#Xander's Refuge

[zichqec]

Do you want to hang out with a tired old man in a cave? Of course you do!!!

Made during the month of August, Xander's Refuge is a ghost made with the prompt "a ghost of an ancient deity that always seems tired, and is looking for a safe place to hide". He's a very straightforward ghost, but he has about 100 random dialogues to entertain you.

Besides this, he also makes for a good idle companion! Even between dialogues, he will sometimes change poses so that he's not sitting still all the time. This includes an idle smoking animation! He'll do this even if you turn his dialogues completely off.

And that's it, that's the ghost! As I said, extremely straightforward. But, I hope you will enjoy him nonetheless! There is a fair bit of content here, and my main focus was keeping the scope super small so I could make it all as polished as possible.

Download him from my website here!

(By the way, I overhauled my website and moved URLs! It's not totally finished yet, but you should browse around the indexes. I have many ghosts and related things available!)

Don't know what a ghost is / how to install this? Read up here!

Also, if you want to read more about this particular ghost and how he works, check out his page on the Ukagaka Dream Team Wiki!

[zichqecs-hoard]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa thank youuuuuuuuuuuuu 🥺🙏 thank you for playing with my ghosts and drawing fanart of them fksjhfsdf

(Xander's Refuge is mine and Quiet conversation over tea is a collab ghost that I was part of)

ghost fanart batch :D i ended up just being silly and drawing my ocs with ghosts that interact with the user :3c

PLEASE PLAY WITH GHOSTS THEY'RE AWESOME!!

quiet conversation over tea is sooo cozy to have out and learning abt the user's friends and circle is so fun !! it kinda ties into reconnecting with an old friend in the way that you're learning abt them... tiffany u r so cool <33

death smells like cinnamon cookies is cool in the way that you're hanging out with a friend who has... a REALLY cool job, from our mundane perspective, but in universe it's all very casual... please just download it and see it for yourself its pretty :3c zdzisiu mentioned that liam is trying to ask the user out and i went "OH THATS SO CUTE" so i drew ittt :3

xander's refuge is SO COOL 💥💥 like ok. i love god characters who talk to you all casual cuz its SO INTERESTING. user is hanging out in a cave with him away from the world and he's just talking abt the mythology of the world and his thoughts go download it NOW 💥💥💥

[abellalu]

Adventures on a Foreign Planet | Chapter 1

Summary: After narrowly escaping Thanos, Loki is given a chance for a new life. The Avengers allow Loki to live in New Asgard with his brother, Thor. However, The Avengers are not quick to put their trust into Loki. SHIELD Director Nick Fury recruits an Agent who was once said to be one of the most promising SHIELD Agents, to follow Loki and ensure that he has no plans to harm Earth. Pairing: Loki Laufeyson x Reader A/N: Hello! This is a new series I've been working on and I'm excited to finally be publishing it. This is just the first chapter, so I hope you stick around to see the full story. [ Masterlist | AO3 ]

Every Asgardian knew the stories of the land that was now supposed to be their home. Many celebrations that were full of food and wine also included the Allfather Odin reminding them of the battle in a small village on Midgard called Tønsberg. The audience would shiver, their shoulders tense as Odin described the land being frozen over by the Frost Giants and their malicious leader, King Laufey; the monsters with blood red eyes and physiques that tower over Asgardians.

The story was always told the same way, with Odin leading the Asgardian army into battle without fear. The War eventually ended in the Frost Giants own realm Jotunheim. But the Midgardian village that eventually grew into a city was still remembered as years later, Odin would ask for the Asgardian worshippers to protect the Tesseract.

At the end of the story, Odin would yell “Asgard will always prevail,” and the crowds would cheer as loud as they could and some would chant the phrase before filling their drinks once more.

Now, their home that they had for centuries was gone. The prophesized apocalypse, Ragnarok, had happened. The Asgardians had needed refuge and their new King Valkyrie, with the advice from the formerly Crown Prince Thor, decided the city from their stories could be their new home. The Asgardians knew there would be no grand celebrations for a long time. 

However, most Asgardians were simply grateful to have a chance to continue their lives. Hela’s takeover of Asgard caused many lives to be lost. But their challenges were not over yet, as Thanos had come for the Tesseract. 

Thanos originally went for another infinity stone on a planet called Xander. But decided against it as rumors his daughters Gamora and Nebula knew of his plans stopped him. Little did he know that his daughters and their friends knew of his new plan to go after the Tesseract. The Guardians of the Galaxy, as they referred to themselves as, followed him. With the help of the Nova Corp and some Ravagers, they were able to fight Thanos. The new legend says Nebula performed the final attack, killing The Mad Titan.   

Not every Asgardian survived the Thanos attack. Most were able to escape quickly in a smaller ship with Valkyrie and Korg. Some decided to stay behind and fight. To ensure Asgard had a future. 

Everyday since the Asgardians arrived on Midgard three months ago and renamed the city of Tønsberg to New Asgard, the younger prince of Asgard wondered if it would be the day he was sent to a different realm or was executed. 

Loki's last visit to Midgard resulted in a strange wizard putting him in a strange portal where he fell for thirty minutes while Thor was told to take Loki from Earth. Thor easily agreed that his brother was a threat to Earth. The Battle of New York was far from forgotten.

But, now Thor was telling anyone who would listen that Loki had changed and was a hero for the Asgardians. The Avengers did not trust this supposed change of heart and decided to lock up Loki in the Avengers Compound until they decided what they would do with him. Loki did not put up a fight. What was the point?

Thor attempted to make his brother's living situation as comfortable as possible, requesting that he was not put in a cell but rather an apartment like the ones the other Avengers lived in; Tony Stark's AI FRIDAY, ensuring tight security. 

During the months living in the compound, Loki was questioned on a regular basis, mostly by the Avengers but occasionally by military and government officials. But ultimately, everyone agreed that it was up to the Avengers to make the final decision. 

“Why are you here Loki? Planning another massacre in an attempt to be some King? I wanna know what tricks you got up your sleeve this time cause the mind stuff was really impressive but you don’t seem like the person to enjoy repeating tricks?” asked Clint Barton, a man Loki remembers well. He was always one of the harshest interviewers and for understandable reasons. 

The two men are sitting across from each other at a table in Loki’s temporary apartment. Unlike the others, Loki has not been able to add any personal touches. The walls are plain and all the tabletops bare. 

“I do not plan on conquering. My return to your planet is simply because it is where my brother and our people are,” Loki responds. He sounded casual and almost bored, as if this was a phrase he repeated many times. 

Most of his life, Asgard gave him no attention except when he was causing tricks on them. Why would they when they could instead idolize Thor, the golden prince. Now he is constantly trying to convince others that he is a part of Asgard. That he is wanted by the Asgardians. Loki knew it was a lie, but the silvertongue always knew how to lie. 

“Your people? The people who did not want you to become their king so you decided it would be fun to destroy Earth,” Clint almost laughs.

“Fun is not how I would describe my past experience here.” 

The dark haired God never once broke eye contact with Clint as he said “There is much you don’t know about how that attack came to be. I was not the main person who lost that day.” 

Clint leaned back in his chair, sighing. The details given by Loki about his side of the Battle of New York always felt incomplete. He needed to hold back. The truth of those events and what he experienced because of that Mad Titan is something the Avengers didn’t need to know about.

Knowing it was a lost cause, Clint decided to move on. 

“New Asgard is starting to settle down. People are getting used to the situation, more homes are being built. They are starting work and the children are taking lessons again,” Clint offers.

“So I’ve heard.” 

“You helped Asgardians escape Ragnarok, " he leaned against the table, "You think you could create a new life?”

Loki only nodded.

Mission Assignment Update: Report to Nick Fury at Base 018

You groan as you put your phone back on the nightstand. It was only 6am, but of course the bastard Fury didn’t care that you only got to your apartment past midnight after finishing your latest mission.

It wasn’t an exciting one. There was a rumor that a “dangerous group” in New Jersey was developing technology that could hack anyone including Tony Stark himself. 

And of course like always it was nothing. Just a group of grad students who got pretentious about some of the programs were developing and exaggerated the truth to some of their friends.

Yet, SHIELD still never wanted to take any risks so you were the ever so lucky agent that had to investigate then write a riveting report about how it was nothing.

The notification didn’t include a meeting time, meaning that Fury wants you to be there as soon as possible and no matter what time you arrive, he will complain about you being late. 

Your eyelids still feel heavy as you will yourself to get out of bed. As you slowly gain consciousness you wonder why you even have to go to Fury for your mission assignment. Most of the time you are messaged the directions of the missions and complete it all on your own. 

Eventually you manage to get dressed and run out of your apartment to head to the SHIELD base. It wasn’t a very big one, though most of the facilities weren’t anymore. SHIELD didn’t have much now after the Hydra infiltration. Many resources were gone and so were many agents. 

This base was hidden in plain sight. It was just another skyscraper in New York full of many businesses that each rented a couple floors. As far as the other workers in the building knew, “Secure and Shield Surveillance” was a small technology company that possibly made security cameras or computer protection software. 

No one ever really cared enough to investigate further.

You enter the building and take the elevator to the 8th floor. When the doors open and there you are greeted by the hostile stare of the secretary, Bernadette who has half-moon glasses and dresses as though she is working in the 1950s. Her gray hair is in its usual tight updo that never allows any piece of hair to move from its assigned position. 

“Well look who decided to grace us with her presence today.” 

Bernadette had been a part of SHIELD longer than anyone else (you didn’t know how long because no one would ever risk asking her age). You sometimes wondered if she was always a secretary or if her past jobs were more like yours. 

All you did know was Bernadette believed that SHIELD would be best run if everyone obeyed orders and that she hated you because you always did the exact opposite.

You roll your eyes and respond, “Always nice seeing you too. If I knew you missed me so much I would have visited more often.” 

“How generous.” Bernadette returns to her work, attempting to ignore you still being in the room. 

“I know, when I die I’ll be treated like a saint,” you smile to yourself, knowing that you probably annoyed her enough that she will be irritated for the rest of the day. 

She continues to type on her computer, attempting to maintain a bored face, but you are still pleased because you can see the slight furrow in her brow and her frown deepen. “Director Fury is waiting in his office. A reminder on basic manners dear, don’t leave your boss waiting.”

“Didn’t plan on it Bernadette, I’m always polite.” You are already walking down the hall when you respond, while you attempt to hold your small laugh.

As you enter the office, you see Fury but there was another figure with him. Steve Rogers. You’ve met before many times albeit the encounters were usually very short. 

He has been involved with SHIELD for many years and after the infiltration was revealed, it was he who heavily promoted the idea of reforming SHIELD in hopes of maintaining its legacy. However, he was still most committed to the Avengers and most SHIELD operations were handled by others. 

But now the two men are standing around Fury’s desk, staring at you while you still stand in the doorway. 

“Director, Captain, I hope you plan on explaining to me why we are all here.” 

Fury steps forward towards you, his arms crossed, “Agent, I assumed you would know from the dispatch that we need to talk about your new mission.” 

“Yes, message that provided no details except to meet you here which we both know is irregular. We both don’t have time for this and I assume your other guest, who was not even mentioned on my invitation, doesn’t either.” 

Steve looks apologetic as he says “I apologize that I caught you off guard, that wasn’t my intention.” 

“It was absolutely my intention. Why are you complaining so much? I thought you loved surprises and it's really a shame we don’t see each other more often,” Fury interrupts.

You force yourself to laugh, “Not my fault you didn’t wanna go on a coffee date with me,” you close the door behind you, fully entering Fury’s office “Captain, are you willing to finally tell me about this mission?”

Steve sighs and sits down in the chair beside the desk, “As you know Thor has brought the Asgardians here to Earth, they’ve been rebuilding their home in Norway.” 

You nod. Asgard’s destruction and refuge wasn’t unknown. You heard about some missions of agents being sent to deliver resources and technology to the Asgardians, in an attempt to help them adapt to their new lifestyle. 

But doesn’t explain why Fury and Steve, themselves need to personally explain your mission to you.

Steve continues, “Thor also brought some of his companions with him,” he pauses, “Including his brother Loki.”

You feel your heart drop to your stomach and breaths stop. 

Loki is back on Earth? It has been years since the attack on New York, but no one has forgotten it. At one moment you are sparring with your fellow SHIELD trainees, placing bets on who was going to get assigned a real mission first, then in the next moment it doesn’t matter. SHIELDs Helicarrier was attacked and the perpetrator had escaped.

Everything you learn about their menacing leader was after the attack. SHIELD was able to collect some footage of the tall dark god. The footage was blurry, but yet you can still see the God enjoying himself. The attack was no accident. 

“You let Loki back on Earth? The Asgardians have been on Earth for months, are you trying to tell me you’ve allowed him to be here the whole time. What the fu-”

“Our reasons for allowing him to be here are complicated, Agent. Please try to stay quiet and listen.” Fury starts sounding more and more exhausted, whether by you or the entire situation is debatable. 

Steve looks at Fury then back at you, “When we saw Loki had arrived with Thor, we immediately put him in custody. Thor was upset with this decision and tried to explain to us that- well he believes his brother is good now.”

Thor believes his brother is good?

Fury explains, “Loki apparently did some hero shit when they were escaping Asgard and now Thor believes that his little dream of fighting alongside his brother is possible.” 

The story they are telling you feels like a dream. Or maybe this is a nightmare. It is too unbelievable to be real.

“Do you believe that? This is ridiculous-”

You are interrupted again by Fury “What did I say about you saying quiet and listening. We haven’t even gotten to the best part yet.” 

“We decided to investigate Thor’s claims about his brother. We needed to decide what to do with Loki and we finally came to a conclusion,” Steve stares at me “Loki is moving to New Asgard.” 

Steve continues, “New Asgard is where Thor is and maybe eventually after a while, he might even help the Avengers out. This is a dangerous move we know, but it’s one we believe in,” he pauses. “I believe we can give him a second chance.” 

Steve Rogers, or Captain America as the world knew he always wanted to do the right thing. To believe there is still good in the world even if it felt like it was all following apart. 

And somehow he could even see good in Loki.

You are lost in your thoughts when Fury's voice sneaks into your head. “This is where you come in, Agent.” 

Your head whips around to stare at Fury, your mouth slightly agape. During this meeting, you had become so distracted by this absurd story that you forgot the original reason for you being here.  

"Thor promises to keep an eye on his brother, but we want to be safe," Steve said, "Fury recommended you for the job.” 

You stare at Fury. He was always a calculated man 

"Why did you choose me for this mission?"

"Loki annoys the hell out of me and so do you,” Fury shugs. 

“Ha, very funny,” you say completely expressionless. 

This whole situation was ridiculous. 

But, maybe it was time for a challenge. For years now, every mission you’ve received always felt the same and never truly needed a SHIELD agent to handle it. 

“So, you’re telling me my new mission is to babysit a God?” They both nod cautiously. You pause, making sure you have made up your mind, “So when do I start?”

[tied-ash]

DRDT x Hazbin Hotel - Xander & Min

I finally figured out what to do with Xander!

Okay- so in the AU, Xander and Min met up in Hell. Their reaction was awkward at first, but eventually, they finally warmed up to each other again.

After some time and exploration of Hell, the two found Charlie's Hazbin Hotel. The story takes place after the hotel was built, so it's the new and improved one.

Needless to say, Xander and Min had varying reactions to it.

Xander fully believes in redemption. Min does not. Min wants to hope that redemption is possible, but logically, she does not believe in it. Xander, on the other hand, believes in it with his whole heart, soul, and head.

This is where they decide to split up. Xander takes refuge in the hotel, making new friendships with the patrons.

Min, on the other hand, goes back to the main area, trying to live her life. And later, as you would see, she would become a semi-powerful overlord.

[liz447]

In the midst of the snowfall, the couple sought refuge in a cozy café. While the wind howled outside, they shared a hot beverage that wafted the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Each sip provided them with a sense of satisfaction, both from the warmth radiating from the cup and the company of each other.

"Isn't this just perfect?" Laslow smiled, cradling the mug in his hands.

"Absolutely," Xander replied, glancing out the fogged window. "It's like our own little haven in the storm."

Through the fogged window, they watched the snowstorm dance, grateful for the shared warmth that enveloped them, creating an intimate sanctuary amidst the cold.

[desensed]

𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗

 ⸻  ᚠᚱᛟᛗ  ⸻  robert pattinson. cis man. he/him. ⸻  i saw xander romanov around the town, you know? the 37 years old that was driving from brooklyn, ny  when they saw the tree on the road. xander has been here for 1 year and i think they were a doctor before they got stuck in the town. with the way things are now, they are now struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy and  seek a way out without losing themselves or dying.  lets hope you at least survive the night. ⸻

GENERAL   INFORMATION.  ⸻

full   name   : xander romanov

nickname(s) : xan

age : 37 years old

gender   identity : cis man     

orientation : heterosexual    

place   of   birth : manhattan , new york     

date   of   birth : december 23 1986      

former   occupation : doctor

3   positive traits : kind , generous , forgiving  

3   negative traits  : apathetic , desensitized , perfectionist

moral alignment  : lawful neutral

faceclaim  : robert pattinson

TOWN   INFORMATION.  ⸻

current   residency : the town   

current   occupation : doctor

BIOGRAPHY.  ⸻

grew up in a strict household with controlling parents whose only interest was to mold their children into the perfect human being. the emotional well being of xander and his little sister were often times an after thought, if even that. learning to undo the affects of his parents emotional neglect has been a roller coaster ride for xander, though after finding himself without his family for the last year, it has become a little easier for him to understand his own feelings.

for the most part, he went along with whatever his parents asked him to do. he figured if he took the brunt of the work it would lessen the load that they would put upon his sister, though that idea turned out to be very untrue. at the very least, zelda and xander had one another, and they found refuge in their shared experiences together despite the big age gap that they have.

he excelled greatly in all of his academics, though lacked an obvious important factor in his life. xander has never had any close friends, or even someone he can call a best friend, for his entire life. he has shut off so much of his feelings to get through the harshness of his home life that he finds it difficult now to connect with people on a deeper level.

he's been living his life in a kind of blur through most of it, but now that he's here, he finally feels ' awake ' for the first time in a long time.

WANTED CONNECTIONS.  ⸻

sib connections, to die for obviously. loves his little sister very much and has been away from her for a long time, so if your muse is younger and a lil cutie he'll love 'em !

father / mother figure ? never had a loving parent so would probably melt at the first sign of affection, who knows !!!

people he might have known from school back in the day, or anyone who worked alongside / near him in any capacity.

patients, new and old ! formerly worked in the emergency ward so may have come across a plethora of ppl

first love ? hehe i love angst

TAKEN CONNECTIONS.  ⸻

little sister : zelda romanov @lichtundschattens

father / mother figure : augusto diaz & sierra ducharme

[smokycinnamonroll]

Oh hey i know this one! Why and how did i miss this post...

Anyways, to save variables you have to click first on the meatball menu in the upper righthand corner and then on Exit (illustrated for your convenience)

I think you may also have to go to settings to tell it to use a different folder for ghost storage, depending on your text editor, but other than that development should be more or less like it is on pc! I will note that even though i told it to open a different ghost on boot, it still boots the default one... not sure whats up with that.

For text editing i have vim set up (through termux) to let me edit files, but other code editors probably work just as well, as long as they can access the folder your ghost is in. (Art is really only a matter of moving the pictures you have to the right folder, so that's a lot easier haha)

The hamburger menu on the left side has the communicate box and 5 empty shortcut keys you can register, and if you press and hold (long press?) an area on the ghost there's a menu for mouse interactions, so... well there's not a point i had in mind with this paragraph, just letting you (general) know they exist? :P

(Something else is that it's ehhhhh possibly not compatible with more recent yaya versions, since i tried to get xander's refuge working and it uh. will Not display anything when i switch over. Haven't tested any other new ghosts though, so it may only be an issue w/ that specific ghost)

how to make a ghost...in android?

In theory, it is possible! Albeit in a limited form.

There is indeed an android baseware for ukagaka, called Ukagaka for Android. However, please note that this baseware is not fully compatible with many many ghosts. There are a lot of features in SSP that do not exist in Ukagaka for Android, and as of this writing the app was last updated in 2019. So, it may or may not be developed further.

However, you may have more luck if you're developing a ghost specifically for it, with all of its quirks in mind! If you can draw on your phone and write text files on your phone, then theoretically you can develop a ghost for this baseware entirely on your phone. The baseware is compatible with YAYA, so you should have no trouble using that as the coding language for your ghost.

I have personally used this app a few times, but I don't know that much about it. I know that I've had trouble with it not saving my progress in various ghosts, so unless you can figure out how to get that working, you may want to try making a style of ghost that isn't reliant on any sort of progression system (like a relationship system, etc.).

If you or anyone else learns more about this baseware and how to develop ghosts effectively for it, please do share! Although it may be more limited than SSP, having some simple ghosts available on android would be great, especially for folks that don't have a computer.

Good luck with it! If you need any help with the basics of developing a ghost, we can still help with that, so do get in touch!

[blog-of-a-multitude-of-fandoms]

Refuge- Spike

Pairing: Spike x Reader

Characters: Spike, Xander Harris, Anya Jenkins, Rupert Giles, Buffy Summers, Willow Rosenberg

Warnings: N/A

Request: N/A

Word Count: 519

Author: Aaron

The room filled with the aroma of sage, rosemary and thyme as Buffy carried the plump and steaming ham into the small sanctuary that was Giles’ sitting room, Xander struggled to keep his eyes off the plate that was being carried, she sat it down at the table before standing with her hands on Giles’ shoulders.

“Well, it’s three o’clock and it looks like were finally going to have a normal… non-vampirey meal. Normally I would have been at my dad’s for Christmas but you guys are more family than he is so there is nowhere else I would, maybe we couldn’t all be here, but I’m grateful for the ones that are.”

Anya rested her hand on Xander’s as he and Willow shared a warm and loving smile, Giles looked backwards at Buffy and they too shared a smile that would normally be reserved for a father and daughter.

“So…” Xander gestured towards the bounty of food that sat in front of you all.

“Everyone tuck in I guess, I don’t know how good it’s going to be, just a few things I picked up from mom whilst I was at home.” Before she had even finished talking Xander had piled his plate high with a myriad of different foods and sauces, Willow was not far behind him a you, Giles, Anya and Buffy looked on in disbelief.

“What?” Willow sheepishly poured another heaped spoonful of seasoned peas onto her plate. Your hand reached across the table for the ladle connected to the bowl of carrots, unfortunately you were interrupted by the door very loudly swinging open and walloping against the old wall followed very closely by a hooded figure running in, shrouded in a stained and perforated tarp.

“Oh come on Spike… don’t make stake you on Christmas. Isn’t there some demonic ritual you’re trying out or some ancient, hellish creature you’re trying to summon? Can you not delay it a few days? At least let me get boxing day to myself…”

“Oh please.” Spike threw the tarp over the sofa, much to the displeasure of Giles. “Harmony has thrown me out and it’s a million fucking degrees outside. Have some Christmas spirit and just let me stay here for a bit. I won’t bite… promise.” You and the scooby gang looked at Spike with great suspicion. “Oh stop being so stuck up, I even brought you a present Buffy.” He threw a small and half-assed wrapped present at Buffy, who just about managed to catch it and open it, as soon as she saw the contents, a screech echoed from her lips and the box fell to the floor, a still beating heart rolled out onto the carpet.

“Oh come on… I’ve just hoovered the carpet and do you know how hard it is to get heart out?” Giles threw his arms out in frustration and annoyance.

“Sorry…” Spike replied, looking down at the floor in a very fake state of shame “I didn’t have time to get anything else, and it’s the thought that counts right now come on, let’s see some Christmas fucking cheer.”

[jakelandryshorts]

Playing the Coach

“How ya feelin’ there bud?”

Slowly Xander raised himself off the grass. He didn’t even realize that he’d passed out. He could barely even remember feeling tired. It’s just that everything suddenly went black and now he was staring up at Coach Halbrook.

“C’mon big guy,” Coach Halbrook extended his hand. Xander grabbed it. A bit of nausea was still rolling around in his stomach.  Somehow the world still felt like it was spinning.

It’s not like Xander wasn’t used to days like this. He’d been on the college football team for the last three years and high school had run him just as hard. But that’s what made it all the weirder. They hadn’t been running drills when he started to feel dizzy. He was over with Brandon and Jack talking. The more he thought about it the more he felt that dizziness double inside him. For some reason it didn’t feel like they were talking about football. Instead, it was something else.

“You good?” Coach Halbrook asked. His strong hand was still firmly on Xander’s shoulder as he held the other man up.

“I don’t know man…” Xander muttered. The sun felt so bright. He was having trouble opening his eyes and looking around.

“Understood,” Coach Halbrook said. His attention turned to the other guys on the team. “Alright boys you keep running drills! Coach Redding and I will be back in a few minutes. If I hear that any of you are slacking then all of you are going to be doing double time. Got it?”

“Yes sir!” the team chanted back to him.

Coach Halbrook smiled. “Good.” He had a good control over the team. Only being ten or so years older than them, he could still relate pretty well to them. More like an authority and a bit of a friend.

‘Was that right?’ Xander tried to think about it a bit more. Was Coach Halbrook only a generation older than him? His head started to hurt again. He gripped the other man for support.

“Easy there,” Coach Halbrook had complete control over the situation. That generation between him and the players didn’t stop him any as he could keep up with the best of them. His body seemed to ooze testosterone and strength. Not to mention his confidence or mental fortitude. Anyone could look at him and seek him for a place of refuge. He carried himself like a god who’d been around for generations, full of wisdom and strength. And a body that backed it up. Anyone would be jealous or lusting after it, if not both.

Coach Halbrook pulled out a water bottle and gave it to Xander. “How about now?” he asked. “Feeling better?”

Xander took a drink. “Ye-yeah,” he panted. He took another quick drink and then used the bottle as an ice pack on his head. “Don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s alright. That tends to happen,” Coach Halbrook said. He leaned his weight on the back of his desk while he spoke down to the other man.

“Not really. We weren’t even doing drills,” Xander said. However, he was surprised to hear the other man snicker at the comment. He looked up to see Coach Halbrook smiling wildly down at him. For a second he paused. That wasn’t a normal response. Especially from someone like Halbrook. “What?”

“Oh sorry,” a devilish smile seemed planted on Coach Halbrook’s face. “I just thought you might have noticed by now.”

“Noticed what?” Xander leaned forward. His attention locked onto Coach Halbrook. However, the coach nodded his head towards the right. Xander looked over to see a mirror. However, what was in the mirror didn’t make any sense. He recognized it as himself, but it looked nothing like him. Somehow the person in the mirror looked to be at least 15 years older version of himself.

Xander nearly tripped over his feet as he rushed over to the mirror. “This can’t be real…” he felt at his face that now had wrinkles forming in his skin. Wrinkles were starting to cover most of his face. But he was more concerned about the fat. The cut jaw that he was so proud of had softened greatly. He’d clearly tried to grow out a beard to hide it, but the weight was clearly there.

Not to mention the extra weight covering the rest of his body. He filled out the coach’s dark blue polo and khaki pants. Two thick meaty pecs pushed out in front of him, but an even larger belly pushed further than that. He’d clearly been trying to ignore just how tight his clothes were fitting, pretending that he wasn’t actually getting bigger or softer, but just how tightly they fit on his body. Everything looked like it was stretched against his bulk.

“What’s going on?” Xander turned back to Coach Halbrook. “What happened to me?” His hand ran through his thinning hair. He couldn’t believe how old he looked. Somehow, he even looked older than the other coach.

Coach Halbrook crossed his arms. The thick biceps bulged with power. Without any sleeves he somehow looked more intimidating. He was the only teacher there who could wear whatever he wanted because of his success on the field. “You pissed me off,” he said. It sounded absolute.

“I… I what?” Xander felt the confusion fill him again.

“You pissed me off,” Coach Halbrook repeated. “I’ve been 20 a couple of times now. I know how fun it is to do what you want or go play grab ass. But when start really messin with people who don’t want to be messed with, then I have to step in.”

“But…” Xander suddenly remembered his conversation before. It felt so long ago, even though it was only a few hours prior. He’d been making fun of the male cheerleaders and pretending to flirt with them to embarrass them later. “That’s… That’s just a joke.” He tried to defend himself. His mouth went dry, knowing full well that what he was trying to do should have gotten him fully expelled and embarrass the team.

“A joke!” Coach Halbrook faked a laugh. “Oh! Now that you say it again it’s so much funnier!” Xander tried to fake a laugh with him but the sheer awkwardness from how angry Coach’s was, made it hard. “Then how about you suck my dick?” Then dropped his shorts and underwear. “Cause it’s just so funny.”

Xander’s mouth hung open. No way a man could have a dick this big. It wasn’t even fully hard yet looked to run halfway down his leg. Yet it was nearly as thick as a beer bottle. How he could conceal something like that was beyond him. “W-what?” Xander felt his mouth go dry.

“Suck it. Suck my dick,” Coach Halbrook stated. His arms were firmly crossed against his massive chest. His dick throbbed as blood pumped into it, making point directly at Xander while also looking even larger. “As a joke. Right? Cause it’s so fucking funny.”

“N-no fucking way!” Xander shouted as he rushed across the room and grabbed Coach Halbrook by the shirt. “Change me back now!” Even if he didn’t understand how this happened, it was obvious the coach had something to do with it. The way he bragged meant he at least knew something.

With a simple shove, Xander was tossed back into a chair sitting across from the coach. “Wrong answer,” he said. A malicious smile crossed his face as he started to adjust something on his watch. “You know, being 50 wasn’t so bad. Kind of fun to actually watch people give me respect. But I was also going to be fine being 35 again too. But if you really insist on being a complete jackass then I might as well try being a student again. Hopefully Alex doesn’t mind too much,” the malicious smile turned into a bit more of a grin. “Who am I kidding? Of course he won’t. Afterall he was chasing after you too…”

Xander felt the same dizziness overtake him again. Luckily this time he was sitting as his body swayed back and forth. Years of his life were disappearing in an instant. His belly grew larger while his muscles softened. The hair on top of his head had almost completely disappeared while the rest was turning white. But worst of all, he felt weak.

In front of him it was the exact opposite for Coach Halbrook. Any signs of aging completely disappeared. His skin softened and muscles tightened up. Years of working out had given his muscles the ability to tear and grow, but they leaned out to something far more function. Yet he didn’t look any less strong. His wide shoulders and thin waist gave him a powerful build that any one would be envious of. The natural scruff along his chin turned into a well groom beard and the hair on top of his head grew long enough to stick out of his hat.

Buck Halbrook ran his fingers through his hair, almost mocking how full it was. “Guess I’ll need a haircut.” His attention turned back to the older man. “But we were doing something first, weren���t we?”

Xander felt his body go cold. “What did you…” he coughed trying to hold his attention. “Do to me?” He found himself biting his bottom lip. It was hard for him to think. Digging his nails into his hand helped, but just looking forward was making his cock throb with excitement. He couldn’t help it as he squirmed in his chair. The man in front of him oozed masculinity. Xander couldn’t help it. His body craved everything about the man in front of him. What made it worse was whenever he thought about the other college athletes in their football gear or in the locker room, it turned him on even more.

“Just made a few more adjustments,” Buck tapped at his watch. “Don’t worry too much about it. Now you’ll happily suck my dick.” His eyes narrowed. “Now do it.”

Without thinking Xander was down on his knees with his mouth open wide. His tongue licked up and down the massive rod. Despite never doing this before, he felt like everything was natural. But the more he thought about it the more memories started to flood in of different players over the years. Each of the college athletes had different needs but Xander was more than happy to comply.

He’d figured out all sorts of ways to please another man. Testing them out over and over on different men. And his efforts seemed to be fruitful as he felt Buck’s strong hand on the back of his head. It clenched tightly each time his dick throbbed. Xander had to get a bit of practice to open this wide, but the effort was worth it. He could feel the other man doing whatever he could to make the pleasure last. Each unintentional flex in his finger was another win.

Xander was getting into it more. His tongue and lips working together as he slid that massive rod into his mouth. His own hands were getting busy as well. Slowly working his own as he continued to please the other man.

“So good,” Buck moaned. His head flew back as his body thrust. He pulled out unintentionally spraying his load all over the older man’s face. “Aww shit coach,” he smirked as he saw the mess he’d made. “Didn’t mean to do that.”

However, Xander didn’t mind if anything he almost enjoyed it more. He felt a smile pierce his lips as he looked up at the other man. “It’s fine,” he said.

“Good to hear,” Buck said. “Better get cleaned up before you go out on the field though.”

“Right,” Xander nodded.

Buck gave his coach a pat on the back. “Alright. See you out there then.”

more stories over on my wordpress

[demifiendrsa]

NEO: The World Ends with You details Shinjuku Reapers, missions, mechanics, battle, and new pins

■ New Artwork of The Wicked Twisters

—Illustrated by Gen Kobayashi.

■ Shinjuku Reapers: Overseers of the Reapers’ Game

The Reapers manage the eponymous Game and give missions to its Players. The current Game is being run by a gang of Reapers who came to Shibuya roughly three years ago. Unlike the previous Game, this iteration requires Players to group up into teams to participate.

—Shiba and the rest of the Shinjuku Reapers left their home after it was destroyed three years ago, ultimately taking refuge in the neighboring city of Shibuya.

—Reapers native to the Shibuya area like Kariya and Uzuki have been tasked with monitoring the Players.

■ Characters: The Eccentric and Peculiar Shinjuku Reapers

Ayano (voiced by Erin Yvette in English, Ayane Sakura in Japanese)

“What an unpleasant surprise. Come to ingratiate us again with your ill-gotten intel?”

A Reaper managing the Reapers’ Game. One of the elite Reapers, Ayano is highly capable and implicitly trusted by her leader, Shiba. She is cold and ruthless toward others—except her fellow Reaper, Shoka, whom she dotes upon in a near obsessive manner.

Kubo (voiced by Xander Mobus in English, Taisuke Nakano in Japanese)

“So fight like your lives’re on the line– figuratively speakin’, seein’ as you’re already dead… Nyeheh!”

A Reaper managing the Reapers’ Game. His obligations extend to both the micro and macro levels, monitoring individual Players as well as determining the outcome in win-lose scenarios. Yet in spite of these duties, he spends quite a bit of time chatting with Rindo and the gang…

His words drip with condescension, causing many to dislike him. In fact, the only person to whom he shows any respect is his leader, Shiba.

Kaie (voiced by Josey Montana McCoy in English, Shouya Chiba in Japanese)

“…Sorry, I can’t offer any more readings right now :(“

One of the Reapers who runs a fortune-telling shop on Spain Hill while also managing the digital system behind the Game.

Expressionless and seemingly voiceless, he communicates exclusively via text. In messages, however, he’s extremely talkative, revealing a cheerful and caring side.

Hishima (voiced by James Austin Kerr in English, Shunsuke Takeuchi in Japanese)

“I’d be mortified if I were caught abiding by outdated protocol.”

One of the Reapers who rarely gets involved in the operation of the Game, claiming that his heart isn’t really in it. Despite his intellectual appearance, he reveals himself to be both sarcastic and stubborn when he opens his mouth.

Somewhat of an odd Reaper out, he’s a man of mystery: even his comrades can’t discern whether he has some sort of ulterior motive.

■ Reapers’ Game: Missions

Rindo and the gang will undertake a wide variety of missions throughout the Reapers’ Game. Their objectives will differ from day to day: sometimes they might be solving mysteries going on around town, while other times they might be facing off against Boss Noise, or even taking part in a turf war against other teams.

Put your psychic powers to use in completing these missions!

■ Game Mechanics: Mental Notes

Game progress and mission details are all recorded in Rindo’s Mental Notes. Give them a glance if you’re unsure of what to do next.

—Available side-quests and info on where to start them are also listed in the Mental Notes. Check them out between missions!

■ Game Mechanics: Social Network

The Social Network menu holds information on just about everyone Rindo meets. Fulfilling certain criteria for each character will unlock rewards, including helpful items and abilities that give Rindo and the gang a leg up in the Game. Which rewards you unlock is all up to you.

—The Social Network is like a relationship chart. As you progress through the story, new characters and connections will appear.

—Rewards are obtained in exchange for FP (Friendship Points), which are awarded as you progress through the story and complete side-quests.

■ Game Mechanics: Dive

Nagi uses a special psych, Dive, to enter into people’s minds. Use it to fight and exterminate the Noise within and bring the afflicted folks back to their senses.

—During Dive battles, your surroundings will be different from usual, and you may encounter Noise with special emotion-based powers.

—Dive on Normal difficulty or higher to gain rewards based on your battle results.

■ Battle Basics

Rindo and the gang can unleash all kinds of psychs depending on the pins they have equipped. Press the button corresponding to a given pin, and the character it’s equipped to will instantly perform an attack. Time your button presses to attack consecutively or all at once. String together combos or perform simultaneous attacks any which way you like!

—Minamimoto flings a Noise into the air, Nagi smacks it to the ground, Rindo pins it in place, and Fret moves in for a follow-up strike. Coordinate attacks like this with a well-timed tap of each character’s button.

—Find your perfect fit from a wide array of psychs, which can launch enemies into the air, knock them back, bind them, draw them in, attack swaths of them at once, and more!

■ Battle: Combos and Mashups

Increase the party’s Groove by coordinating the team’s attacks, then unleash a Mashup and inflict huge damage on the enemy.

If you hit an enemy under the right conditions, a circular Beatdrop gauge will appear. Striking while the gauge is shown will initiate a Beatdrop combo, and the Groove displayed at the top of the screen will increase.

—Fret’s attack causes the Beatdrop gauge to appear, and Minamimoto’s follow-up attack increases the Groove. Coordination between the team is key to keeping the Groove going!

—Later in the game, you’ll be able to increase the Groove even further by dropping the beat at just the right moment. If you carry out combos with perfect timing, you can quickly increase Groove and control the flow of the battle.

Once your Groove reaches 100% or more, you can unleash a Mashup—a super psych with impressive range and power—to erase your foes in one fell swoop!

As you progress through the game, the maximum Groove will increase to 300%, and you’ll be able to unleash team attacks that are even stronger than Mashups!

—Killer Remixes can only be used at 300% Groove, but they boast unrivalled power. Annihilate your enemies with rapid button presses!

—There are several different types of Mashups, and the skill you unleash will depend on the psychs you use in battle.

■ Pins

Sugar Beam

Allows the wearer to use Force Rounds, a ranged psych that shoots barrages of eight bullets, the last of which is a piercing shot.

Grin Reaper

Grants the psych Heavy Slugger, which uses massive fists to pummel the Noise. Hit the button repeatedly for high-speed punches!

Marvelous Crash

Contains the Meteor Strike psych. Hold down the button to summon a giant boulder, then release to slam it down on an enemy’s head!

NEO: The World Ends with You will launch for PlayStation 4 and Switch on July 27, 2021 worldwide, followed by PC via the Epic Games Store in Summer 2021.

[soulcluster-moved]

🎰 It I'm not too late? For Persona and Fire Emblem!

Send 🎰 for me to put our muses into a random list generator then post the first five as potential ships!

Peony & Frederick: Oh! This sounds like it’d be cute, cause Frederick Cannot relax and Peony is like, please have good dreams! Except...does he ever sleep...

Ryuji & Felix: Hmmm ahhh.... why do I feel like Ryuji would get on Felix’s every last nerve lol

Gerome & Dimitri: Now there’s a pairing I haven’t thought of. Gerome is in Golden Deer but I imagine they’d see each other at training quite a bit. Also, both carrying Trauma

Shiho & Kotone: ;a; oh...my heart. I’m not sure how they’d meet exactly (I assume an AU verse, what if Kotone was the ‘Joker’ character?) but regardless, I like it, this should happen

Seteth & Xander: huh! Not sure if you have a 3H verse for him, but even Seteth in Fateslandia as a dragon, taking refuge with Flayn somewhere ?? uhhh I don’t know but tbh the idea of them interacting does sound interesting!

[fire-emblem-drabbles]

Precious Time and Little Lies

Pairing: yandere Xander x reader

Description: Once, when he was a different man, you had loved him. But now, Xander was a manipulative, terrifying monster of his former self, one you had no qualms running away from when the time came. However, you doubted how much he adored you-- and the atrocities he would commit to getting you back by his side.

Rating: sfw

Word Count:

Content Warnings: general yandere behavior, emotional manipulations, mentions of blood

Notes: Another commission for the ever so lovely @modern-zervis-lovemail! In addition, a friends helped me beta this one too, so thank you to @khaenruin for helping me figure this hot mess out. Also would you believe me if I told you I was listening to Kakusei from Promare the entire 5ish hours in total it took me to write this? Because why would I lie about that...

~*~

Today shouldn’t be a day spent on the battlefield. But fate had other plans for you, devious ones that wouldn’t be undone so easily. How long had you been running, escaping his grasp only to find yourself in the midst of his bloody desires? Xander may not be king of Nohr yet but defying still met certain death; or, it would have, had the crown prince of Nohr not held an unhealthy obsession for you…

In better times, kinder, gentler ones, you might have relished in his affection, may have even returned it and been something… more with him. But there was no going back on this choice. Not after you had seen the lengths he would go through for you… that he still continues to do. You can’t think about the lives tolling up in your wake because of him-- that’s just what he wants, for you to think this was all your fault, to break down and lean to him for support. To trap you in his grasp and cradle you there, coddling you and fooling you into thinking he wasn’t a monster with his sweet smiles… You wouldn’t fall for it any more.

Today was the Day of Devotion. You knew, he would be more motivated than ever to find you. You could hear his words now, feel them plaguing your very skull; how sweet it would be, to be reunited on the Day of Devotion. It was sickening. But you had to had to remain strong, Graciously, the Hoshidian’s had allowed you refuge in their country, even letting you travel with their army for a short amount of time to Cyrkensia, where you would hopefully be able to flee the continent altogether, right under Xander’s nose no less. Azura’s performance would be the perfect distraction for you. The fight that would inevitable follow was merely a bonus.

“I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to travel with you this far.” You turn to Corrin and Princess Sakura, as well as Prince Takumi, and bow your head. “I wish I could help you further, but even my mere presence here now is a danger to you all.” Corrin shakes his head, while Takumi just huffs.

“The information you provided is has been immensely helpful. It’s thanks to you we even know Xander will be here today. We can be prepared because of that.” Corrin offers you a small smile, which you return with one of your own.

“You’re absolutely sure they’ll be there?” Takumi isn’t as convinced. For the few days you’ve been here, he’s been on his tiptoes around you; you can’t blame him for his behavior, though.

“Positive. King Garon loves the shows here and…” You heave a sigh, shaking your head. “...had I still been by his side, this would have been the day Xander proposed.”

“Goodness, really?” Sakura gasped. “In front of all these people? How do you even know?” Her face is flush from the mere thought.

“It was the day he wanted to go public with it. We… were engaged far before that. He knew I couldn’t deny him in a front of a crowd of people who adored him…” You clenched your fist tightly.

“Xander…” Corrin looks troubled. Xander was his older brother, after all. The rejection of his younger brother, and now you, his beloved fiancee… Perhaps there was an explanation for his behavior but never an excuse. “I’m sorry this all happened to you _____, I can’t help but feel part of this is somehow my fault.”

“Corrin…” You sigh softly. “It’s no ones fault but Xander’s own. We made our choices, and though they were in opposition to him, they were ours to make.” You take his hand in yours, surprising him before you continue. “But if we fault in the paths we’ve taken, everyone, from the people in your army to Xander himself, will suffer for it. Stay strong.” With one last squeeze of his hand you drop it.

“...Right.” He nods, and you can see him steeling himself. “Today, we’ll end this…”

“The shows about to start, we should hurry.” Takumi sends a look to you over his shoulder, ushering his siblings closer.

“Stay safe everyone. I believe in you.” You send one more smile Corrin’s way before heading off on your own to the ports. If things went okay, they would be able to defeat Garon, and maybe even stop Xander…

You knew little about the world outside of Nohr, Hoshido, or even Nestra, but anything was better than the war that countries faced and the terror that followed you here. It wouldn’t be easy start anew in a foreign place… “You should catch a nice price though…” From your pocket, you produced a ring; casted in white gold, and gilded in the finest of amethyst, any woman would have been proud to where it on their finger. But these engagement ring would be a new start for you in a different way.

“…You kept it?” You gasp and snatch the ring close to yourself, surprised to find yourself cornered by none other than Xander himself.

“W-what? How did you…” Your words died on you tongue as he approached you. You were frozen in place, malleable to his touch as he carefully opened your hand and once more slipped the engagement ring on your right ring finger. His silence, and the lack of any signs on anger on his part made you apprehensive.

“Why did you have to leave me?” He held your shoulders, preventing your escape. His ruby gaze was inescapable, his apparent sorrow scalding.

“Why?” You frown, willing yourself not to fall for his tricks. “Look at you! You’ve become a puppet of your fathers will, Xander!” You wrench yourself free from his grasp, surprising yourself. “Once you were a kind prince, someone the people looked up to; someone who I looked up to.” You take a step but to distance yourself from him. “But you’re just as mad as him now. You’ve taken away my rights, treated me like a child, chased me down the realm and back, and for what? Will you drag me back to your side? Will you prove yourself the craven beast I know you to be?” You glared up at him now, trying your best to read his mood, to not be affected by the hurt you saw in his eyes. He had already done far worse to you.

“Who has fed you these lies, dearest?” Xander approaches you, finally acting on his desire, lies spilling forth from his lips as he stocked towards you. “Who has fed you this poison, that you are so freighted by me even my face before you has you trembling?” You hadn’t even noticed it before, but you were; your hands were shaking and the familiar feeling of adrenaline was beginning to course though your veins. Fight or flight was beginning to over take your mind as he merely got closer, spoke a little more softer to you. “Won’t you tell me who I need take care of?” He got close enough to caress your cheek with his gauntlet only for you to flinch away from his touch. He faltered, if only for a moment.

“You’re too blind to realize it was you yourself who led me to this. I would sooner forsake my homeland and take up arms with the Hoshidian’s than return to your side once more!” You tried to be fierce, to show Xander you weren’t afraid of him. “I won’t go with you.” He was frowning now, lurching forward and taking your arm in a gasp that wouldn’t easily be shaken off.

“Why don’t I take you to see the show? To see what happens to traitors.” His voice was even, his face turning dark as you tried to struggle. His grip was bruising, and you were willing to cause a scene.

“Corrin is your brother!” You argue. “Why are you willing to show lenience to me and not him?” You cry. His shock is enough for him to drop you. You pull back dramatically, gently rubbing the spot on your forearm where he caught you.

“You’ve yet to totally betray me.” His eyes linger on the ring you let him replace on your finger. You hold it protectively to your chest.

“That’s… this is different.” You huff, scowling at him. “There’s nothing left in me that cares for you as I once did.”

“Don’t be foolish.” You yelp, looking back to find Xander’s backed you up to the a large crate near the docks. “You just listened to the same lies those rotten Hoshidian’s fed to Corrin, didn’t you?” He shakes his head softly. “I won’t let them take you from me as well _____.”

“You’ve listened to nothing I’ve said!” You cry. “Xander, stop this! Actually listen to me for once in your life!” You beg him, hands finding place on his chest.

“You must be so confused… And scared…” He sighs, as if some great sorrow was just discovered, as if you really were as scared and confused as he claimed. He was clearly delusional, at least when it came to you and your thoughts and feeling; you really had to escape him now, lest you be stuck with this man who could not see you for what you were the rest of your life.

“I’m not confused! And the only thing I’m scared of is what you’re planning to do-- Xander, Xander stop!” He takes you by the arm, as any prince and gentleman should, and begins leading you over the performance hall. “Let me go!” Though you are loud and vigorous in your attempt to not be lead away from him, the grip he has on you is stronger than anything you could put up a fight against. There isn’t hardly anyone on the streets to see you struggle against him, everyone has gone to the hall to watch Azura preform… You know once you’re in there, it’s too late for you. People will recognize you, hanging off the princes arm. And if his siblings are there, they’ll only reinforce their brothers delusions…

“Everyone’s going to be delighted I found you once more, _____. Elise is even here with us… I dare say she missed you as much as me.” He laughed softly as he lead you inside, as if you weren’t fighting like a rabid animal to be free of his hold.

“...Elise?” You stopped your struggling at her name. You couldn’t let the young Princess know just how twisted and vile her dear older brother had become in your name… if she saw you…

“Xander! _____!” As if on cue, the young girl appeared before the two of you as you entered the building. Barely, you managed to catch her in a hug as she barreled towards you. “Ohh, I missed you so much! I was so scared for you.” She looked at you with big doe eyes, and your heart beat painfully at it. So, this is how he planned to keep you in line…

“Hey sweetheart…” You gently smoothed down her hair as she snuggled into you. “I’m sorry to have worried you, I just…” You pause, looking to Xander as he frowned softly.

“Xander said you didn’t love us anymore, is that true?” Her eyes were watering. You hushed her gently, moving to sit on your knees to better be at her level.

“I could never stop loving you, you know that.” You gave her a smile, a genuine one. Elise’s innocence was something to be protected… You couldn’t let her know the true nature of your relationship with Xander. “I just… had some business to attend to before our big day here, that’s all.” You sigh softly.

“Big day!” She gaps. “Are you two--” You hush her by placing your finger over her lips, and winking.

“It’s a surprise! Don’t ruin it for anyone!” You manage a smile for her.

“Come on you two.” Xander is smiling as well. He helps you to your feet and you can’t help the looming sense of dread that lingers in you as his hands leave you. “The show is nearly over now, and father is expecting us. We’ll get to announce the news after that.” With the joy only a young girl could bring, Elise bounds over to the stairs that lead to the balcony over viewing the stage. Once alone with you, he speaks again. “You even remembered what today was, didn’t you?” You hate how… in love with you he looks. It looks genuine; it brings up old feelings you would rather forget…

“The Day of Devotion.” You frown, looking away from him as you ascend the stairs.

“Today is the day we first say I love you to one another… Was it really two years ago?” He sighs softly and you falter for a moment.

“I said that to a man you no longer are.” He’s silent as the two of you finally make it to the terrace. Elise is there, as is King Garon. You’re greeted with the usual dismissal and nod he had given you in the past; you doubt he even noticed you absence. You look past him, to the crowd gathered on the boats and docks below. You note, its not yet Azura singing… She must not have preformed yet. You can’t see any familiar faces in the crowd, so perhaps Corrin’s army is more well hidden than you thought… Maybe, there was still a chance for you to escape.

“_____…” The songstress’s words are dying in your ears as you meet Xander’s gaze. It’s nothing but tender gazes and bygone feelings that twist around in your stomach. Oh, gods above, he’s kneeling-- Elise is gasping and even Garon has shifted his attention to the two of you, an unreadable look on his face. It’s nearly too much as your stomach turns and shifts inside you. “We’ve been through so much together-- I’ve proven to you I would do anything to keep you at my side. I’ve found you at the ends of our shores, and brought you back where you belong. Please, I can’t bare to be without you-- do me the honor of being my wife, and give me the privilege of being your husband.” He’s so serious. You know you can’t refuse him. Not here, not now. But still, words hesitate to leave your mouth.

“X-xander… I…” You stumble over your words, staring down at him as he gazes adoringly at you. Faintly, you can hear someone else has begun to sing. Their voice is familiar, and even the words they’re singing… Its not until you notice Garon in pain that you gasp. “Azura!” You drop Xander’s hands, much to his dismay, and turn to watch her. Her performance is breath taking and amazingly, its affecting Garon. He looks as if he’s about to burst or something, and things quickly devolve after that.

You can hardly keep up with it; someone is telling Xander the Hoshidian’s are here, Garon is quickly taken away to recover, and Xander is gearing up for battle as Corrin and his army show themselves. Xander, though it all, looks more than angered; you can see through his crimson eyes that this is something that cannot be forgiven.

“They dare ruin our moment?” Xander won’t even let you leave his side, hoisting you up on his horse to fight before you can think twice. “I think it’s high time I show them, and you, just what happens when you betray the kingdom of Nohr.”

“Xander wait! There are still innocent people here!” You beg, gripping on to his back as he rode into battle. “Please, let them escape! It’s not as it if Corrin knew what you had planned today! It’s not worth innocent lives to try and stop them.” You beg. “You have me now. I won’t leave, I promise. I’ll marry you if it means no one gets hurt here today.” Your desperate for Corrin and his army to make their mistake. A battle where they can get away is a battle they might be able to win in the future and that means a future where you might escape Xander.

“_____, dear, had you so easily forgotten what happened when you defy me?” He sighs softly, shaking his head. “These lives I take-- the blood I shed, its all on your hands as well. Perhaps, had you stayed by my side… we wouldn’t be here today.” You hide your face in his back as you feel warm blood quickly rush over you. He’s charging straight for Corrin and the other Hoshidian royals, you know. It’s all you can do to remove yourself from the situation and try not to internalize his words. Still, you can help but wonder… would things be like this had you stayed with him, so long ago? Would there really be no blood on your hands?

[spuffybot]

Walk Me to the Graveyard

Summary: Buffy walks through the graveyard alone at night, contemplating the past few months following the fall of Sunnydale. She reflects on her relationship with Spike, her friendships, and her future before receiving a shocking phone call.

Characters: Buffy, Willow, Dawn, Spike (mentions of Giles, Xander, Andrew, Kennedy, Faith, Wood, Angel, and Fred)

Warnings: Some adult language

Word Count: 4515

Author’s notes: If you read this, thank you. I’ve been chipping away at it for the past few weeks and I’m just glad I was able to finish something I started. “Ghostface” is a reference to the Scream movies, which Sarah Michelle Gellar had a cameo in. The high tea spot with the egg shaped bathrooms is Sketch, a place I didn’t get to visit this year due to the pandemic. I hope you all have a safe holiday season and new year. Hopefully I’ll finish the second part of this story in 2021.

Walk Me to the Graveyard (part 1)

Buffy’s joints creaked as she stood up from her crouched position. She’d been staking out this grave (no pun intended) for hours and dawn was slowly approaching. In the last few minutes the air had started to change, and she could hear the telltale rustling of birds in the trees. If this vampire was going to rise, it wouldn’t be tonight.

Stretching her arms up over her head, she rolled out her stiff shoulders, feeling strangely relieved by the lack of action.

Buffy had been coming to this cemetery every couple of nights for weeks, sniffing out even the barest hint of vampire activity. Technically she could have assigned graveyard duty to any of the Potentials, but she craved the silence and the normalcy of the activity.

She chuckled to herself. How far she’d come that she could relish a few hours of graveyard haunting and call it normal. If only her sixteen-year-old self could see her now.

The truth was she was tired. After the fall of Sunnydale, she’d been fueled by an insatiable need to just keep moving. Giles had suggested they hole up in LA and take refuge with Angel Investigations, but Buffy refused. She wanted to get started on rebuilding as soon as possible. They couldn’t afford to waste time in LA, on Angel’s turf, killing time as his sidekicks while thousands of girls woke up with powers they couldn’t explain. So instead the Scoobies had moved to London, taking on the role of de-facto Watchers Council. They’d rounded up the few surviving members of the former Council and had started reaching out to as many activated Potentials as possible.

They recruited the ones they could and provided support (emotional and financial) to the ones they couldn’t. It was rewarding and it kept her mind off things.

Things like telling a man she loved him only to have him choose death over a future with her.

Buffy kicked a crumbling headstone, cursing when she stubbed her toe.

She knew that wasn’t fair. Spike died saving the world. It was a sacrifice she’d made more than once, and she knew how much she resented the people she left behind for not understanding the weight of that choice. She didn’t want to sully the memory of his heroics with her bitterness. She just couldn’t help it. Besides, focusing on missing Spike was easier than accepting she didn’t know how to function now that she wasn’t the “one girl in all the world.” The irony of having an identity crisis over getting the one thing she’d always thought she wanted was not lost on her. She should be grateful that she wasn’t the only Slayer. Grateful that her future was finally hers to shape. Instead she just felt lost.

It didn’t help that everyone around her was adjusting to this new life and mission like they were born to it. Dawn was training to be a Watcher, and frankly, they needed as many as they could get. The Slayer to Watcher ratio had been drastically tipped and it was only a matter of time before things got out of control.

Faith and Wood had stayed behind in America, taking up shop at the Hellmouth in Cleveland. It was weird to think of Faith as the reigning defender of the Hellmouth, but it felt right. With Wood by her side she would stay grounded and on track. He understood the mission better than most.

Giles was in his glory. He’d vetted the surviving Watchers, firing some gleefully and taking others under his wing. Between them they’d established a kind of Watchers Hogwarts, training Watchers by day and guiding Potential Slayers on field missions by night. He was happy, which was something she’d never really seen him be before. Their relationship had taken a hit in the last few years and while she wasn’t ready to forgive him for everything, she didn’t begrudge him his success. Her Watcher had floundered ever since he was fired, unable to find purpose while she and her friends had grown up around him. Seeing as she suddenly found herself in a similar position it was hard not to understand how he’d gone off track. Besides, she’d lost enough people to know she wasn’t going to lose anymore. She’d fix things with Giles, eventually. For now, she’d just settle for on the same continent and on polite speaking terms. 

Xander and Andrew led the Potential Identification and Retrieval Taskforce. They came up with the name. Obviously. They spent their days traveling the world, chasing down leads and giving their best “join team save the world” sales pitch to scared and angry girls.

Buffy smiled thinking about them. The last time they’d video chatted, Xander had looked better than she’d seen him in years. He’d lost the chip on his shoulder that he’d been carrying since they graduated high school. For the first time in his life he was the best person for the job, and he knew it. Trustworthiness and warmth radiated from him and his knowledge of tactics and the cost of the fight lent him an authenticity the girls were drawn to. He never bullshitted or misled them, but he did inspire them. Like he’d inspired all of the Scoobies over the years to keep on fighting.

The sun was starting to peak over the horizon, and a misty fog enveloped the graveyard. She knew she was dawdling but she couldn’t bring herself to rush home. The alarms would be ringing any second now, Potentials and Watchers scrambling to the mess hall for breakfast before a day of study and training.

Technically she didn’t have any classes to teach until the afternoon, but Giles liked the staff to be present in the morning. He said it communicated solidarity and responsibility. Personally, she thought Dawn had just made him watch the Harry Potter movies one too many times.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she let it go to voicemail. It was either Willow calling to say she had another hit on the Potential alert locator spell or Giles calling to ask where she was.

Either way it could wait.

She just wanted to be in the quiet for a little bit longer.

That’s what she missed the most about Spike. Having someone she could be in the quiet with. He had always seemed to know what she needed, anticipating her every mood and desire.

She’d never met anyone she could just be alone with before him. He never expected anything of her other than to just be. In this chaotic mess of a life she now led she craved his company and his silence. Since she couldn’t have that she came to the cemetery. The dead kept her company in a way the living never could. The occasional scuffle with a vampire didn’t hurt either. The familiar comfort of a stake in her pocket, grave dust on her shoes, her breath quickening for the thrill of the kill, reminding her that even though everything had changed, some things never would.

Her phone buzzed again.

She frowned, wondering why she couldn’t even get a few hours of peace before the sun was fully risen.

Flipping it open she saw two missed calls from a number she didn’t recognize. No voicemail.

It was probably someone trying to sell her something.

Technically her phone was spelled against telemarketers, but magic was fickle. If someone really needed to reach her, they would call the office and leave a message with her secretary.

God. How had she ended up here?

When they’d first arrived in London she’d panicked. Back in California it had seemed so clear. Get to London, find the Watchers, find the Potentials, save the world. Simple.

Except once they arrived there had been bureaucracy and red tape to get through. The surviving Watchers had needed convincing and playing nice with morons wasn’t Buffy’s strong suit. After one particularly eventful meeting that ended with some snide British dude’s head slamming into a wall Giles and Willow had pushed her to take a back seat on the negotiations. Much to everyone’s shock, she listened.

As soon as she stopped leading she felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. Without meetings and planning sessions to fill her days she’d found herself wandering the streets of London with Dawn, playing tourist.

They were having high tea at this ridiculous spot with baby pink furniture and weird egg-shaped toilets when it hit her. She could walk away. The Hellmouth was gone, and there were more than enough Slayers to pick up the slack. Her friends would be disappointed but eventually they would understand. As she sat there watching Dawn sample pastries, no fear of imminent death getting in the way of her fun, Buffy couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like. This could be their every day.

They could finish out the summer backpacking through Europe then head home to America to finish school and settle down. She was pretty sure she’d heard somewhere that there were hardly any vampires in New Jersey.

She was so wrapped up in the fantasy that she almost missed what Dawn said as they were walking home to their flat.

“Sorry, what with the what now?”

Dawn rolled her eyes. “I said, it’s crazy how there’s this whole world out here and no one was helping keep it safe before.”

“Ummm excuse me, Slayer here, has saved the world, a lot. Even got a nice shiny headstone for my troubles.”

“Obviously but...you were always in Sunnydale. And sure, most of the big bad world endy guys ended up there too but...what about all the other regular level baddies hurting everyday people? I mean, look at them all.”

Dawn stopped and looked around, forcing Buffy to take it all in. The couples strolling along, groups of friends, kids in strollers. The street was flooded with people going about their day. As soon as that sun went down, they’d be joined by all the things that went bump in the night.

“I just think it’s kind of amazing what we’re about to do. For the first time we’ll be able to protect people all over the world. These people will have a chance like they’ve never had before. Like everyone in Sunnydale got because you were around. We can give that to them. I’m just...glad.”

Buffy’s heart warmed even as dreams of running away slipped from her grasp. Dawn was right. This was her calling. She’d find a way to live with it. Normalcy would never be available to her and the sooner she embraced that, the sooner she could start working towards happiness.

At least that’s what Willow was always saying.

Willow who saw a therapist three times a week and a substance abuse counselor twice a week.

After the battle she and Kennedy had parted ways. Their relationship had run its course and Kennedy wasn’t interested in staying on Team Scooby. Instead she took her slaying act on the road, traveling town to town looking for monsters to hunt and people to save. Occasionally she’d run into a Potential and send a heads up their way. She seemed happy. Everyone seemed happy. Buffy just couldn’t seem to find her groove.

Ironically, Willow was the only one to notice how out of sorts Buffy was. Maybe it was all the therapy or maybe it was just that she was more herself than she’d been in a long time, but Willow had become Buffy’s sole confidant these past few months. If she thought about it too much she knew she’d cry. It hadn’t occurred to her how much she’d missed her best friend until she got her back.

At first when Willow tried to reach out, Buffy had been cold and distant. Willow understood, even writing Buffy a letter to explain that she respected her need for distance after the way she had torched their friendship and Buffy’s trust. The letter had melted something in Buffy’s heart. It was the first time Willow had really acknowledged the fact that their sisterhood had been a casualty of Willow’s addiction.

The first time they sat down for coffee together felt like coming home. Willow seemed lighter, more like the girl Buffy had met her sophomore year of high school than the all-powerful Wicca she had come to know lately. She seemed shy, hesitant to take too much from Buffy, a reticence that allowed her to give more than she had intended to when she agreed to meet.

By their third coffee date it was clear that they were going to push through this. When a third turned into a fourth and fifth they decided to just make it a standing girl’s night. Every Tuesday for the rest of their lives.

Last Tuesday they’d finally broached the subject of Spike. Buffy had been dreading this, afraid to pick at the scab only to be met with judgment and condemnation. She wasn’t sure their renewed friendship could handle it. As much as she loved having Will back, Spike was a sensitive spot and she was afraid of how she’d react if Willow said something she didn’t like.

“Buffy, I tried to end the world. What’s a little bumpin of the uglies between former enemies compared to that? I am judgement free Willow of the no judgies zone.”

Willows face scrunched up like it did sometimes when she was trying to find the right words, her nose crinkling and her eyes rolling skyward.

“I just want you to be ok. And if that means loads of tasty mochas and squishy details about Spike sex, I am all ears. I’ve even got marshmallows.”

Buffy saw the sincerity on her friends face and felt something crack deep inside her. She’d been prepared for judgment at worst and stoic acceptance at best. Being met with such openness and warmth took her by surprise and she found she couldn’t hold back anymore. Her eyes welled up and before she could reign it in and full body sobs shook her.

As she cried, Willow rubbed her back and let her get it all out, careful to avoid pushing her to talk. It was exactly what she’d needed to be able to open up.

And open up she did. It was like the levies broke and all the confusion and hurt came pouring out. She told Willow about what happened in the Hellmouth. About her last days with Spike, how he supported her and strengthened her when no one else could, or would. This last part she said without any venom, all her anger and resentment at Willow long gone.

She even spoke about their last night together. How they’d made love in the basement, on that shitty cot. The first and only time they’d ever been truly intimate, Buffy’s walls fully down, her heart totally exposed.

“I know having sex with someone isn’t like, a big deal or anything. Especially when you’ve had sex as many times as we did.”

Buffy cringed as the words left her mouth. The familiar guilt over her physical affair with Spike flaring up.

“No!” Willow exclaimed.

“Buffy no. It is a big deal. It’s like, the biggest of deals. You and sex haven’t exactly had the most copacetic relationship, no offense.”

She smiled apologetically, eliciting a soft laugh from Buffy despite the anxiety that was clenching her gut.

“If you let yourself feel something good with Spike, even just that one time, it’s important. Special. You shouldn’t downplay that. He loved you and you let him show it to you. It’s romantic.”

At that Buffy really laughed.

“God Will. Spike. Romantic.”

Willow laughed too.

“You know...it’s not that weird. Remember when he kidnapped me and Xander? He wanted me to do a love spell for Drusilla. I think he’s always had a romantic streak. In a weird, murdery, vampire kinda way”

Buffy shook her head in amusement.

“Did I ever tell you Spike was a poet when he was human?”

Willows eye widened, and her hands flew to cover her cackling laugh.

“A poet? Oh my gosh. That’s...that’s too good.”

Buffy took a sip of her mocha, relishing the warm caffeinated goodness before adding, “he would kill me for telling you this but, the best part is the whole “William the Bloody” thing? That’s because he had a reputation for being such a terrible poet.”

At that Willow dissolved into full on giggles, hands clutching her stomach

“Ugggggh ok ok, I’m done laughing. Promise. Also why is that so cute? That’s so cute. Little Spike the poet.”

Buffy sighed. “The thing is Spike has this immense capacity for love. Even as a violent serial killer he was still driven by love. It scared me. That he was so willing to throw himself headfirst into love without a shadow of doubt. I’ve never...I’ve never been like that.”

She looked up at Willow, trying to read her reaction. The witch just nodded encouragingly for her to go on.

“I just...I told Giles once that I didn’t know if I could love. I was worried I was broken, like all the slaying made me cold and loveless or something.”

“Buffy, no,” Willow cut in, but Buffy held up a hand to stop her.

“I know it’s not true. I died to save Dawn, to save all of you, weeks after I said that.” Buffy’s eyes filled up again but this time she swallowed it down and wiped them clean.

“He really loved me Will. And I don’t know that I was in love with him but that last night we spent together...I kind of thought that I could be, someday. You know? I wanted him to know that. To know that there was a chance for us. I figured we’d have all the time in the world after...”

Buffy trailed off, suddenly tired. She didn’t need to explain the rest. How Spike had died, believing she’d never love him. How all the time she thought she’d have to figure out if she could evaporated in a burst of fire and ash.

—————————

She’d reached the cemetery gates just as the sun broke through the horizon. Her car was covered in dew, glistening in the hazy morning light.

She still couldn’t believe she had learned how to drive. And on the wrong side of the road! Her mom would die of shock if she were still around.

The thought of Joyce made her wistful. If only her mom could see her now. In her heart Buffy new her mom would be proud of the choices she’d made. She’d encourage her to let go of the past and focus on the future. She’d be overjoyed to know that Buffy had a future now. Sure, it still involved a massive amount of slayage but for the first time in a long time, the fate of the world didn’t rest solely on her shoulders. Her mom would tell her to embrace that and to live this new life to the fullest.

I’m trying mom.

Her phone buzzed again, and this time Buffy yanked it out in annoyance and flipped it open.

“What do you want?”

The silence on the other end only ticked her off more. If it was so important for someone to call her three times before she’d even had a cup of tea they could freaking respond when she finally picked up.

“Hello? I’m hanging up in three seconds if you don’t get all un-ghostface on me and just tell me what you want.”

She heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. Her annoyance bled to curiosity and she willed herself to be patient.

Infusing her voice with a level of calm she didn’t feel, she asked “Do you need help or something? I don’t know how you got this line if you’re not part of Scooby Central but…you got me.”

The silence eked on for seconds that felt like minutes before the caller sighed. Buffy’s pulse shot up, anticipation making her antsy. She shuffled from foot to foot, fighting her instinct to hang up. If this was a Potential calling for help she needed to wait it out.

Finally, a voice broke through the silence.

“Slayer?”

Buffy dropped the phone on the ground, her fingers losing the ability to function along with her brain, which had gone fuzzy and staticky at the sound of the all too familiar voice on the other end of the line.

She stared down at her phone, the call still connected, wondering if she had fallen asleep somehow.

A muffled “bloody hell” came out of the fallen phone, causing Buffy to gasp and jump back. She crouched down low, getting as close to the phone as she could without actually picking it back up.

“Shit. SHIT. Spike?”

The muttering and cursing stopped.

“Slayer…yea. It’s a long story. But yea.”

Buffy felt her limbs turn to jelly and she sat down on the cold gravel, her head falling into her hands. A sob bubbled up from her chest, turning into a laugh that she couldn’t control. She giggled for a solid minute before gingerly picking her phone up and pressing it to her ear.

“How? You better explain yourself right now.” Her voice was edged with steel, anxiety and adrenaline giving way to nervous anger. If this was someone’s idea of a sick joke she was going to get murdery.

She could almost hear Spike roll his eyes.

“Good god woman, can’t I come back to life without brassing you off?”

She bit her lip to stop a smile, not willing to let hope overrule a protective layer of skepticism.

Rocking back on her heels Buffy gulped down the crisp morning air, willing her body to calm down so she could take stock of the situation. Her dead ex sort of boyfriend was calling her…she looked at the phone number quickly…from LA. Ok. She could handle this. She was the Slayer, queen of things that go bump in the night and let’s face it, this wasn’t her first ex to come back from the great beyond. If Angel could do it…Angel.

“Spike, why are you calling me from LA?”

He sighed again and she could picture him rubbing the back of his neck, a grimace on his face as he debated the best way to tell her what was going on.

Despite the rush of anger, her heart warmed at the thought.

“Eh look, I said it was complicated. I just thought it was right. Telling you I was alive. Thought you should know is all.”

Whatever ice had melted in her heart immediately froze back up. No way was Spike going to call her from beyond the grave and then immediately get shady and secretive.

“So, is that your weird dodgy British way of saying you’re not going to tell me why you’re calling me from LA? Where Angel lives? Are you with Angel?”

She heard Spike mutter something to himself that sounded an awful lot like “bloody bint”. She rolled her eyes and stood up, pacing the lot in an attempt to keep her temper in check.

“Yea. Alright yea.”

His voice had changed, his accent becoming sharper, and she knew he was starting to get worked up.

“I’m in LA and I’m with Angel. If you want to talk to him you can damn well call him yourself. I don’t know what I was thinking. Bloke comes back as a sodding ghost, gets himself corporealized by a nice scientist bird and calls his girl up and she wants to know about Angel. Figures.”

Buffy rolled her eyes, not even bothering to interrupt his tirade. She knew he’d run out of steam eventually.

“Are you finished?”

Spike sighed again and Buffy felt the fight go out of her. She sat down on the hood of her car, overwhelmed by the emotions swirling within.

“Yea Slayer. I’m finished.”

Buffy’s shoulders slumped and she laid back, gazing up at the sky. It was going to be a cloudy day.

“How?”

“That’s the million-dollar question love. Seems no one can answer it.”

“Wait.” Buffy sat up; brow furrowed in concentration as she started to put together the various odd things Spike had said so far.

“You were a ghost?”

She tried to picture that. Spike all floaty and haunty. The image made her chuckle, which she quickly tried to suppress.

“Yea, yea, yea, laugh it up. I don’t know if I was a ghost. I was a something. Couldn’t touch, couldn’t feel. Just trapped at bloody Wolfram & Hart with your beloved Prince of Brooding.”

“Wolf ram and what now?”

“It doesn’t matter. Done what I set to do. You know. Guess I’ll let you get back to it then.”

Buffy felt white hot anger burning in her chest. Did he really think he was going to call her up, say hey, and then leave? Maybe forever? Who did he think he was?

“Fine,” she spat out.

“Fine,” came Spike’s huffy reply.

They’d reached a stalemate and Buffy did the only thing she could think of doing.

She hung up.

She stuffed the phone in her pocket, unlocking the car door and sliding into the front seat. She stared out the frosted windshield for a moment before screaming at the top of her lungs. When that didn’t calm the storm she felt brewing inside she slammed her hands repeatedly into the steering wheel. The metal and leather began to crunch and warp under the weight of her blows but she didn’t care. She felt like someone had set her insides on fire. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t cry, couldn’t do anything but scream and rage into the void.

Eventually she ran out of steam. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed but her throat was raw. Rubbing her face she switched into Slayer mode. Something was up and she was going to get to the bottom of it. Cagey Spike and his caginess be damned.

She forwarded the number he’d called her from to Willow and Andrew. Between the two of them they’d be able to trace it and dig up some dirt on where Spike was. As for how he got there, she was going to need boots on the ground. Luckily Kennedy had last checked in from Arizona a couple of days ago. She couldn’t be far from there and she owed Buffy more than one favor. She might not be Spike’s biggest fan, but she would do some recon and get Buffy the answers she needed. Once she knew what was going on, she could show up in LA and punch Spike and Angel in the face herself.

Buffy felt calmer. She had a plan. It wasn’t perfect but it was a start.

She’d let Spike get away once before. This time would be different. She didn’t know why or how but it seemed the Powers That Be had given her a second chance.

She wouldn’t waste it.

—end—

[atlasxrose]

@xander-amyntoros​

The first day had passed, and while Atlas could not gather the will to get out of bed, he instead remained buried under the covers. In his gut a gnarled and hateful beast twisted upon itself, he blamed himself, he blamed his sister, he blamed Xander, he blamed Anastasia, he blamed the rifts, and he even found it in himself to blame Ajax. As if the reaper could be held accountable for his own death. The first day his lover had permitted Atlas’s indulgence of the dark, the quiet despondence that had overtaken the witch turned fury turned human. He supposed he understood it, if anyone understood pain and loss, it was Hephaestion. 

The second day Xander had made attempt at drawing open the blinds, at forcing light and fresh air into the foul-smelling chamber. He teased him that he needed a shower, but instead of coming back with a jest of his own or some sarcastic remark, Atlas merely rolled over and pulled the blankets over his head. He didn’t eat, and he hardly drank. The world was quiet, still, and when he heard the door close at last, Atlas got up only to close the curtains. 

It was the third day when Atlas cried at last, it was accidental in a way. He awoke at some point in either the late evening or early morning - time was beginning to be something that Atlas thought on less and less. But when he awoke in the dark, with nothing but the deep snores of Xander beside him the thready wheezes of Kyon at their feet, Atlas reached for his phone. Sometimes when he couldn’t sleep he’d text him, and it was only when he was mid-sentence that he realized no one would be on the other end to receive it. 

His sobs had robbed Xander of whatever sleep he’d hoped to get that night, and instead he held Atlas against his battle-scarred chest until at last exhaustion overtook him once more and Hypnos spirited him away. Atlas awoke the next afternoon to the sound of Kyon whining at the end of the bed, Xander had been taking her to work the last few days, if only to give Atlas space to grieve. But, she wanted to be let out, she needed to be fed, to be given water, and if he didn’t do this then this room really was going to reek. 

Atlas let her out into the backyard and lingered in the door frame as she ran circles through the grass, herding invisible animals she’d likely never even met. He let his thoughts wander to goats, maybe another dog, the cats he’d been talking about getting for well over a year. Atlas kind of thought it was unfair that a sheep-dog would have nothing to shepherd, no friends other than the pair of men who doted on her as if she were a child. 

That night he managed to sleep, though his ear did not leave Xander’s chest, the steady thrum of the man’s heartbeat beneath his ear kept him warm, kept reminding him that they were alive. He let himself wonder for the first time what Ajax would say, what Ajax would do, he wondered only to himself in the dead of the dark if his friend had found happiness on the other side. So, the next day when he woke, he did so when Xander rose to leave for work, and saw him off even if a part of him wished the man could always stay. The museum had survived the storm, but the artifacts within were vulnerable, and they needed someone with knowledge and experience to oversee them and any reparations that were to occur. 

That morning when he let Kyon outside, he went with her. Off chain as Xander had so often put it. As a witch he’d always been attuned to nature, he could feel the magic in the buried roots of trees, the power that emanated from herbs and flowers. As a fury, magic was still part of his existence but it was... Different. Loud. There was an undercurrent of spite to it, of anger. It seeped into his bones and distilled his actions, his thoughts. It was like fire under his nerves, and Atlas had become so accustomed to it over the last few months that he hadn’t noticed it. 

Atlas and Kyon wandered from the yard, to the forest, and his footsteps must have followed a familiar path because after a few short hours of hiking, the now-human found himself in front of a hovel. Overgrown in its entirety, the fallen tree was now unrecognizable from the haven that it had once been, covered in lichen and faunce, as if still bewitched by the magic that had formed it, late-winter butterflies, and early-spring critters roamed it. He knelt into the soft grass, the earth that quenched and sank beneath his feet, and felt the forest beneath his fingertips.  Kyon wined for attention, then took off to busy herself by chasing about the creatures that she saw as toys: butterflies cowered in fear, squirrels ran off in terror, and Atlas could only laugh at her small displays of power. 

This place had been his refuge once, a place to hide away from the monsters of his past, and there, buried deep within, Atlas knew what lurked there still. What he had hoped to keep forgotten forever, it was a grudge, a curse from his past, one that pulled on his heart even now. He had no strength left in him to be petty, to be hateful, to be afraid, to resent anyone - it’s not what Ajax would have wanted. Atlas knew that, and however strong the trio had been, Jax was always the best of them. Deep within the rotted tree that was once his earthen home, Atlas found that which he’d kept secret, a jar, with a simple blue light within. There was no magic within the soul that it contained, not anymore, this purgatory that he had condemned Iris to was not his responsibility anymore. 

Atlas released the lid, and watched the spirit fade, hoping  her shade would make its way back to the Underworld where it belonged. 

On their journey home, Atlas stopped and gathered flowers as he once did, some stray herbs that always tasted better wild than they ever did when grown in a garden, or found in a market. He felt air entering his body again, felt the sun on his face, this was not magic, this was only living, and if Ajax was here then Atlas chose to believe that his friend would find a way to convince him to find a purpose in continuing. He was no longer a witch, no longer a weapon carved for vengeance - he was something else. Atlas was human, and perhaps at last he and Xander could have the life together they always wanted. 

When Atlas got home he had a long overdue shower, Kyon wined at the door the entire time, and after he was done thoroughly scrubbing the week’s worth of misery from his body, he set to hanging the flowers he’d hung across the kitchen window. The rich scent of lavender, hyacinth, and roses muddled with thyme and fragrant basil, all combined to be sweet, fragrant, rich. Atlas had intended to cook something for dinner, but he’d sat in front of his loom that he had moved to the kitchen window and lost track of time until he heard Xander enter through the front door and immediately head towards the bedroom. 

“I’m in here!” Atlas called out, he felt lighter now, still sad, perhaps there was a part of him that would always be sad. But he’d buried Jax months ago, and when he had done so last Atlas had supplemented the void that the man left with hate and vengeance. He chose this time to replace what he’d lost with love, and hope, that was his true nature, that was his destiny. Atlas saw that now, saw the spellbinding effect of being a fury for what it was, and all the years of grief he’d gone through that led him to that point. Kyon had been snoozing on his feet up until Xander opened the front door, now she bolted towards him, barking and yearning for attention. Atlas set his shuttle down and looked to Xander now as the other entered the kitchen, “I went outside today, you’d be proud.” 

[fearsmagazine]

In the dark horror comedy BAD WITCH we are introduced to Xander Perkins, played by actor Chris Kozlowski. You might say that Xander is addicted to the dark arts and his abuse has led to one disaster after another. As a result of his abuse of black magic, Xander seeks refuge at his childhood friend’s home and promises to give up the craft. Unfortunately, Xander befriends a young loner, Roland, and he once again takes up witchcraft to help the lad with bullies, girlfriends, and other teenage atrocities.

James Hennigan stars in the film as Henry Hunter, Xanders’s childhood friend. Hennigan also wrote the screenplay for BAD WITCH and serves as the film’s Producer and Unit Production Manager. This is Hennigan’s third feature film screenplay to be produced, and he has appeared in those projects as well. In addition to writing, acting, and producing, Hennigan directed his screenplay for the 2017 release “Deviance.”

BAD WITCH Review: https://fearsmag.com/post/649560690255904768/bad-witch-review