#also who is the farmer lady we need to know

[karmathenightowl]

something something werehorse mind palace

[gd-dollopole]

Merlin witnessed how women acted his entire life, and realised they’re just as humans and they’re just as different.

If we really need to find a definition, he was definitely always opened minded. He knew everyone was different, because he was different to begin with, and accepted any sort on new person coming in his life, all types of women, from magical ones to farmers to warriors to nobles, from his friends soon knighted, to more common citizens and ladies of the court, to Morgana, Gwen and even Morgause, who Merlin didn’t find strange at all that she wanted to fight in armour and against Arthur, of all people, because Merlin’s just a silly, little guy from a small village with one of the most rebellious person ever as a friend, and a single woman as a mother.

Which means:

the way Merlin decided to act once he aged himself into The Dolma, was all his doing, and he decided to do it in that way, and it is unbelievably amazing😭.

Merlin decided The Dolma should have worn a dress; he decided she should have had an high pitched voice.

IT WAS MERLIN who decided The Dolma should have flirted with Arthur, and gesture with her hands like that, because to Merlin, if he had to be a woman, then he would have been still himself, still sassy, but also elegant, and outright flirty with everyone, just with a different appearance.

He did not care in the slightest? Like, that’s what gets me. He was more tired of having to hide, than having to pretend to be a woman. I know he was enjoying himself, I just do.

Which means Merlin wanted to flirt with Arthur, but realised he could have done it only by being a woman. I love how he was able to keep his character and just… Didn’t change anything of himself.

It’s like, each time he pretends to be Dragoon or The Dolma, he can let out those things about him that he can’t show otherwise.

For him, there were no rules to follow, and the way he tells Arthur and Mordred that he wanted a man by his side for protection, because she’s an old woman, oh my god, that is hilarious, and it makes me laugh each time.

“Oh, the gangly boy.”

Merlin described himself as a gangly boy😭I can’t do this. I love The Dolma. I love Dragoon The Great.

I love Merlin. He has so much imagination, it’s unbelievable.

[deliciousangelfestival]

Tears In His Ferrari - 10

Character: Bucky Barnes x Farmer!Reader

Summary: Bucky Barnes, used to a life of luxury, takes on farm challenges in a bet with his father. Mud-stained Ferraris and a rustic farmhouse lead to unexpected personal growth, guided by the stern mentorship of Y/N, a farmer making his city-boy life difficult.

Theme: Fluff, Slice of Life, Heart-Warming.

Main Masterlist || If you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee on: Ko-fi 🙏🏻

Thank you to anyone who gave a like, reblog, and left a comment. It motivated me to write more. 

Chapters: Chp 1, Chp 2,Chp 3 , Chp 4 , Chp 5 , Chp 6 , Chp 7 , Chp 8 , Chp 9 , Chp 10 , Chp 11 , Chp 12.

Bucky's heroic story of helping Toby's grandmother and bringing her to the hospital with his red Ferrari became the talk of the town.

The next day, he went to the fresh market with Y/N's parents to buy fruits and flowers.

He was planning to revisit Toby’s grandmother. He didn’t know why, but he felt a sense of melancholy toward elders, especially since his own grandparents had passed away before he was born.

As Bucky looked at the oranges, the locals greeted him warmly, especially the elders.

One grandfather said, “Thank you for helping Toby's grandma, young man. Here's some fresh corn and potatoes for you.”

Bucky smiled warmly and replied, “Oh, yes, we should help each other.”

Another grandmother approached him and said, “Are you the Barnes kid who helped my friend? Here's an orange for you.”

The kind old lady handed him baskets of oranges, her eyes twinkling with gratitude.

Then he felt someone tap his shoulder. He felt like a big shadow towering over him. It was Thor.

Thor exclaimed, "Buddy, you were a great help yesterday. Here, I'll give you my biggest catch today."

Bucky widened his eyes in surprise. "Oh no, it's alright. Urghh."

This was the first time in Bucky's life that he carried a heavy fish.

With each step he took, someone would greet him and give him something. He had never experienced this sense of community back in the city, and he appreciated how supportive the locals were of each other.

Samanta chuckled upon seeing Bucky looking clueless. “You've become the local celebrity.”

Bucky blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“Yup. Oh, my daughter just called. Some people are at your farm.”

“That's right. I have to go back.” Bucky clapped his hands excitedly. He suspected that what he requested from his dad had arrived.

He stepped on the gas and drove fast to his place. When he arrived, he saw a few teenagers and kids standing near his house.

Y/N was also there, looking a bit overwhelmed as she guarded the youngsters from entering the house.

The truck stopped, and Bucky got out of the car.

He greeted Y/N with a smile. "What's up?"

Y/N sighed in relief. "They want to see your car, but I thought they needed your permission first."

The group of youngsters looked at Bucky with puppy eyes. In a second, he remembered being a young kid, also interested in sports cars when his dad brought him to the F1 race car. The experience was amazing, and it made him fall in love with fast cars.

As a fellow car lover, Bucky welcomed them. "It's alright. Do you want to see what it looks like inside?"

"Yeah!!" The youngsters cheered in excitement.

Bucky showed them his Ferrari car and enthusiastically explained the engine and the machinery.

Y/N observed Bucky, who looked genuinely excited. She remarked, “You've become the celebrity.”

Bucky chuckled, unable to contain his enthusiasm. “I can't help it.”

“By the way,” Y/N continued, “your father sent a pick-up truck. I didn't know you needed another one.”

Bucky's eyes lit up. “It's here? Yes! And it's not for me.”

“Then for who?” Y/N inquired, curiosity piqued.

🏥

At the hospital, Toby was speechless when he saw the pick-up truck. It looked brand new and far superior to the old truck they had to sell to pay his father's debt.

He walked around the truck, inspecting it from front to back, then turned to Bucky and enveloped him in a grateful hug. “Thank you, bro,” he said earnestly.

Bucky returned the hug with a smile. “You're welcome, buddy.”

After Toby rushed back to the hospital to share the news with his grandfather, Y/N approached Bucky. “That was really nice of you,” she remarked.

Bucky nodded, a sense of fulfillment washing over him. “I realized how important a car is for Toby. He needs it to drive his grandma and carry boxes of honey.”

With the means to help, Bucky felt compelled to use it.

Y/N smiled warmly. Witnessing Bucky's generosity and compassion, she couldn't help but admire him even more.

Bucky's generous gift quickly spread throughout the town, making him the hottest topic of discussion. Suddenly, he found himself at the center of attention, not for his wealth or status, but for his kindness and willingness to help others.

The children in the town looked up to him as a cool role model, inspired by his actions to make a positive difference in the community.

With Toby's grandmother gradually improving, and Toby himself working diligently to sell honey at markets and to local households, the spirit of gratitude and determination seemed to infuse the air.

Despite initially finding farming challenging, Bucky began feeling accepted and belonging in his new life.

Though he still encountered difficulties, he realized that the rewards of helping others and being part of a close-knit community far outweighed any hardships he faced.

Bucky hadn't opened his social media for a while since he was already busy with farming.

******

His story has also spread widely on social media. However, it wasn't Bucky who initiated it.

But who did? Of course, it was Kate. She inserted herself into Bucky's story as if she were a part of the effort to help him.

During her live session, she recounted the events with a touch of theatricality, emphasizing her own role in the act of kindness.

"And that's when Bucky and I sprang into action," she exclaimed dramatically, her eyes sparkling with manufactured emotion. "Together, we rushed Toby's grandmother to the hospital, our hearts filled with determination to make a difference!"

Her viewers were quick to shower her with praise, captivated by her portrayal of a compassionate and selfless individual.

"You're such an inspiration, Kate!"

"Wow, I had no idea you were so involved in charity work. You're amazing!"

"Thank you for using your platform to spread awareness and help those in need. You're truly making a difference!"

With each compliment, Kate's smile widened, basking in her audience's admiration as she skillfully crafted her image as a philanthropic icon.

She kept smiling as she scrolled through the comments until she noticed someone mentioning "What about Y/N?"

Kate's smile faltered, and she let out a sigh.

"What's wrong?" inquired one of her viewers.

Kate sighed again. "Well, we only know what people choose to show us on the outside, not what's really going on behind the scenes."

The viewers were intrigued. "Is this about Y/N?"

Kate hesitated, then replied cryptically, "I don't want to name names, but let's just say there's someone who's been quite influential in Bucky's life, and it's had some unfortunate consequences for my brother."

"Your brother, the celebrity chef Paul?" another viewer asked.

"He can't cook anymore because of a car accident, right?"

The comments continued to pour in, each one adding to the speculation. It was precisely what Kate wanted. She leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smirk playing at the corners of her lips as she watched her fans dissect the situation for her.

Glancing down at her ruined shoes, a reminder of her unexpected encounter with the mud earlier, Kate clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Never underestimate me," she murmured to herself, a hint of determination in her voice.

🏎️

Bucky, who had been feeling clueless, had just finished cleaning up the sheep's stable. He made his way back to his house to freshen up.

Archie, the puppy, had eagerly awaited his return, wagging his tail excitedly. "Woof."

"Hey, buddy, I missed you too," Bucky greeted, bending down to pet the eager pup.

Once inside, Bucky headed straight to the sink to wash his hands, feeling the grime of farm work clinging to his skin. As he scrubbed, he couldn't help but notice his phone incessantly buzzing with notifications.

"What's going on?" Bucky wondered aloud, setting down the soap to check his phone. He was met with a flood of messages and tags from various people. Among them was a tag that caught his attention: #Y/N and Paul.

Curious, he clicked on it, and his screen filled with photos of Y/N dressed in a chef's outfit, standing beside none other than Paul, the celebrity chef who also happened to be Kate's brother.

Bucky's heart sank as he read the accompanying captions and watched a reel detailing Paul's accident, along with rumors suggesting that it wasn't him driving the sports car, but rather a woman whose name was still unknown.

His thoughts racing, Bucky was startled when he heard a familiar voice behind him. "Here's the dinner."

He nearly jumped out of his skin, turning to find Y/N standing there, a concerned expression on her face as she looked at him. "What's wrong?" she asked, noticing his troubled demeanor.

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Author Note: Hey friends,

If you've been enjoying the content, I've set up a Ko-fi account.

Your support through tips would mean the world and help me keep creating.

Only if you feel like it!

Here's the link: Ko-fi

Thanks a bunch for being fabulous followers!

[maboroshi-no]

Hamefura April Tea Fair SS

Series: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Source: Manga Vol 3 Store: Animate Synopsis: Katarina is working in her fields. Keith brings her sweets and tea and suggests she takes a break. Translation: maboroshi-no

Translation below ⮟

Katarina: Heave ho~ Heave ho~

While cheerfully yelling this I, Katarina Claes, was using my hoe to plow the fields I had made in the manor's garden.

Since the weather was great and perfect for work today, I had been working hard in the fields since morning.

Keith: Big Sister, how about a little break? I've brought some tea and sweets.

As I was wiping sweat with my handmade headscarf, my younger brother Keith appeared with a basket in hand and called out to me like this.

Katarina: You're right. I guess I'll take a little breather.

I sat at the table prepared by Keith and refreshed my dried throat with the black tea he had poured for me.

Katarina: Aaah~ It's so good. The cupful of tea after farmwork tastes out of this world!

After I drank up the black tea and loudly said this, Keith looked at me with very indescribable eyes and said this:

Keith: Big Sister, when you're doing that, we can't see you as anything but a farmer's daughter.

Katarina: No way~ So I look like a splendid farmer that much?

When I bashfully replied this out of happiness, Keith let out a deep sigh.

Keith: I wasn't praising you but the opposite, actually. Big Sister, you can't look like a farmer. You're a duke's daughter. 

Just as my brother said, I currently had the status of daughter of a well-lineaged ducal family and was not a farmer's daughter. It would normally be a position where I would need to smile and dance in high society rather than doing farmwork. But…

Katarina: Keith, you don't know what life has in store for you. Even if I am a duke's daughter, one day I might suddenly be stripped of my status and exiled to another country. I need to steadily polish my farming skills so I could be hired in a farming village if it happened. 

I admonished Keith like this but he gave me a face that seemed to say " What the heck? That won't happen". Still, it really was a possible future. I had the memories of my past life and I knew that this world was the world of the otome game I had played in it.

And worst of all, I also knew that I, Katarina, was the heroine's rival character and a villainess who had nothing but doom flags.

One of those doom flags was being stripped of my status and exiled to another country. If something like that happened to a noble lady raised like a princess, she would normally be out in the street.

But I had no intention of yielding so easily to my doom. I wouldn't lose to it, and if I were to be exiled, I would become a splendid farmer!

Katarina: Alright! Keith, one more cup, please.

After stuffing sweets in my mouth and chewing them, I washed them away with my second helping of tea, then resumed farmwork.

[renthony]

🏳️‍🌈

any good queer book recomendations?

(Drop a 🏳️‍🌈 in my inbox and I’ll respond with a queer media recommendation!)

The Second Mango by Shira Glassman is the first book of the Mangoverse series, a queer Jewish fantasy series about young disabled lesbian Queen Shulamit and her family. It's very good, very sweet, and just about the most heartwarming cozy fantasy series out there.

The first book follows Shulamit after she's had her heart broken by her lady love and is trying to find other women who love women. Accompanied by a dragon-riding warrior woman named Rivka (my personal favorite character <3), Shulamit helps save a temple of women turned to stone by an evil wizard, rescue a beautiful woman from captivity, and get a wholesome sapphic happily-ever-after.

Here's the official plot summary:

Queen Shulamit never expected to inherit the throne of the tropical land of Perach so young. At twenty, grief-stricken and fatherless, she's also coping with being the only lesbian she knows after her sweetheart ran off for an unknown reason. Not to mention, she's the victim of severe digestive problems that everybody thinks she's faking. When she meets Rivka, an athletic and assertive warrior from the north who wears a mask and pretends to be a man, she finds the source of strength she needs so desperately. Unfortunately for her, Rivka is straight, but that's okay -- Shulamit needs a surrogate big sister just as much as she needs a girlfriend. Especially if the warrior's willing to take her around the kingdom on the back of her dragon in search of other women who might be open to same-sex romance. The real world outside the palace is full of adventure, however, and the search for a royal girlfriend quickly turns into a rescue mission when they discover a temple full of women turned to stone by an evil sorcerer.

The other books in the series follow Shulamit as she deals with things like "I have a severe gluten intolerance, but nobody respects my dietary needs!" and "I'm a cis lesbian in a relationship with a cis bisexual woman, but we gotta produce an heir to the throne!" and "oh no, our kingdom's crops are being affected by a mysterious blight and we have to help the farmers!" and "how do we help a gay prince from a neighboring kingdom fight against his father for the labor rights of the common people?"

The series is very Jewish, very queer, very feminist, and they're incredibly comforting. They make me believe in a better world, full of wonderful people who care about each other and fight to improve the world. It's a perfect series to read if you need something to feel hopeful about. The second book was even dedicated to a local labor rights organization in the author's city, which I think is pretty awesome.

The series gets mis-categorized as young adult fairly often, because it doesn't have explicit depictions sex or violence. It is not YA, though--Queen Shulamit is 20 years old in the first book, and by the fourth book, she and her wife have multiple children. YA is great, don't get me wrong, but this series is very much for adults!

Do yourself a favor and check it out if you're looking for diverse fantasy with a happy ending, where marginalized people get to love each other fully and triumph over difficult circumstances.

[omgpoindexter]

more nurseydex fics!!!

i’ve been doing my duty properly and reading some different nurseydex fics on ao3 lately 🫡 i tried to find some that are more recent, however i inevitably found some that are older but slipped through the cracks for me.

here are some of the ones i came across that you need to read! i might make this a thing again if anyone is interested, im sure y’all have been much more on the ball with reading nurseydex fics than i have over the years but i do love reccing <3

suddenly this summer it’s clear by @dessertwaffles

The summer before senior year, Nursey and Dex become closer than ever.

Or, Nursey and Dex's developing relationship, as told through their text messages.

i was absolutely grinning the entire way through this. it’s a texting fic, with images rather than plain text (so clever!) but their personalities are so strong and their interactions are just perfect! and you know i love a texting fic

getting used to letting go by @jennybeantime

Dex was supposed to have a fancy job in some city upon graduation, but his plans changed once his uncle died and left the family home in Maine to him. Without immediate obligations of their own, Nursey, Chowder and Farmer follow Dex up there to help him clear it out and clean it up.

this fic is BEAUTIFUL. if you haven’t read it then please do yourself a favour and do it now. it captures certain feelings and emotions so effortlessly and i felt like i was in a little maine bubble living this story with them. i can’t believe i missed this one before, please please read!!

got the feeling you’re the right thing after all by @bisexualnursey

Two and a half years after he breaks up with Dex to go to grad school across the country, Nursey runs into him again when he visits New York for the holidays. What starts as them just rekindling their friendship quickly turns into a whole other thing: a 100% no-strings-attached friends with benefits arrangement while they’re in the same city.

Which is totally chill because Nursey is definitely over Dex. He swears. He’s going back to California soon anyway.

i seriously CANNOT BELIEVE i never read this before but i think i was in my inactive era when this was posted. it’s just so perfect!!! all the feelings and interactions with not only dex and nursey but all the other characters, friends and family, they all felt so real and i loved them so much. i’ll be rereading this a LOT! you should too!!

here i am (leaving you clues) by @averteddeyes

Will loves Nursey. Nursey loves Will. Will isn’t really quite sure how to deal with it.

(Alternatively: Will learns acceptance through poetry, hesitant communication, and brightly colored sticky notes.)

this is really gorgeously written. angst warning, because ouch!!! also poetry as a love language, like a really good selection of poetry, i really enjoyed it and how it weaves into the story. and the bittydex friendship is so important to me!!!

volta by @plusoultres

volta (n.) a turning point or point of change in a poem, most commonly a sonnet.

Or, five times a poem doesn’t reach its intended recipient, and one time it does; five drafts, and one work completed; five turning points, and one ending.

the second fic was inspired by this one, and thank goodness it was because this one totally slipped through the cracks and i’m so glad i read it. their banter is just brilliant and i love the variation in medium, and the poetry is beautiful! i could quote lines from this but im not going to. just. read it

things got weird (when we made out) by @andtimestoodstill

Nursey is being stupid about this. He knows he’s being stupid.

super fun and really cute, i love it when these two are just being idiots. great inclusion of the other teammates too. read it for this line alone: “[You’re doing] That thing where you forget to look like you hate Dex and just stare at him like some Victorian lady who just saw a hot dude for the first time.” because it made me laugh out loud

things that go bump in the night by @smashthatlikebitty

The first time it happens, Dex rolls over and flings so many obscenities in Nursey’s direction that even his Grandmother would have to sit down — and she cursed so much at Dex’s cousin’s wedding that the whole family has been banned from that church ever since.

Nursey just stills in the dark, one shoe off. A languid, infuriating presence. “Chill, man.”

essentially all the times nursey’s clumsy ass wakes dex up in the night. oh how i love pretending these two roomied their way into a relationship! this is so cute, smiled all the way through

some things take two people to build by @cricketnationrise

“You are the single most dramatic person I have ever met,” Dex mutters, trying valiantly to hide his grin.

Or, 5 times Dex wishes their relationship was real +1 time he doesn't have to

this was so fun, yet again i love them being idiots!!! these two in new york city is so important to me. and i for one would LOVE to read the work party 5+1 fic. just saying

[olderthannetfic]

https://olderthannetfic.tumblr.com/post/741872748055396352/as-someone-who-loves-to-cook-very-international-a#notes

One thing I completely forgot to mention. For anyone who eats meat: A GOOD BUTCHER! Too many people really need to find a good butcher, because more than half the "bland" meat based dishes will remedy themselves if you find a good butcher. Especially if you manage to build a line of communication to get cuts of meat as fresh as possible, you'll get fresh and well tasting meat. There's a world of difference between a good butcher's cut piece of meat, and most of what you might find in a supermarket. You know how chicken is considered some of the driest and least flavourful meat? If you get a good butcher who knows some chicken farmers, you might actually be able to get some actual fat and flavourful chicken that gets to eat grass and whatever it can find outside, instead of the mass production farm chicken that get feed with pellets. So much can impact the flavour of meat. You'll also feel much more satisfied eating meat only a few times a week if those cuts actually taste good and filling, which can cut down on your meat consumption, obviously also paired with fresh and flavourful veggies and other sides. And so we don't forget it, same goes for a seafood market. Especially seafood honestly. Some seafood really only tastes good "out of the water, into the pan, onto your plate." If it takes too long, you'll end up with less than stellar tasting meat. You also get fish and seafood that way that hasn't been processed with chemicals and other additives to keep it fresh longer. Flash frozen is also a valid form to get fresh unprocessed fish, so don't be afraid if you hear the fish you're buying was flash frozen. And for vegetables and fruit: A good farmer's market, or at least a list of in-season veggies and fruits. Veggies and fruit will always taste best within their harvesting season. A farmer's market will often have more focus on flavour and actual aroma, rather than how supermarkets some times mostly focus on the looks of the produce. Some vegetables and fruits that you get at the supermarket might be watery and bland, or even dry/woody and stringy, while the farmer's market, mainly/especially for local produce will be a lot more flavourful and aromatic. Having the option to use veggies that actually taste like something really does a world of difference for your diet!

--

There's a place in the Bay Area where you can go select your chicken or duck and wait for them to slaughter it. Depressing, maybe, to have to look your dinner in the face before it's killed, but one meets an interesting cross-section of Chinese immigrants, people who want halal food, etc. Last time I was there, a little old lady told me I needed to make chicken soup immediately on returning home and not refrigerate the chicken, wait, or try to do dishes like roast chicken that require more fat because these particular chickens are too lean.

She said most people have never tasted a proper dish made from freshly killed chicken, at least around here.

[cypheroo]

The Stories never told before | Garroth Ro'Meave ~☆

"Hi! Could I request a Garroth x reader where the reader is a farmer who has Irene's relic? I think it would be great angst if Garroth, who regularly visited the farmer! Reader, stopped due to his religious trauma and uncomfortable-ness about being around the actual Irene as himself? I am SO ready for Garroth angst, but if this isn't something you're up to, that's perfectly okay! Thanks :))"

Word count : 2,008 words

Trigger warnings : heavy talks of religion and religious trauma. PLEASE read carefully!

AN : IM SORRY ANON the fic isn't exactly what you requested but i had a little bit of a different idea and wanted to run with it! I hope you can still enjoy it! ALSO THIS STORY KINDA TAKES PLACE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE DAIRIES SERIES! THAT WILL EXPLAIN SOME STUFF!

Working day in and day out for these crops was insanely hard, if it wasn't one thing it was something else, if it wasn't your shed door breaking off, it was an issue with the water supply. Today was no different, needing to pull yourself up out of bed, and force yourself to make breakfast before the sun was above the mountains. If only Irene could personally send someone to assist you in this farm. You were always a firm believer in irene and often made offerings to the old statue near your blueberry patch. Irene was an important part of your life, sure you weren't downright obsessed but you did what you were taught, your parents prayed to her and told you stories of her before bed.

You knew of the village not far from where your farm was, you just never made it a choice to visit, instead caring for your animals and crops. But it was this one day that it changed, instead of looking out to an empty forest your eyes were met with hers. Only after a panicked greeting were you able to meet who was the next lord of phoenix drop. She properly introduced herself as lady Aphmau. She was impressed with your work on this farm of yours and was intrigued to find out you weren't a part of her village, but merely lived around it. She offered you a nice deal, a good trade as apparently the farms in phoenix drop did not compare to yours. She wanted to know if she could offer protection, fabrics, and other goods in return for some of the crops you grew, your chickens eggs, and your cows milk.. To which you were surprised at the sudden offer, it sounded amazing, you didn't really need the protection but other goods sounded very tempting. You asked for a day or two to properly think the whole ordeal through. And she obliged with a smile, stating she'd be back in a few days. And there you were left, confused yet very happy over what had just happened.

Though she held her word it didn't explain why the next morning you saw what you could only assume was one of phoenix drops guards patrolling around your land. He was odd, yes he looked capable but he was wearing a full face helmet, hand staying on his sheathed sword and looking extremely alert.

Opening your door today almost made it feel like a repeat of yesterday, you called to the man and waved your arm for him to see, 

“Mornin!” 

“Morning”

“Any reason you're here today? Is lord aphmau with you today?”

“Nope, just doing the rounds this morning”

“Rounds? What do you mean?”

“Lord Aphmau requested we include this farm on are daily and nightly rounds”

You stood there confused, you didn't give her an answer and she was already sending guards to do ‘rounds’ here? That was… you didn't know if it was a good thing or not. Maybe she was trying to somehow force your hand? Maybe she already made her choice and just wanted to give you the illusion of choice? Maybe talking with her wasn't a good idea. Who knows! But before you could keep thinking the man let out a small huff, almost like a chuckle, 

“Tensions are high between us and some other kingdoms, she simply doesn't want anyone innocent to be hurt in some sort of cross fire.”

Those were his only words, your eyes widened softly and your face suddenly felt a little red, was it that easy to see your worry? You quickly nodded and smiled at him. Agreeing and brushing it off. You then cleared your throat and changed the topic, seeking to possibly learn more from this guard.

===

It was usually normal at this time to hear him knock at your door, to see that sweetheart tilt that head of his at you the moment your eyes met what you could only assume to be his. It had been months since that first interaction you both had. Since then you both had talked and joked more each morning and evening. You both talked and got along really well…you could even say you really really liked him. That's why it hurt so much when suddenly he stopped showing up at your doorstep, instead another guard would do the rounds on your farm, which you didn't mind, and at first maybe you thought he just got sick? But after the first week past you really didn't buy that excuse you made for him. What if something happened? What if he was really injured or something? After days of needing to think it through you made the choice to head into town the next morning to check up on him, it was only fair since he usually came to you.

So the next morning you packed some eggs and milk to drop off at the market and headed off to town, careful not to harm anything you had in your arms. You had visited phoenix drop a few times but never stayed too long, usually it was to drop off some of your goods to the market or pick up some of the goods you were entitled to. It was still difficult to walk around phoenix drop as it could be quite confusing with the turns you had to take in order to even be near the guard post, but eventually you were faced with it, after a direction or two from some of the people who actually lived there.

By the time you were there it was nearing midday, spending most of your morning trying to set everything up at the market and go sightseeing around the beauty that was phoenix drop. So you knocked softly once before you realized the door was not only unlocked but very much open and easily allowed anyone access to walk in if needed. So softly you asked for someone as the place looked a little empty. Only to be answered by the voice you knew all too well, garroths.

“[Name]? What do you need?” 

His voice was stern but still held a lot of care, usually you weren't in town so you could see why this would raise a few red flags. But you quickly smiled faintly, 

“I was worried for you! Since you…usually are the one doing the partrole on my farm” you attempted to explain yourself before Garroth nodded,

 "I'm no longer patrolling your area as of a week ago” he explained quite harshly. To which you were taken aback you made a confused and hurt face which seemed to annoy garroth some more, 

“I…have no interest being around someone who follows such religion” 

Those words hurt, considering who they were coming from and how important irene,her story were to you! And now hearing someone you held dear suddenly take offense to something you held so dear? You scoffed, and crossed your arms, 

“garroth what has gotten into you, ive…my personal beliefs have never had an effect on our relationship, you've never communicated that my beliefs hurt or cause harm to you.” your words were filled with confusion and fear, what could have caused this sort or response? You didn't wanna hear anymore from him, you quickly turned and began to walk home, not bothering to hear another word.

===

He promised himself to avoid religion, he promised to stray away from anything that would remind him of what he used to identify as normal. He didn't know why but the moment he found out of your fondness for lady irene he panicked, sure it sounds childish but he closed it off, he turned his back on that farm and that included you too. The only background he has with any kind of religion is horrible, he didn't know how it was meant to be anything else. He truly believed it was a space to hate and harm anyone you couldn't bare to see, so that night when you opened up to him about your upbringing and your appreciation to irene he couldn't handle it, he used all the power he could to suppress any memory he had of those memories but walking home that night was filled with flashbacks and his fears returning. Hurting him and causing him to black out for the rest of the evening. 

The next morning he sent someone else on the rounds to your farm, afraid those memories would force their way back into his mind if he saw you again. Yes it hurt, and yes you deserve an explanation behind it, but he wasn't thinking right and was almost always in a state of stress. This didn't help. So the day you wandered back into him he freaked out more, afraid of what he couldn't control, so yes his emotions got the better of him, his fears got the better of him. And the moment you turned your back on him, was the moment he seemed to notice how hurtful his words were, sure he needed to feel protected but did he really need to protect himself from you?

It was under the dark cloak of night that he found himself in front of your small home, this time not afraid or mad at something you had no part in., he pulled off his helmet and closed his eyes, fixing his hair with one hand and holding his helmet with the other. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. And once the old door creaked open and your face appeared he bowed his head, spouting apologies and a bad explanation for what he was thinking. It was when you shushed him and allowed him inside that he quieted down. You looked tired, he must've woken you up.

Once you both sat down on your couch he set his helmet down on the floor next to him, you had seen his face before, it was rare but you had, that's how comfortable you both were with each other. Before you could ask him anything he apologized again, this time he was slow when he explained in more detail than before how he was raised, a place where religion was more harmful then it could be good. A place he felt suffocated by fear and worry. How he had promised to leave all of it behind, how he was afraid when you admitted your adoration and love for Irene, in fear of his relationship being poisoned by that same ‘religion’ he was raised with.

The topic was dark and it was the most he had ever opened up to you, it all kept pouring out, and you listened to every part of it, not once stopping him. You allowed him to share why he thought he did the thing he did, why he was so afraid despite trusting you with even seeing his face, and knowing of his royal history, and as soon as you thought it was over he continued, apology after apology. And eventually when he quieted down you hummed ever so softly, leaning closer and wrapping your arms tightly around him, this time it was your turn to apologize, not just for this situation but for how he was taught what religion was. You assured him of being careful with your words. You promised that religion would never have a place in your friendship, that you loved him and only held irene close for yourself, and that he'd never have to have anything to do with it, you'd respect his history, you cared for him to much for him to be afraid of something you could help him work through.

And while your arms were still wrapped tightly around him, slowly his snaked around and hugged you back, closing his eyes and letting out a sigh of relief, and softly as quietly as he could make it he whispered the simple words, “i love you”

Only to be met with an “i love you too” from you.

[tomorrowsgardennc]

market update // october 5th

it do be pumpkin season 🎃 got this kratos variety pumpkin (perfect name) from a farmer friend and i sketched out a scary design on it during the slow parts of the day. hope to carve it later this week. future me might regret it.

today was actually a pretty busy day! sooooooooo many return customers from spring all realized i was back from summer break and in a new spot, and shared so many stories about their garden and what grew and what didn't.

one customer said he didn't expect a 100% germination rate on his okra, and he and one other customer "complained" that the okra from seed grew TOO fast!! one day would be tiny, and the next day is too big to harvest. i don't eat okra, nor harvest for produce because i know it has to be picked at *just the right time* and i have no idea when that is 🫣 so i just grow okra for seed only. i asked customers what variety of okra should i grow for seed next year. one said an okra that grows slower or smaller, another said purple okra. which i assume is the burgandy okra since it's a deep red, it can be kinda purple.

had people ask for garlic and onion, and i've been sold out for a couple weeks. might need to get more bulbs so i can grow even more and have even more more of those next year.

also had 2 people ask for parsley seeds. sadly all my parsley got eaten by swallowtail caterpillars in the spring, so never went to seed.

was telling a lot of people about overwintering pepper plants. we are getting lows in the 40s late this coming week, so pepper plants need to be dug up and brought inside. they are technically perennials if kept warm enough. i got a couple more i need to dig up this week myself.

another customer bought an eggplant transplant from me in the spring and she said it's the biggest eggplant plant she ever grew and still going strong. i only sold patio baby eggplants in the spring, and they're a dwarf variety so that's kinda funny.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: seed storage! lots of people were buying seeds that you can't start until spring, so they were asking how to make them last. short answer: cool, dark, dry place. ez pz. long answer: imma do a post soon of all the good options and why some options are bad.

i've also known for being the lady who sells these variety 6 packs. they're super popular and always sell out quick. i take 3 varieties, 2 each, and put them in a 6-cell like this. sometimes i have a theme, like in the spring i had a taco tuesday 6-pack (2 tomatoes, 2 hot peppers, 2 beans) or a pizza 6-pack (2 tomatoes, 2 basil, 2 sweet peppers). nobody else at the market does this, and customers love it because then they don't have to make a decision 😅 just an idea for others who are looking to sell transplants in the spring.

i sold out of my ground cherry produce within 30 minutes. last day i was offering them. guess i'm growing more next year 🫠 sold out of all but 3 of my kale plants by end of market. sold a good chunk of seeds too. hope my inventory lasts 🫠

not a lot of photos because of all the chit chats with customers, so enjoy this little fella until next week.

waved at 12 kids today, got 10 waves back in return. not bad, not bad.

[lavenderfluorite14]

A Taste of Plums | Astarion x Female!Tav

Chapter 5: Doubt

Summary: Tav tries to be a hero. Astarion is himself.

Chapter Warnings: PG-13. Tav has a panic attack but it happens from afar and is only vaguely described. Descriptions of gore and violence. Full tag list on AO3.

Tag List: DM me or reply to a chapter if you would like to be tagged in any updates!

1 . 2. 3. 4.

There was shouting up ahead. How fun. Perhaps there would be a fight, Astarion hoped. 

“Give us back Mayrina! We know you have our sister!”

Two loud angry men have cornered the doddering old granny from the Grove against an ancient tree. One braces a pitchfork threateningly at the unarmed old lady, the other clumsily brandishes a meat cleaver. It’s obvious to Astarion that these men are farmers, not seasoned highwaymen. Then the old woman spots Tav and the pleading begins.

“Petal! Please help me, I have no idea where their sister is,” she warbles feebly. It’s not enough to move Astarion, but Tav instantly jumps to the rescue. 

“Leave Auntie Ethel alone, she’d never hurt anyone!�� Tav declares. Ethel, that was her name. 

“She’s with the hag!” One of the men yells. He lunges for Tav and Astarion springs into action, plunging his dagger into the man’s side. Beautiful blood spurts across Astarion’s leather doublet and the man crumples before him with a cry. It was going to be a good day. 

“Thank you so much sweetness,” Auntie Ethel coos once the two men lay dead before her. “They were looking for their sister, Mayrina, the poor girl who’s-“ she pauses for a moment, then her face splits into a crooked grin. “-The poor girl who’s staying with me.” Tav’s heartbeat picks up, hammering in her chest. Behind her, Gale, Shadowheart, and Astarion all exchange a dark look. 

“Do stop by my house. I’d love to thank you proper.” Auntie Ethel’s feline grin splits even wider as she vanishes in a puff of foul green smoke. Tav whirls around, immediately locking eyes with Astarion. 

“Holy shit. Auntie Ethel really is a hag, isn’t she?” Tav’s eyes are wide, her voice frantic. Astarion shrugs.

“I don’t spend a lot of time around old ladies. I take it this isn’t normal?” Astarion says. Shadowheart rolls her eyes. 

“No, it’s not normal to disappear in a puff of smoke after tricking a group of adventurers into killing your enemies!” Gale shoots back. 

“We just killed innocent men.” The color drains from Tav’s face as her body begins to tremble. “I need to sit down,” she says. Gods below. They were two strangers who attacked them. There are worse crimes. Astarion sighs and crosses his arms as Tav leans against a tree, trying to collect herself. This was a far cry from the girl who had fearlessly insisted they investigate a desiccated tomb, who had threatened Mizora until she left their camp in a blaze of flame, who had helped Lae’Zel bully a tiefling just yesterday. After a moment Gale follows her and begins speaking to her in a low, comforting tone. Shadowheart and Astarion exchange another look.

“Here I thought Tav was proving to be capable,” Shadowheart says to him in Elvish.

“As was I. She better pull herself together soon or I’m going back to camp,” he returns.

“Really? You’d abandon your meal so quickly?” Shadowheart gives him yet another withering side-eye.

“Of course not. I still need her,” he replies under his breath. The soft golden light of a Calm Emotions spell envelops them and they turn towards Tav, whose heartbeat is slowly returning to its resting rate. She straightens up and makes her way back towards them, Gale in tow.

“I’m sorry about that, everyone. I made a bad call,” she admits. Her face is still flushed with shame.

“The old woman is clearly a hag of some kind. Hag deals are notoriously deceptive and unfair, but even so, it could be worth listening to what Ethel has to say about our parasites,” Gale interjects. 

“We’ve come all this way. Might as well,” Shadowheart agrees, speaking in Common again. 

“She sounds powerful, too,” Astarion adds, also in Common.

“And Mayrina is with her,” Tav says. Astarion shoots her an annoyed look. “I’m not saying we have to help her, I’m just saying we should check it out,” she explains. 

“She’s ‘staying with Ethel’ because she almost certainly made a deal with her,” Astarion counters. “Mayrina is exactly where she wants to be.”

“Maybe. But let’s see for ourselves,” Tav urges. Astarion frowns, but it isn’t worth the fight. She will see that he’s right when they get to Ethel’s house. 

~

They pick their way through the sunny marsh in silence. Tav leads the way, followed by Shadowheart, then Gale, and finally Astarion, who brings up the rear. Tav’s kindness had served him well so far, but as Astarion trudges through the sticky, sucking mud he decides that Tav’s kindness is getting out of hand. He doesn’t like how willingly she extends her kindness to others. It makes her weak, easy to use. So far that had worked to his advantage, but would they be running after every lost soul they met on their travels? At least the hag could help them. What could this Mayrina do? Unless she knows how to control ilithid parasites or she has experience killing powerful vampire lords, Astarion doesn’t care what happens to her. 

Maybe he was wasting his time with Tav. Maybe she didn’t know what she was doing after all. Maybe her sweet, soft heart would only get her killed. Or worse, get him killed. He cozies up to Gale, who has hiked his robe up around his knees to avoid the muddy bog. 

“I’m enjoying our long walks together, aren’t you, Gale?” Astarion says warmly, lowering his voice to a sultry hum. Gale looks over at him, confusion written plainly across his face.

“I am. In silence,” Gale says firmly. Astarion rolls his eyes. Wizards. Tav looks back at them and Astarion sees a clear flash of hurt flicker across her face. His stomach plummets and he feels a sharp stab of hatred for himself, but this is what he has to do. If Tav is too weak to handle this excursion, if she’s too busy fussing over strangers to advance his interests, then he will find someone who will. It doesn’t matter how nice she’s been to him. Or how well they get on. His literal skin is on the line. Unbidden, his mind conjures an image of what Cazador will do to him once he has him again and he grips the handles of his daggers until it hurts. Never again. 

Despite the bright, warm sunlight the wetland is eerie. There’s a marked stillness about everything that makes the hairs on the back of his neck prickle and stand. Astarion realizes that it’s completely silent: there isn’t a single note of birdsong, not a hint of animal life. A soft breeze ruffles his curls and he smells it: fresh blood.

“What’s that?” Shadowheart points to something up ahead just beyond a wave of marsh grass. Tav crests the small hill and stops dead.

Blood drenches the remains of what must have been a quaint little camp. The bedrolls are ruined, the linens stained beyond repair. The fire has long since guttered out, half-cooked sausages smoldering on the coals. Uneaten food and abandoned packs sit ripe for the taking amidst slick pools of coagulating blood. Curiously, there isn’t a single carcass to be seen. Tav picks her way gingerly through the mess, picking out a blood spattered lute from the wreckage.

“Care to play us a song?” Shadowheart jokes. Tav gives the instrument an idle strum and winces. “Not like this, it’s out of tune,” she quips. She slips the bloody lute into her pack and turns away, rifling through the soiled supplies. They silently join her despite the grisly scene. Times are hard and supplies are thin.

“What do you think did this?” Tav asks lightly. She’s trying to sound calm, but Astarion can hear the subtle strain in her voice. She’s scared.

“I don’t know,” Gale answers as he pockets some cheese. “But we shouldn’t stick around to find out.” They all murmur in agreement and quickly move on, picking a new path through the swamp. Whatever it was, it wasted all that lovely blood. 

For a while there is only the sticky slosh of their sodden footsteps through the muck. Astarion is sure his boots are ruined by now. Tav better buy him new ones. Then, the soft baa baaing of sheep reaches them. Sheep? In a swamp? The echoes bounce across the water in bright, distorted peals. Tav pivots them towards the sound.

The sheep are strange little creatures that toddle oddly over the grass. They almost seem sick. As Tav approaches them she bleats a loud, tremulous cry. One sheep baas back, a clumsy retort. Tav’s face stiffens and then reality as they know it melts before their very eyes. 

Rot assaults their nostrils as the grass beneath them withers and dies, sinking into thick, black muck. Warped, petrified trees spring from the ground to pierce the endless sky, which leeches to a stony gray. Fog begins to roll in, settling into an ominous haze that obscures what little they can still see. And the dumb faces of the sheep crack and splinter apart, revealing the hateful eyes of ravenous redcaps.

No one moves. The fey glares at Tav, fangs bared. Its companions size them up them but make no motion to attack. Tav takes a deep breath. 

“BAA!” She yells, her cry echoing impotently throughout the bog. 

The redcap’s face contorts. “Baa,” it growls back with barely concealed animosity. Tav strides confidently past the creatures and they all follow close behind her, Astarion giggling all the way. 

Once they are out of sight Tav’s self-assured composure collapses and she whirls to face them. “You saw that too, right?” She whispers, gesturing to the mire. 

“Oh yes, her spell is well and truly broken now,” Gale says. “A fancy bit of illusion magic that falls apart at the slightest inspection.”

“Almost like she wants it to,” Astarion says. 

“It’s an intimidation tactic. Lure in the fools but scare away those smart enough to see through her,” Shadowheart observes. 

“So which are we?” Gale asks.

“We’ve come too far to turn back now,” Tav says. Her brow is set, her jaw is firm. But her eyes dart about the swamp as if looking for an escape. “Unless you want to confront those redcaps again.”

“Then by all means, lead the way, Oh Fearless Leader.” Astarion gives her a mock bow and gestures forward with a flourish. Tav curtsies back, bending deeply at the knees and twirling imaginary skirts. But she swiftly brushes past him, her sweet heart rabbiting in her chest.

~

“Please Ethel, I just can’t eat anymore!”

Mayrina’s begging is getting on his nerves. Usually he likes it when someone other than him is forced to beg, but Mayrina’s whining is neither pretty nor amusing. It’s just pathetic. What else did she expect? She made her bed and now she has to lie in it. 

Tav seems to disagree. “You’re hurting her,” she says. “Do you treat all your guests like this?”

“She’s eating for two,” Ethel says contemptuously, her grandmotherly mask slipping. “But you should watch your tone, sweetie. That worm isn’t going to remove itself.” The threat is there, sharp and pointed. Mayrina snuffles loudly, drying her eyes on a handkerchief. Her hand rests protectively on her pregnant stomach. Tav eyes her, not completely cowed. 

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Tav asks Mayrina gently.

“Busybodies are not welcome here. I’ll talk about your wriggler, but that’s it. Last warning,” Ethel interrupts. Something in the atmosphere drops and Astarion can feel the vibrating hum of wild magic in his fangs.

“She is a pregnant lady in distress. We can’t just stand by and pretend she’s not here!” Gale insists, his quiet fury palpable.

“You’re making it worse for her,” Astarion hisses. Auntie Ethel will punish Mayrina for their insolence. He knows the signs. “Let’s not make trouble for strangers. We have our own problems.”  Tav hesitates, considering his words. 

“Can you really remove it?” Tav asks Ethel.

“Quicker than you can say ‘yes Auntie.’ What do you say?”

“That depends on the price.”

“And that depends on the job. But I like you, petal. For you?” Auntie Ethel pauses, pretending to think. “I’ll take one of your pretty little peepers.” 

Tav recoils in horror. “You want one of my EYES?”

“Don’t be precious. You have two, don’t’cha?”

“Absolutely not! The deal is off,” Tav says. Astarion, Gale, and Shadowheart all breathe a collective sigh of relief.

“Please Auntie, can I just-“ Auntie Ethel gives an irritated wave of her hand and Mayrina vanishes in a flash of green. 

“That brat has had enough pampering for one day,” Ethel says scornfully. “Well then. Best be on your way now if there’s nothing I can do for you. But you know where to find me if you change your mind.” The old woman smiles her mean, fey smile as she shows them the door.

“That was a complete waste of time.” Astarion whines as they descend the stairs to Ethel’s house. “Can we go now?”

“Mayrina is still in there,” Tav says. “We can’t just leave her to the mercy of a hag.”

“I agree,” Gale says. “If that’s how she treats Mayrina in front of guests, then Auntie Ethel must be something truly special in private.”

“This place gives me the creeps. Whatever we do, let’s just wrap up our business here quickly,” Shadowheart says primly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Unless one of you wants to trade an eye for a dubious cure.” No one seems particularly keen.

“Darling,” Astarion begins, “I know you want to play hero like in one of your lovely little songs, but this is none of our business. The girl’s already made her deal.” Tav chews her lip.

“I know, but she’s made a bad one. Auntie Ethel is clearly hurting her. I can’t just walk away without trying to do something about it.”

“And what do you intend to do exactly? Kill a hag?” Astarion scoffs. On second thought, that might be pretty fun.

“I don’t know! Maybe, if it comes to that.” Tav swallows. “Maybe we can make another bargain for her or something. But if we leave now then we leave Mayrina to her horrible fate, a fate which we accidentally sealed.” She pauses, takes a deep breath, then continues. “We killed her brothers. We murdered innocents who were just trying to protect their sister. They may have been the only family she has. If we don’t intervene now, then no one will. We owe it to them and we owe it to her to help.” Astarion scowls.

No one had helped him. No one had intervened for him. His family, his friends, his colleagues, and his lovers had all left him to rot. No one had stopped Cazador from doing whatever he had pleased with him. Why did Mayrina, a foolish little stranger, deserve mercy and not Astarion? 

“I agree with Tav. We can’t simply turn aside,” Gale says. 

“As our leader commands then,” Astarion sneers as they all trudge back up the rickety stairs to Ethel’s home.

~

Astarion had been in worse places than Auntie Ethel’s Tea House, but not many. Auntie Ethel was a woman who delighted in tormenting people, who offered them hope, then twisted her help into a grotesque punishment for her own sick amusement. Astarion knew her type well. 

The depths beyond Ethel’s fireplace were both a prison and a torture chamber, where Auntie Ethel kept her brutalized victims suspended in magical bonds. Tav reviewed each cell with her characteristic thoroughness, poking around where she definitely should not. Gale’s eyes roamed Ethel’s chamber of horrors with a grim, clinical eye that belied a deep fascination with her magic. Shadowheart remained quiet, silently cataloguing Ethel’s creations with disgust. However, there were moments where Astarion thought she almost seemed impressed. 

But Astarion was right: there was nothing they could do for the hag’s victims. Tav tried to approach the only conscious victim, an elf, who was huddled in a corner whispering to himself. Tav bent down next to him, speaking sweetly in a soft tone. “Mindflayer!!” He shrieked, curling in on himself in an inconsolable ball. Astarion wanted to feel smug but he only felt a hollow emptiness as they left his elven kin quaking in the mud.

They followed the grotto, pushing past Ethel’s magic door and into a fetid, overgrown tunnel that spiraled into stinking depths. Clouds of poisonous fumes lingered in the cavern, choking them as they carefully picked their way forward. Eventually the tunnel opened up into a subterranean cave that shimmered with the light of bioluminescent stalagmites. Thick, twisted roots wound their way throughout the cave. Above them, a rotten cage hung suspended over a black abyss. Inside, Mayrina hiccuped and sobbed.

“You come into my home, interfere with my business, and now have the gall to barge into my private playhouse?” Auntie Ethel shrieks, materializing seamlessly out of the shadows. The sweet grandmother dissolves and a haggard, spindly witch lurches out of the darkness in her place. Her mouth gapes and yawns, her numerous teeth shining like terrible needles. “I’ll rip your spine out your arsehole!” She screams. Tav shoots Astarion a look and he nocks an arrow in his bow. “I’ll spice your blood to make my stew!” He pulls back the drawstring. “I’ll-" He lets the arrow fly and it strikes true, skewering Ethel where she stands. 

“You little shits!” She snarls, bilious blood gushing from her wound. The hag unravels and splits into dust. How easy, Astarion thinks.

“You want the girl so bad, take her!” A disembodied voice screeches as Mayrina's cage explodes in flame. Four new hags rematerialize from the darkness, each one of perfect copy of Auntie Ethel's hideous form.

“We have to act fast!” Shadowheart cries. Gale conjures a deluge of water, quenching the flames as a rush of black smoke fills the cave. They all cough and hack, momentarily blinded. Ethel strikes, clawing Gale across his abdomen. A sour, noxious scent fills Astarion’s nostrils as the wizard bleeds. Gale gives an agonizing cry, but rebounds quickly with a hard rap of his staff to the hag’s skull. The illusion unravels and splits, dematerializing back into the smoke. 

Meanwhile Astarion crouches down, easily blending into the smog. “Got some rat still stuck in your teeth, slave,” the witch whispers in his ear, her breath warm and rancid on his face. Ethel’s taunt hits him through his heart and he whirls around furiously, jabbing his dagger into any flesh he can. The mirage simply vanishes with an ugly chuckle. 

“There she is!” Shadowheart points across the chasm, unleashing a bolt of radiant magic into the air. This time Shadowheart strikes true and Ethel is sent reeling across the mossy floor. 

“Pretty clever, but not clever enough,” Ethel snarls. She gestures with her claw and suddenly Mayrina is cowering before them, transported from her wet cage. Her face warps and splits into multiple copies, an awful kaleidoscope of flesh. Each Mayrina cries and begs them not her hurt her. 

“I’m the real Mayrina!” One sobs. 

“Don’t listen to her, I am!” Another one chokes out.

“Mouthier than an arse and twice as full of shite,” Tav bellows. Ethel’s mask slides away as she recoils from Tav’s mockery. The real Mayrina collapses to the ground in a fit of hacking sobs. Astarion lunges towards the hag, putting his full weight behind his dagger as he plunges it into her stomach. 

“You’re one thirsty night away from betraying everyone!” She screams, ripping Astarion off of her. Astarion stumbles back and falls to the ground, his daggers clattering out of reach. Her words fill him with a torrent of awful emotions: rage, shame, despair, recognition. If he unpacks it all now he may die. 

Gale blasts the witch with Magic Missile and she severs herself again into three more copies, the real Ethel dissipating into invisibility. Suddenly Astarion’s limbs wrench themselves outwards of their own accord, locking him into place. He tries to fight it, but he’s trapped within the grip of a Hold Person spell, expertly cast by one of the hag’s shadows. He watches in frozen horror as another shoves Gale, who teeters on the brink of the pit. Shadowheart hurls flame at yet another, missing the hag by centimeters. A hag lunges at Tav, rending her open with its wicked claws. The enticing smell of Tav’s spilt blood fills his senses and he thrashes desperately in his magical bonds. He’s pathetic, helpless to do anything as they’re all slaughtered. 

Gale rallies himself and casts another round of Magic Missile, aiming his projectiles towards each individual apparition. The phantoms all shatter on impact, releasing Astarion from his magical bonds. He falls to his feet, snatching up his knives. 

Clutching her bleeding side, Tav pivots sharply and casts Faerie Fire, throwing the spell as widely as she can. The pink light of the ring illuminates Ethel’s hideous face, her invisibility spell broken. Shadowheart raises her hands for the coup de grace, necrotic energy sizzling in her fists. 

“Wait, lovelies,” Ethel gasps. “Killing me is a waste of time. I’ll find a way to return. Always have, always will.” She licks her thin lips. “But it’s unpleasant. So let’s be civil about this. After all, I have something you want.”

“Hah!” Tav barks a laugh. “This should be good.”

“Just wait until you hear my offer,” Auntie Ethel purrs. “Let me leave with the girl and her babe and I will give you power!” Her claws begin to shine with the sickly green glow of her magic. Now Ethel has Astarion’s full attention. “You want to be smarter?” She looks at Gale. “Wiser?” She turns pointedly to Shadowheart. “More dexterous?” She gestures to Astarion. “More charismatic? Done! It your choice, sweetness.” Well, well, well, what a delicious turn of events. 

“If you want your worthless little life, you’ll give me everything,” Tav orders, her voice like sharpened steel. “I want the girl and the power.” She advances on the hag, placing the blade of her rapier against Ethel’s bobbing throat. The air crackles with psychic energy, wreathing Tav in a vicious violet halo. 

“You greedy little shite,” Ethel sneers, sizing her up. There’s a moment of terrible stillness. 

“Fine.” 

Ethel reaches up to her oily scalp. There’s a wretched tearing sound and the hag hurls a chunk of something wet and hairy at Tav’s feet. It glistens in the muck. 

“But what about our deal? What about my husband?” Mayrina pleads. Her bloodshot eyes are ringed with smeared kohl.

“Deals off you dumb cow! And you have this one,” Auntie Ethel jerks a thumb at Tav, “to thank for it.” Mayrina rounds on Tav, rage flashing in her eyes. “But not to worry,” Ethel continues, “I’ll find another one just as plump and ripe. People always need lotions and potions,” she smiles wickedly.

“Good luck, auntie.” Tav jeers.

“Luck has nothing to do with it.” She gestures to the sickening clump of skin, “It’s only the deal that counts,” Ethel replies. “Bye, bye, petal. I’ll not soon forget this,” she threatens ominously. Ethel disappears for good in a flash of foul green light. 

Tav bends down and plucks the slimy piece of hag scalp from the cave floor. Astarion considers her, regarding her with dark appraisal. She’s soft, but she has an appreciation for power and an eye for opportunity. Potential. He remembers how fascinated she had been with the Necromancy of Thay. Maybe she just needs some of his guidance. Some shaping. Together, they could take so much more than magical trinkets. Perhaps this hadn’t been a waste after all. 

“You miserable bitch!” Mayrina howls, rounding on them all. “You’ve ruined it! You’ve ruined everything!”

“We saved you from a hag!” Tav yells back, incredulous. “She was mistreating you, we all saw it! Aren’t you happy to be free again?”

“I don’t want to be free! I want my husband back, alive and well!” Mayrina wails. 

“Ethel was never going to help you. I’m sorry Mayrina, but it’s the truth,” Tav replies adamantly.

“Yes she was! Soon my child would have been born and this nightmare would have been over!”

“I’m sorry, your child? You were going to give your baby to the hag?”

“Don’t you dare judge me!” Mayrina hisses. “I have nothing. My baby would have been raised in rags. This is the nicest dress I own.” She gestures to her filthy emerald shift. “Ethel would have given my child a good life. Taught them magic, even! More than I could have done.” Mayrina leans against a gnarled root, sagging in defeat and despair. She places a hand on her abdomen, rubbing soothing circles on her swollen stomach. She seems so young. 

“No she wouldn’t have, Mayrina. Hags never truly give you what they promise.”

“I didn’t bloody ask you!” Mayrina shouts, incensed once more. “Now I’ll never see my husband again. And I’ll have to drag his coffin and our baby back to our empty house through the mud all by myself! I hope you’re fucking happy!” Mayrina storms away, disappearing with her unborn child into the overgrown tunnel and up into the world. 

“Did we do the right thing, or did we just ruin that woman’s already miserable life?” Tav asks. She’s caked in dirt and blood. She doesn’t seem proud or heroic, she just seems tired. 

“Well, what’s done is done,” Astarion offers. “There’s no point dwelling on things you can’t change now.” 

Tav sighs. Astarion knows that she feels responsible for this mess, but in his experience it’s better to simply not reflect on things. If you don’t reflect, you don’t have to feel.

“Grief can be a bitter wound. It’s too fresh now, but once Mayrina has time and space to think she’ll see the great service you did for her,” Gale says soothingly. “With our help, of course.” Gale doesn’t wink, but Astarion can feel it in his smug voice. Tav smiles weakly back at Gale and Astarion almost pushes him into the chasm himself.

“It’s true. Most don’t see loss as a gift at first. But in time, those that accept my Lady’s blessings will find comfort in her embrace,” Shadowheart recites.

“Thank you, Shadowheart,” Tav sighs. Shadowheart says her lines dutifully but Astarion can see, perhaps clearer than the others, that her eyes are far away. 

“Besides,” Astarion chimes back in. “Just look at the delicious little snack you have now.” Lice skitters across the scalp, disappearing into the dirty hair. 

“Yummy,” Tav says flatly. 

“Unless of course, you’d rather give it to me?” Astarion pouts playfully. He’s joking, but he would also snatch the horrible scalp up in a heartbeat. 

Tav bumps him with her hip. “No way, it’s mine! Go find your own,” she laughs. He supposes it was worth a shot. 

~

Even the putrid air from the foul swamp seems fresh after Ethel’s lair. Everyone is exhausted and covered in refuse. All of them need at least two baths. They begin the long walk back to camp when a particularly disgusting wave of air hits them. Everyone recoils, but Astarion recognizes the awful smell: ironvine. A monster hunter is nearby. His lip curls. A Gur.

~

Chapter 6: Found

[sugar-coated-prat-dragon]

Title: Morgana was trained in sword fighting by the knights

Episode: “The Moment of Truth” questions #2

Questions by @tansyuduri

Tagging: @miyriu

Books used for reference: Lancelot and Guinevere book, The Death of Arthur, Magic Begins, and Merlin Annual 2010

Question: Morgana knows how to fight. So I think we need to ask how she was trained? Did Arthur practice with her?

My answer: Morgana was trained by the knights of Camelot. ⚔️ (Source: Lancelot and Guinevere book)

Arthur also noted (at least to himself) that Morgana was as skilled as any knight when they fought against the raiders attacking Ealdor (Source: Merlin Annual 2010)

Book description:

The bandit was trying to draw his sword, but was unskilled - so unlike the Knights of Camelot who had taught Morgana how to wield a sword effectively.

The bandit had to look down at what he was doing, and thus never even saw Morgana's flashing blade as it bit into his chest.

He and his makeshift army fought valiantly against the raiders to begin with; Morgana was as skilled as any knight and even Merlin defeated his first opponent.

Question: Do bandits just ignore peasants, if they don't look like they have anything of value on them? But if knights and rich people are around they attack?

I think that's the only explanation for how safe roads in Merlin seem to be for peasants without valuables and how dangerous they are for literally everyone else?

My answer: Gwen’s first thought on the pilgrimage to Lady Morgana’s fathers grave was that they were being attacked by people intending to fleece rich travelers of their money and possessions.

Kendrick specifically mentioned to Hengist that the traveling party of Morgana and her entourage would likley have money and fine silk with them.

Book description:

Gwen was distraught. Bad enough if this had been a botched attempt by poor farmers or itinerant rogues to fleece rich travellers of their money and possessions. But this was no random attack, and the bandits knew exactly what they were doing.

This had been their aim all along - to kidnap Morgana.

'And you suggest we rob the party of their clothing and coin?'

*Camelot, and the lady, are wealthy indeed. I cannot believe they would travel without means of payment and with enough fine silk and—

'I do not care for silk,' bellowed Hengist, striding towards Kendrick, who backed away, terrified.

Question: Chastity does not seem as big a deal. Woman can be alone with men without an escort?

Olaf's behavior toward Vivian is viewed as excessive as well. However, I don't think most noble women have sex before marriage?

My answer: Kendrick made a point of mentally comparing Morgana (with her noble heritage), to be so unlike the filthy wenches and wanton women he normally encountered.

Later in the “Lancelot and Guinevere” book, it was mentioned the majority of the woman in Hengist’s stronghold were slaves/prostitutes and therefore logically they were likely lower-born woman who would be easy prey to bandits.

Therefore, it makes sense that a woman with a lower status wouldn’t need to be escorted places in the same way that someone of higher-breeding would be and their ‘purity’ would be of little concern to anyone but their immediate family.

Especially, since a lower born woman’s virginity wouldn’t be too highly considered, unless she was trying to marry into a higher status.

Book description:

Morgana's proud jaw and strong cheekbones reminded Kendrick of the woman's noble heritage.

Even so, Kendrick let his eyes linger on his captive - such a pretty creature, so unlike the filthy wenches and wanton women he normally came across.

Leaning over the chair was a bedraggled young woman, dressed in rags and nervously holding a pitcher of ale. And in the throne sat Hengist.

The women - slaves at best - simply moved from foot to foot in a crushed, desultory fashion, but it seemed to amuse Hengist all the same.

Question: How did the citizens of Ealdor generally regard Merlin?

My answer: Although Merlin does mention having dealt with the arrogant ‘type’ back in Ealdor, who thought that being good looking and skilful meant they could do whatever they liked.

Merlin also mentioned that several years ago, some of the men from his village traveled to the tournament in Camelot.

Yet, he himself didn’t go because he was too young and his mother was worried about him revealing his magic. 🪄

So despite the issues Merlin mentioned, it still seems to imply that the villagers didn’t really dislike him (or outright hate him), because otherwise he wouldn’t have considered going to Camelot with them.

It seems more like Merlin was just rather isolated (due to having to hide his magic) and wasn’t particularly close with any of them, due to that fear of discovery.

Book description: In the “Valiant” book, Merlin remembered a day several years ago when some of the men from his village had decided that they would come to the tournament.

Merlin had been too young to join them at the time, not that his mother would have let him go anyway - she was always too worried that he might inadvertently reveal his gift in a moment of excitement. He recalled watching the men set off along the road to Camelot, laughing and teasing each other.

He had been sad at the time.

Not about missing the tournament itself - Merlin had never seen the point of watching grown men doing their level best to try and injure each other - but about not seeing Camelot. Now, only a short time later, here he was living in the castle itself.

2nd book description: In the “The Death of Arthur” book, Merlin recalled how much she'd feared for his future, worried that other people in their village might discover his gifts.

That's why she'd sent him away, to live with Gaius where she thought he would be safe.

3rd book: In “Magic Begins” book….

Merlin watched with a frown as the boy scurried back and forth across the yard, the young knight throwing dagger after dagger at him - hitting the target spot-on every time.

He would, of course. Merlin knew the type - even back in Ealdor there had been people like that, who thought that being good looking and skilful meant they could do whatever they liked. All the girls fancied them too.

[dearabby1990]

Chapter 25: A night to remember

You & Gareth know each other but not as well as him & Eddie know each other even though you’ve both known each other since you were little kids being the Tagalog to your aunt & cousins vacations. But you did have fun together for the short days youd all be in the same cabin playing board flashlight tag in the evening hours & making up dances to the songs you could tune in one the very old radio in the den so here & now as teenagers when you both here the man playing the music start “come on Eileen” a song you your cousin & gareth had a whole routine to blast through the speakers of the gym you look up at him with a shit eating grin “hey do you still remember all the steps?” He could help but laugh “ohhh man yeahhh I do… are you sure you want to we don’t have to if you don’t wanna” you scoffed “and miss the opportunity to relive old times with hopefully a new best friend?” You snatch his hand spinning him away from you then back into your side until you both shew everyone away for a little space as everyone from your table including Eddie look in amusement Eddie can’t stop chuckling at the two of you really get into it. Gareth improvising a bit for a little flare to show off to the jocks and everyone else spinning you around the floor both showing off your over decade old still fun dance routine wishing your cousin was here to get in on the fun you both finish in a fit of giggles returning to the table faces tomato red. Eddie stands up “what in the fuck that was… shut that was fuckin great but where the hell did you two take a dance class at?!” You both laughed shaking your heads filling Eddie in on your old tradition as he seems highly amused that you could even get his best friend to losen up like that especially in public. Next on your list was Jeff as you finish off a quick glass of water you extended your hand to him “come on handsome your turn” he looked at Eddie then you “go on Jeff don’t leave the lady waiting” Jeff smiles as he takes your hand heading out to the floor you turn back at eddie & he shoots you a wink. Eddie Murphy's “Party all the time” playing through vibrating through the room jeff was a very skilled dancer he pop locked and did the worm for you before doing imitations of Michael Jackson you were in a fit of giggles he took your hand showing you a few moves spinning & dipping you all over the place “thank you for this by the way!” He shouts over the music “No need to thank me I wanted to have fun with you guys so we can get to know each other better besides anyone who’s a friend of Eddie’s is a friend of mine!” You say beaming at him he laughs the song changes to something slower as you & Jeff change pace swaying together filling each other in on you & his favorite things you both sure do have a lot in common you now definitely have a music store buddy now & someone to drag to the farmers market. Heading back freak knowing he’s up next he stands & gives you a old fashioned bow with his hand out sweet child of mine blasting you both air guitaring together & having a ball Eddie having fun with the other boys at the table stealing glances at you smiling prideful. Freak needing a break heads back over & you finally get to your love sweating like crazy giggling grabbing his hands as you sit to collect yourself “you’re the best you know that?” He rubs his thumb across your knuckles your cheeks were hot before but now they’re on fire “I don’t know what I did to deserve you but I’m happy you here… with me” you tug him closer “you deserve everything great Ed & im happy I’m here with you too thanks for bringing me” you nuzzle into his neck “anytime princess if I could have you every second of the day I’d die a happy man” he tugs you up to have his time on the dance floor as you seriously take in what he just said but also worry if you jump to quickly & reply with what your heart wants you to say you fear it’d scare him off even though you really wouldn’t mind having him live with you you think maybe it’s too soon to speak on this topic & the words die in your throat as you just smile at him swaying.

[ayyyyysexual]

suggestion as someone who knows the Bare Minimum about slay the princess, hear me out:

gempearl au?

I wrote all this ages ago and it was just sat in my drafts for forever so here y'all go:

Oh my god glow dont make me think about this bc ill actually start going feral.

THE LOOPING COULD BE SO INTERESTING WITH GEM'S CANONICAL DIMENSION HOPPING...

Okay. Okay. In depth thoughtd below the cut but it will be both 1. Spoilery 2. Lowkey incomprehensible if you dont know much about the game LMAO

First off, I think Cleo would be the narrator. Why, you ask? Because its MY au and I get to put my blorbos where i want. But if im being fr then its bc she has i think the perfect combo of exhausted britishness, willingness to manipulate and lie, and overall just the Vibe to fit the narrator. Bonus points if they're a fractured version of time witch cleo from WCSMP.

And then... THE VOICES. THIS IS WHAT I IMMEDIATELY SNAG ON. Would the voices be different people, or potentially just alternate versions of Gem? Also yes ive decided gem is the protag and pearl is the princess but thats bc my original knee jerk reaction was "gem is the princess (esmp2 gem was a fave) and pearl is the hero" but then i thought harder and went waittt i love shapeshifter pearl and dimension hopper gem. I can work with that.

Anyway yeah im thinking different people for the voices, but I'd probably give gem her own internal dialogue alongside it bc it'd be less interesting if she was just the vehicle for the plot in this au. I'll probably have her be both the actual 'hero' character and voice of the hero, for simplicity.

The first ones to come to mind are false as the voice of the paranoid, because she is my #1 paranoia rep i love her, and grian as voice of the contrarian bc he fucking would.

Potentially joel as voice of the cheated, or stubborn? If we do bring wcsmp elements in then prismarina would make a great voice of the cheated too LMAO. So, Joel for voice of the stubborn

Scar is Very voice of the opportunist. And obviously the witch is double life pearl. Which is so perfect?? Like goddamn???? Especially bc i love dl sunflower duo. AND THE INTERNAL DIALOGUE VIBE WOULD BE ALMOST LIKE IF GEM AND SCAR WERE ALLIED AGAINST PEARL AT THE END OF SECRET LIFE

Broken is hard to pick a voice for, maybe mumbo? but the tower would Definitely lean into Santa Perla and the farmer god esmp2 stuff. I could see him being like "oh well it would probably be for the best if we just listen to the giant god lady who could crush us, right?"

Hunted... I was unsure for a while but maybe Shrub? Wolf spirit shrub would be rlly fun for that. And ig the beast would be some form of alien s9 pearl? OR we could lean into the more monstery salmon/siren/merfolk s10 pearl stuff

Cold could be Cub, i dont know much about him but he seems very chill and pragmatic enough for me to push to the extreme here

Skeptic... My mind has gone entirely blank for this one... ETHO MAYBE i can see etho for this. I have no idea what pearl version would work for the prisoner though

Smitten....... maybe shelby? Specifically great witch Shelby. Idk i think her whole vibe around katherine could be translated into what we need here. plus i love giving crumbs to yuri rarepairs- OR i could lean into santa perla again here and have it as sausage kinda worshipping an idealised person of the past pearl he loved (though not romantically, to me at least), which could work for a damsel variant?

anyway i dont wanna get Super into the major spoilers for stp so i wont elaborate much further, but goddd im so normal about this concept

[roseeycreates-blog]

Hey, wait a sec! I thought Farmer AU was supposed to be a Linzin endgame? Why is there a wedding announcement for Tenzin and Pema? 😭😭😭

Hi, anon~

OMG, thank you for the ask! So sorry about the wedding announcement—I already covered it in this other ask.

Here's the continuation.

Aang and Katara had just gotten back from the city, where they were bombarded by the press about Tenzin's wedding announcement in the paper. They decided to brush it off and headed home. When they walked into the living room, they found Bumi and Kya sitting there, both looking pretty serious.

Bumi spoke up first, "Mom, Dad, there's something you need to know," he said, laying it all out—from Tenzin not knowing about the wedding announcement to the fact that a small group of acolytes seems to be behind the whole mess. They also filled them in about how Lin had tried to contact Tenzin, but these acolytes and abbots from the air temples kept interfering. Aang shook his head, looking really frustrated. Katara rubbed her temples, clearly upset. "We need to retract that newspaper announcement," she said firmly.

Kya and Bumi exchanged glances before Kya nodded. "We'll handle it," she assured them.

Pema was speechless as she turned toward the voice. It was Sokka, Suyin’s dad.

"It's been a while since we last met," he said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "I can't believe this is how we’re reunited. "

Pema, defensive, replied, "Not to be rude, Master Sokka, but this doesn’t concern you. Tenzin and I love each other. I’m here because he wants me to marry into this family, and—"

He cut her off. "Are you so sure about that?"

Su looked puzzled. "What do you mean, Dad?"

“I saw him leaving in a hurry not long ago,” Sokka said, looking concerned. “I’m curious where he’s headed—or more importantly, who he’s going to.”

Pema immediately dashed out of the room and into the living area, where she ran into Katara and Aang.

“You!” Katara said, her eyes locking onto Pema. “You’re Pema, right?”

Pema’s eyes went wide, and she nodded, gulping.

Aang stepped forward and asked, “So, who are these acolytes involved in all this?” He paused, clearly frustrated. “And where can I find them? I need to have a word with them.”

Tenzin arrived at the farm with Oogi and quickly spotted some familiar faces—Chin and Choi.

“What are you doing here?!” they yelled, clearly upset after seeing the announcement. “Are you here to hurt Lin more?” Chin demanded.

“Leave now!” Choi shouted. “We don’t care if you’re a bender. We can’t let you near her!”

Izumi, who had heard the commotion, came over and saw Tenzin. “Please, Izumi,” Tenzin pleaded. “Let me see Lin. I need to talk to her and make things right.”

Izumi addressed Chin and Choi, who were still reluctant. “I’ll make sure Lin is safe,” she assured them. “If Tenzin does anything out of line, I’ll take care of him myself.”

As they walked in, Izumi smirked and asked, “What took you so long, lover boy?”

Tenzin just sighed, exhausted.

“I’m guessing Bumi and Kya filled you in on everything?” she added.

He nodded, “Yeah, they did.”

“Figures,” she replied, then suddenly slapped him across the face.

Tenzin was shocked but knew he probably had it coming. Izumi didn’t miss a beat. “Lin’s in her room, sleeping. She spent the whole morning crying and blaming herself for letting you go.”

Flashback 

Early in the morning, Kya, Bumi, Izumi, and Suyin headed over to Lin's place right after seeing the wedding announcement. When Lin opened the door, her eyes were red and puffy—she had obviously seen it too.

"Why are you guys here?" she asked, her voice flat.

"To check on you, duh," Suyin said, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm okay…" Lin whispered, but the shakiness in her voice gave her away.

"Oh, come on, Lin. We know you better than that," Kya said, not buying it for a second.

"I didn't clear my schedule today just to hear you lie," Izumi added, her tone firm but concerned.

"Hey, come on, ladies. Let's not—" Bumi started, but before he could finish, Lin’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.

Izumi was at her side in an instant, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "This is all my fault," Lin choked out between sobs. "If I hadn’t ended things with him… now he’s…"

Kya and Suyin joined in, wrapping their arms around Lin, offering silent support as she cried. But Suyin, ever the blunt one, asked, "It’s just a wedding announcement, you know." She sighed, "If you love Tenzin that much, then why didn’t you ask him back sooner??"

Lin looked at her, tears streaming down her face. "I tried," she whispered. "I sent letters, I called, I even visited the air temples myself." Her voice broke as more tears fell. "But they said he doesn’t want to see nor speak to me anymore."

Everyone froze, shocked by what they were hearing. None of them knew about this.

"What? Why didn’t you tell us?" Bumi asked, his voice full of concern. "We could’ve helped you."

"I... I was the one who ended things with him," Lin admitted, her voice trembling. "So… I wanted to make things right myself."

Kya shook her head in disbelief. "I can’t believe Tenzin, that jerk."

Lin's voice cracked as she continued, "I thought I’d moved on, that I was fine with it, but the tears… they won’t stop. I love Tenzin... I love him… What do I do?...I still love him.." she sobbed, her shoulders shaking as she let out all the pain she’d been holding in.

[lizardrosen]

So I Turned Myself to Face Me

penelope werewolf au, part three (one, two)

“For the first several months I was so tired all the time, but my first season had scarcely begun, so I decided I was just worn out from all the excitement and endless luncheons and dances. It can be fun, even when you've been pushed to the edges, but it truly is work.” She pounds her fist into the cushion next to her. “I told Mama it was too early for my debut, practically begged her for one more year of freedom. Well, freedom ended up finding me, didn't it?”

Eloise leans in closer. “What does it feel like to change, to break free of the cage of yourself.”

Penelope rolls her eyes just a tiny bit. “Do try not to romanticize it. That fatigue was the change at first, while the real work was done just under the surface, where no one could see. My organs had to rearrange themselves, pumping blood faster, making sure I could hear and smell correctly when the time came. And then one morning I woke to find dirt caked to my feet, and the next day, and the next. I bet you can guess what the nights before had been.”

“The full moon! But you still didn't know?”

“No, I couldn't remember anything at all, but my body knew what to do and where to take us. Wolf Penelope was even kind enough to fold my nightdress before transforming so I wouldn't have to explain why it was ruined, but she never thought to leave a note for me. I thought I might be losing my mind, El, really I did.”

“Are you and... the wolf... really so different from each other? Surely you're parts of the same person?”

“Now we are, yes, but I had to know she was there to be a part of me in the first place. It was Marina Thompson – Lady Crane, now – who figured out what was happening to me. We were quickly becoming friends and I knew I could trust in her secrecy. I wondered for a bit if her condition really was contagious but she laughed in my face and said I'd know if I were with child. And then she listened to my symptoms and said they sounded familiar.”

“Is Marina also a werewolf, then?”

“No, but it seems to be more common in the country, or at least less of a secret. It's not so much that they're wilder there, but they're accustomed to wildness and know that wildness alone does not make something a threat, and some threats you just have to learn to live with. So every farmer has a few sheep set aside in case it's their month, and the county squire has funds to pay back the damage. No one needs to get shot in the paw, and no one needs to know who was prowling the night. There's just more space to be who you are, and heavens above, space to run, it's wonderful!” Penelope scoffs at herself. “Now look who's romanticizing a freedom that isn't quite so simple.”

“There's nothing wrong with demanding the space you're owed,” Eloise insists. “Even if that means you expect more than the world can deliver – that's the first step in changing the world.”

“That may be so,” she says with a fond smile. Oh her dear friend, always fighting to change the world whether it's ready or not, what would Penelope do without her? “Marina did make space for me then, a space away from my sisters, away from citrus colors. With her I could just take the time to meet myself anew. She taught me some exercises that her beau George had used to remember that he was still human even under the fur. I think helping me was a way for her to feel close to him after he stopped writing, but sometimes she sent me away because my auburn fur just reminded her I wasn't George. We took a break during the new moon, and kept practicing control, so after another fortnight I saw through the wolf's eyes even when the moon was at its strongest, so I could curl up on the floor if I wanted.”

“Did you? It seems an awful waste!”

“There's three days of the full moon, when I don't have a choice but to change, and that first night, when I knew I would remember, I had to stay in my room. I had to know I could do it. The next day I did go out to join the revels. It's always such a joy when a new monster girl is welcomed to the fold – they make her feel like a queen.”

“Revels, how exciting! Did you get drunk? Does it take a different sort of spirits for a werewolf to get drunk? Oh, who else was there?”

Penelope's frown is instant. “Now that's a question you don't ask. Our very survival depends on recognizing each other by subtle signs, but also on no one knowing who all the others are, and we don't just tell outsiders.”

“Pen, you've known me for years!”

“Yes, but this isn't one of our espionage games from when we were girls. I trust you, El, I do, but for this one thing you'll have to earn my trust all over again.”

[sillyandquiteawkward]

ar

Ae you familiar with an edgy version of teen titans they did some years ago and in the trailer for it Robin says "Fuck Batman" and the whole internet clowned on it for like a month? Because I got instantly reminded of it when the old lady said "You know what we says about the vaults? Fuck the vaults." Like there was a pause between those two sentances as if it was gonna have a huge impact and I just burst out laughing when she dropped the second line.

Honestly the funniest and best writing the show ever did for me is when Lucy met the farmer who drank her water, he just felt so earnest yet defeated. Like thats both funny and sad. Love it!

im not familiar with the teen titans thing, but i think the whole cursing thing for impact is silly, but it does what it needs to. the farmer was also a good bit