#accidentally king of haven

[xadoheandterra]

Series: Semblance Title: Patriciate Fandom: Jak and Daxter Chapters: I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | XIII | XIV | XV | XVI Characters: Jak, Daxter, Samos, Keira, Kid!Jak, Ashelin, Torn, Tess Tags: Worldbuilding, Accidentally King of Haven!Jak, hurt/comfort, things go wrong, things get better, things get worse again, slow build, slow burn, slow to update, cross posted, fantasy racism, canon divergence, been meaning to share this here Summary: “It’s yours,” Jak said softly. “Keep it…remember where you come from. At least one of us should remember….”

If Jak knew the consequences of that one, selfish choice…well, he’d probably have made the same decision either way.

Vin's meddling comes with consequences, and Koray takes matters into his own hands. Sig, meanwhile, isn't sure how he feels. This is a joke, right?

After hours were the boys moved boxes of supplies, checked inventory, and double checked that most if not all of the nonessential equipment had been moved out of the Stadium the last thing Jak expected to see were other people. Torn, whose attention so far focused on the supply lists, arched his eyebrows in surprise at the sudden arrival of a large group of civilians. Daxter actually dropped what he had in hand for a moment from beside Jak, who floundered on what to do about this new development. These were not the people that worked on the move of the Stadium equipment.

Torn shifted the data pad and stepped forward as the crowd drew closer. Jak silently counted the number of people while Daxter scampered onto his shoulder and dug his fingers into the red scarf that wrapped around Jak’s head and hair. Daxter took in the expressions of the group as a whole and tried to piece together what exactly brought these people here.

“I’m sorry,” Torn said clearly; he tucked the data pad under his arm and made sure to project his voice. Jak glanced at him out of the side of his eyes and fought back a frown. “Unfortunately at this time the Stadium is not open for public access. I must ask you to leave.”

“They’re not here for somethin’ public,” Daxter murmured into Jak’s ear.

“We’re here to volunteer!” someone shouted, and Daxter hissed a ‘told ya’ at Jak who rolled his eyes silently before the teen focused his gaze on the direction of the person who shouted.

“I—what?” Torn visibly gaped and Jak wanted to sigh as Daxter began mimicking the man quietly into Jak’s ear, hiding himself behind Jak’s head so as not to be visible by the civilians—or Torn.

The person who shouted pushed their way through the crowd. A young-ish man, Jak noted, semi-decent clothing. Clean.

“I have medical training,” the young main said clearly.

“And I have worked in social services!” shouted another. They raised their hand and Jak saw a woman this time, clothes a bit more ragged, hair a bit of a mess. Also clean—at least functional as far as livelihood goes, then. This gave rise to more voices and shouts of agreement, exclamations of various jobs and volunteer work—of experience of all types.

The noise level grew quite cacophonous and Jak’s ears tilted back to shy away from the sound without otherwise physically flinching. Torn started to look frustrated at the sudden influx as well; he almost looked like he’d shout the masses down if it’d get them to shut up. Jak folded his ears back a bit further, huffed, and took a firm step forward. He raised a hand and instant hush fell over everyone. The regal, stiff stance—the sharp, commanding eyes and presence—instantly grabbed everyone’s attention. It happened quick enough that Jak blinked in sudden surprise. Beside him now Torn stiffened into parade rest out of instinct. Jak glanced to him with somewhat wide eyes.

Daxter dug his fingers in, a silent reminder that he got it. He understood. Daxter spoke up for Jak; he’d already figured out most about the situation at hand. He shouted, and made sure to project away from Jak’s ears as best he could. “Thanks fer comin’, all of ya. My buddy here,” and Daxter patted Jak on the head with a wide toothy grin, “just didn’t realize ya’ll’d be here so quick!” He leaned further onto Jak’s head, and Jak lightly shoved at the ottsel teen with a faint frown. “If ya’ll don’t mind, could ya quickly refresh my memory ‘bout how ya’ll knew to volunteer?”

The crowd of civilians looked at one another confused. One called out, “We got a message, to a board asking for help? Didn’t you guys send that?”

Jak glanced up to Daxter and sighed. “Yeah,” he said quietly, although his voice seemed to echo loudly in the sudden silence. “We did.” He wasn’t lying, either. They did actually have a message board set up about the volunteer positions—the council just hadn’t decided on a distribution method to the masses yet.

“Sorry bout that, we got so focused here we must’a forgot we sent that out!” Daxter laughed nervously and scrubbed at the back of his head. “Any of ya got a copy of that message? Wanna make sure we’re on the same page an’ all. Get ya that necessarily intel an’ stuff, y’know?”

An elderly man stepped forward and handed over a small pad that prominently displayed the message and relevant information. Jak and Daxter looked it over with slightly widened eyes.

Calling volunteers. City needs help. People displaced, ill and in need of supplies some medical care. First transport of rescues today inbound. Injured KG and Underground forces, plus relief efforts. All backgrounds welcome, medical encouraged. Please see attached link for further details and sign up information.

Marquess of House Asul Duchess of House Karga Baroness of House Praxis Lord of House Haggai King of House Mar

Jak sucked in a soft breath when his gaze landed on that last title, and then carefully he handed the pad to Torn who promptly paled. Jak smiled a little nervously at the crowd, glanced to Daxter with a soft utter of thanks, and then let the ottsel take control again.

“Uhh, right! Yeah that looks accurate. Man I’m sorry guys we got so distracted—” Daxter laughed nervously and scrubbed at his head again. He gave the crowd a sheepish grin that often made people turn into goo—especially women. “Please ya’ll just form some orderly lines over at the Stadium ticket centers! We’ll get ya all checked in shortly here!”

Torn weakly handed the pad to Jak, eyes wide and face not-quite slack if only due to the fact that he’d schooled it into a blank mask. Jak held the pad back out to the elder man.

“Here,” he said softly, a faint red to his cheeks. “I’m really sorry we—”

“No, no, son, I understand,” the elder man uttered. “Ya got a lot going on here. Still good of you—kicking ‘em all into gear like this. Nice having House Mar back home.”

The tips of Jak’s ears turned pink.

“Haha, don’t be so nervous boy!” the man laughed kindly and Jak rubbed at the back of his neck sheepishly. “Not all of us are blind, y’know? Sides it’s obvious this was sprung on ya. You’re doing good under all this pressure.”

“Thanks,” Jak whispered and ducked his head. Daxter narrowed his eyes at the elder man and mumbled something about observant old fogey’s in Jak’s ear. Jak offered his hand to shake after a second and mumbled a faint, “Jak.”

“Alain,” Alain replied cheerfully and happily shook Jak’s hand with a firm grip. “It’s good to see you boys back after twenty years gone. Now I’ll just help corral all these people while you get yours in place.”

Before Jak could even say anything Alain toddled off toward the moving crowd of people. Jak stared after the old man, and then at the crowd of people for a long second, before he whirled around to Torn, wild-eyed.

“Call Zoe,” he said quickly. His hands shook a little, and Daxter gripped Jak’s hair tightly.

“They weren’t suppose ta reveal ‘im,” Daxter whispered wide-eyed and also shaking a little.

“Torn, call Zoe now,” Jak snapped out, breath sharp. Torn jerked in surprise at the sudden command. “Find out what happened. Dax—”

Daxter patted Jak on the head before he could say anything further, saluted, and scampered down from Jak’s shoulder with a sharp, “On it!” He snagged Jak’s communicator on his way down and then darted off to make the call Jak wanted him to make. Jak scrubbed a hand down his face, breath shaky. Torn reached out, concerned, and gently squeezed Jak’s shoulder until the teen pulled away. The commander nodded once and stepped away to allow Jak a moment of privacy as he went to contact Zoe.

Jak breathed heavily in and out to steady himself. He looked up to the sky and pressed his lips together. This was really happening. People were informed, he was pushing Haven to rebuild. He was King. Jak bit his lip and fought down the manic laughter that worked to bubble up at the sudden rush of hysteria. Precursors this was really happening. After weeks and weeks it was finally, actually, happening. The truth of it hit him like a freight train and Jak had to close his eyes and hold a hand over his mouth to stop himself from completely losing it.

He was King Jak of House Mar and people fucking knew it.

Like so many others Sig received a message this morning. Normally Sig would’ve listened to the message without question if only to look for Mar in the crowd, or even in the people who’d arrive from the parts of the city inaccessible. He refused to believe the little boy would reside among the dead. Today however Sig answered the call for one reason, and one reason only. The last name upon the list struck a strong cord within him, enough that while he kept a genial smile on his face his heart burned.

Sig looked for anyone who could possibly be the bastard claimant to the title of House Mar while he settled in to volunteer. Certainly he could also look for Mar while here as well, but the majority of his focus settled on finding the lying fucker who dared claim to a title that rightfully belonged to one of his dearest friends and a bright little boy. He didn’t even contemplate that the title might’ve referenced little Mar. That, out of everything, didn’t bare thinking about because the complication of that wanted to make Sig sick.

Eventually the Wastelander reached the front of the crowd. He blinked once he noticed the Firecracker sitting among the slew of people that entered the Stadium not too long after the crowd of civilian volunteers arrived. She had a small computer in front of her and lacked the typical Underground apparel Sig had grown used to seeing on her. In fact she actually looked to be dressed in functional highborn attire much to his surprise. The bright lines of yellow instantly caught his attention and he raised his eyebrow in curiosity. Beside her stood Jak’s female friend Hot Sauce (not that he’d ever call that to her face, or Jak’s for that matter) who leaned over and pointed out something to Firecracker. She also wore something that looked like functional highborn attire with lines of bright green.

A little ways further Sig could see the Commander getting berated by the blond Cinnamon who held her hands on her hips, lips pressed thin. He didn’t look to be having a great time of it, and for a moment Sig wondered just what he did to get read the riot act—because that definitely was the riot act. Sia’d took the same stance to Damas enough times for Sig to know that exactly what being read the riot act looked like. Heck she’d done the same thing to him plenty of times too!

“Name,” Firecracker asked, gaze focused entirely on the computer in front of her

“Sig,” Sig drawled, and grinned when Firecracker jerked up in surprise and Hot Sauce twisted to stare at him curiously.

“Sig!” Firecracker got up and leaved over to give him a big hug with a wide smile. Sig noted that her eyes were no longer chocolate brown now that he could see them, but instead a shocking mix of fire-bright orange-gold. “Thanks for coming,” she said happily. “Skills?” She gave him a bit of a sly smile, already aware of his skillset.

Sig laughed. “Aw no problem firecracker. An’ you know, shootin’, heavy liftin’, and I’ve got some skill in medicine.”

Firecracker hummed and tapped twice at the computer.

“I’ll put you on assist then,” she said. “Supply runs, second gun if needed. Mostly moving eco barrels for now.”

Sig laughed heartily. “Sounds right up my alley!” He let his chuckles trail off and leaned forward. “Say….”

Firecracker looked up at him while Hot Sauce tapped something additional into the computer.

“…what’s up with this House Mar thing?” Sig finished, and he let a purely curious look cross his face. In a sudden response Firecracker’s smile turned plastic, and her form suddenly stiff. Her response threw Sig for an ever bigger loop, especially at the way it rang hollow to him.

“Haven business, Wastelander,” Firecracker chirped. Sig glanced to Hot Sauce and saw that she too suddenly closed off, gaze coldly calculative as she stared at him with a laser sort of focus that she didn’t have before. Sig shuddered faintly and wondered what he stepped in now by the girls two suddenly frosted looks. “Head to the left, over at the zoomer garages. Alain will direct you from there,” Firecracker finished, and called for the next person to come up.

Sig nodded and played oblivious to the sudden shut out. Once away from the two girls did he allow himself to frown. Something odd was up, he could practically taste it, but he couldn’t put a name to whatever was going on. All he knew was that this whole mess didn’t sit well with him. He just hoped it didn’t really have anything to do with Mar. Damas’d have his head if Haven somehow crowned a five year old King. Contemplative, Sig drifted o the left side of the garages in search of this Alain who turned out to be an elder gentleman with a kindly smile. The man looked utterly pleased to see Sig walk up to him and cheerfully directed him toward the barrels of green eco.

“Third garage,” Alain said. “We’ve got five transports incoming, at least one dead.” Alain turned to greet the next volunteer happily while Sig stared after him perturbed, a barrel of eco in his arms.

Eventually the Wastelander shook himself and turned toward the garages themselves with a faint huff of, “Havenites.” Only these mad kangarats would be cheerful about a transport of dead. The barrel itself rested heavily enough on Sig’s shoulder once he hiked it up, so he made it a lazy stroll to the third garage and set the barrel down next to the others. He glanced around the place to see who happened to be in charge of this particular pit.

Daxter, the little Chili Pepper himself, scrambled around the floor with a broom and a mop both. He didn’t even glance up to say, “Thanks!” at the delivery of eco. Sig raised an eyebrow at the very focused ottsel teen. He’d only seen the boy this attentive when it came to combating metal bugs, or to handling Jak. After a moment Sig shook his head and turned to go back to Alain and get his next assignment when Daxter called out suddenly, “Jak! ETA?”

“Five minutes inbound,” Jak called back and slipped around the curtain at the back of the room. By this point Sig’d been halfway out the door and the sound of the Cherry’s voice had him half-turned back around to greet the teen when he froze stock still. The boy’s normally shaggy green hair was done up all neat in dreads and braided locks, and his clothes eerily reminded Sig of the work designs Damas used to wear before he realized layers in the desert wasn’t the smartest idea.

Cautiously Sig slipped back through the doorway enough that Jak couldn’t see him if he turned to glance at the entrance, but so that Sig himself could see the Cherry conversing with the Chili Pepper.

Daxter set the broom and the mop down and trotted up to Jak. He looked the other teen up and down, tugged at the hem of the top until it rested straight under the channeler’s ring Jak always wore with a huff.

“I look ridiculous,” Jak grumbled. “I don’t know why they insist on this. I thought the whole idea wasn’t to make it this obvious?”

“Well that was before the jerkface that outted ya, outted ya,” Daxter snapped back. “There. Snazzy! Ya got the firestarters?”

Jak jerked his head back to the curtain. “Yeah. Lined up neatly, like Kiera directed. Also set out the camera and the scanner so we can try and get some ID’s for people.”

Daxter nodded. “Right. Well, floor’s clean and pit’s clear! When’s Keira gonna take command?”

“After the transport’s arrive,” Jak said softly. “C’mon Dax, let’s go check on the Stadium itself.”

“Puttin’ on a show, eh?” Daxter crowed teasingly and climbed onto Jak’s shoulder.

“You know I’d rather be shootin’ metal heads and not be all gussied up,” Jak grumbled annoyed. Sig started to back away and head towards Alain, mind whirling.

“I know big guy, I know,” he heard Daxter say before he completely lost earshot of the duo.

It didn’t hit Sig until he found himself lined up to get the next set of directions that Jak looked scarily like a young Damas. The coloring was more Wastelander, but the peach fuzz, the hair, and the cut of the clothes that the teen wore….

“You okay there?”

Sig jerked and glanced to Alain.

“Yeah,” he laughed and hid behind a passive smile and drawl that fooled every Havenite so far.

“Good! Garage two, right side!” Alain told him cheerfully.

Sig nodded and headed over to grab a barrel. He resolved to find a way to get the Cherry alone—he needed to figure this shit out. Maybe sneak out of the city and make sure Damas didn’t have any hidden cousins or something. He still didn’t quite believe the Chili Pepper’s story about time travel—far more likely the lads came from some behind-the-times village, probably in the Badlands. It’d explain a lot at least.

Koray slipped down into a maintenance line just outside of the Palace District. It’d taken him the better part of a day to unearth the best route into the Market District after the explosive aftermath of the meeting. He still felt bitter over being shut down by Alyín like he had, but Koray rolled with what the world gave him. Finally though after hours of research Koray did unearth all of the details he needed to plan the most expedient route to Onin’s hut, and perhaps the most safest.

Fingers grasped and reached into the bag that Koray held slung over one shoulder, eyes glowing a bright gold to help offset a little of the darkness around him. This shaft hadn’t been used in quite some time, and a good chunk of the power remained cut off since before Damas’ exile—even more power had been rerouted recently since the power station existed firmly in Metal Head territory now. With a huff Koray pulled out a small light stick and snapped the thing over his knee, forever grateful the phosphorescent light contained no eco—and thus would attract none of the monsters.

Koray raised the light high above his head, adjusted his pack, and unholstered a small yellow eco gun from his hip with his other hand. He moved slow, crouched low and cautious, with his ears perked right up to catch whatever sound he could. His gaze shifted around the line, searched through cables and wires and pipes just to be certain no bugs would surprise him. Sometimes the creatures wormed their way into maintenance lines like this one.

The line itself would pop back out into the Market District, specifically the Bazaar that Onin tended to reside her tent in. From the maps Koray obtained the line would open up about three blocks away from the open center that Onin resided. While Koray would’ve preferred to arrive right at Onin’s tent, three blocks was a better chance than traversing the whole District to get to her.

The slow pace between the Palace District and the Market District took upwards of an hour, but Koray considered it time well spent if it meant getting what Veger wanted—and avoiding the man being upset, again. With a grunt and a huff Koray shoved aside the paneling that led to the outside; first a crack to peer out of to make sure the sand streets were clear, and then the rest of the way so that he could slip out and find the nearest cover. He left his light behind in the maintenance line.

Cautiously, with gritted teeth, Koray picked his way around corpses and puddles of dark eco; fallen debris from the buildings, from product stands—from anything, really. The streets that were normally barren aside from traveling shoppers and KG patrols, were coated thick with obstructions of all kind. It made moving quickly a hassle, especially with the amount of puddles of dark eco that lingered about like a bad smell. Eventually he did make his way to cover and peered out around the corner. Thankfully the coast remained clear and quickly Koray moved to his next hiding spot down the block. He eased himself towards the next turn.

Three blocks; two to the left, one right. That was the route to Onin’s tent from what he could remember. Koray crouched low, crawled under some boxes, and listened intently. By the soft crunch of debris and sand, Metal Heads moved a block over. They moved slow, it sounded a bit like a sweep—some sort of patrol? Koray glanced down the street, wormed his way out from his cover, and dashed to the other side. He slipped and ducked and weaved to the next corner and huddle under an easement and between more debris to peer around the next corner.

There they were. The beasts swept back and forth; their movements were slow, steady. They were on a patrol, and the oddity of that struck Koray hard. He frowned. Without Kor the creatures should be more disorganized—in fact all reports indicated they were a mess without the influence of their Queen. It’d been suggested that the creatures had a hive mind like whumpbee’s did. Perhaps all research into the beasts wasn’t entirely accurate, since the research had been done when Kor still lived. Perhaps the hive mind they observed in fact wasn’t quite a hive mind at all. Could the disorganization have been temporary?

Everyone honestly didn’t know what the death of a Metal Head Queen would do to the masses, so, Koray mused, anything could be possible. They could be more adaptive than anyone realized. Koray breathed in slowly and refocused his attention. He could ponder Metal Head biology later, get together with a few other like-minded scientists and review the data again. For now Koray needed to get to Onin.

The patrol swept past him, and Koray waited until they’d turned the opposite direction he needed. He waited a good deal longer than that, even, to be assured they wouldn’t even have the chance to see him before he dashed into the open. Once more he ducked and weaved in and out of cover until he reached the next corner. There he wiggled again under and between more debris to hide while he assessed the next block.

Within seconds after Koray settled a heavy Metal Head foot slapped down right by his head. Koray held his breath and glanced upwards as best he could—two more sets of feet landed down in front of him. A patrol of three, then. He grimaced. The beast shifted in the sand and muck—dried blood, dark eco, destroyed bits of fruit. The fragrance stung Koray’s nose and he wondered if Onin even had a sense of smell after so long among rotting corpses.

No matter. Carefully Koray absorbed the creature, watched it twist its head. The three Metal Heads sniffed at the air, growled to one another in some sort of guttural language. They could speak and that tossed out the theory that Kor provided them some semblance of intelligence. Koray tightened his grip on his gun. He didn’t want to use it, didn’t want to risk drawing more attention, but if he was discovered….

Quite suddenly the beasts took off at a run, loud howls that sent chills down Koray’s spine echoed along the empty streets. A distant scream pierced his ears. Koray winced, wiggled and tugged himself from his cover, and bolted. He abandoned all pretense of hiding among the dead and destruction. Instead he raced straight around the corner, skidded through dark eco and dried blood and who knows what else. He could see the tent, dove, and rolled right through the front flaps. Koray twisted around fluidly and raised his gun towards the entrance, breath heavy, and waited.

Nothing.

“What in the hell!?” Pecker squawked in a whispered sort of hiss. The sudden vocalized noise startled Koray and he twisted around again, gun now aimed at Pecker, wild-eyed. “Who’re you?” the bird demanded.

“Rescue,” Koray snapped, then sighed and holstered his weapon.

“Where’s Jak?!”

“Not coming.” The words were clipped and sneered. Koray shifted his gaze to Onin and dismissed the bird easily enough. “Veger wants you.”

For a moment silence engulfed the hut, and then Onin nodded once. With a creak of aged joints she climbed to her feet. Normally Onin would’ve merely float upon her seat, but the discus required a concentrated effort of eco to do so, and with Metal Heads about in abundance such danger was foolhardy.

Koray grimaced as Onin hobbled closer. He calculated the distance, the screams, and the speed of the patrols from what little he’d seen. Onin would slow matters down considerably, and Koray doubted her aged frame could easily fit into the hiding places he did. They’d be more exposed, especially with the old woman’s pace, but Koray kept his mouth shut and peered through the tent flap, gun once more unholstered.

“Onin,” Pecker hissed. He settled upon her shoulder and fell quiet. Koray pulled himself back into the tent and glanced at the duo.

“Come on,” he said sharply, “it’s clear.”

[radioactivepeasant]

Snippets: Jak and Daxter Thursday Part 2

(As promised, the Less Angsty Part.)

The onlookers all seemed to think Jak had slipped out of the Precursor craft at the last moment. That was just fine with him: it meant no one had seen him teleport out, carrying Damas into the tower. Leaving him there had been terrifying -- even if the monks in the Convalescence Ward had believed him to be a Precursor himself, and vowed to care for Damas with a reverence that made him sick, it was hard to trust his father's care to others. But he had appearances to keep up, just as his other self had warned him. All he could do was focus on his next steps.

Sig had taken the throne as interim regent in Jak’s place, as while he was more than capable of satisfying the battle requirements of a Spargan king, he wasn't yet of age. That was a mercy, but Jak knew Sig loathed the role. Damas had been like an elder brother to him from the moment he staggered through the gates of Spargus seeking refuge. Sitting in his place felt as wrong for him as it did for Jak.

Jak turned a tired smile to Daxter, who met it with a knowing look. Tess raised her brows at Daxter, but he tiptoed to whisper in her ear that he'd explain later. Jak clapped a hand to Keira's shoulder in camaraderie as he passed, and she returned it in kind with a light squeeze.

There was a pain in her eyes Jak remembered too well. Everything had come out in bits and pieces from the moment Haven had traded Jak to Damas, and Keira almost regretted digging for answers. Learning that a beloved parent was capable of such thoughtless cruelty to someone else's child "for the greater good"- well. They'd had their fights, but Jak wouldn't have wished that feeling on her even if she'd joined the Krimzon Guard.

"J- sorry, Mar."

Jak managed a bittersweet smile. "For you, I can still be Jak."

Keira bit her lip and looked skyward for a moment, blinking rapidly until she had her facial expression under control.

"...okay. Jak, I'm...I'm going to denounce him. To think that all that time, he knew- I. I don't think I'll ever- it's like I woke up and someone replaced my dad with a complete stranger."

"We never blamed you for any of it," Jak answered earnestly. "Spargus won't hold it against you if you don't denounce him. We all answer for our own choices."

Keira blinked hard again, and nodded. "And this is my choice. I'm choosing you and Daxter this time. Like I wish I had before."

Jak reached up to squeeze her hand. "...thanks, Keira. We...I missed you."

"I missed you too, Jak." Keira let go to fold her arms across her middle. "Can we start over?"

Swallowing down a lump in his throat, Jak nodded. "I- yeah- yeah we- that sounds good."

Keira offered a wan smile, then let him go. It felt like torture, climbing the last few platforms to the balcony. Sig was there, but so was Samos. And so was Onin. And while Jak knew they were only there because Sig wanted them within firing range if they tried something, it made him hesitant to continue forward. He didn't want to be anywhere near the people who had known about Veger's plot and blithely co-opted it for their own uses.

"Jak, m'boy! Well done!" Samos chortled merrily, wearing that grandfatherly air Jak had always fallen for before.

Not anymore.

"I'm not "your" anything." Jak stepped past him in a hurry. He didn't trust himself not to snap if he remained within arm's reach of the sage.

Sig rose from the throne and held an arm out to him with an understanding look.

"Mar," he said softly.

He clasped arms with Jak, and nodded solemnly.

"I'm proud of you, kid. Your- Your father would be proud."

"He is," Jak answered softly. Then he pulled Sig down to his level by the shoulder to whisper in his ear, "Dax is going to take over the diplomacy stuff down here. Meet me in the C-Ward upstairs."

Sig straightened and frowned down at him. "What'd you do, cherry?" he murmured.

The smirk Jak gave him in reply was so grim he could have sworn it was Damas who stood before him once more.

"I shaped my own fate, like my father taught me."

For a long time, Sig just looked at him. Then he shook his head. "Boy, if I didn't already know you did impossible things-"

The Convalescence Ward was a hive of activity the instant Jak stepped through the door. He frowned. The light eco should have rewound the crushed bones and organs almost perfectly! Doubtless his father would be sore a while, and Jak hadn't been able to fully repair the broken leg before running out of eco, but that wouldn't warrant this much fuss, would it? He opened his mouth to ask what the problem was, and a senior monk rushed to him.

"Young prince! Your father-! He- he-!"

Irrational thought it was, anxiety twisted in Jak’s stomach. "What about my father? What are you talking about?"

The old woman took him by the hand, a slightly disturbed awe wavering in her voice.

"He lives! Your father lives, Mar!"

Relief washed over him, and with it, the events of the last 48 hours that he'd been shoving to one side.

"Let me see him," he said urgently.

"I...must warn you first, Mar," the monk cautioned, and Jak's stomach flipped again.

"He is...changed. The Precursors returned him from the edge of death -- by hand! No mortal can experience such a thing and remain unaltered."

Ah. Just the normal "Mystical Whooo Crap", as Pecker called it.

"I've seen that kind of thing before. I'm not afraid," Jak assured the monk. "Please. Just take me to him, Ruma."

Damas was awake now -- he hadn't been when Jak had seen him last. One leg -- the still broken one -- lay propped up where monks could splint it. Dark blue shapes twisted and curled under the skin, as if lights were shooting through his veins. The rest of him looked strangely normal for having just been yanked back from the edge of death. The monks not splinting his leg quickly backed away from the bed as Jak approached.

It had worked. The timeline was closed now, and Damas lived.

Like a puppet with its strings cut, Jak dropped to sit in a heap on the edge of the cot. He fumbled for Damas’s hand and held it to his chest as he let out a shaky breath.

"You're here," he croaked.

"I'm here," Damas repeated, almost confused. Then his face split into a wide smile. "I'm here."

Jak blinked. Something wasn't quite right about his father's face. Something about his eyes was a little brighter than he recalled. And the teeth...Too many? Too few? Too sharp? His mind couldn't decide for a few seconds before the bones in question seemed to settle into a fairly standard -- if unusually sharp -- set of human teeth.

A memory of his own face, saturated with both light and dark eco, rose to Jak’s mind, and an uncomfortable thought followed on its heels.

Had he altered his father's physical form by healing him in the Precursor craft?

Further speculation was cut short when Damas pulled his hand free to tap playfully against Jak’s cheek.

"You once pushed a chair in front of the door -- a toddler's chair, mind you now -- because you thought it would keep me from going to work without you. You never could stand being left behind, could you?"

He sounded like he wasn't certain whether he was more amused or annoyed.

So much pain, so much loss, and here they all were at the end of it all, still standing. So to speak. The exhilaration of not being the only one left to tell the tale filled him with a heady feeling he would later come to recognize as joy.

With a giddy laugh, Jak threw himself forward and into Damas’s chest.

"We did it!" he crowed, "We did it, we did it!"

Damas’s arms folded over his back, and his chest vibrated with a soft chuckle.

"So it would seem! Though how I'm to explain this, I'm not certain."

"So just don't explain," Jak snorted, "and let them come to their own conclusions."

He ducked away from the hand tweaking his ear with a laugh.

"And let someone start some crackpot theory about our already bizarre bloodline?" Damas feigned offense. "That sounds like a terrible idea!"

"Terribly clever, I agree."

Damas lightly thumped Jak over the head. "Impudent little- When I get out of this cast, I oughta-"

Finally seeing an opportunity, a monk gracefully interrupted. "My lord, your leg requires time and watchfulness to heal correctly. You must leave it immobile for at least two weeks until we know what the eco is doing in your bloodstream."

She turned and nodded respectfully to Jak. "I trust you will keep the injury well tended-to?"

Jak slid over to occupy the space between Damas and the small nightstand. He leaned back against the wall beside his father and nodded back.

"Don't worry, he's not going anywhere. I'll make sure of that."

"This is elder abuse," Damas complained, just as lighthearted and almost giddy as his son. "You can't make me stay in bed! That's mutiny!"

"No," Jak retorted with a broad grin, "That's what happens when Sig gets here and finds out you're alive!"

"Argh, you're right!" Damas slipped an arm around Jak’s neck in half a hug, half a headlock. "And then I'd have to contend with Daxter!"

Jak gently poked Damas in the side with a smug grin. "Daxter? No no, Tess is the one you should be afraid of."

Damas flung his other hand into the air in mock exasperation. "Rot me, it's a conspiracy! I'm outnumbered!"

When the monks had finally taken the hint to leave the pair alone to catch up, Damas sobered slightly. "You know we'll probably have to make a plan for if the Precursors choose to retaliate for this."

Jak's eyes danced with mischief. "What're they gonna do without their technology? They're as powerless as Veger!"

Damas raised a brow -- no, Jak hadn't imagined it, there was something weird about his eyes now. The pupils weren't supposed to have little points of light like stars, were they? Not for humans.

"Alright cub, what did you do?"

"What did Daxter do," Jak corrected, deciding to deal with the possibility of his father gaining a Light Form later. "He confiscated the old one's staff, and then made them drop the ship with the Precursor we hatched from the Stone last year. Because they weren't being responsible with time and space."

Considering the young Precursor had been sitting on the beach that would one day hold Sandover Village, happily building elaborate sandcastles in lieu of blueprints, Jak had a feeling the new owner of the time machine would have fewer agendas to push. And given how the glowing being had greeted them as "My friend Mar" and "little Scout-brother", perhaps subsequent timelines would be kinder to his family. The other ottsels' horror and chagrin boded well, anyway.

[cherie-doll]

𓆩♡𓆪 Headcanon: They're Your Bodyguards (Royalty x Knight AU Part #2)

𖠁 Price, Ghost, Soap, Gaz, Roach, Alejandro, Rudy, Phillip Graves, Makarov, Keegan, König, Horangi, Nikto

❦ Based off this hc I had written a while back

Price

He upholds his noble promises, he wouldn't ever dare to wander too close into your life

With every string tugging at his heart, he restrains the overwhelming feelings, he remembers the oaths he's made

To keep in this way was dancing death's waltz

Oh, but your soft silhouette blending in the foliage with the aura of golden sun was refreshing like morning dew, how is it possible for the human heart to long for something it has never had? We dream of a haven, but is there hardly one on this earth?

He longs to have what is restricted, maybe what has been out of reach has always appealed to us, since children we want what is above us, as young people we crave what makes us feel alive, and in our limited existence we continue to search for it

It was all forsaken; what was left unsaid, the silent sentiment, the shared glances that were neither given nor taken, for nothing was accidental nor hidden between the both of you... only guarded

Ghost

Here is another fool, one who thinks love is a controlled emotion, have pity on him!

The only salvation he can be found guilty of on base of selfishness is imagining you imagining him, secretly he loses himself in fantasies of a future that can never be

He hath nothing but muted passion for you

And from the silence, is it possible to determine the outcome? It does nothing more but to hurt one's feelings, does the bearer more hurt than partaking in improper fantasies, for it is all in vain and a reaching for and grasping at the wind

In the end the happiest fool is miserable, the most disciplined king conquers nothing, and the bravest knight afraid of battle

What pain for nothing!

Soap

Not a word from your lips heard, not a touch felt nor a sensation given, but those eyes speak for the entire soul

This story doesn't have to be a tragedy, because no matter what it will never end the way everybody wants it to, "vivamus, moriendum est", but you'll let yourselves live blissfully

Nothing can stifle his silent joy, his merry face goes about all day desirous of crushing you with a million acts of affection

The mindless dialogue he recites, staring off into nothing as he finds your capricious eyes shining like a glow the lake flashes at the evening sun

He'll find beauty in your entire being and relate it to things because if one day, you find each other a long way off, the sentiment will remain and the earth will remember you and remind him

Gaz

What's forbidden only makes the temptation greater, hm?

With such yearning and softening of his eyes does he gaze at you, it's a feeling that's so heavy and present in the air it's impossible to ignore, an energy only igniting between you both

He's engulfed in dreams of what could be, but surely it's not all just a figment of his imagination, to a certain point you mirror his thoughts

The emotions that won't stop growing rise to the surface and threaten to breakthrough, ruining his discipline, yet are always present and showing through every act and small interaction with you

The brushing against one another, the whispers that want to turn into screams, the heart begging to be let out

Roach

It had been dawning on him, a premonition of sorts in the air since he started serving your family, as if it was destined to happen

Now as he gazes up at you from his head lying on your lap, your bodies hidden from view by the tall hedges and vines in the garden, he almost melts at the sight of you

Even if the weather isn't favorable, you walk hand in hand, free of worries for an evening or night, it feels as if the sky could be never-changing and the circumstance always right

And as he reflects back on this years later, he remembers it fondly, though now gone and far away from one another, he gathers these memories and wonders if there was no ending to it, would you two have kept laughing innocently?

He would let your name slip from his lips one last time as if calling you softly into the fading sunlight

Alejandro

Every time you cross paths after meeting and loving in secret it is like the morning after a heavy torrent of rain, you cannot hide the smiles breaking out onto your faces, nor the fidgeting of hands wanting to embrace each other

An impulse so strong that it can barely be contained when he gazes deep within your cherub eyes, your lashes fluttering as the shimmering sunlight reflects on water, this scene all too perfect

Curiously, he will gaze at you and construct the most beautiful verses he seriously believes he would have made a great poet

You're everything he's held dear, not only does he love tenderly but deeply, you hit every feeling spot within him unveiling a new world

Rudy

Oh, but he's so respectful, so contained, so true to his word, until he finds himself alone in your chambers, faced with an order he has the right to deny or be a little selfish

For once he is given choice and it is difficult to remember his priorities

How could he deny? When you're murmuring so softly, and you're welcoming him so well, making the weight on his shoulders feel lighter even if it's a false feeling only for a little while

He'll cherish that moment for a lifetime, because for once he's known what heaven feels like, smiling easier and more often

His mind drifting back to you, you're unforgettable, not just a fleeting moment but an experience

Phillip Graves

He looks curiously at what is before him; the kingdom's precious flower, and as he gazes he becomes entranced in a thread that with time will become too hard to be undone by a single pull

It starts out as a foolish act but soon grows into much more, but was he ready for what came with it? The yearning, the sensitivity and vulnerability he was exposing himself to?

With every look that gained new meaning and lost their playfulness, you became all too attached and duty no longer was first

Perhaps this was the beginning of your descent, your spiraling into doom and recklessness, crumbling and giving in to your heart who beats so wildly only once in this ephemeral sentiment

Makarov

The repetitive phrase that leaves your lips every time, "we can't do this" or "we shouldn't", always the regret setting in after saying you've let go

And frankly, he doesn't care nor does he care whether you completely let go of it or not, it'll be your stone to carry, not his

Just feel the pull between you, focus on the fact that you're in his arms right now, your royal attire loosely around your shoulders and your worries and responsibilities should be a mile off by now

Concentrate on what you feel, he's trying to remind you, there is nothing selfish in enjoying the sensations for a little while

Or is he trying to put his conscience at ease with these words he tells you? What a reflection of his soul they are, and what truth do they carry

Keegan

You find him deeply captivating and intriguing, you feel bad for having so much curiosity for him

In a room full of people and yet you always wonder if he's there among the crowd, and with so much noise in the world does he stop and listen for your voice?

So dreamlike were these short moments of delight it must've been a dream, you met only at midnight behind heavy velvet curtains that obscured all light

You could only feel with your fingertips and hear soft murmurs that you tried to memorize, you would later pray in your tucked corner of the room, whispering softly into your blankets that it was real

Someone felt for you and the memories had really happened

König

The brooding figure that wishes he had the privilege of learning about you without repercussions, without that nagging thought of it coming back to bite at him

To color in the blank spaces of unknown, wishing to reside in the intimacy of your heart and mind, to navigate what is familiar

The blossoming interest in you reflecting in his eyes, making you feel a strange sense of safety when with him, a calming feeling that you welcome too well when in his presence you find rare to recreate when alone

Not even castle walls could grant as much security as he could, they were old and empty, standing many years and guarding many families before you, it was only a false sense of security that had been handed down to you

But he, he was your own, your own to cherish and love for now and even if his love wasn't a family heirloom to pass down maybe that was fine, let yourself hold this selfishness close to your chest

Horangi

A gambling game he is playing, it's as if he has a thing for chasing after what is not secure nor certain, but that's what makes it appealing

He doesn't stick much to rules, if he does it's only for a short time until he finds his own way of doing things, he was never concerned with playing the game fair

So he's not hesitant nor does he shy from trying risky things with you, it's all a game to him

The momentum only increasing as the stakes rise and he finds himself almost tying his fate to you, wanting for once in his life a secure future he can be sure to have, to reach out for and receive

Nikto

The craving for something different and rattling came to you when you discovered his tarnished past

It was so different to what you knew, and maybe it was in that darkness and chaos that you found comfort, a world you wanted him to share with you, more intimate than any touch

More erotic and through-provoking were his shards of soul revealed to you than an affair, and his growing confusion at how easily he shared parts of him with you

A hidden memory arising from the depths of his mind, trying to show him how comforting it felt to be perceived for what you were, he wanted to indulge in it a little longer each time

He knew his desires and dreams wouldn't change a thing in his life, but this peace freed him from the chains that had been weighing heavy, he felt lighter and allowed himself to long for someone

[dewdropdinosaur]

Redemption is Best Served Hot

LUCIFER x READER Part Two Summary: You are like the mom Charlie always wanted. And like the partner Lucifer wishes he had. Warnings: NONE. REQUESTS ARE OPEN! See pinned post for details

In the bustling underworld of Hell, where chaos and mayhem were the order of the day, there stood a peculiar establishment known as the Hazbin Hotel. Run by the optimistic and determined demon princess, Charlie, the hotel aimed to rehabilitate wayward souls and give them a chance at Heaven. 

You, an older demon, found yourself entangled in the unique tapestry of the Hazbin Hotel. Drawn to Charlie's mission and warmth, you had become an essential part of the hotel's daily operations. As the pseudo-mother to Charlie and the other inhabitants, Y/N provided a sense of stability and care in the tumultuous underworld. A pillar of support for the lost souls seeking refuge within the hotel's walls, helping with the cleaning, aiding anyone with anything; you were in fact quite literally acting mother to all six inhabitants. Not that they minded, each loved you in their own way. Even Alastor, who would not admit it to himself that maybe your cooking could have rivaled his own mother’s.

“Nifty darling, here. Don’t run around with that old knife. This one is much sharper.” “Oooooo, thank you! BUGS PREPARE TO DIE!”

“Angel, poor thing. Come here, let me draw you a bath and we can talk all about it….or we can just sit in silence. Whatever you would like.” “Yeah…that woulds be good.” 

“The new shipment just arrived, Husk! Do you want me to help you carry it in?” “Nah, I got it. But thanks.”

“PENTIOUS! What did I say about letting the Egg Bois into my kitchen?!”  “Sssssory Mssss Y/N.”  “It’s alright dear, just…please be more mindful of them. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“Vaggie, no you may not kill Alastor.” “But..!” “No buts! You will respect Charlie’s wishes. And that goes for you too, Alastor.” “Oh me? Darling, it would be a pleasure to do as her highness commands.” 

And so on and so forth as the world goes. 

Over the years, Lucifer, the charismatic and charming ruler of Hell, found himself increasingly drawn to you after the original spout with Heaven. It wasn't just your unparalleled dedication to the hotel or the unwavering support you offered to Charlie; it was a magnetic force that pulled him towards you. Lucifer, accustomed to the chaos and seduction that surrounded him, found the calm demeanor and genuine kindness irresistible. In the dimly lit chambers of the hotel, Lucifer found himself captivated by your unwavering dedication and boundless compassion. He admired the way you effortlessly navigated the tumultuous currents of Hell, offering solace to those who had long abandoned hope. 

One evening, as the residents of the Hazbin Hotel gathered for a makeshift family dinner, Lucifer couldn't help but steal glances at you throughout. Laughter echoed through the room, bringing an unusual warmth to the usually cold and unforgiving realm. Lucifer found himself captivated by the way you effortlessly connected with the diverse souls seeking salvation and he felt his heart twinge a little. The scene was sweet, almost too much so. It made him long for something he had never had with Lillith or thought he could ever have. He hardly touched his food all night, too enthralled with you and your presence. You were like an angel, ironically so. 

After the meal and asking the Egg Bois to clean up(they were kind enough to oblige), you retreated to the hotel's back rooms with a book in hand, a haven of peace in the chaotic underworld. Lucifer followed, the air thick with an unspoken tension. You, engrossed in a book, hadn't bothered to notice the King of Hell until he cleared his throat. With a small flush of embarrassment at accidentally ignoring him, you looked up and met Lucifer's piercing gaze with a soft smile, setting your book aside. 

“What can I do for you Lucifer?”

"Quite the family you've built here," Lucifer commented, his voice a silky blend of charm and authority.

Smiling and setting the book aside, you laughed softly. "They're a unique bunch, but they deserve a chance at redemption, don't they?"

Lucifer nodded, taking a step closer. "And what about you, Y/N?” 

Your gaze met Lucifer's, eyes reflecting a depth of understanding about the true meaning of his question. "We're all seeking something, aren't we? Redemption, forgiveness, a second chance."

Lucifer reached out, gently tracing a finger along Y/N's cheek. "And what do you seek, Y/N?"

Your  heart fluttered, and as you took a deep breath you held his gaze. Oh how he loved that dazed look in your eyes. He wanted you to look up at him that way everyday if possible. Just the way your sparkling and your lips parted so sinfully sweet, he knew even the original sin barrer himself could be tempted. "I seek a chance to make a difference, to maybe bring a little of Heaven down here when I could never do it when I was alive."

Lucifer leaned in, his lips dangerously close to your ear. "Perhaps you've already brought light to the darkest corner of my realm."

Lucifer then pulled away, a small flush gracing his cheeks. He tipped his hat in acknowledgement before leaving the room without another word. Once outside the door, Lucifer pressed back up against a wall and could feel his undead heart about to beat out of his chest. Placing a hand over his chest in order to calm himself back down, the King of Hell flew back to his castle with a giant grin on his face. 

You too were no stranger to the effects of his…flirting. A giant grin and flush appeared on your face as you sunk back down into the chair you were sitting in. Giggling like a schoolgirl, you kicked your feet happily and ignored the book you were once reading. 

A forbidden connection sparked between Lucifer and you, a dance of redemption and desire in the heart of Hell, where the Hazbin Hotel stood as an peculiar beacon of hope. For in the heart of Lucifer Morningstar, amidst the chaos of Hell's domain, love had found its most unlikely champion.

[mailontumb]

HC for the LSSMP!☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*⁠･⁠｡ﾟ

Spoke and Minute are definitely siblings or half siblings

Bacon and Planet likes to kidnap their friends to surprise them for their surprise birthday party

Rek met Branzy during Childhood and is really close friends and never once lied or try to keep things away from each other

Clown and Kab ARE DEFINITELY SIBLINGS. LIKE HOW ARE THEY NOT (it could be like half or step siblings)

Zam is the Dance king

Pangi likes hanging out with Zam cus he is the only one who understands him

Derapchu takes pictures of everyone's feet and sells it to the internet

Jumper is half Bunny

Squiddo learned how to glitch after asking ash to teach her

Ash secretly has a picture of people he likes in his Glitch Room

Red HATES tomatoes as everyone compared him to one

The reason Chief is grey is because he Might've painted himself grey or just have stone genetics

Although Mid has multiple of the exact same hoodie but she is a MASTER designer

Clown kidnapped Branzy for their first date

Oh and Kab often comes to Clowns date cus their mom said so

Flame found Mane terrorizing people and thought "I relate to bro" and became bestie ever since

Parrot can communicate with any bird but Owl cus it scares him

EVERYONE but rek HAS SLEEP PARALYSIS DEMONS

Rek doesn't have SPD cus he over thinks that his base is trapped and the Monster felt really bad haunting him

Oh yea The SPD is worse on Derapchu cus he once took a picture of the Demon's feet and it got really offended

Hanna knows EVERYONE's Secrets (she was the first person who knows about Clownzy after accidentally trying to gamble at the casino)

Cookie God is the LSSMP God too but he barely takes care of the place cus he trusts the listener to take care of it

Rek sprays people with water if they cuss in his video

1 time Vortex challenge Vitalasy and Jeppexx to a Lemon eating competition, Vitalasy won at 150 lemons in 30 minutes

Vortext is often offline but when he is online every makes it a celebration

The LSSMP have their own birthday but Ro doesn't as he was an escaped Watcher

Watchers Can't interact with LSSMP only the listeners can, so that makes LSSMP a safe haven for all those who are running away from the watchers

Hanna ran away from the Watchers 5 TIMES with each attempts getting harder and harder

Only 5 people knows about the situation of LSSMP that being G,P,M,Ro and Hanna, 3 of which tried to escape &only 2 made it the other one was returned back to the watchers and was punished

Mr cube can do a double backflip and likes tea parties!

4cvit is the reason why child labor exists

Someone mistaken SB for a penguin and called animal control,which they grabbed him and sent him back to the icy pole, parrot came and took him back

Leo REALLY likes gold and even tried to marry a golden statue

Pentar only ever have 1 shirt and tries to revive it every time it's torn

Speptical was the one who married Clown and Branzy, Rek,Leo,Minute,Kab,Jumper and Jaron being witnesses

Jaron solves many mysteries but also makes many more of them

Woogie had the same situation as SB but instead of anyone saving him he just visited his parents and traveled back to the LSSMP

Wemmbu escaped hell twice, so he is put on a watch list with clown

Also wemmbu ate his jail cell's bar and escaped with Zam

Mappic is left handed and likes playing arm wrestling with people

Poafa is a cloud, meaning he can fly and turn into a cloud

People often wonder where terrain lives but never tried to search

Branzy's bloodline is the apart of the watchers making ash half watcher and demon <- (cus of clown)

⁠━⁠☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*⁠･⁠｡ﾟ⁠━⁠☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*⁠･⁠｡ﾟ⁠━⁠☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*⁠･⁠｡ﾟ⁠━⁠☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*⁠･⁠｡ﾟ⁠━⁠☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*

｡⁠:ﾟI'll be back for more 😼😼! Lelele ﾟ⁠:⁠｡

[wonderlanddreamer]

The Rook

— Chapter One

Summary: Reeling from a recent loss and seeing no light at the end of the tunnel, Tommy drives with no end in sight. But what happens when he accidentally happens upon a quiet little pub and a barmaid with a smile like sunshine?

The biting wind whipped at Tommy Shelby’s coat, offering little protection against the icy despair that gnawed at his soul. Birmingham, usually a city pulsating with his ambition, felt suffocating. The weight of his decisions, the ghosts of his past, pressed down with the force of a collapsing mine shaft. He’d stared into the abyss, and it had stared back, promising oblivion – a welcome respite from the ceaseless turmoil.

He’d almost taken it. Almost yielded to the seductive whisper of darkness. The pistol, cold and heavy in his pocket, was a dreary reminder of how close he’d come. He’d driven aimlessly until the city lights faded, replaced by the inky blackness of the countryside.

Then, a single, flickering light emerged – a small, unassuming pub nestled beside a winding road. Its sign, barely visible in the gloom, read: The Rook. Curiosity, or perhaps a perverse instinct for self-preservation, compelled him to stop.

The building was low-slung and weathered, its stone walls stained by time. Mismatched window panes, steamed with condensation, hinted at warmth within, a contrast to the chill that permeated his bones. He hesitated, his hand instinctively resting on the pistol. The thought of seeking solace, of finding even a fleeting moment of peace, felt anomalous.

But bone-deep weariness, the crushing weight of his burdens, finally won. He pushed open the heavy oak door, the bell above it jingling a discordant welcome. The air inside was thick with the scent of stale beer, wood smoke, and something else… something indefinitely comforting.

A single barmaid, wiping down the counter with an expert hand, looked up. Rosemary King, with warm brown eyes and a kind smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes, her name was embroidered on her apron in faded script. The bar itself was a rich, dark wood, polished to a high sheen, but cluttered with personal touches – a small vase of wildflowers, a framed sepia photograph weighted down by a miniature porcelain cat. Everything felt carefully tended, cherished, and loved.

The pub itself was small, cosy, radiating warmth and a sense of belonging. Mismatched chairs, some worn leather, others sturdy wood, were grouped around small, round tables, each bearing a unique chipped teacup or a faded photograph tucked into a cracked frame. The walls, painted a comforting cream, were adorned with family portraits – generations of smiling faces peering down from faded frames, a tapestry of lives lived and loved within these walls. A grandfather clock in the corner, its pendulum swinging rhythmically, ticked away the seconds. The scent wasn't just of woodsmoke and damp earth; a hint of baking bread and something sweet, perhaps apple pie, also lingered, enhancing the homely atmosphere. It felt less like a public house and more like a haven; a family's carefully kept secret.

Tommy pulled up a stool at the bar, the worn leather surprisingly soft beneath him, and stared straight forwards. He didn’t order anything, just sat, lost in the shadowy depths of his own thoughts, the warmth of the fire a meagre counterpoint to the storm raging within him.

“Evening,” the barmaid greeted, her voice as welcoming as her smile. “What can I get for you?”

“Whiskey. Neat,” Tommy replied gruffly, his tone sharper than intended. He wasn’t here for pleasantries.

She didn’t flinch at his brusqueness. Instead, she nodded and turned to retrieve a glass, her movements graceful and unhurried. “Coming right up,” she said, pouring the amber liquid with an expert hand. As she slid the glass towards him, she added, “Not many find their way to The Rook. You must be looking for some solace.”

Her perceptiveness startled Tommy. It was as if she saw right through the hardened exterior he wore like armour. “Something like that,” he muttered, taking a sip of the whiskey. It burned, but it was a welcome sensation—a reminder that he was still here, still feeling, despite the darkness that lingered at the edges of his mind.

Rosemary leaned against the bar, her demeanour open and unassuming, exuding a warmth that seemed to soften the sharp edges of the world. “Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’re not much for noise around here.”

For reasons he couldn’t quite grasp, Tommy found himself unwinding, if only slightly. Her presence was soothing, a gentle balm on his troubled mind. She seemed to offer a refuge, however temporary, from the turmoil within. “You been here long?” he asked, more to keep the conversation going than out of genuine curiosity.

“Long enough to know the regulars and their stories,” she replied with a soft laugh. “But you’re new. What’s your story?”

He looked at her, really looked at her, and saw no judgement in her gaze—only an earnest interest that was both unnerving and oddly comforting. In her eyes, he saw a flicker of understanding, as if she recognized the weight he carried. “Just passing through,” he said, deflecting, as was his habit.

“Well, Mr. Passing Through, I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for,” Rosemary said, a hint of playfulness in her tone. There was no pressure in her words, only a gentle encouragement, as if she truly wished for his peace. She straightened up and moved to attend to another customer, leaving Tommy alone with his thoughts and the unexpected warmth of her smile lingering in the air.

He sat for a long while, nursing his whiskey, the silence of The Rook a balm to his turbulent thoughts. Rosemary had checked on him twice, her kind smile a silent reassurance. He hadn't spoken much, but her presence, her quiet efficiency, had woven a thread of calm through the chaos within him. He couldn't articulate why, only that the pub's warmth had invaded him, a welcome intrusion he knew he'd need regularly.

He pushed himself up from his chair, the worn leather creaking a soft protest. He felt…lighter. The weight hadn’t vanished entirely, the ghosts of his past still whispered, but their voices were muted, dulled by the warmth he’d found within those four walls. The pistol, still heavy in his pocket, felt less like a solution and more like a forgotten burden.

He approached the bar, and Rosemary looked up, her brown eyes questioning. He gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, the gesture acknowledging her unspoken kindness. He placed a couple of shillings on the counter, more than the drink cost.

"Thank you," he rasped, his voice rough from disuse.

Rosemary smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that effortlessly reached her eyes. "Anytime."

Tommy stepped back out into the night, the cold air no longer biting, but bracing. The city lights in the distance no longer felt suffocating, but beckoned. He walked to his car, the decision to go home solidifying with each step. The Rook, and the unexpected peace he’d found there, had given him the strength he so desperately needed. He wasn't cured, not by a long shot, but the abyss had receded, at least for now, replaced by a faint, flickering hope. The drive home was quiet, the night a canvas of unshed shadows. He would face his problems; for tonight, home was enough.

[steddieas-shegoes]

Fluffy part 2 to this post

I'm posting early because @madigoround deserves it. I hope you enjoy love ❤️

As books get crossed off his list, Steve continues to add more.

They never skip a day. Even when Eddie’s sick, even when Steve’s sick, even when the kids are demanding their attention, Eddie reads to him.

Sometimes they sit on the couch at Steve’s house, sometimes they’re in Eddie’s bed, sometimes they’re by Steve’s pool, enjoying the cool evening air.

It doesn’t matter where they are, really. Anywhere Steve can listen to Eddie create a world with a story for him is a good place to be.

After a month, Steve’s head finds a permanent resting place in Eddie’s lap. Eddie’s hands would play with the small wavy hairs that tickled the back of his neck. It was peace.

It didn’t take long after that for Eddie to lean down and kiss Steve’s forehead or the tip of his nose between chapters, and for Steve to smile up at him with gratitude for giving him something he loved back. It was comfort.

Soon enough, reading would turn into make outs that turned into cuddling that turned into “no, just stay the night” that turned into cooking breakfast together. It was home.

They didn’t have an official anniversary, everything had been blurred lines and yearning, but they recognized when a year had passed from their first actual date. They’d gone to the largest bookstore in Indy, both surprising each other with books (even though Eddie would read them all), and giggling when they ended up leaving with enough books to start their own library. But Eddie knew what he was going to do.

He’d been working on it for a month.

It was perfect.

He’d been writing a book. Well, more like a journal.

Their story.

He was reading it to Steve tonight.

He’d left their names out of it, maybe dramatized a few things a bit, wanting to make it as much of a show as anything else he did.

So when Steve took his place with his head in his lap, Eddie’s fingers threading through his hair, he began.

He told the story of a king, lonely and putting on a brave face for his kingdom. The lowly medicine man who was cast away from society when one of his potions accidentally killed a woman of the court. The king protected him from punishment, and provided him a safe haven among the castle, forming a family among the servants and groundskeepers. As the medicine man learns more about the king, he falls deeply in love with him, but knows the king is set to marry a woman from a distant kingdom.

“But the medicine man stays. He’d rather have some of the king than nothing at all. He meets up with him in the castle library every night to read together…”

“Eds…”

Eddie looked down to see tears gathering in Steve’s eyes.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“This is about us.”

Eddie smiled down at his king.

“Yes.”

Steve smiled up at his medicine man.

“You did this for me?”

“Of course I did. Our story is the greatest one I could ever tell you.”

They didn’t finish the story that night. But that was okay; they had a lifetime to add to it.

[franki-lew-yo]

An alt-universe's version of The Owl House's final season

"Thanks to Them" - Luz, Amity, Willow, Gus, Hunter and the Palismans get stuck in the human realm after King's heroic sacrifice. Luz properly meets Vee and reconciles with her mother.

"HalfWay House Noceda" - The Demon Realm kids attempt to make themselves 'useful' to Luz and Camilla by doing chores around the house even though their magic/skills are a bit more of a detriment. Meanwhile Luz shows Camilla some videos she took of Eda to prepare her for meeting the Owllady and King and Camilla is unnerved but also thrilled.

"Abduction of the Innocents" - Vee and Hunter have a heart to heart while everyone else pretends to like Camilla's and Luz’s favorite movies, except of course for Gus, who is inspired by the images on screen to really explore his illusion powers for Camilla. 

"Next to Nowhere" - Luz begins school again and ruminates over accidentally helping Philip, but her friend's determination help's her to keep going. Also Amity and Luz bond over Azura with Amity being able to tell Luz that she doesn’t like the Azura movies. 

"Kids of Gravesfield" - The other Palisman have been noticing Flapjack pacing around and both hiding something from the kids while also looking for someone. Luz and Hunter investigate a certain feeling they have around town while the rest of the gang heads to the Gravesfield Historical Society to get answers. Unbeknownst to everyone, Belos is amassing power and does something to Jacob Hopkins. 

"Season's Feedings" - On Halloween Night the kids learn the story of brothers’ Wittebane. Through this Luz regains some of her glyph magic by finding the portal Evelyn and Caleb originally used. Hunter gets possessed by Belos who kills Flapjack, but Hunter gets unpossessed. With just enough Titanblood to take them to the Demon Realm, Camilla joins the kids after Belos while Vee stays home to cover for them being missing.

"For the Future" - A look as to what our Demon Realm friends have been doing all this time; King keeps the Collector entertained, Lilith and Eda try and reach the immobilized citizens, and Hexside becomes a safe haven for the unconverted kids of the Boiling Isles. 

"Outside, Over Here" - The Collector, King and the Clawthorne sisters begin actually knowing Collector and bonding over his past - but things get interrupted by the Owl Beast and further interrupted by Lilith being puppet-ized for 'bad behavior'. Or, is it? Lilith, Hooty and the Owl Beast begin their own psyche-plotting within their inner mind and find a way to communicate with Eda and King despite still being puppets.

"Revenge of the Bad Girl Coven" - Just as it looks like Matholomule is coming into his own, Boscha decides she's taking over the remains of Hexside after her Grugby Team are turned into Puppets and two new students appear on campus.

"Watching and Dreaming" - Luz, Camilla and the crew return to the Boiling Isles and discover what's left of the Owl House and Hexside. They aren't alone, however, as Belos has also returned. 

"After All" - Amidst Boscha's reign of terror, Luz heads to the basement to recount her memories of Philip's shortcut to the head of the titan. The kids ultimately thwart Kikimora's takeover with the help of the Bat Queen though not before Willow finally looses her cool. Luz on the other hand finally meets her palisman, Stringbean. 

"The Brothers Wittebane" - Flashback episode that shows the complicated life of farmhand-turned Witch-husband Caleb Clawthorne and the brother he didn't mean to leave behind."

"Collector Says" - In an attempt to get more information on the archivists and what happened to the Titans, King and the Collector travel once again to the Titan Trappers, who listen to whatever the Collector says. Luz and Stringbean get separated from Camilla.

"How it shouldn't have Ended" - Luz, King and Eda all get reunited in an unconventional way while befriending Collector, while Belos makes a break for the Heart of the Titan to amas his final body.

"Inbetweens" - Belos' uses various hosts to get to the Titan's body which he takes over and starts destroying the Boiling Isles in his wake, but also leaving behind the now-mobilized hosts (Covenheads, Raine, harpy-Lilith) who each help Eda, Luz, King and Collector get to Belos from the inside out. Luz jumps in the way of the Collector being killed and appears to die herself, setting off Eda and King.

"Now Eat this SUCKAAH" - The puppet-ized kids regain their consciousness and begin fighting back and freeing the others under the Collector's spell. Luz wakes up in the in between realm and is helped out by King's dad in finding a way to get out and defeat Belos using the magic of the Titan. In the end Belos melts in the boiling rain and the Collector thanks everyone and goes to confront his family.

"Gone Bygones" - Peek into a bright, Belos-less future for all the characters.

Upside of this alt reality = proper Gus and Willow development, resolution to the Batqueen, actually seeing Caleb and Evelyn andbeebybaby Belos, an answer as to who really made the original portal door, more Stringbean, Lilith having her moment of bonding/actualization with the Owl Beast, resolution on the Titan Trappers, and just a final season overall to really close out the series and send off the characters we all love.

Downside to this alt reality = because Disney's no longer funding it the animation had to be finished by Dingo Pictures and all the voice acting is done by Chris Pratt. Also a nuke went off and we're in the middle of WWIII officially.

[a-not-so-clean-blog]

Nu carnival x celebrity gn

Yakumo

Singing together while cooking is one of your favorite activities! He is very shy and sweet and that's so endearing. Despite his social anxieties he does make a point to come out to your shows whenever he can. You always smile a little bigger when you see him in the crowd. You know it does make him nervous to be around so many people, but he loves you so much and he puts in the effort to know that he supports you no matter what.

Edmond

At one point knights were hired as bodyguards to protect you for a high profile show and that's how the two of you met. You impressed him on stage and he impressed you with his strength. It's a solid relationship built on mutual admiration. He's probably one of the only people you can go on a date with and not be swarmed by fans. It's nice to have a literal bodyguard as a boyfriend.

Olivine

You two instantly bond over the shared trauma of having insane fan clubs. He listened with an open heart to your confessions about the stress being a celebrity was giving you. At the time you just wanted to quit and leave your life behind but after talking it over with him you relaxed a little bit and decided that it was hard but not a hardship you couldn't overcome. Sometimes it feels like the two of you are the only ones who understand each other. It's a little bit of an equality that you both appreciate and it brings a sense of normalcy that you both crave from each other.

Quincy

You two met because you desperately needed a break from your fans. The only place you could think of to get away was the forest, and unfortunately you got lost. You would have stayed lost if Quincy didn't find you by accident. He didn't know that you were famous and honestly didn't care that you were. After you two got together he became a safe haven for you to get away from the stress of life. When you see him you almost instantly relax because he gives off this calming and protective aura that you don't feel anywhere else but by his side.

Kuya

He knows exactly who you are and found you interesting enough to mess with. What started off as him trying to mess with you to see if he could incite riots with your fans turned into him respecting how you handled the situations that he put you through. When he eventually ‘accidentally bumped into you’ and introduced himself you had no idea that he was the one making your life slightly more annoying. Eventually you figure it out because he couldn't help but drop hints but you did wind up forgiving him.

Blade

He may have actually fallen in love with you before he met you. If he had a radio in the dead zone then I definitely think he's heard you before, and maybe even have fallen a little for your sweet voice or demeanor. He doesn't get jealous but he does get concerned when he sees you overwhelmed with crowds. He always asks if you're okay after a performance. If he's really worried you'll buy him a cute thing and then he will forget about his worry until the next performance…

Garu

I think you met after one of your performances and you were trying to get away from the crowd. All he saw was you trying to get away from a group of people and his instincts kicked in and he stepped in between you and the ravenous fans. He's very sweet and supportive. It's nice knowing that he doesn't like you just because of your fame.

Karu

Guard dog. Head of your security and no you don't get a choice about it. He's impressed by your power to sway people and get people to like you. You explain how it's because you're a celebrity but any explanation goes in one ear and out the other. He doesn't understand or care about why, he just likes how you ‘have power over people’. He did develop genuine feelings after this but it definitely started with him trying to learn your secret to control people's hearts

Dante

He's definitely more famous than you…but that kind of comes with the territory of being a king. Sometimes he may ask you to do a show for his soldiers to boost morale. Sometimes that's just an excuse to get you to come to Solaria and see him. Both of you have extremely busy schedules so you both understand it's difficult to make free time and you both fully appreciate the time you get to spend with each other. He's very kind in private and because of your schedules quality time even in total silence has become your love language.

Rei

He does not want to admit he's jealous of the attention you give your fans. Trying to talk to him about it is like pulling teeth. I think you two got together before you got famous and he is not handling the change well. Give him a little bit of personal attention and that may help or it may make it worse. He respects your career choices but that doesn't mean he has to be happy about it.

Eiden

He has definitely fantasized about sleeping with a celebrity, so actually getting to date one is a dream come true. He treats you the same as he does his clan members. Basically he treats you like a normal human being and that taste of normalcy is not something you get in your day-to-day life. It soon becomes something that you crave and one of the things you love most about him.

Aster

He's definitely going to sell merch for you. Whether you know it or not. You may be his first love but profit is definitely a close second. He does offer to help for event planning or for designing merch for you as well. It's nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of. He may have actually approached you initially because he thought he could make a profit on you, and eventually those pesky feelings set in so now he's stuck emotionally attached to you.

Morvay

He's not normally a jealous person, but I think you being a celebrity might make him a bit jealous or flustered. He doesn't mind sharing people physically, however he does still crave private time with you and your busy schedule doesn't allow for a lot of that. He takes full advantage of any time he gets to be alone with you. If you shoot him a wink while you're on stage or during a show then he is going to practically melt. That helps a little bit with his jealousy but definitely just makes him more eager to get his hands on you later.

[mothergold]

| Falling on Pavement |

Pairing: Lucifer x Reader

Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI, No Pronouns for Reader, He/Him Pronouns for Lucifer, Fluff, Implied Slow Burn, First Kiss, Strangers -> Friends -> Lovers, Reader is bad at feelings, Reader is Oblivious, It kinda gets a little suggestive towards the end lol, Open Ending, 1.7k words.

A/n: Uhm i just wanna kiss Lucifer <3 

Summary: When Lucifer asks you to go on a little night time walk, who are you to refuse?

Tags: @auphelia @suyacho @tighnarly @themovingcastlez

It had been a long day at the hotel and everyone had run off to do their own thing, and that’s when you decided to rest on the couch. You’d flipped through the various channels and ended up landing on something that was halfway interesting. That’s when you noticed something out of the corner of your eye, looking to the right you saw Lucifer standing there, a little awkwardly, too. 

“Lucifer?” You called out. 

His body stiffened before quickly turning to you and (trying) to laugh it off. “Mhm, yeah?” 

“Are you okay..?” You questioned.

He chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head. “Oh yeah, I’m okay.” 

“Lucifer.” You pressed.

“Okay, okay, truth is I had something I wanted to ask you.” He admitted sheepishly. 

You tilted your head in curiosity, waiting for what he was about to ask. 

Lucifer fiddled with his thumbs as he slowly approached you. “Well, I was, uh, just wondering if maybe you’d like to go on a walk.. with me.. alone.” 

“Oh.” You said without thinking. “Shit, sorry that’s not what I meant to say.” 

Lucifer seemed to lean away for a split second before he heard your actual response.

Your next reply was more enthusiastic. “I’d love to!” Already you could feel the heat rushing to your cheeks, and embarrassment swimming in your chest. “Lemme go grab my shoes real quick, then we can go.”

Lucifer nodded and waited patiently for you to get your shoes on and meet beside him for this walk that was now lowkey making the both of you panic internally. Sure, the two of you had been more than well acquainted with since your arrival at the hotel, but there had always been this odd tension between the two of you that you could never quite put your finger on. Lucifer opened the door for you, holding it open as the two of you took a stroll down the street. You took in all the usual sights and sounds but this time with Lucifer beside you, talking to you. It was such an unusual feeling, enjoying the world around you with him by your side. Or at the very least it was weird to do such normal, mundane things with the king of hell beside you. It felt weird,  like you were almost out of place here, but you shook away those thoughts.

You continued walking as Lucifer pointed out different places and the memories he had held onto with each place. It was when Lucifer pointed out the next nostalgic place that he had accidentally bumped his arm against your chest, which made the both of you instantly become hot with embarrassment. He looked at you first but then quickly averted his eyes, too ashamed to make eye contact with you. You wouldn’t even look at him, your eyes glued to the ground as you listened to Lucifer say multiple apologies. There was a moment of silence before anyone said another thing, the both of you were far too nervous to say a damn thing, but eventually you chose to speak up. 

“Hey, it’s okay, it was just an accident. I’m sorry for not saying anything afterward, that was kind of shitty.” You admitted. You were a little ashamed for not forgiving him right on the spot, but in all honesty you were really embarrassed. 

He turned to face you and you did the same, and as he spoke you took in each and every word he said. “You have nothing to apologize for. So, please, don’t.” He smiled at you, and just as he was going to say something else you saw something that filled you with fear.

You never told anyone before, even after joining the hotel, that before you had been welcomed into this safe haven, you had lived under one shitty ass roof with a very sketchy demon. That same demon you lived with for so long was the exact reason you came to the hotel. To be honest, you were ashamed to admit you made a deal with someone you most definitely shouldn’t have. You knew that if anyone at the hotel found out they’d try their best to find a way out of your deal. At least that’s what the fear told you every time you wanted to confide in anyone at the hotel. You hadn’t seen the guy since you escaped that night, and how you managed to escape his sights for so long was beyond you, but you weren’t about to cross paths with him anytime soon.

So, without warning you dragged Lucifer down a nearby alley and told him to be quiet, adding a hand over his mouth for extra measure. This was definitely going to come back and bite you in the ass in a few moments. Logically you knew he had nothing to be afraid of, but you were too scared of who you had just seen to let logic dictate your actions. You hadn’t seen him in quite some time, so you couldn’t help but let your initial instinct upon seeing him, be to run and hide. You waited until the coast was clear and the demon had completely walked out of view for you to weaken your grip. Lucifer pulled your hand off of his mouth and looked at you with a face of worry. 

“So, mind telling me what all that was about?” He asked. 

You sighed and tried to stand up and balance yourself before confiding in him, but as luck would have it you completely lost your balance and fell into his arms. It was almost too comical how coincidental it was, as if the afterlife was trying to throw you a bone, but it wasn’t like that between you and Lucifer. Was it? Sure, you had your tension with him and of course you had your wholesome moments with him just like you did with anyone else, but that didn’t mean you wanted him in any other way.. Right? 

In the split moment that you had lost your balance and fallen into his arms, you had begun to think back to all your times with Lucifer, especially the ones where it was just the two of you. The wheels in your head started turning and thinking back to how your chest pounded everytime you were near him, or how you stared at him longer than others did, and the many other instances in your head in which time seemed to stop around him, you had begun to realize he was never just a friend to you. Fuck, you kind of knew that already, but you were just.. Not quick on the uptake. You’d never been good with feelings, even as a human, but this was a new low even for you, or maybe it was simply denial. You had soon forgotten the realization and the emotions that came with it once you looked up at Lucifer, gazing deep into his eyes. 

His eyes were half-lidded and filled with yearning. Your chest began to throb, your body aching for his touch, and your hands slowly slid up the wall of the alleyway to entangle with his hands. Everything in your body was screaming for you to stop what you were doing, telling you that this was a bad idea. You didn’t know how it was wrong, but something about it felt too good to not be a sin. Before you realized it Lucifer had moved his hands so that they held onto yours. Instinctively you pushed your body against his as he leaned his face close to yours, he was mere breaths away from you when his lips hovered over yours. You waited with bated breath until his lips finally pressed up against yours. 

Whether it was right or wrong mattered not to you anymore, the only thing you cared about was his lips against yours. You struggled to get as close to him as possible, even slithering underneath his skin wouldn’t have been enough for you. You had a sudden urge to devour him whole, eager to taste all the king of hell had to offer. Slowly your hands slid down from his hands, your nails scratching him as you made your way down. Once your hands had been at the same level as his hips you began to slide them underneath his shirt, lightly tracing a trail up his back with your nails. Lucifer opened his mouth in a breathless gasp, as if the air was sucked right out of his lungs, but it wasn’t long before his mouth made its way back to your mouth. Just like an animal craving something unattainable Lucifer slid his hands down to your hips and pulled you close to him. 

It was shocking to think that this was your first kiss. That something passionate and hot could be the beginning of something so sweet and honest. As much as you wanted to continue this.. Amazing experience, you couldn’t help but pull away breathlessly. You looked up into Lucifer’s eyes and let out an airy chuckle.

“That was.. Wow.” You said quietly. 

Lucifer rubbed the back of his head, looking to the side and chuckled at your comment. “Yeah.. Wow.” He replied.

You waved your hands in front of you frantically and apologized. “I’m so sorry! We shouldn’t have– I shouldn’t have done that, sir. Oh, fuck I’m so sorry.” You trailed off in a moment of panic, but a hand tilted your head up and you were then met with Lucifer’s empathetic expression. 

“Hey, I liked it, and please, call me Lucifer.” He reassured you with a smile.

You opened your mouth to say something but Lucifer quickly shut you up with a kiss. He left you once again speechless and embarrassed. He held out his hand for you to hold and ushered you out of the alleyway.

“C’mon let’s head back.” He said smiling at you as if you were the greatest thing he’d ever laid eyes on.

You nodded and squeezed his hand as the both of you made your way back to the hotel. You wondered what this meant for the both of you. What were you two now? Fuck if either of you knew. One thing you did know was that you definitely wanted to do that again.

[quitealotofsodapop]

I just adore the idea that Flower Fruit Mountain became a sort of safe haven/getaway for the pilgrims' decendants and overtime the various families just... forgot that this was THAT mountain after generations of information being diluted and forgotten until someone just... accidentally stumbled upon Wukong fresh from the dirt

Secret cool family mountain island.

Plus the rings of volcanos (either a security messure by Wukong, or a result of the Burning) make it super hard for anyone other than a pair of dragons who can fly over, a really good boatman + pig, or a really lucky castaway scholar.

Sandy has known of the island for a while now. He's the only boatman brave/hardy enough to discover the exact inlets between the volcanos that safely pass into the paradise beyond. He keeps it a tight secret - not wanting the island to be victim to the greed of the modern day.

Pigsy and Tang are the next to learn about it. Both had gotten themselves into personal troubles and needed an escape from the world. So their friend Sandy offered to show them a spot where the magic privacy wards were strong, and where they could just be alone with their thoughts. Sandy hesistates to land the boat on the island for real, sensing a strong magic that repels potiential trespassers.

Pigsy appriciates the quiet for once. He wonders what ungrateful jerks do have special access to the paradise as he watches from the side of the ship. He saw dragons flying overhead once - maybe its exclusive to them?

Tang has a major historian/fantasy nerd moment when he sees the location of the region on Sandy's map. It's a dead ringer for the lost country of Alolai! The ancestral home of Monkey Demonkind and the birthplace of the Monkey King himself!! This could be a huge discovery!!! Sandy and Pigsy warn their friend about jumping to conclusions; its likely just a really isolated spot in the middle of the ocean. Tang pouts and disagrees, suggesting that if he could explore the island, he might find remnants of what people could have lived their before.

Tang accidentally puts his theory to the test when a freak storm knocks him off the boat and into the waters surrounding the island. He finds himself washed up on the shoreline of the island, confused/cautiously smug at why the protective wards allowed him access. He immediately ignores the survival aspect of his experience and begins exploring the island to his heart's content - blissfully unaware that Pigsy and Sandy are busy tearing the shoreline apart trying to find him.

The Ao-Longs find themselves in a predicament as they notice that they actually can't hire anyone to follow them onto the island. The wards take one look at what appears to be an invasion of dragons like "Nope. No Entry." and spits all the hired help/guides out. The Ao Longs believe their ancestor gained special permission to visit the island and that only related members of Sea dragon royalty can step foot on it. They mostly just saw it as a "panic room" of sorts when they truly needed to be alone (also alone together wink wink).

The day they meet Wukong was when the couple decided that they desperately needed an "off-grid" vacation from the modern world, esp with their super curious and attention-demanding pup.

A certain dragon pup wanders off and finds both a very pretty waterfall, and a very confused human looking at it...

Lil Mei: "Water slide!!" Tang: "OH SWEET BUDDHA NO!!" *jumps in after her* (*both find themselves in an odd cave...*) Tang: "I am freaking out so hard right now, but please never do that again!!" Lil Mei: *delighted giggling* Tang, looking around: "Wow this place hasn't had a good dusting in a while... I'mma just look around for cool stuff before we try getting out, k?" Lil Mei clinging to Tang's robe: "Yep!"

And ofc... a very curious pair find an odd lump/marker in the dirt of the cave that makes the scholar wonder if it's the burial place for a beloved heirloom or pottery. With the assistance of little dragon claws, he manages to unearth what looks like a weird monkey statue (very cool).

Until the staute begins glowing with a powerful magic energy... (0_ 0)

[xadoheandterra]

Series: Semblance Title: Patriciate Fandom: Jak and Daxter Chapters: I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | XIII | XIV | XV | XVI Characters: Jak, Daxter, Samos, Keira, Kid!Jak, Ashelin, Torn, Tess Tags: Worldbuilding, Accidentally King of Haven!Jak, hurt/comfort, things go wrong, things get better, things get worse again, slow build, slow burn, slow to update, cross posted, fantasy racism, canon divergence, been meaning to share this here Summary: “It’s yours,” Jak said softly. “Keep it…remember where you come from. At least one of us should remember….”

If Jak knew the consequences of that one, selfish choice…well, he’d probably have made the same decision either way.

The path of fate has changed, so what does that mean?

Pecker kept himself small, huddled in between boxes and crates to not cast a shadow on the tent walls. He glanced cautiously over toward Onin who sat cross legged surrounded by various trinkets while she meditated. Pecker shivered while he listened to the telltale shuffling of the Metal Heads outside the tent canvas. He watched through the thinnest cracks along the bottom of the tent the creatures sniff around. With bated breath Pecker waited until they shuffled off, the sounds becoming distant.

“That was close,” Pecker huffed. Onin tilted her head, turned it in his direction calmly. “Oh please don’t give me that look.” Her lips twitched up and Pecker could easily read the minute gestures that told him all he needed to know.

 “That is bullshit and you know it,” Pecker pointed out in response to what he read. He huffed and flew over to Onin exhaustedly. “How much longer are we going to be stuck here anyway?”

Onin sighed breathlessly and shifted. Pecker watched for the signs of communication, the twitches of fingers that were far subtler than when she made grandiose gestures at her guests. Pecker frowned best he could at what he read there.

“You needn’t be so hard on yourself,” Pecker said quietly. “Please, Onin.”

Onin twitched her head and pushed air through her nose in another huff. She opened sightless eyes and turned them toward Pecker tiredly. This time she made a sharp gesture with her hand, twisting the rest and curling the fingers. She shifted in her spot, face curling with more words.

“Well yes something is obviously different,” Pecker agreed. “This rescue is taking far too long!” He let out a faint squawk. “That doesn’t mean you should doubt yourself.” Pecker poked her in the head. “You haven’t been wrong yet.”

Onin frowned. She poked Pecker back and moved her fingers in an intricate pattern. She drew faint lines of light eco into the air, and then waved her hand through it the next second to wipe the trace. Pecker glanced to the front of the tent, tensed, and waited to see if any Metal Heads made their way back at the scent of eco. He breathed a sigh of relief when nothing happened.

​"Honestly Onin you worry too much,” Pecker said bluntly. “We’ll be out of here soon enough and Jak will finish his destiny. So what if it’s a little different? That’s just the minor details.” Onin arched an eyebrow. “Well yes I’m upset! This rescue is taking far too long. You think they’d come get us first thing, won’t you?”

Onin frowned and poked Pecker in the forehead. She made a small gesture, then sighed wordlessly. Pecker frowned.

"This doubting is not like you," Pecker said. Onin rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. Just wait and see. As you've forseen so shall it come to pass." Pecker paused, then slumped over with a sigh. "Although I admit I am not looking forward to that bit with all the sand. Or that Vegan fellow. Or any of it with the daystar thing." Pecker stared down at the ground and completely missed Onin's silent response. "I know it is fate, but to pin it on him? On them? It feels like a sham."

Onin placed her hand atop Peckers head and bowed her own in understanding. More than anyone they understood the chains of fate.

"We need to discuss the eco situation before we get any further on the recovery efforts," Jak brought up before greetings could be provided.

"Eco situation?" Keira questioned with a frown. She glanced around the table and noted that out of everyone only Samos and Zoe seemed to know what Jak meant.

Jak licked his lips and flicked his fingers against the table. Abruptly in front of everyone the reports began to scroll. "These are the records we have on Praxis' exchange of eco with Kor." Jak made a gesture and the lines of red, blue, and yellow eco lit up. "From what he recorded Praxis traded in red, blue, yellow and dark eco considering the overabundance of it. Not once did he send Kor a barrel of green."

"Considering how green and dark interact," Keira murmured in understanding. Alyin glanced to her, then to Jak. Ashlin blinked.

"What do you mean?" Ashlin questioned. "How they interact?"

Keira looked over to Ashlin, and then made a short gesture. "Green eco and dark eco interact poorly. With an overgrowth of dark green is used as a cleansing agent. It counteracts the corrosive influence and rejuvenates. That's why we need green eco in the cleansing process; fire'll work for disease but to cleanse the taint of the dark eco we do need to bathe the pits in green...."

"So that's why you mentioned the green eco," Aylin said surprised. "That makes sense...."

"Except we're short," Jak said slowly, and that grabbed the younger generation's attention. Torn stiffened at his back. "It went largely unreported but the hospitals have a green shortage; while there are unreported missing barrels of all types of eco, the unreported missing barrels of red, blue, yellow, and dark match up with the records we do have of Praxis' deals with Kor."

"An' then there's the green stuff that's jus' missin' entirely," Daxter said darkly. "Which means either someone's been hoardin' shit, or somethin' else is going on."

Jak pulled up the information on the green flows and pointed out the discrepancies. He highlighted the comments on blockages and the room descended into silent, contemplative reading for a minute. He didn't say his thoughts out loud just yet, instead glanced to Keira. Keira knew most about eco flows out of everyone back in Sandover. Her intense interest into precurian technology helped, and then with Samos for an adoptive father she learned plenty on how the eco flows worked. From her seat Keira stood up, moved her hands alongside the report and then pulled up a map to coincide with it.

"Keira what are you doing?" Samos harrumphed tiredly but stalled when Zoe held up a hand. She also got to her feet and shifted around the table to see what Keira saw.

"What do you notice, child?" Zoe questioned quietly. She glanced between Jak and Keira curiously. "What do both of you notice."

Keira blinked and looked to Jak. "You see it too, right?" Jak nodded slowly.

"Like when the blue lines were closed," Jak said softly. "When the Acherons...."

"That's what I thought," Keira agreed. Carefully she tapped out a few quick commands--Zoe took the time over the past few days to get her acquainted with the system. "The question becomes how long and if there is a pattern...."

"There is," Jak agreed softly. He got up and quickly pulled up the relevant files. In between reading through the reports for the preparations to the Stadium and the Waterfront, both performed as quietly as Keira and Daxter and the Underground could make it, Jak delved into the reports and history in regards to the eco flows in an attempt to suss out a pattern for the eco shortage if he could. "See here? These records go back to before Praxis took over."

"I'm not the only one lost, am I?" Koray muttered quietly, and Alyin shook her head with a frown.

For a moment Keira and Jak went back and forth in half-sentences and thoughts while the rest of the Council tried to follow. Daxter occasionally would pipe up some nonsensical comment that only both teens understood. Out of the entire council Zoe and Samos seemed to have some vague idea what what they three discussed. This back and forth continued for some time until Ashlin grew tired of the lack of explanation, stood up, and slammed her hands down onto the table to gather everyone's attention.

"Jak!" Ashlin snapped out and Jak jerked his head up. "What are you two even talking about?"

"The eco lines," Keira said bluntly when Jak just blinked in surprise. "They've been turned off. Why would you even remotely do that?"

Torn shifted and frowned at the three teens. "It attracts the metal heads," the commander said carefully. "Historically the council decided to shut down the eco lines for the protection of the city itself."

"That makes no sense!" Keira threw her hands up in a huff. "You crippled the city to protect it? What kind of nonsense--" Jak sighed and Daxter let out a loud, "Hey, hey, hey!" before the table could erupt into arguing.

"Lemme get this straight," Daxter said sharply. "Ya'll shut down the eco lines cuz the metal heads are attracted to eco, right?"

Ashlin nodded. "Yes. The Council made the choice several generations back."

Daxter frowned, then glanced to Jak who sighed irritably.

"Metal heads are attracted to liquid eco," Jak said slowly. "The eco lines filter vaporous eco to the vents which the metal heads aren't even interested in. Meanwhile you've broken open who knows how many dark eco silos and practically polluted whole sections outside the town walls with liquid dark eco that the metal heads can gorge themselves on. They have an easy source of liquid eco, dark eco, readily available. They don't need to try and harvest any from the eco lines while the dark eco from the silos is still so abundant."

"The lines still hold liquid eco," Ashlin pointed out.

"Yeah, but that's so far deep down that not even the precursor ruin with the control switch can reach it," Keira pointed out. "You know we barely interacted with liquid eco before the metal head invasion right? If any of the Sage's wanted to touch eco in its liquid form they had to condense it back down after harvesting the vapor from a nearby vent."

"That's what always bugged us 'bout the whole tradin' eco thing with Kor," Daxter pointed out. "They didn't need it."

For a moment the table remained silent in complete shock. Then, carefully, Ashlin asked the question that lingered on the older council members mind. "How...do you know this?"

Jak blinked. He glanced at them one by one. "I was taught it," Jak said carefully. "During my...stay in Praxis' care." He didn't like to honestly think about the knowledge Praxis and Erol stuffed into his head during the two years he stayed in their tender mercies, between the eco treatments and assessments. Jak breathed out slowly. "Did honestly none of you know this?" Jak glanced to Samos and to Zoe who both held thoughtful frowns on their faces.

Zoe sighed heavily and scrubbed a hand down her face with sudden exhaustion. Samos tightened his grip on his cane.

"We were informed that the 'dark eco' outside of the walls in fact contained poison," she said softly, "and indeed all tests done by House Azul proved such."

"Agreed," Samos said. "We were lead to believe the dark eco outside the walls in fact meant nothing to the metal heads. The research and the data backed it up." Samos sagged. "To think he'd gone so far..."

"We don't even have records of where the switches are anymore," Zoe said bitterly. "They were destroyed some sixty, seventy years ago...."

Jak exchanged a glance with Keira and Keira nodded. "Look, I have a few suggestions for that, things to look out for, locations from Sandover that I can remember. We never dealt with the green line, never needed to, but the blue, yellow and red ones I can give you rough approximations based from there."

"If we follow the pattern of the other eco lines, we might be able to pull up where the green line is as well," Zoe agreed. "First things first though we need to focus on the recovery efforts."

"Eco is just as important, especially green!" Keira argued. Samos' hand stopped her from continuing.

"Keira," Samos said lightly and Keira glanced back to him. "Let Zoe and I handle the eco lines. You, Jak, and Daxter provide the information on the previous locations and we'll run from there. The rest of you should focus on the recovery efforts and where to spend our attention. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, and for the time being we can make do with what green we do have. We're short, but we're not in the red just yet."

"We will be if we don't take care of it," Ashlin said softly.

"Definitely," Aylin agreed, "but Zoe and the Shadow are right. We need to prioritize. So, back to the recovery efforts and the space requirements; what do we have to work with?"

Koray knew his own strengths and weaknesses like the back of his hand. Hunt down Onin in the middle of Metal Head infested territory amounted to suicide, but Koray knew to ignore Veger on something so important spelt trouble. Easily enough the answer settled with the Sage Lines and the Council that the freak designed. The Market District sat closest to Main Town aside from the Agricultural District which made it a prime target for immediate rescue. Koray planned to bring it up in favor of the people of Haven; not even Alyin could refute him that. After all House Karga focused on the people.

While the rest of the group discussed the logistics of removing the equipment in the Stadium pits and the Stadium itself, Koray flipped through the reports on the most damaged areas and House Praxis' assessment of the damage thus far. While they brought up Eco storage and the shortage concerns, Koray dragged his fingers along the comments towards the advantages and disadvantages of their current position. He noted the rate of food, the concerns in regards to metal head incursion in the Agricultural District, the supplies potentially remained in the Market District.

With the freak and his sycophants Koray knew he'd need to phrase his change to the plan just so in order to get them to go along. If not Jak then at least Aylin and one of the other Houses. When the meeting began to die down in regards to the plans--somehow the Waterfront became refugee location number two for those not sick and infirm, which meant that they'd need to build shelters for the people and given the amount of open space over the water the shelters would be housed there--Koray could see the outcry of turning such a centralized location into essentially a secondary slums district.

"I have a proposition," Koray said cautiously in a slight lull in the conversation where Zoe, Samos and Ashlin made notes and adjustments. Aylin shot him a look, an arched eyebrow that conveyed the cold 'and what are you doing now?' that found itself in all House Karga women. Koray continued on and ignored the look. "We've made a note on the eco shortage and on how best to settle the refugees but we're ignoring two major districts that could provide additional room to house people temporarily."

Koray quickly brought up the Agricultural District and then the Market District. "You can see here that reported damage to both districts are minimal," Koray highlighted primarily the borders. "In fact for the Agricultural District borders itself against both the Waterfront and Main Town. Freeing that space would ease the public's understanding and raise open, land bound areas to house refugees not deemed a health risk."

Aylin leaned forward and looked over what Koray marked down. "Interesting," she murmured, and Koray knew she could see the same he could--the strangeness in the revelation that only one path between the Waterfront and to Main Town that focused solely on the Palace itself.

"Plus there is the concern of an increase in metal head activity within the Agricultural District itself," Koray pointed out carefully. "The corruption of crops and food will lead toward an increase in disease and dark eco levels among the common populace."

Samos frowned and Jak furrowed his brow in thought. Koray watched House Haggai put together the details and waited. Keira spoke up instead of her father though, and Koray twitched her head in the young girl's direction.

"In order to free up the agricultural areas of Haven we need to use the green eco to cleanse what damage the crops already suffer from," Keira pointed out. "Green eco we don't have to spare."

Aylin nodded. "The space increase you bring up, and the health increase, are good points Koray," she said calmly, fingers steepled together, "but in this case I feel that even House Karga can't support the change in focus. While we might gain space to place cleared refugees we run the risk of an increase in sick and inform, lowering the locations where we can store them and increasing the rise of disease among the populace without a clear way to keep them down."

"Plus you need to think of the bodies contaminating the rest of the city itself," Ashlin agreed. "We need to clean out the heavily infested areas first, focus on reclaiming sections of the city we've lost entirely. We haven't completely lost the Agricultural District or the Market District; they're under attack, but still fairly clear of metal head incursion."

"Beyond even that," Zoe spoke up, voice sharp, "the shield wall needs immediate repair, especially if we are to take back any part of this city. The equipment for that resides only in the Industrial District under the purview of House Azul."

Koray clenched his fists and glanced about the room. While the others considered, his plan still removed itself from the table. He clenched his teeth.

"What about the Prison," Koray said cautiously. "The medical facilities there--"

"--are not worth dredging out," Jak said shortly and everyone froze. "The Prison doesn't house any green eco on site, therefore reclamation of the Prison is not a priority."

Ashlin exchanged a glance to Torn who stiffened behind Jak, and Aylin looked over at Koray whose lips tugged into a faint sneer.

"The other stores of eco alone could increase our fire power, not to mention the use of the KG supplies that were contained there--" Koray started, but Aylin cut him off by dragging him right back into his seat with a sharp glare. Her normally amber eyes glowed bright yellow with her fury.

"Koray, enough," Aylin said coldly. "Sire, House Karga apologizes for speaking out of turn." Jak inclined his head. "It is our consideration to leave the Prison as it is. When we reclaim the Industrial District we can look towards that path if we find ourselves short on the eco supply. That is House Karga's suggestion in regards to the reclamation."

The sudden turn toward formality left Koray frozen solid. Obviously he'd overstepped into something, and with a gentle incline of his head for apology Koray observed the group as a whole. Praxis knew something, as did the traitor and Zoe, although Koray couldn't be certain toward what. Most likely something that Erol worked on, given the stiffened nature of Torn's spine or the way Ashlin seemed to suddenly regain the privileged stick up her ass.

The eco freak's silence and near black eyes helped cinch the matter toward something Erol worked on. Most probably something in regards to the Dark Warrior Program, then. Koray pondered for a moment what secrets the prison could be hiding before he settled back to silently observe the rest of the meeting. A minor setback, the thought to have the recovery efforts designed by Jak to rescue Onin was a good one, but the opposition meant that Koray would have to seek this out on his own. The thought of entering territory claimed by the beasts, tainted by the dark eco--well, Koray wasn't a fighter at heart. That didn't mean however that he didn't know how to fight when necessary.

Jak breathed a settling breath through his nose while the room cleared out, the meeting finally come to an end. He stared down at the streets of Haven, hands clenched tight to mask the faint tremble to them. Daxter kept himself rather still, fingers on his hands gently tugged through his braids, a silent form of support. Once the meeting finished Torn shifted to settle against a wall and kept one eye on Jak, and one on the departing members. Jak felt rather grateful that Torn out of everyone recognized Jak's reluctance to deal with any member of House Karga and carefully steered Aylin out of the room with a shaken head and a soft word.

When finally everyone left, aside from Samos and Torn--Kiera lingered in the doorway, curious and cautious and not-at-all like the Keira Jak could remember. Jak glanced to her before he kept his gaze solely on the streets below.

"The boy had a point," Samos spoke as he moved over toward Jak. The soft clump of his feet thudded heavy to Jak's ears. They drooped faintly. "We might need the eco stored at the Prison." Samos slapped his staff into the ground with frustration. "There is no telling how much eco Praxis stored--"

"There is no green eco in the Prison," Jak said stiffly, voice clipped, "and that is the only eco we'd need at this time."

Samos frowned and hummed in thought. He sighed exasperatedly after a second. "Just because the inventory records state one thing--"

"The inventory records say nothing on the eco stored there," Jak tightened his fists and dug sharpened nails into his palms. He closed his eyes and hunched his shoulders inward a bit, ears dropped down. "There is too much blue, some yellow, some red, but no green."

"Jak," Samos said slowly, but before he could continue Torn stepped in, shifted from his position against the wall. Keira also spoke up, a soft, "Daddy," to get Samos' attention before Torn completely overtook her.

"Jak's right, Shadow," Torn said. "Praxis never felt the need for green eco to be stored at the prison, there's always been too much blue eco anywhere near the Guard and the locations they frequent, and the little yellow and red also stored there worked as spare ammunition than anything."

Samos seemed paused, a frown tugged at his mouth as he stared at Torn and then glanced to Jak and the way Jak's shoulders trembled faintly. He reached out a hand to place on Jak's shoulder, meant to be a calming or understanding gesture. A spark of dark eco snapped at his fingers and Samos jerked back with a hiss. He looked between his hand and then over at Jak. For a moment Samos wanted to say something--something about the dark eco that bubbled just beneath Jak's skin. For a moment Samos wondered how he never saw it, saw the depths of the eco that coiled in the teenager.

Then Samos pulled his hand back, let out a soft sigh even as Jak tensed further. He kept his thoughts to himself, intent to puzzle this one out further--and for a moment he wondered if he'd forgotten something, somewhere, that happened between now and Sandover. Samos knew he probably had; a lot of what Samos once knew he'd lost already due to age and distance and probably something to do with the rift and timetravel and two of him existing in one space--Samos huffed, and then turned.

"Very well," Samos said. "That shield wall is the priority for the moment." He paused to say something else, Samos thought toward all that he'd seen out of Jak these past weeks, before he sighed and carefully began to lead Keira from the room as well. Jak remained stiff and tense, small sparks of dark eco jolted from his shoulders. Daxter dug his claws in a bit deeper against Jak's skull as he dragged them through the braids.

For a moment the room sat in tense silence, and then Jak let out a heavy, shaken breath. One moment he stood tense, and then his knees felt weak and his vision felt hazy and all Jak wanted to do was settle into the ground. He didn't even notice Torn slip from the wall and grip his upper arm, tight but loose enough that if Jak wanted he could break free without any enhanced strength. Torn held on despite the eco that singed at his skin; instead the commander tugged until Jak settled down onto the floor and he knelt next to the teen.

"In, and out," Torn said carefully, "breathe with me, Jak." Jak glanced to him and Torn exaggerated breathing in and then breathing out, and Jak slowly began to follow. "That's it. In, and out."

In, and out. The haze began to settle a little, the trembling to his limbs eased up just the slightest bit. Jak could feel Daxter's claws in his scalp, a steady pressure of faint pinpricks. In, and out. The tightness in his chest began to loosen, and for a moment his breath wavered and hitched. In, and out. Jak's hands began to slowly unclench, the faint coppery scent of blood hit his nostrils and the sting felt sharper, more intensive.

"That's it, Jak, in and out."

In, and out. In, and out. His eyes burned and Jak choked lightly on his breath before he sucked in another. It began to hit back at him, hit home that even Samos agreed until Torn backed Jak up, backed up his knowledge with cold efficiency. Even Samos felt like they should unearth the prison just for what might be contained there. Samos who knew, who had to know--

"Jak! In, and out. With me," Torn snapped out and Jak sucked in a sharp, hitched breath and the burning in his eyes eased with tears. "There you go. You with me? In and out, Jak. Come on, kid."

It crashed down on him at once and Jak leaned his head forward until it rested against Torn's clavicle. His shoulder's shook, and his breathing came in soft, steady breaths as his black coated eyes stared down at Torn's lap.

"Come on, kid," Torn murmured. "You're here. You're here."

Torn could admit he'd never quite seen Jak just crumble before. He'd found the kid in terrible situations, and those first few weeks once he'd escaped from the prison Torn often found himself seeking out the kid in whatever alcove he'd holed up in before Jak fully accepted that in the Underground's HQ he was welcome, he was relatively safe, and could sleep without fear. As far as Torn understood Jak broke down in private, with just Daxter around to pull him back out--there wasn't a chance Jak didn't break down, unless he'd actually been pressing himself onward for a year without letting himself quite reach the reality that no longer was he there, in the prison, in the Program.

Torn sighed out heavily, kept his breathing steady even when it hurt just the slightest bit to do so.

"It took me a long time to wake up in the morning and feel like each day wasn't a mistake," Torn said quietly. "It took me a long time to be capable of sleep without seeing someone I'd once trusted implicitly take my knife and kill me with it." Jak stilled for the most part, just breathed although his shoulders shook. Given the way his ears perked Torn had his attention. "To go to sleep and not feel myself choke, to be capable of breathing, of even touching a knife without trembling or being sick." Torn's voice shook faintly and he focused on his own breathing for a moment.

"How did you do it?" Jak asked, voice a dead whisper.

Torn closed his eyes. "For a long time I didn't. I repressed and suppressed whatever I could. Every memory, every bite of betrayal I shoved it away and dealt with every day as a job. Work to be done, couldn't focus on it, not now." Jak stilled almost completely. "Until one day I couldn't anymore."

Jak pulled back a little, and Torn could see the blue in his eyes again. Torn licked his lips and glanced away.

"Tess found me," he said hoarsely, "bleeding." Jak pulled back further. "She didn't leave me alone after that. Stayed at my side, forced me to rest, forced me to take care of myself and when I didn't, did so for me." Torn looked to Jak. "She ingrained herself so fully into my life, brought me back from that edge...." Torn breathed in and out. "Tess was my Daxter," he said eventually, glanced to the little rodent on Jak's shoulder and Jak blinked in understanding.

Daxter grabbed a few of Jak's locks tightly.

"No one needs to know anything of what happened if you don't want them to," Torn said carefully and Jak stared at him with such a broken look that Torn wanted to resurrect Erol and Praxis if only to give them a taste of the hell they'd put this kid through. "Ashlin and I have been working on removing all of the records so that only you can let others read them."

Jak swallowed. He breathed, "You know?"

Torn closed his eyes and nodded once.

"We kept an eye on the program," Torn said, "and when you joined up with the Underground I needed to know what to expect from you, and what to watch out for." Torn sighed. "Vin got the information. He made me swear to never use any of it, especially in regards to you." Unsaid went 'or against you' and Jak could pick up the subtleties there, that Torn knew what Praxis and Erol did to attempt to control him, to control the beast they'd created in two years of torture.

"How...much?" Jak asked.

"Anything in an official capacity," Torn said. "Anything further than that..." Torn shook his head. "It's not my place to know unless you want me to."

Daxter leaned forward and stared at Torn's face. "An...that's it? Nothin else?" Daxter questioned.

Torn looked to Daxter. "It's not my place," Torn said calmly. "If you want to tell me, then that's your choice." He looked back to Jak. "Your health is my job, Jak. I take care of my own. I always have." Torn squeezed Jak's arm. "If you want to talk, I'm here. If you need to break down, I'm here."

"S'why you kept dragging us in outta the cold," Daxter murmured, as if he suddenly just got it. Torn knew they'd figured that much out long ago, he'd overheard them discussing it in the dead of the night once or twice. Torn inclined his head in agreement either way.

"How did..." Jak struggled, not sure if he should ask, but Torn gave him a bitter smile.

"What happened to me?" Torn asked, and Jak nodded slowly. "You saw Dead Town." Jak swallowed and nodded again. "My squad was sent there to...save it, we were told." Torn sighed. "We were actually sent there to die." Jak froze. "Praxis...already deemed Dead Town a loss. When we tried to evacuate, when we asked for reinforcements he..." Torn sighed. "He sent in another squad to slaughter us instead, to ensure we didn't save anyone."

Torn let go of Jak's arm and rubbed at his neck.

"I thought they'd come as back up," he murmured, "instead as I went to call to my men Erol grabbed my knife from my belt and slit my throat." Torn stared off into the distance. "I later learned I'd died for several minutes, and only the Shadow and his underground is the reason why I survived, why anyone survived."

"Erol...?" Daxter hissed between his teeth, almost inaudible. Torn opened his mouth to agree, yes, Erol because he knew what that sounded like. Erol at one point his friend? The man who'd single handedly ruined so many lives for fun, a friend? Torn didn't have an explanation for it, aside from he'd honestly thought he could trust Erol, trust Praxis--he was naive.

Then Jak blurted out before he even could say anything, a weak sort of hoarse whisper, "I was raped."

Torn froze, then let out a slow breath. That explained everything.

"As--as a means to control me. I...he..."

Torn closed his eyes, got to his feet, and offered Jak his hand. Jak blinked in surprise.

"Come on, kid," Torn said tiredly. "Let's go somewhere...else for this. More comfortable." He paused, then added, "With booze." Jak stared at him and Torn looked down. "Strong booze. Pretty sure there's some stashed away somewhere in this maze of a palace."

"You..."

Torn's lips twisted and he said, "We can share our respective stories over a good drink if you really want. Share what an asshole Praxis and Erol were, what twisted up pieces of shit they've done and rejoice in their deaths." Torn chuckled darkly. "Honestly they got off easy."

"Yeah," Jak murmured in agreement, voice deeper, almost darker. "They did." He took Torn's hand and let the commander tug him to his feet. He licked his lips. "Thanks."

Torn shook his head, let out a bitter laugh, and just lead Jak from the room. He didn't want the thanks; he didn't deserve it. Torn wanted nothing more than to drink himself into oblivion because he should've seen it. He should've known. After all he alone knew the exact depths Erol fell to; he provided the means once, even. He took Erol to that edge, and Torn didn't bother to stop him from falling.

[radioactivepeasant]

Free Day Thursday: Fragile Things

(This is the one where overuse of light eco at the point of death rewound Damas’s soul back three years. He still isn't sure whether he actually died and accidentally entered another timeline's body when that Damas would have died early, or if he just had an extremely detailed vision. Either way, he broke into Haven and kidnapped TPL Jak literally right in front of Errol and his patrol, and 100% forgot to explain this to his people. Including Jak.) This is long so I'm breaking it into two three posts because even with a read-more it'd be a lot of scrolling.

Two Months Before the Incident:

For the children of the North Quarter, the bridge was a popular place to play and congregate. Most people didn't mind their youngsters hanging around the area, as it was close enough to the tower to discourage general mischief. Footraces, dramatic games of make-believe, even impromptu Raids matches were held on the dusty landmark. It wasn't uncommon for a passing adult to stop and keep an eye on the children for a while, occasionally playing referee.

It was not common for that adult to be King Damas.

He leaned against the tower, and an entrance to the filtration levels that only a handful of Spargans had the code to. Nine children ranging from ten to fourteen in age were spread across the bridge in little groups. The smaller ones were playing a fairly unhinged version of Raids that had evolved to include someone's pet dogat. The older three were crouched closer to him, intent on learning a marble game Jak was trying to teach them. Kill-Grid, he called it, some fusion of checkers and an Arena trial. Damas hadn't quite gotten the hang of it yet, himself, but he enjoyed watching Jak play.

One of the water staff exited the entrance and was taken aback to find him there. For a moment, the balding man looked around as if expecting trouble. When he realized that the king was merely taking his turn looking after the collective of children, he relaxed.

"One of these days someone is going to go right over the side of this thing," he sighed.

"And that's why they're never up here unsupervised," Damas agreed. Never taking his eyes from the children, he asked, "How are the new saline filters working out?"

Jeriko made a face. "All good but one. There's a crack in the seal we didn't notice at installation. We're going to have to take it out and use the old filter until it's fixed."

"Ah. I'll have the Trade guild remind its members to examine imports from Kras more closely." Damas rubbed his nose and shrugged. "Still, three out of four isn't bad."

"No indeed.”

They were silent for a while, and Jeriko noticed something. While Damas’s eyes periodically flitted across every little Spargan on the bridge, they always came back to one in particular. The skinny little thing he'd brought back after dropping off Sig for his infiltration mission. Jak, right? Or Jag? Jeriko could never quite tell, but the boy was almost always in the tower. Far more than any of his playmates would have been. Jeriko could almost swear the boy lived there.

"You knew him already, didn't you?"

He couldn't say what had possessed him to ask what so many whispered about already. A death-wish?

But Damas wasn't offended. There was a faraway quality to his gaze as he murmured, "Yes."

He folded his arms and sighed.

"He's thirteen, now. Thirteen! It doesn't seem real."

This was not what Jeriko had expected to hear. He turned to face his king in shock.

"Did you know him...before? In Haven?"

Did he leave a kid behind? He wouldn't do that, right?

Damas’s mind was far from the bridge. He answered honestly, but he did not think then how his answers would be interpreted.

"He's changed so much-! And yet for me, it seems only days since we were first separated."

Oh. Jeriko blanched. The coup. Jak had probably been a hostage to ensure that Damas cooperated. He would have been a newborn then! The poor kid! Jeriko didn't want to think about what kind of life he'd led before Damas went back for him. And now Haven had his other child, too? It was unthinkable.

"Does...does he remember?" Jeriko asked cautiously.

Damas shook his head. "No. I was a stranger to him."

His voice caught on the words.

"But it is...better this way. Better he is spared the horrors I remember. If I must rebuild our relationship from the beginning, I will gladly do so as long as he's safe."

Jak looked up then, meeting Damas’s gaze. He blinked at the intensity of it, then beamed and waved.

Damas smiled and waved back, but his eyes were still troubled.

And now, so were Jeriko's.

Five Days Before the Incident:

(The snippet where Jak jumpscares Damas by asking "Hey are you secretly my dad or something")

The Incident:

On the mainland, autumn had arrived. The air was cooling, and leaves were beginning to change color. On the desert island colloquially known as The Wastelands, fall meant temperatures dropping from 100° to 75°, and the air drying out. A relief for everyone except the people who harvested humidity to sell water. The cooling of the air meant that the sandstorm season had ended, and the rainy season would be upon them soon.

In the city of Spargus, that meant children anxiously awaiting the first major storm of the year. Once it had rained for more than fifteen minutes in a single span, the council would choose a day within the week to celebrate the Rainfall holiday on. Rainfall meant a four day break from school, and distribution of carefully conserved fruits and sweets, and the annual plays and mock battles held in the Arena to entertain the youngest Wastelanders. (And some of the older ones, not that they'd admit it.)

Jak had never heard of the holiday before being brought to the desert city. But it reminded him of Aurora Night in Sandover -- or more specifically, Rock Village. Uncle Erasmus had brought the tradition down into the coastal village when he settled there, long before Jak arrived.

He wondered where in the world Erasmus had ended up -- or maybe when. The calendars were all messed up now.

The holiday sounded like a lot of fun. There had never been more than three children in their little neighborhood in Sandover, and celebrations were subsequently quite small. But here there were more kids than Jak had ever seen in one place before. And even the older ones were excited about Rainfall!

Jak sat under an awning with a few other twelve and thirteen year olds, sorting spent ammunition casings to be recycled. It was normally a chore for very young children, but someone in Jak’s class had gotten them all on punishment.

The actions of one affected the whole.

That's the lesson the teacher was trying to impress on them: that one person breaking rules and taking risks in the ruins could put a whole team in danger.

Half the kids understood the lesson behind the group punishment. The other half -- including Jak -- thought it was just grown-ups being mean.

"Y'know what's the worst about this?" complained a girl to Jak’s left -- one of his regular playmates these days, "It wasn't even me this time! For once, I didn't sneak off, and I'm still getting baby chores!"

Jak snorted. "Lose-lose," he signed.

"You said it," Flick agreed.

She tossed another empty Scatter cartridge into a basket and nudged Jak's foot with her own.

"Hey, you think the big boss will give you a Rain Bead this year?"

"Huh?"

Jak tilted his head quizzically.

Flick took a moment to wind her braided hair back up out of her way, only to undo her work again by shrugging.

"Y'know, since you live...somewhere in the tower. Does he take care of you? Or do you live on the first floor?"

"I live with Damas? You knew that already?"

He wasn't that surprised that she'd forgotten. There were a lot of floors in the tower, and three of them had people living in them. And since people didn't like to talk about Damas’s other kid, the baby his friend in Haven was searching for, they tended to assume that Damas wasn't the one looking after Jak.

The only exceptions were the guards and the filtration staff. They gossiped worse than old Mrs. Perch! Inside the tower, it was an open secret that Jak had either been adopted by the king, or was a biological child that had been taken from him when he was exiled.

Jak pretended not to hear them gossiping when they saw him. It just made his head hurt.

Forget figuring out how that could work. Damas said he wanted to be Jak's dad on purpose! That was even better, right? Because it meant he wasn't obligated to look after Jak, he did it because he wanted to.

Jak watched a strand of bone beads bounce against Flick's braid -- off-white against bright teal -- and counted them silently.

Thirteen, one for every Rainfall Flick had experienced. She was looking forward to her fourteenth bead. Some Wastelanders had as many as twenty hanging from belts or hair! But only those with parents living in the city.

It wasn't a gift friends could give. Apparently it was reserved only for parents and guardians.

Jak didn't know if Damas would give him a rain bead, but he was hoping he would.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the half filled blaster casing still contained until his hands tingled.

Oh, he hadn't meant to channel it out!

Jak pretended to light one of his fingers on fire and watched the eco hop from vein to fingertip like a perverse candle.

It wasn't enough for a full fireball, but that was for the best. The last time there was an eco imbalance, he'd nearly singed off Teacher Rustin's eyebrows.

"Aw cool!" Flick leaned over with a wide, crooked grin. "Man, I wish I could channel."

Feeling a bit whimsical, Jak used the fire to write words in the air before it ran out.

"That's what the shells are for, right? Even the playing field."

"Yeah," Flick sighed, "I guess that's true."

Then she started digging around for more blaster casings.

"Do it again."

"Guysss!" a younger boy whined from further down the line, "Quit! You're gonna get us in more trouble!"

Considering this was the youngster who had gotten them on group punishment in the first place, nobody paid him much attention.

"Here! How about this one?"

Flick tossed another shell to Jak.

"Nah. Empty."

The baskets were nearly full by the time they found more eco. Most of their classmates had finished their allotted baskets and been dismissed to carry on with their day by then. And according to Rustin, Jak could have left by now. But he hadn't channeled yellow eco in months! Now he wanted to find more!

"Ah-ha!"

Jak held up three shells triumphantly. Now this was enough for a fireball.

Rustin leapt to his feet.

"Noooooo you don't!" the young man shouted, "You get out of here with that eco!"

Cackling, Jak and Flick scooped up a handful of disorganized cartridges and shells and dashed out of the stall towards the beach.

Nobody minded if kids made a mess on the beach. Wasn't much to mess up. Flick turned a cartwheel -- showoff, Jak couldn't do that! -- and landed on her feet. Jak just did a somersault, as he always did back h- back in Sandover.

"Hey! I'll throw a sandball, and you blast it outta the air, okay?"

Flick ran to the surf and began packing wet sand into a sphere.

Jak drew the remnants of the yellow eco out of the spent casings. The stuff ran out quickly. You either channeled it out, or it got absorbed into your core.

The warmth gathered in his palm, sharpened his sight, and Jak waited.

Flick pulled back her arm and launched her projectile straight up.

Blam!

The fireball struck it dead-on. Sand rained down on them both.

Laughing, Jak brushed it out of his hair and shoved the fully empty casings into his pocket. Sorting through the random assortment they'd grabbed, he was disappointed to find no red residue in any of them. Oh well. There was a hint of blue, though.

Jak curved his right hand down into his left palm.

"Again!"

"You got it, partner!" Flick ran back to make another sandball, missing Jak's wince.

He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he wasn't her partner. It was Jak and Daxter, not Jak and Flick. Damas’s friend would find Daxter, Damas said so! He was so sure of it! Damas was always telling him that he would see Daxter again, that he couldn't give up.

Flick was his friend -- she'd probably be Daxter's friend, too -- but Daxter was the one who'd been through enough with him to be a partner.

"Okay! Ready for launch?"

Flick waved an arm.

"Readyyyyy- go!"

This time, Jak didn't shoot a fireball. This time he'd gotten a fingerful of blue eco.

Just that little bit was enough to propel him four feet up in a single leap to slap a hand against the sandball, smashing it.

"Yoooo!" Flick crowed, "That was awesome!"

Then an idea struck her. Jak recognized that little shimmer. When the girl's brown eyes looked almost gold for a moment, that was cause for concern. That meant somebody's parents were going to get called by the end of this.

Unfortunately, it also meant something really fun was about to happen. Choices, choices.

"Wait here." Without waiting for an answer, Flick turned and pelted up the beach, sending up little sprays of sand in her wake.

Jak tucked the Vulcan cartridge into his pocket with the other casings and shrugged. The weather was nice, he didn't mind waiting. The water was just beginning to cool, the perfect temperature for swimming. Jak struggled with his boots -- laces, he hated laces! It took weeks for Damas to teach him to tie his own stupid shoes! -- and kicked them off with a grumble before diving in.

The salt stung his eyes, but Jak had grown accustomed to that years ago. He pushed past the cloudy grit of the shallows and down past the breakers, to where the water was clear, and clean, and blue.

There was coral here. Not as dense as the reef in Rock Village, but there were more fish around it. Parrotfish nibbling at odd ends, wrasse darting in and out and hiding in the sand, funny little things shaped like flat ribbons that bumbled along. Jak loved to watch them all.

Sometimes, if he looked hard enough, he could find pieces of orbs under the coral. There were some whole ones, too, but prying them out would require breaking the coral, and Jak still remembered Samos's hour long lecture about coral being an animal of some kind. Jak didn't want to hurt an animal that wasn't hurting him just for the sake of something shiny. The shards of orbs he dredged up were enough -- the adults certainly seemed to think so. Apparently there were so many broken orbs around the desert that shards had become the most common form of currency. Jak wondered what could be powerful enough to smash an orb.

It wasn't until he came up for air that he realized Flick had been calling him. He wasn't sure when she'd gotten back. Time seemed to disappear when he was underwater. In no particular hurry, Jak swam a leisurely circuit before making his way back to shore. Flick had a bag over her shoulder that she was clinging to with a clear impatience. What was she up to?

"C'mon! Hurry! Before my mom figures out I took these!"

Well that was both promising and ominous at the same time.

Jak shook off seawater like a crocadog. (He saw them swimming beyond the reef sometimes. He badly wanted to touch one, but it Wasn't Allowed, apparently.)

Flick squealed and jumped out of the way.

"Ja-aak! Quit!"

He did not.

Once he'd wrung out his scarf -- and flicked the water off his fingers and onto his friend -- Jak leaned over with a questioning grunt.

Flick's eyes sparkled with mischief.

When she pulled back the flap, shiny yellow and blue plastic caught the sunlight.

Bullets. Unspent bullets.

Flick was fourteen; she was allowed to have Scattergun cartridges -- Jak still had to wait a year to be allowed to hold a gun -- but Blaster and Vulcan rounds? Absolutely not. The lure of the forbidden pulled at Jak, and he only hesitated for a moment.

The last time he'd given in to that call, his best friend got turned into an ottsel. But, they'd also uncovered Gol and Maia's plot.

And it wasn't like there was any dark eco here. He definitely had no chance of turning Flick into an ottsel.

Jak took adventure's bait, hook line and sinker.

Prying open the bullets to get the eco out was difficult. It took several minutes, and the sun was beating down uncomfortably on their shoulders when they finally cracked the seal on a Vulcan round. But it was so worth it. The rush of blue eco, shooting through his body, made Jak feel almost like he was back on Sentinel Beach. He whooped and took off down the strand, laughing.

Go go go go go! cried the eco in his blood, Faster! Higher! Further!

He'd made it halfway up the side of the cliff before he felt the eco beginning to wear off. Making the most of every last spark, Jak kicked off the rock wall and into a backflip, landing on his feet.

The nice thing about blue eco was that he was never out of breath after using it.

Jak turned to find Flick, much further down the beach. He waved his arms with a theatrical, "TA-DA!"

Flick whooped and waved her own arms. She waited until Jak had jogged back to her before pulling out a Blaster bullet.

"Now let's do fire!"

They spent close to half an hour playing with the elements of motion and range and fire. It was so strange to Jak that this was such a foreign concept to children in Spargus. There were no open vents here, no clusters of raw eco oozing from the rocks and the sea and the earth itself. Was it because it was a desert?

"Hey Jak," Flick said when they had begun to wind down, "How come you can channel more than one eco?"

Jak looked away from the sun, which was beginning to sink, with a startled grunt.

Oh. Right. The sages only ever channeled just one. He supposed monks were like sages in training, so they probably only channeled one eco, too.

"I don't know. I just do." Jak shrugged. "I can't turn it off. It just happens."

Flick laid back on the sand with her hands behind her head. "Huh. Well, that's kind of cool though."

They were quiet for a few seconds, but the calm wouldn't last.

Flick abruptly sat up and shifted to look at Jak. He blinked back at her upside-down visage and wondered why he suddenly had a bad feeling.

Was this what it was like to be Daxter?

"Have you ever channeled more than one eco?" Flick asked, "at the same time?"

A year ago, Jak would have said that was impossible. Picking up green turned off the effects of blue. Yellow turned off red. He just couldn't hold onto two at once.

Or so he'd thought.

But then came the last battle against the Acherons.

"Actually..."

Now Jak sat up, frowning.

"Actually, yeah! Only once, but it was like-"

He made a few meaningless gestures, trying to convey a sensation he couldn't describe.

"It was all four! And- and they mixed or something into- to- white eco or something!" Jak's hands were exaggerated into a shout. "It was like mega powerful!"

"Nuh-uh!" Flick challenged, but she was smiling. "There's no way. You did not homebrew light eco."

"Wasn't me, it was four sages!" Jak explained. "Maybe that's why I could do it?"

"Well can you only do it with all four, or does it work with three? Or even just two?"

The wheels were turning in Flick's head.

"What if you wanted speed and firepower, but not super strength?"

"Blue and yellow! Maybe!"

Jak didn't know that it wouldn't work.

And even if it didn't, at worst one would just cancel out the other.

"Might not do anything, but who knows!"

"We'll know.”

Next>

[whumpsday]

Whumpmas in July #7

Post a link to your favorite whump fic of all time!

so once again, i want to avoid saying the same thing i've said in previous years, and i've already talked about a lot of my favorite whump fics for WIJ before since this same prompt was used last year!

here is my post from last year, with a bunch of my favorite whump fics of all time. those fics include:

Dollhouse by @sowhumpshaped

Hazeshift by @whumpwillow

Magnanimous Moonrise & Savage Sunset by @not-a-space-alien

Of Vampires and Men by @whumpy-writings

Riot Kings by @befuddled-calico-whump

The Dark Side of the Sun by @quietly-by-myself

The Monster of Lindborough by @secretwhumplair

Things End | People Change by @whumpcloud

Tomas and Rowe by @whumpzone

you can find links to and summaries of those in the post linked above. here's 5 more of my favorite whump fics!

🔥 Bahkauv by @deluxewhump - Three friends traveling to the city stop off at a hunters camp to purchase a vampire for one of them to research at the university he will be attending. They purchase something a little different instead. (monster/vampire-adjacent whumpee, rescue/recovery, caretaker new master, burns, torture)

🧙‍♀️ Demon's Haven by @whumpwillow - Summoning demons for requests with a price far less expensive than one’s undying soul is common practice for witches, especially those who practice dark magic. Haven just wants to unlock a grimoire she found with the help of demonic magic, yet she ends up not in a battle of wits and wills but comforting a tortured and traumatized demon. (demon whumpee, rescue/recovery, desperate begging whumpee, accidental whump, caretaking)

💔 Shattered by @oddsconvert - Years of being held captive, under the vampires brutal persusasion has finally broken Declan, shattered his mind. Not living but not quite dead, paralysed in a comatose-like state. Vince decides his once delicious bloodbag has finally reached its end, selling it during it’s final few days. When August sees the advert for the dying human, he knows what he must do. Taking on the responsibility of nursing Declan back to health - though he is woefully unprepared for just how deep and severe the damage is and the hardships that will arise whilst tackling it. (vampire whumper, vampire caretaker, rescue/recovery, caretaker new master, recovery from mind control)

🧟‍♀️ Part of You by @sowhumpshaped - I’ve been thinking about it a lot. About whether I could do it. At the end of the day, there’s really no other alternative. Gena is my responsibility, and I’ll do everything to keep her safe and fed. (undead whumpee, cannibalism, lab whump, gore/dismemberment, tragedy)

⚰️ Another Path (BG3 fanfic) by @asidian - Astarion has spent two hundred years waiting for a hero to come. It isn't the foolish sort of idle dreaming that one reads about in adventure tales, no – he doesn't moon about in picturesque arched windows, pressing his hand to his chest and sighing. But he does hope sometimes, furtive and distantly yearning, in the same way he still prays to gods who never listen, every now and again. (vampire whumpee, rescue/recovery, starvation, caretaking, whumpee x caretaker)

@whumpmasinjuly

[rascalentertainments]

Wish Granted AU: The 7 Teens 👥👥👥🌟

This one was both the most fun and hardest one to do. At first I hated the idea of 7 friends in general cause its canon that the directors added them later in the story and they wanted to just have a free reference without actually doing something. But the more I thought about it, the more I could see that they were accidentally given a good opportunity to create a new batch of loveable characters. So many creative ideas with it! Even the original concept shows that they had more thought and personality to them!

And they actually did have some personality in the deleted scenes, both during the distraction plan and the dungeon scenes, they felt more like characters than the final film. They had Seven Dwarves without actually acting like the Seven Dwarves, like how....???

Sorry to say, they did nothing in the movie. (yeah, I watched Wish, it was lame. Moving on.) One thing I want to achieve here is they'll be a mix between the Dwarves and the Mane 6. I swear this makes sense. 😅 Also one big difference here is that instead of being friends with them from the start, Asha meets each teen one by one when she and Star enter Rosas. A few of them even know Flazino, but not on a super personal level, just that he's seemingly loyal to Magnifico and Amaya. The teens know each other pretty well since they all work around the same place, but having them work together to start a revolution and defeat an evil will cement them as friends with each other and Asha and Star.

So let's give a quick rundown on each one. The more the story evolves, this page will be updated for additional backgrounds or changes to them.

Dhalia: Combination of Twilight/Doc. She's still a baker in this in version, and her wish is to become the greatest baker in the kingdom. (I actually didn't know this was something canon to the movie until later, it just something I came up with by coincidence!) She's incredibly loyal to the king and queen (with a bit of a crush on Magnifico) and willing to do anything for the kingdom. And...let's just say her role in the story will be bigger than some other rewrites or even the film itself.

Simon: Combination of Big Macintosh/Sleepy. While he still retains his sleepiness, its a result of losing his wish. He was actually strong, outgoing and jovial before then. Now he just doesn't have any ambition to do anything aside from his daily tasks. His wish was to become a royal knight and protect the kingdom.

Gabo: Combination of Rainbow Dash/Grumpy. He's incredibly loyal, but he hides it behind his rudeness. He's been duped so many times that he doesn't trust people anymore, especially when finding out he's right about the king being no good. His wish he's keeping secret, but it'll be revealed somewhere in the story.

Bazeema: Combination of Fluttershy/Bashful. Still keeping her kindness and ability to sneak up on people from the movie, Bazeema adores nature and especially animals. She gets along with just about all the animals in the forest, the royal horses and even the birds. She LOVES when Star turns into animals, since he's the entire animal kingdom rolled into one! The only animal she's never succeeded with was Sabor. He's just too much like his owners to get along with. 😂 Her wish is to provide a safe haven where all the animals would be safe and recover together if hurt.

Dario: Combination of Pinkie Pie/Dopey. Now I know you're thinking why not have the Pinkie inspiration for Hal? Well, I wanted her to be a bit more of a grounded type of funny instead of zany. Since Dario is based on Dopey, he provides a lot of awkward yet endearing humor. Sometimes he tries too hard, but he means well. He always manages to make Star laugh though! His wish is to bring laughter to Rosas, as he's one of the few who notices not everyone is exactly happy there.

Safi: Combination of Rarity/Sneezy. Despite Safi's allergies, he loves animals and is a bit shy around Bazeema whenever he helps tend to the garden or animals around Rosas. He might have like a hundred allergies, but he's always generous when it comes to helping his kingdom. Even though the King and Queen don't appreciate it. 😅(I'm also playing with an idea of Safi x Bazeema. Not entirely sure. I just kinda....got a small vibe of that from watching the movie. Maybe it was just me.) His wish is to get rid of his allergies so he can carry on a conversation without sneezing. Yeah, that's it! 😂😂

Hal: Combination of Applejack/Happy. Bit of a rougher gal in this one. She, a hard worker, but has a great sense of humor. She even helps be a test audience for Dario when it comes to his jokes, which eventually leads them to become a duo. Hal feels pretty content, so she hasn't really thought about a wish to give.

At one point later in the story when all of them do come together, I got an idea for their battle cry or team signal being "Heigh, Ho!". I still can't believe they didn't even use that in the movie.

Oh and there is still a traitor in this story, but...its not who you think it is. That's all I can say without spoilers. So you'll have to figure it out as it goes along.

And there you go, that's gonna be it for the characters now! The only one that may get one is Flazino, but it would be later down the line if I did to avoid spoilers. So now, the first test chapter is coming next! It'll include the "Welcome to Rosas" song, but with a twist! And my bestie @signed-sapphire is gonna help me with it, so stay tuned! 😉

@wings-of-sapphire @oh-shtars @chillwildwave @flicklikesstuff @annymation @tumblingdownthefoxden @emillyverse @mythartist21 @kstarsarts @kenihewa

[cloysterbell]

This is probably a stupid question but do you have any Haven and Merlin fanfics that you particularly enjoy and might be able to recommend me...? 👀

BOY DO I

So I will caveat that these Haven recs are a lot fresher since I only got into the show last year. Most of my Merlin recs are a thousand years old since I haven't read anything new since probably 2016 but the old stuff is classic and still fucks despite its age. Also funnily enough, despite everything I still have the most Merlin bookmarks on AO3 over any other show

HAVEN:

The Void series by serendipityxii - to me this is how the show canonically ended

don't stop to think this through by gendernoncompliant - maybe my favorite Haven fic?? You will immediately see why if you read it

the only right i have wronged by gendernoncompliant - VERY interesting read! Love when actions have consequences! Also I do highly recommend most of gendernoncompliant's Haven fics, they're very good

The Accidental Threesome (Or, Five Times Duke Might’ve Date-Crashed, and One Time the Date Crashed Him) by jadzibelle - as a Duke stan I just think that

Emotional Motion Sickness by bellatemple - I really wish we'd gotten to explore the consequences of the finale a little bit more, especially if Duke had survived

Come See About Me by templemarker - absolutely insane about this one and again, you'll see why if you read it

Powerful (with a Little Bit of Tender) by polytropic - I don't remember the details about this one too well but I remember the concept was super interesting and well done

The Trouble with Fairytails by Kedreeva - not to be a furry but

and of COURSE I have to recommend Three Favorite Things and No one told me that there'd be a test (I never studied but I did my best) by multifandom-damnation because they were written for me and they rule!

MERLIN:

to the world that never let you be by imperialmint - oh my god. oh my god. maybe still one of my favorite fics of all time?

Down by the River by bleedforyou1 - wait no never mind THIS is my favorite fic of all time

Stars Above, Stones Below by Destina - I did reread this recently and it and its sequel still hold up

We Are All Diamonds by Footloose - listen. It's a strange concept but just go with it, it's one of the most beautifully written pieces of fiction because Footloose (also the famed author of the Shadowlord and Pirate King, which I never read) is a fandom classic

The Crown of the Summer Court by astolat - let Merlin be on equal footing with Arthur! It's what he deserves!

Hidden Light by Destina - I have this bookmarked as 'the fic with the lake' which is all you need to know

I'm Colourblind, Kid by brbsoulnomming - a fun little au where again, not to be a furry but

August by rageprufrock - it's what we should've gotten if canon wasn't determined to be mean to Arthur all the time

Leashed by riventhorn - 👀

Sense Memory by glim - soft!Arthur my absolute most beloved

and of course, I have to recommend The Student Prince by FayJay. I truly have no idea if you were to read this for the first time in 2024 if it's any good, but it's still very much considered to be one of the fandom classics so it's worth a try at the very least

Unfortunately with Merlin I don't really read that many modern!AUs but stick to mostly canon or canon!AU so I'm not much help if you do want more recent stuff. But I would also very much recommend checking out @dirtybookshelves (better on desktop than mobile)! It's a PHENOMENAL resource for Merlin fics and whoever ran this (I think it was emjayelle?) is a goddamn hero