#ah Rufus too. I have hope for him

[tifa-simp]

Do I have lots of expectations for Tifa in part 3? Absolutely!

Do I have high hope for the game? Nah~

[strayheartless]

Please I need Kunsel to find and help their stray chocobaby please he's all alone

I mean… yeah okay😈

***

The world was different now. In the last few months it had changed again while Kunsel hadn’t been looking this time. When he’d finally rolled back in to town for the first time since the plate fell on Sector seven, he’d had to ask around to find out that this new City -Edge, was it?- had been attacked yet again.

They were saying the Chosen one had saved them. A Warrior of the goddess. Kunsel was hoping beyond hope he didn’t meet this so called “hero of dawn,”. He might just spit in the red bastards face, and that was never a good first impression in a community that revered the man as a hero.

It would be like standing in Nibelhiem town square and professing Fenrir was nothing more than glorified sled dog. You just didn’t do it…. Not that it would matter much these days in Nibelhiem.

“So,” said the man in front of him, pulling his attention back into the room. Reeve Tuesti, head of the WRO was not necessarily an imposing figure. He didn’t command a room in the same way that the former President had, nor did he have that silent control that Rufus wielded with devistating accuracy. Reeve was kind, respectable even. Kunsel knew he had looked after his people in shinra as best as he could, and he knew that most people working here thought just as highly of him as they did back in the day.

He looked a little different than the last time Kunsel had seen him: a peppering of greys hairs at his temple, some new crows feet and stress lines, a wedding ring that Kunsel knew had two partners not one. He looked wiser, he looked world weary but happy.

“I hope you don’t mind but I had Tseng pull up your old files from your Shinra days. It’s nothing to worry about, just jogs my memory a bit these days.” The man chuckles a bit as he goes between glancing at Kunsel and the file. Kunsel shrugs, he can respect a man who goes into a meeting with all the information. Even if he personally wouldn’t put all his cards on the table like that. Then again Kunsel was supremely paranoid these days.

“With the company for over a decade, Wutai decorated Veteran… ah, worked closely with Commander Hewley. Never met a man I didn’t like who had. Works in your favour,” it’s a joke, Kunsel knows but he uses the opportunity to test Reeves character.

“What about Commander Rhapsodos, or the General? They worked closely with him too.” He watches as Reeve looks at him that little bit longer, considering him.

He smiles.

“I take your point, but having known both men a little before what unfolded I don’t feel uncomfortable in pointing out that previous to what happened they were good men themselves, if a little rough in character.” He said.

Kunsel took the point. He knew the truth of it of course. Angeal may have been the more virtuous of the three in the end but both Rhapsodos and Sephiroth had not been the monsters they built themselves to be. Maybe Rhapsodos had redeemed himself of late.

Reeve appeared to have moved on, flipping the page.

“Well, Second Class Zelda,”

“First Class,”

“Pardon? Your file says-“

“I know. Never wanted a fan club or that level of notoriety within the company. I prefer working in the background So my file said one thing but my uniform said another,” Kunsel had hated being forced to take that damn promotion. Roche had hung off of his shoulder like a dead thing begging him to say yes. ‘my friend be will be greater than all the rest! Imagine the glory of commanding your own battalion! Imagine the fame!’

In the end he’d taken it because the troops had asked him too. A few privates who’d known Cloud and been ashamed enough after his disappearance (or as they’d thought, his death.) about how they’d treated him, had asked him to lead them. They knew he’d been Kunsel’s friend, and he knew that most of these people had been led by Zack a few years back.

He’d hated himself for it but it hadn’t been all that bad when alls said and done.

“Well, I have to ask then, how did you avoid degradation?”

It’s a fair question. Most soldiers who hadn’t died in the field had rotted slowly at their desks and gone mad. For all Kunsel had been driven up the wall by Roche what happened to him had broken his heart… last of the mentor kids gone. Zack as the first and only soldier to be taken on by Angeal personally; Roche as the suprise acquisition of Genesis. Nobody had thought Genesis had the patience for it. He wasn’t a patient kind of person. But Roche had adored him and Genesis had secretly liked the attention.

Kuns wondered if Rhapsodos regretted that now…

“Off the record?”

Reeve regards him and then nods.

“S-cells. I know, it was a dumb idea but I had people to find and when Hojo left his office insecure I took a gamble. Payed off in the end,”

“That’s one hell of a gamble, Sephiroth would have had access to you, he could have controlled you.”

Kunsel chuckled darkly.

“Sephiroth never had much interest in me.”

“You were First Class Fairs best friend, he would have been plenty interested in you from that little fact alone. It was a reckless decision,”

Kunsel blinks at that assessment. How did he know that? Kunsel and Zack had always been warm towards each other on the floors but Kunsel had went to extraordinary lengths to keep his private life private for a reason.

“Your not the first friend of Fairs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting First class Zelda,”

“Zack only had two real friends, one of them is dead. Whoever you met is lying to you,”

He’d showered the world for Cloud and find nothing but stories. Then at a certain point those stories had led him to the scorched remains of Mideel. To a doctor who told him he doubted Cloud had made it in his state.

Kunsel had been so devastated he’d gone numb with it. These days he just wanted to help rebuild in as unobtrusive way as possible. Maybe he could make up for that failure some day be repopulating Nibelhiem or something… actually Cloud would likely haunt him for that.

“I’m dead? That’s news to me. Did you know I was dead Reeve?”

“I did not,” Reeve chuckles, and Kunsel can feel his mouth hanging open as he looks to the office door. “You are looking remarkably well for a dead man I must say,”

Cloud grunts in reply and stares at Kunsel. He’s having a hard time meeting his eyes but Kunsel doesn’t know if it’s because he’s hardly seen him without his helmet in the open like this or something else. The guilty Shuffle and the tell tale twisting of his fingers by his side gives him away.

He feels guilty, and well… Kunsel’s not about to let that stand.

Without really bothering to telegraph his movements Kunsel grabs him by the shoulders and hauls him into a hug. If Reeve hears the sob that shudders out of Cloud he does a very good job of making it look like he’s too busy to notice. Kunsel tracks him over Cloud’s head as he pours some water into a glass and grabs a box of tissues and some painkillers. Absently he wonders how often Cloud has cried in this office.

Kunsel himself has only ever seen Cloud cry twice, once in rage and once in pain. Neither was an experience he particularly wanted to relive. Instead he clutches Cloud closer to him and lets him break.

“I forgot him Kuns,” Cloud sobs. “He was my best friend and I forgot him!”

“But you remembered,” Kunsel reasons. “And if you think Zack would be mad at you for that then your dumber than we gave you credit for,”

Cloud sniffs and chuckles pulling away slightly but not letting go. He’s a tiny bit taller than the last time Kunsel saw him. Maybe it’s just the hair. He’s fuller too, with broader shoulders and newer scars. He looks nothing like he did, but every bit the Cloud he remembered.

Gods he was alive!

“You got rid of the bucket,” Cloud smiles a little.

“Yeah well, with Shinra gone there’s nobody to really try and use my likeness for evil anymore so… thought it was time,” he shrugs and watches Cloud thank Reeve for the water but refuse the tissues and pills.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone grab you like that before and it not end in tears,” Reeve looks impressed but Cloud doesn’t look bothered.

“It’s Kunsel,” he says like it explains everything. “Closest thing to a brother I’ll ever have. He could stab me and I’d probably forgive him,”

Kunsel and Reeve both frown.

“Er, no If I ever stab you, you stab me back and then never speak to me again Cloud. We don’t forgive people who stab us,”

“I have to say Cloud, I worry sometimes about your sense of self preservation… I thought it was better since the stigma left, since Genesis too,”

Cloud blushed, Kunsel’s eyes narrowed.

“Since Genesis what? What the hell did that worthless shit stain do to you?!”

Cloud winces and then glares at Reeve who wheezes at Clouds expense.

“… he’smyboyfriend”

“Sorry what?”

“Please don’t make me say it again. He’s changed Kunsel, like… a lot,”

“He still reciting Loveless?”

“Nope, and he generally hates anyone who does. He’s writing his own thing these days,”

“Wow, he really has changed,”

Cloud snorts “yeah,”

Kunsel pulls him back in again and Cloud relaxes a bit more.

“Zack would be so proud of you,” he mutters into the blondes hair.

“You think,” cloud mutters back hopefully.

“I know,”

[risingoflights]

Hmm, you don't feel comfortable talking about it unless someone asks your opinions? Then this is your official ask!

I've never played the critically acclaimed- er, you know. And I have no idea what the Ilsabard Region is or what its story and tone are.

So! What is it, and how does it compare to what you've experienced of Rebirth so far? What do you get from one that's missing in the other? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each narrative, and which do you feel, at this point, will have the most replay value?

(Plus anything else that's crossed your mind!)

ah friend, you should know better than to ask, but thank you for asking <3

leaving xiv out of this for a moment, i can tell you exactly why chapter 7 specifically of rebirth is the one to have caused me to openly gripe.

and, as you might expect, it's to do with hojo.

i was always going to judge the entirety of this game by its handling of hojo, and so far i've been sorely disappointed. standing by what i said in my previous post about nostalgia and fandom goggles, i still believe there was more written into hojo in og than, say, scarlet and heideggar. and since remake did a decent job rounding out president shinra, i was hoping hojo would get similar treatment. so far though, it seems like they've gone the opposite way.

i try not to make too many comparisons to og because many characters are pointedly deviating away from their og characterisations (rufus seems a standout so far), but this point in og was importantly where hojo started shaping up to be more than the trope he began as. it was crucial that as soon as sephiroth reappeared, hojo abandoned shinra. in fact if memory serves, someone (heideggar or rufus?) even points this out in og - hojo's 'disappeared'. then when you see him in costa and cloud asks why he's there, hojo admits 'the same reason as you'. cloud was chasing sephiroth, so was hojo. and he was doing it without shinra because finding sephiroth wasn't on shinra's agenda - at least not at that point.

i was actually so hopeful and happy at the end of remake where the camera pans across the executives lined up in front of rufus, and hojo is decidedly missing - off laughing to himself...! excellent! that defiance seems to have led nowhere in rebirth!

you could argue that in rebirth, hojo decided to continue using shinra resources to go after sephiroth and he's still playing his own long game. doesn't change the fact that rufus was openly out to kill sephiroth now - so what did he tell hojo to make him stay, if hojo had wanted to leave? i mean, you could argue a lot of things to make things make things deeper. and maybe things will get deeper - i'm only halfway through rebirth after all - but rebirth hojo was still on the beach to capture the robes and study them. that single-minded drive and obsession with sephiroth just isn't present. it felt like the icing off the original cake. the bikini girls fawning on him, really fun! him throwing off-handed remarks about recruiting them for his sephiroth breeding program, noooooot... as fun! the whole shinra bigwig come to town, johnny being made to carry his briefcase and push crowds on the beach out of his way? ish! sort of a... dazzling superficial picking of what that scene originally was? did i laugh? yes! was i let down? also yes!

the other thing that really grated on me was the optional aerith dialogue, but that's no surprise - the whole aerith situation has been one big headache for me so far and promises to continue to be so. talk to aerith on the beach and she says a bunch of things about hojo culminating in 'i hate him'. oh. oh, like we really needed this explicitly said? you know, what i really loved about og here is twofold - 1. hojo doesn't appear to even remember aerith's name, which is such a good demonstrating of him not registering her as worthy of ifalna, compared to rebirth where hojo literally yells this at her during battle. this was one of the neat little consistent touches about og hojo - he didn't give a shit, but passively and dismissively - like, it's not so much he deliberately chose to harm others as he just didn't even register harming others as a concept, which made the few people and times he did choose to be sadistic stand out more. and 2. og aerith, instead of... any of the ugly things she could've said to and about hojo, asks him about her lineage and connection to sephiroth instead. how loaded does that make their relationship? that no matter what he did to her and her mother, she still registers him as a source of knowledge and felt pressed to ask him despite the subject being a particular sore point for her?

og aerith probably also hated hojo - i mean, that just makes sense. but the way that scene played out really sets precedent for more questions... what more? what else? which. i guess summarises a lot of the issues i have with rebirth so far. that whole sense of wonder is just not there. the game likes to hand you everything, tell you exactly what to think. this is often done at its detriment, because real complexity simply cannot be spoonfed! BUT - i have to keep reiterating - nostalgia and fandom goggles. they're grafted to my face and i can't take them off.

....so after all that, would you still like to hear about ilsabard? i realise i've just completely failed to answer all your questions but, thank you for allowing me to vent a little!

[pearlywritings]

okay but can you imagine christmas shopping with the ragnvindr family???? the twins go from store to store trying to find the best gift for everyone (of course diluc wasn't grumpy as they started looking for gifts for uncle kaeya) THEY WOULD BE SO ADOREABLE ASHAKDSG BUT im not finished- IMAGINE DILUC TAKING KIDS TO A JEWELER (reader was suspicious but decided to not say anything about it) months ago diluc ordered a special charm bracelet for his wife: four beautiful charms decorated with red gems, each one is in different style and represents a family member IM NOT OKAY RN GOODBYE

I'm so sorry it took so long. I tried really hard, but the mood for a full fic just didn't strike, though I had so many ideas... So I decided to organize those in bulleted headcannons and show how I imagine the preparation for the New Year (since I believe it'll be more accurate for Teyvat than Christmas) would go. I hope you'd still enjoy!

The holiday is right around the corner

synopsis: just the Ragnvindr family spending their time getting ready for the New Year.

pairing and characters: Diluc x fem!reader, their twin sons Rufus and Lucas, Kaeya + his family and Dawn Winery maids are mentioned

tw: pure fluff, domestic moments, mention of pregnancy

word count: 1.3k+

Family AU Masterlist

The kids are very excited to visit Mondstadt and see the fair with their own eyes. It is officially their very first properly celebrated New Year, since last year they got so excited about snow, that they overdid their time playing outside and got sick.

They are six already, which they do not forget to brag occasionally to vendors, happily giggling when the young and elderly coo at how adorable the redhaired pair is. They have hundreds ideas and thousands things to see and choose from, and the both of them are determined to find the most perfect presents for everyone: their parents, their uncle and his family, the maids back at the winery and anyone else they deem a dear person to them shall receive their considerate gifts!

Diluc keeps a close eye on them, knowing perfectly well how energetic they are, walking from store to store, glancing into every booth they take interest in and helping them with their choice and payment. There is only one rule - the four of you go anywhere together. Your husband doesn’t want splitting this year and refuses to leave your side for long, always having his arm or his whole broad body to lean into, when you get too tired. Back during your first pregnancy you learned that arguing with him is a futile case, so you simply smile and let him support you whenever he feels like you need it.

Ah, yes, you are pregnant again! So technically this is the outing of five. You can feel the curious gazes cast on you by the passersby, but pay little attention to it, fully dedicated to spending the family time.

Somewhere along the way you bump into Kaeya, who greets you with a wide grin and crouches down to let his nephews latch onto him in a tight hug. As he is kept in that position, he tells you and Diluc how despite the holiday season beginning he still has much work to do and today he is assigned to patrolling around the fair. His wife found it a perfect opportunity to join him and go shopping. Sure, the man has his route, but the major part of it lies directly through the fair so it’s a win-win scenario. You laugh when he puts on the most dramatically assured facade and declares that surely his lovely girls use his moments of absence to buy something for him. Well, you do not doubt they do, it’s just the look on his face.

As you are chatting Diluc suddenly touches your cheek and tsks disapprovingly. Under your surprised gaze he looks at Kaeya and asks him to accompany you and the boys to Angel’s Share so you could rest and warm. Despite your sons’ protest, he insists and tells Kaeya he is allowed to order any drink on the house as a reward. He himself has one more thing to wrap up.

As his brother leaves with you leaning on his arm and ushering your sons to come along, Diluc quickly walks to Marjorie's jewelry shop and disappears inside. He had to admit, Kaeya’s appearance saved him extra hassle.

The bracelet shown to him is marvelous. Silver band would wrap perfectly around your wrist, loose enough to dangle prettily, yet not as much as to slide off of your hand. The small box next to it became home to four equally beautiful silver pieces, each one representing a member of the family. Upon Lucas’ suggestion all four were made in the shape of an owl with ruby shiny eyes, yet with distinguishing features. The one with open wings and a sword tightly clasped in its claws is undoubtedly your husband. If one looks closely they would be able to see a small carved sign on its chest matching the one on yours. Rufus’ owlet look especially fluffy, resembling the elder twin's love to walk around with untied hair, with also a small pendant wrapped around his neck and Lucas’ birdie has a book in its beak and a feather stuck out of its head. When Diluc is running his gloves fingers over the small masterpieces he thinks of adding one more maybe in a year, and his heart bursts with joy and so much love for you that it's hard to hide. Marjorie could swear she’s never seen the softer look on Master Diluc’s face before.

When Diluc joins you again, Kaeya is nowhere to be seen already and you three can be found on the second floor in one of the few guest rooms being in the tavern just in case. He makes a note to himself to thank Charles when he sees food and non-alcoholic beverages on the table, as the twins munch on their respective portions. You on the other hand are resting on the bed, with your coat and boots abandoned, waving at him and prompting him to ruffle his sons’ hair and then join you.

His gaze is so warm when his big hand presses against your stomach and gently rubs, while asking if you are alright to continue after the break. You want to assure him that you can, but your babies hear the conversation. They suddenly start begging to go home, because they want to help the maids decorate, but when they say that you can come back to the city tomorrow you know that they are doing it out of concern for you. And who are you to deny their genuine help?

When the carriage stops in front of the Winery, your boys don't wait long to swing the door open and jump out into the knee-high snowbanks, sprinting to the front doors of the manor. You don't even have time to reprimand them, sighing in defeat, when Hillie opens the door to let them in and yells to you that she’ll take care of their clothes. Diluc is the next one to jump out of the carriage, pointing at the bags to the approaching servant, and then effortlessly grabbing your waist to get you out as well.

The next couple of hours you watch from your rocking chair the most epic scenes in your life. How Rufus wraps tinsel around himself and gives the ends to Lucas as the reins, the two running around like a horse and a coachman. How the baubles get stolen and the maids have to chase their young masters to either get them back, or convince the boys to put those on the fir tree on their own. Or how Rufus ignores your warning and jumps into the box full of soft wadding which is to be used as fake snow on the branches and at the bottom of the tree all the while Lucas is happily sitting next to Moko, helping her with cutting snowflakes.

You leave the room only when Adelinde peeks out of the kitchen and asks if her Lady wants to assist with gingerbread decorating. This woman always knows what you want and need, especially now, with Ru and Lu completely absorbed with decorating and Diluc busy with completing the last papers of the year. He assured you there is going to be no work during the next few days, and that’s such a great relief.

You know that tomorrow it will start all over again. First the fair - kids do not shut up about going to the square before church after one of the younger maids mentioned the sisters singing carols and offering sweets - Rufus being particularly interested in seeing the ‘badass sister Rosaria’ Callie didn’t stop talking his ear off about. Ah, yes, you'll have to send the invitations to the Alberich family soon, to see if they'd like to come over to celebrate together. And then it’s going to be the bedroom decorating, more mess and more tapping of running feet, but you know you would not trade it for anything else, making this New Year for your family as special as any other after it.

[pynkhues]

Hi Sophie! How are you?

I wanted to ask who were your picks for Gabrielle, Marius, Akasha, Magnus, the marquis, Lestat’s brothers and, idk, other characters I might be missing. Thanks if you’ll answer!

Hey! I'm good, anon, how are you? And ah! I feel like my picks are a bit same-ish at the moment, because they haven't really changed in a while, which is kind of hilarious given I doubt any of them will actually be cast / think that a lot of them are probably too big for the show (although all of them have done TV recently). I've tried to keep it to my top two picks, then listed some maybes below, but! I'd love to hear other people's choices / fan casting too, especially for roles I haven't really thought that much about (i.e. Lestat's brothers, haha).

Gabrielle

Lesley Manville

Janet McTeer

Other maybes: Isabelle Adjani, Judy Davis, Patricia Clarkson, and maybe Miranda Otto (she's probably a little too young)?

Marius

Lee Pace

Andre Holland

Other maybes: Morgan Spector, David Dastmalchian, Tobias Menzies, Orlando Jones

Akasha

I'm really stumped for Akasha, actually! I'm really hoping they go with an Arabic or North African actress given Akasha's supposed to be from Uruk (now Warka, in Iraq). I think it could be good too of separating the show's version from the (iconic!) Aaliyah version in Queen of the Damned. The ony actress I can really think could do her justice in that sense is Sofia Boutella? But I feel there's a good chance they'll go for an unknown in this particular role.

Magnus

Mark Strong

Gabriel Byrne

Other maybes: Christopher Eccleston, Michael Shannon

The Marquis de Lioncourt

Jason Isaacs

Charles Dance

Other maybes: Rufus Sewell (he's probably a little too young too? Someone suggested him to me a while ago for Marius too, and I like him there too)

Lestat's brothers

I haven't actually really thought too much about them! You could probably do something fun and cast Sam's actual brother, haha, but he's a lot older so I don't know if that would quite work (I also don't think he's as strong an actor). I'm also mmm, curious as to how old they'll be in the show? Lestat's the youngest, of course, but I imagine we'll be seeing them across a few different ages given TVL goes a lot more into Lestat's childhood than IWTV goes into Louis'.

I don't know though! What do you think?

[blaiddllodi]

 There had always been a certain level of reliance they all placed on their children. Lambert and Rodrigue had easily broken from that trend, yet Matthias had found himself lodged within it.   When Lambert first passed he had done his best, Dimitri was still young, he still had so much of his youth to enjoy. He had been content to let it pass as it would. Dimitri was already aware of so much when it came to his duties, how people relied on him. He wanted to assure him he wasn’t alone, that he wasn’t the only one who had to carry that weight…at least not now. In the midst of everything, he had forgotten that role, allowing himself to rely too much on the boy. The image of the king he hoped to see had overtaken the young man in front of him. It was evening, early enough to turn in, yet not to be asleep. He gave a gentle knock on Dimitri’s door.   “Your highness?” He could hide behind this for now, at least as he sorted out what it was he needed to say.   “I apologize for the disturbance at such an hour. I haven’t been fulfilling my obligation to you, neither as Margrave…nor your uncle. You’ve been so strong in these past years that even I have come to rely on you at times when it’s I who should be paving the path for you, protecting what few years you have left to enjoy before you must undertake the problems we’ve not been able to handle.” The wooden knight in his hands feels so heavy. It had been a gift, one of the few he had been able to give the boy personally and one left in Rufus’s haste to prove something to the people of Faerghus.   “It may seem crass of me to say, but you are still a child Dimitri. I know how much you want to see it all found out…but Lambert would have wanted you to enjoy yourself. Knowing him…his biggest regret in dying was not being able to watch you grow up…to see you play until the day you were ready to surpass him and take the crown. As your nobles, we’ve utterly failed to protect you…but rather than sulk over it…I want to ask that you enjoy things now. I cannot hope to know nor accomplish all it is you’ve set out…but even if just for a moon or two, I ask you to let me handle things while I am here…and for you to simply be a boy your age. You aren’t yet king Dimitri, you have your entire life to be so for now…please allow yourself to be a spirited prince.”

He hadn't been asleep anyway.

There were some nights where it was possible that Dimitri might genuinely have been abed - possible, but still not terribly likely - passing the night in a sleep that might have been restful, restless, or some odd space in between that left his eyelids flickering the following day, flashing glimpses ever clearer of the bright flames that licked around him.

No, merely the sun, merely the candlelight that dampened the hallways, merely the smiles that shone from the faces of his classmates.

He didn't mind visitors, if they didn't mind the scolding, though the face that presented itself past his door was not one that even Dimitri felt that he could, in all seriousness, scold effectively.

"Ah, Profess- Margrave, please, excuse me. If I had known you were coming, I might have - "

The sentence needed itself cut short there, unsure what he might have done. Might have put on a pot of chamomile, the better to pretend they both wanted to get some sleep - might have tidied, as though his dorm room was not already immaculate.

But the surprise of his presence was superseded immediately by what he had to say - normally, Dimitri was content to listen to what Matthis had to say to him with the intense focus it deserved, those life lessons of a Faerghan boy - knight, prince, king - needed ingrained into him, but the longer Matthias spoke, the warmer Dimitri felt his cheeks become.

"I - Margra- I apologize, I had - " Disgruntled, somewhat, Dimitri felt his hands instinctively reach to take the little knight figurine - he knew those lines, the smooth grain of the wood, and he was certain that if he looked just beneath the geaves he would find a set of initials and a year, one not too terribly far gone but impossible to reach all the same.

His brow furrowed, all the false starts swirling in his mind in his confusion as he considered what to say.

"I...do not feel that you have failed me. You had done everything that you could, that you needed, to prepare me for the trials ahead." Clearing his throat, he shook his head, setting the knight gently into a nook on his desk, overseeing the tomes and treatises that he had been studying - and turned to face Matthias fully, eye to eye, man to man.

"I know that I am still...terribly inexperienced. I have much more to learn, and more room to grow. If..." The words thickened here, and Dimitri was loath to force them from his throat; "If it is your wish that I cede responsibility to you, then...I suppose I have no choice. I will be thankful of whatever assistance you wish you give."

[enityscreation]

Rumors of Von Kaiser

TW/CW:Yandere behavior, unhealthy behavior, unhealthy relationship,abusive behavior,abusive relationship,very toxic,being kidnapped, Stockholm syndrome,

Rumors say that Von Kaiser is a strict,heartless,and cold man. Rumors say that the guy in his house isn’t his son like he’s telling everyone. Rumors say that the boy is Bald Bull’s Son,Marcus Ozdemir. Rumors say that Marcus was kidnapped and has Stockholm syndrome but those are just Rumors everyone says about the strict military boxer.

Von Kaiser was getting annoyed hearing the rumors about him and his son,he didn’t kidnap the boy, he just simply took him to his real home. Marcus was safe. He didn’t have Stockholm syndrome,he was just forgetful, that's all. He just needs him to remember that he’s home. Currently he was at the minor circuit talking with the other two as king hippo could not speak and eats most of the time. “Did you hear? Bald bull and his family are still looking for Marcus” ''poor fella,I hope Marcus is safe and that they find him soon” “so do I. Veronica and Mass are getting really affected by this and haven’t been themselves at all” “I know I saw when Mass was fighting they had less spirit and was much more angry than usual” Von Kaiser gripped his hands tightly luckily no one saw he was much more angry but he calmed down quickly to not seem suspicious. “Yes I saw that too. The WBVA are considering putting them on stand by until they’ve calmed down or the case calmed down. They don’t want any negative feedback” “Yeah poor buddy,Mass is really upset by the news” “I must go,my dog Bruno is waiting for me” “of course. Tell Bruno we said hi” “will do”

Von Kaiser left early because if he was there even a second more he’d blow his cover and snap. He was about to lose his temper hearing more about those frauds of a family that Marcus called once. He was taking the long way home so that he could be calmer. He should probably get some medicine for Marcus as he did injure his leg pretty bad,might be broken which scared him. Stopping by his pharmacy he grabbed some painkillers and stuff that would probably help a broken leg. “Good morning sir! Did you find everything you need?” “Yes ma’am” “I’m guessing a friend broke a leg recently?” “Mhm,he fell pretty badly” “Ah well if it was down the stairs I suggest letting their leg rest and probably have someone near them just in case they get injured more but I am no doctor!” “Thank you I’ll keep that in mind” “Your total comes to 5.02” Von Kaiser handed the money as he got the bag she handed him. “Have a nice day! I hope your friend gets better” “You too and I hope so to” Von Kaiser began walking back home as it wasn’t to far away from the minor circuit surprisingly.

Marcus was petting Bruno sitting on the floor. His leg ached badly but he ignored it and just continued letting Bruno. ‘I’ve had a dog before,I think his name was rufu’ Marcus stopped at the thought confusing Bruno. “Arf?” “Hm? Sorry Bruno got lost in thought for a while” Bruno nodded before laying his head back down on Marcus’s legs. His leg ached. Marcus pet Bruno looking at the TV,it was playing Charlie and the chocolate factory. His leg ached. Soon the door knob twists, alarming Marcus and Bruno, mostly Bruno, as he stood up ready to attack. “I’m home!” Bruno calmed down upon hearing his owner's voice as he trotted over to Von Kaiser. “Hello” Marcus used the couch arm stand to help him stand. The aching was now a stabbing pain causing Marcus to wince at the pain. “You alright Marcus?” “Leg hurts a lot…feels like it’s being stabbed now” “Hm is that so? Maybe some pain killers will help with the pain” Von Kaiser was just going to give him one for now as he wasn’t sure if Marcus was faking it.

“Okay I’d like that…” “How about you sit down. I don’t wanna risk it” Marcus nodded his head and sat down on the couch still watching the movie with a emotionless face. Bruno jumped on the couch laying his head on Marcus’s lap which got him head oats. It was a routine for the dog and boy. One sits down the other lays their head. Von Kaiser walked back with water and a pain killer which Marcus took quickly as he didn’t wanna miss a scene of a movie he’s seen about twenty times counting. “You really love this movie” “Mhm…I like it because of the designs and the characters outfits. Tells you a lot of a person” “is that so?” “Mhm,if you saw Charlie in real life you’d guess he’s a average boy,a bit shy and anxious,heart of gold, and very kind not much of a risk taker” Von Kaiser sat on the other side of Bruno listening to his son talk about the characters if you saw them through the eyes of a normal person not knowing them. It was a normal day for the son and father.

Rumor says that Marcus is wanting to leave every day bit by bit. Rumor says Marcus is slowly going insane day by day. Rumor says Marcus is forgetting himself and other people each passing second.

[sm-writes-chaos]

Hello there @writeblr-of-my-own and @did-i-do-this-write :)

I come bearing a present

I finished a map for 'How Hope Made Her a Hero!' I had to make it on my phone which was pretty hard but I did what i could. Including some bonus drawings of the characters, because I don't think I've ever shown a drawing of them here.

Anyways here you go and hope you enjoy :))

I finally am getting around to naming things!

Far left is the city-like place, Westwend. Then the forest which I haven't named yet. And then Norah's village, Libertas or Azamir I can't decide. Then at the top is the mountains. The black parts are caves, who knows which one could hold a dragon. There's a river, and to the far right is some sand because there's an ocean over there that I couldn't fit in. And their overall world is named 'Alias' (Ahl-e-us)

Here they are! At first I had Norah named after the species that her mom was, which was a norah. But that gets pretty confusing, and a little weird that she's named Norah because then at the end she'd have to change her name right? Cause the villagers called her that cause they just saw her as the 'norah beast.' But I like the name far too much to change it so I'm working on re-naming the species that Norah is half of. (maybe something like Norphet?)

Ah and there's Rufus! I already had Norah's design down but him and Alphair's hair was hard to figure out. I eventually settled on that. Alphair's lines are thicker because of a mistake but I didn't wanna re-draw him so yeah lol.

AND NOW...

When you @writeblr-of-my-own asked that question about them being in the real world, immediately after I answered it I thought about what would happen if they ever met a dog. They have dog-like creatures in their world but they're not so friendly or furry.

This was a tricky pose to draw, and Alphair's size took a fall for it. Sorry you're so little lol. I like to think now that Norah is just like a giant to him

If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer :]

[dream-meister-translations]

100 SLEEPING PRINCES & THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS

TEARS OF DEEP LOVE COMPOSED OF THOUGHTS | PART #1

━

In the Country of Mermaids - Lorelei… The castle in Lorelei was a sight to behold. With it's aquatic décor, high ceilings and large windows that poured blue light, like water into the corridors. MERMAID ASSISTANT : This way please, Prince Sarasa. SARASA : What is it…? His assistant led Sarasa through the long corridor into the castle's main hall. Upon entering, his eyes shot wide open at the spectacle unfolding before them. SARASA : What's going on with them…? There are so many… Have they been sleeping this whole time…? His voice trembled in fear as he examined the large group of mermaids lying on the castle floor, unmoving. Bodies so stiff, you'd think they were dead.

MERMAID ASSISTANT : Indeed. It must be some sort of curse or something. While conversing with each other, all at once, they suddenly fell asleep. Try as we might to wake them, they will not budge an inch. It's been this way for days. Their bodies have been examined by medical professionals. They appear to be perfectly healthy. SARASA : Do you have any idea what might have caused it? MERMAID ASSISTANT : We have confirmed that every last one of them visited the same body of water recently. Sarasa raised an eyebrow at the attendant's words. SARASA : Where is this body of water…? MERMAID ASSISTANT : It was a newly discovered lake. People have been talking about how beautiful the scenery is there. SARASA : Ah, I believe I know the lake you speak of. If I recall, the name is Villamere. With concern swimming in his eyes, Sarasa glanced over the pile of bodies once more.

━

Meanwhile, in the Land of the Pirates - Ancyra… A gentle breeze tussles my hair as I stare up at the seabirds flying overhead. I had received an urgent letter from Sarasa, the prince of Lorelei, requesting assistance in an incident that had occurred at the bottom of the sea. Together with the help of a few select princes, we were investing the location.

AKITO : What in the world is going on down there in the sea? Akito, the prince of Virastin, the Country of Flower Fairies, let out a melancholy sigh as he walked beside me.

According to Sarasa, mermaids who visited the recently discovered lake called Villamere, were falling asleep one after another for unknown reasons. AKITO : Prince Douglas and Prince Rosso haven't found anything either. It's frustrating to be in a situation where I don't know what the solution is. EMMA : Yeah, it would be nice if we could at least find some clues. (We're all getting frustrated now…I can't believe that so many people have been working on this and not a single clue has been found…) Letting out a sigh, I went over the situation one more time in my head. RUFUS : This is looking more and more like a lost cause. The mermaids couldn't find jack shit in the sea, that's why they turned to the princes, isn't it? Rufus who was walking on the other side of Akito let out a loud groan and scratched at the back of his head. It was clearly wearing on him too. EMMA : Yeah… (He's right, this is looking like a lost cause…If anyone can sense an impossible situation, it would be Rufus after everything he's been through.) Trugville, the place that Rufus was from, was a secret realm in the dream world. He and his family had suffered for such a long time, living in a place where no dreams could reach…Having never had a dream come true, things must have felt so hopeless for him. EMMA : It's not going to be easy, but I believe we can figure this out. We just need one clue to get the ball rolling. I'm sure the mermaids who are still awake are as anxious as we are… Rufus rolled his eyes and let out a huff. RUFUS : Same old, same old, princess.

AKITO : She has a kind heart and cares about others… If you ask me, there's no use getting ourselves worked up over this… Hopefully when Prince Sarasa returns he will have made some progress. EMMA : I hope so. Prince Sarasa had gone to visit Orion and Corail to ask for their advice. EMMA : I'm also getting worried about Makoto and Perla… Both of them were currently working on their own separate missions. Maybe one of them had found a clue that could help with the investigation. -FLASHBACK- MAKOTO : You're going to talk to the prince of the pirate kingdom. No way I'm going with you. I just came along to see the fish. I don't want to get too involved. PERLA : I'll wait here, too…I'm tired from moving around so much…The two of us can do some research while we wait for you… -END FLASHBACK- (The two of them spending time together sounds like a disaster waiting to happen…) Curious to see if their research had yielded any results, my legs instinctively moved faster.

[theloniousbach]

CAELAN CARDELLO with Dan Finn, Domo Branch, and special guest Chris Lewis, WAYNE (NJ) PUBLIC LIBRARY, 19 MAY 2024

CAELAN CARDELLO had a late night gig last week as Mezzrow’s was reopening. But when I went looking for it a day or two later, it wasn’t there. Maybe Mezzrow’s didn’t reopen as scheduled? But I was so impressed with Cardello from a duo gig with Rufus Reid that I have been keeping my eye out for him. I was about ready to go to an archived Mezzrow’s gig from last fall when the YouTube algorithm offered this more recent option.

The Wayne Library evidently has a jazz series in a local church with a pretty sophisticated video/streaming component. Poor Dan Finn was often too low in the mix, but still it was strong. Domo Branch is both a tasty, nuanced drummer but also one who doesn’t play beyond the small ensemble sound. They are a working band, but Chris Lewis brought his saxophones to everything but the opener and a version of Cole Porter’s All of You. Lewis was an interesting mixture of gritty but light and contributed to a Blue Note soul jazz hard bop sound. He punctuated the grooves and soloed skillfully but didn’t squawk or honk.

But it was Cardello’s gig and he brought five of the eight tunes. He is very strong rhythmically and plays hard, but, again, everything was accessible and appealing. He was a student of Harold Mabern and performed his John Neely. Besides the Porter, the other cover was as revealing as the Mabern, Cedar Walton’s Ojos de Rojos. Ah, yes, both veterans had groove and riff to spare.

Cardello brought all that to his own tunes. The opener Gone Fishin’ was for his grandfather and was properly affectionate. The closer Music for the People was hopeful and proud. But Weep, the midset ballad, was the most effecting. Lewis was on soprano, a surprisingly robust soprano that was properly somber. No snake charmer cliches, just the higher horn played with some grit and gravitas.

Cardello remains an up and comer. He reminds me a bit of Emmet Cohen in his virtuosity. He doesn’t have the charisma, few do, but he is a winner. I will continue to keep my eye on him.

[rinnysmuses]

this is more for my sake for headcanons for rhea during this section of things:

(this got long. under ze cut)

-shes not too happy about the fact that they are working with ouroborous.

-not happy at all but she still has no issues with doing this for rufus and leading him there... whatever his trial may be

-fuck swamps and wetlands in particular tho

-'guess that rufus guy doesn't give a shit about this reputation'. rhea still does. this whole thing will end up making her feel sad

-rhea doesnt like imperial defense force either. fuck them more than the society actually

-lowkey i can imagine rhea/rufus being some form of fucked up sorceress/knight thing

-i played too much ff8

-ah okay so the trial grounds have little regard for where they can appear. anywhere through the empire so crossbell is now part of the empire. that makes sense

-i wonder what his trial was lol

-we're just going to push aside the fact that rufus prolly learned how to invoke the trial for knight from vita and just...**INSERTS RHEA INTO THIS**

-jusis: SO THIS IS WHY U TOOK THE JOB OF GOV. GENERAL. rufus: somewhat yeah rhea: ?!?!?!?!!??!?!?!?!?!?

-rufus: now stand down before i kill u myself. (Well jeez mister... this fucks up poor rhea so much... not that he would threaten her id imagine. he probably has to go tell her to hide. in the swamp. do u think she wore heels. i bet she will).

-i probably should have made another ex orb for this im doomed.

-i hate that walter is off screen in CS4

-i seem to always add two extra u's to oroborous

-....well i hope u enjoyed that ride with me. this whole thing will fuck up rhea so bad :)]

[payphoneangel]

⛔❌🧠 for fanfic writer ask :)

Hewwo!! Thank you for the ask <333

⛔ Do you have a fic you started, but scrapped?

Tbh not really! I've made a few outlines for fics before that I have never got around to writing, and a few little snippets of things I wrote for vibes but never did anything more with, but as far as like an Actual Project, nope! And I hope to keep it that way if I can.

❌ What's a trope you will never write?

Ah, that's a tough one! I tend to approach my writing with a 'never say never' mindset so I struggle to have and concrete 'no's. There are definitely some tropes that I would never write straight. For example: A soulmate au. Soulmate aus are a hard sell for me because I already struggle buying into a lot of romance tropes and soulmates on top of it just feels like too much of a shortcut. The characters are in love because The Universe Decreed it So. But a subversion of a soulmate au, where the rules of the soulmate universe are still in play but the characters aren't each others true soulmates and choose to be together anyway, or it's not a romantic relationship they're meant to be in... now that is something I could hypothetically see myself playing around with.

As far as tropes where I'm like "I'm not touching that" probably like... A Coffee shop AU? Simply because I wouldn't know what to do with it lol. I don't read coffee shop aus and while I can appreciate the indulgence of getting into a characters head and really lingering on setting, mood, and details, (which I think is the appeal of coffee shop aus? tbh i don't really know if I've ever read on before lmao) it's not something I would necessarily enjoy writing. Both in writing and reading I like my characters Doing Things.

🧠 Pick a character, and I'll tell you my favorite headcanon for them

Oooh this is fun I've been thinking about Rufus a lot (bc he's an important character in my current WIP) so I think I'll share a hc for him:

He knits as a hobby :]

Fic writer emoji asks

[kprciffdw]

Ratchet and Kim Possible Chronicles: Another Sitch in Time-Part 31

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Dr. Nefarious was seen standing before them along with several of his robot troops. Kim: “Oh, no!” Dr. Nefarious: “Well, what do we have here? All of my old foes standing right here before me.”

Rufus growled at him. Rufus: “Nefarious!”

Kim and Ratchet walked up closer towards Nefarious. Kim: “Dr. Nefarious, I was so hoping we wouldn’t run into you again.” Dr. Nefarious: “Well, you’re out of luck there, missy! And the both you had the gall to set foot on to my base after you did THIS to me!”

He pointed towards the damage on his face. Kim: “Hm, I have to admit, Ratchet really did leave a nice mark on that face of yours; it suits you quite well.”

Both she and Ratchet laughed as they did a fist bump with one another, which aggravated Nefarious. Ratchet: “But enough about that. Nefarious, you can’t use the clock. You don’t know what you could be doing.” Kim: “That’s right. Nothing that you could ever want is worth risking the entire Universe.” Dr. Nefarious: “Oh, but there is and I have all of you to thank for it, especially that blonde kid who clearly isn’t here right now, eh…what’s his name? Uh…oh, forget it!”

Rufus groaned. Kim: “What do you mean by that, Nefarious?” Dr. Nefarious: “Do I need to remind you? I would be glad to, Kim Possible. Initiate super-wavy flashback mode!” Kim: “Uh…what?”

And with that, a number of scenes appeared one after another during his narration that they are somehow able to see. Dr. Nefarious: “Let me start by saying that thanks to you, I found myself drifting through the cosmos. Do you know what it’s like to float along on an asteroid for a long period of time? It is surprisingly boring! Nothing for a villain to do but dwell on his failure! Then one day, we arrived on Zanifar, which was called Tobolia at the time, but that’s beside the point. The Fongoids managed to save us and we were free from that insufferable and seemingly endless ride through space! But, still, failure burned in my circuitry! How could I have been defeated by the likes of you? Why had the Universe been tipped in your…” Kim: “Hold on a moment!”

The flashback was interrupted. Kim: “You use crayons, too? What’s with you guys and your uncanny love for crayons? Are you and Qwark both so childish?” Dr. Nefarious: “Don’t interrupt me! I’m nowhere near finished with my story! Now where was I? Drifting, asteroid, failure, Fongoids, defeated, tipped in your…ah! Now I remember! So, then, I embarked on a crusade through the inner recesses of what you call "the soul”.“

The flashback continued. Dr. Nefarious: "I studied Fongoid meditation, attended anger management, dabbled in yoga and attended more anger management.” Kim: “Heh! A lot of good that anger management did for you.” Dr. Nefarious: “I said don’t interrupt me, girl! So then, one day, I went on a spirit walk on planet Quantos.” Ratchet: “And how did you get to Quantos?” Dr. Nefarious: “Let’s just say the story behind that is far too complicated to go into details.” Kim: “Fine, let’s go with that.” Dr. Nefarious: “So then, it was there that I finally found what I had been missing: The Great Clock!” Kim: “Oh, no, you can’t be serious!” Dr. Nefarious: “Oh, but I am, Miss Possible.”

The flashback had ceased. Dr. Nefarious: “With the clock under my control, I’ll be able to wrong all the rights in the Universe. Every villain who has ever stumbled will get a do-over, including the ones that you have faced. Dr. Drakken! Shego! Monkey Fist! Duff Killigan! Professor Dementor! That…that guy with the mullet that says "seriously” over and over again.“ Kim: "Motor Ed.” Dr. Nefarious: “Yes! That one! They as well as every other villain will triumph while every protagonist’s triumph will be reversed! Until finally, a new present is created in which the heroes always lose!”

He laughed maniacally as Kim and Ratchet stared back at him, greatly appalled by his plan. Kim: “That…that’s terrible!” Ratchet: “That won’t happen! We will stop you, Nefarious!” Dr. Nefarious: “Oh, we’ll see about that. Guards!”

Kim took on a fighting stance. Just then, Qwark grabbed on to her, Ratchet and Clank and held them in his arm. Qwark: “Hang on, cadets!”

He tossed the smoke bomb, letting out a massive haze. When it cleared, nothing happened… Qwark: “Well that was 5 bolts wasted.”

Much time later, Ratchet and Clank were attached to an asteroid, about to be flung by a massive slingshot. Kim and Qwark were to the side, in handcuffs near Dr. Nefarious. Dr. Nefarious: “How do you like my Asteroid Flinger 5000? I had it installed in the event I ever needed a super ironic death scenario.” Kim: “Hm, it seems incredibly absurd and overemphasized, so it’s most certainly your kind of thing.”

Nefarious glared at her. Ratchet: “Nefarious, you’re making a mistake!” Kim: “He’s right! Don’t do this! Stop while you’re ahead before you destroy everything!” Dr. Nefarious: “Hmph! Your pleadings are useless. Bon Voyage, my old nemeses. Oh! And don’t worry, Ratchet, I won’t let the girl die horribly like you’re going to.”

He laughed maniacally as he was about to push the big, red button. But then, his system crashed again. He was picking up on the signal of the same soap opera that he always does. Everyone had awkward looks amongst one another. One of Nefarious’ robots moved his hand and was about to make him push the button. Kim looked at Ratchet, devastated. Ratchet: “Kim-I…I…”

The asteroid was shot out, Ratchet and Clank were both screaming as they were hurtled out. Kim: “RATCHET!” Rufus: “Clank!”

Several hours later, Ratchet awoke on a far, distant planet known as Morklon. Beside him was the vessel that he had been using to collect the Zoni. He soon noticed that he was surrounded by a mysterious white light. Ratchet: “What the…? What is this?”

Clank stood nearby, also surrounded by the white light. A few Zoni floated near him. Clank: “It appears the Zoni have protected us during the crash.” Zoni: “He must not reach the clock.”

They then returned into the vessel as Ratchet held it out. Ratchet: “Thanks for the help, you guys.”

He looked at Clank who looked back at him in a displeased manner. Ratchet: “What? I’ll give them back.”

Clank shrugged his shoulders. Clank: “Ratchet, we do not have a lot of time.” Ratchet: “I know, we have to get off of this backwater planet. I have to get back to Kim! I need to tell her that I…I…”

He hesitated as he sulked. Clank placed his hand on Ratchet’s shoulder. Clank: “I know what it is that you need to do. But let us focus on finding a way off of this planet.” Ratchet: “Yes…”

And with that, they were on their way.

[goldenworldsabound]

🌟 the turks?

for ff7 Aura!

"The Turks have been so wonderful to me. I've really appreciated all that they've done to keep me safe. Ah, I hope they liked the seashells I got them as gifts! Maybe that was a bit over the top..."

Specifically

Elena: Elena wants to be besties with Aura SO bad at first! Over time they do grow closer - Elena ends up asking Aura for advice on romance (amongst others) and there is definitely some solidarity of being afab and having similar bodily functions. And Elena is just sweet (but a killer) so you know!

Reno: Reno is Aura's favorite Turk (my bias is showing) cause he's just so blunt and forthright! And funny. And teases both her and Rufus (and in some AUs joins the ship in a poly soooooo lol). But for the most part they're buds and he just has a way of making her feel comfortable.

Rude: Aura also really likes Rude! He's- well of course he's protective it's his job but like he just has a protective and safe feeling presence, despite his quietness. It's obvious to Aura that he's very genuine when he talks to her and actually very gentle!!!

Tseng: the most terrifying Turk to Aura KJFHEWKJHFW she's on friendly terms with him of course, but at first? She can't read him at all and it terrifies her. They grow closer over time, but I think Tseng and Aura and not really ever at the level of friends - he keeps his distance too well. Much closer to Rufus than Aura. Aura does trust him with their life though (as they do all the Turks).

[inbabylontheywept]

All that remains: Part X

Rufus departed for Rome only a few days afterwards. The city had given him enough, he said, and he was tired of taking more. When he was a madman in the hills, he could be forgiven for not noticing how scared he was making the locals. Now that he was whole, he had no such excuse. 

Silas lingered. He did not know why. He’d have journeyed to Rome for his friend’s company alone, but there was something palpable to the space that needed him there. 

So he stayed. 

Sometimes, he’d get news from across the sea - really, just a stone’s throw away - about the adventures of the carpenter. Apparently, a few years after the Rufus debacle, he was sentenced to death for some incomprehensible crime. This was not a particularly rare thing in Roman lands. Weirder than the sentencing was that it somehow managed to succeed and fail at the same time. They killed the man and made him God. A lot of people were extremely angry about it, but Silas himself was delighted. Getting a new God didn’t have to be that big of a deal, and really, maybe all Gods should spend five years as a carpenter. There’s a gravitas something can only get by being in the world and not above it. 

He heard about the whole ordeal several months too late to have any part in it of, of course, but he still made the time to travel down to the new sacred sites. He saw the cross where Christ had been hung, and he went to the tomb where he’d been laid, and for the first time since the Rufus affair he was struck by something that was inexplicably, unnaturally, empty. A place where something-that-was-not supposed-to-happen, had happened anyway. There was a gap in that cave, a spot where Jesus’s dead body was supposed to be, and he could feel something on the other side of the gap peering over at him. Smirking. 

He left. It was the cave, more than anything else, that convinced him that Jesus had done something stranger than merely dying and coming back to life. 

Jerusalem burned just two decades after that. 

Silas was old by then. His hair, once brown, once silver, was now just gone. And it was gone in the way things were supposed to go, the gapless-going that he’d spent twenty years learning to recognize. The destined death that all things were promised.  

He still made the journey out to see where the temple of Solomon had been. In fact, he begged for it, and was one of the first non-soldiers to be allowed to visit its ashes. He didn’t even have to make it through the gate to feel the void where it had been. 

He navigated by the sense of it. Like a flaming pillar, it stood, more distinguished by its absence than it could ever have been by its presence. The pattern of life becomes invisible when it is in harmony, but a sour note demands to be heard. 

He felt a little disgusted with himself for thinking in such fluffy mystic terms and scratched his ass, just to dispel himself of any illusion of wisdom. Also, because his ass itched. A twofer. 

He arrived at the square where the temple had stood and took a breath. He closed his eyes and sat, and reached. 

And it reached back. 

Ah, it said. Hello. Surprised you looked for me.  

What are you? Silas asked it for the second time in his life. 

It thrummed pleasantly through the area. When it wasn’t wearing a corpse, it was actually a joy to deal with. 

I am not Jesus, it replied. He has his own dominion. 

I know, said Silas, and he was surprised by the confidence he could say it with. But I did not ask what you aren’t. 

He felt himself smile. It was smiling. It was borrowing his face. He did not mind sharing. 

He remembered how unphased Christ had been, as he spoke with the thing. Part of him truly hoped that somehow, he’d become more like the carpenter.

Nobody does. Perhaps they should. Shall I tell you a story, Silas of Decapolis? Would you listen? 

He sat down in the ashen remnants of God's house on Earth, and opened his heart to what lay in the gap. 

Before there was anything, there was nothing. And I was that nothing. Every inch, a void. You can’t even imagine what that was like, to be everything. To be everywhere. To be completely alone.  

Images flickered through his mind. Legion clutching a bloody stone. This thing, seeing itself in Legion. Christ, eating the sacrament of his own flesh, his own blood. This thing, seeing itself in him too. 

I wanted to create, but when you are the blankness of the world, creation is like biting off chunks of yourself. Every place that you are is carved from a place I am no longer. And I wanted to give you - 

The stars whirled through the sky like dancers. Trees flowered in his mind and rotted into mushrooms, weaving through the soil in patterns beautiful and sad. Life played in a melody, roiling and changing but never silent. 

-everything. 

So I died. I ate myself, to give you, you. But there’s a caveat to that, isn’t there? 

The cave. The ashes. The husk of Rufus. 

Wherever you are missing from this world - where a gap forms in the pattern of all things. What bleeds out? If the work was my death, and the world was my work, what happens when it breaks? 

When you clear a man of all his sins, what are you left with? God, or nothing? 

All that remains: Part I

In the land just past the Decapolis, by the tombs of the city's most ancient forebears, there lived a man called Legion. Some days, he howled like a beast, laughing as he savaged his own flesh with the jagged edges of stones. Other days he wept like a child, teeth chattering even as the sun blazed overhead. But more days still, he lingered in the quiet spaces, haunted but lucid: A stranger to the land and a stranger to himself.

He called himself Legion because he was made of many parts. Memories without attachments, stories without endings. Fragments. Worse, he felt like he could only hold a few of the pieces at a time. Trying to assemble himself felt like an endless effort of cupping his hands together tight, filling them with details, reaching up to his mouth, and realizing they had already slipped through his fingers. An endless thirst for which he had no cure. 

The town called him Legion, because they remembered what he often forgot: That he was a Roman, as well as a former soldier. If he’d been anything less, they’d have driven him away. Instead, they fussed over him endlessly, all too aware that to harm a single hair upon his head was to invoke the wrath of the largest army the world had ever seen.

(Which was a problem, because he was all too willing to harm himself.)

On Legion’s good days they simply gave him space. He’d tried describing once, all the things that could bring his demons out: The clash of metal, the twang of a bowstring. A scream of pain. Those were easy enough to remember and avoid, but others were not. Certain phrases in Latin, ones related to marching, used for giving directions. Certain smells - the roasting of pork, the burning of sulfur. The way some men from distant lands braided their hair. 

So many little things. 

They were a lot to keep track of, and the cost of failure was high. It seemed easier for the people of the town to simply avoid him altogether. That it let them ignore his suffering was simply a pleasant side effect. 

On his bad days, they had to intervene more directly. He was strong when he was well, but his sickness could make him almost invincible. Whole teams of men would be sent into the tombs while he screamed and roared, and it could take them hours to tie him down and pry the rocks from his trembling fingers. To put a rolled up rag into his mouth and silence the phrase he shouted over and over, summoning more demons into himself with each incantation: TORNA MIRA, TALIS EST COMODUM MILES BARBATI. 

Sometimes, it took more than a day of being restrained that way for him to find himself again. They’d send children out to the edge of the town to listen, and when he finally went silent they’d travel back to free him from his chains. It was a beastly, shameful task every time, and Legion made it worse by never being angry. Without fail, the first thing he said every time the rag was removed was:

Συγγνώμη, δεν ήθελα να σε τρομάξω.

Forgive me, I did not mean to scare you. 

Everyone knew that the way things were being handled wasn’t enough. Everyone, even Legion, knew how things would end. They just weren’t sure when. 

It turned out that it was longer than six years.

[justauthoring]

The Long Wait

Prompt: Eventually, the hoping became too much to bare. Requested by: no one.

A/N: This is basically a remake of this fic -- upon re-watching the GMG arc with my mom, I couldn’t help but look back at this fic and realize how much more I could’ve done with it. Thus, this was born. Pairing: Gray Fullbuster x F!Reader

“What do you mean you’re leaving?”

Keeping your gaze trained to the ground, you absolutely refuse to look up -- because you know that if you did, your heart would break all over again.

“I’m sorry,” you mumble, words jumbled together, voice quiet that if the guild hall was so completely silent, they definitely wouldn’t have heard you. But they do, and they falter at the way you sound so absolutely broken. And of course, all of them were, but there was something different about the way you sounded -- it was like you were defeated. 

Macao steps towards her, you hear it rather then see it, and can imagine his hand stretched out towards you, trying to placate you. “Y/N, we understand--” and he halts, voice catching in the back of his throat. “We understand more then anyone how you feel, but--”

“It’s different.” You find yourself cutting in, voice sharp, and you wince at yourself because you sound so incredibly selfish and rude. Who were you to say that your pain was any different from theirs? Any worse? But, still, you continue, your emotions getting the better of you. “It’s just... different. I... I can’t be here knowing they’re... he’s gone.”

“Y/N-nee, we don’t know that they’re gone!”

Your eyes fall shut at the sound of Romeo’s voice.

“We have to keep searching for them,” he argues, defiant, adamantly shaking his head. “They’re somewhere out there, I know that. And Gray wouldn’t--”

“They’re gone,” you hiss, interrupting him and finally glancing up to regard your friends, your family. They rear back at your harsh words, and that guilt festers even deeper inside of your chest, with the way they’re looking at you. Jet and Droy look near tears, and you know they’re thinking of Levy. And Bisca and Alzack look in shock at your outburst, you’re usually so quiet and calm. Macao looks angry, and the rest just stare at you, varying reactions that all mesh together.

Because really, it’s the way Romeo looks at you, still so young, so full hope as your words basically slap him in the face.

But you’re too far gone now, and there’s no stopping you.

“It’s been two years,” you continue, voice softer but still cutting, still hurtful. “They’re not coming back. They’re never coming back.”

He’s never coming back.

They don’t respond. No one argues, even if some look like they might. Maybe they’re understanding, maybe they’re finally getting it -- it’s been too long now and no one from the island is coming back. You’d been hopeful at first, you’d been like Romeo -- you’d refused to lose hope. But your heart is broken and there’s no mending it and you can’t keep staring at those doors all day expecting, hoping, praying that he’ll walk through them only for him never to.

So, you turn, nothing but a soft, sorrowful, pathetic apology leaving your lips as you turn your backs on your friends and leave them.

And as you turn, you see his familiar face, the dark black of his hair, that drawling smirk on his lips, and his cold, but always soft when directed at you eyes looking at you, but when you blink, he’s gone.

-

You huff at the weight dropped around your shoulders, inhaling deeply when you see a familiar puff of blonde hair.

“Did you hear?”

You don’t need to ask what he means. It’s pretty obvious.

“Fairy Tail will be competing again this year.”

When you turn to look at Sting, he’s smirking -- all bright eyed and giddy, and you hold back your own snark as you regard him with a small nod. Sting was one of the few to know of the fact that you used to be part of Fairy Tail -- him and Rogue, given that they were the ones who recruited you, and then the master as well.

It wasn’t news you were eager for everyone to know. Fairy Tail was a laughing stock in all respects now, but Sabertooth seemed to have a particular fondness of mocking the way the guild had fallen. And it was easy to hide you’d ever been apart of it given you hadn’t been a particularly well-known mage back when you’d been a member. Your powers were relatively new, and with, regrettably, the help of the Twin Dragon slayers you’d definitely grown in aspects of strength.

Three years since you’d joined Sabertooth -- two years of training on your own, and three of being surrounded by much stronger mages had you adapting and constantly changing. You were practically unrecognizable.

You were known at Y/N of Sabertooth now, and it was like the Y/N of Fairy Tail never even existed at all.

“I’m surprised,” you hum, shifting as Sting moves to take a seat next to you, still whilst having an arm draped over your arm. You blink at the sudden arrival of Rogue, not having heard him, as he takes a seat in front of you, before continuing. “They weren’t in it last year, or the year before if I remember. After finishing last every year before.”

You hadn’t been apart of Sabertooth’s team, but you do remember watching.

It had been... hard, to say the least.

“Ah, well, this year they have a new team.” Rogue explains blandly.

“New members, you should say,” Sting smirks.

Brows furrowed, you shake your head at their words, confusion flooding at you at the particular gleefulness of Sting’s expression. He always got a kick out of embarrassing other teams, not even just Fairy Tail, but there was something different about the way his eyes sparkled.

Sting meets your gaze, and without wavering, adds; “or should I say, old?”

Your breath catches, and even as your mind starts spinning, you’re all too aware of the way both Sting and Rogue are watching you carefully.

You turn from Rogue to Sting, and absolutely hate the gleam in the latter’s eyes as he smirks down at you. Keeping a tight hold on you, he pulls you closer, leaning until he’s a breaths away; “it’s a good thing I managed to convince the Master to let you on the team this year, Y/N,” he grins widely, “you’ll get to reunite with your old pales.”

That... that couldn’t be possible.

They were--They were dead. They are dead.

“I... I need some fresh air.” Shoving Sting’s arm off of you, you ignore his calls and his merciless laughter as you stock out the guild doors, bypassing Minerva which you know will get you in shit later. You don’t really care in that moment, you can’t even think straight, you need air. 

You need to breathe.

Sting must be lying. He has to be lying. There’s... they were dead, it’s been seven years.

Seven years.

How... why now? Why after all this time?

And you convince yourself he isn’t lying. You ignore Sting every time he tries to talk to you, and focus on training. It would be no good if you failed since you were on the roster this year -- Master would kill you if you failed to impress him and keep Sabertooth at the very top. And it’s easy enough to do, spend all your time training, pushing yourself to the brink, until it’s a few days before the games and you realize, Sting wasn’t lying.

You’d been trying to ignore it, ignore the urge, but eventually you give in and find yourself in the city of Magnolia. A place you haven’t been in a long time.

Fairy Tail’s location had changed, but you’d made sure to keep tabs on them. You never showed your face, mainly because you knew that in the end, you’d betrayed your friends. In their eyes, you assumed, you were the enemy, a traitor. You’d left them, left your guild in a time they’d needed you most, and almost instantly regretted it.

But every time you tried to go back, every time you made your way towards those doors, you’d remember the words you’d said -- “They’re not coming back. They’re never coming back.” -- and, like a coward, you were never able to face them.

From the moment you’d left, all you’d wanted to do was go back but it was too late for that now. And so you settled for keeping tabs, helping them where you could, always in secret -- you knew how they owed money, and you didn’t have a lot, but you always anonymously send some the guild’s way in hopes of helping. Sabertooth would kill you if they found out, specifically Sting, but it was your way of repaying all the hurt you must’ve caused them.

It’s why you know their new location. And, without even being there for more then five minutes, you see them.

A blue flying cat, followed by a white one, a tuff of pink hair, red hair, blue hair, blonde and most importantly, him. His dark hair, the fact that nothing’s changed and he looks exactly like he had those seven years ago when you’d wished him good luck on the S Class competition, and pressed a shy, chaste kiss to his cheek, the two of you blushing madly as he left, waving you goodbye.

But, they were there. He was there.

-

“And last but certainly not least, is the team that came first in the preliminaries... that’s right, you know them, you love them! Now, get on your feet and scream for the most powerful guild in all Fiore! The one and only, Sabertooth!”

You wince at the cheering, two steps behind everyone else as Sting makes his grand entrance, looking thoroughly most pleased and proud of himself then anyone else. However, even you can see the smirk on Rufus’ and Orga’s face. 

If anything, it’s you and Rogue that don’t look all that excited.

And you, for a specific reason. One that stares you right in the face the second you walk into the arena.

Elfman, Erza, Lucy, Natsu, but more importantly, Gray all look at you the second your team arrives. You can even feel Fairy Tail team B, and the rest of the guild up in the stands watching you and only you. You also notice with disdain that Sting had purposefully made way for you to be seen, even if you hadn’t been that hidden, you would’ve rather remained in the shadows.

That, and you’re not exactly sure what to say as they all stare at you.

“Y/N?!”

It’s Natsu who yells it, but it’s Lucy who steps towards you, baffled and confused; “Y/N, what’re you...”

But you only lower your gaze, eyes falling shut as Sting pulls you into his side, laughing loudly. “What a reunion!” He cheers, pumping his fist in the air, before turning to you. “Isn’t it so great to see all your old guildmates, Y/N?”

You meet their eyes, just as the announcer calls out;

“What’s this? A reunion? Could it be perhaps that Sabertooth’s own Y/N Y/L/N was once a member of Fairy Tail? What a twist on her debut in the Grand Magic Games!”

“This is so not man...”

Turning your head at the sound of Elfman’s voice, your breath catches in the back of your throat.

“Elfman,” Erza says sharply, pulling your eyes back on her and thus the rest of them, noticing with a thick swallow the way her eyes have never left your own. “I’m sure Y/N has her reasons.”

But as she stares at you, waiting for you to say something, you simply turn, walking off.

“I didn’t know you used to be in Fairy Tail,” Rufus drawls to you when you pass him, and your shoulders tighten.

That’s right... now, everyone knew.

“You never needed to know,” you say simply.

“Y/N.”

“It seems Fairy Tail’s Team A Gray Fullbuster approaches Sabertooth’s own Y/N Y/L/N, and the crowd watches in anticipation at the clear tension amongst the two of them--.”

Everything freezes. Shoulders tensing, you slowly turn, meeting Gray’s eyes -- the one you’d been specifically avoiding.

“We won’t lose.”

I know, you want to say. I don’t want you to, you want to tell him. I want Fairy Tail to win, you want to plead. But instead, knowing the eyes that watch you, you simply say; “neither will Sabertooth.”

-

This had to be some cruel joke.

Your punishment, maybe.

Sabertooth’s Y/N Y/L/N versus Fairy Tail’s Team A Gray Fullbuster

That’s what the board said, that what that God awful announcer calls with clear joy in his voice -- your first battle, the second day of the Games, and this way the turn out.

There was no way you’d win. 

Ignoring the fact that you had no doubt Gray was stronger then you -- you simply just couldn’t. You wouldn’t. Not against Fairy Tail and certainly not against Gray.

“Good luck, Y/N,” Sting calls as you move to make your way towards the arena. “Though I doubt you’ll need it.”

You hate his words, hate the way he knows, hate the way he seems to get such joy out of everything that had happened. This was his fault. His fucking fault that you were here, and that this was happening.

Though, of course, even you knew that was true.

“Sabertooth’s Y/N Y/L/N has never been apart of Sabertooth’s team, but we can expect something great from Fiore’s strongest guild, needless to say. Do you know anything about Y/N Y/L/N, Yajima-san?”

“I don’t know much about Y/’N now, but in her Fairy Tail days, she never really made a name for herself, but I do distinctly remember her powers being incredibly unique.”

“Ah! A mystery then. And of course, Fairy Tail’s Gray Fullbuster is a Ice Wizard, but after his performance in day one’s Hidden Competition, the crowd’s not too sure what to expect. Nonetheless, it should be an intense match between old guildmates now turned enemy’s.”

“Shut up,” you hiss to yourself, nails digging into the palm of your hands.

“Ah, I see you’re just as chipper as you used to be.”

Swallowing thickly, you inhale sharply as Gray comes to a stop a few feet before you. It’s closest you’ve been to him since that first day, and more importantly, then in seven years. You’d already known since that day, but he really does look exactly like he had that day. Hasn’t aged a day. You don’t know the story, you don’t know how he’s back, but you know you’ve heard the term ‘seven year blank’ echoing around.

That makes more sense as you stare at him now.

Still eighteen, you’re now older then him then a year younger like you had been before. 

Remaining silent, your head tilts back, where you know Sabertooth is, chest tightening.

“Y/N.”

Turning to Gray at the sound of your name, your lips part when you noticed the way his eyes have softened, even if only a little, like he caught something in the past moment you’d turned away from him. He looks so much more... concerned then he had the first day, and that was only yesterday. When he’d called for you, he’d looked so angry...

Now, he only looked worried.

“What happened?”

Swallowing thickly, you try to appear unbothered. “I left.”

“There’s more to it, I know there is,” Gray shakes his head, “the others told us about the day--”

Eyes clenching shut, a simply jerk of your head has Gray flying back. It causes a roar of gasps, surprise and anticipation in the thought that the fight is finally starting. But you know, unlike them, that it won’t get farther then that -- at least not from your end.

Gray hisses, slowly crawling to his feet, before he smirks at you; “you’ve gotten strong.”

“It’s been seven years.”

“Still,” he shrugs, stopping before you once again. “You have control now.”

You shrug, mimicking him with a smirk, “it’s been seven years.”

However, the facade falls all too quick when he takes a step towards you. Your body tenses, fists clenching as he continues to make his way towards you until he’s directly before you. He eyes you for a moment, quiet, carefully, and you nearly break then and there.

“It may have been seven years, but I know you best,” he whispers, voice low, “I know you’re lying.”

You shake your head, pushing his words away from your thoughts; “attack me.”

And he blinks, surprised; “what?”

“I need you to attack me,” you repeat, keeping your eyes trained downwards, refusing to meet his eyes. “I... I just need you to.”

And part of you expects him to -- you deserve it, you know, after all you’d done.

But, a second later, Gray’s stepping back, pulling your wide eyes on him as he shakes his head; “Fairy Tail doesn’t attack their own friends, Y/N. You know that.” And your breath hitches when his hand moves to raise.

“No!” You yell, before you can help yourself, eyes flashing a bright gold, like they had seconds before, holding Gray’s arm in place as he blinks back at you. Letting out a soft whimper, one you hope he doesn’t hear, you hold his arm in place, eyes falling shut as your own arm raises, the crowd falling eerily silent.

“I give up.”

And you knew, even as you feel the glares on your back, that there really wasn’t any other outcome that could’ve happened. You’d never hurt Gray, you knew, and you refused to hurt Fairy Tail anymore.

You were destined to lose this match.

-

“What’s so special about those fairies, huh?”

Wincing, you gasp at the squeeze on your throat, trying to suck in air that won’t come as your eyes fall on Sting’s own narrowed ones, glaring down at you. The brick of the wall behind you bites into your skin, and you know his grip will leave bruises, but even as you gasp for air and it feels like your vision is closing in on you, you have no regrets.

You never would, even if it’ll get you killed.

“What’s so fucking special about them?”

You refuse to respond, even if Sting wasn’t blocking off your air way you wouldn’t. Even if you could easily knock him away, send him flying, you don’t -- you’ll only pay for it more later.

“What’s so special about him?!”

He drops you then, and you fall to your knees with a thud, a cry leaving your lips as he sends a sharp kick to your gut, causing you to double over. It takes you a moment, a solid minute to catch your breath, and even then you’re still gasping, voice raspy as you raise your chin, eyes narrowing as you say the words you’ve been wanting to say to Sting for years.

“Fairy Tail is the guild Sabertooth could never be,” you hiss, your voice pathetic but your gaze menacing. “And Gray is a better man than you’ll ever be. All of them are. You’ll never be as good as Natsu.” You hit him where you know it hurts, the words having been on the tip of your tongue for years but you’d always held back in fear of what would happen.

Well, you’re no longer afraid. You’re too far gone now.

Sting’s eyes narrow and his face twists, ready to explode, before he breathes, and a smirk curls onto his lips. “You’ll never be apart of your pathetic guild again,” he hisses, “you’ll be stuck in Sabertooth for the rest of your life. Only, Master will make sure your life is a living hell.”

He sends another sharp kick at your side, but says nothing more as he turns, walking off with a huff.

It takes you a moment to gather yourself, slowly pushing yourself up to your knees where you stay, chest heaving, the pain radiating across your entire body, fingers finding your neck and touching the offended skin gently as you hiss in response.

You didn’t regret surrendering, but you couldn’t help but be terrified of what would happen when you walked into the inn that night.

You never should’ve left Fairy Tail. It was a regret you’d probably take to your grave.

“We actually have points thanks to you.”

Blinking at the sound of Gray’s voice, you slowly glance up at him, arm still wrapped tightly around your stomach as you stare up at him.

“I’m glad,” you whisper, smiling gently, “Fairy Tail deserves to win.”

Gray sighs, and stepping towards you, he reaches a hand out; “here,” he says softly, voice a mere whisper. You meet his eyes, before glancing at his hand for a moment, slowly slipping your own in it. He helps you to your feet, holding you up as you waver, hissing in pain, and then, before you know it, before you can even help yourself, you fall against him, forehead pressing against his shoulder as you let out a whimper.

“You know,” Gray says after a moment, “I still remember that kiss.”

Shaking your head, you let out a quiet, somewhat forced laugh.

“What happened, Y/N?”

“You were gone,” you whisper, finally answering. “You all were, but you were too. And... And I couldn’t handle staring at those doors everyday waiting for you to walk through them, only for you never to.” Pulling back, you meet his eyes, “I love you, I wanted to tell you that day, and it crushed me that I never did.”

Hands falling on your waist, Gray shakes his head; “no one would tell me where you were when we came back. It’s like every time I asked, this look would come over them and everyone would fall silent. When I learned it had been seven years, I wanted to see you first and tell you... tell you, I love you too.”

Biting your lip, “it’s too late,” you whisper. “The others must hate me and I... Sting will never let me leave.”

Gray’s grip tightens. “They don’t hate you, Y/N. Everyone misses you. I miss you,” and then, he shifts, cupping your cheek to pull your eyes on his own again. “I need you to come back.”

“But... Sting--”

“We’ll figure it out, Master will figure it out,” Gray argues, shaking his head. “The Guild needs you. I need you.”

Lips parting, you try to find the words, only to realize there are none. So, instead, you simply fall into his arms, holding him tight against you and hold on to his promise.