#adira answers

[unch4rtedwxters]

uhm, hello! i saw your event and i thought i might as well give it a shot. can i request adira and james vale(i don't know much about them, but they have a pretty surname ^^) and 20? as someone who has a myriad of nervous habits, i'm always interested in hearing other people's :D

adira raises her eyebrows. she seems apprehensive.

why do you want to know?

james nudges her.

Adi, I don't think this person means any harm!

he turns to the asker.

I'm sorry about my sister; she's not as trusting as she was before the last few months. Anyway, I tend to bite my nails and pace a lot if I can. I also run my hands through my hair... I think I get nervous too much. I hardly have any nails left.

i developed anxiety a little while ago, from reasons i hardly want to share, so don't ask in the first place. a-anyway, i usually get really shaky. like, so shaky that i can't be trusted to hold anything without risking dropping it. also i bite the inside of my cheeks. it hurts but i can't stop myself and i hate it...

adira looks down and her hands begin to tremble. her voice trails off and she seems lost in memories. a worried look crosses james' face.

Uh- we... should finish this here. Thanks for asking and, uh, bye...?

james walks closer to the camera and covers it with his hand. all you can hear is static and the feed blinks into black.

[tangledbea]

What do you make of Adira/Cass's sword? If it can cut the rocks does that mean it can cut Rapunzel's hair too? And is it made out of the black rocks? If so can the black rocks cut Rapunzel's hair? Also, where did she get it and how did whoever made it make it into a sword shape?

It can't cut Rapunzel's hair. Adira tried that. Everyone was surprised.

It is made out of the black rocks, and though there is no canonical explanation, I believe the implication is that it's a shard that was created in the Moonstone event 25 years ago. The one that cost Edmund his arm. I think it was the Moonstone power itself that sliced off a piece of black rock, and Adira made a sword out of it.

(Also, in case you didn't know, it's got a name. It's called Shadowblade. Just telling you because I think that's really neat. :))

[th3p0rtalmaker]

Who would you cast as a live-action Brotherhood trio?

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I HAVE INDEED THOUGHT ABOUT THIS!!! (Thank you for asking!)

Okay, first of all: Hector

I think my first choice to cast for live-action Hector would be his voice actor, Kim Coates.

Kim has a reputation for portraying characters that are super intimidating, legitimately insane, and chock full of conviction - most notably Tig Trager from Sons of Anarchy. I've watched a couple interviews/promos that Kim has done for other projects, and he's also an animal lover (a dog-lover at the very least). He prefers playing villains/antagonists who don't see themselves as the "bad guy" because they genuinely believe in whatever their personal cause is. (Huge Hector vibes already, lol.)

And visually I think he could TOTALLY pull it off - just give him longer hair and edit his eye color to match Hector's. And he'd look PERFECT in the fur mantle, tunic, leggings, boots, and gloves! (Forgive me for doing such a crappy job of visualizing this XD)

I think the only problem with casting Kim Coates as live-action Hector is that it would be a VERY physically demanding role. I haven't seen a ton of Kim's filmography, so I'm not sure how well he could pull off the gymnastic moves Hector is know for - let alone tightrope-walking between a sprinting rhino and a speeding caravan. He'd probably need a stunt double to handle the more physically intense side of the role.

Second up: Adira

As much as I would *love* to have Kelly Hu portray live-action Adira, her physical profile doesn't match up enough. While Adira's voice and physical profile are both pretty iconic parts of her character, I feel like it would be better to err on the physical side.

I did a little digging, and I think the person most physically attuned to portray live-Action Adira would be Chunri Kim, who's know as "The Female Korean Hulk."

I'm not kidding, LOOK AT THIS WOMAN'S PHYSIQUE:

I have no idea what her acting skills are like, but she's got the body to bring Adira to life. Just imagine her in Adira's outfit from the show, with the facepaint and a white wig!!! 🤩🤩🤩

And finally: Quirin

Honestly I haven't given Quirin's live-action version any thought until now. 😅 And I have to admit my first thought for casting live-action Quirin is Gerard Butler. Because I saw the trailer for the live-action HTTYD movie for the first time to today, and Gerard will be playing live-action Stoick. (Varian and Hiccup are pretty similar so...🤣🤣🤣)

And as a bonus: Edmund!

Ideally I would cast his voice actor, Bruce Campbell, to play live-action Edmund. He embodies both the silliness and earnestness of Edmund's character even in live action roles (see his performance below from The Librarians: And Santa's Midnight Run, where Bruce plays the rogue Santa Claus that can't keep his plethora of iterations in check during a top-secret, magical mission)

If Bruce Campbell wasn't interested/available, I would *seriously* consider casting Colin Metzger as live-Action Edmund (aka @voicemonsteredits on TikTok/Instagram):

[nerdasaurus1200]

What are all of your hard-of-hearing!varian hc? I want to write a fic about it but dont have any good ideas!

Well for starters the original idea belongs to my friend @mikeallenz. He and I believe that due to the explosions Varian’s been close to he’s lost a bit of hearing.

If it’s dead silent and a couple people are talking he can hear you just fine. But if he’s at a party or something all the loud noises make it really hard for him to hear people

He’s been hard of hearing since he was about 9 or 10, so he and Quirin started learning sign language

The gang also learns sign language for him, and to make it even easier they have the habit of facing him when they speak

Adira has known sign language for a long time, so when she found out she just instantly started signing

Sometimes it can be really hard for Cass to sign because of her hand, so she ALWAYS makes sure to face Varian when speaking to him.

Varian has trained himself to be really good at reading lips. He’s also really good at reading body language too. He even can tell emotions that people are trying to hide by looking at them for long enough

Varian hates hates HATES silence cause if it’s dead quiet for long enough he starts to worry that he’s lost all his hearing

As soon as Rapunzel found out she grabbed every book on sign language from the library that she could find

Sometimes when Eugene is reading Flynn Rider to the gang he’ll sign along as he narrates for Varian

And if you want to @mikeallenz feel free to add some more onto this! ^_^

[arty-e]

What was King Micheal the Second like? He looks like he want through quite a bit.

The same can be said for Mairha 4xgreat grandmother.

Oh yeah those two went through some shiiiitttt

Michael was the youngest of six siblings (all of his older siblings were half siblings since his mother had three husbands and his father was the third one). His oldest sister who was meant to be the next king of spades was murdered by one of his half brothers but his father was accused of the murder instead. Michael was chased out and his father was executed. His older half brother (full sibling of the sister who was murdered) sends people to kill Michael since he mad about sisters death. The half brother who actually killed the sister kills there mother and slowly kills off all the other brothers until he is king. Michael builds a rebel army and takes the throne and kills hag brother who pretty much murdered their whole family. Had to deal with constant rebellions through out his reign and ended up dying when his daughter (Rosa Espadas) was 16.

King Michael II holding his baby daughter princess Rosa and Queen Juliette:

Adira was originally the Ten of Hearts and had been friends with the previous king of Hearts but when his son came to the throne everything kinda went wrong. The king of Hearts took an interest in her son and ended up kidnapping and imprisoning him and he tried to have Adira killed but failed (hence the scars). She and the other nobles ended up driving the capital and palace with the goal of getting her son back and getting rid of the king. However she was too late and her son was killed. She ended up killing the king and making herself the king of hearts unwillingly as she felt it was the only thing she could do to protect the rest of her family. A civil war did break out and she ended up getting rid of four of the old heart nobles and replaced them with new families. She just a sad old lady

Adira with her kids (Emmett and Triya):

[autisticburnham]

Starting new discourse: are Adira and Gray selfcest?

[circa-specturgia]

Which of your OCs likes being hunted like prey by a predator

who cares about ocs the answer is me

[something-tofightfor]

I just wanna know your chipotle order and your boba tea order and your favorite form of potato

Oh, Adira.

my favorite form of potato is 'any'. I have never ever met a potato that I will turn down.

A specific example?

Sweet potato fries (extra crispy) with some chipotle and brown sugar ketchup for dipping are HIGH on the list, though.

And my chipotle order is a little (ok a lot) ridiculous, BUT when I get it, I order to make it two meals, not just one. (Photo of my burrito from last Monday included for size reference.)

When it comes to boba tea, I prefer milk tea - and will usually get either a brown sugar or crème brûlée boba latte with an extra half scoop of boba and light ice. It depends on the place I go to, though.

I like bubble tea, too- and I’ll usually get green or if they have it peach tea as a base and add pomegranate or blueberry or SOMETIMES mango and then pick a random complimentary popping bubble flavor. I’m less set in my ways with bubble tea than with traditional boba/milk tea drinks.

This is one of my brûlée orders from our local boba place:

[romance-club-daily]

hey! do you know if there's been any information released or statements made by the new author of the one about whether adira and ford will ever come back? she was my fave in the story 😭😭 and i kinda don't want to bother continuing if it's confirmed there's no hope 😔💔

Hi! 👋🏾 I found out now that they are no longer in the game and idk if they'll come back 🤡 I still haven't been able to find why. Probably the new author was unwilling or unable to work or write with these characters? But this is 100% speculation on my part.

[tv-sinner]

4, 18, 26, 31 and 43!

4. A character you rarely talk about?

Hmmm.. I guess it would have to be some of my more brand new ocs (aka ones that aren’t even developed enough to have a tag on here yet!). A lot the ocs I had on my previous oc aesthetic blog are either in oc purgatory or in the process of getting revamped entirely. Some are so new that i have yet to draw them, much less talk about them. But for now, I’ll focus on one who I haven’t drawn yet from VITW verse: Adira, a butch dandelion rogue who has a love-hate/lovers AND enemies relationship with the strawberry monster huntress, St. Wickam.

Adira was disgraced knight who now wanders the wilderness as a thief and mercenary. She often finds herself crossing paths with the high-strung strawberry and she’s made it her personal mission to play with her and to steal her heart (literally or metaphorically? Whatever happens first). Wickam was initially charmed by her but she soon realized that Adira stole her money and they’ve been getting into homoerotic fights about it (and many other instances of them messing with each other) ever since. Their relationship is.. complicated. And neither are ready to admit to themselves or each other that they have romantic feelings for each other. And that’s all I have for now. 🫡

18. Any OC crackships?

Two words: Archdemon Polycule… Or more accurately, separate polycules that have overlap with some members but not all of them are involved with each other. Here’s a visual aid I drew for this weird ass poly ship:

All Roads Lead to Asmodeus. Would this polycule be an absolute disaster of a relationship? Yes. Do I think it would actually work out? No, I doubt it would last for very long, especially when infernal politics come into the mix… Not to mention that they tend to bicker with each other a lot. Would it at least be entertaining to watch this particular polycule crash and burn? Yes. This will never happen in canon but it would be funny if it did.

26. Have you ever had to change your OC’s design or something else about them against your will?

Not exactly? The only thing that kinda made me change things about my ocs against my Will was probably the existence of H*zbin H*tel/H*lluva B*ss. For a while, I stepped away from my Hell/Heaven story partly because of its popularity/fandom and me wanting to distance myself from it, which included my own story about Hell. I would elaborate further, but there’s a time and place for being a hater and it isn’t here lol. The other, more major reason was that I had a crisis of faith in my artistic and writing ability was also having at the same time I was vocally beefing with these series on tumblr.

31. Pick one OC of yours and explain what their tumblr blog would be like (what they reblog, layout, anything really)

I can think of a few ocs who would actually have a tumblr blog.. I think the most interesting of which would be Archdemon Belphegor’s tumblr blog(s). I’d imagine she’d have several blogs: her main (memes, occasionally posts about her inventive work, plushies, science posts), a blog dedicated to programming and maybe game dev, an aesthetic blog based on 90s computers and video games, and a separate NSFW blog not connected to her main. I’d imagine she’d take the time to make her own custom layout and across the board, they’d all have old computer desktop/old video game vibes. She posts pretty frequently and she sometimes slacks off on her work to check her socials, including tumblr.

43. Do you have any certain type when you create your OCs? Do you tend to favour some certain traits or looks? It’s time to confess

Oh definitely. For one, I typically give my ocs curly/wavy hair, usually dark hair (brown or black). I rarely give them blonde or ginger hair. And even my ocs who have gray hair now were brunettes in their youth. I tend to give my ocs non-straight hair because I find drawing hair with a lot of volume/defined shapes to be more fun than just straight hair.

Aside from that, I tend to make my ocs fat, mostly because I’m fat myself! And a vast majority of my ocs end up with long lashes since I tend to just. Give them obvious lashes, regardless of gender. What can I say? Lashes look great.

[unch4rtedwxters]

Hi!! I’m obsessed with your story hehe so I thought I’d send in an ask :)

Can I ask Adira what her favorite color is??

despite my text color being green, my favorite color is sunny yellow :)

[tangledbea]

Related to that brotherhood question, is Adira meant to be Korean? She's clearly Asian coded, or at the very least non white, but I wouldn't necessarily say she's Korean specifically. What about Hector? I'm not counting Quirin since he seems like he's clearly meant to be white, but could Hector be hispanic? The name Hector is of Greek origin, yet some people have said they associate it with hispanic people. Whenever I see a character named Hector, they're usually hispanic (Hector from Coco, Hector Casagrande, Hector from Breaking Bad, etc) It's like there's a pattern. Is the name Hector particularly associated with hispanic people? Is there a possibility that Hector could be hispanic (or any equivalent)?

Adira's design is influenced with Korean aesthetic, from her hair to her armor to her face paint!!

Ben Balistreri, who is her character designer, confirmed this.

I have no behind the scenes information on Hector, but I don't see why he couldn't have Hispanic influence. I don't know enough about cultural attire of any of the countries that could be considered Hispanic to comment on whether or not his design was taken from a specific culture, like Adira's was.

[th3p0rtalmaker]

Headcanon:

Adira listened to meditation music. But also Heavy Metal.

Hector listens to ABBA, Jojo Siwa, Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Britney Spears, Cyndi Lauper, and Taylor Swift.

Quirin listens to white noise. And like, NPR.

OMG this is actually close to the musical genres I connect with these characters!!! XD (Also thanks for sending me this ask - I LOVE music and connecting songs to characters!!!) I can 100% see Quirin listening to NPR, but I also like to think he has musical preferences that the show never delved into. (But falling asleep to custom white noise compilations that he made on an app is something I can also see him doing!) I admit I've never listened to Jojo Siwa or Chappell Roan (and I don't think I've heard any of Cyndi Lauper's stuff...), but I've heard a limited number of songs by ABBA, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift. So I can't give any real commentary on whether or not I think Hector would listen to them specifically. Personally, I associate both Hector and Adira with these genres: -Rock/Heavy Metal -Pop -International/Ethnoclassical -Epic Orchestral -Dance/Electronic -Various Combinations of the Above I literally have character-vibe playlists on my Youtube channel dedicated to my versions of Hector and Adira in Incarnate (and one that's specifically about their sibling relationship in the fic XD). A lot of the songs in these playlists are by artists like Alan Walker, THEFATRAT, Peyton Parrish, Skillet, Imagine Dragons, Faouzia, Beth Crowley, and more. For example: Incarnate!Adira's Playlist includes: -"You'll Be In My Heart" (Peyton Parrish Cover) -"I See Your Monsters" Nightcore (Katie Sky) -"We'll Meet Again" (THEFATRAT feat. Laura Brehm) Incarnate!Hector's Playlist includes: -"Hard to Kill" (Beth Crowley) -"Find Your Way" (Divide Music) -"The Lost Get Found" (Britt Nicole) And their Sibling Playlist includes: -"Dosti" (Hemachandra) -"More Than Anything" Epic Version (Am So Wasted) -"Unity" Nightcore (Alan Walker feat. Walkers) Not sure if this answer is going on too long...but if you wanna talk about the Brotherhood and music I'm definitely down for it! XD

[nerdasaurus1200]

I don't know if ur answering asks about the 4 ship dynamics post, but I saw that you shared it and figured I'd give you one. Which dynamic is your perception of the HectorX Adira romantic ship?

I’m gonna say doesn’t make sense and doesn’t compel me but I mostly say that because Hector canonically views her as a sister.

[sunni-stuff]

Part 4

Soap’s eyebrows lifted with a curious glint in his eye as he looked from you to Adira, a playful grin edging onto his face. He leaned in, never one to miss a chance at a bit of friendly prodding.

“So… you’re married?” he asked, his tone as light as his smirk.

You laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Haha! No, I’m not.��� You gave Adira’s tiny hand a gentle squeeze, glancing down at her with a smile that softened every edge on your face. 

Soap tilted his head, pretending to be shocked. “A bonnie lass like yerself? Unmarried?” he teased, hand on his chest as though it were a crime.

“Guess I’m a rare breed,” you replied with a grin, chuckling as you shifted Adira’s hand in yours.

Soap’s face lit up at your response, as if he’d just been given the most interesting bit of news he’d heard all week. He shot Ghost a quick look, but Ghost was still watching Adira, his gaze softened with something unreadable.

Meanwhile, Gaz wasn't fascinated by Soap's ability to make anyone at ease, the man was a cassanova. Roach watched Adira with curiosity, as though piecing together a puzzle he hadn’t realized existed until now. Price stood off to the side, arms crossed, silently observing the whole scene.

“If you aren’t married, how’d you get this little one?” Soap pushed, grinning as he wiggled a playful finger in Adira’s direction.

Adira’s gaze snapped up from Ghost to the man with the funny hair, her little brow furrowing as she studied Soap with a mix of curiosity and caution. She leaned into your leg, clearly wary, but her attention stayed on the finger waving in front of her.

You chuckled, brushing a hand over Adira’s head to reassure her. “Long story,” you replied, smiling. “Let’s just say she was an unexpected blessing.”

Soap laughed softly, glancing at Ghost with a gleam in his eye. “Ah, aye, life’s full of surprises, eh?” 

Ghost, who had been studying Adira in silence, clenched his jaw, shifting uncomfortably as Soap’s words hit a little too close to home.

“I used to be really wild back in the day,” you admitted with a sheepish grin, a hint of nostalgia coloring your tone as you thought back to those not-so-distant years.

Soap wasn’t quite done yet, though. “Does the father know?” he threw a quick glance at Ghost, who had just risen from his crouched position. A new tension ran through Ghost’s frame, his stance rigid, as if the question had struck something he’d rather not confront.

You hesitated, a shadow crossing your expression before you shook your head. “No, he doesn’t… He, uh, probably has no idea.”

Ghost’s jaw tightened, his gaze flickering from you to Adira, who was absorbed in her drink, unaware of the intensity surrounding her. His shoulders stiffened, and for a split second, he looked as though he wanted to speak—but whatever words he had caught in his throat, locked behind his silence.

"I see, well. I'm sorry if I took up your time, ma’am, you've been a nice chat," Soap said, his voice softening with a touch of politeness, his grin still present but more reserved now.

You nodded, giving Adira’s hand a gentle tug as you continued on your way, the soft crunch of snow beneath your boots the only sound accompanying your steps. The blue sky stretched above, peaceful, serene. As you walked, Adira turned her head, glancing back at Ghost one final time. She refused to let go of her cup, her small fingers gripping it tightly, but she lifted her other hand in a small, hesitant wave. "Bye-bye," she whispered, her voice soft but sweet.

Ghost’s gaze lingered, but he didn’t move. His expression was unreadable, a mixture of things churning behind those eyes. 

Price let out a heavy sigh, crossing his arms and facing Ghost. “So... what’s the plan?” he asked, his tone both blunt and expectant, clearly waiting for some kind of direction. The rest of the team stood in silence, watching the exchange unfold.

Ghost didn’t answer immediately. His gaze remained on you and Adira, watching you both disappear further down the street, the distance growing with each step. The soft crunch of snow under your boots was the only sound in the quiet winter air. He didn’t even notice Price's voice until the man spoke again, closer now, with a slight edge to his tone.

"Ghost, talk to me. What’s the plan here?”

Finally, Ghost shifted, his shoulders tense, his jaw clenched as he turned to face Price. There was a flicker of something in his eyes—something caught between anger, confusion, and a deep, gnawing regret.

"I don't know," he muttered, the words barely escaping his lips. "I wasn't expecting this. Hell, I didn't even know she existed." His voice was low, strained, but there was a quiet honesty to it, as if he was trying to process something that didn’t make sense.

Soap stepped closer, his expression serious for once. "What now, Ghost? We can help. But you need to tell us what's going on."

Ghost finally looked away, his attention drawn to the ground, his fingers twitching like he was trying to find something to hold onto. "I don't even know where to start," he admitted. "All I know is... I saw her. And it hit me like a fucking truck."

Roach, always one to stay in the background, spoke up. “Maybe it’s time to talk to her, yeah? Figure out where to go from here?”

Price’s eyes narrowed, his stern gaze shifting to Ghost, assessing him. “And what exactly do you want from us? You’re in this, whether you like it or not.”

Ghost let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t know,” he repeated, voice hoarse. “But I can’t just let her slip away.”

A silence stretched between them, heavy and thick, as the weight of the situation settled in. Then, slowly, Ghost nodded. “I’ll figure it out. Just… not now. Not here.” His eyes flicked toward the street where you had disappeared, and something in his gaze softened, just for a moment, before the mask fell back into place.

Price gave a single nod. "Alright. But we stick together on this. You’re not doing it alone, Ghost."

The team stood together for a moment longer, the wind howling through the alley, before they slowly began to move, their steps trailing off into the winter evening. The silence that hung between them was thick with uncertainty. No one knew what came next, but they knew one thing for sure: whatever happened, they were in this together.

A month passed, the team giving Ghost the space he needed to process the whirlwind that had hit him. They all knew this was something he had to handle on his own terms, but that didn't mean the questions didn't linger. What did it mean for the future? What did he want? The answers were still unclear, even to Ghost himself.

But Soap, ever the persistent one, wasn’t content to let things sit in limbo. He knew Ghost, knew how his mind worked, and that sometimes the best way to breakthrough was to take small steps. And if that meant subtly nudging you into the picture, then so be it. He’d always been good at this—at slipping in the background, making things happen without anyone noticing.

So, Soap started to "accidentally" run nto you. At the park, when you were out with Adira, he'd make sure to be in the same place at the same time, offering a casual greeting. It always started simple, harmless, with a nod or a small comment about the weather. Then, of course, there was that coffee shop where you'd gone to get hot chocolate for Adira.

The first time he "bumped" into you there, it was nothing more than a quick exchange. A question about the drink, a comment on the cold weather, just the usual small talk. But Johnny's natural charm and ease made you relax, and made the conversation flow without much effort. Over time, those small moments grew. You'd smile when you'd see him, and he'd greet you with the same friendly energy, always leaving you feeling at ease. No pressure, just casual.

And slowly, ever so slowly, Johnny began to warm you up to the idea of him. It wasn't much at first—a smile here, a shared laugh there—but he knew what he was doing. He wasn't pushing, just letting the connection build at its own pace. The more you saw him, the more comfortable you felt. The more you talked, the more you found yourself enjoying the interactions, even if they were brief.

One evening, Johnny sat beside you on the park bench, casually leaning back as Adira bounced around in the snow, her laughter filling the crisp air. The sound was contagious, and for a moment, you let yourself relax, watching her with a soft smile.

"So, me and a couple friends are meeting up at Leslie's this weekend," Johnny said, his tone light but with a hint of something more. "Would you be interested?"

You snorted, expecting the usual joke or teasing, but when you glanced over at him, his expression was far more serious than you anticipated. For a moment, you considered dismissing it. After all, Leslie's? A pub? That was a far cry from the cozy routine you’d built for yourself with Adira. 

“Seriously?” you asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think I fit the scene."

Johnny shrugged nonchalantly, the corner of his mouth lifting in that playful grin of his. “Please. It'll just be like old times.”

Your mind immediately wandered, trying to understand what he meant by that. What was it about old times that Johnny thought might appeal to you? You didn’t exactly have a wild past to cling to. Sure, you’d had your moments, but those felt long behind you now. 

Still, something about the invitation lingered. A night out... maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. You hadn’t done anything for you in a while. And maybe, just maybe, it would be nice to let someone else take care of the night for once. No worrying about Adira, no responsibilities for a few hours. Just some fun, whatever that meant now.

You hesitated, looking down at Adira as she made another snow angel, oblivious to the conversation happening nearby. She’d be fine, right? And you could leave if things felt uncomfortable. 

“Alright,” you finally said, meeting Johnny’s gaze with a reluctant but genuine smile. "I'll join you. But only if it’s not as crazy as you’re making it sound." 

Johnny’s grin widened, and you could tell he was already mentally planning the evening, no doubt with some plan to ease you in without overwhelming you. He stood up, dusting off the snow on his pants as he glanced back at you.

“Deal. I’ll make sure it’s a night to remember.”

You just hoped he wasn’t overselling it.

The weekend seemed to arrive so fast, and here you were, standing outside your apartment, nervously adjusting your blue blouse and jeans. It wasn’t exactly the type of outfit you thought would fit a night out, but it was the best you could do. Most of your wardrobe these days consisted of comfortable clothes, ones that could be easily changed or wiped clean in case Adira had another of her toddler mishaps. Sexy or flirty clothes were a distant memory, tucked away in a drawer somewhere, gathering dust.

Adira stood in the doorway, clutching her little stuffed bear to her chest, eyes wide and brimming with unshed tears. The sight hit you harder than you expected. You knelt down in front of her, your heart sinking at the sight of her teary eyes. “I’ll be back in a couple hours, I promise,” you said, your voice gentle but firm, reaching out to her with a reassuring smile.

Adira sniffled, her tiny hand coming up to rub her eyes, but she didn’t break her stare. You held out your pinky, the gesture as familiar as breathing. Slowly, she reached out, her small finger wrapping around yours with the same trust she always had. The connection was brief, but it felt like a promise, one that you hoped would calm her.

"I won't be out long," you said softly to the friend you’d left with her. "And you, be good for Auntie too." The last part was directed at Adira, though the words felt bittersweet on your tongue.

Adira nodded, but her face still held that sadness, that uncertainty of what the night would bring without you. 

Standing up, you ruffled her hair and offered a small, hopeful smile. “I’ll be back before you know it. Just a little fun for Mama, okay?”

Her small nod didn’t do much to ease the tightness in your chest, but you turned and gave her one last look before stepping outside. The cool evening air wrapped around you, a contrast to the warmth of the apartment behind you, but you pushed the feeling away. Tonight was for you, however strange that sounded. 

Locking the door behind you, you felt a flutter of nerves in your stomach. This wasn’t just any night out. It was a night with Johnny, with his friends, with the possibility of reconnecting to parts of yourself you’d set aside for so long.

Arriving outside the establishment, the familiar hum of chatter and music filled the night air, but what caught your attention first was Johnny standing outside, leaning against the brick wall, checking his watch. The moment his eyes met yours, they lit up, his expression shifting from casual to something almost... eager. 

“Well, well, look at you,” he said with that trademark wink of his, his gaze raking over you with a genuine appreciation that made you feel suddenly self-conscious. “You clean up well.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at your lips. It was hard to resist the easy charm of Johnny.

“Let’s just hope I survive this night,” you muttered, though the words were more for yourself than him. You weren’t sure what to expect tonight, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that things might not go as smoothly as Johnny seemed to think.

Johnny chuckled, the sound warm and reassuring. “I’m sure you will. Now, let’s get going before I change my mind.”

With that, you fell into step beside him, the weight of your hand at your side suddenly feeling strange in the cool night air. He led you toward the door, and as you entered the dimly lit space of the bar, your eyes scanned the room. 

It was bustling, a mix of regulars and newcomers, all seeking solace or company for the night. It smelled of beer, whiskey, and the faintest hint of fried food, a familiar and welcoming kind of atmosphere. But as soon as you stepped inside, your nerves shot back up again. You tried not to let the nerves show, but they were there, itching under your skin.

What you didn’t notice, as you made your way to the bar, was the group inside. Ghost, Price, Gaz, Roach—quietly observing, waiting for their chance to either speak to you or simply let you slip through their fingers once more. Ghost’s eyes tracked you the moment you stepped inside, and there was a hesitation in his gaze, something raw and almost pained that flickered in and out. 

For a moment, Ghost didn’t move, didn’t speak. He simply watched you, aware that the moment he’d been dreading—he had finally stumbled into. Your gaze met his across the room, the flicker of recognition passing between you both. But that was it. You didn’t remember. You didn’t know him. You didn’t know what he was to you.

Approaching the bar, you saw that Johnny was already leaning in, chatting with the bartender, exchanging friendly banter. You barely heard the words, only caught up in the feeling that something was different. Something you couldn’t quite place. You glanced back at the table where those men sat. They weren’t talking, but their eyes were all trained on you, as if waiting for something to happen.

Your heart raced without explanation. Ghost’s eyes—those eyes—stayed locked on you. He didn’t know how to approach, how to change what had already seemingly been set in stone. What was he supposed to say? What was the plan now that you were here, so close? God, why the fuck did johnny do this.

Johnny leaned toward you again, a soft smile curling his lips. “You good, love?” he asked, his voice pulling you back to the present.

“Yeah,” you muttered, your voice barely above a whisper. You forced a smile, trying to ignore the uneasy tension brewing in your chest. “Just... getting used to being out.”

Johnny winked again, oblivious to the chaos of emotions swirling within you. “It’s all good. Let’s have some fun tonight, yeah?”

Ghost’s fist clenched involuntarily under the table. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this distance, this silent acknowledgment of his role, or how long he could ignore what it meant to see you here now. 

“You’ll fit right in,” Johnny said, though there was a hint of something deeper behind his words. “Just a bunch of mates enjoying a drink, nothing crazy.” Johnny leads you over to the table, you expected to be met with… well you didn't quite know what.  

Price leaned back in his seat, cigar in hand, a soft smile on his weathered face as he regarded you with a raised brow. “Didn’t think you’d actually show up.”

"Neither did I," you muttered under your breath, forcing a smile and doing your best to ignore the gnawing feeling that lingered when you looked at him. You hadn’t quite expected this part of the evening.

“I’m just here for a drink, nothing more,” you said, looking over at Johnny was getting comfortable in his chair.

“Well, pull up a seat, love,” Price said, motioning to the empty spot next to him. “We’re all friends here.”

You hesitated but made your way over, perching yourself on the seat next to him. The sound of the glass being slid toward you, the clink of ice against glass, broke through the chatter around you. Your nerves buzzed as you focused on the drink in front of you, trying to ignore the sudden realization of just how different this was from the quiet, routine life you had at home with Adira.

“Enjoy yourself,” Price said with an air of casual amusement, leaning back in his chair. “This is all new for you, isn’t it?”

You raised an eyebrow, not wanting to admit just how out of place you felt in the moment. Instead, you took a sip of your drink, the burn of whiskey warming you from the inside out.

You laugh lightly, a bit awkwardly, trying to shake off the nerves that gnawed at you. "Yeah, this all a bit... newish. I haven't been out like this in years honestly," you admit, taking a deep breath and glancing around the bar. The warmth of the space was a welcome contrast to the chill outside, but the sight of the men made you feel more like a fish out of water than ever.

Johnny claps you on the back with an easy grin, clearly trying to make you feel more comfortable. “These are my mates. Price, Kyle, Gary, and Simon," he introduces with a flourish, motioning to each man in turn. 

You give them all a polite smile, not quite sure what to make of them just yet. There was something about the way they carried themselves, all standing a little apart from the crowd, that made it clear they were more than just regulars at the pub. But you didn’t have time to focus too much on that right now. You were trying to just survive the night.

Price, who looked a bit older than the rest, nods at you, his gaze thoughtful, almost cautious. “Nice to meet you,” he says in a tone that is polite but distant, as though he’s waiting for something, some sign.

Kyle, as Johnny had called him—gives you a friendly nod, a playful glint in his eyes, but there's a strange sharpness to his look that you can’t quite place. “Pleasure," he says, offering you a tight smile.

Gary simply gives you a quick but sincere nod. His eyes linger on you just long enough for you to catch a flicker of interest before he looks away.

And then there’s Simon. His presence, as always, is quieter, more intense. He’s sitting in the middle, arms crossed, his gaze fixed directly on you. You can feel the weight of it, though. It’s impossible not to. There was something you couldn't place with him though you couldn’t see too well under the dim light.

You try to shake off the unease creeping up your spine. “Nice to meet you all," you reply, your voice warmer than you feel. 

Johnny, oblivious to the awkwardness in the air, slaps the bar and gives a nod. “Alright, drinks all around, yeah? Let’s get this party started!” he declares, pulling the group into the rhythm of the night.

As the revelry began your stomach churns slightly, a sense of unease still lingering despite the distraction. You knew something was off, something you couldn’t quite put into words. It wasn’t just the men—it was the way Simon’s gaze lingered on you, the way he looked at you as if he were waiting for something. It unsettled you, but you couldn’t figure out why.

Johnny, seemingly oblivious to your tension, slides a drink toward you. “First round’s on me," he grins, the clink of glass against the table snapping you back to the present. "Here’s to a good night.”.

You took a deep breath, swallowing down the nerves that still clung to you. This was supposed to be a night out, after all. A chance to shake off the past, to let loose just a little. You couldn’t let the weight of everything pull you under before you even tried. What would be the point if you didn’t at least try and enjoy yourself?

Shaking the tension from your shoulders, you took a sip of your drink, the burn of alcohol easing the knot in your stomach just slightly. The guys were chatting among themselves, Johnny’s laughter cutting through the low hum of the bar as he joked with Kyle. Price was listening intently, nodding along while Gary seemed content to let the others talk, his eyes occasionally flicking to you, though his gaze didn’t linger long.

And then there was Simon.

His presence loomed even when he wasn’t speaking, his broad frame leaning against the bar just slightly, face half hidden by the shadows. You caught his eyes for a split second, the intensity of his stare making your pulse hitch. You quickly looked away, focusing on your drink, your nerves creeping back up despite the effort to push them aside.

You could feel his gaze on you, though, like a weight pressing against your back. You tried not to let it show, tried not to acknowledge how his proximity seemed to pull at something inside you, but it was impossible to ignore. There was a pull, something in the air, but you couldn’t quite grasp it.

Sighing inwardly, you turned your attention back to the others. Just enjoy yourself, you remind yourself again. Don’t think about him. Don’t think about any of it.

Johnny clinked his glass against yours, a grin on his face. “Here’s to not letting the night pass us by,” he said with a wink, and you couldn’t help but smile back, lifting your glass.

“Cheers,” you said, the warmth of the alcohol giving you just the nudge you needed to ease into the evening. For now, you’d ignore the tight feeling in your chest. You’d enjoy yourself. 

But the eyes that lingered on you would remain, whether you were ready for them or not.

You pushed your chair back with more force than necessary, the scrape of it against the floor loud in the otherwise quiet bar. The conversation still echoed in your ears, but your focus had been on the man, Simon, for the past half hour. His silence had become suffocating, every glance he cast in your direction feeling like it held some hidden meaning. You couldn't quite place it, but something was off about him. His eyes, cold and intense, had followed you too much, made you second guess every word you’d said.

"Im... gonna go powder my nose," you muttered, more to fill the silence than anything else. You didn’t wait for a response, the words barely out of your mouth before you were already making your way across the room, past the low hum of idle chatter and the clink of glasses.

While you were in the bathroom, the entire team turned their attention towards Ghost, each of them sizing him up, starting with Soap.

"What is wrong with you?" Soap asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"What?" Simon blinked, genuinely confused.

"Mate, you've been gawking at her all night," Gaz added, raising an eyebrow, his voice teasing but laced with concern.

"Shit. Are you serious?" Simon muttered, running a hand through his hair, but his gaze didn't stray far from where you had just disappeared.

Roach, leaning back casually with his drink in hand, nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, it's like you’ve been stuck in a staring contest with her since she walked in."

Price, who had been watching quietly, shook his head with a resigned sigh. He snuffed out his cigar in the nearby ashtray, eyes narrowing as he met Simon's gaze. "If you scared her off, I doubt you’ll get another chance, lad."

Simon’s jaw clenched. He hadn’t realized how obvious it had been, but now that the team was calling him out on it, he felt the heat rise in his chest. He hadn’t meant to make you uncomfortable, but the pull to look at you, to remember what had sparked your connection all those years ago had been almost magnetic.

“Alright, alright,” Soap teased, leaning in, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Just don't burn a hole in her head.”

“Shut up,” Simon muttered, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to fix this without making things worse.

Price shared a look with the rest of the team, a silent understanding passing between them. While Soap might have been the one to set this whole thing in motion, it didn't mean the others didn't have contingencies in place. 

Soap got up first, stretching a bit. “Gonna make sure no one's tried to get in my car,” he said with a casual tone.

“I’ll come with you,” Gaz chimed in, already pushing himself up from his seat and following Soap toward the door.

A minute later, Roach also stood, excusing himself without a word, and then Price followed suit, his movements deliberate. “I’m gonna make sure they’re not up to anything,” he said with a knowing glance.

With everyone out of the immediate area, the bar suddenly felt quieter, and the tension in the air seemed to thicken. It took Ghost only a second for it all to click—he had been set up. Without thinking, he bolted from his seat, rushing outside just in time to catch the taillights of Soap's car disappearing down the street.

He cursed under his breath, but before he could make another move, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen. There, in simple words from Price: 

“Good luck.”

Ghost stood still for a moment, phone in hand, as the weight of the situation hit him. His heart thudded in his chest. This was it. There was no turning back now.

By the time you returned to the table, you felt a bit more at ease. The night out wasn’t all that bad… it was just that Johnny had some weird taste in friends. Well, mostly the tall one. You couldn’t help but notice how everyone seemed to have left, a pit forming in your stomach at the thought of being ditched.

You let out a quiet sigh, about to gather your things and head out when your phone lit up in your purse. Pulling it out, you saw a text from Johnny. 

"Emergency, looks like one of the beers wasn't that good, poor Kyle threw up."

You paused, reading the message again, a small smile tugging at your lips. Aww… nevermind. At least they hadn’t forgotten about you after all. 

"Hope he's okay." You replied quickly, grabbing the straps of your bag when suddenly a hand landed on top of yours.

You looked up, meeting the intense gaze of Simon. Seriously? You couldn’t help but think. They took everyone but this guy?

You forced a smile, trying to pull your hand away, but Simon’s grip was firm, not unkind. “Look, I had a decent time, but I have to go—”

“Just a minute,” he interrupted, his voice low, steady, almost pleading. There was something about the way he said it that made you pause, something different than the usual small talk.

"Fine." The word slipped out before you could process it, and you cursed yourself inwardly. Really? You just agreed to stay with the guy who hadn’t stopped staring since you met him. You sat back down, and he mirrored you, settling across the table. 

Silence stretched between you, his intense gaze unwavering. He didn’t so much as blink, and you couldn’t help but feel more unsettled by the second.

What the hell is his deal?

“Look, if you're just going to be a creep, I don't think I want to mee—"

“Do you remember Armed Forces Day?” His voice cut through your words, quiet but resolute.

Okay, this took all day, I wanted to give you all something long to read incase I disappear for finals (which I might)

Reblogs appreciated!!!

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WOWWW LOOK AT ALL THESE NAMES. Thank you all so much for the support!! Im sorry if i missed any, I will update if I noticed any missing or comment on those who's tags didnt go through!

[th3p0rtalmaker]

I also enjoy writing Brotherhood angst, lol. Maybe you could try doing post-Great Tree angst with some animal companion fluff tossed in? (I'm sure they would try to comfort Hector if he was in distress.) I too adore the dynamic between him and Adira, it's one of my favorite things to think/write about! XD I agree Hector looks very different from the rest of the Brotherhood, and it adds to the sense of mystery about him! I like headcannoning him as an immigrant to the Dark Kingdom as well - I'm actually writing a fanfic where he and Adira met in the Great Tree as teens, and she eventually brought him home to legally adopt him. Adira is definitely a casual badass, lol! She also likes to make a big deal out of being a casual badass to get praise and attention. XD I'm super curious about what all happened when she went to Old Corona and discovered that Rapunzel was the living host of the Sundrop. Because she knows about Quirin having a son, and she knows that Raps and co know both Varian and Quirin. Like, how does she know all that??? And is she aware of Varian being in jail and Quirin being ambered??? Also I feel obligated to inform you that Adira's debut appearance in the show was not, in fact, the episode where she introduces herself to Cass and Raps! We first see her in a little clip at the very end of Secret of the Sundrop:

Quirin get's more and more interesting the more I think about and study him. I'm just not as motivated to do that like I do for Hector and Adira. XD I like to think of Quirin as the one who does the best undercover/spy work, since he's clearly comfortable lying in high-stakes situations and keeping big secrets.

For the character impressions ask, could you do Hector, Adira, Quirin, and Edmund for me?

ooo yes!!! okay.

HECTOR

First impression: Oh cool, another dark kingdom person. He's weird.

Impression now: FERAL TREE MAN <3

Favorite moment: The bit with Cass where she's acting all tough and goes 'you'll have to go through me' and he just goes 'kay' I WAS LITERALLY DYING. I HAD TO REWIND THE SHOW TO SEE WHAT I MISSED I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD

Idea for a story: Hmmmmm. I think some fluff with him and his animals would be adorable, but im also a primarily angst writer sooo i am partial to the idea of some post-great tree angst

Unpopular opinion: I'm terrible at these oh god. I truthfully haven't seen enough content about hector to gather what is an unpopular opinion ;-;

Favorite relationship: Hmm romantic? Cause i dont really have one for that, but platonic relationship i absolutely adore the dynamic of him and adira. It's so amazing

Favorite headcanon: That he's not originally from the dark kingdom! He doesn't really look like any of the DK residents tbh, and i love the idea of him just being a feral little child that somehow got adopted by a prestigious order of knights LMAO

ADIRA

First impression: OH GOD I LOVE HER.

Impression now: Shes much more casual than I thought and I respect that. she is so badass.

Favorite moment: Her first appearance actually, when she's fighting Cass and Raps and she goes 'oh no, they are trying' it just. i dont even know its just hilarious to me.

Idea for a story: Hmmmmmmmmm I am partial to the idea of her thought process regarding the events at Old Corona. Like, did she help Quirin??? Did she check on Varian?????

Unpopular opinion: I do not know. I have not been searching for adira content tbh

Favorite relationship: Got none for romantic, but platonic-wise, also probably her relationship with hector. They are chaos siblings and i love it

Favorite headcanon: That the facepaint is some sort of cultural thing!

QUIRIN

First impression: oh i dont like him. he hurt my precious little bean varian.

Impression now: He's not my favorite, but I feel like I like him a little more now because of fandom content LMAO

Favorite moment: The hug between him and Varian before they go fight Zhan Tiri and Cass :(

Idea for a story: Hm. Perhaps a talk between him and Var about what happened while he was in the amber?

Unpopular opinion: Im not sure if this is unpopular, but i do think his and varian's relationship would have improved in s3. Like yes it's off-screen but i refuse to believe they could just go back to how they were after...that

Favorite relationship: Romantic? Ulla! Platonic? I'm gonna say him, hector, adira, and edmund, because brotherhood <3

Favorite headcanon: That Adira and Hector gave him grey hairs FAR before he was supposed to have grey hairs/he is the Responsible One

EDMUND

First impression: Um. Okay he's...interesting.

Impression now: He's definitely interesting! I do like him more now though :)

Favorite moment: That moment in Destinies Collide where he goes 'our family is just terrible' i was wheezing

Idea for a story: Him and Eugene bonding!! I need it in my life!!!!

Unpopular opinion: I dunno :<

Favorite relationship: Romantic? Him and unnamed wife! Platonic? Hmm, him and Eugene?

Favorite headcanon: This one is from @nerdasaurus1200 but i love the idea that he bugged the brotherhood about the flynn rider books. perfection.