#also the stitches thing is so crazy! he was one of the villagers i had on Mistmoore the longest

[forest-isle]

Hey long time no post!

I really fell off playing NH in late 2021, just didn't feel a reason to keep playing when I had basically done everything, loved my villagers, and finished HHD expansion. So! I made the decision this past week to restart! I'm glad I blogged about Mistmoore here, it helps knowing that I can look back and see the slow growth of my island and keep all those memories 💕

So I'll probably make a more dedicated post about it but this is my new island Pinehollow! I'm excited to start again and I got incredibly lucky with my first three villagers. I was busy and didn't have time to search, but the randoms I got were Nan, Bunnie, and Stitches 💕

Stitches was one of my favorites on Mistmoore and to see him back makes me so happy! 🥰

[llilyrose]

So, you know that ISAT au I mentioned in my yass-girlboss King post??

HHHHHEEEERE WE GO .... info below keep reading!!! lots of words!!!! In Stars And Time FULL spoilers!!!!!

(Note: The Reset AU will be posted on @slowlysoluminary but i will be reblogging from my main)

There are some really interesting Siffrin-Meets-The-King-First aus that float around. I see them sometime! they're great! But I, as an adoring King fan, had to sit down and ask myself:

"So, uhh, like why?"

AND I DID SOME THINKING!!!!!

The King notices you're looping in Act 3. That's great! Not for Siffrin, but great narratively. If he notices it in that loop specifically, I feel like he would notice in other loops, too.

So, Act 5. The King notices how much of a formidable opponent siffrin is (among other things), acknowledges he's from the same country, recognizes wish craft, yadda yadda yadda.

He wants Siffrin to understand and resonate with his reasons for trapping an entire country in time, and while Siffrin is busy in his mind space fighting Mal Du Pays, the King makes a wish. AND HE LOOPS!!!!!??????

... Uhh, kind of? Not really. It resets the timeline all the way back to when the country was erased, but instead of the King having full memory, they're more like... vague snippets that hint at what he once was.

So, um! The first part of the AU is about the King's 10-year-long descent into madness. It's heavily condensed but it's there!! there's lore there!! I'm a king fan he needs a backstory.

"His name is Lazare" HE HAD TO HAVE A NAME BEFORE HIS KING DAYS... it's heavily implied the King wasn't his original name, and my headcanon helpfully supplied that he underwent a Change inside the house during his rise to power. I think there's like, a Head Defender? And the King was Head Defender, with full access to all libraries inside the house, when he started going crazy.

At 22 he loses all his memory while travelling in Vaugarde. Nobody knows his name so he comes up with one! He meets Siffrin 4 years later and they both travel Vaugarde together.

He becomes a defender at 29 because we see firsthand how INVESTED this dude is in Vaugarde. He wants, NEEDS this country to be safe!! he has a lot of patriotism!!! He's not actively searching for what happened to him or his country, he's just accepted it and is building himself up as a person.

oh boy .. when he turns 31 he becomes Head Defender.... And when he starts reading higher-access books throughout the house documenting a disappearing country? He gets MORBIDLY curious. And... well... this fixation leads him down the rabbit hole that got him where he is today! Except, this time, with Siffrin on his side...?

Yup! Siffrin is here! They've been here the whole time! Siffrin watches a man he's grown to love and adore fall into the Deep End. And he would find the strength to be mad about what he's doing if it weren't for the fact he was super sympathetic!!! ugh!!! sympathy!!!

Siffrin agrees with the King... but not really? He agrees with his reasons but completely disagrees with the way he's going about it. The change from Lazare to King was gradual, but towards the end he treats Siffrin more like an object of study than a friend.

The King takes his cloak and hat to study the stitching, the King won't let him cut or dye his hair again because he wants (NEEDS) this still image of his culture, etc.

Siffrin pretends his behavior doesn't bother him (because the King goes full Mansplain Manipulate Malewife on him if he voices his dissent) and keeps sneaking away from the King using his hat-less/cloak-less disguise.

In doing so, he meets a wild Mirabelle! It becomes a habit to visit her and the villagers under this "disguise" (it's only convincing in the way that Clark Kent is convincing) and he's feeling that same friendship with them that he used to back when the King was Lazarus.

... Until the House gets frozen? And the king starts Freezing People In Time For Real? No warning? Siffrin is HORRIFIED, rightfully, and also super upset. Partly because Mirabelle "got frozen" (she did not get frozen) and partly because the king has TOTALLY LOST HIS MIND NOW. no trace or remnant of who he used to be. but siffrin wants to hold on.

and then Siffrin gets stuck in a time loop! Whoops! Honest mistake!

"How does he get stuck in a Time Loop if there's no party to stick with?" ok so. of course he's going to learn Wish Craft from the King, duh. The King tells him literally everything about rhe country as he discovers it (albeit, in incoherent rambles.). And he also has his own muscle memory to draw from!

In desperation, he makes a wish: Save Vaugarde/Sav the King.

"Which one of those two is it?" Idk! That's what he spends the timeloops finding out!

Oh, wait, now that I've talked about the time loops, I CAN TALK ABOUT LOOP!!! LOOP IS NEW AND DIFFERENT!!!

^^ This was the initial ref sheet i made while brainstorming for this au (and also the sheet that birthed King In Magical Girl Poses)

"So what's loop's deal?" yeah, um, that's the thing? Loop doesn't know either!

Loop is not hiding their identity! Much like King, they domn't remember anything until afterthe Reset. They're Siffrin, yes, but not Siffrin from SASASA:AP. They're Siffrin from In Stars and Time. They're THE Siffrin that the King's wish Reset!

Thus, Loop looks very different!!!! And acts a little bit different!!! Siffrin is the only one who can see Loop, for the time being, and they follow him throughout the loops instead of staying stagnant under the Favor Tree.

They don't like the idea of not knowing who they are, or where they're from. Siffrin sympathizes with the star, initially thinking that they just... had the same thing happen to them that happened to the king? But the reason Loop follows Siffrin through the house is because they NEED to know who they used to be, and what in the Universe happened to them. Certain things trigger certain memories, and... it certainly doesn't help that the party enters the fray.

"So was the King's wish not important?" THE KING'S WISH WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

Not only did it CAUSE the reset, but it gave King the precise tools to get a timeline that fulfilled his wish (It's not the Universe's fault he lost himself and his only chance).

BUT ALSO!! ALSOOOOOOO!!!! THE KING'S WISH CORRUPTED THE WHOLE TIMELINE.

Loops are meant to reset to the day before, with no one"s memory remaining except for Siffrin's.

This loop completely Reset the timeline.

The King kept hints of his memories from the past.

The party gets dejá vū from the moment they meet to the moment they step foot in the house. They feel like something is missing.

Loop shouldn't be here. Loop should be... Loop. Loop didn't wish to be here - it's a direct violaton of his initial wish to stay with his friends, but it's a wish that technically got overwritten when the Reset happened?

Ironically, Siffrin is the only one Out Of The Loop (hehe)

,,,,,,,,,

"okay so what's the stuff IN the timeloop?" you see. you seeeeee. I've been worldbuilding so that I can figure that out. And I still don't know..... I'm setting it up with this post so I can elaborate on anything later (asks are appreciated)

"You should write/draw about this" I am! Ao3 is llilyrose but idk if I'll end up posting anything there. Of course, my tumblr is llilyrose, too....

"You stole this from user llilyrose on ISAT discord!" um, look at my url again. thx

"What if I have questions about the worldbuilding/characters/etc." send an ask, fool.... I'd really appreciate it .....

[jadedrrose]

𝐀 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧'𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭

art/other info is available on my masterlist.

The clan was beyond delighted to learn of Rose and Sooga’s return. Unbeknownst to them, multiple groups had been sent out in search of them, but due to the vastness of the Faron region combined with the storm, nobody had been able to find them. From what they’d been told, Master Kohga himself had been pretty distraught. 

Once one was finally available, a medic had checked over Sooga’s stitches, and Rose was delighted to hear that she’d done a fairly good job. And with the help of her healing teas and elixirs, Sooga was doing much better now.

Now, two weeks later, they were finally getting back into a normal routine. Rose had resumed her training, but with how quickly she was progressing, Master Kohga had decided to assign her to some missions. Her first one would be later that night. She’d be joining a small group on a stealth mission to Gerudo Town, where they were going to attempt to gather information on some sort of artifact Master Kohga wished to get his hands on. While Rose didn’t feel too keen on helping him steal something, she figured it was just another thing she’d need to get used to. 

However, there was still a lot of time left before she’d be embarking on the mission. They wouldn’t be leaving until sunset, and it was still pretty early in the day. 

At the moment, Rose was listening to Sooga explain one of his quote-unquote ‘easier’ training routines. With the injury the lynel had given him, he was unable to participate in most practice fights. Though fortunately, it seemed he was nearly ready to get back to those, along with going on missions. But the routine he was talking Rose through had absolutely nothing to do with fighting. In fact, it was probably the wildest thing she’d ever heard of. 

Running through the Gerudo Highlands, where it snowed year-round, already sounded crazy enough. But on top of that, Sooga would wear as little clothing as possible in order to deeply feel the freezing air around him. He’d explained that it helped sharpen his mind, while still serving as a good physical work-out. 

“I’d like you to join me,” he offered.

“What?! Sooga, that sounds… dangerous!” Rose cried, unsure if she’d be able to handle what he’d described.

“I shall transport you back here should anything go wrong. And, you grew up in Tabantha Village, no?”

“Well, yeah,” she sighed. “But we wore multiple layers of clothes! We weren’t nearly nude.” 

The thought then entered her mind; would Sooga be almost naked? What did he define ‘as little clothing as possible’ to be? Face burning, she looked away from him. 

“I only ask that you try it this once,” he then said. “If you decide it isn’t for you, I won’t hold it against you.”

“…fine,” she agreed, before nervously asking, “Um… what do I wear?”

“The base part of your uniform will do,” he answered. “No gloves or your… er- stockings, though.”

She could feel his eyes glancing down to her legs, mostly covered by the stockings. Why did the way he’d said that feel so… weird, though? Brushing it off, Rose nodded. “Shoes?”

“Your sandals should be fine.”

With that, Rose headed into her quarters to quickly change. Removing almost every piece of her uniform, she was finally left in just the light-red top and shorts. Putting her sandals back on, she re-entered the hallway, waiting for Sooga, who had also gone to change.

Only, she wished she hadn’t. As she waited, a blademaster entered the adjacent hallway. Unfortunately for Rose, he was able to see directly into the smaller hall that contained her and Sooga’s quarters. The man paused, clearly looking her up and down. Even through the mask, the way he stared made her uncomfortable. Maybe cropping her undershirt wasn’t the best idea…

Feeling utterly embarrassed, Rose crossed her arms over her chest, subtly trying to pull her shirt down. “I-I’m joining Sooga for his run into the highlands,” she stuttered, attempting to explain herself. But would the blademaster even believe her?

He only nodded slowly, before taking off. 

A moment later, Sooga returned. Hearing the door close, Rose turned around to face him, relieved her face had stopped burning before he’d exited the room. Except now, she had an entirely new reason to be blushing for.

Sooga had forgone his shirt, completely exposing the upper-half of his body, save for his face. The only things he wore were his mask, sweatpants and a pair of boots. Quickly turning away, Rose clasped a hand over her mouth as she contained the gasp she’d nearly let out. Of course, the uniform he usually wore didn’t hide too much, but seeing him shirtless was entirely different than seeing the outline of him through clothing. 

“A-apologies for not warning you,” he muttered, awkwardly. 

Rose slowly turned back around, doing her best to contain whatever the hell it was that she was feeling. Heart hammering against her chest, she waved him off. “No worries…” Her gaze then fell on his right arm, where a prominent scar was now visible. Somehow, she felt guilty about it.

“Shall we go, then?” He asked.

She could only nod, tearing her eyes away from the healing wound, looking over his toned chest again. Feeling herself swoon at the sight of him, Rose thought back to what he’d mentioned about sharpening his mind. Hopefully this run through the highlands would distract her from the terrible thoughts that were running wild within her mind…

—

She didn’t last even ten minutes. 

They had gotten pretty high up, but Rose had realized fairly soon into the run that she wasn’t cut out for this sort of thing. With her arms wrapped around herself, she stood in the snow, trembling all over. 

Thankfully, Sooga was quick to notice that she’d stopped running alongside him. 

Backtracking a few feet over to her, he put a hand on her shoulder. Shivering, her eyes widened. He was incredibly warm, but how? Her body decided she didn’t need an explanation though, and she instinctively fell forward, leaning into his warmth. 

“Rose, are you alright?” He asked, hesitantly wrapping his arms around her.

“Too… cold,” she said through chattering teeth, “can’t… keep going…”

“I’ll take you back to the hideout at once,” he then said, now holding onto her more tightly. And with the blink of an eye, she was back in the warm, cozy hideout. 

To her relief, Sooga had brought her straight to her room. As he gently let go of her, she instantly leapt over to her bed, kicking her sandals off and hastily tugging many layers of pink-colored blankets over herself.

“Forgive me, Rose,” Sooga then apologized, bringing more blankets over from a basket she kept in the corner of the room. “I shouldn’t have pushed you to accompany me.”

“N-no, it’s… alright,” she said, still shaking. “At least I… tried.”

Laying the extra blankets over her, Sooga kneeled beside her. “I’ll go make you some tea, alright?”

She nodded, muttering a quick “thank you”.

—

Much later into the day, after warming up and eating an early dinner, Rose was getting ready for her mission. Though she was having a slight dilemma over her uniform. She’d prepared a full-coverage version of it, but hadn’t realized that her hair might be an issue. 

Not many women in Hyrule had waist-length deep brown hair, and she didn’t need to be identified so soon into her Yiga career. Sitting in front of the mirror in her room, she tried various styles. A bun had been her first idea, but she quickly realized it was nearly impossible to get such a large amount of hair into a single bun, and not have it fall out within five minutes. Then she tried braiding it, but found that she was terrible at that. Maybe she should just stick with the ponytail, then? Huffing, she brushed her hair out again and left it down for the time being. Maybe she’d ask Sooga, considering that his hair was fairly long, too.

Leaving her room, Rose began searching for said man throughout the hideout. 

It didn’t take long to find him in his training room, with four other blademasters present, too. He was watching them spar, with his arms crossed in front of his chest. 

Upon entering the room, though, they all froze, faces turning to look right at her. She could hear some whispering among them, but not exactly what they were saying. 

“Continue with your training,” Sooga commanded, before heading over to meet her at the doorway. “How are you feeling?”

“Warmer,” she smiled. 

“I’m relieved to hear that,” he said. “Did you need something, Rose?”

“Uh, yeah…” she felt her face grow a bit warm, embarrassed. “You see, I don’t really know what to do with my hair for this mission.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t want to be identified from it,” she explained. “But I can’t figure out how to style it… I thought maybe you could help?” 

Sooga paused, before looking back to the four other men. “You’re all dismissed.”

“Huh? So soon?” One said, as the others made other confused noises. However, they didn’t question Sooga, and they all walked past him and Rose, out the door.

“Meet me in my room,” he then muttered, before disappearing.

Rose did the same, transporting herself directly into his room. He’d already pulled out the wooden chair at his desk, and was waiting for her behind it. Sitting down, Rose watched as Sooga removed his gloves, setting them down on the rather neat desk. It seemed he didn’t use it much, as aside from a few small items, it was empty. Picking up a brush from his bathroom, he walked back over and began brushing through her hair, hands gentle and light as he worked his way through the length. 

“I’m going to try braiding it,” he told her.

“I figured that would be best,” she said. “I tried it, but… I’m awful at braiding,” she weakly laughed.

“Did anyone ever teach you?”

“…no,” she replied. “My mother always did it for me…”

“I’ll show you, then,” Sooga offered. 

“Thanks,” she smiled. “But… probably not tonight, I’m supposed to meet with the others in about thirty minutes.”

“Alright. Just let me know when.”

With that, Sooga finished brushing through Rose’s long hair, and began sectioning parts of it around her head. He kept her middle part, but took the majority of one side and began braiding it from her hairline. Leaving her long bangs out, he kept the braid tight to her head, but loose enough so that she wouldn’t be uncomfortable. 

“How did you learn?” she then asked, watching his hands closely in the mirror.

“My mother taught me,” he said. “My hair has been long since I was a boy, so she had me learn in order to keep it neat.”

“That’s sweet,” Rose gave him a small smile through the mirror. “Was it her idea to keep your hair long?”

“At first, no,” Sooga answered. “But she grew fond of it.”

“I can see why,” Rose began to say, “I find long hairstyles to be-“ she trailed off, realizing what she was about to say. Attractive. 

“What?” He demanded.

“Cute,” she blurted. It was partially true, but not what she really meant, so that she wouldn’t sound as though she were flirting with him. 

He didn’t reply for a moment, before asking; “has your hair always been this long?” 

“Well, not as long as it is now,” she clarified. “It’s always been long, but it’s only been at this length for maybe, six years or so?”

“I see.”

When the braid reached the top of her head, Sooga brought it a couple inches back before taking it off from her head, the rest of the braid becoming a loose one that hung freely. He then repeated the same with the other side, and pulled what was left-over up, tying both braids and the remaining hair into one ponytail. Securing the white ribbon, similar to the one he wore, his arms fell to his sides as he gazed at her through the mirror. 

“Oh, wow,” she stared in awe, moving her head from side to side, watching as the braids and small ponytail swayed around her, “it looks perfect.”

“The braids help your hair appear shorter,” he then explained. “And with the head cover and mask, nobody should be able to see your bangs.”

Turning to face Sooga again, she smiled. “Thank you.”

He gave her a slight bow. “Of course. Shall I see you off?”

“Uh, sure,” she replied. “Let me get my things…”

Heading over to her room, Rose slid the head cover on, pulling her hair through the hole in the top. Next she put the mask on, and then she secured a demon carver onto her belt, one that she was borrowing until a weapon that would be more fitting for her could be made.

Looking herself over in the mirror, Rose ensured she had everything she needed for the mission. With a confident nod, she left her room, meeting Sooga out in the hall. 

Though she couldn’t physically tell with his mask, something about Sooga’s gaze gave her the feeling that he was smiling. “You look like a real fearsome warrior now,” he said with pride.

She smiled in return, though her face was covered too, now. “You think so?” 

“The mask adds an element of mystery. It’s good for striking fear into your enemies.”

She nodded, understanding what he meant. “Well, I better get going.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a firm squeeze. “Be safe, Rose.”

“I will,” she promised. “I’ll come find you when I return, and tell you how things went.”

“Alright.”

Waving goodbye, Rose then turned on her heel, heading for the entrance to the hideout. 

—

The desert was incredibly cold at night. As the group she’d been assigned to headed out into Karusa Valley, that became extremely clear to Rose. Her uniform did help to keep her warm, but she was certain it wouldn’t be enough, especially once they were out in the open. Luckily, one of the other soldiers had brought some spicy elixirs, one for every member of the group. 

And much like the chilly air, one particular person within the group was acting quite cold. Uki, was her name. Once Rose had joined up with the group at the entrance, the woman had given her a suspicious look. 

Rose knew why, though. As soon as she met the younger woman, she instantly recognized her energy. This was the soldier who had been spying on her before she had decided to join the clan.

Unintentionally, Rose had said so aloud. The others chuckled, but Uki seemed unimpressed. Now, as Uki walked a few feet ahead, she could see that the trained spy was sending suspicious glares back at her.

As they finally reached the end of Karusa Valley and came to the mouth of the desert, the group leader, a captain footsoldier, passed out the elixirs. “You can take them now or when you feel the cold’s become too much to bear.”

Rose decided to take hers right away, recalling how quickly she’d frozen up earlier in the day during her run with Sooga. Although, the mental image of him shirtless was enough to heat her up. Shaking the thought away, Rose continued on with the group, far out towards Gerudo Town.

When they were about halfway there, Uki broke the silence. “So, Rose, you’ve sort of… grown close with Lord Sooga, yeah?” She had a higher-pitched, girl-ish voice, to Rose’s surprise.

What was she trying to accomplish by asking such a question? Why did it seem as though the whole clan were obsessed with her and Sooga’s friendship? 

“Uh, I guess so?” Rose answered. “I mean, he is my mentor, after all.”

“Ah, I guess that makes sense,” Uki shrugged. “I think everyone’s just wondering if… you know…”

“Wondering what?” 

“Uki,” another soldier cut in. “Shut up. It’s none of your business.”

“Ugh, maybe,” she scoffed, “but I am the best spy in the clan. I’m supposed to know these things.”

“I’m not sure what you’re alluding to, Uki,” Rose said, “but I don’t think it’s anyone’s business. Can we just focus on the mission?”

“Fine.”

Shaking her head, Rose wondered why Uki was so wary of her. Perhaps she resented her for having to spy on her for so long? Rose didn’t know the exact amount of time, but she did know that Uki’s presence was one she sensed quite often. She could only hope that the younger woman would get over it with time.

—

Nearing Gerudo Town, the group slowed their movements, put out any lanterns they’d brought, and grew entirely silent. 

It seemed they had soldiers standing guard at every entrance of the town. However, there was no entrance on the south side. Presumably, there would be no guards there. And so, the group crept around to the back, transporting themselves over to the south side, to avoid being spotted by the Gerudo woman who sat by the western entrance.

When they finally all reappeared at the southern end, Rose and Uki were sent to try and get as close as possible to the chief’s palace. 

They’d have to climb a bit, but luckily, the back end was open, giving the two women a good chance at overhearing information on the item they were after. Supposedly it was called the thunder helm, a heirloom that gets passed down to every chief of the Gerudo. One of the others in the group had explained that it grants the wearer the ability to deflect lightning, and could give them extra strength as well. That’s why Master Kohga wanted to get his hands on it, apparently. 

Staying hidden from the eyes of any of the Gerudo in the small palace, Rose decided it would be best to simply listen for now. From what she could tell, her and Uki had started eavesdropping in the middle of a conversation.

“With that out of the way… If you could send out this letter, it’s for the princess,” someone said. Her voice was loud and clear, whoever it was.

“Of course, Lady Urbosa,” another said. So the other voice belonged to Urbosa, chief of the Gerudo? “I’ll take it straight away.”

“You have my thanks,” she replied. “I think I’m going to head up for the night.”

“Alright. Goodnight, Lady Urbosa.”

“Goodnight,” she said, followed by the sound of heels clicking against the floor, growing fainter by the second. 

Glancing over to Uki, Rose noticed that the younger woman was now peeking her head over the edge of the wall. When she didn’t retreat, Rose decided to look, too.

The throne room was empty. Scanning her eyes across the whole room, Rose then spotted it; the thunder helm, sitting up on a pedestal. They had the location of it, now. So they were done here, right?

Preparing herself to slide down the wall and back onto the sand, Rose took in a deep breath. But out of the corner of her eye, Uki moved. Turning to directly look at her, Rose’s eyes widened in horror as she realized Uki was beginning to climb over the wall. 

“Uki,” she whispered. “Don’t-“

“Shut it,” the other woman’s head snapped to Rose. 

“We’re only supposed to be gathering information, not stealing-“

“I’ll do what I deem best, Rose,” Uki snapped. “Go running back to Sooga if you don’t like it.”

“Excuse me?” Rose was whisper-yelling by now, though still afraid of getting caught. 

“You heard me,” she said, clicking her tongue in annoyance, resuming climbing over the ledge. 

Cursing, Rose didn’t know what to do. Should she jump down and see what the others thought? Or wait where she was, and see if Uki could actually pull off stealing the artifact. Before she could decide, Uki disappeared over the wall.

Heart hammering, Rose listened, terrified Uki would get caught at any second. For a moment, there was silence. But then the sound of heels clicking against the floor returned, and Rose’s eyes grew wide as she realized Uki was definitely not getting away unseen.

“Another pathetic attempt to steal my heirloom?” Urbosa’s voice rang out. “I’d suggest you put that back, footsoldier.”

Uki said nothing. Which was usually advised to the regular soldiers, so that they couldn’t be identified. But still, the silence made Rose even more anxious. What was Uki thinking, disregarding orders?

“Fine. Don’t say that you weren’t warned,” Urbosa threatened. Then, Rose heard the sound of fingers snapping. Was it some sort of way to call her guards? 

With a loud clash and roar, lightning struck where Uki was standing, followed by the sound of someone falling to the floor. Did… Urbosa kill her?!

Unable to stay frozen any longer, Rose leapt over the ledge, dashing over to Uki’s body. She could hear Urbosa gasp, but she ignored it. Taking the helm and tossing it away, she scooped up the younger woman’s body. She needed to get Uki out of here. 

To her relief, Rose found that Uki was fairly easy to hold over her shoulder. She was quite smaller than her, after all. Running back over to the ledge, Rose closed her eyes and jumped without a second thought.

But as smoke puffed all around her, Rose opened her eyes and found that she’d transported herself and Uki to the ground. As she regained her footing, she was amazed that she’d actually transported herself and another person. Still, there was no time to celebrate. 

“We need to leave,” she muttered to the rest of the group, not wasting a second as she continued running. 

“Guards!” Urbosa’s voice boomed. “Yiga on the southern end! They’re headed west!”

Shit. Even if they all ran, the Gerudo soldiers would still block the route they’d come from. 

Stopping abruptly and spinning on her heel, sand flew around her legs as Rose looked at the others. “Can you all transport yourselves?”

They stumbled into each other, but nodded. “Then transport back to the hideout. Now!” Rose demanded.

Almost all at the same time, the rest of the group formed the transport technique hand sign and disappeared one by one, leaving her and Uki’s unconscious body alone. The Gerudo were now running towards them, beginning to surround the area she stood in. Taking in a deep breath, Rose focused her energy, imagining herself back in the hideout. Closing her eyes, she then vanished, leaving nothing but smoke and prayer tags behind.

With his daily tasks all finished and out of the way, Sooga found himself feeling rather restless. He couldn’t help but worry over Rose. Yes, it was only a stealth mission to gather information, but Uki had been selected to go as well. And it was a well-known fact throughout the hideout that, even though she was an excellent spy, Uki tended to get reckless at times, especially if her temper ran short. Hopefully, this would be something she’d grow out of. She was still quite young, after all.

Needing something to ease his mind with, Sooga had decided to head down to the library and continue searching for any information on Rose’s family. They’d made quite a bit of progress in the last couple of weeks, but still hadn’t found anything. There were only a couple of shelves left, though, giving him hope that they were close to learning the truth.

He started where he’d left off the last time he’d been down there. The section was mostly books and archives about ancient Sheikah technology. Not remotely related to what he was searching for, but it was fascinating information, nonetheless. Unfortunately, it seemed that with so many centuries passing by, the ability to create such technology was lost to the world. 

Moving on from the technology archives, Sooga began to look through the next and final bookcase. This one was hardly organized, with papers, scrolls and books all shoved into the shelves, seemingly without care. He briefly wondered who’d been at fault for the mess. 

As he looked through all the pieces of information within the disorganized shelf, Sooga came to the realization that everything within it was fairly recent. A lot of the reports dated back less than fifty years ago, some even being closer to twenty years ago. Was he close to finding answers? Calming his mind, he continued scanning through every piece of paper, not wanting to get ahead of himself. 

It was then he found it. A small wooden crate, containing tons of loose papers that had been shoved into the box. They were all clan records, listing every member’s name, ranking, and any important information that needed to be recorded. 

Pulling a yellowing page free from the box, Sooga found that it was from thirty-five years ago. Almost. He then gathered a group of the papers, skimming through each one until he finally spotted the correct dates. Twenty to thirty years ago.

On the oldest record, he looked through the names, skipping down through the alphabet. And there it was, the key to everything he, Rose and Master Kohga had been contemplating.

‘Okuda Hanako. Rank: Blademaster. Age: 33’

And underneath, it read;

‘Siora Hanako. Rank: Nurse/Healer. Age: 31’

Staring at the paper in shock, Sooga couldn't believe that he’d finally found answers. Surely, the two people listed had to be Rose’s parents. The family name and timeline were correct. 

Setting the page aside, Sooga then kept looking. Hopefully there would be a more detailed report on them. And surely enough, there was. 

‘Official Clan Retirement Report: Okuda and Siora Hanako have recently left for Tabantha Village, retiring from their duties as clan members. Okuda is more hesitant, as he comes from a long line of blademasters, including his sister who retired young due to an injury. Mrs. Hanako is supposedly with child; their reason for leaving the hideout. They have agreed that when the child comes of age, they shall join the clan and begin their training. Until then, Okuda and Siora shall do simple work as spies.

Signed: Head Blademaster, Asano’

Instinctively, Sooga wanted to report his findings to Master Kohga right away. Grabbing the other paper, he began walking to the stairway that led back up into the hideout. But, he paused, becoming unsure of what he was about to do. This was going to change things for Rose, and there was no way to foresee how she’d react to or be affected by the information. So, he figured that this was something that she needed to know about before anyone else.

He’d tell Rose as soon as she returned from her mission. With that decided, Sooga folded the two papers and headed back up, going straight to his quarters. 

After getting Uki to the infirmary and ensuring she wasn’t about to die, Rose decided to go back to her room before doing anything else. She was exhausted, and desperately needed a bath after the long mission across the desert. Taking her mask off, she held it within her left hand as she headed for her quarters.

But, before she could even enter her room, the door to Sooga’s opened, and he hastily stepped outside.

“Rose, I must speak with you at once.”

Raising an eyebrow, she looked at him with confusion. “Did something happen?”

He hesitated, but gave her a nod. “…yes.” 

An anxious feeling hit her, filling her with dread. “O-okay…”

“Come,” he then retreated back into his room, standing beside the door to allow her inside. Following, he firmly shut the door behind her.

“Rose, while you were on your mission, I decided to continue searching through the library for any information on your family.”

Her eyes instantly lit up. Did he mean…?

“I found records of your family,” Sooga revealed. 

Gasping, Rose clasped a hand over her mouth. She almost couldn’t believe it. But who exactly in her family? She needed to know more. 

“Can I see them?”

He nodded, picking up two sheets of old, yellowed paper from his desk. He then held them out to her. Feeling as though her entire life were about to change, Rose cautiously took the papers into her hands, finding that she was shaking. 

The first page was a list of clan members. It was then that she saw her parents’s names. Her mouth fell open, and she felt she was beginning to tear up. Her father had been a blademaster, and her mother was a healer? Bringing the other paper above the other, she then read over its contents.

It was a report of her parents’ retirement from the clan. The reason they’d decided to leave was because of her. It also read that her father came from a long line of blademasters, which included her aunt. Shaking her head in disbelief, Rose blinked away the tears that threatened to spill.

“Rose… are you alright?” Sooga asked, his voice soft and low. 

Trembling, she bit her lip. As she gripped the papers between her hands, they began to crease and crumple. A tear slid down her reddened cheek, falling onto the top page.

“Rose,” he called her name again, placing both hands on either of her shoulders. “…I’m sorry you had to find out this way. I don’t understand why they never told you-“

“I’m fine,” she choked out, sucking in a sharp breath after the words left her lips. “Just… a little shocked.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?” He asked again.

Wordlessly, she nodded. 

Hesitantly, Sooga let go of her. “We’ll have to inform Master Kohga soon. Not tonight, though. I want you to get some rest.”

“…yeah,” she breathed. “Um, I’m gonna go shower now. And then sleep, I guess.”

“Alright. If you need anything, please come to me.”

“Okay… goodnight, Sooga…”

“Goodnight, Rose,” he replied, still sounding unsure. Perhaps he could tell that she’d lied, that she was certainly not okay.

Still, she left his room, going into her own and locking the door behind herself. The crumpled pages were now crushed in her hand, as she approached the floor-length mirror. She stared at herself; no longer a half Sheikah woman who’d thought she’d live a simple life had her parents not perished. Now, she stared into the tear-stained eyes of a Yiga woman, one who had come from an ancient bloodline of assassins. 

Despite nothing physically changing, Rose couldn’t recognize herself.

[scolek]

my animal crossing island might be named after onisister but there is another team in my heart. so i spent a normal amount of hours designing a ryuseitai-themed upstairs for kid cat in hhp

and it is

Elaborate

so allow me to. well. to speak further in depth on this topic

first off, the centerpiece of the whole room, the media center. they dont all get to gather in the a/v room like last year so they get this.

behind the projector is a patchwork sofa chair in the 'leaves' colorway, which combines with the loveseat, the cushion, and the barstool to form the seating arrangements. its not actually a hard and fast arrangement, chiaki radiates heat which kanata can only stand for so long, so he'll switch with one of the juniors or just kick chiaki off the couch entirely if feeling particularly puckish.

also visible here is the sushi on the kitchenette, the fries and basil-y tomato-y pizza margherita on the coffee table, and the "galbi" (carpaccio di marlin blu) and "hyorogan" (coconut cookies, i couldnt find anything that looked like shinobus actual favorite food, umeboshi. i think if i had cherry jam? closest legal relative, but still more of a stretch than the coconut cookie-hyorogan stretch. like, hyorogan does actually look like that.)

so, from here, we go to the specific areas

a pond for pukapuka, some fish, what more could you possibly need?

though the glow stickers on the wall were probably not put there by kanata himself but rather by the person who put the rest of the glow stickers up,

shinobu! froggie chair. another one with not a lot to point out, everythings pretty self explanatory. i was going to make this space more enclosed, because, you know, ninja, but i was running out of space. i couldve maybe done better if there wasnt a doorway in the middle of the other wall and it could be off to the side or something.

also the middle thing on the wall there is a switch lite, because im not sure how much of a gamer shinobu is but i know he was really excited when he learned hasumi-dono knew about p*kemon....

the keroppi snack could belong to either shinobu or the person on the other side of the divider,

midori! this is an awkward photo. i dont actually very much sanrio furniture despite having the cards, otherwise i wouldve used it more here, im too lazy to scan them in. otherwise the posters of the sanrio villagers would be on the wall next to jack, who stands at the precipice of midori's chill out zone to scare off chiaki, which otherwise contains nothing but plushies, a futon to take a depression nap on, and a tv to secretly enjoy things on (which is apple shaped because midori is the produce boy).

and then across the doorway is

see, this is a much larger space, i couldve used fewer tiles, but because i wasnt trying to replicate a set like i was for the crazy anthem one, i was actually minding the doors and windows of the space.

ok so the. the cross-stitch. ok. i thought there was like a folding fan or some framed embroidery or something, but there is NOT, so. tetora's prized gift from his beloved taishou is. cross stitch (cock (manly)).

this is another area which is mostly self-explanatory. the thing next to the basketball is a pile of model kits, no idea if chiaki actually does those, but it is more toku merch, so.

the picture frame in the shelves is a customizable thing and i didnt vibe with any of the options so thats a. custom design i made to spice up my beaches. its transparent, so. lets just call it a shadow box displaying a shell chiaki recieved as a gift or something.

also theyre like switching leaders every project now but you see that stack of papers? you know whos probably doing like, the most of the paperwork. probably wont even let anyone else do it even if they ask. what paperwork. theres barely any paperwork theres no paperwork what are you talking about.

[bleachanimefan1]

Resident evil:Biohazard Part One

Where's Everyone Going? Bingo?,

Deep in the woods of Spain a police car drove on the dirt trail. Two policemen were sitting up front while Leon, who was wearing a brown jacket, sat behind in the back seat, looking out the window. Next to him was a woman with very pale skin, who appeared to be in her early twenties. She had two faint but noticeable scars on the right side of her face, one on her eyebrow and one just below her cheek and stitches on her upper left arm. Her eyes were an unusual purple mixed with blue in color. She had long hair with a few curls hanging off the side of her cheeks, wearing a dark blue short sleeved shirt underneath her bullet proof armor and dark pants and shoes. She was silently sitting with her legs crossed looking out the window as well and also listening in on the Spaniard police bickering and complaining back and forth every now and then. as they escorted them to their location where the president's daughter was last seen. A village of some sorts.

"Why am I the only one who gets the short end of the stick?"

"Who are you two, really?" One of the officers asked the two.

"It's Mila. Mila Luciano." Leon didn't answer them. The man smiled as he looked at Mila eyeing her up and down before turning around back in his seat. Mila felt disgusted and she kicked the back of the officer's seat. He quickly spun around, glaring at her, seeing Mila sitting there with an innocent smile on her face.

"It was an accident. It's very cramped back here." She replied as she shrugged her hands. Mila heard Leon made a soft snicker beside her. The officer turned back around, looking out the front view window.

"You're a long way from home. You have my sympathies."

"What do you mean by that?" Mila asked him.

"Guess that's the local's way of breaking the ice. Anyway, you know what this is all about. Our assignment is to search for the president's missing daughter." Leon told the man and his other partner.

"Just you two?"

"We can handle ourselves thank you very much." Mila retorted.

"I'm sure you boys didn't just tag along so we could sing Kumbaya together at some Boy Scouts bonfire. Then again, maybe you did." Leon said. The officer laughed.

"Oh, you crazy Americans. It's an direct order from the chief himself. I'm telling you, it's no big thing." 

His partner pulled up at the end of the dirt road and stopped. "Just up ahead is the village." He told Leon and Mila. Leon opened the door, getting out of the car.

"We'll go ahead and have a look around."

"We'll stay and watch the car. Don't want to get any parking tickets." The other officer joked. Leon scoffed.

"Parking tickets, right."

"Cobardes." Mila muttered under her breath, and she stepped out of the car, closing the door behind her, following after Leon who was talking with Hunnigan on his radio.

"Did you say something?" One of the frowned looking at her.

"No, nothing. Nothing at all." She smiled and walked away. Leon and her walked along the pathway until they stumbled across a wooden cabin within the distance. Mila and Leo slowly approached the house and the door creaked open as they stepped inside. They heard a noise coming from another room and went in further to investigate. The two pulled out their pistols and Leon gently pushed opened the door and the two quietly walked inside the room. They saw a man in front of a fireplace as he poked it with a poker keeping it going. He was cooking something in a metal pot that a foul smell coming off from it that nearly made Mila vomit.

"Ah, excuse me, Sir?" Leon called out to him. The man didn't answer him. The two walked closer to him and the man slowly turned around facing Leon and Mila. Leon pulled out a photo of Ashley showing it to the man. "I was wondering if you might recognize the girl in this photo." 

"Que carajo esta's haciendo aqui? Largate, cabron!" He spatted out at Leon with a scowl on his face. Mila frowned as she kept her eyes on the man.

"Sorry to have bothered you." Leon apologized. Mila turned to Leon and pulled him along with her, whispering in his ear.

"Let's get out of here. I have a feeling that we're not welcomed."

Suddenly, the two heard the man yell and saw he was going to attack them with an ax! Mila quickly moved out of the way from the blow while Leon jumped back as the man swung at them. Mila kept her gun on the man so did Leon as he tried to get him to stop. But he wouldn't listen to them. Then the man made his move and charged at Mila and she quickly fired her gun at him. The crazed man fell onto the wooden floor, dropping his weapon no longer moving. Mila and Leon lowered their guns seeing the man was dead.

"What's going on here?" Leon questioned.

"He just attacked us with no hesitation whatsoever. It was like he didn't have a mind of his own." Mila replied.

"Sounds familiar." Leon sighed. Then the two heard voices coming from outside. Leon walked over to the window peering out and saw a couple of villagers as they approached the cabin with weapons in their hands. 

"We've got company!" Leon shouted. The widows broke one by one as several of the villagers began to break into the house while others stood outside, blocking the door. Mila noticed some stairs behind her and called out to Leon.

"This way! Come on!" The two quickly ran up the stairs and the villagers chased after them. Leon quickly closed the door behind them and locked it as the two ran into the room. They were trapped and the only way out was the window just across the room.

"They've trapped us in! Unless you've got more bullets-" Leon saw Mila quickly run at the window and crashed into it, jumping outside. He quickly ran over, looking out the window to see Mila rolling on the ground and landing on her feet. "Come on!" 

Leon jumped out following after her and some villagers began to surround them while more came out from the cabin regrouping. "There's too many! We need to run!" Mila helped Leon up to his feet and pulled him along with her and the two ran and the villagers chased after them. Leon felt Mila quickly pull him to the side and they took cover into some bushes. They saw the villagers rush past them as they ran by. After a few minutes, seeing no more were around, Leon and Mila crawled out and brushed themselves off.

"They're acting like that man who attacked us." Mila said. "For them to be acting this way they're definitely hiding something."

"Let's go after them." Leon replied. Mila nodded and the two followed the path were the villagers ran off to until they heard whimpering sounds not too far away, that sounded like something was in pain. As Leon and Mila got closer, they saw that it was a large white dog trapped inside of a bear trap.

"The poor thing." Mila walked over to it and pried open the trap freeing the dog. The dog was surprising tame as it licked Mila's hand when she petted it. "Where's your owner, buddy?"

"Probably belongs to the villagers?" Leon suggested. Mila felt something strange as her hand brushed against the dog's neck. She moved some of the fur away and saw that it was a collar that had the name Hewie on it. "Hewie? Is that your name?" Mila questioned as she read the collar. Hewie made a loud bark and wagged its tail then got up and started to walk away before turning around one last time as if thanking them and left.

"Come on, we need to go." Leon said. Mila nodded and the two continued along the path until the reached the large iron doors leading into the village. Leon pushed it open, and they stepped inside only to be met with horror and shock. They saw one of the policemen that drove them here, tied up to a stake being burned alive in the village square while the villagers gathered around. 

"What kind of backwards place is this!?" Mila exclaimed. 

"Quiet! They'll hear you!" Leon hissed and he motioned her to followed him. The two sneaked inside the village as they crawled keeping low to the ground, trying not to make any noise to alert the villagers of their presence. It was hard as there were many chickens in the way.

"Shoo! Pollo!" Mila swatted a chicken out of her way. The bird made a loud clucking noise and a villager turned around spotting Leon and Mila.

"Un forastero!" They shouted, alerting more villagers.

"Great. Guess we have no choice." Leon quickly got up and so did Mila and the two pushed past some of the villagers blocking their way and ran into one of the houses. Leon quickly shut the door and locked it behind them. The villagers pounded hard trying to get in. Then Leon heard a scrapping sound across the wooden floor and saw Mila pushing a large cabinet to one of the windows with ease as if it didn't weigh nothing. She smiled brushing the dust off of her hands.

"There! That should hold them back for a bit!" Mila saw Leon staring at her with a suspicious look. "What?"

"How-" He was cut off when a loud roaring sound came from outside. Mila ran to the window looking out of it, seeing the villagers outside. Then a chainsaw sliced through the door and also sliced Mila's right arm off. It fell to the floor with a thud and black blood began to leak out from it. And Mila was just standing there in no pain whatsoever not screaming or crying out in agony.

"Not again. I hate it when this happens!" Mila sighed. Leon stared at her in shock.

"What the hell!?" He shouted. Mila bent down picking her dismembered limb.

"Later! Now's not the time! So, care to give me a hand, handsome? I would tie it up myself but I'm out of thread." She told him. Leon ran over to her and tore off a piece of cloth from the curtain's and tied it around Mila's arm. The arm began to reattach itself and Mila raised her newly reattached arm up and flexed it.

"There we go! Good as new!" She smiled. Up the stairs, Mila noticed a shot gun hanging on the wall. 

"Leon! There's a shot gun!" She pointed out. Leon and her ran up the stairs and the villagers broke in along with the chain saw man. Leon quickly grabbed the gun and began to fire at the chain saw man and some of them while Mila did so as well. The house was beginning to get over flooded as more swarmed in. Leon and Mila jumped out the window leading to the roof and saw that several villagers were getting ladders, trying to get up to them. Mila ran over and kicked the ladders down, taking the villagers down with it. 

"This way's closed!" She smirked. Leon pulled Mila by her arm when he saw the chainsaw man climbing out the window. The two quickly ran around to the other side of the roof of the house only to be met with more villagers waiting for them on the ground below them. Leon and Mila turned back around to see the chainsaw man and several more others behind them, trapping them.

"Pick your poison." Mila suggested. 

"Damn it!" Leon and Mila raised their guns aiming at them before a loud ring echoed throughout the village. It was a bell that was coming from a church that the two saw within the distance. Leon and Mila watched in surprise as they saw the villagers just standing in place as if they were in a trance.

"Lord Saddler." One of them murmured before dropping their weapon on the ground. One by one more followed dropping theirs as well and all of the villagers left as they headed towards a door with a strange symbol on it to a mausoleum of some sorts, leading to the church. Leon and Mila stood in confusion wondering what was going on.

"Where's everyone going? Bingo?"

[patchofsunlight]

Pretty Eyes | Sokka x Fem!Reader

Hello! This is my first ever imagine and I have no idea of what I’m doing, but I guess that’s the beauty of it all, right? So here we go!

SUMMARY: Y/N and Sokka do not get on well. That changes, however, after one particular night.

WORD COUNT: 6k I’m not used to writing oneshots it got so long I’m sorry if the “keep reading” thingy doesn’t work

WARNINGS: there’s a bit of kissing at the end? also I think there’s one or two cuss words. there’s some angst and mutual pining, since it’s an enemies-to-lovers. Toph is Y/N’s best friend bc I love her. and bad writing! I think it feels kinda rushed and English is not my first language so I’m not really sure how to feel about this tbh

I hope you like it! Also if you want to request something please do just ask me what I write for and I’ll tell you!!

Y/N definitely did not regret leaving Zuko and joining the Avatar and his team. It was probably the best thing she had ever done, the first step to finally forgiving herself for all the years she worked for the Fire Nation and for all the pain she caused alongside it, the first step to letting go of all the hurt she held inside her heart.

But Spirits, she couldn’t take Sokka’s attitude anymore.

“We can’t let Y/N go to the city alone, it’s a three day trip! What if she tells her Fire Nation friends we are here?”

He was the only one who hadn’t warmed up to her yet. Toph had taken a liking to her almost immediately, which Y/N firmly believed was for the sole reason of spiting Sokka, but she didn’t exactly mind. Toph was the first person to treat her like a human being and not an enemy, and she was deeply thankful for that. The first few weeks with Team Avatar were difficult — the Water Tribe people didn’t trust her, Aang was unconscious, Katara was going crazy with worry for her friend, and Sokka accused her of being a Fire Nation spy every two seconds. Siding with the Avatar in the crystal cave had done nothing for her reputation, it seemed: she was still Zuko’s friend, still a bad person, still Fire Nation scum, among other endearing titles.

Katara came around eventually, while Aang was still recovering from his injuries. At one point, the waterbender told her she was the only one not pissing her off in the Water Tribe boat they occupied, which made her smile.

And Aang, well, he was a sweetheart. She would never forget the way the small boy laughed loudly after Katara told him how she punched Azula in the face after the Fire Princess hit him with lightning, kindly leaving out the part where Azula immediately gave her a nasty burn after recovering from the surprise of a fist to the nose. 

“Come on, Sokka,” Katara countered, rolling her eyes in annoyance, “we’ve talked about this.”

Then there was Sokka, who still pretty much hated her, even as they now hid inside the Fire Nation together. “You know I’m right, Katara. You should go with her to make sure she doesn’t turn her back on us.”

“You guys know she is right here, right? Are you ignoring her or something?”

“It’s okay, Toph,” Y/N touched the girl’s arm fondly, avoiding the glare Sokka sent her way. “You don’t need to worry..”

“No, it’s not okay!” Katara snapped, letting go of the shirt she was stitching up and staring at her brother angrily. “Why don’t you go with her, then, if you’re so worried?”

“That seems like a good idea!” Aang smiled brightly from his place beside Appa. “It could be a fun bonding trip!”

“No!” Sokka and Y/N said almost at the exact time before exchanging a very confused look. Something seemed to ignite inside him just as he turned to glower at her with rage in his eyes. “Why don’t you want me to go, firegirl? Is it because I’m right?”

“I’m pretty sure it’s because you are a jerk to her all the time, but okay,” Toph muttered. Katara bit back a snicker, taking the shirt from the ground and trying to focus on it again.

“Well, I’m going,” Sokka announced, crossing his arms, “since she’s hiding things from us and trying to go to the city alone.”

“I am not hiding anything! No one else wanted to go to the city so I volunteered, it’s not that deep.”

“Well, then why wouldn’t you want me to go?”

“I don’t know, Sokka, why do you accuse me of being a traitor all the time?”

“That’s got nothing to do with this! But you did betray Zuko, who was supposed to be your boyfriend or whatever—”

“Zuko was not my boyfriend.”

“— and once a traitor, always a traitor.”

“That’s enough!” Katara interrupted, annoyance written all over her face. “We chose Y/N to make the trip to the city and I can’t take being near Sokka anymore, so you two will leave right now to get us supplies, food and clothes. Do you understand?”

“I—”

“I don’t care, Sokka! Go get your things, see you in three days.”

------

Sokka wasn’t really sure why he hated Y/N so much anymore. Hell, he was even starting to think he might actually enjoy her presence, in a way. Not that he would tell that to anyone.

She was still the enemy, even while Katara laughed at something she said and Toph clinged to her, talking her ears off about whatever was going on through her mind. She was still the enemy when Aang asked to braid her hair and when she talked to Appa and Momo while she thought no one noticed. Y/N was still the enemy while her eyes shone with delight whenever Toph made a joke and while she smiled that pretty smile of hers at Aang, and she was definitely still the enemy when his heart skipped a beat whenever she accidently looked at him without that angry look he always managed to put on her face.

Yes, Sokka didn’t like her in any way. He couldn’t like her, he refused to like her. She was from Fire Nation. Even if the others accepted her, he knew the truth — Y/N would never be trustworthy, would never be one of them.

The caves they were currently hiding in were Fire Nation territory, and the trip towards the city was long, specially since they couldn’t use Appa. After two miles, Sokka was already bored. 

“Is your Fire Nation home close by?” he questioned, a hint of accusation in his voice. Y/N didn’t spare him a glance and, for some unknown reason, Sokka felt annoyed by it.

“No.”

“Well, then where is it?” he pressed, staring at her.

“Where is what?”

“Your Fire Nation home.”

“I don’t have one, Sokka. Are you done?”

The Water Tribe warrior scoffed and rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, “you don’t have one, firegirl? Yeah, right. I’m sure you lived in a big house where everyone did every little thing you wanted them to,” he watched as she sighed, her eyes flooding with irritation, “am I wrong?”

It was her turn to scoff, “shut up, waterboy.”

He raised his eyebrows, “waterboy?”

“Come on, the quicker we do this the quicker I can be away from you. We have no time to lose.”

------

They set up camp in the woods near a small village halfway to the city. While walking, they didn’t speak much besides Sokka’s stupid questions and Y/N’s dry answers — he noticed how she acted different now they were alone together, almost as if she had closed up on herself and, ignoring the stinging in his chest, he wondered if she would ever smile and laugh with him the way she did with the Aang, Toph and Katara. With a certain heaviness to his thoughts, Sokka concluded that no, she probably wouldn’t. Not that he cared, obviously.

“I can do first watch,” he let her know, watching carefully as Y/N yawned and arranged her sleeping bag on the hard ground.

“You sure?”

“Yes. I’ll wake you up when it’s my turn to sleep.”

Y/N nodded, falling asleep almost instantly as she laid her head down. When she slept, she didn’t look like a traitor as much as she usually did. She looked like a normal, beautiful girl he would really love to get to know better. But of course he couldn’t, because she was from the Fire Nation and would eventually betray them all, or at least that’s what Sokka told himself to avoid getting too close, too attached. Spirits, he had lost so many people that adding one more person in his care-about list was unthinkable, unreasonable and just all-around stupid.

Sokka wasn’t sure how much time had passed when Y/N started moving in her sleep, her previously peaceful expression now filled with anxiety and fear as she turned and tossed. He furrowed his eyebrows, staring at her curiously.

“No,” he could hear her mutter, “please, no. Please.”

“Y/N?” his voice was calm as he knelt down by her sleeping bag, recognizing the signs of a nightmare. “Y/N, wake up. It’s just a dream.”

“I’m sorry,” she cried out, her eyelids shut tight, “please. I’m sorry!”

“Y/N!”

The girl sat up suddenly, hitting her forehead with his. Sokka groaned at the sudden pain, bringing a hand up to his forehead and touching it lightly. Meanwhile, Y/N took in her surroundings, her breathing heavy. She could already feel a lump forming inside her throat.

“Are you okay?” he asked after a moment, finally noticing her panicked motions and moving forward to touch her shoulder but hesitating. Sokka would usually greet her with a mean comment, but he could see the nervousness on her face and it worried him. “Do you need some water?”

“No, I’m good,” she swallowed, trying to slow down her breathing. “I just—just got a nightmare.”

“I noticed,” the Water Tribe warrior smiled sadly, “I get those too.”

She hummed in acknowledgement, trying to wrap her head around the fact Sokka was actively being nice to her. It felt weird but had a kind of warmth taking over her chest that she didn’t mind one bit.

He scratched the back of his neck, staring at her while she kept her eyes trained on her own hands, “do you want to talk about it?” He noticed her intrigued expression and sighed, going on, “Katara always tells me that talking about nightmares makes them go away. So… Do you want to talk about yours?”

Y/N looked at him attentively, searching for some type of mockery or teasing on his face. Sokka seemed to blush under her gaze, but she was sure it was just the moonlight tricking her eyes. Y/N exhaled deeply, crossing her arms in a defensive stance and biting down on her lower lip as she couldn’t find any bad intention in his gaze, deciding to share some of the vulnerability he was offering her. “It was just something that happened some years ago. Before I left with Zuko, I mean.”

He nodded, leaning on his hands with his arms straight while sat beside her, “I never understood why you left with him, to be honest,” he commented, “he doesn’t seem like the fun type.”

Y/N let out a small smile and Sokka could swear his heart jumped inside his chest for some reason, “he was never the fun type, but he was still my best friend, even though banishment changed him. But I didn’t leave just because of Zuko.”

That was new information. “You didn’t?”

She shook her head, looking down at her hands again, “no.”

“Then why?”

Sokka observed as her entire body tensed and felt the immediate urge to apologize for the question and tell her to go back to sleep. Before he could open his mouth, however, she answered in a broken voice that sounded nothing like her own, “I couldn’t stay. My dad had just died in the war and my mom…” her eyes were full of anguish and misery, still watching her fingers lock and unlock, “she wasn’t doing very well. My nightmare,” she hesitated, inhaling sharply before training her gaze on him again, “it was about her.”

They looked at each other, lazy eyes studying faces with a new curiosity and innocence they hadn’t held for one another before. Something flashed through Y/N’s expression before she asked, averting her pretty eyes from him, “do you want to see it?”

Sokka furrowed his brows in confusion, “see what?”

Y/N let out a shaky breath before raising her tunic slightly. The Water Tribe boy felt his whole face flush with embarrassment but he noticed the marks before he could look away — something that must’ve been a horrible burn, the scar covering a great part of her right side, stretching from her bellybutton to just under her chest. “Iroh spent a lot of time changing mine and Zuko’s bandages in the first months after we left,” she smiled sadly and then put her clothes back into place.

“Your mom did that?”

“She didn’t mean to,” Y/N shrugged her shoulders, “it was an accident, but still. Whenever I think about it, I’m really glad I was born a non-bender.”

“You are?”

“Yes. Having the power to cause so much pain and destruction… I wouldn’t want that in anyway.”

Sokka hummed in understanding and appreciation. He knew she was a non-bender like him but they had never really talked about what that meant to them and to Team Avatar. He wasn’t aware she didn’t crave bending like he did, but it felt nice to hear her speak about it like that.

Showing someone her scar felt… Different, but not a bad different. Y/N had grown accustomed to hiding it all the time, even though she didn’t feel ashamed of it. It was just an ugly part of her that held too many bad memories that she intended to keep to herself. Letting Sokka see it was strange and she didn’t know exactly why she did it, to be honest. It felt right, though. Talking to him like they were friends felt right. Being around him like that felt very, very right.

“You should sleep, waterboy,” she punched his shoulder softly, ignoring her own thoughts, “I’ll keep guard for the rest of the night.”

He was quick to deny, “no, I’m fine, you should—”

“Sokka,” her tone was demanding, “you need to rest too. Come on, get some sleep. I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep again anyway.”

He would love to disagree but he recognized the look on her face. She wasn’t asking him to sleep — she was telling him to. For some reason, that thought made him smile.

“Okay,” Sokka answered quietly as he got into his own sleeping bag, “good night, Y/N.”

“Good night, Sokka. Sleep well.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“It’s alright.”

------

The rest of the trip was better than expected. It seemed like that one vulnerable moment they shared affected their relationship in more ways than one, and they traveled peacefully to the city and back. They even managed to spark conversation with each other in some instances.

Sokka would love to say that being in good terms with Y/N made him satisfied, but that would be a lie. Aang, Katara and Toph were really happy with their new dynamic, glad they could talk to each other without mean comments or accusations — Y/N and Sokka were the only ones inside the Gaang who still had to become friends, and now that they did, everyone seemed pleased and content.

Except Sokka.

Being around her was difficult. Now that he didn’t expect the worst of her all the time, he couldn’t ignore what he felt whenever she was close by, the sensations he once thought were just his way of feeling disgust and anger taking a different shape. He would catch himself smiling stupidly at her while she laughed with someone else and would feel his whole face reddening when she looked into his eyes. However, he remembered very clearly the last time he felt something like that, and it didn’t end well. He couldn’t have that again.

Avoiding her was even more difficult and he couldn’t keep it up for a single day. After finally being able to taste what a friendship with Y/N felt like, he couldn’t stop from craving it more and more. Instead of being away from her like he intended so he could get rid of whatever feelings he was gathering, he actively went out of his way to be near her, even when his mind screamed at him to just let go.

Sokka couldn’t get attached to someone like that once more. He couldn’t forget what happened to Yue — liking someone was not his cup of tea, it would end tragically and he didn’t want it, couldn’t have it, not again.

But a part of him entertained these feelings, these thoughts. It didn’t matter, right? She would never feel the same for him, so it was okay. He wouldn’t get hurt because he would never actually have her so there was no way to lose her.

Right?

------

Everything happened fast.

They didn’t think the Fire Nation soldiers would find them anytime soon and yet they still did. They were nearing the Day of the Black Sun and being found out in Fire Nation territory was less than ideal, to say the least. Y/N was just glad they had Toph, Aang and Katara to fight for them — they were truly amazing benders and there were many more soldiers than she would normally expect.

Everything happened too fast.

She had been taught from a young age how to fight with a sword and was slowly trying to teach Sokka too, even though teaching was proving itself to be harder than learning. They fought from the sidelines, hitting the soldiers the three benders couldn’t hit or see. One of them had a sword too and Y/N rapidly engaged in a difficult fight while also keeping an eye out for Sokka, who was fighting another soldier to her right.

She couldn’t deny the feelings growing inside her towards the boy. Weeks before, she would have straight up laughed if anyone told her she would fall for him, and now there she was. Y/N loved his smile and his voice and his stupid jokes and the way he called her “firegirl” with an endearing tone instead of the accusative one he used to always have when talking to her only weeks before. She loved how his cheeks flushed red when she looked at him for too long and she loved hearing him go on and on about his plans and theories. She loved it all so much she didn’t even mind Toph’s constant teasing: “Calm down your heart, Y/N,” the younger girl would say with a mocking smile, “it’s just Sokka!”

“Shut up, Toph.”

Y/N knew he would never feel the same, but a girl can dream, and dream she did. They would talk late into the night, guarding camp together and exchanging childhood stories. Being around him was very comforting, in a way. 

Everything happened fast.

She got distracted when the soldier battling against Sokka seemed to get the upper hand, even though Sokka fought back and took control of the conflict again easily. However, that instant was enough for her own enemy to attack.

The pain was unbearable but Y/N kept on fighting. There was blood running down her skin, staining her clothes, the wound to her ribs deep and distressing, but she couldn’t leave her friends like that. She manipulated her sword the best she could, ignoring the sharp pain felt with every intake of breath, taking down as many non-bender soldiers as possible.

They ran for Appa when there was finally an opening, climbing onto the flying bison and leaving the remaining Fire Nation soldiers behind them.

Adrenaline was responsible for making her able to endure the pain but now that they were safe and flying while Aang and Katara disguised Appa as clouds, her vision went out of focus and she stumbled, clinging to Toph’s arm in a last attempt to remain conscious and alert. “Y/N? Are you alright?” the girl asked confusedly, her brows furrowed in question.

“Yes,” Y/N was able to get one word out, even though her thoughts were getting messier by the second and black dots appeared before her eyes. “Just tired,” she muttered. It was true — she could feel exhaustion taking over her body and head, slowly making her slump over herself.

She felt like her body was on fire, almost as if she had been burned all over. The pain made it hard to concentrate, her mind trained on the feeling of blood soaking her tunic, every breath causing waves of agony to take over her. The stab wound seemed to be throbbing, unabling her of any coherent thought.

“You sure? You seem—Spirits! Katara, come here! Y/N was wounded! She is bleeding!”

A part of her brain registered a touch to her ribs, Toph’s small hands hanging over her with no idea of what to do. She could hear Katara’s voice from somewhere on her right but she knew Katara needed to keep up their cover alongside Aang. They couldn’t afford risking their disguise just yet, they were still too close to those soldiers.

(Or so she thought. She couldn’t be really sure, since her mind was clouded and she felt extremely confused, the black dots slowly taking over her vision until she saw nothing but unrecognizable shadows.)

Amongst the screams, there was Sokka. He had left his place guiding Appa and came running to her, horror written all over his face as he started to put pressure on her bleeding wound, following Katara’s instructions.

“You’re going to be okay,” his voice sounded weird, disconnected, out of place. Y/N wished she could see him properly. She had come to appreciate how beautiful he actually was, with his endearing smile and bright blue eyes. She really wished she could see him. “Stay awake for me, alright?”

“Waterboy,” she mumbled with a lazy smile before darkness consumed her entirely.

------

There was so much blood. Sokka could see how the water covering Katara’s hands was stained, he could see how soaked Y/N’s tunic was. He could see her, her skin so pale she almost looked dead. That thought alone made Sokka’s stomach turn over inside his body, his eyes stinging with anxious tears.

They did an emergency landing on a small island nearby, Katara trying to maintain their cover as Aang rushed to the reins Sokka had abandoned in his frenzy. Meanwhile, Sokka and Toph were screaming at each other in utter panic, trying desperately to help their friend somehow. His hands were still shaking and red from putting pressure on the wound like his sister had told him to. 

“What is happening?” he stopped pacing as he heard Toph’s weak voice, the small girl playing with her own fingers in nervousness. “Is Katara’s healing working?”

There was ringing inside his ears as he stared at his sister. He could clearly see tears streaming down her face as she exchanged the red water on her hands for the clean one Aang had put on a container and positioned nearby. His heart throbbed inside his chest, a million thoughts going through his head at the same time.

Y/N was going to die. He was going to lose her. He would never see her smile again and he would never hear her laugh again and she would never tell him stories about her childhood again. He would never watch her as she played around with Toph and he would never be able to peek at her as she trained her sword fighting skills anymore. He would never talk to her late at night and he would never appreciate the way her voice sounded again.

He would never feel his heart pick up whenever she walked inside a room again. He would never smile unconsciously just by seeing her smile again. And she would never know how much she meant to him, how much he genuinely liked her and everything she did.  He was going to lose her without even knowing if maybe, in a distant time, when the war was over and they were safe, she would want to stay with him, making him laugh and smiling that gorgeous smile of hers at him everyday. Sokka would never know if somehow she wanted him as much as he wanted her, with all his flaws and faults and fears.

He would never know and he would never have her by his side again and he wanted to scream until his throat was sore. He wanted to cry himself to sleep and pretend this was just a bad dream he would eventually wake up off hearing her beautiful laugh as she chatted with Katara and Toph during breakfast.

“Sokka? Please, tell me what is happening. How is Y/N?”

The Water Tribe warrior felt a sudden anger spark up inside him. He should’ve done something, he should’ve noticed she’d been hit, and so should the others. Weren’t they powerful benders? Couldn’t they sense everything through the earth or some other bullshit like that? Weren’t they better than him in every way? Well, they could have at least saved her.

“Shut up, Toph! This is your fault! You should have noticed she was wounded! You should have helped her before it was too late!”

He didn’t mean it. A part of him knew it was not her fault, but his brain was enveloped in pain and desperation and he just wanted someone to blame so he didn’t have to deal with the guilt forming in his chest. He was losing Y/N and there was nothing he could do about it.

Toph went from worried to pissed off quickly, tightening her hands in fists and sending a few rocks flying towards the sea surrounding the island, “how is this my fault?! I was fighting off a few soldiers too, you know? It’s not like I could have stopped everything I was doing and ran to her!”

He moved his arms around frantically, “you don’t even care about her!”

“I don’t care about her? She’s my best friend!”

“You obviously didn’t care enough to help!”

“Oh, you little—”

“That’s enough!” Katara’s voice sounded fragile but terrifying, averting her gaze from her bloody hands to glare at them. “I can’t concentrate with all this screaming!”

“Sokka started it!”

“I don’t care who started it!” she barked, her eyes burning with rage. “Get out!”

Sokka opened his mouth to oppose, feeling his entire body tense with the idea of being away from Y/N in such a moment, but didn’t get to as Aang took a hold of his arm and started to lead him towards somewhere else on the beach. Toph groaned in frustration before leaving in the opposite direction.

“You need to calm down,” Aang sounded serene while dragging his friend through the sand, “arguing is not going to get us anywhere. We need to be together right now to get through this.”

The Avatar turned to look at Sokka when he planted his feet in place, tears flooding his eyes. It almost seemed like Aang was telling him how they had to support each other through their upcoming grief.

He was going to lose her. Damn, he had probably already lost her. She was gone and she would never know.

“Sokka? Are you okay?”

“I—” he hesitated, trying so hard not to cry he could feel his head throb. “I don’t—,” he swallowed harshly, but the lump in his throat didn’t go away, “I can’t lose her, Aang,” his voice cracked miserably and he gave up on holding back his heartache, letting the tears fall down his face. A sob wrecked his body and a hint of understanding went through Aang’s eyes, the smaller boy coming closer to hold his forearms.

“You’re not going to lose her, Sokka. Katara is going to fix it and she’ll be okay.”

“No, she won’t,” it was getting hard to breathe between his cries, but if felt better than pretending everything was okay, “she’s gone. And I—I think I’m in love with her, and she’ll never know. She’ll die and she’ll never know.”

“Sokka—”

“This is what happens every time I have feelings for someone. I lost Yue and now Y/N too.”

“Sokka, your feelings for Yue weren’t responsible for what happened to her. She told you not to be afraid of love, remember? I’m sure she is proud of you for moving on and falling in love with Y/N, and if we lose Y/N, your feelings will not be to blame either. But we won’t, okay? Katara is going to save her, I promise. She will be fine and you will be able to tell her how you feel. Do you understand?”

Sokka felt himself crumble in pain, another sob escaping his lips as Aang hugged him tightly. He cried loudly, holding onto his friend for dear life.

“Y/N will be okay, Sokka. She is strong and she would never leave us like that, okay? Never. I promise.”

------

When Y/N opened her eyes, it was already dark. A tent had been put up around her, but she noticed the cold night breeze even before she saw the starry sky. 

She took notice of the neat bandages covering her stab wound. There was a soreness to her every movement, but the searing pain from before was gone. She exhaled deeply and tried to sit but quickly gave up at the ache that formed in her ribs. Lying on the sand, she breathed slowly.

“Y/N?” she turned her head towards the direction of who was calling her and found Toph’s grey eyes. The small girl seemed tired, rubbing the sleep of her eyes and furrowing her eyebrows as she called again, “Y/N, are you awake? I thought I heard something.”

“Hey. I’m awake,” she smiled softly, moving her arm the tiniest bit just so she could touch her friend’s leg. 

Toph immediately gave her the biggest smile, jumping up from her spot sitting down to try and hug her friend carefully, “Never do that again, you idiot!” a weak chuckle escaped Y/N as she tried to hug back, but it hurt too much. Toph didn’t mind. “You got us all so worried! Aang went crazy trying to keep everyone calm, Katara cried a whole lot, and Sokka got so nervous he screamed at me. He apologized, though, so I’m not angry at him anymore,” Toph widened her eyes in realization, “I have to tell them you’re finally awake! Wait here, I’ll come back in a second. Try not to get stabbed in the meantime.”

Y/N giggled at her words, sighing as she found herself alone in the tent. For a second, she let herself wonder: she wouldn’t be up and about for a while, that much was obvious. However, Team Avatar couldn’t deal with that kind of liability and she asked herself what they were going to do about it.

Aang was the first to arrive, hugging her so tight Katara started screaming at him to be mindful of her injuries as soon as she reached the entrance. They spoke briefly about the gravity of her wound and Katara scolded her for not telling them she had been stabbed sooner while Aang and Toph bit back their laughter.

“Y/N?” Sokka’s hoarse voice was enough to make silence ring through the tent, the bags under his eyes dark and unmissable. Y/N met his blue eyes, her heart clenching painfully when she noticed the bare sadness inside them. 

Katara cleared her throat, grabbing Aang and Toph gently and steering them outside, “we’ll be handling the supplies if you need us!”

“What? I want to stay with Y/N!”

“Spirits, Toph, shut up.”

The Fire Nation girl smiled at the arguing outside, averting his trained gaze. An awkward quiet settled between them — Y/N didn’t know exactly why there was such a heaviness to the air they shared, but it was too clear to ignore.

“I—” he hesitated, a crack to his words as he closed his eyes tightly. “You really scared me today.”

Y/N tried to sit up, frowning from the pain. Sokka immediately knelt down next to her to help and it felt too much like the night he first woke her up from a nightmare, saying soft words and treating her nicely. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, holding onto his forearms for support, “I didn’t exactly mean to.”

“I know,” he muttered in response, sitting down in front of her. She crossed her legs under her and they stared at each other for a few moments, thick tension surrounding them. She couldn’t help but notice how close they were to each other, so close she didn’t have to lean in too much for their lips to touch. Slowly and unsurely, Sokka brought his hand up to put a lock of hair away from her face. Her stomach fluttered at the touch and Y/N sighed happily. “I was just afraid.”

She blinked in soft confusion that made his insides bloom with butterflies, “afraid of what?”

“Of losing you.”

She smiled, “You know Katara would heal me, Sokka.”

“I care about you very much, Y/N,” the words stumbled out of his mouth while she stared, “more than I probably should, but I do. You,” he shook his head, hesitantly taking his hand away from her face and wiping the tears that had escaped his eyes, “you mean a lot to me.”

His heart seemed to burn while she took his hand in hers, squeezing it delicately, “you mean a lot to me too.”

He exhaled deeply, frustrated to no end. “No, Y/N. You don’t understand. I—damn, I don’t even know how to say this.”

“I get it.”

“You don’t. You have no idea how broken I was just by thinking of not having you around anymore. I was so scared. I thought I would never be able to tell you how I feel about you,” he let out a shaky breath before leading his eyes back to her face, “I really like you, Y/N.”

“I really like you too.”

He groaned, “no, Y/N. I mean that I like you.”

“Yes, I understood that much.”

“No, I mean I—” he was interrupted by her soft lips on his, moving so gently he was sure he could die from the sheer tenderness of it all. Sokka was fast to kiss her back, bringing his fingers up to hold her jaw while her hands went up to his hair, a sharp pain running through her body at the movement and making her hiss. He moved away instantly, but her arms held him close. Their noses were still touching and they breathed heavily, eyes trained on each other.

She smirked, “is that what you meant?”

He chuckled weakly, rubbing circles on her jaw fondly with his thumb, “yeah. You’re way better at confessions than I am.”

Y/N threw her head back in laughter and he grinned at her happiness, “why, thank you.”

The couple gazed at each other, eyes sparkling with love. She sighed before leaning in and giving him a quick peck, giggling when his lips followed her blindly as she distanced her face from his. Sleepiness was catching up to her from the exhaustion of being hurt.

“Come on, waterboy. Lay with me.”

Sokka helped her lay back down, lying beside her and feeling his cheeks flush with delight when she snuggled up to him, getting into a comfortable spot with her head placed on his chest. He carefully positioned his hands on her waist, stroking her side absentmindedly. Her eyes fluttered close with satisfaction.

“Did Katara ask about your scar?”

“Not really. I think she was too worried trying to save me from death and all that.”

“Oh, I’m sure she was.”

She grinned, moving to play with his hair and exhaling contently, “I’m glad you’re here.”

He tightened his hold around her, warmth coating his every touch, “so am I, firegirl. So am I.”

In that moment, Y/N cared for nothing but the way his skin felt on hers and the sound of his heart beating under her ear.

so I asked @azucanela​ @beifongsss​ and @sokkascroptop​ on anon if I could tag them when this was done and they said yes so here it is? please give me honest criticism I have no idea of what I’m doing and I admire you all very much thank you!!

[cyhyr]

KakaIru Maze 2021: Decoding Ancient Lost Languages

Fandom: Naruto

Rating: T

WC: ~4540

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Additional Tags: Mysterious Injuries, Old Gods, Sacrifice, Poisoning, Curses, Hospitalization, Hopeful Ending, Medical Inaccuracies, Medical Procedures, Hair Loss

A/N: *~*Throws Confetti*~* I. DON'T. KNOW. WHAT. I'M. DOING.

I did the barest amount of research for this fic. *~*More Confetti*~*

Read on The Archive

~

Normally, Iruka would balk at the idea that he should be carried through the front gates after a mission, no matter how gruelling. He has an image to uphold, and what if one of his students were to see him broken and weak after one of his missions? He’d either never hear the end of their worry or, worse, lose their respect as a strong shinobi capable of teaching them.

So no, this situation is far from normal.

He holds on tight around Kotetsu’s shoulders and buries his face in his teammate’s hair. His back is on fire, carved wounds shifting and worsening with each step. Some kind of curse-seal, or a time-released jutsu; whatever happened, Izumo couldn’t use the mystical palm jutsu to heal it, not without causing further excruciating pain and making the wounds ooze and seem to cut themselves deeper into Iruka’s back.

They had cut their losses and abandoned the mission. Iruka’s fūinjutsu was vital to its success anyway, and he was—is—in constant agony.

Thankfully, they enter the village just after nightfall. Iruka can feel a bit relieved over that—most of his current students are home and inside at this time, so the chances of being seen by any of them are slim. He bites his lip to stifle a cry as Kotetsu pushes off a rooftop a bit harder than usual and it shifts him too much.

They’re halfway to the hospital when the ANBU team flank him and Kotetsu, escorting them the rest of the way. One of them, Cat, runs close enough to talk.

“Report.”

Iruka can’t. Kotetsu responds, “An injury that responds poorly to normal medical field ninjutsu.”

“Is he awake?”

Iruka nods, knowing Cat will see.

“Iruka-sensei, can you speak?”

He shakes his head.

Kotetsu says, “He’s been in too much pain to do much more than nod or shake his head.”

“Rokudaime-sama wants you and your other teammate to report directly to him once Iruka-sensei is admitted to the hospital.”

Kotetsu fumbles another step. Iruka grits his teeth and groans, holding back a scream. “Sorry, Ru,” he mumbles. To Cat he says, “Of course, ANBU-san. Izumo’s checking us in at the gate. I’ll collect him and report, once I drop Iruka off.”

Iruka doesn’t remember being admitted. He does remember Sakura’s startled cry as he’s placed face-down on a gurney and his wounds are finally able to be seen in harsh fluorescent lighting for the first time. Gods, he’s tired of being face-down in hospital beds.

Will something, anything, have the wherewithal to fucking strike him in the chest for once, please?

He passes out.

~

A hand is holding his own gently as he wakes, extremely disoriented and floaty on painkillers. He blinks his eyes open and turns his gaze to the man beside him. Iruka smiles faintly. “K’shi,” he slurs. Oh, they have him on the good drugs.

“You are never leaving the village again,” Kakashi whispers harshly. He bows his head and kisses Iruka’s hand in his own and continues, “Hokage’s orders.”

“I‘ll go rogue,” Iruka mutters, closing his eyes. “What’s in my IV?”

“From what Sakura tells me? Everything.”

“That explains.” Iruka stops, trying to think of the rest of his sentence, but a fresh flood of painkillers just flowed into his arm and he hums instead.

“I heard from Kotetsu and Izumo what happened,” Kakashi continues. “Are you able yet to talk about it as well?”

“Nope.” Iruka nuzzles into his pillow. He’s feeling really floaty and he’d like to go back to sleep.

Kakashi chuckles. Iruka receives a kiss to his hair and a tighter grip on his hand. “Sleep, then, my love. I’ll see if Sakura can get you on something less strong, enough that we can talk soon.”

“‘Kay. Love you.”

He falls back asleep.

~

When he wakes the second time, there’s a different kind of energy in the room—a different sort of love in the air, and Iruka knows it sounds crazy but he can just tell, even with his eyes still closed, when he’s around Kakashi or if he’s around Naruto.

Now, it’s Naruto.

Also, he can feel the carving in his back, so whatever they’d had him on before they’d lowered the dosage or put him on something else entirely.

“Hey, Naruto,” Iruka says, opening his eyes.

In the chair beside his head, the blond bundle sits, knee twitching. With his bandaged arm crossed over his other and his head bowed in thought, he almost looks like the adult he’s so close to being, instead of the teenager he still is. They argue good-naturedly about it all the time; Naruto insists that he’s an adult, but at eighteen, he’s still technically a teenager and Iruka reminds him of it as much as he can.

“Iru-nii! How are you feeling?”

“Like someone took a carving knife to my back,” Iruka scoffs. “Also, strangely drained.”

Naruto nods. “Sakura-chan said that the new pain medicine has the side-effect of making it feel like you’re chakra-exhausted. But,” he frowns, “she also said that the dose should be strong enough that you wouldn’t be in too much pain when you wake up.”

“It’s bearable, Naruto. You…” He sighs, “You didn’t see me when I came in, did you?”

He shakes his head. “I was out with Kiba and Shikamaru. Kakashi-sensei told me about you this morning, when we got back. You’ve been drifting in and out for, like, three days!”

Iruka buries his face in his pillow and groans. There goes his hope that the carvings won’t scar.

“He says he’ll be by later,” Naruto adds. He shivers comically. “I still don’t see why you’d pick him of all people, Iru-nii.”

Iruka smiles. “You have a different experience with him as his student.” The smile fades and he asks, “Has there been any progress made on fixing my back?”

Naruto sobers. “See, that’s the thing. Every time Sakura tries to get close with some kind of medical ninjutsu—or even with normal healing balms and stitches—the cuts react violently. Like there’s some bad chakra embedded inside them.”

“Has anyone had a Hyūga come and look at it?” Iruka muses. “If there’s chakra in the cuts, then a Hyūga would see it with the Byakugan.”

Naruto jumps up. “You’re a genius! I’ll go and check with Sakura-chan!”

Iruka watches him leave and sighs fondly. Kakashi did well with him, he thinks, and then closes his eyes and drifts.

~

At least he’s able to move around on his own now. Iruka washes his hands in the bathroom and then braces his palms on the sink. It’s been almost a week, and no one is any closer to figuring out how to fix his back.

Having a Hyūga look at the wounds didn’t help. It nearly blinded Hinata. Iruka still feels horribly guilty about it, but she can still see and activate her Byakugan, so he’s been told multiple times to let it go.

What she had seen made everyone uneasy though. A slimy discharge of chakra oozing from the wounds, bright and powerful enough that Hinata had to close her eyes against it.

Sakura has a small team of medi-nins on his case, researching at all hours. Two days, and they still haven’t found anything.

Iruka’s frustrated.

Kakashi visits every night and Naruto most mornings. It’s nice, but he’d rather be back in class with his kids.

He had to get a blood transfusion last night. His back hasn’t stopped bleeding, and the blood loss finally caught up to him.

Iruka turns his back to the mirror, takes off his shirt gingerly, and looks over his shoulder at the carvings. He frowns—it looks odd. This is the first time he’s gotten to see the wounds, and he can’t imagine no one's noticed…

He leaves the bathroom and hunts around in the stack of drawers by his bed. “Ha!” He finds a pad of paper and a pencil, and heads back into the bathroom.

It’s difficult, transcribing the still bleeding wounds onto paper through a mirror while looking over his shoulder. It’s even harder once the dose of painkillers he’s on fully metabolizes and he’s not yet done. Twisting his upper back, stretching and sitting on the edge of the sink so he can see his lower back—it aches.

A voice comes from the other side of the door, along with a soft knock. “Iruka-sensei? Is everything alright?”

Sakura.

He places the pad and pencil on the counter and slides the door open. “Sakura, has no one realized that the wounds are words?” he asks.

She looks startled. “Huh?”

“Could you please clean them for me again, and check that I’ve transcribed it correctly?” Iruka reaches back inside the bathroom and gives the pad of paper to Sakura. “I’m sure Rokudaime-sama will be interested in this.”

Sakura finally catches up. “Yes! Um, let me get you another dose of painkillers, and a flush kit. If you could sit back down, Sensei? I’ll be right back!”

Iruka just about collapses onto the mattress, leaning his elbows on his knees. Finally, some answers are on the horizon.

~

“It’s no language the cipher corps recognize, nor is it a code in our archives.” Kakashi has his arms crossed and a shoulder leaning against the window. “But they do agree with your assessment—it’s definitely a message of some kind.”

Iruka sighs, picking at the hospital food. “Validation is nice, but I was hoping for an end to this pain.”

“I know, love. Me too.”

“When can we expect word back from Sasuke?”

“If it is Otsutsuki, Sasuke should arrive as soon as possible, per my order. If not, he likely will only return a messenger hawk with the information.” Kakashi leaves the window and comes to sit on the mattress beside Iruka. “We’re going to figure this out.”

Iruka hums and leans against his partner, resting his head against Kakashi’s collarbone. It’s not comfortable, but it is comforting. “I miss sleeping with you,” he whispers.

Kakashi kisses the top of his head. “I miss you too, love. The house is too quiet without you.”

~

Iruka stares at the encoded characters transcribed from his back. He’s… discomfited. He’s been staring at the words for almost a half-hour, trying to make sense of it.

It doesn’t change.

Iruka knows this language.

Not… not well enough to read it outright, but enough that with the characters cleaned up and a fresh copy in his hands, one that was written down while the scribe (himself) wasn’t in immense pain, he recognizes it.

“Iru-nii!” Naruto steps in for his morning visit. “How’d you sleep?”

“As best as can be expected,” Iruka mutters. “Naruto, can you do me a favor?”

“Hmm? Sure!”

Thank the gods he still has his moments of dull-headedness. “In the office at home, I have a scroll with the Uzumaki clan seal on it. It’s the only one, middle shelf. I need you to get that scroll for me please.”

“Nii-chan, why do you have an Uzumaki scroll?”

Iruka sighs. “Go get the scroll, and I’ll explain when you get back, okay?”

Naruto leaves through the open window, his footing unsteady. But he leaves and that means that Iruka can breathe and take the time to think of a way to tell him, when he gets back, about how he found out that they are actually distantly related.

Actually, no—how is he supposed to—shit. Iruka drags a hand down his face.

Hey Naruto, oh this old scroll? Found it in the archives after Tsunade-sama left office! It was in a box marked with my parents’ names on it. Yeah, turns out that my father was a refugee from Uzushio, just like your mother! Oh, and funnily enough, Umino is also a branch family of the Uzumaki!

That’s… not going to go over well, is it.

~

Break a thing for fragments. Break the fragments for dust. Break the dust, and break what remains. Here is fire.

To forge a sword, to fight, to curse your enemies on the eve of battle. This is the story of blood and its exits.

A word that sanctifies the change that comes when the seared skin peels. Words spoken in ritual to inspire an unmerciful Change. To speak them aloud is to hear the sword hiss.

All these things share certain patterns.

“Mercy,” saith the Altar, “is found only in shadow.”

“Mercy,” saith the Altar, “is found only in shadow.”

“Mercy,” saith the Altar, “is found only in shadow.”

…

Iruka wakes gasping, not realizing that he’d fallen asleep. He pats his lap for the scroll Naruto had brought him, and startles as he realizes that it’s not there. It—It had been there just, just a little while ago, hadn’t it???

“Mercy is found only in shadow,” he mutters to himself, looking around his room. “Mercy is found… There!” The scroll, the one with the Uzumaki clan seal, is rolled up and tucked neatly away on a table on the far end of the room. Iruka gathers his strength and swings his legs over the side of the bed.

He tries to stand.

And fails.

He catches himself on hands and knees, and then feels his elbows weaken and give way. His cheek hits the tile and he hisses. He tries to push up again, but can’t…

Can’t…

…

The Altar holds a spark.

Freol is the mouth, the door, the flame, the altar, and the reward.

Knife and sword shed blood for Freol; what is spilled is hers. Fires burn for Freol; what is consumed is hers.

~

“Iruka! Iruka, please, wake up!”

“The breath of Freol brings change and endings,” Iruka slurs, barely awake and compelled. He can’t stop, can’t stop, can’t speak anything other than this ancient language. “‘Mercy,’ saith the Altar, ‘is found only in shadow.’ Let those who gather near Freol be blessed and cursed. Mercy is found only in shadow. Mercy—”

“Naruto, tell me Sasuke has gotten back to us.”

“He hasn’t! And-and Kurama has no idea what Iru-nii’s saying, either!”

Kakashi shakes him, taps his cheek. “Iruka, come back, please.”

Iruka tries to say I’m sorry Kakashi but what passes his lips is a murmured, “‘Mercy,’ saith the Altar, ‘is found only in shadow.’”

~

Sakura stands in front of him solemnly. “We gave him a high enough dose of tranquilizer that he shouldn’t even dream, Kakashi-sensei. My team—”

Kakashi holds up a hand to stop her from speaking. He knows he doesn’t look good, knows he hasn’t been home in over forty-eight hours, but he can’t… he can’t stop. Iruka… “What about the scroll that was in his room?”

“Naruto said Iruka-sensei had him collect it from his home office,” Sakura says. “But no one can read it. We have been able to determine that it’s in the same language as the carvings he transcribed from his back, though.”

Kakashi looks up. “The cavern he and his team had been in—where were they?”

Sakura turns to the map hanging up in his office, and points, “East of here, near a village on the coast. Naruto mentioned—”

“The scroll is from Uzushio,” Kakashi muses, “and it has an Uzumaki clan seal on it. I’ll bet we’ll find more information about all this in the ruins of Uzushio.”

Sakura nods. “But Kakashi-sensei, you can’t—”

“I know.” He sighs. “Take Naruto and go. Find out what’s causing this. Find out how to fix it.”

She nods again and turns to leave.

“Sakura,” he calls out, softer. She stops, but doesn’t turn back to face him. That’s good; he might not be able to say this to her face. “This part comes not from your Hokage, but from me, personally. Please. He’s… Iruka’s everything. Please, find something.”

She gives him a thumbs-up over her shoulder, and says, “We won’t let you down, sensei.”

~

Kakashi watches from the windows as the nurses check Iruka’s vitals and change out his fluids. She bows to him when she’s done and then turns to leave; Kakashi holds up a palm and says, “Wait.”

“Hokage-sama?”

“How… How is he?”

She smiles softly, gently. “We’re taking good care of him, sir.”

“That’s all Sakura told you to tell me, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.”

He sighs. “Thank you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Her smile turns just the tiniest bit mischievous. “A higher budget for the hospital in the next fiscal quarter wouldn’t be remiss, Hokage-sama.”

He waves her away, “I’ll see what I can do,” he says with as much humor as he can muster. She leaves, and he goes to sit in his chair by Iruka’s side.

They had to intubate him today. Kakashi couldn’t get away from the desk long enough to be here for him; not that it mattered, because they were keeping him sedated even before shoving a tube down his throat. But it matters to Kakashi because he can’t…

He can’t do anything.

He’s stuck here, managing the village, while his students are out looking for answers to whatever mysterious illness his partner has fallen to. And all he’s good for is holding Iruka’s hand, and maybe going and lobbying for an increase in the hospital budget.

His hair is limp and matted from long weeks in the hospital. Kakashi runs his fingers through the ends of brunet strands and hopes that, when Iruka wakes up, he’ll let Kakashi wash his hair.

“Please get better,” Kakashi murmurs into the clasp of their hands. “I need you. Please.”

~

“Sakura-chan.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m getting real sick of goddesses thinking they can ruin everything, y’know?”

“Yeah.”

Mercy is found only in shadow.

~

“He needs another blood transfusion.”

“Take mine,” Kakashi offers. “We have the same blood type.”

“Hokage-sama—”

“Just take the damn blood,” Kakashi snaps. “Whatever he needs, please, just. Just do it. Take it.”

The nurses bow. “Yes, sir.”

Footsteps in the hall, rapidly approaching, signal Kakashi to a messenger. He stands up and crosses to the door just as Shikamaru slides it open, panting from his run.

Shikamaru turns to the nurses and says, “He needs a bone marrow transplant.”

The nurse looks at him, startled, and says, “Whyever for?”

“Naruto sent ahead a messenger.” Shikamaru glances at Kakashi and finally catches his breath. “The one word Iruka-sensei had said, Freol? It’s the name of an ancient deity of the Land of Whirlpools, one whose purview is to change its followers. One of the ways it does this, as Sakura describes it, is through a kind of radiation poisoning.”

“But that doesn’t explain the,” Kakashi gestures vaguely, and then ends helplessly, “speaking in tongues.”

“The message said they’ll explain that part when they get home,” Shikamaru says. “Naruto and Sakura are on their way back, arrival is estimated at thirty-one hours.” He turns to the nurse. “Can we perform a transplant?”

She hums thoughtfully. “Normally, I’d say yes. But Iruka-sensei doesn’t have any close blood relatives, and if his own marrow is compromised as you say we can’t assume an autologous transplant will be effective.”

Kakashi’s heart stops. “But—”

“But,” the nurse continues, “we can start him on a treatment regimen which will increase his white blood cell count. We’ll start checking in with frequent blood tests. We can also start on a broad-spectrum heavy metals sequestration; we’ll cover Iodine, thallium, caesium, plutonium, and curium. They’re the most common.”

Kakashi motions to her, and says to Shikamaru, “She’s my favorite.”

“You shouldn’t have favorites, Kakashi-sama.”

He groans. The nurse smiles and says, “I’ll go order those tests and treatments,” and then ducks around Shikamaru and leaves.

~

Kakashi holds the scroll open on his desk, reading the translation Sakura and Naruto brought back. It’s a puzzle in its own right, but coupled with the Uzumaki scroll Iruka had kept in their office, Kakashi finds himself even more thoroughly confused.

“I understand how you came to the conclusion of radiation,” he says. “But I don’t understand how this is supposed to explain why Iruka began speaking the language. Because that is what happened, isn’t it?”

“That’s where a little bit of Iruka-sensei knowledge comes in handy,” Naruto says. He steps forward and points to a line near the bottom. “‘Many others can open the way. Few can place a seal where there was none before.’ And then I remembered this one, off-hand comment Iruka-sensei had made when we were kids. That the people from Uzushio were really good with fūinjutsu.”

“And that has to do with Iruka?”

“Kakashi-sensei,” Naruto groans, like he’s the genius and Kakashi is being deliberately stupid. “Umino is an Uzushio family! ‘Few can place a seal where there was none before’! I’ve seen him do that, just, poof, barrier seals.”

“Naruto, I know he’s from Uzushio. What does that have to do with his condition?”

“Freol,” Sakura says. “When he and the other chūnin got close to that cave. She recognized him as one of hers and marked him.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because the same thing happened to Naruto when we got close.”

Kakashi stands up, vaults over the desk and puts his hands on Naruto’s shoulders. “You’re alright?”

“Kurama beat her up and kept me safe,” Naruto nodded. “But I could hear her. She said something like, ‘the flames will consume, or change, or seal at my whim.’ She was angry.”

Kakashi sighs and drops his hands. “And even Kurama doesn’t recognize this goddess?”

“Actually, once they came into contact, he did recognize her,” Naruto says. “Freol was a protector of the Land of Whirlpools, he says, a creator of soldiers superior to ninja.”

“Superior?”

Sakura interjects, motioning back to the scrolls on his desk. “Right here, see. ‘Hers is the flame which hides in the flesh and the soul and twists both into something new.’ But also, this line, ‘What is left behind is Changed, and may Change others in turn.’”

“Kurama was able to tell us about Uzushio as it once was, back in the warring states,” Naruto continues. “That there would be those who would willingly sacrifice themselves to Freol, for the chance to Change into something more. Something different.”

“A superior soldier,” Kakashi muses. “And this Change. This is what’s happening to Iruka.”

Both of them nodded. “That’s what we think.”

“How do we stop it?”

“That’s the thing,” Sakura’s face falls. “I don’t think there’s a way to stop the process once it starts. Freol marks those she wishes to undergo the Change, and then… Well, all of the writings we managed to find say that the sacrifices either come out stronger, or their families seal their bodies into stasis, or—”

She stops, choking on tears she fights back with every bit of training she’d gone through.

“Or they die,” Kakashi finishes in a soft, defeated voice.

All three of them stand silent in the office for a long time.

~

Kakashi finds himself sleeping in Iruka’s hospital room most nights. The treatment is hell on his partner’s body—the windows are covered with heavy curtains now, to keep out the sunlight which could very easily burn his skin on the medication; hair which was once limp and matted is now starting to fall out every time Kakashi pulls a brush through it; his lips are chapped and broken around the tube, his skin dry and thin everywhere else. The nurses had to change his IV from his arm to the back of his hand today, because the veins in his arm are becoming too thin to support the needle.

He’s dying.

Iruka’s dying, and all Kakashi can do is hold his hand and watch.

And, gods, the last thing they said to each other… Iruka was speaking a different language and Kakashi was begging him to wake up.

Will he really have to watch Iruka die, knowing that he’ll never get to hear I love you from those lips again?

Kakashi buries his face in his arms, carefully arranged over Iruka’s thigh. He used to have such thick, muscular thighs; it’s barely skin and bone now.

Alone, with only his dying partner to hear—or not—Kakashi lets himself cry.

~

“I’m going to try something.”

“Naruto, please—”

“No. Kakashi-sensei, Iru-nii is strong. And Freol won’t pursue him if he goes through the Change, right?”

“There’s no guarantee of that.”

“He’ll be stronger, just like the other sacrifices who survived. Kakashi-sensei, all Iru-nii needs to do is survive.”

“The Change—”

“We’ll deal with it when we’re on the other side of this!”

Naruto places his hands on Iruka, and the Nine-Tail’s Cloak bubbles up around him.

The monitors, registering Iruka’s nervous system, don’t react. He’s in no further pain.

Kakashi feels the tiniest bit lighter. “I hope this works, Naruto.”

“It was Kurama’s idea,” the teen grins. “He remembered that normal healing jutsu wasn’t working before; but he was able to beat back Freol himself when she came after me. So letting Iru-nii use Kurama’s chakra as a kind of life support—it should keep Freol from making this worse at least, right? While he gets better?”

It doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t work.

But it does.

~

Almost a week later, the nurses are removing the tubes from his throat, and Kakashi is pacing the room waiting for the tranquilizers to wear off. Iruka should wake up any minute now. Naruto’s plan worked. Iruka made it through, and his most recent blood test showed no abnormalities due to radiation. They stopped the heavy metal sequestration yesterday, but the white blood cell proteins will continue for a few days still, to help prevent further infection.

They still don’t know what kind of change Iruka’s undergone. At least, other than the physical.

His hair is gone. Sakura has assured Kakashi that it will grow back. It’s so odd, though, seeing his partner without hair. They’ve put a cap on his head to keep him warm—his body temperature has been fluctuating oddly the last day and a half, and in particular today he’s running cold.

Also, his scent has changed. He hasn’t told anyone about it yet, but Iruka smells different. Less like old parchment and a swift river, and more like… like a waterfall and the deep, loamy scent of rich, black earth. It’s not a bad change. But it’s significant. He’s already taken an overnight to summon the pack and have his ninken memorize Iruka’s new scent, just in case it’s permanent.

“K’shi?”

He’s across the room in a flash, holding Iruka’s limp hand and holding back tears.

“I thought—”

“My K’shi,” Iruka slurs, turning his head to face him and closing his eyes, a soft smile on his lips.

The tears fall anyway. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

Iruka hums. “L’ve you.”

He’s still on a considerable amount of pain medication, Kakashi realizes. He laughs wetly, leans forward and kisses Iruka’s forehead. “I love you, too. Rest, dear.”

“M’kay.”

And just like that, he is breathing slow and steady, his eyes close gently, and he is sleeping peacefully for the first time in months. Kakashi falls back into his chair with a huff and tips his head to the ceiling, still holding Iruka’s hand, and also, finally, finding an easy sleep.

[illogicalpunkwrites]

Drive Me Crazy

Hi everyone! So this is a part 2 to The Cave (click the link to read!) that someone asked about (for some reason it won’t let me tag you but I’ll message you!). Thank you so much for reading!

Pairings: Leonard McCoy X Kirk!Reader

Rating: T

Words: 2.1K

Warnings: Angst, injury, comfort, confessions, cursing

Tagss; @theweepingvulcan91 @bloodangelballerina

You could tell that Len was tense as you and Jim sat on biobeds. You clutched at your side that was still bleeding, spreading pain throughout your entire body. You’d gotten hit by a rival tribe arrow trying to take over a peaceful settlement between the main tribe on the planet and Starfleet studying the flora for medicinal properties. Jim suffered from a sprained ankle that got twisted in a trap set, something he know you’d never let him live down.

It all happened so fast and you didn’t have any time to think, just act. Even with an arrow impaled in you, you had to grab the explosive they made so it wouldn’t kill anymore of the villagers or other Starfleet members. You grabbed the device and threw it just in time so it hit the enemy. It made them retreat and it also made you pass out.

You hissed and Len pressed down on your wound before he quickly hit you with a hypospray, the whispering sound being one that you had been used to for quite some time. He quickly got to work as Christine ran vitals on Jim. 

“Bones, what’s wrong?’ Jim asked and you thought Len’s forehead was going to pop out of his head. It reminded you of when the two of you refused to get along.

“Nothing.” He got to work suturing you up, making you lay down. It had barely pierced your large intestine but your blood rushing with the adrenaline made you bleed out faster back on the planet. 

“Len, I’m fine.”

“The hell you are.” 

Christine and Jim looked at each other as she put away her tricorder and turned off the machine behind him.

“Just rest for a few days, Captain. Keep your ankle elevated and you’ll be fine.” She replied and he nodded. 

“Bones, we had everything under-”

“Don’t you are say you had everything under control, Jim! She could’ve died! She went after a live explosive!”  Leonard snapped. 

“I knew what I was-”

“She did what she had to do to protect the village! I was out for the count and she stepped up!” Jim replied.

“She should’ve-”

“Hey! I’m right here so talk to me!” You snapped. “I did what I had to do, McCoy! If I hadn’t then the entire team would be dead! I did what I was supposed to do, I did my goddamn job. Now it’s yours to patch me up.” That reminded him of an argument you two had not too long ago. With a grumble under his breath he quickly finished you up.

“You’ll be fine soon. Take it easy if that’s somewhere in your job description.” He walked out of the room to care for other patients on the other side and you and Jim looked at each other. 

“Alright, we’ve been in scraps like this before but he’s never acted like this.”

“I know. I think it’s been a stressful day for everybody.” Christine sighed and went ahead trying to sterilize some equipment. 

“That’s for sure. Good work down there but next time we need to be more careful.” You laughed but winced and grabbed at your side.

“Sure, we’ve been saying that since we were kids. Go get some rest.” He walked out of medbay as you put your regulation uniform back on to get back to your room.

“He was upset, y’know.” Christine said, making you spin around. “You scared him when they told him you were unresponsive. He thought you had died, Commander. After he found out what you did and that you had a pulse, that’s when he got angry.”

“He’s always angry.”

“Not with you anymore. I know he enjoys the time you spend together after the cave incident.” You looked down at your boots pensively. Your job was dangerous, what you did was dangerous, but it ultimately ended the fight and saved everyone that you were trying to protect. But maybe you had been too harsh on Leonard. However, it wasn’t helping that he was talking to Jim about you rather than talking to you directly. It made you feel like a child again, like Jim was supposed to be your keeper. “Just take some time to heal. Maybe while you’re doing that you can talk to Dr. McCoy.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

XXXXXX

You sighed down at your PADD as you wrote the report for the previous day. After being stitched up, you pretty much all but passed out on your bunk. When you came back to reality, you knew that talking to Leonard had to be on your agenda but You couldn’t bring yourself to him. It was weird though. You usually talked every day but it had been over 24 hours at this point. 

Taking one last sip of your liquor, you put on some flats and slipped out of your room. His room wasn’t too far away, but you also knew that he stayed in his office when he was stressed so he might not be there. You gave a soft knock on the door and you had wished you put on some pants instead of shorts with your baggy academy crewneck. 

He opened the door but he didn’t look excited to see you like every other time you would visit. 

“Hey, can I come in?” He moved out of the way for you and closed the door. “Can we talk?”

“Are you going to apologize?” You sighed and he took a sip of his bourbon. “Then there’s nothing to talk about.”

“Leonard, what do you want me to do?” You sat down in one of his chairs as he walked to the opposite side of the room.

“I just told you.”

“If I hadn’t done what I did then everyone would be hurt or dead! I’m sorry that I snapped at you. I shouldn’t have done that. But I’m not going to apologize for doing what I was trained to do.”

“To kill yourself? That’s what they trained you to do?” You felt your blood boiling over and you wish he would just understand. 

“To maximize the probability of my team living is what I was trained to do, Len!” You flinched when his glass harshly hit his desk as he spun to face you.

“Do you have any regard for yourself whatsoever? Do you ever think about your own well-being? I’ve said it  before and I’ll say it again, you get injured more than anyone on this damn ship! Do you even care about what happens to you?”

“Of course I do but one life is not as important as twenty others!” His brows furrowed at you. 

“What?”

“My life isn’t as important as-”

“WELL IT’S IMPORTANT TO ME!” He yelled and your eyes widened. He breathed out slowly and sat down at the foot of his bed. “It’s important to me. When they told me you were unresponsive, bleeding out...I didn’t know what to do with myself. I kept thinking about all the things that we hadn’t done yet, all the things I hadn’t told you, never gotten the chance to tell you. All the things you would have never known.” You were quiet, sheepish even. You searched around for the right words to say but you thought they might never come. He had his face buried in his hands, no doubt embarrassed by his outburst.

“My job is dangerous, Len. It’s hard knowing every time that I leave this ship it could by my last time seeing everybody. But I do it because I want to keep everyone else safe.”

“That doesn’t always have to come at the cost of you.” He replied and you nodded. 

“It often does. It kills me every time someone on my team gets hurt or dies. I always think about what I could’ve done or...” You shook your head and sat down next to him. “The worst times are when I’m away from the ship and...something happens when I’m not here but you are.” He lifted his head from his hands to look at you but you couldn’t bring yourself to look at him. “If something were to happen to you and I wasn’t there I don’t know what I would do. It fucking kills me thinking about that. I know that I need to be more careful and I’m sorry for scaring you. I’m just tired of being scared, of feeling guilt. But now I know I’m just making everyone else feel scared.” 

“I forget how many people you’ve lost on this mission.”

“And I forget how often you have too.” You were both silent but the room didn’t have the same energy. Tense? Yes. Anger? Not anymore. 

“I just...I can’t imagine not seeing you every day. You’re always on my mind and you drive me crazy. You’ve driven me crazy since the day you stepped aboard with your stubbornness and quick one liners.”

“Pot calling kettle black.” You sniffed and he chuffed. 

“But you’re courageous, funny, thoughtful. I’ve never met a person as caring as you. Even though that often comes out as suicide missions. I...darlin’ I can’t let anything happen to you.” He cupped your cheek and forced you to look at him. “You mean...you are...I’m not good at this shit. I haven’t done it in a while.” You smiled softly and leaned into his hand. 

“I promise I’ll be more careful.”

“That’s all I’m asking.” He replied.

“You’re not too bad yourself, y’know? Yeah you’re stubborn and sarcastic but you care. You’re an amazing doctor, strong-willed, funny, have excellent taste in liquor. I know it’s pathetic but I hated that we didn’t talk at all yesterday. I missed seeing your handsome face.” He laughed and got a smug grin. 

“Handsome, huh?” You rolled your eyes. “Lemme try this again and I hope this is what you’re trying to say too. I like you, a lot. Honestly I liked you even when I hated you. I want to be with you so you can drive me crazy all the time.”

You swore your breathing stopped but your heart kept beating rapidly. You felt like you might implode or pop your sutures. You couldn’t respond with words, so you did the next best thing.

You threw yourself at him, sutures be damned. You arms wrapped around his neck as you pressed your lips against his, His lips were a little chapped and still had the taste of the bourbon he was drinking but he was soon kissing you back with the same intensity. His fingers threaded through your hair as his other hand went to your lower back, sliding a little underneath you crewneck to caress the skin there. Even though you initiated it, you were tense but you soon melted against him.  

“Len...”

“I shoulda said it sooner, before I thought you were dead.” You rested against him, your head against his chest to feel his heartbeat. 

“I...Len I’m so sorry. I just want to do my best.”

“And as long as you do your best to stay alive, that’s all I need.” He replied, his fingers digging into the small of your back. You couldn’t fight back the tears in your eyes anymore and a few dripped down. 

“I love you, Leonard McCoy.” 

Now it was his turn for his breathing to stop. His grip tightened on you and his eyes closed. He’d been wanting to hear that for so long. 

“I feel like I have for a long time, even when I was supposed to hate you. I mean, you’re Jim’s best friend.” He chuckled against you.

“A forbidden fruit?” Somewhere he thought that Christine’s head was probably exploding.

“In a sense.” You smiled. “But I can’t...I can’t do this anymore. I can’t pretend that I don’t feel this way. When I woke up today in medbay all I could think about was you, our nights together, the cave. I promise I’ll be better, I’ll do better to take care of myself. Even if you can’t say it back, I’ll do better because I know what I’ve caused you to feel. What I’ve caused others to feel.”

“I love you too, darlin’. Have for a while.” You smiled and looked up at him, making him lean down and give you another kiss.  He wiped away the tears silently rolling down your cheeks. “I’ll always be there to patch you up, to do my job. But just make it less of a habit.” You nodded and rested your forehead against his. 

“Is it alright if I stay the night?”

“Your sutures-”

“Leonard McCoy! I’m a lady! I simply want to spend time with you and fall asleep in your incredibly comfortable bed.” You gasped mockingly, making him chuckle. “I just need to be with you right now.” He maneuvered you both so you were comfortably on the bed and under the covers, Your head was still on his warm chest and you looked out at the small window he had at the stars. You remembered how in the cave you told him you didn’t see yourself settling down. Well perhaps it was written in the stars that it would actually happen with the man you once detested. 

“So, when are we going to tell Jim?”

“Um...”

(Part 3 of Jim finding out and the ensuing chaos?)

[yandere-sins]

Imagine Yandere Werewolf Bakugou was kidnap and a slave by a witch then Y/N who is a retire knight kills the witch. Y/N sets him free but like he has no where to go. He has been a slave for a long time that his pack is gone some where, he is weak from the lack of food, and shelter. Y/N is like, "You can stay with me for awhile. I don't mind." Y/N lives in a comfy cabin and this is where Bakugou felt warmth in so long by this knight treated him kindly. Y/N thinks herself as an older sister.

@popcornsalazar Thank you for requesting, was a really interesting idea! ♥

»»————-———— ♡ ————————-««

When did he forget who he was?

He was Bakugou Katsuki, the strongest, biggest wolf of his pack, undefeated ever since he tore away from his parents and attract his own followers! He was a werewolf, a strong, dangerous creature that could maul any small little human figure. And yet, he had been captured by a simple witch, a nobody, someone who needed a piece of wood to cast some spells, say abracadabra and ride on a broom.

So when had he decided that this was okay? Living at the witch’s side for so long, being nothing but a guard dog, only ever taken off the magicial, invisible leash to scare away unwelcome visitors. He, the great Katsuki, a simple pup on a rug, chained down and greedy for every bone thrown his way. How could it have come to this?

And then, how had it come to you being allowed into the witch’s lair, cutting her head right off without even noticing him? You had no armor, no flag - a sign of belonging to a kingdom - stitched up on your clothes, and yet you had handled the sword with precision, blood splattering everywhere without even a wrinkle of concern on your face. At that time, he didn’t know why you even came, simply spilling blood without any word and turning to leave without a blessing or another thought.

If he hadn’t objected, ask you to help him, you would probably left him there to starve. Luckily, the moon phase had just ended, turning him back into a human, and he remembered your red face as he approached you, still chained and naked. Your first reaction had been to throw a fur rug at him, but at least you had heard him out, believed him when he told you his sad tale of captivity.

Just… the werewolf part. That he didn’t tell you.

Freeing him from his chains, you had helped getting him a cloak to cover up, inviting him to track back to your hut, so he could eat and get his strength back after being held capitve for so long. You must have noticed his rips shining through his skin, the countless scares adorning him. Even if they weren’t from the witch per se, it was a good thing he was so proud of them, loving to show them off, adding something to the pity you found for him.

For the first time in long, he felt alive again. Conversing, laughing, hearing of the outside world. It had been years apparently, since the witch caught him, as unbelievable as it was. Even if this wasn’t the rush of a hunt, the feeling of bones cracking in his jaw, it still was… satisfying. He couldn’t deny it.

Maybe he should have feared you. Feared the silver blades that you liked polishing and sharpening in case of an emergency. You were a knight, trained to kill, having done so countless times. The witch had done nothing to you, aside, apparently, taking a child from the nearby village. But you were just like him, a hunter, a killer. You liked the thrill, and didn’t mind the dirt and blood.

You were also annoyingly concerned about others how he found.

That was the only reason you even took it upon yourself to kill the witch and take him in. Nothing more than feeling so much empathy, that you’d even give him your bed to sleep in and cook more than you could afford to feed him, even if he couldn’t give you anything in return. Even when he swore upsidedown against that stupid hag that had captured him, you had been calm, patting his shoulders and promising it would be okay. That he was safe now. Like a child.

You always had the prettiest breathing rythm when you slept. It was always nervous and alert when you two went out, but you were incredible calm in your dreams, at least, for someone so ready for every attack that might come. Katuski had come to quite like being able to lay beside you, even when you still protested that he should have the bed alone. Guess you’ve gotten softer for him by now, trust building every day.

But this was bad, really bad.

All around him, it smelled like you. The cabin, the bed, the clothes he was wearing. It wouldn’t have surprised him if he smelled like you too. Truth be told, he had been ready to get home. He knew the city close to you and he knew how to get home from it, hoping he would find his pack in his territorry or maybe with his parents. Katuski hoped they bunch of idiots had been reasonable enough to reunite with what was closest to him, in hopes they could find him.

But how was he going to explain this smell? Everything about him smelled like you, and he got concerned whenever you two went out and he wasn’t able to smell you anymore. Sticky like honey, that’s how it felt, unable to seperate from him anymore. As if you had become one with him already.

Eyeing outside the little window above the bed, he could see the moon in full view. Soon enough, that damn, white ball of light would be complete again, giving him a new moon cycle to live out what he deep down was. A hunter, a wolf, a monster. Katsuki knew that if it came down to that, he wouldn’t be able to stay with you. How could a renowned knight like you ever accept someone like him, even if… Katsuki had long accepted you as his mate.

There weren’t many other explanations as to why it was so hard for him to separate from you. He had tried running away a few times already, not wanting to deal with staying with you longer than needed and getting more indepted to you. But by night, he had come back, and you had welcomed him even when he apologized only through gritted teeth. Why it made him crazy to not smell you and why he felt better smelling like you than smelling like blood and forest as werewolves usually do.

Those were only a handful things that showed him what this connection between you two really was. And he could deny it and curse the gods or whatever holy reigned over him, but undoubtedly, it was you. You were his mate, even if that made the neck hairs on both of your necks stand. The last thing Katsuki wanted was to be bound down by another spell, another inevitable strike of fate, but here he was, and his time to be angry about it run out with every second the moon revealed more of itself.

Latest by morning you would see it. His… form. You’d wake up next to a stinking mutt, only that this mutt wasn’t only technically bigger, but also ten times as dangerous as any street dog. And you’d jump for your swords, he’d slap them out of your hand and either maul you or devour you whole in his paniced instincts. So what could he do? Katsuki knew he should have just left, ran as far as he could and hoped he wouldn’t find back, but he found himself glued to the mattress, glued to the feeling of your back against your arm, you two having to sleep so close with how tiny the bed was.

And by your fucking scent.

So when had he decided that being with you like this was okay? That it was better to curse his existence than the rush of the hunt, the freedom of being a werewolf? Just because he wanted you in his life, was that worth it? Perhaps, because he was chained for so long, he had forgotten the taste of the other, so this was the only thing that felt good right now. But he wouldn’t know if he didn’t experienced going back to his better self.

Turning his head towards you, he watched you sleep peacefully while he was tormented by his thoughts. He knew that even if he tried to explain the situation, it wouldn’t go well, and it wasn’t like you could be with him while he roamed and pouched the forest. Maybe he was the next thing you’d set out to kill after he got too close to the village one day. But even worse so, he just couldn’t find it in himself to leave.

Overwhelmed with this feelings, Katuski found himself at a loss of what to do. Your scent would always lead him back to you, even when playing the role of the big bad wolf. In the end, with all the risks calculated, all he could do was hope that his other form could still recognize you, know not to hurt you. Then again, who knew what other things it wanted to do to you, besides shredding your body into pieces.

But it was his best bet. Not long from now, he’d be awaken, and this place wasn’t a good one to do that. Quietly, he slipped out, sharpened instincts helping navigate the dark and be quieter than a simple human like you could hear. It even helped him pick you up from your bed, wrapping a blanket helplessly around you before exciting the cabin, not bothering with closing the door.

If he couldn’t escape you, then you couldn’t escape him either. And if he had to make sure you both survived this, he had to get you away from there, shielding you from anything that stretched towards you two as he ran out of the forest, trying to find a cave, or a hideout for a while. Maybe he’d be able to explain it to you, maybe you two would be able to live alongside of each other if only you could understand him and his feelings.

Katsuki promised you quietly that he would be good to you, take care of your needs and provide for you in even the dire times. He could hunt, he could fight. He only lost his glory for a moment or two when he got captured. He’d lead his pack again, make them welcome you as his mate. Maybe build a family with you. Even if you two wouldn’t be able to see eye to eye at first, it would come eventually, the more time you two spent together.

Once you learned you could rely on him, your lives could weave themselves together easily, become one beautiful shared lifetime of joy. He was the greatest werewolf to live, he’d become it once again, to the point you’d look at him with awe in your face. And maybe, he would be able to learn to control himself, chaining you somewhere you couldn’t escape him, so he could learn patience even when he was blinded by his animalistic instincts. He just needed a chance to try this out.

And you needed a chance to see to which lengths he would go, just for you.

[jasontoddiefor]

SW author/fic rec anon. im really looking for stories involving obi-wan and anakin. I can find some during the clone wars, but not a lot between ep1 and 2. thanks!

OOh, yeah, I can do that! I tried to find stuff that is set either in-between or has the two of them at that age! (And some AU, as a treat.) 28 fanfics!

Title: A Padawan at War (Again) Summary: There were a lot of things that Obi-Wan didn’t know now, ever since he’d woken up in a strange medbay on a strange ship populated by hundreds of identical troopers. What he did know is that every single one of them swore that he was actually in his thirties and that he was a General who commanded a huge number of troops in a war against Separatists.So now Padawan Obi-Wan has to figure out how to fight a war he doesn't know anything about. Oh, and the nine-year-old kid that Qui-Gon picked up from Tatooine is here too. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1792372

Title: wonder Summary: Obi-Wan woke up suddenly.For a moment, he wasn’t sure why. His quarters were dark, and he didn’t see or feel anything particularly threatening, but then he heard the terrible retching, and then he was staggering up to his feet, his legs briefly getting tangled in his sheets as he tried to get to the door.[or: Anakin's sick, and still-getting-used-to-having-an-apprentice-Obi-Wan-Kenobi handles it. Tries to handle it.] Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/25609525

Title: The Tempest Summary: Obi-Wan tries to find sleep amidst his new apprentice’s swirling Force presence and a violent thunderstorm outside. Obviously, sleep isn’t an option. Why couldn’t Qui-Gon have left him with an ordinary padawan?or: How Obi-Wan Kenobi Learned to Stop Worrying and Love His (Emotional Time-Bomb) Apprentice Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25539847

Title: The Key to Victory Summary: New jedi padawan Anakin Skywalker realizes that there is more to being a jedi then he tought. Discovering a completely new culture will take time and effort, but maybe he'll make some friends along the way. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1105683

Title: Room to Grow Summary: In the early days of his apprenticeship, Anakin gets caught playing dress-up in his master's closet. Obi-Wan finds that perhaps, something broken inside him is beginning to heal. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25288510

Title: A Loose Stitch Summary:In the beginning, Bant had been so sure that Obi-Wan would fall apart at some point from the grief, but he held himself together, somehow.Until now. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25268491

Title: What can’t be lost Summary: Obi-Wan doesn’t know how to comfort a crying baby Luke on the flight to Tatooine. A painful memory of Anakin gives him an idea - and breaks his heart a little, too. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24015022

Title: watercolour paint Summary:Anakin Skywalker is afraid of a great many things in this galaxy and the next, but he has never and will never be afraid of Obi-Wan Kenobi.But he’s afraid of being abandoned, of being walked away from, and he’s afraid that Obi-Wan is not the kind of person who will stay. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1814266

Title: Be As You’ve Always Been Summary: Sometimes, Obi-Wan thought he was always meant to be the butt of the Force’s cruel jokes. Very cruel indeed, Obi-Wan muses as he gazes down at a nine-year old Anakin Skywalker Link: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1748707

Title: Care What It Cost Summary:Five years after Naboo, Obi-Wan becomes aware that things between Anakin and Qui-Gon have become... tense. The obvious solution is to mediate their difficulties if at all possible.That is not what happens. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/12173493

Title: The Bad Day (Trademark Pending) Summary: Obi-Wan is having one of his Bad Days. Anakin helps. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20452634

Title: Sabbatical Summary: Anakin decides to leave the Jedi as a child, and Obi-Wan goes with him. When Palpatine sends Dooku to find them, things don't go as planned. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/22801789

Title: Space Dad Lives Summary:AU starting directly after TPM. Qui-gon didn't die, but he's sure not okay after taking a lightsaber to the gut. Obi-wan, still reeling after Mandalore, is now the hero who killed a Sith and vowed to train the Chosen One. Anakin is going to be a Jedi so he can free his mother and his people.And the healers are kind of sick of dealing with the Jinn/Kenobi team. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/24573184

Title: Eventide Summary: All Obi-wan wishes for, is for one mission to be on a planet that has no sunlight. Instead, they break down on one with TWO suns on a mission that has already gone sideways. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23168815

Title: It Takes a Village Summary: The events, consequences and aftermath of the Phantom Menace as seen through the eyes of Obi-Wan’s closest friends. And when they see their friend grieving the loss of his Master, dealing with the fame associated with killing a Sith while also taking on a Padawan (the Chosen One no less) they step in to help because they realize he is in WAY over his head. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/23680915

Title: Simple Steps Summary: Galaxy changing events don't just suddenly occur. They are the result of a series of small steps. Now dealing with ROTS. Rated M to be safe. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/19963384

Title: dead and the gold Summary:The Republic is in turmoil. In the wake of the harrowing Naboo Crisis, Chancellor Valorum has seized control of the Trade Federation’s droid armies. A failed coup has branded the Jedi Order as traitors. Thousands of Jedi are dead. The rest, fugitives. Alarmed by the Senate’s aggression, systems scramble to forge new alliances. Everyone’s loyalty is in question. Obi-Wan Kenobi, on the run with his new padawan Anakin Skywalker, knows their time is running out. He makes a desperate ploy to contact what may be a powerful ally or a dangerous foe... Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/21999658

Title: Don’t sleep on the floor Summary: Little Anakin sleeps on the floor and cuddles with Artoo. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/17591843

Title: attachment Summary: In which Obi-Wan Kenobi has a small mental breakdown, turns to google for help, frantically attempts to locate the wikihow for raising traumatized ex-slave padawans, and decides that maybe the Jedi way is inferior to talk therapy when it comes to dealing with emotions. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/series/1662367

Title: Earning Trust Summary: A what-if exploring how Anakin may have dealt with a surviving Qui-gon pushing Obi-wan aside so he could be free to train the Chosen One. What if this gave the team a chance to get to know each other without grief for a dead master. Would Anakin still wish to be trained by Qui-gon or would someone else have earned his trust instead? Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13673895

Title: Ikhthus Summary:You can take the boy out of the Order, but you can’t take the Jedi out of the boy. A young ex-padawan stumbles across a most curious mother and her even more curious child on Tatooine.Or: destiny will find Obi-Wan Kenobi no matter how far he runs. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/9605801

Title: Viridescent Skies Summary:When the Trade Federation starts a ruckus and blockades Naboo, the Council decide to send Qui-Gon and his very young padawan to mediate the proceedings. Luckily, Knight Anakin Skywalker happens to be at loose ends and is able to accompany them.For a given value of "luckily." He has a bad feeling about this. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/9340733

Title: For Love of One’s Padawan Summary:The Naboo may have saved their world, but Obi-Wan just lost his.Following the death of his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi feels alone and adrift in his place in the Jedi Order until an unexpected ally and champion enters his life with support and understanding. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/23121742

Title: All But Name Summary: "You will be a Jedi, Anakin. I promise you. In all but name." Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/19480345

Title: Coalesced Matter Summary: Jedi Master Dooku is in a long-term undercover assignment with slow but steady progress. But he gets a distress call from this Knight Kenobi with a Padawan Skywalker and things just start to go crazy. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/19438132

Title: So old they were, and wise Summary:Obi-Wan's arm had tightened around him to the point of squeezing. He felt sick swoops of nausea. "Anakin," he said urgently. "I don't care what the circumstances are or who you're with, if anyone tries to bring you to the Chancellor, stars forbid leave you alone with him, do not allow it. Do whatever is necessary - cry, scream, fight, use the Force, run - run to find me. Stay away from Chancellor Palpatine. Do you understand, young one?"Wide-eyed, Anakin nodded. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/18489322

Title: Lightbearer Summary: After his Master's death Obi-Wan Falls. Anakin picks up the pieces. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/3613170

Title: The Chosen Summary: Anakin is found by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan when he's a newborn. It changes things. Link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/8477353

[youremeimyou]

The Lesser Gods of Bangtanis(pt.3)

Introduction - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

pairings: Kim Taehyung x reader, Jeon Jungkook x reader, OT7(this fic is about all of the boys’ characters, not just ‘Y/Nxsomeone’ focused) genre: angst, fluff, comedy, adventure.. -fantasy au, medieval au, magic au, royal au word count: 3.9k warnings: psychic episode?(trance-like state)

Description: Princess Y/N, who holds the fate of her people on her shoulders arrives at the kingdom of Bangtanis, that is the home of our mighty heroes. What will the destiny of our heroes be, when she brings along a threat called dark magic and a little bit of love with her?

A/N: Back with pt3 after a long time.. I don’t wanna quit on this fic cuz I really like the story so I’ll try really hard to get motivated for the next parts as well(feedback really helps) Anyways, this part is actually just Y/N and Tae going on a fancy royal date. But of course with a little twist at the end. Enjoy!

Prince Taehyung arrived at the cottage and saw that there were two horses outside the door. He pet the horses and went in. As soon as he was inside, Y/N and Jungkook -who had obviously been discussing something, sitting closely on the sofa- immediately stopped talking and whipped their heads towards the door.

"You're back!" the princess mused. She didn't know why his return made her feel giddy inside.

"Seems like I'm interrupting." Taehyung replied coldly as he stared at Jungkook, who had already gotten up in order to leave.

"Of course not, my lord. In fact I was just leaving." The younger boy respectfully stated before walking to the door. "Have a good night, my lord. Sleep well, Y/N." And with that he went out, rendering the prince dumbfounded with the way he adressed the princess. That shy village boy just bid her goodnight in a very sincere way.

"So what are the news from the castle?" Y/N went closer to Taehyung and sat on a chair. But he was busy noticing the bread crumbs on the table. "Did you eat with Jungkook?" he asked without looking at her.

"Oh, Guk said his sister prepared something for him. He shared it with me."

"Guk, is it?" The prince was even more bothered than before. Since when were those two such good friends?

"Hm?" Y/N acted like she didn't catch the annoyed tone in his voice.

"Well I hope you enjoyed your little picnic. I'll have this lovely meal by myself, then." He took the food he brought from the castle out of his bag and placed them on plates. Y/N's eyes grew big, it looked delicious. "It's been a long while since we ate, though." she said while staring at the food Taehyung was enjoying. After a while, he pushed some of the plates in front of her, silently offering her to join. She smiled excitedly in return.

"So did you talk to the king? What did he say?" Y/N asked, her voice muffled because of the food.

"Yes. He said he'll announce his final decision tomorrow at the feast."

Y/N gulped down her last bite in shock. "Feast?!" She got up from her seat before continuing. "What feast?" Taehyung knew she'd protest to such an idea.

"The traditional welcoming feast. They're really strict about these things. It's in order to help the people feel as though things are okay, I guess." Taehyung also stood up and started cleaning the table from food crumbs. He was very calm, in contrast to Y/N.

"But things aren't okay! I want to know if-"

"Namjoon hyung is most likely to announce good news, like that he'll send reinforcements." Taehyung added as he organized the chairs around the table back in place.

Y/N's protests stopped immediately and her eyes started sparkling. "Really?"

"Yeah. After our last talk, he seemed to have finally made his mind that he'll help."

Hearing this made Y/N so happy that in a moment of excitement she leaped towards Taehyung, capturing him in a tight hug. He was surprised at first but then he wrapped his arms around her, too. After staying like that for some time, Y/N realized what she was doing and quickly retreated back.

"Sorry, I-" the princess cursed on the inside for blushing over something so simple. "I'm just really glad to hear that." And Taehyung understood her excitement. He too was glad. Almost like it was his own kingdom that would be saved. He gave her a warm smile.

"You have to appear at the feast tomorrow, though. Hyung wants to talk to you."

Even though the idea of a feast at a time like this felt absurd, Y/N knew kingdoms had to maintain traditions at rough times for their people's sake. So she nodded without any more complaints.

"But you can't make an appearance wearing these boy trousers of yours." Taehyung teased. She was wearing the same shirt and pants she wore the day she arrived in the city. Instead of the daily robes the prince had borrowed for her from Duchess Minji.

"Hey, I washed these yesterday. They're clean and presentable." Y/N never really was comfortable wearing dresses in daily life because she'd always be running around, sparring or horse riding.

"But they don't exactly match the dress code for a fancy event, do they?"

The princess rolled her eyes. "I don't have my luggage here-" she was interrupted by Taehyung clearing his throat and pointing at the side of the door where he put her luggage after carrying it here on his way back.

"You brought it.." Everytime he'd act thoughtful like this, it caught Y/N off guard.

"Still, you probably don't have anything fancy in there. So I also brought this." He handed her the fancy gown he bought from the royal tailor. A dark red night dress with delicate embroidery stitched around the neck cleavage. Even Y/N who didn't really like dresses thought it was beautiful. "I think this will fit you perfectly." Taehyung's mouth curved up to form his signiture smirk.

"Whatever, Prince Smug."

The next day Y/N woke up to find Taehyung already gone. He had left a note on the table that read,

"Be ready before sundown and don't go running off to Jungkook or anything. I'll come pick you up and take you to the castle."

She was planning to spar with Jungkook again, today. But after all the effort the prince seemed to be making for her and her cause, she decided to do as he said.

Sundown came by fast. Y/N had done her best to look her most presentable self but there was no sign of the prince. The princess couldn't wait to talk with King Namjoon, to thank him and discuss details. Her impatience growing every minute, she decided to wait outside. So that when he arrives, she could scold the prince immediately for being late. But.. Then he showed up, running down the forest path on his beautiful, radiant white horse.

He stopped in front of Y/N, wearing a confused look. "Why are you outside?" It took a moment for Y/N to register his words. Nobody could deny the prince's natural attractiveness. But in this graceful formal attire, he was a sight for sore eyes to say the least.

"I- you were-"

"Late, I know. I'm sorry. I was trying to look more presentable." He had to take a quick breath once he took in the way Y/N looked. "But- I would've tried harder if I knew you'd be looking like this."

The princess nervously blinked. Where were her words? Why couldn't she mutter them out? She hoped the darkness of the evening was hiding the slight red of her cheeks.

"I was definetely spot on again with your body measurements." Prince Smug was back with his endless teasing, which brought Y/N out of the daze she was in. "Well, you almost look like an actual prince like this." Taehyung lifted an eyebrow but Y/N added quickly. "I'm pretty sure it's the horse, though."

He rolled his eyes and held out his hand to help her get on the horse. Being always eager to prove her skills, she wouldn't have normally taken his hand. But since tonight was a special occasion, she decided to play the lady role a little better.

The royal ballroom was bigger than the one at the princess' castle. Decorations for the feast were wonderful and if it wasn't for the chaos that was going on back at her home, she could really enjoy attending this event.

Taehyung stopped her suddenly and pulled her to a corner outside of the hall. "I forgot- if anyone asks, you are a duchess that came with the princess. We should come up with a name, too." He kept listing female names he knew. It was quite a long list.

"I won't remember any of those. My double's name is Yuna. I can use that."

"Okay, Yuna it is. Just stay close to me, no one would be suspicious of someone I brought with me." He said and took Y/N's hand to place it softly on his arm. Then they entered the hall once again but this time the prince seemed even more graceful as they strolled inside.

Everyone expected him to sit beside the king and his advisors as he usually does. But instead, he pulled a seat away from where all the high ranking people were, helped the princess sit down and took the seat next to her for himself. All the attention in the room was focused on the two. Until Jung Hoseok started speaking.

"Thank you all for coming. Despite the unfortunate events that are occuring, we are grateful to have Princess Y/N and her company here with us. Let us all come together and support each other through these hard times."

A round of applause came from the crowd and then the king started talking. "Times are indeed hard for the curse of dark magic has returned." People gasped in terror. "But, it cannot be as strong as it used to be. And we as a kingdom that won't stand for cruelty, shall help our friends in overcoming this threat." Some people were surprised, some were afraid and some seemed to support the idea. But the princess was the happiest of all. Taehyung could see it all over her face.

Meals and drinks were served and there was music in the background. But after a while the music stopped. Only a drum roll could be heard. Y/N saw everyone turning their heads to the door in excitement. Then, the jester made an entrance. A man was throwing knives at him from the other side and he dodged every single one while elegantly dancing and twirling around. The princess was shocked. Was he crazy? One wrong move and he could easily be killed.

When he was done, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. But the jester kept the show going with more amazing moves, magic tricks and dance numbers. Y/N had never seen such an entertainment from a jester before, or from anyone.

The show finished and the jester took a seat next to Taehyung and Y/N after reciving another round of applause. Y/N turned to him. "That was.. How did you do all of those? Your performance was incredable!" Jimin smiled and blushed shyly, as if he didn't just make everyone in the room fall in love with him.

"We thank our jester who never ceases to impress us with new and unbelievable shows." Kim Seokjin said as he gathered the people's attention. "It is time however, for another type of entertainment. Princess Y/N, would you mind joining us for a rather fun tradition of ours?"

Taehyung had to hold Y/N's arm to stop her from getting up after the mention of her name. "Having a double is new for you, isn't it?" He was right. It was kind of hard getting used to it for Y/N. Her double on the other hand got up at once and walked towards the center of the hall. "Of course, it would be an honour." Thank god Yuna was a good actress.

"We usually have representitives of both kingdoms participate in something as an icebreaker and even cultural bonding. I thought you might represent yours and for us it could be.." Seokjin trailed off, searching around the room for a candidate. "Well, a prince would suit best for a princess so it shall be Prince Kim Taehyung."

Taehyung had been selected to put on a quick show like this many times, in many feasts with many princesses. Unsurprised, he went next to Yuna, Y/N’s double. But on the inside he wished he could be doing this with the actual princess, somehow.

“Excellent! As our guest of honour, you should choose what you’ll show the good people here, princess. Would you like to sing? Or dance?” Kim Seokjin asked excitedly while Yuna looked around, unsurely. “You can even throw some knives at him like earlier with the jester if you’d like.” Seokjin joked in a teasing tone and everyone laughed at his suggestion.

“I heard you were an actor, Prince Taehyung. I also love theatre, so.. perhaps a quick scene?”

Taehyung was surprised. Normally most would choose to have a dance with the tall, handsome prince. But it made sense as he thought more about it, since Yuna was already acting, even in that very moment. So he politely nodded and went next to Kim Seokjin who was still standing near his seat.

“Who is that lady standing over there by her lonesome?” he asked Seokjin, clearly in character. And Seokjin -another theatre artist- caught up quickly. “I know not, sir.”

Taehyung started walking slowly towards Yuna again. “Oh, she teaches torches how to burn bright. She stands out against the night. Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear. Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I never saw true beauty till this night.”

While he said his lines, every women was shooting jealous stares at who they thought was the princess. But Taehyung’s attention was focused on the actual one, who was sitting behind her double. Which had left Y/N baffled. She quickly blamed the little vine she had, convincing herself the eye contact with the prince was an illusion of her mind.

Even Yuna, who happened to be a great actress was left speechless at Taehyung's performance and couldn't come up with a response. So the show ended quickly with the crowd applauding. Yuna and Taehyung went back to their seats after bowing to each other and the feast went on.

"I told you I was an actor, princess. How did you like my performance?" Taehyung asked Y/N in a low voice.

She responded as quietly. "You're lucky you were up there with Yuna. I would've chosen to throw knives." Taehyung faked a dramatic gasp and they both giggled. "Tell me Prince Romantic, which one of these lovely duchesses have you borrowed this dress from? I thought I'd be able to tell from the way she'd look at me but more than just one are sending me death stares." Y/N asked as she searched the hall with her eyes.

"I didn't borrow it. I had seen this dress in the royal tailor's chambers, once. He never sold it to any of the duchesses, claiming that it was a speacial piece of art."

"How did you get your hands on it, then?"

"I convinced him that this piece of art would be worn by someone no less than art, herself."

Y/N wasn't expecting such a compliment and therefore she was once more baffled and very much embarresed at her blushing cheeks. She wanted to not be speechless at his words but her mind couldn't come up with anything. Thankfully, King Namjoon interrupted.

“I don’t think I’ve met this fair lady you’re accompanying tonight, Taehyung?”

“Oh, my lord I’m sorry. This is Duchess Yuna who came with Princess Y/N.” the two played along, making sure people nearby would hear and not get suspicious. Then the king took a seat next to Y/N and began talking in a low voice. “My lady, I’m sorry for the inconvinience. You hide yourself while this whole feast was organized primarely for you.” The king seemed somehow intimidating to Y/N at first but now she could see the kind side of him.

“It’s alright, really. I’m just glad to have the chance to talk to you, my lord.”

“As I’ve said earlier, we are willing to help you. But I need to prepare my men before sending them out to fight the creatures of the night. They might be the best warriors in the realm but even they don’t know the terrors of dark magic.”

“Of course, I agree. And I have to add that I’m very thankful for your support.”

The king sincerely smiled and continued. “I’m still not sure if my reinforcements will be enough. What about your army?”

“They’re all locked in the dungeons. At least.. they were when I left.” The princess could feel sorrow bulding up inside her again at the thought of leaving. But there was no other choice. “If we can free them, they’ll be ready to fight.” And of course, if they’re not dead.

“I don’t think creatures of the night would kill them. Instead they’d want to use them to enhance their army. So, they’d be trying to break them.” The king said as if he read Y/N’s mind. But Y/N knew her people were strong minded. She could feel that there was still hope. “I know they’ll hold on until their last breath.” She said confidently.

“Then, we shall free them once we’re there.”

After discussing all of the details the king went back to his throne and a short while later, the feast came to an end. People one by one started to leave.

“I think we should also be heading back.” Taehyung whispered in Y/N’s ear. She nodded but before they could leave, Min Yoongi showed up, requesting to talk to the princess. Taehyung could tell he wanted to speak only with her so he went to find Jimin, leaving them alone.

“I hope the cottage is alright for you, princess. I know it’s not much but-”

“No! It’s more then enough Lord Yoongi. Thank you for allowing me to stay there.” Y/N really didn’t care for comfort in her situation. She was in fact glad to be out of sight.

“Listen, princess. I know the king has decided to send our men to help your kingdom. I want you to know I was against it.”

This came as a shock to Y/N.

“Not because I’m unsympathetic, but because I have exprience when it comes to dark magic.” His face became gloomy and his voice almost trembled as he spoke. “But the king would never go back on his word. We’ll face nightmares beyond your worst imaginations in order to save your land. So, I need to know if you're strong enough to make hard choices.”

What did he mean by that? Y/N couldn’t understand. But she knew one thing. “I don’t know what I’ll face but I assure you, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to save the people I love and care about. I hope that's a good enough answer for you.”

Min Yoongi nodded after staring her in the eyes for a while and left. Just as he was going, Taehyung came back with Jimin beside him. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah..”

Taehyung noticed the confusion on her face but decided to ask her about it when they get to the cottage, where they could speak freely. It was silent as him, Y/N and Jimin walked out of ballroom and into the hallway. Unable to bare the tension, Jimin decided to crack a couple of stupid jokes and comments about the night. Which eventually had Taehyung cackling and even the confused princess smiling. But then something happened.

Jimin suddenly collapsed to the ground. He was shaking and unconscious. There was no response as Taehyung and Y/N called out his name time after time, panic taking over them. His eyeballs had gone completely white and his pupils were gone. While Taehyung helplessly called for the guards, Jimin finally came out of it. Eyes going back to normal and his consciousness returning.

“Jimin! Are you alright? What happened? What-”

Y/N stopped Taehyung from yelling loudly. “Let’s just get him to the physician.”

With the guards’ help they carried him to the physician’s chambers quickly. After examining him carefully he shook his head from side to side in confusion. “There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with him. Not physically, at least.”

“Are you absolutely sure, physician?” Taehyung’s tone was deadly serious. Not that it wasn’t obvious before but the extreme concern on his features showed Y/N clearly how much he really cared for his best friend.

“Yes, my lord. As always, he’s very healthy.”

Jimin tried to stand up but Taehyung stopped him from moving. “Not so fast, jester.”

“Taehyung you heard the phys-”

“I saw you back there and you were not alright, Jimin.”

Jimin gave up with a sigh. “Okay, I’ll tell you what’s going on. But we have to get out of here first.”

They got out of the room and went to Jimin’s chambers, all the while the prince cautiously watched the jester. They sat Jimin down and he started explaining.

“This isn’t the first time. I thought they were just nightmares but now-” he stopped himself. But Taehyung was impatient. “What? What do you see?” he asked.

Jimin hesitantly answered. “It’s always the same thing. You on your knees. And a blade run through your chest.” Neither Taehyung nor Y/N was expecting that.

“And there’s a man in front of you, looking down at you. It feels like I know him in the dream. But I can’t make him out when I wake up.”

Both Y/N and Taehyung were looking at him in complete shock and utter confusion. Jimin faked a smile. “It’s just a recurring dream, guys-”

“A dream you suddenly start to have going in a trance when a moment ago you were wide awake?” Y/N cut him off. “Jimin, you’re having visions.”

He laughed in disbelief. “I’m not an oracle, princess.”

“But you do have magic. I could tell from the moment I met you. You’re always subtle but I’ve spent time with many wizards, it didn’t escape my attention.”

“Wha-”

“Oh, come on. Do you deny always being able to tell when people lie? And you can tell exactly what people are thinking just by looking at them, can’t you? You’re a reader. It’s rare even amongst wizards but it’s obvious that’s what you are!”

It was silent for a moment. Y/N guessed Taehyung was trying to process all that new information.

“I always follow your hunches and you never turn out to be wrong. Thinking back to all of those moments, there literally isn’t a single time you weren’t right!” It looked like Taehyung was having a moment of clarity. But then he frowned. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“I never thought it was magic, I swear! I always thought I had strong senses. That’s probably all there is to it anyway-”

“That morning you brought me and Y/N breakfast, you just came storming in. But I know for a fact that I locked the door the night before.”

And Jimin’s moment of clarity hit him right then. “I know. It was locked. I just wished it wouldn’t be and.. it wasn’t anymore.” he admitted. Both to them and to himself.

“And these visions are proof that your skill are improving-” Y/N tried to explain more but Jimin snapped at her. “No! They can’t be visions of the future that would mean that Taehyung-” he lowered his volume before continuing. “that he’s going to get fatally wounded.”

As if they didn’t have enough troubles at hand everything had gotten ten times more complicated. Taehyung made them promise not to speak of this anywhere for the time being, in order to protect Jimin’s identity as an unregistered wizard. And they all swore to trying to figure all of this out together as a team.

...

A/N: Soo yeah.. things are probably about to go downhill from now on. Though idk when it'll come out, pt4 is in my plans if anyone follows the series. The theatre piece is from Romeo and Juliet(with a few adjustments of mine to make it fit the story) because no way could I write an actual improv, way out of my league. Thank you if you read my thing and hope you enjoyed it :) pls stay at home, wash your hands and take good care of yourself.

[kim-lexie]

week-by-week playback: crash landing on you.

just to preface, pardon that some of this may not be cohesive. i made this a separate post because otherwise the collective review would be insanely long. and i wanted to keep a space where i just let my thoughts from each episode exist, so here it it. 

if you want to see my semi cohesive thoughts from the themes and characters here is my actual review. crash landing on you.

*spoiler alert*

ep 1-2 my goodness this man, hyun bin (aka ri jung hyuk in this drama) is dreamy as ever. *like swoons*. son ye-jin is perfect, i loved her in "something in the rain” and this character is completely different and i am loving it. this free easy going aide of this actress. she is adorable and i love how in a crazy situation the first thing she thinks is ‘you’re totally my type’ bc seriously a girl after my own heart.

now the concept is completely ridiculous but i’ll jump on the band wagon and live my best life bc i think this is going to be a unique concept that i fall for. the fact that she doesn’t listen to him and goes directly into north korea i’m like girl you’re crazy.

i love how they added the clips at the end of the episode and how he was laughing at her. precious how he’s already falling for her quirky side. i am intrigued to see where their relationship first started like how did they meet before how did he leave north korea and enter back in as a general captain?!? so many questions and i’m so excited.

ep 3-4.  kim ju-meok (captain ri’s company of 5) saying i haven’t seen any drama characters that don’t fall in love in that situation. hahaha same dude same. when the guy was spying, jung man-bok, and trying to keep up with the drama plot. hahaha

i loved when the ladies tried to see her and she made him act all sweet walking him out the door.

he said all nice things to the plant!!!

ep 5-6. his relationship with his fiancé is soooo weird. and her family must be super high up in north korea. same to his family though. his mom has an ostrich in her yard!!! i love how they got stuck on the train on their journey to pyeongyang. i love how he jumps to his feet to get her anything she wants. they’re precious together. i’m excited to see where it takes us bc now that the man on the run knows that she is there, there is leverage. he was the first guy she waited for TT. i’m really enjoying the little tidbit scenes at the ending.

he’s gonna keep a photo of her even though he said it was silly to get a momento. the clarification between destiny and coincidence.

ri jeong-hyeok do you want to be my destiny. ‘as long as you stay in my sight you’ll be safe, as long as she is in my sight i will protect her.’

ep 7-8. her character growth since meeting him is extensive and i love to see this side of her not as callused and closed off but rather vulnerable.

‘so happens that you’ve become a special person to me

for once i had to protect you too.’

the heart on his uniform she stitched up.

it’s his brothers song. TT

him going to find her bc she might have been waiting in him. he’s not wrong. and her being concerned with him not being in the hospital bc of his injuries.

your life here might be shattered bc of me.

and i don’t like that.

she’s gets kidnapped. after all this. she even decorated a christmas tree and got him a gift.

held my breath for a solid minute after that gunshot.

ep 9-10. yes his freaking dad in these moments where i’m crying just provides the perfect comedic relief bc he can’t freaking believe what’s happening in front of him. “you make my heart flutter. the other dude.” even when you didn’t know it you saved my life. when he played the song for the first and last time for his brother.

how would i forget about a woman who feel from the sky? -jeong-hyeok

i didnt fall. i descended. -se ri

she freaking wrote i love you with the books.

his brother was such a good person and got the medicine for his friends baby.

when they had to say goodbye to each other. and when their eyes met once again.

ep 11-12. this episode. i loved seeing how the comrades reacted to the daily living of those in seoul. they were too precious. absolutely terrifying that cheol-gang made his way into a security. like what kind of background check did they get?!? like. come on.  

cannot believe that jeong-hyeok found her in an echoing parking garage. it’s destiny.

seo dan got the term ‘sweetmeat’ from seri stop it!!

all of the almost encounters had me dying, while the boys were trying to track down captain ri. the gaming to ignoring the call for chicken.

they wanted to recruit kwang-beom for an agency. they’re like your cover was blown bro.

talking about a future when he didn’t go back. married with twins. and he’ll play piano again.

them dresses as south koreans got me like. my goodness. they’re too much. them all hugging was beautiful. he missed them all so much.

her mother left her at the beach. like what the even. her sister in law gave him her address what the even, this side of her family is wack.

they surprised her for her birthday. my goodness. this moment i’m weeping then it’s like dang that would have been cute.

i’ll be thankful the person i love is still breathing.

and it will be a good year.

-ri jeong hyeok

ep 13-14. the couple rings.

our boys. slaying it. my gosh. when they’re all surrounding her after she was shot. and crying my heart broke.

i never played the piano. and i’ve never told anyone. until you crash landed into my word one day. that’s how i lived. but now i’ved changed. even if i have to worry about losing you, i want to have you in my life. even if it breaks my heart bc it’s a dream that can’t come true, i’d like to sincerely dream of a future. so please live. and listen to my words i still have stories that i haven’t told you yet. -ri jeong-hyeok

when she finally woke up and he ran in. the fact that the mole wire tapped the room while she was unconscious. and then the tape of her mom telling her and wanting to thank seri and ask for forgiveness, and also the fact that her oppa and sister in law wanted her gone...wack.

when he was showing her his scars and the boys walked in and thought something scandalous was up, i died laughing.

i love them together. “they’re curious about your face. i understand bc you look great from the back.” -seri with regards to the paparazzi posting a photo of him online.

the split second after cheol-gang died and ri jeong-hyeok contemplated ending his life, because he didnt know what would happen when he went back to north korea.

while seung-jung was hiding in the market after he ran away from his captors, and the orphans collectively sang that sad song to distract the officers and protect him.

when seung-jung gave seo dan the ring that she picked up from the store so he could give it to seri who gave it to the pawn shop, and he picked it back up and proposed to seo dan. i weeped, because why does this have to be so hard.

when the NIS was collecting data on the ‘spies’: purchases at internet cafe, downloading videos of his favorite drama star, chicken restaurant, etc.  i can’t.

him deciding to go protect her even though he missed his chance of leaving the north with his life. and that she would be the one crying for him once he died made him sad and happy.

seri would make the same decision again. to meet the people and keep the experiences she had. “the wind blows to move in, not to stay.”

the exchange at the boarder was all too much. they all had to say goodbye so quickly.

ep 15-16. her family is wack. thank goodness seodan was able to get her revenge and get all the information from the chinese gang to turn over her older brother.

he wrote her back in the bookshelf. and is sending her notes after he’s gone. her breakdown in the kitchen when she saw all that he left for her. and receipts.

them going for walks at the same time of day to have a shared moment.

all of captain ri’s men reminiscing of the good things seoul had. internet. electricity.

i love that seri made a limited edition product to pay tribute to the ladies that helped her in the north.

he got her a freaking plant. i can’t. she is carrying for the plant like a baby and taking it around with her. got to say nice things to it. i knew it the last thing she said was rihoseok. (honestly wanted it to be a tomato plant)

“season changed but messages kept coming.” i really love this.

“it was eldewiss let’s meet in the country where these flowers bloom.” tell me they meet. please. oh please.

when ri jeong-hyeok broke the news that he was moving on to become a pianist and that the new captain is not a handsome man. the ladies of the village faces just dropped. i can’t.

“he found me every time. and i’m sure he’ll find me again someday.” -seri

“edelweiss symbolizes precious memories. what should i do jeonghyeok? it’s impossible for me to herons your just as a memory. so even if we don’t meet this year, maybe next year. if that doesn’t work too, i’ll anticipate the year after that. until the day you find me i’ll be waiting and praying.” -seri

stop it she is going to go paragliding and meet him again. come on.

eun-dong saying he misses his sister. i love them.

most wonderful two weeks of the year. stop it they have a house together in switzerland. and they are living happily ever after.

i really don’t want it to end...

[korkisobsessions]

The Oath

V. Caring

Still without betareading...please don´t kill me :D

Who wants to hump Yeongshin?? :D 

Enjoy my friends

Also I made that wooden swallow by myself and guess what? I lost it when i first wear it!! I made just one photo...FML!!! Photo at the end of chapter ;)

Yeong shin was sitting on bench and for a moment he felt peace. Sun was shining and air was warm. It was safe. Dead hated warm so they were safe for moment. He stretched his legs and found himself comfortable position. His rifle was already clean and he had nothing to do. It was unusual and he enjoyed it. But after few moments he found himself piece of wood. He was flipping it between his fingers, examined patterns of layers, until he got idea. He pulled out one of his knifes and started to cut of little pieces of wood.

He was still thinking about Nilah. Her trembling body pressed tight against his. Smell of her hair, that he can´t identified, maybe it was her scent. He never held woman like this. He was barely man, when he joined chakho forces, and there were only men. They travel through country side by side hunting tigers and sometimes other men. There were women, in distant villages, selling their bodies for money or food. But they were scared of chakho soldiers or too harsh to hump tiger hunters it was weird, loud and quick. He never find woman, to touch him gently, to hug him…to like him. He thought that they were scared of him, that they saw darkness and emptiness of his soul like he was lost and broken.

But Nilah…

She smiled at him; she looked for his gaze. She was so full of warmth and light, he felt it filed him, he almost choked. But it was the most beautiful thing he ever felt. And she touched him, like it was the most natural thing in this world. She wasn’t scared of him.

Suddenly he felt pang of guilt in his guts. He swore to Lee Chang, that he will meet him in Sangju, two and half months from now. But he was too scared to leave that it will break his heart to thousand pieces. How can he leave first good thing in his life? She will not wait for him. There was lot of men around her. After some time, she will forget him and find herself better man who wouldn’t leave her. Maybe that prick, who was still staring at her like hungry animal. That soldier, who wanted to take her from his arms, when he found her injured after the battle.

His name was Sang-Ho. He was probably captain, because he was always giving orders to men of Lord Ahn who remains. Yeongshin always felt his intensive glare in his back. That man didn’t trust him and despise him. No matter what he’s done, he will always have burned mark on his shoulder. He will always be chakho.

“Beautiful day.” Came merry voice and Beom Pal sat down on a bench next to him. “What are you doing?” he was too curious for his own good.

“It’s nothing.” He hid piece of wood in his palm, feeling almost ashamed that magistrates surprised him. He was too deep in his thoughts that he didn’t saw him coming.

Beom Pal smiled and turned his face to sun, catching it’s warm beams. “You know my friend. We are both same.”

“Are we?” Yeongshin raised his eyebrows. He almost laughed. They were everything, but not the same.

“Yes! We are!” Beom Pal hit him playfully with back of his hand to his shoulder. Yeongshin gritted his teeth when the man hit his injured one. “We both have soft spot for fearless women. Am I right?” He laid palm over his heart.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, my lord.” Yeongshin whispered, suddenly feeling nervous. He thought about Beom Pal like about man, who can trip over tiger, without even realising it. If even he sees, that something is going on between them, he must be clear as a day.

“Aaah, don’t fool me! I’m maybe dumb, but I’m not blind. You are guarding her, watching her...”

“I’m not...” he defended himself, but it was pathetic.

“You do!” For the first time in his life was Beom Pal doing his job properly. Judging him.

“She saved my life. I owe her.” He was absolutely trapped.

“That’s not it. You saved my life several times, and am I sitting by your side?”

“Honestly? You are doing it right now.” He tried to save himself but Beom Pal suddenly, catch his hand with a piece of wood. He wanted to avoid him, but his injured shoulder slowed him. He started to be irritated.

“Don’t tell me, this isn’t for her.” He was holding little wooden bird. It wasn’t perfect, surface was still a bit rough, but it was quite pretty. Yeongshin was glad; his hands did something, nice. That he created something, not just destroying and killing.

He bow his head like caught thief. But he didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.

Beom Pal’s face light up. He won. “She is quite beautiful woman, I saw that too. And that tales she always telling are amazing.”

“Yes, she is beautiful...” Yeongshin felt like his heart started to hammer louder in his chest.

“You should tell her, you love her.” Beom Pal whispered in low voice like conspirator with blink of an eye.

“I don’t... It’s not like that...”he stuttered like fool.

His companion shook his head like he was disappointed. “I never thought that comes the day when I call you coward, my friend.” He patted his back and stood up ready to leave. “But tell me one thing.” He tilted his head closer, giving him wooden swallow back. “Can you make one more? You know...for me...for Seo-Bi.”

Yeongshin hid smile and nod. “Yes, my lord.”

 Sun was high in the sky and he became bored. He wanted to rest, but his body was too used to be still in move, that his muscles almost itch to stand up and move. He hid little wooden swallow to his small bag, he was wearing across torso and went to one place he can think of.

Seo-Bi was sitting in front of Nilah and nagging her, like a child, who did something wrong.

“You should rest! Your wound isn’t healing because you are still running around like a fool!” Seo-Bi was too angry that she forgot to close curtain around Nilah’s bed and Yeongshin saw too much when he came closer. He saw angry red stitched wound, but except it, lot of naked skin. Nilah’s shirt was rolled high and he saw light skin of her abdomen.

He stopped to breath and almost tripped over his own foot. But heavy bump to his shoulder woke him up. Sang-Ho was walking towards him and he bump into him with too much force he almost fell. Normally he would avoid the contact, but he was too hypnotized by the uncovered skin of woman he cared for, that he didn’t see that man coming.

“Watch your steps, chakho!” Sang-Ho growl with voice full of disgust. His dark eyes pierced him with hatred.

Yeongshin held tight grip on one of his hidden knives, but Nilah’s voice got him back.

“I’m not running. I can’t with that stupid leg.” She sounds very annoyed.

He almost heard like Seo-Bi rolled her eyes. “I need more herbs. I think it’s little infected. Stay here and I will change your bandages when I get back. You look like you were in fight.”

He came closer and Nilah noticed him. His heart jumped, when he saw how her face light up, when she noticed him.

“Bring herbs, I will change the bandages.” He volunteered and came closer. He took Seo-Bi’s place and took bowl with healing ointment from her.

Seo-Bi raised eyebrows with question in her eyes.

“I don’t mind.” Nilah shrugged shoulders, but she blush a little.

They were silent when Seo-Bi left them. What happened between them in the nigh was still in the air. It was too intense to let it be.

Yeongshin was silent, even if he had so many questions. He carefully took her forearm to his palms and start to untying dirty bandages. There were few spots where blood was soaking through. He tried to be as gentle as possible but sometimes he must rip the fabric from her skin. It hurt him to cause her pain, but she was brave. She did not make a sound, just flinched when it was bad.

“I’m sorry.” He murmured and raised eyes to her face. She was calm, little pale, but her gentle smile was like sun.

“You don’t have to be.”

Her arms looked bad. They were covered with dark dried blood. It was painful just to look. Every move must torture her. He was thinking about yesterday, when she hit him several times.

“You have probably some questions.” She started. “About what I said yesterday.”

He gathered ointment to his palm and started to cover her injured skin. For a moment she closed her eyes and moaned. His heart almost jumps from his chest with that pleasurable sound. He was getting crazy from this woman.

“Only if you want to talk about it.” He was holding her forearm, gently massaging her skin and patiently waiting.

“I think you found out, that Lord who saved me after I runaway from my father’s business partner was Lord Ahn.”

“Yes, I did.” He nods. She was sitting in front of him on her cot, wearing man’s shirt without sleeves, so he can see, touch a lot of her skin. And she looked like she doesn’t mind; even she looked like she was enjoying it. His head was spinning.

“My brother taught me how to fight, so I offered myself as a soldier to Lord Ahn Hyun. If I stayed out, I would die sooner or later. He accepted me, but he was so devastated from war, he shut himself from the world and never left Sangju. But he leaves me to Deok Sung to be my guard and master. I was strange woman between men. Every time we left gates of Sangju, I covered my face to no one noticed I’m not a man. Enemies would be focused on me like on weak spot of a chain. So I practise with Deok Sung harder and harder to not be a weak spot and became one of the strongest. He was my master and became my friend. We watched our backs, until...I...failed him.” She sobs and tears were running down her face.

“It was not your fault.” He held her hand in his and gently rubbed her knuckles.

“It was...I was focused on something else and didn’t see that infected man coming, until it was too late. I thought, maybe he will not change, but that damn door stuck and he sacrificed himself.”

“He didn’t die in vain. He saved us and people in Sangju.” He was trying to calm her, and she knew it, because she had sad smile on her face.

“I know, but it’s still hard.”

Yeongshin started to wrap her arms in clean stripes of cloth, and his stomach was twisting. It remained him something he wanted to forget.

“Then was that fire and Prince Chang was looking for best men, so I volunteered. I didn’t want to sit there, waiting for help, so I run with you to Mungyeong Saejae.

When Lord Ahn died I thought, we will all die for nothing. Cho Hak Joo would win, and that plague will destroy whole land. But you get us from that prison and lead us to avenge him.”

Nilah pulled collar of shirt and expose her collarbone. There was thin fresh scar. “It’s from man, who was trying to pull you down from that cart when you shoot on Cho Hak Joo. I got him, but he was pretty fast.” She laughs and looked him in the eyes.

For a moment, all that he wanted was to pull that shirt off again and kiss that scar. To feel her warm skin with his lips again. How could he knew that this afternoon turned to test of his self control.

“I was there when Moo Yeong died.” Her face was suddenly grave. “And then that murdered mothers, like it all wasn’t enough, Haewon Cho made it worse.”

“It’s over. We beat the disease and Haewon Cho.” Yeongshin finished his work on her hands and smiled.

Nilah carefully stretched her arms and watched his work. Stripes was perfectly covering each other in criss cross pattern.

“You have some skills in this.” She laughed, but when she saw his face, she grows silent. He was serious again, his smile disappeared.

“My brother was sick.” He whispered with tight voice. “I used to treat his wounds and change bandages.”

“I’m sorry Yeongshin, I didn’t know.” And it was her, who was holding his hand now to comfort him.

“On that roof, I froze, because I though I saw him.”

Nilah face was full of compassion. “I knew it must have been something very serious. You looked like you saw ghost. I ran to you as fast as I could and I was so scared that I will be late.”

“You saved me.” His smile was back but there was sadness in it.

“Your brother would be proud, if he saw what you did.” She gently touched his face. Her fingers were lightly trembling. He closed his eyes and lean to her palm.

“I didn’t do anything. I just helped your highness.” He mumbled. Her touch was so comforting, he could fall asleep. He just wanted to laid his head down to her lap, closed his eyes and had a long sleep.

“Faster than disease is spreading words. People talk, and they talk about man, who was running towards danger, to save others. They talk about man who saved tired kids...” her face was so close, he almost felt her breath on his lips. He could just lean forward to kiss her.

“They are dead now.” His voice was empty. He remembered people lying dead on the ground with arrows in their bodies. They saved them from infected just to be killed by palace guards.

“Not all of them!” Her eyes were full of hope. She gave him something he can hold on to. Hope, that he made something good.

He breathed in, but suddenly he heard loud footsteps.

“I got that herbs!” Seo-Bi was back with bowl of herbs. “It should help with that infection. “

“I should go. I will bring you, something to eat.” He stood up and lightly kissed her forehead. It surprised him, how simple and obvious it was, to touch her, to kiss her.

“Thank you.” She smiled at him and her eyes shine like thousand stars.

[medleymisty]

Some Assembly Required

Is a silly little text-only story. :) I hope you like it! I do.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Morrigan was a mad scientist. Everyone knew that.

His castle sat atop a hill overlooking the village. Tattered pink banners fluttered from gray turrets topped by crumbling crenellations. The drawbridge hadn’t been drawn up in centuries. Its chains hung loose, rusty and rotted. The two portcullises still worked, grudgingly. Dr. Morrigan’s assistant tested them weekly. It wouldn’t do to not have some sort of defense against mobs armed with torches and pitchforks, even if such mobs were unlikely. The villagers had gotten so used to the mad laughter and the crackling bzzzts of electricity and the tortured screaming that they didn’t even hear them anymore. The castle and its occupants had become part of the backdrop of everyday life.

Gunky GilsCarbo pulled on the chains to open the outer portcullis and wished he could be like the villagers. They were free. They were happy. They didn’t have to constantly bust their asses for a crazy dude who didn’t even remember to pay them half the time. The villagers even got to go out on dates, which was totally unfair.

He was in the midst of a dry spell. A dry spell that had lasted for years. It wasn’t that he was ugly, or anything. He wasn’t an Igor, with stitches everywhere and a hump on his back and one eye bigger than the other. It was just that he didn’t have time, and also living in the bowels of a dark dank princess playset really was not good for his complexion. Plus he kind of smelled like mold and electrified dead things.

Gunky checked the list Dr. Morrigan had given him. Electrodes, dry ice, tongue of newt, eye of a hot babe, a brain, and a pound of sugar. Easy peasy. He pulled his scooter out of the little storage shed by the end of the drawbridge and set off down the hill.

The Giant Wonder Box Store For All Your Mad Scientist And Evil Wizard Needs sat uneasily on the outskirts of the village. The huge neon sign buzzed fitfully, the red-lit letters blinking on and off. Weeds sprung up from the cracks in the empty parking lot. Gunky parked his scooter by the entrance and watched as a leaf skittered across the pavement.

He wasn’t sure how this place stayed in business. A small one mad scientist village couldn’t support a huge store like this. He’d never seen any other customers inside. But then, it was a magic store. Maybe the owners created fairy gold to pay off loans and rent and suppliers and stuff, or maybe they were vampires with centuries of investments and this was just a hobby, or maybe they had lots of customers but the customers were all invisible, or maybe something ate all the customers after they made their purchases. He wondered why he’d never been eaten.

He stepped through the glass door. The little bell attached to it jingled.

“Ah, Mr. GilsCarbo, we were told to expect you! Please, what does Dr. Morrigan require from us today?”

A gnome stood on a stool behind the cash register in lane 13. The lanes stretched down the front of the store, on and on and on. Gunky wasn’t sure how many there were. The others were covered with a layer of dust, their signs dark, their displays dead. Only lane 13 was alive, the register’s screen flickering with ads for love potions and death tokens and the Frankenator 9000 Plus, guaranteed to bring your monster to life within three thunderstorms or your money back.

“Uh, the list says electrodes, dry ice, tongue of newt, eye of a hot babe, a brain, and a pound of sugar.”

“My, what a list. I wonder what the old man is up to now! Well come on, don’t just stand around. Time is money, friend!”

The gnome jumped off the stool and headed into the dark recesses of the store. Gunky pulled a cart from the huddled cart masses by the entrance and followed him.

Dust was everywhere. It coated the lab coats, the chainsaws, the cathode ray tubes, the castle defense training games. The right front wheel of the cart squeaked. It was the only sound in the store.

Gunky fell into a daydream involving the eye of a hot babe, a pound of sugar, and the removal of his pants. It was just getting to the good part when the gnome screamed.

“Geez, watch where you’re going with that thing!”

“Oh man, I’m sorry. It’s just, it’s hard to see in here, you know? You guys ever thought about buying brighter light bulbs?”

The gnome stared up at him. Gunky was of the opinion that the gnome’s gaze lingered far too long on his pants.

“Yes, well, here we are, the electrodes Dr. Morrigan requested.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

Gunky reached over the cart and the gnome and picked up the package of electrodes. He really wished the gnome would stop looking at him like that.

He dropped the electrodes into the cart. The metal clanged a bit, and as the echo died away he realized how silent it was in the store. Silent, and empty.

“I believe dry ice was on the list?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s in the theatrics department. This way!”

The gnome strode out of the aisle, dust rising up behind him. Gunky followed, determined to stay alert and not hit the little guy with the cart again, no matter how attractive the eye of a hot babe was. No eye of a hot babe could ever be attractive enough to cancel out the creepiness of an eye of a recently struck with a shopping cart gnome.

They passed by plastic tombstones, long black capes, large beehive wigs of black hair with one white stripe, green makeup, giant red buttons and levers, toy sharks with toy laser beams on their heads. All covered with dust. It didn’t look like anyone had been in these aisles in decades.

“Ah yes, here we go. I don’t know why it’s in this section. Yes, it can make pretty smoke, but if I know Dr. Morrigan he needs it to keep body parts frozen. Am I right?”

Gunky pictured Dr. Morrigan’s lab. The test tubes. The vats. The iron gurneys with leather straps. That one weird thing that he’d never been able to figure out, but it had all spikes and a furry bit. Oh, and the boy band posters.

“Yes. Body parts. He’s putting something together. Or I guess someone.”

“Oh ho. Do ask him to mind that this someone does not get loose in the village. I don’t want any mobs torching the store. Come on, let’s go get the poor thing’s tongue.”

The gnome dropped the dry ice in the cart. Again, there was the one lonely thump, and then silence. The silence was really getting on Gunky’s nerves.

“So why don’t you guys pipe some music in here? You know, some evil tunes or something to help shoppers get in the mood.”

The gnome stared at him again. He wondered if maybe he could substitute the eye of a creepy gnome for the eye of a hot babe.

“Come, this way to the organ section.”

As they neared the section with the body parts, Gunky noticed footprints in the dust. Someone had been this way recently. From the way the dust was scuffed up, it looked like they’d been in a hurry.

“Tongue of newt, tongue of newt, where are the newts? It’s so hard to keep fresh organs, you know. Our customers don’t want the preserved stuff. They want their organs ripe and juicy. I could have sworn we got a shipment of newts in just the other day. Oh yes, here they are.”

Gunky stopped just in time to keep the cart from slamming into the gnome. He’d been so busy looking at the odd patterns in the dust that he hadn’t noticed the aquariums and the cages.

He studied the frogs. He read the information listed below the gerbil cage and learned about beta tubulin isotypes in the gerbil organ of Corti. He thought that the salamanders were very pretty.

He didn’t notice any activity or sounds around the newts. Nope. There was nothing going on there at all. In fact, there were no newts. He focused on a stand with a roll of plastic bags, like the ones in the fruit and vegetable section at the village grocery store.

The gnome took one of the bags, dropped something that Gunky refused to see in it, and placed the bag in the cart.

“Freshest tongue of newt you can get! Tell Dr. Morrigan that he absolutely must use it within the next twenty four hours. I assume he’s prepared?”

“Uh, yeah, I think so. He’s already got most of the bits, you know. And there’s a storm coming tonight.”

“Good, good. Come on then. Next is the eye of a hot babe, I believe.”

The cages and aquariums were replaced with large jars and coolers. Gunky had been half expecting cages of live humans. He sighed in relief.

The dust was more stirred up here. Someone had been running fast, and there were other prints too.

“We just got this eye in yesterday. Dr. Morrigan is very lucky. It’s not every day that a hot babe comes in the store.”

The other prints weren’t human.

“She paid first, of course. I believe she was buying some materials to make torches. Oh, and she was also very interested in the pitchforks. We have an excellent selection of pitchforks.”

The other prints appeared to be large paws.

“Oh, but of course you’re not interested in pitchforks, are you? No, no, I imagine you would be much more interested in the flame resistant castle curtains. Well, here is your eye of a hot babe.”

The gnome dropped a small plastic box into the cart. Gunky, pumped full of adrenaline and on high alert, could hear liquid sloshing around inside it. There was another sound, out on the far edge of hearing. It sounded like something breathing.

“Let’s see. Next on the list was a brain, I believe?”

“Yep! That’s the most important part. You gotta have a good brain. The last time he tried this, he used Old Cockeye’s brain. Do you know Old Cockeye? He used to go around the village yelling about what the witches were doing to the soil and how the government was covering up a fae invasion. That didn’t work too well. We ended up having to kill that monster and use it for parts.”

Gunky babbled, hoping to sound normal, hoping to sound like someone who could just pay and leave and put the bags into the basket on his scooter and ride back home, back to the lovely princess playset castle and Dr. Morrigan. If he got out of here he would never say anything bad about Dr. Morrigan again.

The gnome walked up and down the aisle. The breathing sound got louder.

“Oh yes, of course, a good brain is very important, and we do so value Dr. Morrigan as a customer.”

The gnome looked through the coolers. The breathing came closer.

“I don’t remember when we last got a brain. We might not have one. Certainly not a fresh one. No, no. And of course it must be a human brain. Newt brain won’t work, not for this.”

The gnome looked up. Gunky could almost feel hot breath on his neck.

“Sir, do you mind paying now?”

Gunky took a second to process the meaning of that question.

“Oh hell naw!”

The gnome couldn’t have his brain! He needed his brain! He needed it to think, and be alive, and stuff!

He turned and ran, kicking up the dust. Running just as the hot babe had, following her trail. Maybe the gnome had only taken her eye. Maybe she’d gotten away, and now she was hiding in the store somewhere. Maybe it was her breathing.

“Cerebrallus! Fetch that brain!”

Or maybe not. ———————————————————-

The gnome put the electrodes, dry ice, tongue of newt, eye of hot babe, and the nice fresh brain of a mad scientist’s assistant into the scooter’s basket. He couldn’t believe his luck. He was finally getting out of that nasty store. He’d get to work for Dr. Morrigan. Dr. Morrigan, the most respected of all the mad scientists, the one working on the cutting edge of monster creation. The newt’s tongue was a really clever innovation, and he’d love to see the look on the faces of the other mad scientists at the MadFranken convention when they saw the eye of the hot babe.

And of course the brain of the assistant. He was quite proud of that. It was his own gift to Dr. Morrigan, his way of saying “I can work with you. I’m smart enough, I’m good enough, and doggone it, my monster dog is really well trained to not injure the parts I need.”

The scooter was a little big for him, but he managed. He drove off towards the castle. ———————————————————

Rain came down in sheets. The wind knocked a few more blocks off the crumbling crenellations. The castle shook with thunder.

Dr. Morrigan stood by the huge red lever, waiting. His new assistant had procured the perfect brain for his creation. Everything was ready. Just one lightning strike, and he would be the talk of the world. He would get a full feature in Monsters Makers Weekly. He would receive a grant from the Institute of Crazed Scientists. All the hot babes at the MadFranken convention would fall at his feet.

The lightning strike came. Adrenalin rushed from his kidneys as he pulled the lever. This was it!

“Rise, my monster! Rise!”

Nothing happened.

He looked at the lever, confused.

Nothing continued to happen.

He looked at his new assistant, the clever little gnome. The gnome looked back at him.

A sudden horrible thought struck him.

“Did you forget the pound of sugar?”

[weaselsmuses-aa]

Typhoon Island Villager HCS [final]

Emma

Age: 21

Island occupation: Island Representative. Though she’s called a shady representative by many.

Sexuality: Bi.

Friends: All of her villagers of course! (though she does have her favorites, namely Punchy, Antonio and Bamikins.)

Very hard working. Is almost always running form one side of the island with new ideas for how to improve things

When she isn’t terraforming, pathing or planting, she’s hanging out with Punchy and her friends.

A gracious host, according to her. She wants all guests to check in with her first and foremost. Gets a little grumpy when someone doesn’t follow that rule.

Terrorizing Isabelle is her hobby, gets her through the day.

Loves rain, storms and fog the most.

Favorite season is winter. (Totally not because she can make the whole month of december about her.)

Has been bickering with Isabelle so long she’s accidentally befriended her. (easier to torment her that way)

Rumored to be good friends/has close ties with Redd. (How else did he get here?)

House has an incredibly ominous vibe. Something about it just isn’t quite right.

Is a great asset when you’re friends with her, when you aren’t though....

Almost always with Antonio and Bam (Three musketeers vibe) or Punchy.,

Doesn’t get along with Julian too well. Almost always yelling at him/swearing at him under her breath. 

Misses sloppy furniture damnit.

“ I don’t know about the missing people or the blood, stop asking about it.”

Bellionare.

Punchy

Age: 23

Island occupation: Professional Slacker. (sometimes he’ll help Emma garden and clean the beach though)

Sexuality: Bi at best.

Friends: Bob [bff], Kid Cat, Beau, Antonio, Weasel, Stitches. && ofc Emma.

The FavoriteTM.

Representative’s Pet.

Probably dating Emma

Absolute precious sweetheart

Naive, lazy, but can be sarcastic and snarky when you know him well enough.

Huge heart.

Snacks on snacks on snacks on snacks

Can be a cry baby at times.

Very affectionate with his friends

Usually seen in his yard, by the playground or in Emma’s orchard.

Favorite color is blue, Favorite activity is sunbathing and naps

You look in his home and you’ll be able to tell how much of a favorite he is.

Has nothing but good things to say about Emma. (Seriously shes all he talks about.)

Kind of scared of Bam. He doesn’t get along with him well, for ...obvious reasons.

Popular but didn’t ask to be. He’s just sweet and easy to love!

Really loves cherries. A lot. Seriously. Fastest way to the little kittys heart.

Also pretty good friends with Monsun key’s Lapis, asks about her sometimes.

Bam

Age: 20

Island Occupation: Has a part time job at the museum dusting and helping out with the fossils. 

Sexuality: Pretty het.

Friends: Emma, Ky, Swiss, Antonio, Kid Cat, Beau, Cheri, Getting to know Lucky.

Big brother vibes with a pretty bad temper if you know how to strike a nerve.

Best friends with the Island Rep and Antonio

Seems to be the island’s favorite target for teasing.

Gets along well with everyone …….except Punchy and Bob.

Avidly and openly does not like Punchy, its most likely due to jealousy. It’s also rumored the reason his his very blatant crush on Emma

Only person he likes less than Punchy is Bob as he is quote ‘an asshole’. (Its usually just Bob returning the favor though for Bam being a dick to Punchy).

Usually seen working out on the Beach, doing Yoga in the square, or taking walks. Really loves the Light house, the orchards and the Playground.

Known to be a little overbearing with his attitude problems when he doesn’t like someone. (He’s been seen walking around punchy’s house,and has hit him on a few occasions)

Is either your friend and super nice, or doesn’t like you and can be a dick.

Hangs out with Cheri and Beau a lot when his two right hand pals aren’t available.

Secretly wishes Brewster would come open a shop.

Beau

Age: 22

Sexuality: Pan.

Island occupation: Got a part time gardening position from Lief. Also helps the nooklings arrange their shop displays.

Friends: Topaz, Emma, Ky, Punchy, Bam, Stitches, Lucky, Julian

Sleepy eyed sweetheart.

Very Peaceful and kind, doesn’t like to see anyone fighting and wants everyone to get along.

Definitely the type to always say yes.

Rustic mountain town vibe. Really likes nature and long hikes.

Favorite season is winter.

Best friend’s are Topaz, Punchy, and Bam.

Talks to Blathers and Celeste a lot, very interested in natural history and astronomy.

Goal is to be good friends with everyone on the island. The only one he’s having trouble with is Antonio. He can’t quite figure him out yet.

Likes to have Tea with the island rep on Sundays.

Always wanted to be like the reindeer he’s seen on TV. He admires the lifestyle and aesthetic despite being an antelope.

Has a baby blanket he’s very attached to.

Loves kids, and babysits Kid cat and stitches often, he thinks they’re very sweet.

Plants trees, flowers and shrubs a lot. He really wants to make the island feel more woodsy.

Favorite spot is the museum, orchards and star gazing spot.

Julian

Age: 28

Sexuality: Gay Trans Icon.

Island occupation: He worked at the able sisters for a little while but they had to let him go because he went overboard and tried to control everything. He’s thinking about applying at brewsters. 

Friends: Kyanite! Topaz, Beau, Cheri, Punchy & Bob (sorta)

Narcissitic, Dramatic and self obsessed.

Only thing he loves more than himself, is a good book and singing.

Really loves to look good, and is constantly indecisive about what he wears.

Has an aesthetic and will NOT let you mess with it. Seriously, don’t give him furniture, he’ll give it away.

BFF is Ky.

He also gets along with Beau and Cheri. He can appreciate Beau’s simple pleasures in life, and his kindness. Cheri and him relate on pop culture and music.

Gossips constantly, cannot keep a secret to save his life, and only wants to know your business to talk about it.

Very loving friend once your’e close to him, and will likely only break his ‘peaceful’ face, for a friend. Pissing him off is hard to decipher most of the time, as he finds it beneath him to show ‘savage’ emotions.

Claims to be magic, but no one knows if he actually is, or he just uses his species to say that.

Usually seen in the square seeking attention, following others to eavesdrop, or at home either inside, or in his yard reading or writing.

Doesn’t seem to get along with Spinel too well. He tried to be friends with her but when it didn’t work out he just decided to mess with her for fun.

Dreads double visits from Ky and her girlfriend. As they mess with his lights until they break. Blames Spinel for encouraging it.

Very curious about Lucky and Stitches but kind of creeped out by them. He snoops on them when given the chances to do so though.

Loves the stargazing spot and Ky’s picnic area. He does enjoy a good stroll on the beach too when he isn’t shopping for stuff.

Cannot be without attention for too long, he will shove himself into your conversations, your day, and the town square and tell you gossip or start singing.

Wishes there were more people on the island that he could relate to.

Cheri

Age: 22

Sexuality: She like gurls

Island occupation: Has a part time job doing island clean up for Tom on the weekends. Thinking about asking the nooks to get her a part time job at the shop.

Friends: Pearl (Monsun key), Marina (Monsun key), Emma, Lapis (monsun key),  Weasel , Bam, Bob, Julian, Punchy (they bonded over music recently), Lucky (slowly but surely shes giving her lots of gifts and being in general sweet and cheri cant okay.)

Zero bullshit tolerance.

Sarcastic, snarky and loud, but a very loyal friend

Rap, Rock and Metal are her life

House so red you will forget what other colors are.

Rumored that she’s got an album, no one on the island knows if what she says is true.

Good friends with Bam, Bob and Julian.

Usually in the square Jamming or  Hanging out on the Beach.

Pretty good friends with the Island Representative, isn’t really into all the  gossip about her.

Thinks Kid Cat is cute, but also isn’t big on watching kids, so you know.

Good friends with Weasel, likes to talk to them every once and a while.

Literally don’t start an argument with her, you WILL lose.

‘ im a bad bitch, you cant kill me’

What the hell is stitches? What the fuck happened to lucky? IS anyone going to actually acknowledge how fucked up this is?? hello???

All concerns aside, she thinks both stitches and lucky are very sweet but seriously wtf.

Rapping in the square with her friends is the shit for her okay. She loves it. Has asked Emma to throw a rapping party to which she replied ‘eh.’

Leather jackets and cool clothes are just as important as looking cute as hell!

Talks about Raymond moving like it was the best thing to happen to mankind, and his existence on typhoon island like a bad dream. (she still holdin a grudge)

Antonio

Age: He....wont tell. well guess 25

Sexuality: Doesn’t talk about it.

Island occupation: Typhoon Island ditch digger.......he digs the graves. At least thats his supposed job. He’s seen some shit. Surely.

Friends: Emma, Bam, Swiss, Bob, Stitches, Lucky, Ky

One does not simply get rid of him

Is he all there or is he not?

Vacant stare

Either ramblings of insanity or way too meddling

Everyone calls him crazy but….he knows all the dirty laundry.

Usually in the square….listening..and watching

Favorite Song is K.K. Dirge

Digs the graves for the grave yard and probably puts up the missing signs.

Always seems to pop up out of nowhere. At the most..unnerving moments.

One of the least social, yet most involved somehow.

What are you hiding antonio?

Bob

Age: 24

Sexuality: Bi.

Island occupation: Doesn’t have one. Works booorring. Give him some games and food any day.

Friends: Punchy (BFF), Emma, Lapis (Monsun Key), Weasel, Kid cat, Stitches, Lucky, Beau is okay

Absolute Meme-er

BFF is Punchy

Constant jokes, no matter his mood. Is he serious? Is he not? good luck figuring that out.

The popular kid on the island, but he doesn’t really care.

Also good pals with Swiss.

Give him a dare and he will do it. Every time

Older than the island rep and talks about it alot like its a personality trait.

Play fights you.

Sarcasm for days.

Affectionately bullies you softly

Annoys Antonio for laughs

Pisses Bam off on purpose (they dont get along)

Favorite spot is the playground , the pool and the beach.

Thinks stitches and lucky are super friggin cool. So what if they’re a little weird? That’s what makes them so awesome.

Affectionately messes with cheri when shes’ trying to sing or rap in the square.

Kind of avoids julian because he doesn’t like how he talks down to him

Got kicked out of nooks cranny a couple times. Who even knows why.

Kid cat

Age: 12

Friends: Stitches, Emma, Weasel, Ky, Punchy, Bob, Bam, Antonio, Lucky, Beau, Cheri. (So like everyone.)

Is, as his name would suggest, A kid.

Absolute trash heap of a house. Like He actually lives like this?

The island rep felt bad for him and built him a nice bed. He’s very attached to it.

Best friend’s are Bam, Kody and Weasel.

Sees Bam as a big brother.

Wants everyone on the island to be friends.

Considers himself a super hero, always wants to be the one to save the day and help people with their problems.

Hangs out on the playground, claims the jungle gym as his ‘base’.

If he isn’t there he hangs out in the square trying to spread his ‘heroisms’

Wide eyed optimist

NARUTO RUNNING AROUND YOU.

Is probably going to stay up past his bed time. Whos going to stop him

Claims the ninja turtles live under his house.

Misses Raymond. Says the island is ‘missing its dad’

Stitches

Age: Ageless, but comes off as a 6-10 year old

Island occupation: Doing whatever Emma tells him. 

Friends: Emma, Punchy, Topaz, Kid Cat, Weasel, Beau, Lucky, Bob

A mash up of many different bears and animals before him. All of whom met an untimely end by the hands of the creature.

Is not aware of how he came to be, and it is in Emma’s best interest to keep it that way. She will make sure you don’t tell him.

Can’t see very well, and can’t speak. Instead is telepathic, and can speak in sign language if need be. You will be able to hear his voice, but his mouth will never move.

Doesn’t come out of his house too terribly often, and is not allowed out after dark.

Favorite activity is playing pretend! He loves his toys and his blocks, and sometimes will go over to kid cats or weasels to play pretend with them.

Refers to the island representative as a mother, which .....disturbs and disconcerns most.

really close with lucky. They relate on a lot of....similar misfortunes. They can also speak to each other privately through mystical means without interruption or eavesdropping from others.

Is as name would suggest, stitched up. Sometimes the seams come undone and his stuffing comes out. (Yes hes actually full of ...just stuffing.) stuffin’!

Seems to be alive by sheer paranormal means. There is nothing in him keeping him ticking biologically.

Wants to be friends with isabelle, but notices he frightens her, so he avoids town hall.

Favorite spots are his room, the picnic by kys house, and the playground. (He wants to learn the monkeybars!)

Really looks up to Punchy, and wants him to help teach him the ways of the world....though punchy may NOT be the best rolemodel.

Afraid of Bam and Antonio, but is put under their care often.

Lucky

Age: ......we aren’t sure. Shes been dead a while. The only one who might know is emma.

Island occupation: Haunting the island after dark. (She’d help out if anyone would hire her.)

Friends: Stitches, Emma, Bob, Beau, Swiss

Is as ‘luck’ would have it, dead. She’s a spirit.

Rumored first victim of the typhoon island serial killer. She’s been dead a while, as her house would show, she’s not had the privilege of living for quite some time now.

Her bandages are a permanent feature, and theres a rumor floating around that without it, there wouldn’t be much left to her---besides those piercing haunting eyes of course.

Has a very sweet, soft spoken voice. Almost as quiet as a distant whisper. 

Very good friends with Emma. Follows her around almost....an unnatural amount. Almost as if...she’s got some sort of attachment to her.

Has a grave in her back yard, which was not naturally there prior. Seems to have dug it herself. A comfort thing perhaps since to present knowledge she was never given proper burial.

A very kind dog, and very helpful if you give her the chance and look past her....otherworldly appearance.

Loves stitches like a baby brother, almost always hanging out with him more than anyone else, will protect him feircly.

Self conscious about her state of being dead, just wants to make friends and live a happy afterlife since hers was taken from her.

Loves gardening, though all her flowers turn into black roses....or die.

Favorite spot is the graveyard, the forest, and Emma’s orchards.

Thinks her and Isabelle would get along good! If....Isabelle didn’t run away from her.

Really loves K.K. Slider concerts. Always wants to be the first to attend them. Can he see her though? She’s not sure sometimes.

[voicesofchaos]

VOC’s Review of the art of Magic The Gathering Core 2021

I an no art expert. Never studied art professionally. But I do consider myself a Vorthros (someone who appreciates the art, story, and flavor of Magic The Gathering). So I have been wanting to this for a while so let’s try it. If this is liked then maybe I will do it again for Zendikar Raising. I’m not going through every card in the set. Just a handful that really stood out to me and I just want to talk about.

Indulging Patrician by Miranda Meeks

Normally I like to save the best for last but this one is so obviously the best art in the set that I need to lead with it. When I first saw this card revealed my jaw dropped. It is purely captivating! It embodies what vampire artwork wants to be. From the powerful dominant vampire woman in the center, to her poor powerless victim, to the beautiful blood moon behind her, to the swarm of ominous bats, all highlighted with blood. Of course the traditional gender role reversal feels so perfect and not forced here. It is a beautiful artwork and you should want to play Magic just to look at this card. 

Liliana's Scorn by Josh Hass

We are not moving away from the gothic horror yet though. This is sadly a card that most players will never see as it isn’t in the Core 2021 booster packs but is in the Liliana planeswalker deck. Making this art very easy to overlook but quite impressive when examined. You really feel the struggle of the victim as he fights a losing battle against a horde of zombies. Being in the center you might think he is the protagonist that we cheer on to escape but Liliana even in the backgrounds steals the scene and you know she wins this fight. This is just a great group piece where each individual zombie displays a surprisingly amount of depth which truly makes this piece feel even more hopeless for the poor victim and even more empowering for Liliana.

Basri's Solidarity by Paul Scott Canavan

Basri Ket is a new planeswalker in the set but instead of looking at him directly let’s check out his magic instead. This is a piece that perfectly embodies cooperation and teamwork, Each figure looks quite a bit different, has a different background, and a different specialization. Yet they are all subtlety bonded together through the sand that basri controls. The way it wraps around and protects them all it a cool and powerful effect.

Obsessive Stitcher by  Joe Slucher

And we are back to dark and creepy. But I can’t ignore in crazy details in this artwork. On Innistrad, the doctor Frankenstein-like scientists that create ‘zombies’ though alchemy and science rather than straight-up necromancy are called “Stichers”. And this one piece explains all that without any words (except for the 1000 words a picture is worth). The corpses all have different faces showing that this is not simply a construct made from a generic stock but instead were actual living human beings at one point. The ominous green vat behind her is hooked up to them pumping them full of something that can’t be good. Plus we also have ominous test tubes in the background to really hammer in the point of “evil mad scientist”.But then her actual clothes has lots of handy tools to show a devoted craftsman. As she literally stitches thread through not only her diabolic experiment but also her passionate artwork. And finally I did not even notice until seeing the enlarged art but she is missing her right hand! I assume this counts as positive disabled representation right?

Village Rites by Bud Cook

I promise this is the last dark and creepy card (maybe) on the list but I have to give this one a shout-out. It is a throwback and homage to the card Village Cannibals from Innistrad. Even the same artist. Definitely one of my all-time favorite MTG arts so I am very happy to see a remake of that art! It is nice when Magic throws in the little nostalgia winks randomly.

Tolarian Kraken by Svetlin Velinov

Magic will often use what they call “Scale Birds” to show how big something is. These are tiny birds near a creature to show how much bigger the creature is than the birds and give a size comparison. Sometimes birds are too small and they use something like “”Scale Deer” or other mammals. Well then those are still too small we now have a “Scale Castle”! What is more terrifying than a Kraken this big! As if that isn’t bad enough it’s brain is actually visible and has like lightning coming from it or something. This feels like a very epic piece where you can feel the motion and terror from it.

Daybreak Charger by Forrest Imel

The next several arts are going to be under the category of “Things MTG does all the time but needs to make it new each time.” I feel it is most appropriate to start with this unicorn. You see unicorns take occupy a very unique position in both general fantasy genre and pop culture itself. Unicorns are very recognizable so they are very much a great fantasy trope to include. But they also have a reputation of being aimed at “young girls” and in the process made to seem very soft and non-threatening. MTG is a game about combat! You don’t want to summon a gentle non-threatening creature to fight for you but it wants to have unicorn cards. Meaning it wants “badass unicorns!”. Well they absolutely succeed here! But the beautiful thing is they need to over-correct. It wasn’t necessary to paint it all black and cover it in blood. We don’t need to put it on a heavy metal album cover to show its fierce side. Instead bright light is used in a way that makes it seem comforting but also powerful and not to be messed with. This is a unicorn that you are relieved to be on your side and terrified of seeing on your opponent’s side. That takes serious talent to bring it all together! 

Chandra's Incinerator by  Craig J Spearing

First I apologize that this art is a little cropped from the original. What is another thing that shows up all the time in fantasy art? FIRE! It gets hard to draw fire so often and make it feel different. This is a fire elemental so that is a bit different but still something we have seen a lot. The card Fire Elemental was in the very first Magic set. That card has had 4 different artworks and 3 other cards have some for of Fire Elemental in their name (Deepfire Elemental, Firefiend Elemental, and Wildfire Elemental). This one is clearly meant to be a nostalgic nod to the original art and it works so well! The fire is so detailed and intimidating but the creature is very expressive. It is very refreshing to see yet another Fire Elemental in such a new fashion and perspective.

Terror of the Peaks by Andrey Kuzinskiy

How many times have we seen a dragon in MTG? Over 200 times!! This set alone has 3 dragons! We have seen zombie dragons, skeleton dragons, dragons who breath lightning, dragons that breath frost, dragons covered in metal, and all kinds of other dragons. But sometimes you just need to go back to basics. But basics do not need to be boring. As we see here this is an awesome basic dragon that embodies everything you think of when you think of dragons yet still blows you away with how awesome it is! This is quality dragon art

Shacklegeist by Igor Kieryluk

Ghosts and spirits are again a common trope that gets redone a lot. I really like how this piece can just take a mundane object with some symbolism behind it and just make an entirely new creature from it. This is basically a giant lock with ominous chains attached being held by a specter and it all works so well together! This art style being more watercolors is a nice final touch to give this piece a spooky feeling but also a really cool feeling too.

Rousing Read by Campbell White

I am going to end this with a bit of a weird piece but I didn’t want to leave it out. This is apparently a follow-up to the card Hard Cover from the core set before. This guy has magical wings made from the pages of a book! Like I don’t have anything else to add. That is cool enough by itself.

Special Mentions

Alchemist's Gift, Chandra Heart Of Fire, Garruk’s Uprising, Peer Into The Abyss, and Sanguine Indulgence. All cards with awesome art but I don’t want this post to go on forever (and some of them I couldn’t find good clean versions of just the art). Please tell me what art from Core 2021 I missed that you really liked!