#a magnus story line

[one-more-guy]

When I try to convince people to listen to tma I feel like a real estate agent trying to sell a house, but since the fandom is the magnus archives it immediately makes me think about our dear real estate agent Helen Richardson. Which distracts me and completely derailing my sales pitch (which she’d probably like, being of the spiral after all)

[hemi-demi]

I want to try and clarify the sadness around the TMAGP 23 JMart stuff in a (slightly) shorter post, spoilers below cut.

Most of us don't think Jon and Martin would be soulmates that always find each other. That's not how multiple universes work and I don't believe in soulmates. If they were to be together in this universe, I want it to be earned.

I would have been perfectly happy with TMA's JMart not showing up at all, I like the ambiguous ending and I wanted them no where near TMAGP unless it's a happy ending for them. They should rest, let me get attached to new characters now.

I would have been delighted by a nice, short cameo from TMAGP JMart and they never show up again. While there's still a possibility of that, it still hurts very badly to hear someone say exactly "Oh, they never even met and they died". That line was written specifically to be painful, and reacting to that as such isn't a weakness or misunderstanding of the material. It is the intended reaction to be sad.

I feel like I was reading a book and someone slipped in some untagged MCD fanfic of my blorbos between the pages without my knowledge. That's going to make people sad, pretty sure that was the point.

[ninjagozanefan14]

Went back to this art I did of Magnus and Ellegaard and refined the lines a bit and such. Just basically finished it up more. I prefer how this looks.

[bigfreakinfrog]

i think itd be really interesting if in the magnus protocol we got the entities categorized differently.

they were just labeled in those categories due to smirke and theres no reason a completely different set a people will put these fears into all the same boxes (maybe if smirke didnt even exist or get involved with the entities). we know they blend together in lots of areas already so it isnt too far fetched we could see totally new entities in an alternate universe

we're so used to our lil categories from tma that switching it up would bring something exciting and new and would definitely trip up long time listeners

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

I can't keep this to myself I'm sorry Magnus is so cute. He said he could see the farmer's house from his tower, and that he would sneak peeks at them while working 🥺 just imagine him perched on the small windowsill of his tower, cupping his face with his own hands, looking at farmer with a tender gaze while they go about their day AAAAAAAAA I'M WHIPPED FOR THIS OLD MAN (this is the NPC Adventure mod for the wizard btw it's really cute! you can bring NPCs along with you wherever you go + funny dialogues especially with Magnus when you enter the witch's hut)

Okay, I want this mod. I want it. I want it.

And they say Magnus isn't a romantic and uninteresting bachelor. But with his funny and tender dialogues he can overpower both vanilla bachelors and people from the mods! A man of dreams!

________________________________________

"I will admit, when I first realized I had feeling for you, I found myself trying to catch glimpses of you working from time to time..."

Magnus himself did not immediately realize that he had spoken aloud his thoughts, and only when the Farmer looked carefully into his face and smiled slyly, the pale cheeks of the old wizard turned pink.

"Uh, don't think anything of the sort, I'm trying to say that-" Magnus was afraid for a second that his dear spouse would misunderstand him, but no sooner had he said something else in his defense than the Farmer's lips covered his own.

"Then I think I must confess to you," said the Farmer, breaking the kiss, "that my head has bumped against the forest trees more than once as I walked and gazed in love at your tower, hoping to see you in the window."

Poor Magnus was speechless, his cheeks now the color of a ripe tomato, but his eyes reflected genuine happiness and love for this chaotic and oh so perfect lover.

[spireofdeceit]

Minimus is just transformer Luigi he got fucking mecha and everything I'm going to stab something

[annabelle--cane]

"the magnus protocol had a whole ARG beforehand? what?"

yes! it did!

"oh so I need to have participated in this whole big thing to actually understand the podcast?"

not at all! from the official post-mortem put out by RQ, "while the ARG was not something that was necessary to participate in to understand the magnus protocol, it was designed to contain a wealth of background story and context that would enrich any player's listening experience."

"a wealth of background context that would enrich my listening experience 👀👀👀 how can I learn about this?"

SO glad you asked. sadly, many of the materials made for the arg have been taken down since the game ended 😔 (ex., the official OIAR, magnus institute, and bonzoland websites. (edit ii: I found partial wayback machine captures! see below) though @strangehauntsuk is still up!), so we're a bit low on primary sources, but in terms of learning about what happened:

for a starting point, I would really recommend this video by @pinkelotjeart

it's super accessible, it was made in real time as the game progressed and follows the solving and revelation of clues as they happened, it hits all the major points of the mystery and moments of community insanity while eliding some of the nitty gritty puzzle grinding, 10/10 would recommend.

here's the official summary put out by RQ, and I'd recommend reading through this once you've already gotten a basic handle on the flow of the story and the basic connections between major clues and events. it's got some fun behind-the-scenes info and lays out the thought process behind the puzzles in simple terms

here's the full masterdoc of all puzzles and resolutions put together in the statement remains discord server. masterdoc my absolute BELOVED, masterdoc my bethrothed, masterdoc my soul mate. I'd recommend this as a second port of call after the above video as it either contains all details about the puzzles or links to other expanded docs that do.

here's the narrative summary doc that lays out all the plot and lore discovered in three pages of plain prose. if you just want to get to the good bits as fast as you can and get blasted directly in the face by contextless lore bombs, this is the doc for you. if you don't want to start with the video, I'd say this is another good entry point.

once you've got the lay of the land, some of the game materials that I found particularly interesting include:

the in-universe east germany expat usenet forum, with all content translated into english. most of it is irrelevant space filler with occasional extremely sus lore, but I still found it fun to read through. love to soak in some fictional forum drama.

chdb.xlsx, the spreadsheet of the names of all the children the protocol 'verse magnus institute was studying/experimenting on. EDIT: here is a version of the sheet without any annotations and with all of the names in their original order, kudos to @theboombutton for catching that the commonly shared copy had the order swapped around.

klaus.xls, a (very corrupted) spreadsheet with what looks like the classifications of a bunch of old OIAR cases.

EDIT: have a few more saved materials from the game that I forgot to include.

an in-universe audio ad to apply to the OIAR that ran before archives episodes and kicked off the whole game.

an in-universe video ad to apply to the OIAR, this one is an official upload that's still up from the game itself. you can subscribe to the OIAR's official youtube channel today, if you so chose.

the robo-voicemail greeting from the OIAR's phone line.

EDIT II:

here is a wayback machine capture of the OIAR's official website.

here is a wayback machine capture of the bonzoland website.

(pretty sure both of the above captures just archived the home pages, though I haven't tried clicking all of the links. I'd say they're still worth looking at, the home pages give a good window into the vibes.)

once you start poking around in these documents, you'll find a bunch of links to others with further information, the materials I've included here just contain what I feel to be the most relevant details to getting a broad feel for the whole game. once again, huge shout out to the statement remains server, I was barely in there as the ARG was in progress and only ducked my head in every so often to find links like these. true mvps of the fandom.

[alaa-pales]

Urgent medical evacuation needed for Inshirah, a cancer patient‼️👇 🔴🔴 Donate as much as you can to let her evacuate safely to Egypt.👇🔗

Donation Link👇🔗

Verified by Operation Olive Branch line 395 master line 👇🔗

We still very far from the goal. I hope everyone will donate even a little. I am confident that you will stand with me and support me until I reach my goal and remove my family from the danger of war. Share my story. Pin my story to your page. Everything helps.

@fairuzfan @sayruq @longlivepalestina @nabulsi @self-hating-zionist @thenewgothictwice @el-shab-hussein @risoria @palipunk @palestine @intersectionalpraxis @fallahifag @sealuai @malcriada @mangocheesecakes @youdontknowwhotfiamm @farcillesbian @stil-lindigo @apsswan @star-and-space-ace @rainbowywitch @marscodes @oursapphirestar @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @boyvandal-blog @the-bastard-king @13ag21k @agentfascinateur

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@arty-cakes @heydreamchild @lesbonoi @heartilly @just-radicles 

@2bu @saviorified @dappledwrites @fardf150 @cakeicecreamandicecreamcake 

[save-mohamed-family]

My life, and the lives of my children and wife, have turned into a continuous nightmare. Words cannot describe the extent of the pain and suffering we endure. Our reality in Gaza has become bleak, with each passing day burdening us with more tragedies and hardships that seem endless.

The least I can describe is the line where I stand with my children, waiting for water. I am severely injured, facing the possibility of losing my leg, yet I stand as thousands of others do. These scenes repeat daily, adding to our pain and suffering.

I had dental surgery an hour before posting this. Imagine the pain I went through because there were no painkillers available.

Don't these children deserve a dignified life like other children around the world? My children, my wife, and I are waiting for any small help from your donations. 5 euros can change the reality we live in.

Every day, or even every hour, we move from place to place. Please, I want to leave before the time comes when I can no longer ask for help and my children, my wife, and I are killed.

I am eagerly waiting for any gesture from your compassionate hearts, hoping for your kindness and mercy. I long for you to share my story and make a donation, as we are in desperate need. My children, my family, and I love you and are waiting for a change in the donation number that could alter our tragic reality.

All my information is verified and my campaign has been authenticated.

@ibtisams @marnota @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @i-am-aprl @northgazaupdates @fairuzfan @faggotfungus @ghost-and-a-half @three-croissants @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @magnus-rhymes-with-swagness @northgazaupdates

[bilal-salah0]

Amal's story

Donation Link

Amal was fired from her job months ago, around the same time she created her family’s GoFundMe campaign. Currently, she works three jobs—and essentially a fourth if we count her efforts to support her family online. She is overworked, overstressed, overtired, and needs help spreading the word and gathering donations to help her family survive in Egypt.

Earlier this year, Amal managed to evacuate her family. But as is well known, life in Egypt remains challenging for Palestinians: they cannot legally hold jobs, earn income, or access the same state services available to citizens. Amal’s family—her sisters and parents—are 100% dependent on her support.

Amal urgently needs financial assistance to cover her sister’s school fees, food, rent, and other essential needs. Her struggle has been compounded by a significant financial scam during her family’s displacement, which left her short of vital funds.

Eman, Amal’s younger sister, was studying German before the crisis began, and Tala, the youngest sister, is in high school, doing her best to study abroad in Egypt.

Although the family reached their initial financial goal for evacuation and managed to sustain themselves for several months, their funds are nearly depleted, and they now need additional support. Amal’s current goal is $5,000 to help her sister Eman afford university in Germany and to continue supporting her family in Egypt.

Please consider donating to support the Abushammala family. You can find Amal’s GoFundMe link on line 24 of the Vetted Gaza Evacuation Fundraiser List Spreadsheet.

€61,573 raised €65,000 target

@sakurai96

Thank you for your support.

@ot3 @mangocheesecakes @good-old-gossip @schoolhater @dragon-master-kai @vakarians-babe @prinnay @neptunerings @paper-mario-wiki @newsfrom-theworld @olovelymoon-read-pinned-post @brutaliakhoa @magnus-rhymes-with-swagness-blog @paparoach @celadonwanderer @girlinafairytale @lesbianmaxevans

@fading-event-608 @repulsion

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@anarcho-smarmyism @rhubarbspring @pcktknife @sawasawako @wellwaterhysteria 

@post-brahminism @neechees @irhabiya 

[kitsune-pop]

I love how much of warhammer 40k is clearly a bunch of white dudes sitting around, thinking up the worst shit imaginable and going "thank god that could never happen to me, the cishet white guy"

angron is a one for one depiction of slavery, yet is painted as the bad guy for wanting to stand against oppression

mortarion is disabled and constantly has his decisions taken away from him by able bodied people only to be seen as moody and uncooperative

magnus is gay or trans or both. literally a guy blamed for something he was born with that he cannot control and told you're bad if you explore this part of yourself. also you're illegal now

fulgrim was actively encouraged to pursue perfection, despite never being good enough for others. he pushed any personal pleasure aside for an uncaring crusade and then is demonized for saying "fuck it, I'll have fun"

lorgar. also known as "this is why you don't abuse your kids"

horus is the golden child who's sent out into the world by himself only to find out Gee, Maybe I'm Not Ready because good ol dad did everything for him then told him "figure it out lol"

alpharius omegon are the autistic kids who don't understand why pops is doing this, maybe we should do things a little different than "blood soaked crusade"

perturabo is the burnout middle kid who did everything to impress his father only to be told "that's what's expected of you" who then got mad since acting out was the only way he got attention

konrad curze has a mental disorder. and is abused because of it

all of these characters were so close to being some of the best representation for minorities we could get in media only for gw to eat shit right at the finish line because they can't commit to an actual story. and it's amazing just how little these writers understand that the things they depict are all real things that people suffer through every day, and are demonized for every single day, especially when we are told these characters are irredeemable and should be destroyed, no questions asked

[queenie-in-the-beanie]

Spoilers for The Magnus Protocol, Episodes 1 & 2

Out of curiosity I decided to check if there was a genuine Ink5oul on Instagram, and there is!

Everything about the bio, how it's newly created, no following, and all that definitely confirms this is part of the arg, which is really cool.

It's especially interesting as there was apparently a casting call for a tattoo artist character, so Ink5oul may return. The "If you're Spoke, you know where to reach me" really reinforces that there's more to her story we've yet to hear, and perhaps some other forces of fear? Spoke sounds like a reference towards something or someone will be introduced to eventually. Very exciting there!

Anyway! The mention of alchemy symbols in the episode and whatnot immediately drew my interest in the symbol at the end of the bio. I looked it up and it is in fact an alchemy symbol.

The description of salt in alchemy has exact parallels towards the story's themes of body horror and seeking "perfection". The idea of chemically dissolving down something to purify it specifically brought to mind the "if I wanted to clear the canvas, I would have used turpentine" line.

Overall, this story had The Flesh written all over it, and Ink5oul is certainly an avatar of it.

Curious to see how more arg content will play out with the series as it continues. The use of alchemy symbols is definitely interesting, especially since the previous episode mentions graffitied symbols in the Archive ruins. I feel like alchemy will have a fair amount of bearing on the series going forwards, which I'm very excited for!

[sieveyourtea]

Born Archivist AU Wrap Up Post

Image ID below the cut. Art by @dcartcorner !

Series Summary:

Agnes Montague was a failure, the ritual poorly planned and even more poorly executed. But for the Ceaseless Watcher and the Avatars who have learned from this mistake--perhaps things could be different...

...Jonathan Sims, John as he prefers, is eleven years old when Mr. Bouchard comes to see him.

A massive thank you to you all. For reading, especially for commenting, and for all the support in getting this over the finish line.

If you're interested in reading or seeing more art, please check out the links below the cut. You do need an Archive account to read!

My ask box is open, I'd love to chat theories, questions, and thoughts anytime! Please don't be shy!

What to Know:

Child of Illumination is a fic series with three primary story arcs that follows John Sims from age eleven to his time as Head Archivist of Magnus Institute after being adopted by Elias Bouchard and Peter Lukas.

All three main arcs are rated T and suitable for those who can enjoy the same sort of content as in the podcasts. CW's are provided on individual chapters.

The Main Story:

Part One: Child of Illumination:

Agnes Montague was a failure, the ritual poorly planned and even more poorly executed. But for the Ceaseless Watcher and the Avatars who have learned from this mistake--perhaps things could be different...

...Jonathan Sims, John as he prefers, is eleven years old when Mr. Bouchard comes to see him.

Image Id at the end. Art by @sarcasticscribbles!

Part Two: Shadow in the Hunting Grounds

Agnes Montague was a failure, the ritual poorly planned and even more poorly executed. But for the Ceaseless Watcher and the Avatars who have learned from this mistake--perhaps things could be different.

Jonathan Sims, John as he prefers, has lived with fathers for six years. Like for a lot of other young people, University presents a time for self-exploration, and a first occasion of being out on his own without someone...Watching quite so closely.

Image ID at the end. Art by @sarcasticscribbles!

Part Three: Blood of the Covenant

Agnes Montague was a failure, the ritual poorly planned and even more poorly executed. But for the Ceaseless Watcher and the Avatars who have learned from this mistake--perhaps things could be different.

Jonathan Sims, John as he prefers, has spent three years working as a Lead Researcher at the Magnus Institute. For someone for whom home has had a less than solid definition, the Institute offers a chance for safe place for John to finally answer the questions that have followed him for as long as he can recall.

Being able to work alongside his father is simply an added bonus, of course.

Image ID at the end. Art by @sarcasticscribbles!

Art:

COI wouldn't be what it is without the amazing artists who have brought it to life!

Official Scene and Summary art is by @dcartcorner who does exceptional work across the board.

Official Covers for all three main stories are by @sarcasticscribbles who's art is one of the reasons I started to engaged in fandom at all!

Official additional art of some choice scenes as done beautiful by @mxwhore who I cant thank enough for their amazing work!

Other creators who have made art related to COI include @obscuravoid, @the-awful-dread-that-leaves, @novae-viking, @basilikum7, @hemi-demi, and @moominmammaonhero1n!

Please, go and show them some love! I will post an Art-chive into the series on A03 as well to link back directly to all of the amazing work that's been made! If you've made something and don't see your name here, please let me know!

Additional Content:

Part of the fun of the series are the additional side fics. They cover a range of topics from John's interactions with various people, time spent with Peter and Elias, and the horror content that makes TMA what it is. There are all flavors, from G to E, and all can be found at the hyperlink above.

These are NOT necessary to understand the story and do NOT contain critical plot points. They're simply for fun! .

A special shoutout to @selinko for a lovely set of memes that absolutely made my day and continue to do so!

FAQ's:

The following are just some things that have come into my inbox the last couple of days in particular!

Can I make fanart of this story?

Sure! Please tag me, I'd love to see and spread the love!

Can I make other fanworks of this story?

Sure! Same as above, please tag me. I'd love to see and spread the love!

Will you be writing more?

I may do additional side pieces, but the main story is happily done. I have a total of 105 fanfics, 104 of which are Magnus if you're interested!

Can I send you questions/thoughts/songs/things that made me think about the story?

Yes, my ask box is open and there is an anonymous option. I will delete rude asks, but otherwise am happy to answer. Any spoilers, I'll put below a bar.

Image IDs:

Cover Art: A painting showing John Sims at the center, playing chess with an unknown opponent. On either side above him are Elias Bouchard, surrounded by books, and Peter Lukas, holding a stack of playing cards. Together, they hold a crown of gold and green eyes over John's head, framed by a spider-web window. At John's feet are three animals--a lion, a cobra, and penguin, looking up from a base of fire that shows Agnes Montague, Tim Stoker, Martin Blackwood, and Sasha James respectively. 

First Cover: Cover Art of John giving a statement to Gertrude the portrait. He is 11-13 years old, wearing square glasses and talking to her as if she is an old friend.  

Second Cover: A family style portrait of Elias Bouchard (aged around 40), John Sims (aged seventeen to eighteen), and Peter Lukas (aged around 50) years old. 

Third Cover: John Sims and Peter Lukas are playing a round of cards. John is debating whether or not to be on this hand with chin resting in his hand. Peter is holding a 2 of diamonds and a 7 of clubs, considered the worst draw in Texas Hold 'Em. Elias Bouchard, with a faint green light around his eyes, watches from behind John's shoulder, the whole viewed over by a Portrait of Jonah Magnus with the same faint green light. 

Thank You!

Thank you all again for letting me share this story and journey with you. After one year and nineteen days of writing, I am very happy and rather proud to say the series is complete. It's my longest fanworks project by a mile and wouldn't have been possible without all of your lovely support.

With all the love in the world, Sieve signing off.

[majinael]

"i need a friends to lovers kaiser x reader fic with a deep focus on his trauma and his toxic coping mechanisms and he's slowly doing better thanks to the reader, healthy love with the reader heals him, and he learns what it is to be loved :((

i don't want smut i want DEEP EMOTIONAL INTIMACY !!!!!!

i swear people don't get his character like i do, my baby needs LOVE"

from @krys4h

here we go for a part 1 :3

★michael kaiser x she/her pronouns reader (can be interpreted as GN)

★3,6k words

★songs associated : one & two

I had known Michael Kaiser since the day I was assigned as the team’s nurse. In my line of work, I’d learned to connect with every player on a professional yet friendly level—it was part of treating them with care. Most of them warmed up to me quickly, eager to share stories or jokes during their treatment sessions. But Kaiser? He was something else entirely.

Rarely injured, he was almost like a ghost in my office. When I did see him, it was brief, and he would insist he didn’t need anything. His arrogance would radiate even in those fleeting moments, accompanied by a dismissive smirk that said, I’m untouchable.

During my breaks, I often watched the team train from the sidelines or walked through the gym and facilities. It was fascinating to observe them push their limits, but truthfully, I was never particularly drawn to football. It felt more like a job perk than a passion.

The first real conversation I had with Kaiser wasn’t in my office or the gym but on the field during an unplanned encounter. After sitting at my desk for hours, buried in work, I needed a breather. Wandering aimlessly, I found myself by the field. It was supposed to be empty, yet there he was, surrounded by several soccer balls lying on the damp grass.

I stopped, my curiosity piqued as I watched him shoot a goal with such precision and power that it left me speechless. The ball sliced through the air like it was destined for the net, hitting its mark flawlessly.

“Impressive,” I murmured aloud, my voice breaking the silence.

Kaiser turned, his signature cocky smile already plastered on his face as his gaze landed on me. “Of course it is,” he replied smoothly, his ego inflating visibly. But before he could bask in my compliment, I raised an eyebrow and added, “But can you actually pull that off in a real match?”

He chuckled, the sound rich and almost condescending. “I wouldn’t train something useless,” he retorted, brushing off the challenge. But then, to my surprise, he launched into an explanation of the technique. “The Kaiser Impact Magnus,” he called it, and as he spoke, his words were laced with passion and precision.

I was captivated. His knowledge and ability to articulate something so complex left me staring, wide-eyed.

“That’s... wow,” I said, genuinely impressed. “You’re really smart. I’ve never seen or heard anything like it. Would you mind if I watched you play? I promise I won’t be a bother.”

He smirked, tilting his head arrogantly. “Of course, you’d want to watch. Sit still, pretty.”

For the next hour, I sat on the barrier of the field, watching him train. His movements were mesmerizing—the way his blue-tipped hair framed his sharp features, the rise and fall of his chest as he pushed himself relentlessly, the calculation in his eyes as he analyzed every play. It wasn’t just skill; it was artistry.

I couldn’t help but stare, completely unaware of the stray ball ricocheting off the goalpost and hurtling toward me until it struck me square in the face.

Pain exploded across my nose as I fell back onto the wet grass. My vision blurred, and as I tried to gather my bearings, I heard footsteps approaching.

Kaiser loomed over me, his expression torn between amusement and mild concern. “Could’ve dodged that, y’know,” he said, a faint chuckle escaping. “Really, I can’t tell if you’re lucky or unlucky. The ball usually doesn’t even come this way.”

Blinking up at him with an innocent, dazed expression, I felt a sharp sting of both pain and embarrassment. My nose throbbed relentlessly, blood trickling down onto my shirt, while specks of wet dirt clung stubbornly to my cheek. He crouched slightly, pulling a tissue from his bag nearby, and for a fleeting moment, I noticed something unusual in his eyes—an almost imperceptible softness that seemed out of place.

What was he seeing? Whatever it was, it must have stirred something unfamiliar in his chest. I remembered an interview where he mentioned his fascination with faces of despair, but I doubted that was what I wore now. No, this wasn’t despair—it was vulnerability, raw and unguarded,I looked just like a defenseless kid and it lingered between us like a secret neither of us knew how to acknowledge.

“Don’t look at me like it was intentional,” he added, rolling his eyes. “Here. Wipe that off. You look horrible.”

Taking the tissue, I stood unsteadily, trying to laugh off my humiliation. “At least I’m fully awake now,” I joked, though my cheeks burned with embarrassment.

My optimism seemed to amuse him. He smirked, returning to his training, but as droplets of rain began to fall from the sky, I lingered.

“It’s raining,” I called out, expecting him to follow me inside. When he didn’t respond, I hesitated. “Michael? Are you not coming inside? You’ll get sick. Training can wait.”

He shrugged without looking at me, the raindrops glistening in his hair. “Worry about yourself. I’m fine.”

Something about his nonchalance struck a nerve. If I were as talented, as admired, as incredible as him, wouldn’t I take better care of myself? Yet, there he was, drenched in rain, pushing himself as though he had something to prove.

I watched him for a moment longer before turning away, a strange ache settling in my chest. Back in my office, I tried to focus on work, but the sight of him—so brilliant, yet so reckless—stayed with me. It wasn’t the first time I noticed how different he was from the others, but now, for some reason, I couldn’t shake the thought.

And for the first time, I wondered what it was that drove Michael Kaiser to treat himself like he was anything less than extraordinary.

The next morning, I made my way to the cafeteria at around 9 a.m., craving a much-needed coffee. While chatting casually with the bartender, I heard familiar footsteps behind me. Turning around with my coffee in hand, I spotted Kaiser lounging on one of the couches, his attention fixed on the TV replaying football matches.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I approached him. His usual cocky posture remained intact, but something about his red-tinted nose caught my attention. Without hesitation, I plopped down beside him.

“Red nose... Is someone sick?” I teased lightly, trying to catch his attention.

His infamous grin spread across his face, almost as if it were second nature. “Mind your business,” he quipped, barely sparing me a glance.

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Well actually, I’m the nurse. This is my business.”

That seemed to catch him off guard. He turned to me, his grin softening into something that resembled amusement. “Fair,” he conceded, “but I’m not sick. Some idiot just threw a ball at me.”

“Oh, that’s funny,” I replied, raising an eyebrow. “Because that happened to me recently too.”

His gaze narrowed, a playful glint lighting up his striking blue eyes. “Are you calling me an idiot?” he asked, leaning slightly toward me, his tone light but teasing.

The sheer audacity of the situation made me burst into laughter, while I was taking a sip—resulting in the coffee exploding spectacularly all over my white shirt and on my face.

For a moment, silence hung between us before Kaiser’s eyes widened in disbelief. Then came his reaction: “You look insanely stupid right now,” he deadpanned, his lips twitching.

“I know,” I mumbled, my cheeks burning as I avoided his stare, mortified by my rather unusual clumsiness.

His laugh was instant and unrestrained, echoing in the nearly empty cafeteria. But it wasn’t his usual mocking chuckle; no, this laugh seemed genuine. His shoulders shaking as his eyes grew watery. It was... different. And somehow, the sound pulled me in.

Caught up in the absurdity of the situation and the rare warmth of his laughter, I found myself laughing too—though not at the coffee-stained mess I’d become, but as an answer to his laugh. Seeing Michael Kaiser, of all people, like this was oddly disarming.

“I should probably clean this up,” I said awkwardly after a moment, standing up to leave.

His gaze lingered on me as I walked away. I could feel it like a weight on my back, even as I disappeared into the hallway.

Left alone, Kaiser’s attention shifted to his reflection in the darkened TV screen. For a fleeting second, he caught sight of himself wearing an unguarded, genuine smile. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

“She’s an idiot,” he though.

He shook his head, refocusing on the replay, but the corners of his mouth twitched again, the thought of witnessing another one of my shenanigans lingering in his mind far longer than he cared to admit.

As the day unfolded, I buried myself in paperwork for two and a half hours before rushing to the field. He was still there.

This would become a habit—an unspoken agreement. Neither of us addressed it, but it was clear.

When I approached, his trademark smirk appeared. "Are you stalking me, or are you missing me already?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I chuckled in response, leaning casually against the barrier. Before I could come up with a clever retort, he shot a ball directly at me. I barely dodged it this time.

"Good reflexes," he said with a slow clap, clearly entertained.

"Are you trying to kill me?" I shot back, sarcasm masking the adrenaline still pumping through my veins. My heart raced, but I kept my composure.

The ball rolled to a stop behind me. I picked it up and shot it back at him with, let’s say… slightly less precision. The ball missed him completely and soared into the goal instead.

His expression was a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "Lucky shot," he muttered.

I grinned triumphantly. "Skill only."

He scoffed. "Tch." And with that, he turned his back to me, resuming his drills, pretending I no longer existed.

I stood closer than usual now, watching him. "Don’t you have a water bottle?" I asked.

"Some idiot stole mine today," he grumbled. "When I find out who it is—"

I couldn’t help but laugh softly. If I were the culprit, I’d want to stay far, far away from Michael Kaiser.

Time passed, and at some point, he noticed me on the other side of the field, awkwardly mimicking his movements.

"That’s not how it’s done," he called out, exasperation lacing his tone.

He placed a ball on the ground, letting it roll for a moment before striking it with flawless precision. "Like that."

"You make it look easy," I said, walking closer to the goal. "Maybe I should try from here."

I attempted his move, but as the ball ricocheted off the goalpost and left the field I looked up at him.

"You’re terrible at this," he said, barely hiding his amusement.

"Good thing I’m not a footballer," I shot back. "But I can’t say you’re a good teacher."

His eyebrow arched. "It’s not difficult, you idiot."

"Not for the great Michael Kaiser," I teased with a chuckle.

He rolled his eyes but, to my surprise, set up another ball. This time, he explained each step while executing the move.

"That wasn’t so bad was it?" I asked proudly, succeeding after his clearer explanation.

He ignored me, returning to his training with a quiet huff.

I leaned against the goalpost, watching him intently. "I wish someone had taught me how to play football too. It looks so fun when you do it."

"Too?" he asked, his tone sharp. "I learned how to play alone."

I blinked, surprised. "No way. Your parents must’ve been amazing athletes then."

That’s when everything froze. He stopped mid-step, and for a moment, even the soft drizzle seemed to halt.

A lump formed in my throat. Had I said something wrong?

Without turning to me, he replied bitterly, "No, they're not."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, driving an invisible wedge between us. I felt like I’d crossed a line I didn’t even know existed.

Instinct told me to leave, so I did—quietly, without another word.

I spent the night overthinking it all, replaying the scene in my mind. For days, I didn’t see even a shadow of him. He hadn’t left his usual spots; our timings just seemed to miss each other.

And it left me wondering: What the hell just happened?

That was until I was called onto the field during a training match. Noel Noa scolded me lightly for not being there as I usually was, but the weight of my guilt over the situation with Kaiser left me too drained to respond.

A player had injured himself, and “as usual”, he refused to seek my help. I had a small idea of who it might be.

Fate had an odd sense of humor, I thought, bringing us together in the most inconvenient ways.

As I approached him, he sat on the grass, glaring down at it as though it had personally offended him. His posture screamed irritation, his jaw clenched tightly.

“Hello, Michael,” I greeted, keeping my voice even.

No answer. Just a sharp glare in my direction, like a dagger aimed straight at my chest. I swallowed hard.

“Let me take care of you,” I offered.

“I told him I didn’t need your medical attention. What part of that does he not understand?” His tone was biting, his disdain palpable.

I sighed softly and crouched in front of him. “Michael.”

His eyes widened slightly at the sound of his name before flicking away from mine.

“Please,” I continued, my voice gentler. “At least let me take a look.”

He let out an exasperated sigh, as if granting me a favor, and muttered, “I don’t need your help.”

“But I need your well-being,” I countered, my voice cracking faintly.

“No, you don’t,” he shot back, his tone quieter this time. “I’ll be fine.”

I tilted my head, offering him a patient smile. “I doubt Noel will let you play unless you let me take a look.”

That argument seemed to hit its mark. Reluctantly, he pulled his hand from his pocket. It was smeared with sticky, drying blood. Someone must have stepped on it with their cleats. My stomach churned imagining the pain it must have been.

I sat down beside him and took his injured hand gently in mine, studying the wound. “This might sting a little,” I warned as I began cleaning the blood away with alcohol and tissues.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, focused on my task.

When I glanced up, I noticed his expression had softened. It wasn’t the usual arrogance or anger I’d come to associate with him—it was something different, quieter, almost vulnerable.

I continued cleaning the wound, careful and deliberate, as though I were handling something fragile. When I finished, I held his hand for a moment longer than necessary, expecting him to snatch it back. But he didn’t.

There was something profoundly strange about his demeanor. He sat there, a paradox of composure and vulnerability, his posture steady yet his eyes betraying a depth of confusion I’d never seen before. His gaze held an unnameable expression, something I couldn’t quite decipher, as if the moment we’d just shared was far more intimate than either of us had anticipated. The silence between us was heavy, not with tension, but with the weight of something unspoken, something fragile.

“Hey, Michael?” I asked softly. His head turned toward me, but he said nothing.

“Are you okay?” I added with a bright smile.

Still silence.

I stood up and rummaged through my bag. “Here,” I said, holding out a water bottle. “When Noel told me what happened, I knew it was you. I remembered you said someone stole yours last week.”

His gaze flicked between the bottle and me, and for a moment, I thought he might refuse.

So much gentleness and care all of a sudden was probably more than he could comprehend but he gently took it and looked up at me all in silence.

“I’ll tell Noel you’re good to go. If you need your bandages changed or anything else, my office is always open,” I said, standing.

As I walked away, I felt a quiet sense of accomplishment, as though I’d just witnessed something rare and fleeting—a glimpse of the real Michael Kaiser, the one hidden beneath the sharp edges and icy walls.

When I returned to Noel and reported that Kaiser was ready, he called him back to the field with a simple gesture. I sat on the sidelines, watching Michael play with an attentiveness I hadn’t felt before.

To me, he wasn’t just Michael Kaiser, the arrogant genius striker. He was someone I could call a friend. A friend I was proud to have, even if he could never know.

hiiii! I am trying so so hard to keep him in character xo, I hope you like this first part, the second part is here ;) don't hesitate to give me feedback love y'all

[lonniemachin]

PLEASE HELP MARAH'S CAMPAIGN MOVE FORWARD

This February, Help Keep This Palestinian Family’s GoFundMe From Disappearing

From a friend of Marah's:

Marah is a teenage girl trying to raise funds for the continued survival of herself and her family in Gaza. The resources available to them to take care of each other when they are sick, injured, and malnourished are all expensive in a war zone and Marah, her siblings, and her mother all rely on the funds that come from this campaign to take care of each other.

Unfortunately, Marah’s campaign has frequently fallen stagnant for long lengths of time. Even as she tirelessly reaches out to people on Twitter to share her story and what she and her family are going through, there are weeks where not a single donation comes in and with so much on the line and so much lost this is often incredibly discouraging. To document what she’s going through while it increasingly feels like it might be reaching no one is often incredibly discouraging.

I know right now there are a lot of people who need help, and as more people have turned to crowdfunding over the past year resources have become spread thin. I know choosing between who to support when you have finite resources to offer can feel paralyzing. But I also know that the seemingly small efforts add up to make a difference. they make a difference from everyone, and they can make a difference for everyone. And they can make a difference for Marah and her family, if we promise not to look away.

So this month what I am asking is for you to help me keep this campaign from falling back into days/weeks/months long stagnation. My goal is for every day to be a day with a donation. Even if you can’t donate, please share, please watch out for Marah’s campaign and follow whether she’s received support. On the days that go by where she receives none, please notice this. Please help other people notice this. The most important thing is that when people ask for help, we can hear them.

The last donation to Marah's campaign was 19 hours ago, completing our objective for day 1. Onto day 2!

***This campaign is vetted by association. Marah is a friend of another Palestinian teenager, Deyaa, whose story traveling to the US for medical treatment is well-documented. I personally put the owner of Marah's campaign in contact with Marah when it was being set up, who herself documents she and her family's life in Gaza on her Twitter account @/MarahContact.***

Tagging for reach under the cut.

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[salahmanarfamily]

🚨🚨How Can I Imagine Peace Without a Home?

🔴 Help Me Build a New Future for My Children🇵🇸🍉🙏

Amid the destruction caused by w ar, there is no shelter or home to protect my children.

I dream of giving them a dignified life and a bright future.

My family and I struggle with a lack of food and water, and my children stand in long lines just to secure a meal.

I am asking for your support to rebuild a simple home that will provide us with safety and comfort, something my children have been deprived of.

I’m not asking for much, just a chance to live with dignity🙏🙏🇵🇸

Your donation can make a significant difference in our lives. Whether small or large, your contribution will help build a better future for my children and ease their suffering.

🔴Donate now and be part of a new story of hope for my family!

Please Share My Campaign 🙏🇵🇸🙏

My COMPIGEN HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY @90-ghost . @gazavetters [48]. BUTTERFLY EFFECT PROJECT LINE [944].

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