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pompomqt · 7 months ago

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Journey to the West Chapter 47

In this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest we finish the Daoist debacle and start a new adventure. So let's get into it shall we?

So the King is crying about his dead immortals, until Sun Wukong goes up to him and calls him an idiot. Since those 'immortals' were probably planning on just killing him and stealing his kingdom anyways. Thanks to this, the King is able to gain a single wisdom point, finally putting him in the positive integers. To celebrate his newfound brain cell the King hosts a huge banquet for them. And while he's at it he also makes a decree that welcomes the bhuddist monks back to the city. Though personally I can't see why they would ever want to live in this city again. Regardless they at least have to stop by to thank Sun Wukong for his help and return his hair to him. After Monkey collects his hairs from the monks, he makes sure to inform the King that he actually did do all that shit the Daoist's accused of him earlier. He also makes sure to tell the King to treat all the religions equally from now on. With that we close out the arc, and the journey continues.

So the group travels for a few seasons without incident, until they reach a eight hundred foot wide river. And it's deep to, they checked, they threw a pebble in it. Tripitaka is so frustrated by their inability to cross it that he bursts into tears. While Tripitaka is crying about how hard this journey is, Pigsy hears the sound of drums in the distance. Pigsy, who only has good idea's when food is involved, suggests that they go and request some vegetarian food from whoever is doing this bhuddist religious service, and they can just ask for a boat ride from them in the morning.

So Monkey leads the group into town, and Tripitaka tells them to wait here while he tries to go secure a place for them to stay. After all they are so ugly and ill-mannered, Tripitaka doesn't want them to ruin their chances. Monkey thinks that's a fair enough assessment and lets Tripitaka go on ahead. So Tripitaka greets the elderly man of the house, but the man simply tells him that he arrived to late for the feast. Tripitaka explains that he wasn't here for the feast, and that instead he's just traveled a very long way from the Tang Kingdom on a fetch quest for some scriptures. The man doesn't believe that Tripitaka could have gotten here on his own, which considering the book so far... fair. However Tripitaka explains that he had some help from his disciples.

The man asks to see the disciples, after all he should have enough room to house all of them for the night. However as soon as Tripitaka calls them over, the three rush into the house, and nearly scare the old man to death as well as all the other bhuddist's in the house. He calms down a bit however after he watches Tripitaka yell at them for their poor manners. I guess Tripitaka going nuclear mom mode on them was enough to convince the old man that they really are Tripitaka's disciples.

Anyways the monks had just finished the service they were doing, but the old man is still happy to host them for the night. The old man calls for some lights, but as soon as the torch bearers see the three disciples, they all freak out and run away screaming about monsters. This alerts the man's older brother, who asks what kind of brazen demons they are to break into their house in the middle of the night. The man however explains that these ugly monsters are actually monks on a journey to acquire scriptures.

With all the necessary screaming and crying out of the way, the older brother joins them for a late dinner. So the pilgrims enjoy a nice meal with their hosts, and once Pigsy is done trying to eat them out of house and home, we can finally start getting into the plot of this arc. Tripitaka finally gets around to asking for the name of their hosts, and learn that their last name is 'Chen' just like Tripitaka's father. Tripitaka also asks them what kind of religious service they were holding earlier, and they tell him it was a 'preparatory mass for the dead' which Tripitaka can't say he's ever heard of before.

Pigsy meanwhile calls them out saying there is no such thing as a preparatory mass for the dead, which Monkey agrees with. Monkey impressed by Pigsy evidently also gaining a brain cell in this chapter asks for more information. The old men then proceed to tell them that the river has a demon in it, because of course it does, what self respecting river doesn't in this book? Turns out this demon has been blessing the town with good weather in exchange for some good old human sacrifices in the form of one young boy and girl a year. And this year it's the old men's turn. And despite their ages of they each only have one child, an eight year old girl named One Load of Gold, and one seven year old boy named Chen Guanbao.

Anyways these two unlucky children are the chosen sacrifices for this year, so the preparatory mass for the dead was for them. Of course they don't want to sacrifice their children, they are all they have, but the demon called for their children specifically, so they can't even buy a replacement child to sacrifice to the demon in stead. Tripitaka is moved to tears by their unfortunate situation. Monkey however has a potential solution to this problem and asks to see the son. So Monkey takes a good look at the boy before transforming himself into his exact copy.

The old man is very impressed by Monkey's ability, and is thrilled when Monkey offers to be the sacrifice in his son's place. The old man even agrees to give Tripitaka a thousand ounces of silver for his travel expenses. When Monkey asks where his thank you is, the old man points out that there is no use thanking a dead man walking. Monkey is just like 'we'll see about that' and agrees to be the sacrifice.

And now it's time for the girl, who's father is currently weeping, because although he's grateful that Monkey is saving his nephew, he still doesn't want to lose his only daughter. Luckily Monkey has a plan to save the girl to, so he tells the old man that if he wants to save his daughter, he'd better do his best to bribe the pig. However surprisingly enough Pigsy isn't that easy to bribe and won't risk his life even for a decent meal. Monkey however informs him that since he's already eaten their food this is the least he can do for them.

Pigsy however protests that he's not as good at transformation as Monkey is anyways. Tripitaka meanwhile tries to persuade Pigsy to do the right thing, simply because it's the right thing to do, but unsurprisingly Pigsy isn't swayed. He argues that he may be able to transform into large creatures and objects, but that transforming into such a small girl will be impossible. Monkey however tells the old man to fetch his daughter in order to force Pigsy to give it a try anyways.

So the old man brings out his daughter, and Monkey orders Pigsy to transform into her, under threat of a beating. So Pigsy gives it a try but... well... while he got the head right the body is still a little bit... er... big. Monkey tells him to get good, but Pigsy argues that even if Monkey tries to beat him, it's not going to get any better then this. So instead Monkey helps him complete the change with a little magic of his own.

Now that they have their duplicates, Monkey orders the two old men to hide their children away until it's all over. After that, the two fake children are ready to be sacrificed to the demon. So Monkey and Pigsy sit on some fancy trays and are carried out by the temple boys to meet their fate. Pigsy is rather worried about this whole 'being eaten by a demon thing' but Monkey assures him that if the demon eats him first, Pigsy is free to run away. Pigsy is fine with that plan, but what happens if the demon wants to eat the girl first? Luckily the old man informs him that the demon always eats the boy first, so that's that I guess. Anyways, with a partial plan in place, the procession begins.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 + 94,000 years Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes and Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind, enhanced smell, discerning good and evil within a thousand miles, Spirit Summoning, lock picking, object transformation, distance reduction, vanishing in a flash of light, super healing and transforming others. Demon Kill Count: 9+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 1009 God's Defeated: 22 + Unknown number Defeats: 5 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering, trespassing, violating Tree Law, looting corpses, trading counterfeit goods, criminal threat, animal abuse, Assisting or Instigating Escape, Damage to Religious Property and contaminating a substance for human consumption. Cry Count: 7 + 3 fake cries Mountains Trapped Under: 4

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka and the Tang Monk Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization, Heart Sutra and Meditation. Cry Count: 23 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 31 Paralyzed by fear: 5 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 6 Falling Off Horses: 8

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, flight, Magic of Water Restriction, Singing, and Sword Dancing. Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 2

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations, parting water, fighting underwater, cloud soaring, size enhancement and CPR Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 2 Kidnapped by Demons: 3 Human Kill Count: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 3 Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping, arson, defamation, Damage to Religious Property and contaminating a substance for human consumption

Current Sha Wujing Stats: Names/Titles: The Curtain-Raising General, Sha Wujing (Sand Aware of Purity), Sandy and Sha Monk Weapon: Monster Taming Staff Abilities: Fighting underwater and Cloud soaring. Demon Kill Count: Unknown number of minions. Kidnapped by Demons: 2 Human Kill Count: 1 Crime List: Breaking a Crystal Cup, murder, desecration of a human corpse, Damage to Religious Property and contaminating a substance for human consumption

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#journey to the west #jttw read through #jttw #journeythroughjourneytothewest #sun wukong #tang sanzang #zhu wuneng #sha wujing #Crybaby Tripitaka is BACK ya'll #With an additional two instances of tears this chapter.#It's also bullying Pigsy hours which I always appreciate.

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chimerafeathers · 11 months ago

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thinking about Frieren and Dungeon Meshi today and just remembered seeing a post/comment or two saying that people have no reason to compare the two stories since they have nothing in common except being non-isekai fantasy. different tones, different pacing, different themes, etc.

i don't know if whoever said that were dunmesh manga readers or not, but i kinda assume they were making judgments based purely on however much of the anime was released at the time, because i think about how similar these stories are a LOT, actually.

[spoilers for the dungeon meshi manga below, and a little bit of frieren manga]

i think that's a pretty fair assessment to make based JUST on the "prologue"/setup arc leading up to the red dragon. while some of the main themes are very in-your-face, others are still being woven into the characters and established much more subtly, and we don't get the full weight and payoff for that early work until later into the story.

Frieren establishes its identity within the first episodes and never drastically deviates from that first impression. on the other hand, dunmesh takes its time to build its foundation...but instead of using it as groundwork to build a house above, it then leads you into the depths of the dungeon below.

the stuff about conflicts between long-lived and short-lived races seem like just jokes/banter and a touch of political worldbuilding, in the beginning, but that tension is absolutely central to both Marcille and Kabru's arcs. both Frieren and dunmesh are about elves facing their (near) immortality in contrast with the brief mortality of their companions.

I think about the ways Frieren, with a thousand years of life behind her, carries the memories of those she's outlived along with her and all the ways she emulates them to preserve their lives and values. I think about the way Marcille, with a thousand years of life ahead of her, clings so tightly to the people she holds dear and fears the future she sees beyond their deaths.

I think about the way Serie talks about training Flamme on a whim, casually dismissive of short human lifespans. I think of the way Kabru resents the way elves treat short-lived species like children and fights so desperately for their agency and right to speak on the same level as the rest, fully informed of the dangers that threaten them all instead of being left in the dark.

beyond that, too--you can really feel that these series come from a place of love for the genres that inspired them. dunmeshi's speculative biology for the monsters and the ecosystem they're a part of, the exploration of how and why different races get different "stat" bonuses (dwarven constitution, half-foot perception, tall-man versatility, elven/gnomish magical affinity), the side comic about "Grease" as a starter spell--all obviously come from deep knowledge and affection for D&D and/or similar rpgs.

meanwhile, Himmel gives thoughtful weight to doing "side quests" for paltry rewards--they help because they're heroes, but they accept scraps and useless items for rewards because no one wants to feel pitied or indebted to anyone. he says they "went the wrong way" if they find the stairs to the next floor in a dungeon, because the "right" way is to explore every nook and cranny first before you progress. it would be very easy to mock how annoying fetch quests are, or make the dungeon bit a pure joke--but this is a story that relishes the process and the journey of it all, down to the smallest detail and silliest quest.

flashbacks to Falin being achingly kind and gentle, and also strange and awkward. flashbacks to Himmel being blindingly heroic and noble, and also vain and goofy.

these are both stories about the weight of death and loss and the things we'll do to see our loved ones one last time, when we are destined and doomed to outlive them. they're about the joy of the journey even when it's painful, thriving on silliness even when things are "serious," and loving the people in your life knowing you will lose them, and how you carry them with you when they're gone. dunmeshi is heavier on the comedy side of things, but both have their fair share of emotional gutpunches, and their themes and values mirror each other.

all this to say, these stories are holding hands.

#dungeon meshi #dungeon meshi spoilers #frieren #delicious in dungeon spoilers #dm manga spoilers #frieren spoilers #frieren manga spoilers #i don't think i talked about anything in frieren that hasn't already been in the show...#nevermind i checked the side quest reward thing hasn't been animated yet #there are of course differences but the similarities are way more than just 'non-isekai fantasy'#this is also inspired by a post saying that Marcille and Frieren are just on opposite ends of their lifespans bc i think about that a lot #also: ik frieren is over 1000 years old. more poetic for the parallel to fudge the detail

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quitealotofsodapop · 1 year ago

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Answering all three Asks I have about The True Immortal Compliant in "The Monkey King and the Infant" au:

Answering asks from @justweirddino and @kyliecatqueen + an anonymous;

Pretty much yeah; the whole Monkie Gang only start out barely tolerating True Immortal Compliant/TIC/Ruyi. Wukong (+ most characters who know about the incident) thinks he's a scumbag for extorting the Kingdom of Women all those years ago. But DBK really wants to see his little brother again (the bull has been locked up for hundreds of years) and begs for them to be at least polite when he visits.

TIC is like that creepy mega-right-wing uncle that you have to put up with at thanksgiving and/or christmas. Has really harsh, outdated opinions on womens health. Makes dirty jokes at others expense. But since he's a guest, you don't want to be rude and call him out. In general a dinner with him is more painful than the furnace in SWK's opinion.

After its over Shadowpeach are like; "Lets never speak to him again." "Agreed".

Then a couple of years pass and Spicynoodles are expecting their first baby(s). Uncle TIC makes himself known. At first DBK and Red Son believe he's emerged to establish contact with his future grand-niblings. PIF is suspicious; she knows her brother-in-law still has access to that Spring Water, and that TIC has been enjoying his new life of luxury in the Underworld...

Red Son is like the little kid who used to think his uncle was cool, then as he got older realized that a lot of stuff was red-flags. He makes sure not to give MK/Xiaotian any drink provided by TIC.

It comes to a head when TIC invites the whole Spicynoodle fam + grandparents to his palace in the Underworld in the lead up to the Spicynoodle wedding. The volcanic, super-hot Demon Bull Palace in the Underworld.

At dinner there's nothing but wine/baijiu to drink. Luckily most of the fam packed their own supply of water/iced tea for the journey and give that to MK to drink so he isn't dying of thirst. The micro-aggression does not go unnoticed however.

Later on in the night, MK gets out of bed to stretch his legs (babies making a ruckus), only to be summoned by TIC sitting in the drawing room. A platter holding a pitcher of water, two full glasses, and wedges of lemon just sitting there on the table.

TIC: "Why don't you sit with me and drink? I'm so sorry I'd forgotten your... limitation during dinner." MK: "Um... it's no problem really. I'll sit for a bit. Kids were just keeping me awake is all."

A few moment of awkward convo pass. @justweirddino describes the perfect proceeding scenario. MK is just swirling his glass of water, glaring into it as TIC sits with his own empty glass.

TIC: "You're not drinking." MK: "You poured the glasses before I came in. I didn't see you pour yours." TIC: *Pupils dilate a little but tries not to show any emotion* MK: *pours half the contents of his into TIC's own glass* "It wouldn't be fair to drink mine with yours empty. Drink up!" TIC: *hand shaking as he takes his glass. hesistates taking a sip.* MK, still as brightly as before: "The Demon Bull Family has such a rich history! I really can't help looking into it, seeing how I'm gonna be part of the family really soon!" TIC: *Sweats* MK: "And of course I love hearing how our families interacted during my dad's pilgrimage. Including a really funny chapter involving the Kingdom of Women." TIC: *oh shit reaction* MK, smile turning devious: "You really thought I was that stupid did you?" *lets out the loudest Help!/Danger! chirp he can* Outside the drawing room: *frantic boss music starts playing and getting closer*

TIC barely makes it out of the room alive.

Fun fact about the Spring Water. Half a bowl/goblet is sufficient to cure a pregnancy. But more than that? According to the old woman in Journey to the West that helped Zhu Bajie and Tripitaka; "Any more will dissolve your insides."

Wukong helpfully provides the above knowledge and proceeds to nearly strangle TIC to death.

It wasn't just a simple "remove future heirs"-plan.

It was also a "remove nephew's spouse"-plan.

Once the group learns that last bit, Red Son has to be held back by multiple family members/bull clones to stop him from delivering his Uncle straight to The 10 Kings themselves.

As you can imagine, this was the final straw for DBK. He can deal with a jerk of a little brother - but for his own flesh and blood to try and murder his future son-in-law and unborn grandbabies? Zero contact immediately. Thank you for dinner, never speak to us again or we will destroy you.

Bonus horror/crime idea of TIC;

Princess Iron Fan is comforting MK as TIC is being dragged away to answer for his crimes. She smells the glass and winces.

PIF: "Urgh. No wonder you noticed it. It smells so bitter. Almost like..." PIF: *Drops the glass, shattering it on the ground. Hands clutching her mouth as she remembers the times in the far past when she and DBK had tried for children. A servant always bringing her a familiarly-foul smelling tea when the queen became "nauseous/unwell".* MK, immediately worried: "Yuemu! [mother-in-law] Are you ok?" PIF: "...I'm going to kill him." *wind teleports out of there* MK: *is left confused, but understands her anger*

So yeah, when TIC shows up he doesn't escape post-S4 alive.

#the monkey king and the infant #the monkey king and the infant au #spicynoodles being parents #pregnancy tw #spicynoodlesshiping #spicynoodles #qi xiaotian #lmk red son #trans mk #true immortal compliant #immortal ruyi #lmk character ideas #lmk pif #lmk princess iron fan #lmk dbk #lmk demon bull king #lmk demon bull family #attempted murder tw

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onwardorange · 1 year ago

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to live in beautiful terror

Mortal pains, mortal pleasures—Zagreus experiences them all, with Thanatos by his side. (Or, what is the terror of death for, if not to emphasize the beauty of life?)

read on ao3!

excerpt:

For all that Zagreus is charming, witty, and clever, Thanatos swiftly comes to learn that he can also be—how should Thanatos put it?—rather oblivious, perhaps.

They’ve been traveling southwards for about a week now, trying to make it to Athens before the winter weather fully sets in. It’s slow going, especially since Thanatos decides to take them through winding backroads and wooded areas instead of the main road; he’s still rattled from being run out of that last tavern. With Zagreus at his side, however, he finds he doesn’t mind the longer journey.

The days pass in easy, pleasant conversation. Thanatos learns many things about Zagreus’ life in the Underworld—how he was trained by the great warrior Achilles as a child (“I even managed to best him once,” Zagreus had said, his chest puffing up slightly, “though I’m pretty sure it was just a fluke, because he’s wiped the courtyard with me every other time, before or since.”), which of his many weapons he prefers (“I trained with Stygius, so that has always felt the most comfortable, but I like using my shield Aegis too,” Zagreus had said, before turning to Thanatos with a sly grin on his face. “Though, the Adamant Rail—phew!—I mean, sometimes I don’t even think I should be allowed to use a weapon like that. It’s really not a fair fight.”), and how he misses Cerberus, the three-headed hellhound that haunts people’s nightmares, but who Zagreus seems to think of as a sort of pet (“Why are you staring at me like that, Than?” Zagreus had asked indignantly. “Cerberus is a very good boy!”).

In turn, Thanatos tells Zagreus more about himself than he’s ever divulged to anyone else—how he was raised and trained by Chiron (“Wow,” Zagreus had breathed, clear awe coloring his tone, “just like Achilles and Patroclus!”), his more memorable encounters with the monsters of Greece (“I mean, I am glad we let that one satyr go,” Zagreus had said after Thanatos regaled him with a particularly nasty fight with a group of satyrs, before adding darkly, “but I also hate their poison darts.”), and about his fondness for his horse (“You know, I think my uncle was onto something when he created horses,” Zagreus had said, as Thanatos showed him how to properly brush Mort. “They’re very cute! Sort of like a long dog, don’t you think, Than?”).

Thanatos finds that he can’t quite bring himself to share some things with Zagreus, at least not yet. Namely, his parentage and the whole situation with Sisyphus. Both feel just this side of too sore—like bruises that have never fully healed—for him to voice comfortably.

Somewhat to Thanatos’ surprise, Zagreus doesn’t push for more information than he is willing to give, though Thanatos can tell that he’s curious. Still, Zagreus politely lets him skirt around those topics, much to his relief.

That’s the thing, Thanatos thinks—Zagreus is not stupid. In fact, Thanatos thinks him rather emotionally intuitive in most situations, and he is sure Zagreus could not have managed to escape the Underworld in the first place if he was not intelligent.

This, of course, does not mean that Zagreus isn’t prone to being as oblivious as all Hades, and then some.

Zagreus’ philosophy in life seems to be to simply charge into every situation full speed ahead, with a one-track mind and no consideration of the consequences. Thanatos supposes this is reasonable, considering he is an immortal god, but he sometimes finds himself wishing that Zagreus would just think for a moment, before he acts.

It would certainly save Thanatos from a lot of heartache.

continue reading on ao3

part 1 || part 2

#thanatos #zagreus #thanatos x zagreus #thanzag #thanzag fanfic #hades the video game #hades

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moonlightreal · 1 year ago

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The giant Fairy YA books post

There are so many fairy YA books. So. Many. I’m just going to drop a list with short comments on the ones that might be more obscure, or that I can think of something to say about, in no particular order.

The Last Changeling by Chelsea Pitcher

Fairy princess Elora must find a noble and good hearted human boy to sacrifice to conquer her tyrannical mother. She goes to a human high school to find him, and promptly falls in love.

I’ve tried to read this one a few times- the plot is solid and the reviews are great- but I just cannot get into it. The moment that boy meets girl they fall in love instantly and then the writing becomes about their growing feelings for each other not about fairy politics and adventure. From the reviews I know there’s good plot… but I just can’t. Maybe you can!

A Court of Thorns and Roses

I quite liked these, in spite of some annoying aspects. I always get grumpy when books have onscreen sex, because book one will be 100% plot and then they start having sex and book two will be 90% plot and 10% sex and then by book four it’ll be 60% plot and 40% sex and well, I don’t mind sex in books but I do mind how the plot gets progressively diluted by more and more steamy scenes.

These books are SJM’s love letter to the Black Jewels Trilogy, and while SJM is not my cup of tea I do love the Black Jewels books and recommend jumping to them for any Court Of fans. With the caveat that they are also weird about sex. In a totally different way than Court Of is weird about sex; Court Of just has large quantities of sex but Black Jewels is weird and makes you wonder what Ann Bishop really thinks about people.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

This book shines in its worldbuilding. The fair folk are immortal but unable to do anything remotely creative. Our heroine is a painter who loves her craft and uses it to paint the beautiful fae folk. She meets a fae prince who is of course the only fae who has any empathy and humanity and feels strangely drawn to her, because of course he does. The story is predictable but the world and the way the writer does her fae folk make this a book well worth reading.

Rogerson’s other books are also good. Sorcery of Thorns didn’t grab me but Vespertine is just brilliant and with the upward trend in amazingness I can’t wait to see what her next book will be.

Poison by Chris Wooding

Wooding’s strength as a writer is thinking up wonderfully spooky set pieces and imagery, which he does masterfully. In this book he follows the plot of a girl who sets out to rescue a sister kidnapped by the fae. The girl named herself Poison because she’s kinda grumpy and misanthropic and she travels through several creepy places to find… well, the ending is odd. But the journey is worth reading. I like the author’s Haunting of Alaizabel Cray better but Poison is worth getting from the library.

Spell Hunter aka Knife by RJ Anderson

A dwindling civilization of tiny fairies lives in an oak tree, trying to find food and escape the crows and foxes that prey on them. One young fairy who names herself Knife starts spying on the giant humans in a nearby house, especially their son who has recently lost the use of his legs in an accident. Things go from there about as you’d expect. This isn’t a terribly unique plot but it’s a unique setting and setup. It does play with the idea that fairy civilization isn’t able to thrive without human contact, which is cool. There are two sequel books.

The Call by Peadar O’Guilin

The Sidhe have come back to take their revenge on the humans who stole Ireland from them. Every teenager will at some point vanish into the fae realm and must survive as the fae try to torture them to death. This ‘calling’ has shaped all of society with every resource bent towards helping the next generation survive. They mostly don’t. Nessa has weak legs after a bout with polio but is determined to survive when the call comes for her.

This book is verrrry dark, and it’s amazing. There is a sequel.

Cold Tom by Sally Prue

A book from the point of view of a truly inhuman fae encountering the human world. Tom’s people are cold and cold-hearted. They have no family ties, and see the family ties between humans as slavery.

Holly Black’s fairy books

Are reliably good, also reliably dark. She kills off the characters’ pets oftener than I like (oftener than never) and has marvelously creepy monsters. Her fae tend to live alongside the modern world as inhuman beings that prey on humanity. Tithe and its companion books are good, The Darkest Part of the Forest is standalone and it’s good. I haven’t read her other series yet but I’m going to assume they are similar and also good.

Bones of Faerie

A YA post-apocalyptic fairy story. The fae won the war and now nature is angry. A wonderfully vivid setting. Liza is just trying to survive in this destroyed world, and when she discovers she has supernatural powers herself she’s exiled from her village and off on a quest. I quite liked this one because it gives more to the worldbuilding and very little to boys boys boys.

The Various

An oddity. The trilogy is found in the children's section but the books are a good two inches thick each. They’re about girls who encounter the ‘various’ kinds of fae creatures, a bit like Spiderwick with a much higher wordcount. I was very excited to read these, but to my disappointment they didn’t grab me and I remember nothing much about them.

Treachery of Beautiful Things

A girl must save her brother who’s been kidnapped by the fairy queen for his musical ability, and along the way she meets a boy. A standard basic plot, but this book does it really well. The writing feels epic, there are lots of spooky fae creatures, the otherworld feels like an alien realm. The author is Irish so she knows the lore. Recommended!

All That Glows

Years ago the fae swore a pack with Britain’s royal family, and part of that pact means that each royal is invisibly guarded by a faery. Emrys is assigned to keep an eye on the teenage prince, who she feels a strange connection to. But there’s no time to wonder why she’s reacting like a Night World character who just met their soulmate; dire evils are threatening the realm! This book is heavier on the swoony romance than some, but it is a good read for all of that. The fae are appropriately inhuman, the prince is less boring than some love interests, and the setup with the heroine as a guardian rather than wandering into fairyland like most of the heroines on this list makes it unique.

These Hollow Vows

Our heroine goes to rescue her sister, becomes a spy in a fae court, and soon finds herself torn between feelings for a handsome fae prince and a handsome fae rebel who is also a prince. I rate this one too much love triangle not enough worldbuilding. Much to my disappointment because it looked really promising at first glance.

Kandide and the Secret of the Mists

Haughty and selfish fairy princess Kandide suffers an injury that leaves her with a deformed wing and is exiled like all other “imperfect” fae. Meeting her fellow imperfects helps her grow as a person.

This reads very self-published, like it’s written by someone who doesn’t really know how to write a book. The villain hates Kandide just because she’s always been a bully. Fae exile their disabled people just because they do. There’s instalove when Kandide meets her fella and lots of “as you well know” writing. Not a surprise since the author is a stage magician who wrote a book inspired by the art that appears on the cover. In fact she wrote three books! Which is ridiculously impressive but makes it unsurprising that the writing isn’t really up to standard.

Faerie Path

Anita’s handsome friend opens a portal into the fairy world, where she learns that she is really Talia, lost daughter of Oberon and Titania. Talia meets her six older sisters, discovers the fairy realm, has lots of romance with the love interest, and must help deal with a villain. The seven daughters as characters are the only point that make this series stand out.

Wondrous Strange

Kelley is acting in Midsummer Night’s Dream in a park that happens to hold the portals to the fairy realm. Soon she’s crossed paths with one of the changelings who guards the gates and starts falling for him. Oh, and she’s got a kelpie in her bathtub and may be the lost fairy princess. A perfectly standard fairy YA, first of a trilogy.

Iron King

On Meghan’s sixteenth birthday she starts seeing strange creatures. Then her brother is replaced by a changeling and she and her best friend Robbie Goodfell head into fairyland to the rescue. On the way she meets the handsome prince of the winter court.

I quite like these. There's a trilogy about Meghan and a sequel trilogy about her brother, who grows up able to see fairies after being kidnapped as a child. There’s certainly some boys boys boys stuff but Prince Ash is barely on screen for most of the first book, leaving hundreds of pages free for nothing but adventure and spooky fae encounters. I feel like this series is the platonic ideal of the YA fairy novel.

Dust Girl

A trilogy unique in that it takes place in America in the 1920s and stars a girl who is mixed race in both the ethnicity and species senses. Callie leaves home after the dust bowl has destroyed the town and her mother has disappeared, in company with a handsome hobo she searches for her parents and encounters the fae courts.

Wicked Lovely

Aislinn has always been able to see the fae, and tried to stay under the radar. But suddenly the leaders of the summer and winter courts are both taking an interest in her. Only one is a handsome boy, but Aislinn also has a human boyfriend she’s not interested in exchanging for the lord of summer. Marissa Marr has a whole slew of fairy YA books, 5 set in this world and a few others in an alternate fae world with different courts.

The Faerie Ring

Tiki and her found family of orphans survive as pickpockets in Victorian London, until Tiki steals a ring (like, a jewelry ring not a ring of mushrooms) that is the symbol of the peace between humans and fairies. Hopefully the handsome thief Riecker can help her protect her family from sudden fae attention!

Magic Under Glass

Performer Nimira discovers that her employers hunt fairies as trophies, and then meets an unusually human automaton which turns out to hold the spirit of a fae prince.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Laurel discovers she’s a fairy, and that fairies are plants. Actual plant people, their wings are their petals. Which is a unique take! But when the handsome fae boy turns up her tells Laurel about the courts and a battle against trolls, some normal stuff along with being a plant. Unfortunately, I did not love this book or read the sequels. The plant people idea is neat though, and could have gone some interesting places in a different story.

Wings by ED Baker

Tamisin suddenly sprouts wings. Her adoptive parents can’t help her figure it out, but maybe the strangely handsome one out of the ugly goblins coming after her can.

Glimmerglass

Dana runs away from home, a sensible thing to do when your mother drinks too much, but her father lives on the border of Faerie and that's a problem. Because Dana turns out to be one of the few people who can cross between the worlds, bringing magic or technology back and forth. This makes her a valuable pawn for politicians on both worlds, one of whom is Dana’s father. And another of whom is the father of the hot fae guy Dana can’t stop thinking about. First of a trilogy. Not amazing.

Tree Shepherd’s Daughter

Keelie goes to live with her father, who works Renaissance Faires. Some of the faire actors are very committed to their roles. Almost as if they might be acting their ordinary lives. Soon our heroine is having conversations with trees and learning new things about herself. First of a trilogy.

Lament

Deirdre is a talented musician, and she can see fairies. Particularly two very handsome fairies, who are both looking to kill Deirdre before the power of her music makes trouble for the queen’s court. I read this book but remember almost nothing about it, making me think that as Maggie Stiefvater’s first YA book it may suffer from early-work clumsiness. It afflicts us all.

Falconer

Aileana should be concentrating on her debut and finding a husband, but she keeps sneaking away to slay faeries nobody else can see trying to get to the one who killed her mother. Aileana is a strong female lead and the book is good steampunk fun. Except it ends in the middle of the climactic battle. Not after the climactic battle, literally in the middle of it. So make sure you have the whole trilogy on hand before you start.

Fairies of Dreamdark

Laini Taylor is a really good writer, in a way that not all YA authors are. This is a book about a tiny-fairy with wings, friends with crows, who hunts evil demons and traps them in bottles. The characters are good, the worldbuilding is great, well worth reading.

#ya books

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just-eyris-things · 2 years ago

Note

have 3, 8, 10, and 14 from the gw2 asks for airell, if you'd like! :D @kerra-and-company

okay, im gonna just admit it

i did not forget-forget about this, i just kept remembering about it when i was falling asleepp and then days went by and then it was a month and a half later so-

im so sorry ;w; thank you so much for sending in the ask, means a lot! let's hit it off :3c

3. Do they have any crafting professions?

Airell is an excellent cook, both in-game and lore-wise. I joke all the time how his team misses his cooking more than him when he's away, hahahaha.

8. Are there any juicy rumors about them floating around Tyria?

SO! MANY!!!! The most popular is the rumor about him having an affair with Faren - to be fair, they did hook up ONCE and Airell cringes whenever he sees the guy ever since.

Airell is quite flirty, so rumors about him having multiple partners were quite common and they were quite often the topics of the commander fun club meetings.

Other rumors are that Airell is immortal (even before we learn that they are a dragon scion) - mostly because of their necromancy and they cannot fall in battle. Simply, the commander is made into this undefeated champion who will never fall. Some rumors claim that Airell made pacts with demons and divine beings from the Mists. After all nobody can be that powerful, right?

And of course... a rumor that Airell is a whispers agent who was so long under cover that they forgot who they really were or that they still are undercover and the whole pact commander thing is a facade so the order of whispers can have more power and influence, especially that Airell is not hiding how close he is to Trahearne.

10. What was the most difficult part of their journey so far?

Airell has been through a lot. I think there were three most difficult parts that I cannot simply single out as the top one. So, in non-defined order:

learning of their identity as a dragon scion - that was really harsh for Airell, they always thought they were just a normal mordem like any sylvari, they thought they were no different, but suddenly they learn the truth about themselves and... they are the very thing they were seeking to destroy. How are they supposed to deal with that?

dealing with Trahearne's death - ever since Airell and Trahearne get together, Airell becomes very dependent on their partner. In a fic I'm currently working on, some characters refer to Trahearne as an anchor for Airell - someone who kept them in check without actually knowing about it. So when suddenly Airell woke up and that anchor was gone... they were devastated. they didn't know how to handle it and broke many rules and regulations of necromancy guidelines in the process of... handling it badly. it only lead to even bigger mess. if you want to read more about it, i have a series of fics (2 whole fics, the 2nd one has two chapters)

lastly, and this one will be more physical than mental, leaving the Jungle. Before Airell comes to central Tyria, they live with their hylek tribe in Maguuma. They know the jungle inside and out, they know all the secret places. And after around 2 decades (that's twenty (20) years!) they finally decide to leave and see the world. The world outside of jungle is really different and even though the jungle is deadly, and somehow carts pulled by bulls are more scary than a furious stonehead charging straight at you. Airell also didn't really know the language, so it was really hard for them to communicate with locals.

14. If they were an elder dragon, what would their domains be?

hehe :)

death and plant :D which they kind of become later on, with a bonus of mind, but the mind part is more of a formality of coming Mordy Junior.

#airell #kerra-and-company #anonymous

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legitimatesatanspawn · 7 months ago

Text

After 5000 years of being dragged around by fam, I'm free just in time to see this.

Usually I see "get out of the marriage contract" type of setups which, fair, it's easy Drama. I don't often see "marriage hunt times".

I know most takes will be Kakashi or Naruto or someone else... but for pure chaos reasons I'm going with Madara. As in Supposedly Dead Madara who is chained to the Doom Tree of Fuckery for continued life. Obito had the Uzumaki Scroll of Mystery and it was Zetsu who accidentally triggered it. The "Tree" went with them.

thank god. maybe it'll stay there.

So Madara accidentally woos Da-ni, who is quick to figure out that this clever brilliant (slightly stupid) mortal has managed to bootstrap a form of immortality using... uh... (Danny stares at the 'tree'. Is that a corpse? A living corpse? With a thousand and more bodies growing out of it like the universe's most disturbing fruit? And his new husband is hooked to it with roots?)

Well, assuming Danny's been a half-ghost for a while now that means that this is probably a lot less creepy to him than it would be to Newly Half-Dead Danny.

First: Danny checks with Madara about the situation. He will ask for permission obviously. On one hand Madara might be stubborn about it, but on the other being able to act freely would be worth seeing one of the Spirit Prince's healers and surely he didn't survive up to and through Konoha's founding to ignore any shot at decent and trustworthy medical care.

And, of course, getting Obito help would also ingrain the boy to him further. Where they can learn of the dead and how to make the dead truly live.

(What Zetsu thinks of this situation, I have no idea. Probably trying to figure out how to use this for Kaguya. If nothing else, potential energy source!)

But picture it from Danny's PoV. The guy is a brilliant fighter and is the only living member of Obito's family who was able to rescue him from a military dictatorship's latest skirmish during a full fledged war. Whether this is before Rin's death or after, Obito needs to heal. He's a strict but caring grandfather. A few screws loose, but his grandson almost died. And anyone would want to change a world constantly embroidered in pain and warfare and betrayal.

For further chaos's sake, let's say Ghost Marriage has some side-effects on the living. Like it's the inspiration of Persephone and warnings about eating food from Fairyland. The living being is bound to the Zone as they now need ectoplasm to function. But since this is Danny, he or his parents can make a condenser/filter thing or figure out how to translate Natural Energy into... let's call it Void Energy since Dark and Negative are specific things.

On a funny note, the existence of the God Tree means that the world that doesn't have a giant lifeforce sucking leach that produces magic fruit is the one that doesn't have an overabundance of ambient energy.

So recap: Madara, in spite of being tethered to the Statue and Tree, still manages to kick ass and ultimately Ghost-Marries Danny Phantom. Obito and the Zetsu might get their own spouses too.

They manage to reverse the seal and Madara, Obito, and the Zetsus, AND their spouses all go back to the Cave... but NOT the tree. The tree's... stuck in the Afterlife. Whoops. (Not really "whoops", a plant-themed ghost who may or may not be Undergrowth ghost-adopted it. Actually it might even be the meta-origin of the Child-making Tree from one of the Danny Phantom / DC crossover threads. Just with a lot of reworking to prevent it from sucking the planet dry.)

Not sure which to go with next: Madara having to retool the whole plan because the Tree is stuck in the Spirit Realm. Obito running off to get back to Konoha (to be with his friends, or to avenge Rin + murder Kakashi). The Ghosts' journey through this other Realm of the Living. Or some third party (fourth? considering Zetsu) meeting the whole batch on the road.

I came across it in a fic and now it is DRIVING ME INSANE...

Marriage Hunts.

Mmmm, yes, Sexy™. Prove to me you are a Worthy Spouse! Fuckin FIGHT ME! Let's GO! You wanna put a ring on it? You better EARN that right! *weapons n explosion noises*

BUT!!!

Okay. We have successfully DONE it. We caught the sexy, sexy Spouse Of Our Dreams. Much Hotness. Tasteful, of screen, and fully consenting sexy times were had. #NICE.

......whaaaaaat happens NEXT?

What, in a word, is Step Two? ESPECIALLY if? This is "suprise! You've found yourself in a Sexy Hunt For Marriage For PLOT REASONS!" which means that ONE of these two cultures? Sure as SHIT does not practice this custom?

You are Alien Married.

They are fully expecting to either take YOU home with THEM or YOU to take THEM home with YOU, presumably. You have marital responsibilities as defined by TWO different cultures, only one of which you know. This person? Is ALSO a stranger to you!

Basically just met.

High intensity one night stand that's now Forever.

No one ever follows UP. They have fics trying to get OUT of it. Or the boning itself. But not the "....so, like, do I need to help you pack, oooor?" And the culture shock. The dumped in a new society that may not even RECOGNIZE the validity of your marriage. May consider both IT and YOU, barbaric.

And??? For ADDED spice?? Just to make the two cultures REALLY different?

I'ma say Ghosts do it. Not all of um. It's regional. An opt in sort thing. Since fighting is so ingrained into socializing. What BETTER way? To speed run the dating process? Then to Hunt Each Other For SPORT! VIOLENTLY!!! So romantic~♡

And Danny? Keeps failing in the romance department. Too many secrets, ya know?

Figures... Fuck It. Not like anyone can BEAT him. Maybe he'll find someone he wants to date? Or maybe he WILL find that special someone! Who knows? He's lonely, man.

And who should arrive?

FUCKIN NINJAS.

Pick a bachelor with a Summoning Contract. They tried to call their buddies while trapped in an old, long forgotten, HALF ROTTED Uzumaki Seal. It tore reality and yeet them sideways. Their Summons are frantic. THEY land just in time to hear the rules, the name of The Hunt, and see they are surrounded.

*opening horn blasts*

Begin!

Oh FUCK no! They are NOT staying trapped here! They fight! They WIN!

They...accidentally pin a really, REALLY strong and hot Spirit Warrior to the ground. Oh shit. They have a husband.

......but I mean... worse things have happened to them.

But? BRINGING SAID HUSBAND BACK? That. THAT I want to see. They left for a god damned MILK RUN of a boring ass punishment mission. Come back with a possibly half alive, spirit prince husband? The husband glows.

*jazz hands* s-suuuuprise?

@hdgnj @legitimatesatanspawn @hypewinter @babbling-babull @the-witchhunter @lolottes

#fanfic ideas #reblog #naruto #dp x naruto #danny phantom

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skyeet-the-writer · 2 years ago

Text

Lady of Enmond

Chapter Three: Meetings with Strangers

guys wait i'm really enjoying this, i forgot how much i loved lotr!! hope yall are enjoying it too. feel free to check out my other things as well! also feel free to leave some comments, i want to hear what yall like about this so far x.

legolas greenleaf x female!reader (dw he finally shows up)

summary: after finally arriving in rivendell, y/n is allowed one day of peace and relaxation before quickly having to jump into action the next during a council lord elrond has constructed between all races of middle earth

word count: ~5.8k

warnings: cursing, mentions of violence/weapons, mentions of death and fear-inducing things (lmk if there's anything i missed)

The days seem to blur together as the now five of you make your way to Rivendell. It's much further than you thought, though you're not familiar with these parts. Finally, you reach the Elven city on day five, exhausted and smelly.

The entire time, all of you worried of Frodo. You hope he's alright, you hope he's here, in Rivendell, healed and resting. Something says that he is alright, but still, you don't know and that's what worries you.

You've never been in an Elven city. In fact, the first Elf you've ever seen was Arwen a few days ago. Even now, walking through their beautiful city, you're still in awe of them. Immortal, ever-fair beings are all around you, and they're the ones looking at you oddly.

Aragorn has you meet with Elrond. He's just the same as you've heard in descriptions. He looks old, for an elf, but you suppose he is, as he has seen much. Aragorn tells you he plans to talk with him in private, but at least wanted you all to meet him.

You're not sure to kneel before the Elf Lord or bow or what, but Aragorn does none of these. You exchange a look with the Hobbits and shrug.

"Welcome, all, to Rivendell," says the Lord, spreading his arms wide and smiling, one that is oddly comforting. "You all must have had a long and tiresome journey, so I will not keep you long. Just--"

"Where is Frodo?" Sam demands, immediately growing red in the face from his outburst. Hastily, he stammers, "I-- Apologies, your Lordship, b--but where is our friend, Frodo?"

Elrond does not seem mad, merely amused. "Fear not, Samwise. I can assure you, your friend is safe and healthy."

Pippin perks up. "Can we see him?"

Elrond smiles again and holds a hand up. "Soon. He is resting now, we want him to wake on his own. And I assume you're hungry?"

The Hobbits exchange looks and nods. Elrond nods and waves an arm, and another Elf with blonde hair appears. "Gaelin, show these young men to their rooms. Have food prepared and baths drawn."

Quickly, the Hobbits are ushered off, now seeming in much better spirits. They talk together excitedly and seem to be buzzing with joy.

You yourself feel similar. Frodo is alright, he's here and he's resting and he's fine. And now you are here. You've completed your quest.

"I assume you would like the same, Lady Khaya?" Elrond's voice pulls your attention. He's speaking to you.

But before you can think, your say, "It's Y/N, my Lord. Khaya is an allias. I'm from the small village of Enmond in the Tergue Woods in Rohan." Then your eyes widen and you look at Aragorn. He's smiling just a little, seeming far more at ease here. "I... I don't know why I said that. I'm sorry, I just blurted that out--"

Elrond laughs lightly and holds a hand up. "Worry not, Y/N. Your secret will be safe with me. Now, I expect you request food and a bath?"

A bath sounds amazing. And fresh clothes. And strawberries. Those are your favorites. What wouldn't give to sink your teeth into one in a hot bath. "Yes, my Lord, if you would be so kind."

"Anything for Aragorn's friend. Come, Leilia will lead you." He gestures to a sweet-looking elf with braided red hair and green eyes. She smiles at you and curtsies.

You bow to Elrond just slightly at the waist. "Thank you. However, I do have a quick question?"

"Yes?"

"Do you perhaps have a raven I could use? I wish to send a message to my father, letting him know I am here. He hasn't heard from me in several days, and I do not wish for him to worry."

Elrond nods. "Yes, of course."

Aragorn says, "I'll take it."

You only trust him with it. Elrond seems kind and respectable enough, but you know Aragorn more. Reaching into your bag, you hand him a piece of paper rolled and tied with a black string. "Thank you."

He nods and you are led off by Leilia. She says nothing as she leads you around the city, to an ornate stone building. She takes you up the stairs and leads you into a large room.

Slowly, your weapons clanking, you step into the room. It's large and airy and smells of fresh grass and rainfall. The floors are made of light wood and the walls are slightly darker. There's a bed in the middle and off to one side is an entire open wall with a balcony, and silky curtains flowing in the breeze. There's another room off to the side with a chamberpot and a bath already drawn, the warm water steaming.

"What would you like to eat, my lady?"

You turn to Leilia and ask, "Do you have any strawberries?"

~*~

Not long later, you're in the bath chewing on a strawberry with your eyes shut in delight. You can't remember the last time you've felt this relaxed. A few Elf ladies asked if you needed help washing, but you politely declined. You're a grown woman, you don't want to bother them with something you could do yourself. Besides, you needed the alone time. Being around Aragorn and four Hobbits was draining.

Now, your hair is washed and so is your body. You're determined to sit in the bath until it's cold and you're all pruney. There's a plate full of fruit beside you on the rim of the bath and you've never been more grateful to eat it in your life. Strawberries, both blackberries and raspberries, grapes, melon cubes, oranges, and a few olives. By now, you've devoured most of the plate, not realizing how much you craved the fruit.

The wind blows lightly outside and you toss another blackberry into your mouth, catching it with ease.

Finally, what feels like hours later, the water is finally cold enough to encourage you to get out. Drying yourself off with a soft white cloth, you wrap it around your body and walk back into the rest of the room where Leilia told you clothes would be waiting.

And there are. On the bed, laid out is a fresh set of clothes. A light green flowy dress is before you, with long, loose sleeves and a pair of simple flat shoes.

You put them on a do a little twirl, remembering how much you like dresses. They're so breezy and they made you look so pretty.

There's a knock on your closed door, and you turn. Who could that be? You open the door to see Aragorn standing there, looking clean and rested up as well.

"Oh," is all that he says, looking you up and down.

You grin. "'Oh'? Is that all?"

"I've never seen you in a dress before."

It occurs to you that he's right. In all the times you've been with him, you always wore pants, a shirt, and boots. You were always somewhat grimy and your hair was always a mess of tangles.

"You look good, though," he adds quickly.

Smiling just a little, you say, "Thank you," and curtsy. "You clean up nicely, too." Playfully, you pull at his tunic.

He just smiles and shakes his head. The two of you have always been like this. Playful with each other. Sometimes, people thought you were flirting, but both of you quickly denied it. He was already betrothed to a beautiful Elven lady and Aragorn wasn't your type. You like blonds.

"Anyway, why'd you come to bother me?" you ask him.

"I was wondering if you'd like me to show you around? If you're not too tired, that is."

He's always been such a gentleman, too. And while you are tired, you're not too exhausted that you would pass up on the opportunity to look around this beautiful place with your friend. You quickly nod and soon the two of you are on your way out.

The sun is beginning to sink to the horizon as you walk around, but that seems to make the journey better. The sun's beams bounce off of the glass and bronze of the kingdom, making everything glitter and shine.

Aragorn leads you through gardens and around fountains, pointing out what buildings are what. There's a smithery, several gazebos for sitting or eating, and a giant library filled with history and texts of old.

"Can we go there?" you ask him excitedly. You've always loved history. In your home, you didn't get to read much, only having oral tales.

Aragorn smiles. "Later tonight."

He keeps true to his word. After checking in on Frodo and thanking the gods for his healing, you both head over there.

"I'm happy Frodo is well," you say as you walk down the steps. "I've grown fond of the Hobbit."

"As have I," Aragorn agrees.

As you walk through a courtyard, you see two small men. For a moment, you think they're Hobbits, but these men have long, rough beards and they're dressed in armor.

They are dwarves.

What are dwarves doing in Rivendell?

Before you can ask Aragorn, he leads you down to the library you were obsessing about. The moment you walk down the steps, you forget what you were going to ask. The room is beautiful, the most fantastic place you've seen. It's large and decorated with ornate and silver pieces of furniture. The room is filled with books. To one side of the room is a balcony with a telescope pointed towards the side. There are other astronomy and mathematical devices that you can't name.

Walking up another set of stairs, your eyes land on a fresco painting on the wall. With a small gasp, you slowly cross the way, your shoes tapping against the stone flooring.

A mural of Isildur versus Sauron is before you, looking well-preserved and well-crafted. There's so much intricate detail, you wonder how one could have possibly had the patience to create it. Isildur, a once great king, is laying on the ground before Sauron the Dark Lord, his sword raised in defiance. Something about that image makes a feeling of great pride rise in you, knowing that you share similar blood to that man, to that hero. Perhaps you could be like him one day?

Aragorn stands beside you and you say, "It's beautiful."

"Yes," he agrees, seeming fixed on Isildur. A look crosses his face, of shame? You cannot tell and you wonder.

But something else catches your eye. You turn and spot something glinting on a cloth-covered plinth. You step up and see the shards of a sword. Narsil, the broken blade of Elendil. It was rumored that though Sauron shattered the blade, Isildur picked up the hilt and cut the Ring from Sauron's hand, both banishing the Dark Lord and taking the Ring for himself.

And now, it is around the neck of a small, kind, adventurous Hobbit.

Slowly, you grasp the hilt of the broken blade in both hands and hold it up in front of you. It's heavy, even in your hands. What little sunlight there is left in the sky seems to bend towards the sword and refract against it, sending little glimmers across the room. You expect the broken edges to be dull after all this time, but even looking at them tells you they're still just as sharp.

"I can't believe this is still in such good condition," you whisper, gently setting it back down where it was.

"The Elves have taken good care of it," Aragorn says. "Come. Let's find a book."

He doesn't have to tell you twice, and within minutes, you have one chosen. Unsurprisingly, most of them are in Sindarin, but you find one book you're interested in that is in Westron or Common Tongue.

And so you sit at a bench and open the book and begin to read. It's a telling of legends of old and of history. You flip to the page where the talk about when Melkor was captured by the Valar and how Sauron stayed behind. Ever since running into the Nazguls and discovering the Ring, you've realized how little you knew of the history behind it. So, you figured you should read up on it.

Aragorn comes and sits beside you after choosing his own book and, together, the two of you read in silence. Normally you're both in silence when you're not drunk or bored and want to talk. Aragorn is the quieter of you two, so you assume this is lovely for him.

But you enjoy yourself. You enjoy learning the history behind that one tiny piece of Jewelry, and you also find yourself enjoying the silence. Occasionally, an Elf will come in, but they leave soon and don't talk to you or Aragorn. The sun finally sets and the birds outside quiet down and prepare for rest. You turn the thick page and it seems to echo in the hall.

Finally, as your eyes grow heavy, you close the book, and it thuds. Aragorn looks up and sees how exhausted you are. He gently tucks a strand of hair behind your ear and says, "Go get some rest, Y/N."

The memory of the dwarf pops into your head out of the blue and you blurt out, "Aragorn, I saw a Dwarf in one of the courtyards earlier."

You meet his eyes and he nods. "Yes, I saw him as well."

"Why are there Dwarves in Rivendell? You and I both know very well how much they hate Elves."

Once, while in a pub in a village, you both had a rather lengthy conversation with an extremely intoxicated Dwarf. Conversation, however, was an exaggeration, as he was the only one doing the talking, and how the only talking he was doing was complaining about the Elves.

Aragorn laughs and nods. "Yes, that is true. Elrond informed me that he sent out word to all races of Middle Earth when Frodo arrived with the Ring. He said something about it being up to all of Middle Earth to decide its fate. He's holding a meeting tomorrow at noon. You should come."

With a small frown, you say, "Aragorn, I need to head home. I've already been gone for too long, my father is sure to be worried. He needs me."

"I understand, Y/N, but this is important. That ring is the most dangerous thing on this earth now, and it's important to discuss what to do with it." He takes your hands in his, something he does from time to time when getting into a deep conversation. "You know just as well as I do what is hunting, searching for the Ring. It is dangerous and I know even now that someone must carry it back to Mordor to destroy it."

"Mordor? The Land of Shadows? That's Sauron's dominion, why would it go there? That sounds like the last place someone would want to take it."

"Elrond believes that the only way to truly destroy it is to throw it back into the fire from whence it was created."

You nod. "Oh, makes sense."

"Yes." Aragorn grips your hands. "Please, at least come to the Council. You could provide insight with me."

You bite your lip in consideration. It is only tomorrow, and you don't necessarily plan on leaving immediately, though your mind does tell you that you should go home soon. Even though you informed your father of your leaving and got his clearing on it, you still felt bad, still felt guilty. You are the heir to your village. And while your father is still in his prime, you still need to be there, both for him and your younger sister. She always needs you.

"For me?"

With a sigh, you cave in. "Alright, fine, I'll come. It is only tomorrow. But." Quickly, you pull your hands away and point your finger at him. "I reserve the right to not join any quest or adventure that may be suggested. If there is a quest to take back the Ring, I cannot and will not go. I have other responsibilities."

With a smile, Aragorn nods. "Understood."

You smile at your friend and stand up. "I'm going to retire," you say and pick the book from the bench. "Can I take this with me?"

Aragorn shrugs. "So long as you return it."

"Of course I will." Tucking it under your arm, you bend down to give your friend a hug. "Goodnight, Aragorn."

"Goodnight, Y/N."

And with that, you make your way out of the library, down the steps, and out the door. The night air is cool outside and fresh, smelling of grass and something sweet. Your path is lit up nicely with torches and you recall your way back to your room, surprisingly.

Your room is a bit dark. The moonlight streaming through the large window really seems to be helping you actually see where things are. On the bed, there is another dress, though this one looks more like a nightgown. It's lighter and is a cream color. Your bones start to ache again and so you quickly change from your dress to the nightgown before quickly getting into bed.

The moment your head touches the pillow, you body melts into the mattress. The last time you slept on a real bed was almost three weeks ago, the night before you left to meet with Aragorn. Since then, you've been sleeping in chairs or on the ground. Neither of those was too terribly comfortable.

But this bed feels like a cloud, it cradles all of your pressure points and it provides great relief for your aching back.

The covers are warm and you curl up into a ball to preserve your heat. You suppose you've been a bit conditioned to do that after sleeping outside for so long.

Between the quiet breeze of the wind, the feathery, downy mattress, and the warm blankets, you quickly fall asleep.

~*~

The next morning, you wake up to the sounds of birds and the sweet voices of Elves. For a moment, you think you're still dreaming but when you sit up, you realize that it is real.

Slowly, you get up, your legs sore and achy. Limping towards the balcony, you lean on the railing, looking down at the Elves going about their day. The sun is slowly rising, and you judge that it's just a few hours until midday.

So you get back into bed and continue reading. You may as well get the most out of the comfy bed while you're here.

When you finally need to pee a couple of hours later, you decide to get up and head down to the meeting Aragorn had told you about. You change back into the dress you wore the day before and slip the shoes back on. You pin your hair up somewhat messily and let some strands fall in front of your face before heading out. Before you leave the door, you stop. After thinking, you go ahead and grab your bow. You leave the arrows, but you feel you need just your bow.

Aragorn mentioned it was being held in a courtyard by the library and you find it much easier than you expected. It appears you're one of the first to arrive and quickly claim a seat beside Aragorn.

"You made it," he says to you, smiling.

You nod and shrug. "I didn't have much better to do."

He laughs.

This council chamber is very lovely, with a tree behind it, and leaves fall down onto the ground. There's a semi-circle of stone chairs with a plinth in the middle and a few chairs at the front where Elrond and two other Elves sit.

Gradually, people begin to trickle in groups and sit down. Gandalf arrives with Frodo, who appears a bit nervous, but still in good health. The color has returned greatly to his face and he has that sparkle in his eyes once more. Gandalf the Grey, the acclaimed wizard, looks the part of a sorcerer very well, with his tall grey hat and matching beard.

Elves trickle in and the same group of dwarves you saw yesterday, looking very displeased and uncomfortable take their seats.

Groups of Men sit down, men of Gondor you immediately know. You recognize Boromir, son of Denethor, the steward and acting leader of Gondor. Though your people, people of Rohan, tend to dislike men of Gondor, you've always liked Boromir. He was fair and kind and very brave, earning many titles over the year.

Your eyes scan the crowd as they tend to do, and your eyes stop of a particular Elf. He is exceptionally fair, with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. His jawline is sharp and his skin pale. He wears a sage green cloak and his hair appears to be pinned back.

Quickly, you look away when he meets your gaze, leaning your cheek in your hand to hide the blush.

Once everyone appears to have arrived, Lord Elrond stands from his chair. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You've been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor." Even the mention of the land sends a chill down your spine. "Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall."

At this, you begin to glance at the others seated near you. Unite? Men, Elves, and Dwarves haven't united together in ages. Though there is a greater evil, part of you doesn't expect this meeting to go too well.

"Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom," Elrond continues, looking tall and mighty with his crown on his head. He looks at Frodo and says, "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo," and extends his arm to the plinth in the center.

You watch as the Hobbit stands and approaches the plinth, aware that all eyes are on him. Gently, he sets the Ring in the center and you swear you hear it thud. Frodo walks back to his seat, seeming lighter and more at ease, and Gandalf gives him a reassuring nod.

The Ring looks simple enough. Just a simple golden band. But there's something that makes you want it. It's so shiny, so pretty. It's powerful, too, your mind tells you.

"So it is true," Boromir whispers, literally on the edge of his seat, his eyes fixed on the Ring.

The group is mumbling, whispering among themselves. You look and see that everyone's eyes are fixed on the Ring and for a moment, you swear you hear whispering in your ear. But you lean back in your chair, clasping your hands and squeezing, pulling your eyes away from the Ring and instead staring at the ground, trying your best to resist the urge. You know its true nature, you know this Ring's true master. And it is no one here.

Boromir suddenly stands up and you thank the Valar that you now have something else to focus on. "In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark." He glances at the Ring and swallows. "But in the West, a pale light lingered." He gradually approaches the Ring, staring down at it. "A voice was crying, 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found.'" He reaches for the Ring and your breath hitches. He wouldn't dare. "Isildur's Bane."

Before he can even touch the Ring, Gandalf stands and begins chanting in a low and echoing voice. The sky darkens and thunder cracks, shaking you in your very seat. Boromir staggers back to his seat as the language you don't recognize resonate in your ears, sending a feeling of dread down your spine. The speech subsides and the sky clears and lightens up again.

Elrond turns to Gandalf, looking angry. "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris."

Tongue? Then you assume that it's likely Black Speech to which he refers, the dialect of Sauron and his followers. See, you did learn something useful from that book.

Gandalf bows his head but does not seem sorry. "I do not ask for your pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West!" He stares a Boromir and declares, "The Ring is altogether evil!" and heads back for his chair.

Boromir shakes his head. "It is a gift." He stands up once more. "A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?" He turns and addresses all races present. "Long has my father, the steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of your people are your lands kept safe."

You sigh and press your tongue into your cheek. Spoken like a true Gondorian, assuming that just because they do their job they are entitled to something.

"Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"

"You cannot wield it," Aragorn cuts in. "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."

You nod and say, "That is its entire point, really."

Boromir smirks a bit and asks cooly, "And what would two Rangers know of this matter?"

The Elf, who you had been eying earlier, stands and says, "He is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."

Son of...? Son of Arathorn? Isildur's heir? No wonder Aragorn kept his past secret. You resist the urge to look at him in shock, but part of you isn't surprised. Somehow, it fits him.

Boromir turns to your friend in shock and amusement. "Aragorn? This is Isildur's Heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor."

Now you're beginning to wish you had some strawberries to eat because this sounded like it was shaping up to be a duel to you.

Aragorn says something to the Elf. Most of it you don't understand but you catch the last part, his name. Legolas. Prince of the Woodland realm. Yeah, you've heard of him before. You still find him pretty.

Boromir looks at Legolas and says, "Gondor has no king." He looks at Aragorn and says, "Gondor needs no king." And he sits back down, glaring at Aragorn.

Maybe, you think, but your ruler right now is kind of a douche.

You gently touch your friend's arm and raise a brow, silently asking if he's alright. He answers by putting his hand over your wrist and leaving it there as Gandalf begins to speak.

"Aragorn is right," says the wizard. "We cannot use it."

"Then you have only one choice," Elrond stands and the words seem difficult for him to get it out. "The Ring must be destroyed."

A heaviness settles across the air, but you know he's right. You've seen what's after it, how undying they are, how fearsome. It's a fact that no one can use it. Sauron's power is linked to the Ring. Destroy the Ring, destroy the wielder.

"What are we waiting for?" asks a wild redhead Dwarf. He stands, grabbing his axe and making his way for the Ring. Before anyone can stop him, he swings his axe down at the Ring. The weapon shatters as if made of wood and the Dwarf falls down, his kin rushing to pick him back up.

Glancing at Frodo, you see that he's clutching his head and slouching in his chair. Your heart aches for him, poor boy. Looking back at the plinth, you see the Ring is, unsurprisingly, unharmed.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess," Elrond says. "The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came! One of you must do this."

For a moment, the room is silent. Of course it is. Walk into Mordor? That's not possible.

Of course, Boromir speaks up. Again. "One does not simply walk into Mordor. It's black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The Great Eye is ever-watchful."

Yes, you've heard rumors of an eye. A great, fiery orange eye atop a black tower, always watching. That does freak you out, mostly because eyes freak you out.

"It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand Men could you do this. It is folly."

Angrily, you sit up in your chair. What do these Men not understand, this is the only way. "Did you hear nothing Lord Elrond just said? It is the only way, and it must be soon. For something far scarier than any of you is after that Ring." With a jab, you angrily point at the plinth.

Boromir's eyes latch on your, coldly. "And if we fail, woman, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"

Now you stand. "You seemed mighty confident just a minute ago, taking it for your own. Now you're scared of it?"

The room breaks into arguments, Men against Dwarves, Dwarves against Elf, Men against Men. It's loud, but you're angry, so you have no problem approaching high-and-mighty Boromir to chew him out when he steps towards you.

"What would a woman know about these matters?" asks the High Warden of the White Tower. "A Rohirrim one at that?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, are you upset because I'm a woman or because horses like me more than you?" You glare up at the man. You've never taken insults or shit from anyone and though he may be attractive, Boromir is no different. "Though, perhaps it's difficult to tell the difference between a woman and a horse, as you've likely lain with both!"

"I have faced far greater battles than you could ever dream, woman. I see no weapons. Are you truly a Ranger?"

"See, I don't need weapons with men like you, all I need is my knee and good aim, though it is a small target."

As arguments grow louder and more Men begin to doubt your own abilities, you need to step back. You're too hotheaded and you're afraid you'll start a fight. Aragorn takes your hand and pulls you towards him, placing a comforting hand on your face.

"How dare they insult me," you continue to rant to him, anger still bubbling, your skin hot to the touch. "Just because I'm a woman? Like, what the fuck? They're running kingdoms and then insult me just because I'm a girl, like seriously? How old are you?"

"Yes, yes, they're wrong, but you must calm down, Y/N," Aragorn keeps telling you but you can barley hear him over your own voice and Frodo's, which has suddenly picked up.

Wait, Frodo?

You turn to see the little Hobbit standing, his face slightly sweaty, shouting, "I will take it!"

The room quiets down, all eyes turning to the Hobbit in shock. You wonder how many of them knew he existed. "I will take the Ring to Mordor." Then he hesitates, now noticing all eyes are on him. "Though... I do not know the way."

The old wizard, Gandalf, nods, walking towards him. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins," he tells him warmly with a pat on his shoulder, "as long as it is yours to bear."

Then you do something you do not expect. Just last night, you swore to not go on this quest. But something deep down in your heart tells you that you must go, it's your destiny. And so you walk forward and take a knee before the Hobbit, now being eye-level with him. "I pledge to you, Master Baggins. I will help you in your journey. I will shield your back and keep your counsel and give my life for yours if need be. I will help you destroy the Ring, Master Baggins, for all of Middle Earth."

Frodo smiles at you and you stand to move beside him.

Aragorn is quick to stand next, saying, "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." Then he kneels before Frodo and says, "You have my sword."

Legolas walks forward. "And you have my bow."

Gimli the Dwarf is next, holding up another one of his axes. "And my axe."

The six of you stand together and you feel pride. This really is shaping up to be a good team to go destroy this Ring.

But the Boromir walks forward. You anger has quickly subsided, as it normally does, but you still feel resentment towards him. Of course, perhaps both of your outbursts was caused by the Ring. That didn't sound so outlandish. But still, you refuse to look at him.

"You carry the fate of us all, little one," he says to Frodo. "If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

A voice suddenly shouts, "Here!" from nowhere, nearly causing your heart to jump out of your chest. You turn to see Samwise Gamgee running from the bushes to be at his friend's side. "Mister Frodo's not going anywhere without me," and he crosses his arms defiantly.

You smile as Elrond lightly says, "No, indeed. It is hardly possible to separate you two, even when he is summoned to a secret Council and you are not." He seems to play the part of upset, but his voice lightens near the end and he smiles just slightly.

"Oi! We're coming too!"

Two more Hobbits come running up the steps and you resist the urge to laugh aloud. Frodo's friends sure are loyal to him as they stand bedside his side in front of an Elf lord and over a dozen Men, Elves, and Dwarves.

"You'd have to send us home tied in a sack to stop us," says Merry defiantly.

Pippin nods beside him. "Anyway, you need intelligence on this sort of mission...quest...thing."

Merry stares at him and says in a snarky tone, "Well that rules you out, Pip."

Elrond surveys your group and you can't help but smile with pride. Here you are, on a mission to save the realm. A group of three Men, an Elf, a Dwarf, a wizard, and four Hobbits. Sure, not the likeliest of pairs. Even you could never have dreamed it. But something told you that there was no better group than the one you were with right now.

"Ten companions," muses Elrond. "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"

Your chest swells and you exchange a look with Aragorn.

"Great!" Pip exclaims. "Where are we going?"

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alien-bluez · 2 years ago

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SATBK NINJAGO AU NO ONE ASKED FOR

ahaha... satbk stands for sonic and the black knight btw it's a wii game and it has a whole grip on my brain so now i'm combining my two fixations bc i can..!

this will be a long post btw, designs n ideas are all mine and just an FYI.. It is heavily inspired by satbk but i will probably develop it as an au outside of the satbk story.. for my own entertainment idk. also idk much about the knights of the round table / king arthur story so don't expect anything related to them besides the names..? idk

anyways let's start!

Lloyd and Harumi (aka Sonic and Merlina)

Lloyd is a lost prince that gets summoned to this part of the world by Harumi who is a wizard and gets asked to help stop King Arthur (aka Garmadon) from being evil n wrecking shit ig.

Lloyd is chosen to help but he's not a knight! Harumi helps him find an ancient lost sword (aka Excalibur aka Morro in this au. hear me out. i'll explain it in more detail later.) and gets trained to become a knight with his now very annoying talking magic sword haha.

Also spoiler alert ig- Harumi is the real villain all along...! she manipulates lloyd into taking down Garmadon in order to get Excalibur's scabbard (which is in evil king arthur's possession which makes him evil + immortal) and wants to rule Camelot for herself to preserve the dying kingdom and thinks she'll be a better ruler to where Garmadon failed ig. still working out the motivations here.

Morro (aka Caliburn/Excalibur)

Morro in this au is Lloyd's talking sword. You don't see his ghost form.. at all..? i just mostly wanted to draw him in ghostly prince form lol. Basically he was the crown prince before Lloyd but then died a tragic death and became cursed to haunt a sword..? Yeah sure. So Lloyd picks him up and Morro talks and yeah they're travel buddies now.

Morro basically helps Lloyd become a better knight, but they still bicker and argue like siblings and it is funny.

Okay I'm gonna put a read more here now bc this is gettin long. The rest of the ninjas designs + stories are under the cut!

Knights of the Round Table

Kai (aka Lancelot)

Kai is Lancelot/Shadow in this au! He's the most loyal to KA / Garmadon in this au which is really funny lmao. As a knight Kai will follow any order given to him, he's one of the strongest knights in the realm and he's quite hotheaded to boot.

He encounters Lloyd first and they fight bc Lloyd is trying to stop Garmadon. Inexperienced as a fighter and a knight he doesn't exactly beat Kai but gets away after a technicality. Umm I like to think they meet a few more times over the course of Lloyd's journey, and maybe there's a part where Kai gets stuck with Lloyd and they have to work together.

Despite having differences of opinion on what it means to be a knight, Kai sort of sees Lloyd as a worthy rival... and lowkey younger brother!

Cole (aka Gawain)

Cole is the second knight Lloyd encounters and fights on his journey. After having more experience Lloyd does in fact beat him fair and square! But Cole as a knight takes chivalry and honor very seriously. After losing he feels so much shame but Lloyd snaps him out of it because there's more to being a knight than serving a king!

Zane (aka Percival)

The third knight of the round table that Lloyd encounters and also one of the toughest opponents Lloyd faces. Zane's fighting style is full of poise and grace and even though he doesn't appear to be as heavy hitting or brute forced as Kai or Cole he is most definitely strong! If not stronger for being able to conceal his power!

Lloyd is an experienced knight at this point, when he has Zane on the ropes part of the cliff they stand on falls off, nearly taking Zane with it. But Lloyd swoops in to save him like a true hero. After questioning Lloyd about why he saved him when he shouldn't have, Lloyd says it's because it's what he does! He saves people!

I wanna develop the knights more outside of the satbk encounters, so hehe. Keep ur eyes peeled for that!

Last but not least the other supportive characters in the story!

Jay (aka the Blacksmith)

yeah it would've been funny to make Kai the blacksmith but i think Jay works better here!

Jay is the town's local inventor / blacksmith and tthe best kind around! Lloyd goes to his shop to sharpen up Morro Sword and probably visits after every fight he has too lol. Jay doesn't mind at all and likes Lloyd's company! Especially because he will get any chance to show off his newest crazy invention for Lloyd!

Nya (aka Nimue Lady of the Lake)

Nya takes the place of Nimue who gives Lloyd three tests to become a true knight. I had to put her here because of water.. water symbolism n all that.

She's also very chill and hosts tea parties and invites Lloyd to celebrate after becoming a true knight! She's like an older sister to him too!

And.. yeah that's it i guess lol! I don't have more designs yet to show but I do have ideas and other stuff in mind! if u ever wanna ask about it my ask box is open! i wanna develop more of this funny little au haha

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beautifulsnake2162020 · 2 years ago

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100 Followers celebration - Beautiful Anomaly: Snippet

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE 100 FOLLOWERS!

Whether you're an old follower or a new one, I want to say thank you to everyone who loved my works and my posts from any fandom I have participated in 🥰🥲🤧.

For some news for those who are following the "Beautiful Anomaly" series: It will be awhile before Part 3 will be up because I have just been bestowed a large assignment from one of my professors.

So I present to you a post series snippet of a conversation with Life (aka Fem Reader), Morpheus, Death and Hob Gobling. This takes place some time after the ending of the entire story of Beautiful Anomaly and there aren't any spoilers for the next parts. This is also essentially me making fun of myself because this series started with me being horny for Morpheus/Dream. This is also a reassurance from my end: Yes, the series will have a happy ending for Morpheus and Life (I'm like Bette, I'm a sucker for happy endings). It's all about the journey.

Taglist (if you want to be a part of the taglist just comment requesting so) : @winxschester @true-queen-of-mischief @laydreams @memento-mora @daydreamin1220 @kuchokitty @fate-huntress

"I can't believe you"

"Why not? I really haven't seen it."

"You're English, you've lived for what 6 centuries now - and you still haven't watched a single episode of Doctor Who?"

"Well" He shrugs at you and he gives you an expression.

"Come on there is just so much of life to experience."

"Oh, and following your favorite story isn't an experience?"

"Hey, for your information I was in the audience in most of Shakespeare's plays when he was still Shaxbird."

"And how is that different from watching an amazing story unfold in an entire series?" You're both amazed and exasperated. It was only later that you realized you still had your mouth open.

For someone who has chosen to be immortal to experience life to its fullest, it turns out he wasn't that involved with pop culture. You take a breath as you close your eyes and pinch the bridge of your nose.

"Look, I can forgive you for not knowing about Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, and Moriarty the Patriot - I even forgive you for not knowing about Welcome to Nightvale the top fantasy podcast with amazing story telling using an underrated medium."

"Hey! I do listen to podcasts - just not the fantasy type that's all - "

"I forgive you for not knowing about Homestuck - I haven't even finished the entire thing but from what I recall during my school girl days it was amazing and surreal - "

"To be fair you've also not finished Welcome to Nightvale." Morpheus says as he joins the two of you and settles at your side. From your periphery you see Death wearing garnet and topaz bracelets. One on each hand. She volunteered to be the one doing the orders. Probably to force Morpheus to socialize with both you and Hob.

"I was happy with where I left Welcome to Nightvale; Cecil and Carlos reunited and together. Especially the heartache that came with the whole Desert Bluffs fiasco forcing them apart." He smiles at you knowingly. You didn't need to explain it to him after all that you two have been through and after all the things you two have done to resolve various misunderstandings and other communication issues. He understood why. You turn back to Hob to continue your argument.

"Okay fine how about this: What fandoms are you a part of?" Hob gives you a confused look.

"What's a fandom?"

"OH FOR FATE'S SAKE-"

"Are you part of a community that happily admires a story or a piece of work?" Morpheus asks before you began actually cursing.

"Actually...I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy entertainment but its more of a passing thing." You feel your mouth open aghast.

"Does your entertainment by any chance include video games?"

"Oh I've always been a bit intimidated by video games. It was one thing when it was just pong, but now with all of the complicated stuff added on, I just feel like it may not be for me."

"How do you know if you haven't tried?" Death asks as she puts down the tray of your orders from the counter. Morpheus stands to help her distribute the coffees teas and pastry snacks that includes your favorite sugar free chocolate cake paired with your favorite tea in this lifetime, Moroccan Mint tea.

"My friend, you just might need someone to help initiate and guide you. She could very well help you out with that." You turn to Morpheus with an eyebrow raised.

"I'm just a casual gamer. All games I've played are coping mechanisms for my stress in my law school classes." He smirks at you as you take a bite from your cake while you wait for your tea to steep for 3 more minutes.

"Coming from someone who has more than a hundred runs playing Hades."

"And who has completed many routes in mobile dating sim games such as Ikemen Sengoku, Ikemen Vampire, and Ikemen Prince. Not to mention you've written plenty of fanfictions-"

"Okay! I get your point you two." You roll your eyes but everyone knows you weren't really offended.

"Um...what's a fanfiction?"

"What the -" You hear a chuckle from your side as your eyes widen. He couldn't restrain it any longer by the admittedly comical cognitive dissonance between you and Hob.

"Why don't I start explaining it first." Death quickly adds before you could comment.

This was going to take awhile.

#Beautiful Anomaly #100 followers #Snippet #dream of the endless #morpheus #the sandman #the sandman netflix #the sandman (2022)#Death #Hob Gadling #morpheus x fem!reader #dream x fem!reader #morpheus x you #Morpheus x y/n #Dream x you #Dream x y/n #Dream x reader #Morpheus x reader

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dailytatsu · 3 years ago

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Heya! Can I request an Aether/Lumine & reader?

So reader is basically an immortal half-elf who've lived for centuries and a well refined fighter. Well at the beginning even tho they volunteered to tag along on traveler's journey to find their sibling, reader is rather obnoxious and a lazy-dork who only help when actually needed. But as the journey continues, they began to act like traveler's bodyguard after witnessing (archon quest spoiler!) traveler almost getting killed by the Shogun? And maybe random shenanigans happen between them (ft.Paimon). I don't mind if you do either Aether or Lumine if you feel pressured 🙏

Hi! This kind are my favorites! Tysm for requesting! (๑>◡<๑)

I did this with Aether since he is my favorite is who I chose, and I feel more comfortable writing with guys than with girls.

I know they have some different personalities but I can help but see Lumine as the all mighty abyss princess.

Hope you enjoy!

➷➹➷➹➷➹➷➹➷➹➷➹ ➷➹➷➹ ➷➹➷➹ ➷➹ ➷

Aether & Half-elf! Reader

GN! Reader

Inazuma Archon Quest Spoilers!

Request are open; sorry for any mistakes!

Genshin Impact Masterlist

➷➹➷➹➷➹➷➹➷➹➷➹ ➷➹➷➹ ➷➹➷➹ ➷➹ ➷

Aether always thought that immortality brought with it wisdom, beings who live for much longer than an ordinary human tend to gain an understanding of life and changes in the world after years of appreciating the passing of the ages.

But when he met you he couldn't help but feel that all his beliefs were based on fiction and old rumors from other worlds. You were anything but wise, not even his first choice to be the voice of reason.

Even Paimon takes her role as his guide seriously.

But what was so wrong about you that get him on his nerves all the time? And most important, why does is he still dealing with you?

To be fair, maybe he was waiting a little too much from you. After all, he always forget that you still have half of a human’s nature.

“Mmh? What are you doing?” You asked Aether the first time he removed your hair from your ears to see if they were pointy. They were, and Paimon yelled kind of a objection when she realize she had to pay for losing their bet.

Not a human, not a elf, but a hybrid between them.

The first encounter was really something he would never forget. Rumors about treasures and requests from the guild made them follow some clues to find a cave that was marked as lost, impossible to enter and explore.

But “impossible” is a word that doesn’t exist their vocabulary. Yet is common that regretting comes along when you’re that bold and risky.

At the very end of that strange cave there wasn’t a treasure waiting, not even a new clue to keep going with the mystery. Instead, was a humanoid silhouette, they seemed to be meditating, not showing a single interest in their voices neither getting nervous because of Aether and Paimon taking some steps forward to have a better look.

But they were breathing, and both could see the pupils moving slightly under their eyelids. Eyebrows twitching now and then, like they were having a nightmare, one of which they couldn’t wake up.

Paimon encouraged him to get even closer to shake that person's shoulder, while she was hiding behind some rocks, obviously.

Aether summoned his sword and then he approached slowly until touching them with his fingertips, waiting for some kind of jumpscare.

The stranger raised their arm, carefully but also in a robotic way. Their fingers were tense, as much that it was painful just looking at them. Like a quiet call, like a order that couldn’t be heard, from the pile of rocks where Paimon was hiding something emerge, breaking through the stone and letting a rusty polearm to be seen.

Their fingers closed around the weapon, bringing them back to reality.

“Master and weapon, reunited again, rise so the world can meet their end!”

Or at least that's what he would have preferred to find. A servant guarding a lost relic, a soulless body moving by a curse, perhaps even a fate that death could not prevent.

But instead it was something really underwhelming, something that broke the mystical and strange atmosphere. That person opened their eyes, annoyed by the light of the torches and disoriented by the situation.

With their body in pain and numb at the same time, how long have they slept in that position?

The first thing they did after waking up was sneezing.

‘So much dust…’

Never accepting missions for exploring legendary caves ever again. Nope. Negative. He refuse to.

What if they find another (Y/N)? Thanks, but no. One is more than enough.

“So what you mean is that your parents' families exiled you and locked you up in the cave for being an ‘abomination’ to both species?” Paimon confirmed once the three of you were back in the surface again. Her hands moving side to side to explain -in a very expressive way- everything you told them.

“It seems that we found the remains of an ancient race that used to exist in Teyvat.” Aether said, still surprised by the way you roamed to feel the wood of the trees and the grass under your bare feet. Kind of heartbreaking.

“Like the boar we found with Xiangling!”

He wasn’t sure if it was okay to compare both encounters but he could see her point.

“… ‘Wait for us’, they told me, ‘think about your existence and find the answer to why your conception is not the atrocity that everyone says you are. May their words not reach you, because we have long ears to hear the words of the gods and not the ones of those who defile earth’… ” You pronounced after decades of not needing to use the language you were taught, with one hand on your chin and eyes closed to concentrate. All you had left was the few memories you preserved inside your mind and heart.

“With ‘they’ you mean your parents?”

You nodded.

“And what happened next?… ” Asked back the tiny companion of the blond guy that rescued you.

“I got bored and I fell asleep.” You admitted, carefree about it, shrugging your shoulders and sighing.

A total waste of your youth.

“Eh!? Then you didn’t thought about those things? That sounded important!” Paimon seemed disappointed for your answer, while Aether held his forehead, without having a clue of how he was supposed to react.

That was the day you joined their party! New team member, (Y/N) strikes in!

Or something like that,,

“H-Hey! We could use a hand over here!… woah!” The little white girl scold you but from your high sit on the top of a big rock only a exaggerated yawning can be heard. Paimon crossed her arms to almost immediately duck down to dodge a fire bullet from the Fatui. Aether didn’t say anything, he was concentrated fighting.

“Oh, yeah… You’re doing great. Go, Aether, go…”

“Was that supposed to be a cheering?!”

“Hey, calm down” You said “He doesn’t need my help. Just take a look, he’s an adventurer. If I meddle it will be really boring for him.”

“Hmp! Now Paimon believes that you were lying when you said that you were a well refined fighter!” She was floating around you, ignoring the battle of his blond friend. Like a pesky bee, the only thing you did was avoiding her furious gaze. “Don’t ignore Paimon! How can you not hear with those ears!? That’s it! Paimon will give you a ugly nickname!”

“What about ‘extinct deaf elf-der’?”

“Yeah, that’s a good one!” She agreed immediately, then she shook her head, pointing at you like a guilty criminal. “Wait, Paimon doesn’t need your suggestions!”

When the last Fatui was defeated Aether turned back to face both of you, sighing because of the new arguing between you two. His sword disappeared and some steps were took to get closer.

Your eyes met each other, a slight smile in your face after looking him safe and sound. So confident but so unaware of the remain danger hiding. Your expression became a surprised one, then your gaze sharped like a killer sight.

You left Paimon on top of the rock when you jumped down, summoning your own weapon you ran straight to where Aether was. The traveler panicked just a fraction of second before loosing sight of you.

Next thing they know was that a you were behind him, facing at the nothing with a defensive pose, just a second of silence before a impact could be heard. Some dirt and dust was lift as the pair of Fatui Pyro Agents became visible again. They stayed there, defeated in one hit.

“Like I said. It would be pretty boring if I meddle...” Aether and Paimon were shocked, none of them felt their presence, not even the heat of the pyro delusion. Your weapon disappeared in the air, and your hands rested on your waist. “Dear Seven, that was intense.” Looking at your friends you sighed, with the laziness on your body language. “It was my turn to cook dinner, right? What a pain having to eat again… ”

Acting that relaxed after that really made them went Ô_Ô and Ö

A silent speech, where devotion and gratitude are the best topics of conversation. The message that is heard even if there’s no words in between. Just a exchange of gazes. Little signs of affection that are shown when it’s necessary.

Your family was gone. No clues about their whereabouts could’ve found in that cave of where you came. Not even the skeletons of a couple holding their hands and petrified in a sobbing position. Not even ashes.

When you have been thinking about the most unimportant things in the universe for so long you can deal with the lost faster than anyone else. Getting the idea of no remain evidence of your parents and feeling that it wasn’t that heartbreaking.

Maybe because you gained a new family almost immediately.

Still you could empathize with Aether, he still had his precious memories with his sister, still remember her face and her voice. And most important was that he knew that she was still roaming Teyvat, waiting for him.

Even if they leave behind Paimon and you at the end of the trip.

Or even if they just leave you behind.

‘I’m okay with that.’

You thought, stroking Paimon’s hair when her head found a comfortable place to rest in your lap. You thought, moving your shoulder so Aether wouldn’t have neck pain. Both sleeping peacefully and you staying awake night by night.

You’ve slept enough, for so long besides.

Somehow the flames of the campfire are warmer now that you have someone to look how the fire dance in the night.

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“I see, so you were serious when you told me that your companion was a mystical extinct creature, weren’t you?” Albedo’s hand went up to hold his chin, analyzing you from distance.

“They are half of it, actually.” Aether answered back, notice how Sucrose was asking you permission to check your features. The sparkle in her eyes made you accept her petition after feeling with the back against the wall.

“Your ears are like mine! Look, look!” Klee pulled your shirt, then she pointed at the side of her head.

“… Still the shape of both are quite different, the length too.”

Years of isolation really are hitting hard right now. You felt overwhelmed and somehow shy when Sucrose hold your face to have a better look.

You follow the traveler to everywhere, no matter the place, you were there. Like a shadow, sometimes just a spectator, other times like an actual active team member.

“Who would’ve tell that our Honorary Knight also has his own knight watching his back.” Kaeya’s voice has that joke but charming tone, as always.

Day after day, it’s the same, everyone talking you through Aether. Like some kind of translator.

“More like a human shield.” Your hand landed on top of Aether’s head, not agreeing with his explanation.

Bonk.

“I guess everything’s better than being Emergency Food.”

“Hey!”

“Haha! You three are quite a team, aren’t you?”

Of course you were. Mondstadt, Liyue, you name it. You could assure that every place in this two nations have at least one story about the team.

You knew that the most brave and magnificent outlander in Teyvat didn’t need a guardian, he can defend himself (somehow even if he’s still using that dull blade).

Bodyguarding also sounds like such a hassle…

You only provide a last resource help when was needed, sometimes also helping with some puzzles and mysteries.

The long eared people was known to be wise and smart people that searched for the full comprehension of the world. Also such a nerds and fans of knowledge. So, even if you considered yourself dumb, in your blood was the instinct of looking for the truth, and sometimes that impulse could be really annoying.

You were always near enough to reach him. Pulling his scarf from behind to move him away from danger. Countering after he gets hit.

Always in a place where you could reach him.

You just needed to extend your arm and you would catch Aether. It was always like this. Always with you jumping in the middle of the crossfire to shield them if it was necessary.

It’s always like this.

Until the day you three set a foot in Inazuma’s land. And a bad feeling of a imminent catastrophe made your shiver.

A new nation, a new problem to solve. But a war? Boldness and stupidity sometimes looks like the same thing, but no matter how many times you repeat this to Aether, he would still ran into problems.

And you would follow him, until your debt is paid, until his travel is done.

It used to be like this.

But then you failed him after being unable to move because of the fear that paralyzed your body. The day Aether faced Shogun Raiden in the ceremony. The day you heard the broken voice of a god inside the Shogun you also fell apart. It was painful, cruel, a void of anger and sadness.

Jumping into danger, without you behind.

You tried to ran between the goddess and your savior, you tried to get closer to at least be useful one last time as the shield you promised to be.

You tried.

But, for the first time, your hand didn’t reach him.

The void of despair and darkness that could be heard inside the Shogun devoured him.

The tears of panic and fear in Paimon’s eyes. The way the Shogun lifted her sword to end his life. The way you were paralyzed because of her presence, forced to be part of the crowd and presence his execution.

That day your facade of laziness faded away, the real feeling of being a knight burnt along your proud. It was so annoying, it was so unnecessary, but still you couldn’t ignore it.

“Are you… are you sure that you’re okay? We don’t have to find the Sangonomiya resistance today. If you need to rest then-” Your hands were shaking when you placed them in Aether’s shoulders, holding yourself for tearing up.

“We have to keep going. I’ll be fine.”

“Besides, if we stay near Inazuma this night they could find us! Paimon won’t be able to sleep like that!” Your mouth opened to counter their arguments, but not a single word dared to go against Aether’s plans.

They could see it in your face. The worry, the remains of shock and fear, the guilty.

“Don’t try to look strong then. If you get tired, tell us. I can carry you in my back.” Even if you were offering help your voice was serious, so cold but so hurt at the same time that nor Aether or Paimon knew what to said to bring the old you back.

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“… Aren’t you coming?” You could hear how the door was slid to let him saw you. The lighted spots on Aether’s clothes were purple, just as the lighting that almost end him. Your lips made a concerned and stressed grimace.

The young traveler took a seat next to you, outside the structure, sitting on the wooden steps and looking at the starry sky. The wind was cold but still the soldiers of the resistance were talking normally and the slight feeling of discommodity because of the excessive presence of other people was climbing up your back.

“(Y/N), there’s no need of guard us every night. You also need to sleep.”

“I'm not tired, I think I've gotten enough sleep, at least not to need it until the next century.”

Aether’s expressions went into a sarcastic one, asking if you were serious with just his gaze.

“That’s not how it works.” He said, trying to change the mood. “And if it does, then why are you always snoozing during the day in every chance you get?”

You had the answer to that, but you weren’t sure about telling him.

“Because everything supposed to be boring. Nothing really changed a lot and… looking at the familiar places was depressing.” So easy, so simple, but still enjoying the company, still enjoying the sound of theirs laughs and their own shenanigans. “… Lately, I’ve been thinking that I should not had left the cave. Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate that you two helped me to be back at the surface, and I really want to help you on your journey, but if you still run into the chaos by own decision I think I could not follow you any longer before being a burden in your adventures.”

Overprotection, an unbreakable shield, frequently avoiding fights, always being pulled back to not be part of the battle. Enemies of the braveness of the traveler.

Worry, panic, an overreaction due to fear of loosing everything again.

‘let me do it’, ‘I got it’, ‘wait here’, ‘don’t get close’.

These day could be described like that.

“So, before I do something worse as an excuse of defend you, please let me find a cave to await. You do what’s is needed and… call me back, or leave me there, anything you think it’s better… ”

You could be pronouncing the words from the very bottom of your heart, but still your face was the same seriousness as the accident almost happened.

And even with that you felt his gloved hand removing the hair that was covering your right ear, revealing how it slightly leaned down, showing sadness unwittingly.

“Hey, cut it out… I’m serious about this… ”

“It doesn’t matter if you think that it’s the best option, you’re still sad about leaving.”

“… That’s cheating.” Removing his hand away from your hair you tried to act indifferent.

“You know the reason why we invited you to came along?”

‘You felt sorry for me.’

“I can’t totally tell the exact reason, but it wasn’t for you to pay us some kind of debt because of saving you.” He crossed his arms, looking at the stars, wondering if his sisters was doing the same. “We don’t need a guardian, we need our friend back. And I know you care about Paimon and me, but still you must enjoy the journey. It’s not fair that you are always aware of every potential danger while we mess around lately.”

An eternal silence, your response is late to appear but somehow Aether can tell that you already have something on your mind.

“Then apologize.”

“… Why?”

“For believing that playing as the hero and jumping to face the Shogun was something you had to do.”

“… but-”

Neither Aether nor you slept that night, the blonde had to listen for hours to all the things that you ever wanted to complain about since you arrived in Inazuma.

You made your position on joining the army of the rebellion very clear, you had no intention of fighting to seek "justice" or "peace". Because after all, that fight did not correspond to you, but if he asked you to, you would protect some soldiers or help to guard the barracks, if he asked you to, you wouldn’t complain about it (at least not that much).

Both had enough of each other’s attitude, but it was okay. Because that was what all of you chose in first place.

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