us.

Wong and Stephen nod, but neither say anything.

The embarrassment in my gut turns to guilt. They weren’t talking because of me, because they’d had a fight about me.

Again no one spoke, and again no one was fooled by my reading act.

After what felt like an age, Stephen said, “well… back to work,” and walked out of the room rather stiffly.

Wong waits for the Sorcerer Supreme to be out of earshot before speaking. “Loki will be here soon. I need to know now if you’ve changed your mind.”

I shiver. “I haven’t, but what are you going to do about-”

“I will handle Stephen.”

The yelling tips off Loki's arrival.

Peeling out of the library and into the front room, I rush towards the sound, my stomach twisted in knots. I stop dead outside the door, which had been left carelessly flung open.

A glowing light is wrapped tight around Stephen’s fist and he swing at Loki, who doesn’t so much as flinch. Wong is between the pair in a second.

“What the fuck is he doing here, Wong?”

“I told you-” Wong began but was cut off.

“And I told you-”

No one seemed to notice my presence.

“So passionate, Strange,” Loki drawls, head cocked to the side, hands strung nonchalantly in his pockets.

Stephen lurches forward, but Wong holds him back with a palm on his chest.

“Careful,” said the prince, “don’t want to give the impression that you have other options. Might make me feel like I’m not needed here.” Despite the air of magic around him, Loki just didn’t seem to fit inside the Sanctum Sanctorum - his magic a different origin, of a different realm. Even with Stephen's threats, he's at ease.

“You aren’t needed here.”

“She’s only getting worse, Stephen," Wong interjects.

“He did this to her!”

"I did no such thing," Loki snaps, like the suggestion that he had caused this damage genuinely offended him. "Say it again and I will pull your tongue from your throat."

Wong ignores Loki. “He didn’t do this, Strange, and you know it. Gorron confirmed it.”

“He still forced himself into her mind-!”

"Yes, yes, he did," Wong appeals, "but she agreed to this. She wants to try."

“Shall I come back later?” Loki says with rolling eyes. “Wait until she’s on the verge of death? Until you have to come crawling on your hands and knees begging for my help to unscramble her mind? Leave it until then, and I'll say no, deal or no deal.”

For a second it was like everyone was frozen, and then a portal opens at Wong’s feet and he falls through before he can stop himself. A burst of orange the size of an anvil flies at Loki, who just managed\s to swipe it away at the last second. Loki sends the energy flying back at Stephen in razor-sharp shards of green. The shield absorbs most of the impact, but a few of the shards skate past Stephen, and through the open door towards me. I try to phases, but I just can't, can’t even move as I watch them fly at me almost in slow motion, growing larger and larger.

An open hand from Stephen sends a disk of energy at my torso, pushing me out of the way. I hadn’t realized I had been holding my breath until the disk pushes the gasp from me, stumbling back several feet.

“Here is my patient now,” Loki turned smoothly on his heels. “A pleasure, as always.”

I didn’t greet him.

“Is it true? You agreed to this? To his help?” Stephen faces me, taking several steps towards me, his voice considerably quieter than moments ago. Hot anger had gone icy.

I nod, sheepishly.

The emotions that rolled across Stephen’s face were too quick for me to identify. His eyebrow raises, and he swallows whatever it was he was going to say and shook his head. “Fine.”

Behind him, Loki looks overjoyed with the drama, his emerald eyes bright with pure excitement. There is something about him that make it impossible to get a read on him, like a cat playing with its food, and it twists a knot in my stomach.

Am I making a mistake?

Stephen steps sharply away, arms folded against his chest and freeing up the direct line between Loki and myself. I try to make eye contact with Stephen, but he's too angry to look at me. It stings like a wasp.

After a few moments of silence, Loki clapped his hands together, delighted. “Right! Shall we begin?”

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