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averagewriter-inthedark · 2 years ago

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Endgame II | Dark Phoenix Series P.4

Takes place during the second act of Avengers: Endgame

Read Parts 1-3 here -> Series Masterlist | Marvel Masterlist

Characters & Pairings: Dr. Evelyn Alice Stark (OC)/The Eagle/Host of the Phoenix Force, Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch (platonic, eventual ally & enemy), Doctor Stephen Strange (implied romance), Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (implied romance), Tony Stark (platonic/nephew), Howard Stark (Platonic/brother), Steve Rogers (platonic/best friend)—a lot of the marvel characters will be involved in this series since it take place during phase 3 & 4.

Content Warnings: profanity, light angst, canon divergence, mentions of violence and near death experience. | female OC (she/her) | Read time: 15-20 minutes (6000k+ words)

Premise: 5 years have past since the events of the Infinity War between Earth’s Avengers and the Mad Titan, Thanos. In that time, the universe has adapted to the catastrophic aftermath of losing half its population. Many have moved on, but others have refused. When a former ally of Steve Rogers returns out of the blue, believing to have been amongst the vanish, an opportunity arises. But to do that, they are going to need help. And the truth of what resides in Eve Stark is finally revealed….to an extent.

Note: SO for this, I am kinda going off of the comic counterpart of Jean Grey, but also similar to ‘The Last Stand,’ where the Phoenix is a separate entity in Jean. In ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix,’ Jean was infused with the force, but was still Jean, whereas in the previous incarnations we see it having a mind of it’s own and using Jean’s body as a vessel. That’s how I am doing it for Eve, where she is basically the vessel and the Phoenix takes over control. But you’ll see where I take it as the story goes and I’m very excited, but I wanted to clarify what I’m going for this version of the Phoenix.

——————————————————————

“What’s happening to me, Tony?”

“I don’t know, Eve. But we’ll figure it out, okay? Together.”

“I feel like…..like I’m not the only one in control of my mind anymore.”

FIVE YEARS LATER

Family, friends, neighbors, classmates, the list goes on and on. Gone. With a simple snap of the fingers. Abandoned homes and buildings decorate the streets. Cars overfill parking lots. It truly was a ghost town on every corner of planet Earth.

It was the same on every planet.

Mighty heroes and those who guard the galaxy are left with an endless void of sorrow and defeat. Moving on was harder than it looked, especially when the loss came at their own hand.

Five years had gone by and that feeling remained. Some tried and pretended they were finding peace. Others accepted they could never.

The Avengers were not what they once were when the world was introduced to them more than ten years before. Those brave souls who defeated a lost God and genocidal android, lost to a mad Titan on a quest for universal damnation.

With six of the original seven Avengers out of the picture, the Black Widow was the one to keep the spirit of them alive. She was the one who stayed at the compound, when everyone else left. She was the one running meetings and sending them off to investigate. She was the one trying to keep the team together.

For five years, Natasha Romanoff was the Avenger who always answered the call.

So when Scott Lang appears out of the blue the night Steve happens to visit, frantically talking about the Quantum realm and being stuck for five hours rather than years, she was the first hand on deck at the sound of an opportunity.

An opportunity to go back in time.

Their first order of business was to talk to someone with genius level knowledge of quantum physics. And who would that be? The Iron Man himself of course. So here they were pulling up to the beautiful house by the lake where Tony now resided with Pepper and his young daughter, Morgan. The two were heading inside for lunch as the trio arrived, now they were huddled around his patio furniture.

“No, we know what it sounds like,” Scott stammers out as Tony pours four glasses of some kind of concoction for the group.

“Tony, after everything you’ve seen, is anything really impossible?” Steve backs him up, hands in his pockets.

“Quantum fluctuation messes with the Planck scale which then triggers the Deutsch Proposition, can we agree on that?” Tony hands him a cup, Steve thanking him. He turns to Scott and says, “In layman’s terms, it means you’re not coming home.”

“I did,” Scott points out.

“No, you accidentally survived. It’s a billion-to-one cosmic fluke.” Tony pours another glass adding, “And now you wanna pull a…what do you call it?”

Taking the glass, Scott shrugs and sheepishly says, “A time heist?”

“Yeah,” Tony sighs, “a time heist. Of course.” He looks to Steve and Nat, “Why didn’t we think of this before? Oh, because it’s laughable. Because it’s a pipe dream?”

“The stones are in the past,” Steve explains. “We could go back, we could get them.”

“We can snap our own fingers. We can bring everyone back.” Nat adds on.

Tony shrugs, raising his eyebrows. “Or screw it up worse than he already has, right?”

“I don’t believe we would.”

The genius waves his hands, clutching a cup in his right one. “Gotta say it. I sometimes miss that giddy optimism. However, high hopes won’t help if there’s no logical, tangible way for me to safely execute said time heist.” Tony lowers himself onto the bench. The faces of the three show they don’t like what he’s saying, but he continues on. “I believe the most likely outcome will be our collective demise.”

“Not if we strictly follow the rules of time travel,” Scott takes a seat in front of Tony. “All right? It means no talking to our past selves, no betting on sporting events—.” Tony cuts him off with the raise of hand.

“I’m gonna stop you right there, Scott,” he leans closer to him. “Are you seriously telling me that your plan to save the universe is based on Back to the Future?”

Scott scoffs, like the assumption was offensive to him. Tony asks again, “is it?”

“No.”

“Good. You had me worried there. ‘Cause that’s not how quantum physics works.”

“Tony,” Nat finally cuts in after being silent for so long. There was strong emotion on her face, determination in her gaze. “We have to take a stand.”

“We did stand,” he told her solemnly. “And yet, here we are.” She looks away, tears brimming in her eyes and Scott draws Tony’s attention back to him.

“I know you got a lot on the line. You got a wife, a daughter. Your aunt is still here.” Scott doesn’t notice the looks that pass between Nat and Steve at the mention of Eve. They hadn’t caught him up to speed on what happened while trying to figure out how to approach the time heist. Scott continues, oblivious to the strained expression from Tony, “But I lost someone very important to me. A lot of people did. And now, now we have a chance to bring her back—to bring everyone back and you’re telling me that you won’t even—.”

“That’s right, Scott,” he interrupts. “I won’t even. I can’t.” A door closes behind them, followed by tiny feet padding toward them. Morgan skips to her father and jumps in his lap.

“Mommy told me to come and save you.” His arms wrap around her tiny figure to hold her close to him.

“Good job. I’m saved.” Tony nuzzles her before looking back to the three. “I wish you were coming here to ask me something else. Anything else.” Standing, Tony holds Morgan to his chest and starts to move toward the front door. “I’m honestly happy to see you guys, I just—-oh, look, the table’s set for six.” Steve’s hand comes up to hold his elbow.

“Tony. I get it. And I’m happy for you. I really am,” he glances briefly at the little girl. “But this is a second chance.”

“I got my second chance right here, Cap. Can’t roll the dice on it.” Backing away, Tony locks eyes with each of them. “If you don’t talk shop, you can stay for lunch.” He bites his lip, contemplating on if he should say the next words. It takes a moment, but he sighs and caves in. “Or, you can go across the pond to pitch your plan to—.” He stops again, not wanting to say it in front of his daughter.

Nat stiffens, as does Steve though Scott remains confused. The soldier steps closer to Tony, his voice falling into a whisper. “Are you talking about Eve?”

“Honey, would you go help mama? I’ll be there in a second.” Tony sets Morgan down and she races back inside, the group watching her go before they face each other once more.

It’s silent for a few seconds before Steve says, “When did she wake up?” His tone is calm. Almost like he expected Tony to keep the news of Eve waking a secret from him. Not once did Steve get a call or even a text in the weeks and months after he left the compound. He assumed she either succumbed to whatever was inhabiting her, or went off the grid after waking up.

“A week after,” Tony didn’t explain further. Steve took a sharp inhale, bringing his hand up to caress his jaw. Tony could see the mix of disappointment and sadness in his eyes.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Tony shakes his head, lightly scoffing. “If you saw what happened, you’d want to keep it quiet too. Plus I don’t think Eve waking up in her state and seeing you for the first time in two years would’ve been good.”

“He’s right, Steve,” Nat looks to the ground, avoiding his gaze when he turns to her. She didn’t want to see the look of betrayal from him. “We had to.”

Scott just looks lost, looking between the three to get some sort of understanding. “I’m sorry, can you explain what the hell you’re talking about?” Steve ignores the question and puts his hands on his hips.

“Who all knows?” He was referring to Eve being awake.

“Well, you and thumbelina are the most recent to find out. But the night she woke, it was us two,” Tony points between him and Nat, “Rhodey, Pep, and Happy in attendance.” He clenches his jaw, the memory replaying in his head. “We, um, Pep and I felt coming out here was the best idea for her.”

Steve tries to wrap his head around the fact Eve was awake. It was a lot to take in and he felt an immense amount of relief. But the way Tony was talking about her and the fact it was kept secret for so long worried the Captain. He could feel he was not being told everything. “What happened, Tony?”

It was obvious Tony had trouble talking about whatever was bothering him. That fact it was his own aunt made it more concerning. The two were very close after everything they’d been through together. He was the one who found her frozen and captive in the desert. They took down enemies and always supported one another even if they didn’t always agree.

They were Starks. Through thick and thin.

“Tony,” Steve says again, snapping the older man out of his inner thoughts.

“You just have to go talk to her yourself,” he eventually says with a low voice. “Although, I doubt it’ll be her.”

“Excuse me?” Steve’s voice is sharp, eyes narrowed in suspicion by the alarm bells going off inside him. What the hell did the man mean by ‘I doubt it’ll be her’?

“Steve—.”

“What the hell does that mean, Tony?” He cuts him off angrily, “Are you saying Eve is gone and whatever blasted her on Titan is—-?” Tony raises his hands up to silence Steve, annoyed by him jumping to conclusions.

Although he wasn’t too far off.

“Do you remember what Thor told you before you went to find Thanos?” His eyes flicker to Nat and back to Steve. “About some ‘cosmic entity’ or being his old man used to tell him about?” Steve nods, as does Nat, and his shoulders drop from their tense position. He could tell where Tony was getting at.

“You’re saying he was right.”

“Quite possibly,” Tony sighs, scratching his neck. It was hard to explain the details of his aunt's state. Especially when the topic of question refuses to give much information. “I’ve been trying to understand it for five years. And I’ve only gotten a little bit—it’s um, it’s taken to her. Eve is sorta like its host and it’s made her different.”

“How different?” Scott asks curiously. He still didn’t fully know what happened, but he could assume it wasn’t good.

“She’s got some tricks like Wanda. I’ll give you that much,” Tony shakes his head, seeing the shocked gazes from the three. Boy were they in for a treat. He crosses his arms and looks Steve dead in the eye. “She’s not your old war buddy anymore, Cap. She won’t ever be that again. Maybe it’s for the best that you keep your distance. But maybe you can convince both of them for your expedition, although, I wouldn’t give it much hope.”

After a lunch, which mostly consisted of awkward conversations avoiding the two main topics: Time heist and Eve Stark, the three lone Avengers got in the car to make the small trip around the lake where another cabin like home resided. Where Tony informed them Eve resided.

Nerves filled them. Nat and Steve the most. Nat for the memory of what she witnessed the night Eve woke from her month long coma. And Steve for coming face to face for the first time in seven years. The last time he saw his former best friend she was unconscious with wires attached, before that was her in Siberia. The day Captain America lost his Eagle.

Steve could still picture her face staring back at him behind the barrel of a gun after firing one shot into his side when he thrusted his shield into Tony’s arc reactor. Wings were ripped from her back by his own hands during the fight. Eve was shaking, but the gun in her hands was the only thing steady. Her cold words rang in his ear, “I gave you that shield, Steve Rogers. I’m taking it back. And if you ever show your face again, mine will be the last thing you see.” She lowered the gun, but her gaze never faltered. “I hope it was worth it. Because you can never come home again.”

Thinking back, maybe Tony was right and he should abort the mission. Evelyn Stark always followed through with her promises. He should know better.

But it was too late because the car was passing the mailbox and up the driveway.

“It should just be me,” He says when Nat and Scott unbuckle their seatbelts. The redhead looks at him hesitantly.

“Steve, I don’t think that’s a good idea—.”

“Fill Scott in,” he tells her, unbuckling his own before turning the engine off. Steve doesn’t let Natasha get another word in because he’s out of the car and approaching the front steps. He didn't need to turn around to see her annoyed expression, Steve could feel it burning into the back of his head.

The super soldier makes his way around the surrounding patio until he finds the front door. Passing by a window, he glances in, but sees no sign of Eve. All he could hear was the faint sound of a record player.

Playing a song he knew all too well.

Ignoring the sting in his heart, Steve walks up to the door. He mentally prepares himself as his arm raises to knock, but before he gets the chance it opens on its own.

And no one is standing behind it.

Instead Steve finds an empty hallway. Peeking in, he glances from right to left. On one side is a sitting room overlooking the lake, the other is the entrance to a little library. Shelves cover from ceiling to floor and books align every inch of the walls.

Stepping in, Steve shakes off the feeling of uncertainty and closes the door. He doesn’t want to think about how it opened on its own. Part of him feels he already knows the answer.

‘She’s got some tricks like Wanda,’ Tony’s words remind him.

The music is louder now that he’s inside. His plan is to follow the sound of it, assuming it will lead him to Eve. The song choice was very personal to Steve and if his theory was correct, it was being played on purpose.

Steve passes the staircase leading to the second floor, and the door in the hallway which he assumes is to the basement. A kitchen entrance is to his right which then goes out to the back patio. With no sign of Eve yet, he cuts the corner into another sitting room. The melody increases, he was getting close to where it was coming from.

Finally he reaches what appears to be an office. It has celing to floor windows overlooking the lake with a finely cut wooden desk in front of it. It was alarmaning organized. In all the years he knew Evelyn Stark, never once did he see her desk so clean and arranged. Papers were always scattered with uncapped pens halfway dried out and sticky notes on the edges. Somehow she always remembered where she would place something in the mess pile, but God forbid someone messed with the desk. One time Eve nearly sent Steve into the wall for moving a file without telling her.

On the opposite wall were photos and various degrees hanging— ranging from her first in 1935 to the most recent honorary one in 2020. Chemistry, Physics, Aeronautical Engineering, Literature. The list went on and on.

In the corner, seated on a wooden night stand by a framed sepia picture of Eve with her husband and daughter, is a vintage record player straight from the 1940s.

Steve felt another sting in his heart as he eyed the photo. Eve, 31 and holding her baby daughter, Juliette in her arms while her husband, Army doctor Captain Archie Rivers stood next to them with his arm around her shoulder. They were both looking down, smiling at the baby as she lifted her tiny hand to play with Eve’s necklace.

Steve frowned as the guilt pools in him. And when he looks in between the photo and record player, he sees Eve’s wedding rings. He remembered how when the two reunited in 2012, Eve still wore the jewelry on her fingers. Then it slowly turned to her wearing them on a chain around her neck. Now they sit on a table. A symbol of her past as a soldier out of time.

Speaking of the soldier, Steve had still not seen her despite scouting the entire first floor. He backs away from the office, moving to check if she was outside the whole time. As his hand touches the knob, the record player stops. He freezes, hand gripping the knob when the song restarts after a three second pause.

Steve rushes to the office, heart picking up and stops dead in the doorway at the sight in front of him.

Eve’s back is to him, hands clasped behind her as she stares out the window. He can’t make out her face at all. She’s wearing a long deep green trench coat made out of leather with white boots. Her hair is down, cascading in long waves to her mid back, however, there’s a hue to the color at the top Steve quite can’t make out.

“‘It’s Been a Long, Long Time,’” Her voice was so different it took him by surprise. While it still sounded like Eve, there was a shift in the tone. It made her sound like a completely different person. “Released in nineteen-forty-five by Harry James and Kitty Kallen. Ironic, isn’t it? How songs can convey meaning to situations.” Steve steps into the office, while Eve remains in place. “I thought it was fitting. Took me a while to sift through those memories, but this song was special to you two. Especially you, Steve Rogers. Right?”

He didn’t like how she was talking. Almost robotic-like and void of emotion. This wasn’t Eve.

“You were supposed to dance to this song with Margaret, yes?” He didn’t answer, stiffening at the mention of his love. “Or, no, her name was Peggy. Agent Carter when in professional settings. But to both of you, she was simply Peggy. Beautiful lady she was. Intelligent, courageous, the backbone of S.H.I.E.L.D—considering all that she did for it.” There’s a slight pause. “Evelyn has very fond memories of her.”

Steve continued to stay silent, unsure of how to approach the subject. Here Eve was referring to herself in the third person as though she’s not really there. It was difficult to grasp, but somehow Steve knew it was true. And Tony’s message from earlier continued to play in his mind.

“As do you, Captain,” Her voice echoes, Steve stiffening when she begins to turn. It was a simple pivot in his direction. Hands remained clasped by her lower back and her right shoulder maneuvered to reveal Eve’s side profile.

And the first thing his eyes are drawn too are the tiny orange cracks aligning her jaw, cheek, and hairline. Then Eve is facing him head on. Well it’s Eve’s face, but her eyes are not the chocolate brown shade he was accustomed to. They were a glowing orange, similar to the cracks.

They seemed amused by his reaction, lips curling up in a smirk. “Tragic things had to end the way they did. I’m sure Margaret—no sorry, Peggy,” the tone indicated they weren’t apologetic, “—would’ve given everything if it meant you would be found. Too bad they just didn’t look close enough.” They tsked at the end.

Steve had enough, “Who are you?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” They leaned forward, still smiling. “What Tony has spent the last five years trying to figure out. What Evelyn, herself, has trouble coming to terms with when I showed her everything she wanted to know. Humans, you all crave the same thing. For everything and anything to be simple. From building cities, to bringing peace, and even an answer to a question.” The hands behind their back went to lay flat on the surface, “But the answer is not that simple, Steve Rogers, in fact, it is everything but.” They then took a step around the desk, moving closer to him.

The soldier watches them approach, keeping his gaze the same. When they got roughly an arm's distance Steve felt the air catch in his throat. Up close the cracks, though small and scattered on the outer edges of their visage, were bright and moving. The matching color of their eyes was just as blinding. And at this proximity, Steve noticed how the root of Eve’s hair was no longer a rich brown. Scarlet red took up nearly three inches until it flowed into the natural color.

“Where’s my friend?” Steve asked, eyes never straying away from theirs.

“Friend?” They repeated, tilting their (Eve’s) head, “You still see her as that? Seven years, Steve Rogers, and all that was involved yet you still view her as such.”

His eyes narrowed, offended by the assumption. “Sixty years passed before we were reunited and it didn’t change a thing. She’ll always be my friend.”

“But friends don’t betray each other. Don’t they, Steve?”

“How do you know that?” He was getting tired of this….being, having the upper hand. They were cutting into his past and memories. It was an invasion of privacy and he wanted answers. More importantly, Steve wanted to know where Eve was.

“The mind is like a library and once you have access, everything is laid out. Just waiting to be read. Page by page,” their voice falls an octave, just higher than a whisper. “Evelyn is a strong woman. It’s something I admire greatly, and why I chose to save her that day on Titan.” Steve's blood runs cold at the mention of the fateful day. They sense his distress, once again smirking. “But even those with the strongest will, eventually bend and break. Putting her in the sleep was a blessing in disguise—it made it easier for her, though she argues it did no good.” They give a shrug before adding, “I strongly believe she’d think otherwise if I allowed her to remain conscious during the entire month of her mind and body adapting to my presence.”

The way they were talking about Eve raised alarms in Steve. He thought back to the night she and Tony were brought back to Earth. By then it had been 22 days since Thanos and whatever inhabited Eve. Everything about her was abnormal, even disregarding the super soldier serum. Only Thor could provide a theory as to what transpired on Titan.

“Please,” he says after a moment, eyes pleading. “Is Eve okay? Where is she—?”

“I assure you, Captain, Evelyn is very safe.”

He wasn’t convinced, “Oh, I’m supposed to just trust your word then, right? I don’t even know who or what you are.” He gestures over them with a hand. “You look like Eve—you sound like Eve, but yet you don’t at the same time. I want to know where my friend is and why you are controlling her.”

“Contrary to what assumptions you may have of me, Steve Rogers, I have no intention of harming Evelyn. I’m rather fond of her,” They step away, putting their hands into their coat pockets and walk along beside the wall of photos. “What occurred on Titan was never my plan. I was just passing through—traveling the cosmos as I always do, when I sensed the Infinity Stones.” They didn’t see Steve visibly react to the revelation. “It surprised me. Never had more than one be in the same place—although, there was a brief moment in twenty-twelve.” The invasion of New York.

“If you saw Thanos with that many, why didn’t you take him out?” Steve asked, curious to know the answer. The threat was right there. If they knew having multiple stones together was dangerous, why not remove the reason for it.

They turn around, bottom lip jutted out in thought, “Would you have rather I done that, Steve Rogers? Had I done so, poor Evelyn would have succumbed to her injuries in mere seconds.” Steve grimaced, looking out the window and away from their gaze. “Maybe you do wish that happened. Then half of the universe would still be here.”

“I don’t wish that,” he snapped back at them, anger rising at the accusation. “She’s my friend and I care for her.”

“Yet again you—.”

“I made a mistake keeping the truth from her. I wish I hadn’t and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. The point is, we don’t trade lives.”

“Hmm,” they mutter, glancing over him. It took a moment for Steve to realize they were probably reading his thoughts, to see if he was lying. “You’re telling the truth. Evelyn will be pleased to hear that.”

“Where is Eve?” He repeated his question from earlier, though he sounded more demanding. “You keep dodging the question and it’s giving more reason to distrust you.”

“Tony was the same in the beginning. He still is, though he tries not to think about it when we’re around.” The song on the record player finally ended again. They walked over and took the needle away from the record, eyes flicking over the picture of Eve’s family. “Here’s what I will tell you, Steve Rogers. Evelyn is merely a vessel—a host if you will. I was drawn to her on Titan and decided to save her, and because she’s human and I’m…..far from that, it took time and energy for Evelyn to adapt to my…,” they snap their fingers a few times to get the right word, “habitation of her body and conscience.”

“So what does that mean?” They roll their eyes, annoyed at being interrupted.

“I was getting to that, thank you.” They let out a huff. “Anyway, hence Evelyn being comatose for nearly a month. As I mentioned earlier, she’s a strong woman—again something I admire, but it made it difficult for me to break down the walls in her mind. Not to mention the changes in her biological composition and having to get used to newfound abilities I gifted her.” They paused to chuckle before adding, “because it’s not everyday a super human becomes the host to something like me.”

“And what is that?”

“Have you really not figured it out?” They stepped back closer to Steve, looking up with mock amusement. “You’re so close you know, it should be obvious. I thought you were smarter than that, Steve Rogers. You must've realized by now your Godly friend was right all along.” Thor.

They were reading his thoughts the moment he stepped through the door. Probably even sorted through his memories before making their entrance. “You’re a cosmic entity.” It wasn’t a question, nor accusation. It was simply stating a fact.

The single nod confirmed it all. A smirk plastered Eve’s face, though it was not Eve doing the action. “I should feel flattered. I'm still a question among legends even after so many millennia. Not many can achieve such a thing.” Another step to Steve has the cracks practically glowing in his face. He could feel the heat radiation off of them.

“Eve—.”

“Has been here the entire time.” They don’t wait for his look of confusion, simply bringing a hand up to point to their temple. “C’mon, Steven, it’s pretty simple. Evelyn is a vessel, a host, to me. You didn’t think my presence meant she was gone, did you?” When Steve didn’t answer, still wrapping his head around everything, the entity continued. “I’ll explain this the best way I can. Make it a metaphor—I know humans love those.”

Spinning around, they walk around the desk and take a seat in the leather chair. Motioning to Steve to sit, which he does after a few seconds, they pull out a blank sheet of paper and threepens: a black, orange, and yellow. They first take the yellow to draw a stick figure in the middle. Then above they draw another in yellow and orange. With a black pen they draw a cloud-like object in the middle between the stick figures.

“Look at it like this,” they turn the paper so it faces him. “This is Evelyn’s body,” the bottom of the black pen points to the lone yellow figure. It then trails to the cloud above, “this here, is the state of mind. Are you following?” Steve nods and they smile, but it still makes the soldier feel uneasy. “Good. Think of it as the ‘driver's seat of a car,’ where whoever is in it, they are the one in control.” Something about the statement sends chills in Steve. ‘The one in control.’

“Now, this figure,” the pen points to the smaller yellow above the cloud, “represents Evelyn’s subconscious. Her thoughts, her memories, everything that makes up Evelyn as a whole. We could get into the whole mind/body theory, and the question of if the mind is separate from the body and brain, but I’ll leave you to do that on your own. For this scenario, the mind is separate—it’s why you’re talking to me right now.”

The pen drags over to the orange figure, “which brings me to this. This is my subconscious. I don’t have a physical body, Steve Rogers, what you saw from the footage Tony showed you is the manifestation I take form in.”

“A solar flare?” Steve asked, looking up at them.

They shrugged, “That’s one way to look at it.” They wave a hand to dismiss further discussion on the topic, focusing back to the drawing. “Going back to the driver's seat. Before Titan, Evelyn was the sole driver. Her subconscious was here,” they draw a yellow figure in the cloud and then connect the lines between all three. “Mind and body together. Then Titan happened and I saved her life. By doing so, I invaded the void between the two. So now when Evelyn is in the driver’s seat, I ride passenger,” they draw another orange figure, but this time in the cloud, connecting the two with a line.

“So you understand, Steven, I see what Evelyn sees. I hear what she hears. I feel what she feels.” It was all coming together, the metaphor giving the answers. “Her memories, her thoughts, they’re all there at my disposal. I can communicate with her even when she’s in control. She’s told me it feels like there’s a pressure in the back of her head, letting her know of my presence.”

Steve leaned back in the chair, arms coming over his chest. “So since you’re in control right now, does that mean Eve can see and hear everything too? She’s the one riding passenger?” From their analogy, it would be the logical explanation. Eve’s subconscious is trapped while the entity has control of her body.

The flicker in their expression causes him to lean forward, eyes narrowing. “Tell me now.”

“While you would be correct, I’m afraid it is not all that meets the eye.” Their left hand comes over the paper, covering the yellow figure in the cloud. And with their right, the orange pen hovers over the one representing Eve’s body. “When I am in the driver’s seat,” drawing over with orange, the yellow figure changes color. “My consciousness takes control of Eve’s body, as you can see right now. But Evelyn, she is pushed to the back. Locked away in a dark void until I release control. As you can see here.”

The paper showed exactly that. Eve’s subconscious was pushed aside when the entity had power over the mind and body. It sparked a level of dread and worry in Steve. It wasn’t hard to piece together it meant Eve was unaware what took place when the entity was in control. For all he knew, it probably meant she would have amnesia for that time period.

“You’re right,” the voice snapped out of his thoughts. He once again forgot his mind was vulnerable. “Evelyn doesn’t know. She won’t know anything we said unless one of us tells her.” They pull the paper away, folding it before handing it to Steve. “It’s why I don’t do this often—have full control. I prefer to ride passenger because it makes Evelyn weak after having her subconscious away for so long.”

He takes the paper, putting it in his jacket pocket. He assumes they want him to have it so he can explain to the others. Nat would want to know immediately so it helps to have a visual on hand. “What happens when she is away for too long?”

“Oh, well, her mind will deteriorate I suppose. Again, the whole mind-brain-body thing fits into it,” they wave their hands in defense at his alarmed expression. Chuckling, they bring them down, ignoring the fact he wasn’t finding anything amusing about the situation. “I’ve never been in control for so long to the point it was a concern. Usually Evelyn feels some fatigue, maybe a headache or is in a daze for a few hours. The only time I’ve been in the driver’s seat this long was when I showed myself to Tony for the first time. And I told him everything I’ve told you.”

Steve relaxes, but not all the way. There is still some doubt but he tries not to think about it so the entity cannot hear it in his thoughts. “Don’t you think it’s a little unfair that you get to invade Eve’s mind when she’s in control of her own body, while you push her away into the dark?”

He still couldn’t over how similar yet different the smirk on Eve’s face was with the entity in control. It was unsettling. “It’s for the best that Evelyn doesn’t see into my consciousness. I have billions upon billions of years worth of memories embedded into me that it would fry her completely to have access to them.” They lean back in the chair, keeping their gaze firm on him. “Evelyn's history is like a grain of sand on a beach. Whereas mine, it is the whole perimeter. You think she’d be able to go through every grain to cond and not lose herself to madness?”

They rise from the chair, Steve doing the same as they walk around the desk and stand in front of him. Some of the cracks were starting to fade. They were about to let Eve go. “I think it’s time you speak to Evelyn. It’s the reason you came, yes? You’ve found an opportunity to reverse the snap.” Steve knew better than to question. He wondered how far their range went when it came to reading people's thoughts. “You don’t have to answer,” the smirk remained on their lips, “I already know.” Yeah, it was going to take time getting used to that.

“Can you only read minds?”

“Oh, I can do much more than that,” as they speak, a glass of water comes out of nowhere, moving in the air until it settles on the surface of the desk. Then the music starts to play. Steve turns his head to find the needle back on the record before moving away causing the song to stop. Then suddenly a voice is speaking directly into his head. “Satisfied Captain Rogers?”

Steve jumped, turning back in the chair to face them. Their brows raise, amused by the reaction. Steve shakes it off, not letting it get to him. “What’s going to happen now?” He wanted to know the context of Eve’s state being back in her body. If she would faint, be in distress, or fairly normal.

Well as normal as one can be when a cosmic entity possesses their body.

“Like I said before, I don’t do this often and the times I have she’s reacted rather negatively until I can calm her down. She’ll probably be a little scared, since she’ll have no memory of what took place. Expect her to be surprised to see you. If she attacks you just know I had no say in it.” Their eyes begin to flicker, the orange fading.

“Wait,” Steve stops them, causing the glow to return. “Who exactly are you? I know what you are, but you never referred to yourself with a name.”

Their head tilts, as if they were debating on giving him one. “Perhaps that can be the subject of our next conversation. Whenever that may be.” The cracks slowly shrink. “It was a pleasure to finally meet you, Steve Rogers.” Eve’s eyes twitched, fluttering close as the last of the cracks disappeared and suddenly the woman was gasping for air around her. A hand came to her chest, knees wobbling causing Steve to rush forward and catch her before she fell.

“Eve!” He shouted in relief. Steve could feel the weight of catching her pulling him down, warmth in his palms when his hands hit the leather of her coat. For a second he forgot how she was scorching like a sun five years ago. Now it was like the feeling of being out in the sun too long on a hot summer day. The type of heat where it makes one want to rush inside because it’s too hot to even breathe.

“Eve,” he says again, bringing her up to stand straight. She was panting and sweat had gathered on her forehead. He thought the rest of her hair would return to the natural color, but the red stayed, flowing into the brown. “I got you, Eve. It’s me, Steve.”

Finally Eve’s brown eyes connected with his. They were wide open with no sight of the glowing orange he had peered into just minutes before. Just looking into them Steve could tell fear and shock was swimming in them.

Her breathing slowed, but she was still panting. “St-Steve?” Hands came up to grip his shoulders. “Ste-Steve.” Water had pooled in her eyes and Steve could feel her shaking.

“It’s okay,” he assured her, keeping his voice calm. “I’m right here, Eve, I got you. Listen to me, I'll explain everything I promise.” It did little to calm her down, he could still visibly see the anxiety.

Her head started to nod, a lone tear escaping. “H-how long? How long did it have—?”

Steve shakes his head, unsure exactly of the time period Eve was locked away in the void. “What was the last thing you remember, Eve?” She blinks a few times, looking around to find the clock on the wall.

“I-I, I had just finished making lunch. I was sitting on the porch,” she glances out the door in the direction of the porch entrance. “Then I heard a car in the distance. And I—I heard you. Not your voice, but your mind. And Nat’s too and,” she pauses, thinking hard before a look of surprise takes over, followed by a gasp. “And Scott. I heard Scott, but how—?”

He gently squeezes her shoulder repeating, “I promise, I’ll explain. I just need to talk to you. Can we do that, please?”

Eve nodded again, blinking back the tears but her bottom lip quivered. “Yeah,” her voice cracked, trying to smile at him. “Yeah we can talk.”

He felt his own eyes start to water. The emotion he was feeling started to overwhelm him. Steve had really missed Eve, and finally after seven years he was able to stand in front of her again. The guilt and regret coursed through him, “I’m sorry, Eve. I really am.”

The woman squeezed his shoulders like he did to her, tearfully smiling at him. “I’m sorry too, Steve.” The second the words left her Steve didn’t hesitate to embrace her. Arms around her waist and Eve’s going around his shoulders she accepted the hug, returning it with just as much emotion.

He could feel the warmth through her clothes, but it didn’t bother him. All that mattered to Steve was the fact he was holding Eve in his arms. His best friend, who was the only person in the world he cared most for.

They had a lot to unpack. A lot to discuss. And a lot to worry about. But at this moment. Steve could feel some peace. With whatever the future held and the possibility of rewriting time with the stones, hope was on the horizon.

Now that Captain America had his Eagle.

……………………….

Tag list: @todaywasafairytale07, @ohholyaphrodite, @esposadomd, @psychomanias

#Spotify #captain america imagine #steve rogers imagine #dark phoenix #tony stark imagine #iron man imagine #dark phoenix imagine #the phoenix #endgame imagine #avengers endgame #avenger imagine #marvel fanfiction #marvel imagine #marvel #avengers #the scarlet witch #scarlet witch x reader #scarlet witch imagine #wanda maximoff imagine

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sersi · 2 years ago

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hello elysia, i just wanted to say, as someone else who weathered the post-endgame anti-steve clown circus (which has continued far longer than it should've but lemme not rant) and suffered psychic damage from the worst takes possible, i am SO thankful for the steve content you've provided. like i'm not that into steggy but the care you put into your sets is so amazing and you illustrate the importance of their relationship in a way that fandom seems to either not get or willfully misunderstand. thank you so much for all you do and i hope you have an amazing rest of your day/night <3

Hiiiiiiiiii 🙋🏽‍♀️. This is honestly one of the nicest, most mentally rewarding asks I've ever gotten. And it is also got stuck/forgotten in my inbox because I was like “Oh I don’t have time to answer this properly right now”, mentally filed it as a Thing to Do Later, and then didn’t look at my inbox for a week.

So, that said, I’ve been stanning Steve for a literal decade and have been Through It™ multiple times because of him. Civil War era had me eagerly awaiting the day I would follow Chris out of the MCU and while that obviously didn’t happen, having already spent most of 2015 - 2018 engaging in increasingly aggressive curation of my online fandom experience really impacted my post-Endgame experience. It’s why I wasted no time in blacklisting aggressively. And why I was kind of already primed to communicate my love for Steve and his arc and some of the characters around him through gifset. I’ve seen so many wonky characterizations of Steve and his arc over the years that, rather than writing 1000 words about why I like some aspect of Steve’s arc only get told that something that definitely happened in canon didn’t actually happen, I prefer to have my visual Here It Is Happening In Canon references right there, in 268px or 540px widths.

I obviously don’t expect everyone to agree with or like my readings of canon--our taste in media is deeply personal and I absolutely get why Steve’s Endgame ending was never going to work for some people. But Steve is my favorite character EVER. I have thought about that man so much, for so long. I have, at one point or another, shipped almost all his popular ships. As a multishipper, I even have slightly different, not always fully compatible, readings of canon for my different Steve ships. So, one of the things that really bugged me back during peak Endgame discourse (and inspired/drove more than a few gifsets) was this notion that none of this had been set up in canon or that no one who liked the ending understood Steve’s character or his arc. Thankfully things have calmed down a ton since then, but, both with Steve and with my Other Faves, I still tend to put a ton of thought into how best to communicate the ideas behind my sets because, while impossible to fully control for, it is always my hope that my intentions (and love involved in the making of these sets) will be clear enough to break through whatever more fandom popular preconceptions people might have 🤷🏽‍♀️.

#and at a bare minimum i hope that the love involved will be apparent enough that people will realize they should Angry Yell in a new post #elysia's inbox

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takerfoxx · 3 years ago

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The Owl House, Season 2, Episode 1, "Stranger Tides," First Impressions!

Yo ho, yo ho, it's a pirate's whaler's life for Luz!

Now, if you'll recall, a common problem I ran into while reviewing season 1 is that while I was definitely enjoying it, it was so episodic that I often found it difficult to find something new to say about each episode. There wasn't a whole lot carrying over from one episode to the next that I could really sink my teeth into and fill out a full review, with the plot not really kicking in until the final two episodes.

Fortunately, I did not have that problem here, and now that season 2 has started, I have PLENTY to say about its debut episode.

So, this is what you'd expect for the first episode of the new season, an episode basically intended to bring everyone up to speed on how the characters are dealing with the ramifications of the previous season and introduce a few new elements that will set the tone for the season to come.

And basically, things at the Owl House are...not really great. I mean, sure, everyone got away and it looks like Emperor Belos hasn't really made their recapture a priority (most likely deliberately), but thanks to Lilith deciding to share Eda's curse to neutralize it, they both have found themselves powerless. They're not completely without magic, but what they have left is so meager to be practically useless. All expect for Eda's detachable limbs. Those still work. For Luz, as she never had magic to begin with and had to work extra hard to get around that handicap and find ways to keep up with everyone else, that means she's suddenly the breadwinner of the family, the one with the most power despite living with two (previously) notoriously powerful witches, and thus has taken up bounty hunting (sort of ironic, if you ask me). For Lilith, that means coming to terms with losing literally everything important to her, from her power to her position as the Emperor's Coven's poster girl, having been replaced by a spoiled teen prodigy (and oh, ho, ho, we will get to him!) as well as her own feelings of guilt for having cursed Eda in the first place.

Actually, guilt is the main motivator in this episode. Luz feels guilty for having gotten Eda trapped and that Eda now has to prioritize what little money they have for Luz's sake, which motivates her to take on more and more dangerous bounties to try to make it up to her. And Lilith feels rotten for the curse and that the fix ended up sapping Eda's powers, so she's driven to find some way of making herself useful, which fills out this episode's A-plot and B-plot.

Meanwhile, Eda herself is...handling things like a champ, actually. Sure, she's not thrilled about losing her power, nor does she care for the sudden dip in respect from the locals as a result, but she's not wallowing in self-pity. No, she's working and innovating, finding ways to adapt and keep ahead of the game. And to rip off the Empire too, because fuck those guys.

So anyway! Let's start with our A-plot: Luz the bounty hunter. She's doing her best to keep her spirits up and keep food on the table, but bounty hunting is a tough job and because everyone knows that Eda is powerless, the bondsman has no problem ripping them off because he knows he can get away with it. Furthermore, with the portal gone, Luz's messages to her mom aren't getting through, which is weighing on her mind.

Okay, we already know that Luz's mom is probably going to get involved this season. I predict that at some point, Emperor Belos completes his repairs of the portal, and when he does, all those unsent message will suddenly spill out all at once, giving good ol' Mama a heart attack.

Sort've serves her right though, because, you know, G-RATED CONVERSION THERAPY!

But anyway, she overhears Eda talking about eschewing her booze in favor of getting Luz food she can actually eat, so she resolves to make it up to her by taking on the biggest bounty of them all, which so happens to be a magical creature called a Selkie-dama, which requires her to join a ship that's setting out to do that so she could get a cut.

A ship that just so happens to be under the command of Lilith's replacement, who also so happens to be the mysterious spy working for Emperor Belos that we met last season, whom we will get to!

Anyway, they fortunately rush through the bit of Luz proving herself to the crew, because who cares, King finds out agent's private room (in a reveal that calls back to a similar scene in Gravity Falls) and gets captured, and they find the Selkie-Dama, in which Luz shows us how far she's come by utterly wrecking shit.

Unfortunately, the bounty is stolen by a mysterious figure, and Luz isn't about to get ripped off again, so she goes after them, only to find that that SURPRISE, it's Eda, who figured she'd cut out the middleman and just steal the bounty directly, because you have to admit that that does make sense.

But anyway, none of that matters, because that's when HE finally is properly introduced.

Hear that? That's the sound of thousands of thirsty fangirls (and quite a few fanboys and fanenbys as well) shrieking.

Meet the Golden Guard. Yes, he's arrogant. Yes, he's sassy as fuck. Yes, he's voiced by Zeno Robinson. And according to his brief appearance in the OP...

HE'S A PALE-HAIRED PRETTY BOY, Y'ALL!!!

So. We now have this season's small antagonist.

And since Luz is the only resident of the Owl House with any real power (Hooty aside, but we'll get to that) and now with Amity as Luz's close friend (more on that later as well), that makes him Luz's new rival! Ooooh, I can smell the Enemies to Lovers fics already!

Yeah, it's gonna be a HUGE ship, but that's no prediction, everyone knew that anyway.

But while I doubt they're actually going to get together (though count on our bi-queen Luz getting smitten once she sees his face), I do smell a redemption arc for this guy. I mean, why would they make him so likeable otherwise?

Yes, he was a jerk, but he was a jerk in an endearingly entertaining sort of way.

But beyond that, I do note that he also has a tech-powered staff (seems to be the same one that held the palisman that Belos fed off of last season, but with an upgrade), and wields the same flesh-based magic as well. Now, his ears do show that he's not a human, but I still wonder if all that tech magic (which has to be manipulating the flesh of the Titan itself) is either a crutch for the magicless or a shortcut for those who want power fast.

Also, in addition to slotting in as Luz's rival, he also has taken Lilith's place as the face of the Emperor's Coven and also uses Eda's "BYYYEEEEE!!!" catchphrase, he's set up to be a foil to just about everybody!

Anyway, he's not here to take them out just yet, but instead forces them to kill the Selkie-dama. They don't, of course, and instead trick him into thinking that they did, but it does show that 1. Emperor Belos is content to leave them be for the moment, and 2. Emperor Belos is seeking the destruction of magical creatures. Huh.

Also, called it on Luz becoming Eda's teacher when it comes to glyphs.

But speaking of rivals and ships, the question over all of this is Amity, who's been MIA with a broken leg for a while. No doubt she's not going to be upset about Luz being stuck in the Boiling Isles, but if Luz does start crushing on Prettyboy Golden Guard, I can see her feel all sorts of upset about that. I still thinking that Lumity is endgame, but now she's got to work for it, and there is going to be angst.

Anyway, our B-plot has Lilith trying to make things up for Eda, by putting together a scrying potion to spy on the Emperor's castle. Nice, will probably be important later, but the real important part, in addition to her getting over her pride (not an easy thing) was the surprisingly touching friendship she's building with Hooty of all people! I didn't see this coming, but they honestly have some great comedic chemistry.

And honestly, I can see it. Lilith's first introduction to Hooty was him opening a can of whoopass on her and her men, and now he does it again to save her from the fire bees. Sure, he's weird and annoying, but he's strong and competent as hell, something that she would naturally respect. I honestly like what they have building, and the Lulu and Hooticifer nicknames were adorable.

And now, onto our brief glimpse of Belos, who still managed to steal the whole damned episode with just a few words. We see he's gone that long, white hair thing going for him, so not a rogue palisman. So, human or shortcut-exploiting conman. Regardless, just as he seems content to leave the Owl House be despite Luz having the key (which will definitely be important later), he also seems aware of the scrying, and has no problem letting it go on.

Okay, this season is shaping up to be a great one. And next episode is an Amity episode, in which her parents meet Luz, so let's fucking GOOOOOOOOOOO!!! on the Lumity teases and oh God NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! on the awkward cringe comedy that is sure to result!

#the owl house #luz noceda #eda clawthorne #lilith clawthorne #golden guard #hooty #amity blight #lumity #reaction #spoilers

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thatonerandomfangirlwhoreads · 4 years ago

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Tower of Nero Spoilers/Rant!! (Part 7)

Okay...in this post I think I’d better cover the things I liked and disliked about the last book. Before I start with that I just have to say it’s an overall amazing book and is definitely going to be the best thing about 2020!! Y’all should read the book. Moving on.....

Things I just loved about the book

I absolutely adored the Solangelo content in this book. That goes without saying.

The book also has some amazing callbacks to the original Percy Jackson series, which needless to say was AMAZING!! We see the Grey Sisters and the Chariot of Damnation again. We see Rachel hit an enemy monster in the with...a blue plastic hairbrush.

I love how Uncle Rick has written the book so that it is still full of humor, while also addressing very serious changes in Apollo’s character.

It was incredible to see so much character development in the characters that have an actual role in the book. We get to see exactly how much Apollo, Meg, Nico, Will and Rachel have grown since we first met them.

A lot of characters we previously hated have been redeemed. We may not exactly like them now, but we certainly understand them a little better. I know many people were psyched to see Mr. D giving Nico therapy and advice on his mental health, but the last scene which has Mr. D in it is even more precious. Apollo regains his godhood and visits Camp once more, there he offers words of consolation to Mr. D because he’d detested his mortal form for the six months he was stuck in it and he can understand Mr. D’s pain because he’s been cursed to stay in this form for a whole hundred years. His bitterness may not have been warranted but at least now it’s understandable.

Now another divine being we hate with all the fiery passion of a thousand suns is...Hera. Hera has only two scenes in the entire book, but both of them are extremely important. In the first, Hera seems to have been crying for some unknown reason and she chides the other Olympians for talking about Apollo as if he’s already dead. In the second she’s seen mourning Jason’s death, this gives us an impression that she may not be totally heartless. In the same scene she is also seen defending Apollo to Zeus. Apollo says that he may never love his stepmother but now he can see things from her point of view. He can understand her pain. She doesn’t live an easy life, given the fact she’s married to Zeus. This helps in her character redemption (sort of).

In this point you’ll have to excuse me for some of my slightly unconventional views. I think Rick Riordan is sending out a very important message to children of this day and age. The male protagonist and his female counterpart can certainly love each other and still feel absolutely no romantic attraction towards each other. It is very nice to see that authors are highlighting the fact that there are many kinds of love.

The last thing I loved is the very emotional last line, which wrapped the entire 15 book story arch pretty well. The last line consisted of just 9 very simple words but had something of a lasting effect. In the last line Apollo says, “Call on me. I will be there for you.”

Things I didn’t love too much about the book

No Annabeth action!! Annabeth does have a short cameo scene in the end of the book, but she doesn’t actually do anything to affect the storyline of the book.

Meg doesn’t get to meet her mom in the ultimate adventure of The Trials Of Apollo. We do know that she wants to meet her mom, because she asks about her in The Burning Maze, but unfortunately she doesn’t. She might, in the future but I guess we won’t know anytime soon.

It was also kind of sad that readers didn’t get to see a final “endgame” moment because that would have been great. It would have made us ecstatic to see the Demigods of Prophecy, Lavinia, Grover, Calypso, The Waystation Women, Rachel, Nico and Will in one final epic battle. But the cameo scenes where we get to see all of them is great too.

We don’t get a Solangelo kiss. I know...that’s sad. The only gay kiss we see is between Apollo and Commodus (yikes!), but on the bright side we do get a hint at a Solangelo stand-alone book. So there’s that!!

That’s it!! Do read the book if you haven’t yet.

P.S.: Please feel free to text me in my inbox if you’d like to discuss anything in the whole wide world. I’d absolutely love that!! It could be book related or anything else. You could do an Ask too. And a big thank you to everyone for the support for my last few posts.

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kyber-crystal · 4 years ago

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safe with him || s.r

summary: following your reunion after weeks apart drifting through space, steve becomes an overprotective mother hen and refuses to let you out of his sight.

words: ~1.3k

warnings: very slightly mentions of angst, soft cap, fluff. UNEDITED so it’s VERY poorly written i’m sorry

a/n: a part 2 to Lost In Space, as requested by anon! it’s been FOREVER since i first published that fic but i’m so glad you went back and read it! you can read this as a standalone too tho. POST IW---PRE-ENDGAME AU

After your touched down at the compound, Steve was refusing to leave your side.

Whenever you moved about, he was never far behind—always staying within a foot of where you stood or sat. You wanted to protest, to reassure him you were just fine—but you understood his urge to go full-on overprotective worried mother hen mode. It was in his nature to worry.

"Darling,” he spoke so softly it took everyone by surprise. It was a tone of voice the team rarely ever heard him use—it was a tone specifically reserved for you, and only you.

“Hmm?” You pulled his jacket tightly around your shoulders, watching Tony from outside, worriedly peering through the glass walls. “What’s up?”

"C’mere,” he spread his arms out towards you. You didn’t hesitate to step forward, walking straight into his warm embrace. As soon as your head found its way against his heart you were at ease and your hands slid up his back in response, gently gripping the fabric of his T-shirt.

You let out a sigh of contentment, closing your eyes as he rested his chin on your head and pressed a soft kiss to your temple—letting his lips linger there for a second longer than usual. It felt nice to be with him again. After weeks of complete separation and no contact whatsoever, you’d found yourself missing Steve so much your chest physically ached just thinking about him.

If time permitted, you would’ve stayed like that forever. You wanted nothing more, nothing less, than to have him hold you until the very end of your days—and he wanted to do the same, as well.

Your heart felt hollowed and carved out; empty after the wake of the Snap, after the world was shocked into utter devastation. You lost your practically-siblings, Wanda and Peter, you lost your best pals, Sam, Bucky, you lost your mentor and father figure, Doctor Strange. You lost all your friends and family and you didn’t know what to do. You felt lost and alone; helpless.

You sought out comfort in the warmth of Steve’s embrace and his piercing gaze, stunning blue eyes that would never fail to keep you calm yet make your heart race at the same time. Blue eyes brimming with sheer love and adoration—for you. You don’t need to say anything for him to wrap you into a tight hug—he could read you like an open book—he knew you almost as well as you knew yourself, if not even better. “Doll, I even remember your exact order from that Thai place we always order takeout from,” he’d say, “Spicy shrimp pad thai, pineapple fried rice, and taro milk tea with 50% ice and 25% sweetness,” as well as other oddly specific facts nobody else would know unless you told them yourself or they peeked through your file, “You were born (Y/B/D) at exactly 12:01:36 a.m. You’re a Brooklyn kid, just like me,” “You love action films, crime dramas, and pulling all-nighters to watch the sunrise.”

Maybe that’s what made you let down your guard around him and trust him so easily. Maybe that’s why you felt so safe around him—there was little to nothing he didn't know about you—so there was no point in hiding.

“You’re tired,” he murmured into your hair. “When’s the last time you got any rest?”

When you didn’t answer because you were too worn out to do so, he observed your bloodshot eyes and dark circles, which told him all he needed to know. “Let’s get you sitting down again, doll. You’ve had a long day.”

You nodded numbly as he led you back to the lounge. He sat down on the plushy couch next to you, and you stretched out, resting your head in his lap. He couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and gently raking his fingers through your soft hair.

“Hey, Y/N-” Bruce paused and quickly lowered his voice when he saw you’d fallen asleep. He came and carefully draped a blanket over your body before taking a step back. “Are you sure she’s alright...”

“I don’t know,” Steve exhaled, brushing stray hairs away from your face. “If her fatigue alone is telling me anything, then...”

He nodded. “Alright...why don’t you take her back to her room, Cap, and I’ll go grab the IV drip.”

“Rogers.”

“Hey, Nat...”

“I saw that little exchange outside." He wasn’t smirking at all, just had a small smile on. “Guess you finally worked up the courage to do it, huh.”

“Actually...she initiated it. But I think I would’ve done it sooner or later,” he smiled down at your sleeping form, “I missed her.”

“I know. I did too.” She placed a hand on his shoulder, “I’m glad she’s back. I’ve had enough of you moping around trying to get drunk, when you know for a fact you can’t.”

“Natasha...”

“I’m just messing with you,” she laughed. “I gotta go talk to Rhodes about something, so you keep taking care of your girl, alright?”

“Yeah.”

...

You woke up to find yourself in bed. An IV needle was inserted into the crook of your elbow, and a worried Steve Rogers was sitting in a chair he’d pulled up to your bedside, head in your lap as he gripped your hand tightly.

“Hi. Steve. You awake?”

“Hmmm?” He lifted his head up and blinked several times. “Y/N! You’re awake. That’s good.”

You yawned. “What time is it?”

“A little past 10 a.m. You hungry? I can fix something up for you, if you want. How’d you sleep? Bruce had to administer some treatments for you...you were hit pretty hard after living on nothing but packaged meals and granola bars for several weeks.”

“I don’t feel like passing out anymore,” you shrugged, “So that’s good. What about you? How much sleep did you get? Or did you stay here...the entire time...”

“A few hours, on and off.”

“And when you say few hours, you really mean...a few minutes here and there, don’t you,” you said in a slightly accusatory tone. “Steve, really? I’m not a child. I’m basically not much younger than you, I can get by on my own.”

"You had me really worried, Y/N. When I didn’t see you return...I thought I’d actually lost you. I don’t even want to think about how that’d affect me if it were to be true.”

“Awww,” you stuck your bottom lip out slightly, teasing him, “Does the big, muscular, giant puppy, Captain America, care about me?”

“I'm supposed to protect you, to watch over you,” he tried defending himself, but the flush of his cheeks gave it all away. “I’m just doing my job.”

“Okay, then...” You nodded, leaning back against the headboard, the aftereffects of all the meds beginning to catch up with you. “Man, I’m tired. Doesn’t matter if I sleep 14 minutes or 14 hours, I’m always going to feel like crap.”

“But I do care about you,” Steve corrected himself, “that’s true. I always have.”

His voice was so soothing, so calming—you wanted to swoon and fall asleep to it at the same time. You felt your stomach flutter with butterflies.

“That’s nice,” you closed your eyes, smiling sleepily, “because I care about you too. Wouldn’t have spilled all my feelings in that voice recording if I didn’t. I was scared I’d never see you again, either...”

“A recording?” He raised a brow. “What’d it say?’

“That I love you and I always have and always will,” you breathed out, eyes still closed, “But I think I’ve made that fact obvious enough already.”

“Can I kiss you?” he spoke suddenly.

"You can kiss me any day, Captain,” you smiled as you leaned in. He closed the gap and connected your lips with his. You felt a pleasant stirring sensation in your chest—and so did he.

And you finally felt like you were home again.

#avengers imagines #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x y/n #avengers x reader #captain america imagine #captain america x reader #captain america x you #marvel fic #avengers fanfiction #captain america one shot #steve rogers fic #captain america fic #chris evans x reader #chris evans imagine

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atiny-piratequeen · 4 years ago

Text

Against the Tide: Tenth Voyage (Ch. 10)

Pairing : Poly Ot8

Genre: Heavy Angst, Action, Fantasy, Smut, Fluff

Rating: 18+

Tags: DemonPirate!Au, Supernatural, Eventual Poly Relationship, Violence, Blood, Elemental Powers, Past and Modern Day AU, Mythical Creatures, Character Death, Slow Burn, Happy Ending Endgame

Chapter Specific Tags: Repeated Main Character Death, Reincarnation, Emotional and Psychological Manipulation, Graphic Blood and Violence, Brief Mentions of Mental Health Concerns

Chapter WC: 10k+

A/N: There could be tags added later, especially if there’s something I write that potentially triggers my readers. The last thing I want is for that to happen, so please don’t hesitate to give me feedback if there’s something I write here you’d like me to tag.

**A/N: Thank you Riza @not-majestic-bluenicorn for helping me out with the tarot card readings, ilysm

Taglist moved to the bottom of the work. If you’d like to be added to the taglist for this or my other works, feel free to fill out the form here after reading the full post. AO3

Taglist

← Last Voyage Next Voyage →

The sound of Seonghwa’s screams from that night still haunts the crew.

They’re fortunate, Yunho thinks.

Though, he’d never say it aloud and Geb is kind enough not to call him out on the bitter, spiteful thoughts when they arise.

Anyway, the crew was fortunate.

Most of them are lucky that all they heard was the screams of their First Mate- no -their new Captain. The crewmembers below the deck and the ones unconscious didn’t have to deal with the sight of their captain, the one who held them all together, breaking down.

The fear on his face. The defeat. The pain. The terrified, yet resolute tone in his voice.

All that haunted them was the screams of the ex prince, which, coupled by an explosion of ice, creating a fortress of frost around them, was a beacon in the night for what had happened.

Yunho had to drag him out of the ocean. Nearly got stabbed doing so. It took an hour of Seonghwa diving into the depths, freezing everything around him and reaching fruitlessly before Yunho snatched him back to the surface.

He’d nearly been frozen and stabbed for his efforts and the crew watched on as Yunho pinned Seonghwa to the deck, thick vines keeping him still as he screamed and thrashed.

Just behind him, Mingi stood back with an unconscious San in his arms. Wooyoung was at his side, eyes wide as tears rolled down his cheeks while Yeosang leaned over the taffrail, emptying the contents of the dinner he’d worked hard to make into the ocean. Jongho still lay unconscious under the broken planks of wood in the hold, sea water soaking his clothes and Whiro noticeably absent from his skin for once.

“LET ME GO! LET ME GO! HONGJOONG! HONGJOONG!” Seonghwa screamed, his voice raw and cracking as he thrashed in Yunho’s arms.

None of them had ever seen the level headed ex prince fall apart like this. He bore his teeth at him, trying to wrestle his way free, freezing parts of his body to try and get Yunho to let him go. The sight of the raven-haired immortal coming apart at the seams broke everyone’s heart and Geb gently whispered into Yunho’s ear so he could settle Seonghwa down the hard way.

They weren’t getting anywhere like this.

So Yunho sighed and created a small flower near Seonghwa’s head, tears slipping down his cheeks. Seonghwa looked up at him, eyes bloodshot from crying.

“H-Hong-”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Small spores wafted out of the flower and slowly Seonghwa’s thrashing slowed down. He felt his body grow heavy as Yunho put his head in his lap, crying quietly as Seonghwa’s pitch black hair slowly went back to it’s natural blonde color.

“N...o...Hongjoong...putois…”

Yunho wished all that haunted him was the screams, and not the guilt of not being strong or fast enough to keep him from disappearing. That Hongjoong’s quivering, terrified voice didn’t knock around his head as much as the anguished howls of Seonghwa.

Unfortunately, that was all it was. Wishful thinking.

-x-

- I finally get what you've been saying

Now that we're knee deep side by side

The storm clouds are circling above us

As we struggle against the tide-

-x-

There are intricacies that come with warfare, the king knew these well.

Though, even he may admit that this was an... unfortunate miscalculation.

Getting to a point in Hongjoong’s mind where he was distracted enough for him to actually affect his powers was leagues more difficult than he’d ever let anyone know. For as much as he antagonized the pirate, the dragon inside would admit he had much more mental fortitude than he originally gave him credit for.

Stupid mortals and their useless sense of ‘love’.

Though, technically, he wasn’t a mortal anymore.

Whatever.

Regardless of what the little captain was classified as, the fight with the one called ‘Priscilla’ had left him in such a panic that the dragon was able to break through, tap into the core of their-no, his -powers, and snatch it from under him while he was fighting for everyone’s lives.

Disgusting.

He figured he’d distract the foolish captain long enough for him to kill him mentally and rid himself of the beast.

Oh, and sink that damned ship and rip it’s crew to pieces. For fun.

He’d never expected a curse to be placed on him because of his intervention. Not only did the she beast strip the captain of all of his knowledge of who he was and his crew, she had inadvertently banished the dragon to the farthest recesses of the captain’s mind.

As the king stood, he couldn’t see light in either direction.

He had to get back to the front so he could take control. He had to break out before the captain remembered and broke the curse. He could handle Pricilla later.

With a scoff, he turned into his dragon form and snorted.

A minor misstep. He could outsmart some stupid immortal wannabes and that grotesque bastard child.

Then, he’d create havoc.

For fun.

And revenge.

But mostly fun.

-x-

-I feel your grip firm on my shoulder,

But this fear in my head won’t subside,

They patiently circle around us,

As we hold out… -

-x-

“Do you see those men there? They hold your entire fate in their hands.”

Hongjoong panted, blood running into his eyes as his hair was pulled back roughly. On the other side of a clear glass bubble, he could see seven men in a room. There was a tall blonde man pacing. Every time his boot touched the floor, it would freeze before the ice melted.

There was a taller man holding onto two smaller men who were crying.

Something was said and the blonde turned suddenly, his body rigid. A buffer man stood between him and the group, reaching for something on his person. The blonde man crossed the room and took his hand, the tips of his fingers frosting around the man’s wrist as he glared at him, saying something.

Hongjoong couldn’t hear a word either of them were saying, nor did he care. He pivoted on his heel, elbowing the monstrous woman behind him in the face before he broke off into a run.

He didn’t know where he was going, but he figured if he ran far enough, screamed loud enough-

Something hard slammed into his back, knocking him forward. He rolled, his clothing soaked by the water as he wheezed, trying to catch his breath. When he looked up, a rabid dog was staring him down.

He screamed in terror and backed away, eyes wide.

Who was she? Why was she doing this to him? Where even was he?

Fangs sunk into his thigh before he was dragged back towards the woman, kicking and screaming.

A dark smile came to her face.

“Get real comfortable, little pirate. With how your sorry crew looks, you’ll be stuck here with me forever and ever~ You’re here because of them, at the very least, you should know that they’re the reason you’re here.”

-x-

- Oh, father why have they forsaken me?

You warned me that they would,

The curse is passing down the bloodline,

Misspoken and misunderstood.-

-x-

“Seonghwa, all I’m saying is we can try it out-”

“We’re not calling that woman!”

Jongho pursed his lips, annoyed at the older immortal raising his voice at him, while Wooyoung flinched and whined behind him, sitting with Yeosang in Yunho’s arms as the two of them cried.

“What else are we going to do? How else do we start? We don’t even know what happened to Hongjoong fully or where that witch took him!” the Maori man snapped back.

Seonghwa paced like a caged animal, but eventually scoffed, admitting temporary defeat.

“Fine. Call her.” He hissed. Jongho eyed him for a moment before reaching for the feather dangling from his hip. Whiro curiously shifted along his skin, but Jongho focused on the feather, holding it out in front of him.

“Hyuna!”

Seonghwa and the others stood and waited.

And waited.

And waited….

And...waited….

“Why...isn't she coming?”

Seonghwa’s nostrils flared in anger before he barked out a laugh.

“Oh, look at that. She’s not coming . You wait around for her and we’ll never find Hongjoong. Right now, we can start by finding out who fucking stole that fucking staff.” He hissed.

The temperature in the room drastically lowered as ice cold grey eyes scanned over everyone in the group.

They lingered on some more than others.

“It wasn’t me. Don’t stare at me like that.” Mingi’s voice was hurt as he looked down at the floor. Seonghwa’s jaw ticked.

“I didn’t say it was you.” He stiffly informed him.

“You didn’t have to. I was raised around Bella Rose, I know an accusatory look when I see it. It wasn’t me.” He muttered, his voice quieter. San noticed the clench of his fists and the tears welling up in the boatswain’s eyes and moved to place a hand on his back. Seonghwa clicked his tongue, keeping his eyes on the duo. Yeosang began to hiccup through his sobs in Yunho’s arms, so the man stood, catching Seonghwa’s attention.

“I don’t...think that should be our top priority. Not right now.”

“I disagree. One of you stole the staff, and Hongjoong is gone now. That seems pretty damn important. Which one of you did it?” He spat, malice dripping from his voice. Even Jongho flinched back, his brows pulled together. Whiro shifted along his skin and tutted before lifting upwards.

Jongho moved to reel him in, but he was met with more than the usual amount of resistance and Whiro’s voice in his head.

‘For once, trust me, kid.’

Jongho pursed his lips and let Whiro form into a mirror image of himself aside from the blonde hair, red eyes, and ta moko. He rolled his shoulders and looked at Seonghwa, who looked unimpressed and fed up before anything even left the fragmented god’s mouth.

“If you’re going to talk shit, save-”

“Nah, you’ve said enough the past few days. Shut up and listen for once, prince.”

Seonghwa snarled, but Whiro ignored him, keeping his thick arms crossed as he spoke. Even Jongho looked on curiously as Whiro continued.

“What exactly are you gonna do with that information? Hm? Hurt one of them? Kick them out? Is that what the old captain would have wanted?”

Seonghwa looked taken aback-and he wasn’t the only one.

Seven pairs of eyes watched Whiro in shock.

“Whoever stole it doesn’t matter right now. What matters right now is whether you like it or not, you’re the captain now. From what I understand after Jongho and I got knocked the fuck out, you were told to protect this ship and it’s crew. Last time I checked, this temper tantrum you’re throwing isn’t protecting shit, not even yourself.”

“Am I not allowed my hurt? My anger? Hongjoong was...Hongjoong was my first love, he saved my life-”

Whiro rolled his eyes.

“Listen, I’m stuck here in this body for all of eternity and I feel what he feels,” He jabbed his thumb in the direction of a shocked Jongho before he kept talking. “Get your shit together. Stop your sniveling, and start being the leader the shortstack knows you can be. The kid is strong. He may have lost this, but at one point, he had eight spirits inside of him and didn’t fall completely to ruin. Instead of doing the exact opposite of what he said to do and tear this crew apart, wipe your nose, wash your face for fuck’s sake, and go find the shortstack. He needs you, all of you. It’s been a week and we’re still in Greece. I’ll give you a day or so longer to get those tears out before I expect all fucking seven of you to quit bitchin’ and start searchin’. Do I make myself clear?”

Seonghwa blinked before he ran a hand through his hair.

“Gods, is it that bad that the literal God of Evil is trying to help?”

“Yes, actually.” Whiro responded without missing a beat, drawing an involuntary laugh out of some of them.

“I’m stuck to Jongho for all of eternity. I’d rather not to deal with all of these stupid ass gushy ass emotions normally, but since I have no choice now, I’d rather we pull ourselves together. Oh, and when I get my hands on that serpentine bitch, you can all step aside. I’ll take care of her myself.”

Seonghwa rolled his eyes, but turned to the group, sighing as he bowed himself down.

“I...I’m sorry.” There was more sitting on his tongue, but that was all he said for the time being, turning to leave. Once the sound of his boots on the wood retreated down the hall and out of earshot, everyone let out a relieved sigh, turning to look over at Whiro.

“Holy shit. You helped us.” San muttered.

Whiro cocked a brow.

“Helped you? Please. I’m just tired of the back and forth and even ol’ Jongie boy here is getting affected by all this more than I’d like, for us to share a body. I helped myself, nothing more.” It was a lie, and all of them knew that much, but no one called him on it. Before he disappeared into Jongho’s skin, however, he did have something else to add.

“Though, my words will only light the fire under his ass and distract him for so long. You all seem content not knowing who took it, and that’s strange to me, but whatever. I suggest you all find the pipsqueak captain before blondie starts getting in his own head again. I can’t assure you all I can step out of Jongho every time Seonghwa becomes overwhelmed with anguish. I put these emotions in the world, I know their power. You don’t want the ice prince coming after you because most of you won’t be able to stop the rage that kid has inside from this. So find him. And quit feelin’ so damn sorry for yourselves.” With that, Whiro settled back onto the skin of Jongho’s arms.

Everyone glanced at each other before standing to go to their own respective rooms except Yunho, since they had gathered in his room.

As one of them left, his shoulders slumped lower than the others, his heart thundering in his chest.

‘I’m sorry I took it...I’m so sorry, I didn’t know...I didn’t know it would be this way, please forgive me, I just-’

-x-

-We're losing light

And strength of will

The darkened depths beckoning still

And we hold on

Against the tide-

-x-

Dawn pursed his lips.

“The pirates called for you. Should we get going?”

Hyuna lifted her head from the tub of water she was mostly submerged in.

“Can’t. They’re in Greece. If I stepped foot in Greco-Roman territory again, Zeus would surely come down from Olympus himself to strike me down. He’s still bitter I didn’t just accept my role as the harbinger of evil to mankind and then die off like the toy he created me to be. Whatever the boys need me for, I’ll just apologize next time they call on me. I’m sure it’s nothing. Besides, the last time they called me, I got my ass kicked. They’ll live if I just take a rain check this once.” Hyuna pouted from the tub before sinking back into the water, her inky hair making the water seem like it was pitch black.

Dawn watched her for a moment before humming and turning to sharpen his sickles.

Maybe she had a point.

-x-

-Beneath the storm and left to fight alone

Remember son, you're reaping what you've sown

Under the waves and sinking like a stone

I'm sorry son, you're reaping what you've sown-

-x-

When Lloyd answered the door that one cold night in January, he wasn’t expecting his son on the other side of the door. His lips parted in surprise.

“Jesus it's cold, Lloyd, why is the door op-YUNHO!”

Yunho laughed through his tears as Robin shot out from behind Lloyd, nearly knocking him down as he hugged him tight. His dreads, though graying, were much longer than the last time Yunho saw him, and he couldn’t help the big smile that crossed his face as the sound of thundering footsteps followed by excited screams pierced through the night air.

The smell of sapodilla and of Barbados lilies flooded his nose with the smell of cerasee clinging to Robin’s clothes.

Before he knew it, he was crying, relieved to see all four of his parents in good health.

Lloyd observed them with a small smile on his face, before he noticed the men standing just off behind him.

“I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Lloyd, one of Yunho’s fathers. My partners will introduce themselves once they’re finished hugging the daylights out of our poor son...though...there seems to be more of you than last time, and I don’t see the captain…?”

Yunho tensed immediately, and it didn’t go unnoticed by his parents. Mei pulled away first, noticing the wobble of Yunho’s lip and Valeria cupped his cheeks.

“Ay, lad...what’s wrong baby?”

“I’m...I’m the captain now.” Seonghwa spoke, though he didn’t meet any of their eyes. Robin pulled away, as well, and Yunho sighed, rubbing his arm.

“I...I came home because we need some help.” He murmured.

All four of them exchanged a look before Lloyd stepped aside.

“Come inside from the cold, boys. Mei will brew some tea, and you can explain what happened.”

-20 years Later-

Mingi sat in silence as he sat in a cathedral. He had taken some time away from Yunho’s island to visit another, picking up a few books to read from a shop on curses and the like. Was it the most ideal place to be reading something like this? Most likely not, but he had to do what he needed to.

The crew had stayed near the Caribbean Islands, doing their absolute best to find somewhere, anywhere to start.

It was stifling, with tensions so high. Some members from the original crew had either moved on or passed away trying to help Seonghwa and the others locate Hongjoong, and the blonde captain had been adamant about not bringing new members in.

There...was no love lost between the seven of them, Mingi liked to think, but he’d be lying if he said Seonghha hadn’t put up a wall between all of them and himself. After Whiro put him in his place, he seemed to mask his true anguish and hurt, and they all could tell it was taking a toll on him, though he always put on and front when he was around them.

He was the leader. The captain. He had to keep himself together, lest they all fall apart. Hongjoong trusted him to do this much. To protect them. If that meant suppressing his own emotions for the betterment of the crew, so be it. It wasn’t like it was something he didn’t know how to do already.

He was raised as royalty, next up for the throne and title of a king. Kings couldn’t show any cowardice and weakness. Seonghwa could hide away his emotions well enough.

Though, that was a lie. They could all see it. The chips in his icy exterior. The tremble in his lips when he kissed them. The slight, barely there crack in his voice when he went to reassure them. Seonghwa was falling apart and masking it with layers of ice, but none of them had the heart to call him out.

Not when they were falling apart too.

An air of failure and guilt clung to them and no amount of sweet words from Yunho’s parents could hold it back for too long.

Speaking of parents...

Mingi’s fingers trembled on the page. Right. He had to return to the island soon. Lloyd had passed away of natural causes from his old age and they would be having a celebration of life for him tonight.

The four of them all but put a pause on their work to help out with locating Hongjoong, studying everything from mythology, to curses themselves.

For two decades, they tirelessly helped them, and Mingi was forever grateful. Honestly, it was all four of them that kept the boys from completely losing hope. From the Irish, foul-mouthed tongue lashings they (lovingly) got from Valeria, to Robin taking their mind off of it with teaching them capoeira, to Mei gently telling them Korean folktales over cups of tea when the stress was too high, and finally, old Lloyd teaching all of them the way of herbal medicine and always lending an ear when they needed to vent.

The four of them had all but become the in-laws to the group, and Mingi was forever grateful.

“You look troubled.”

Mingi jolted, closing his book as a nun walked up to him. Mingi scooted over as she sat beside him, placing her hands on her lap as she looked forward past the pews to stare at the beautiful organ at the forefront of the hall.

He subtly hid the book behind his thigh, clearing his throat.

“I’m sorry, I just needed somewhere quiet to read and-”

“You’ve been staring at that page for half an hour. Either that passage is really good, or you’re troubled.” She laughed lightly. Mingi stared at the side of her face. His brow furrowed.

Why did she seem so familiar…?

“Would you like someone to lend an ear? We have a confessional, or I could just listen.” She offered, kind brown eyes staring into his own. He lowered his gaze to his hands and sighed.

“I’m just...looking for someone close to me. They were taken away and I don’t know if I can find them or where to start.” he muttered. The nun tilted her head before crossing her feet at the ankle, sitting up straighter.

Mingi expected her to mention God, they were in a place of worship, after all.

“I think you should take time to clear your heart and your mind. You’re very troubled and you won’t be able to focus on your objective when you are so conflicted. Life...throws lots of hurdles at you. Take time to catch your breath and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can be surprised how asking different people for advice will steer you in the right direction. Sometimes you need to take a step back and look at it from a different angle. Remember that, and I hope you find your friend.” She smiled and stood up, waving to Mingi as she turned to leave.

“Wait!”

She paused.

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry if this is...a weird question, but what is your name, Sister?” He inquired. She blinked in surprise before sending him a kind name.

“Mine? My name is Sister Gracie.”

-x-

Seonghwa stood in front of a mirror, looking at his reflection. His jaw was clenched tight as he wiped his eyes. He had to pull himself together. Two decades and they haven’t found him yet.

He looked into his own grey eyes, his voice tense.

“I’m not giving up on you. I’ll never give up on you. I’ll find you, mon petit putois.” he muttered, adjusting the buttons to his shirt.

What he couldn’t tell, in a plane beyond the one he was standing in, was Hongjoong was looking back at him.

Panicked fists slammed against the invisible aquatic wall that separated the two of them.

“Hey! Hey!! I’m screaming at you, please!” Hongjoong looked behind him, finding something slithering in the depths of water behind him. Bubbles erupted from his mouth as he screamed louder, his voice getting raw as he reached desperately for the vision of the blonde man. He pressed his palm to the man’s image, tears in his eyes.

“ Please! I’m screaming, I’m begging! Why, why can’t you hear me?! Help me!”

A thick tentacle wrapped around his waist, pulling him roughly. Hongjoong scrambled, pressing both hands to the barrier. A laugh echoed from behind him before he was snatched back, away from the image of the blonde man.

In the guest room, Seonghwa placed a palm on the cool mirror, eyes downcast.

“I’ll find you. No matter how far you are, Hongjoong.”

-x-

-Beneath the storm and left to fight alone

Remember son, you're reaping what you've sown

Under the waves and sinking like a stone

I'm sorry son, you're reaping what you've sown-

-x-

He can feel it. Every time he dies. Every time he’s reborn and has a different name.

~1668, the first death after the curse was placed on him, he’s trampled by a horse.

1690, he can feel his throat closing after a fatal allergic reaction.

1712, an accident while trying to help create the first working steam engine.~

Hongjoong feels it all. It doesn’t help, the she-beast likes to toy with him. Sometimes she lets him roam free, in the vast expanse of...wherever he was trapped in. He had no concept of the passage of time anymore while he was in here. Everything felt...stalled and floaty. The woman told him he had been there for almost a century, in her clutches, but he paid it no mind.

That was absurd.

~1734, flash, then it’s gone with a lightning strike.

1756, huddled up for warmth, only to die by the morning from exposure getting lost in the mountains.

1778, blood loss from a carpenter accident. He was a careless man in this particular life.~

Sometimes she leaves him alone. For very long periods of time. He doesn’t know if he prefers that or not. On one hand, her torture was agonizing, between the way she’d wound him, leaving him on the brink of what surely should have been death, but unlike his selves on the outside, he couldn’t die in here.

No, he had to slowly power through the pain, slowly heal in this god forsaken place, and then she’d come back, and start all over.

He envied the other ‘hims’ on the outside. They got to live lives, all of which unfulfilling and mostly in poverty, but they still got to live them, and then they all died on November 7th, only for the piece of his soul to be cast away to another part of the world, into a newborn and reborn once again.

Then the cycle continued. He watched it all from this space. His lives, his deaths, over and over again.

The woman never called him anything other than cruel names and ‘Captain’, though he had no idea of what anymore.

Hell, he was pretty sure he’d forgotten his own name while trapped in here.

~1800, a casualty in the Quasi War.

1822, a fall from a moving locomotive.

1844, a fatal encounter with a wild boar.

1866, a mine shaft collapse.~

When he’s alone for decades at a time, he feels a bit of his sanity slip. Like he’ll never get out of this place. Like he’ll be here for all of eternity. Sometimes, he lays on his back, with his eyes closed for as long as he can, and waits.

Nothing ever happens, but sometimes it's easier to just...exist. Rest his eyes and his tired body. He hasn’t given up. Not yet, anyway, but sometimes it's better for him to just... be.

He’ll never admit to that woman that sometimes he looks forward to her arrival when she comes back from leaving him for so long, just because her presence grounds him into reality.

Or, rather, whatever hellish reality he’s found himself in at her hands.

At her hands, and as he looks out at the bubble she forces him to look at, finding those same seven men. Or, rather, two of them, this time.

They’re in Paris, the one with the dimples has an arm around the other one’s waist, muttering something into his ear. He nudges him before a tender smile comes to his lips and the two share a kiss before disappearing into a hotel room.

The brunette looked away, not sure why he was made to follow these people along though his time here. She always sneered in his ear that they were to blame, that they were the key to getting him out, that they were all happier without him and had forgotten him at this point.

She never showed him the seven of them tirelessly searching for him. He didn’t even know how hard they were working. She carefully picked out the rare moments they took time to themselves to catch their breaths and try and stabilize themselves, painting them as people who didn’t have any sense of urgency or care in the world.

The cook who made large meals with a big smile on his face. The inseparable duo, always attached at the hip, in each other’s space, bringing love and comfort to one another. The tall man with his nose in the books, glasses perched on his nose as he spent days engrossed in his books. The other tall one, filling out his notebooks with whatever hasty, nearly illegible sprawlings came to him as he sat amongst plants. The rugged one with the curious markings on his arms and legs that sometimes shifted and formed some dark being. Hongjoong would be surprised, but he had an aquatic beast breathing down his neck with tentacles for legs and rabid dog heads extending from her waist, so he would be lying if he said he was truly surprised.

The only one that never looked like he was relaxed was the blonde. Pricilla didn’t show him for long, but whenever he was in the background of those visions she’d hand picked for him, he looked like his heart had been ripped out of his chest. An air of guilt and anguish always settled underneath whatever expression he happened to have on his face, and it always made Hongjoong tilt his head and gave him a small flicker of hope.

~1888, a fall during the construction of a new building.

1910, a stage accident during the production of a play.

1932, burned alive saving a child from a fire.

1954, starvation.

1976, a hostage, taken out in an unsuccessful negotiation.~

He’s exhausted. He wonders if Pricilla is too. Doesn’t it get exhausting to do this to someone? Was what happened that led him to this point really that bad?

He watched his soul go into another body, sitting down and watching this one grow up. Quite the rebellious one, this version of himself. From his mullet, to the dark makeup around his eyes and the piercings littering his ears.

The trapped man watched him, grateful Pricilla had chosen to leave him alone for the time being.

He looked at a calendar on the wall behind the other him as he walked by one day, spotting the ‘1997’ on the wall.

Ah, only a year left until he’d die and another incarnation of him would come.

One day, as the other him is looking in the mirror, the trapped soul stands and stares at him. He knows he looks like hell, though he’s grateful Pricilla never showed him what he looked like. Hell, at this point, he wasn’t sure if these versions of ‘himself’ were really him, or if it was all just an elaborate lie.

“I’m right here. I’ve been right here. You’re lucky, living on the outside. You don’t even know I’m here, do you? You can’t see me, they never can.” He muttered bitterly.

The man on the other end paused the application of his makeup, his cut brow twitching.

“I can hear you. I liked it better when you were just some weird, fucked up version of myself in my dreams, though. I have enough on my plate without worrying about if I need to see a shrink for voices in my head.”

He froze.

“You can hear me?! You can hear me, really?!”

The other him narrowed his eyes.

“Jesus, you’re loud. Yes, I can hear you.”

He stared wide eyed at himself and for the first time in centuries, he had a flicker of hope. He wasn’t sure what changed, but for once, he got the fire in his whole body to get up and fight with his whole body once more.

-x-

-You're reaping what you've sown

You're reaping what you've sown

You're reaping what you've sown-

-x-

“You still haven’t forgotten the pirate from Delphi?”

Grey-ish blue eyes opened slowly and looked up at a pair that were identical.

“I could have done something, Tem.”

A small hum came from her lips as she crossed her legs and stared at him. She reached over, smoothing down his blonde hair before she pulled him into a hug.

“Why do you cling onto that immortal? He was only with you for but so long.”

“He made an impression. The way he spoke of his family and his crew, it was honestly the most genuine and pure emotions I’ve seen in centuries, and still, I haven’t quite seen anything like it.” he muttered.

He was met with a small hum.

“So, centuries later, several incarnations of him later, and you still want to step in and help? Is it because of Hyacinthus?”

He pursed his lips, looking down at her collar, biting his lip.

“I-”

“He’s gone, Apollo. But I see this means a lot to you. Father and Uncle have their hands tied with their...ugh...escapades, so I doubt you’d find much resistance. I can...I can try and help you. I hate to see my brother like this.”

Blue eyes widened and he pulled back.

“Artemis-”

“I said I can try . You and I, there is only but so much that we can do. This may even require you to step out from Olympus, out from our domain, and into the domain of other deities. Some of them may not be too privy to actually help out. Our father hasn’t left the greatest of impressions on the other sky deities and they tend to run the show. But, I will try for you.” She kissed the top of his head and sat back.

“We should get started. We should look into this curse a bit more. If it was our...darling cousin that put the curse on the man, I wouldn’t be surprised if she put in some hidden stipulations.”

He stood, eyes determined.

“Right, then. Let’s get to work.”

Artemis smiled and led him out of the room.

“Let's start by talking to the Fates. Maybe they can tell us where we can start.”

-x-

-We're slowly losing ground

And hope is harder to maintain

When all the prayers we've prayed

Feel lost like tears in the rain-

-x-

The king snarled, exhaustion pulling at his form.

Really, how fucking long had he been there? Was he even going in the right direction? Which way was up or down?

The heavens themselves wouldn’t save that damn beast of a woman when he got to the front of the pathetic pirate’s mind. He swore it on his own pride and honor, he would revel in breaking her in half.

Then those incompetent ass pirates. He was certain if they had gotten to the kid sooner and broke whatever curse was inflicted, he would’ve already been at the forefront of the captain’s mind once more.

Instead, he was here, swimming in the inky blackness of this idiot’s mind, unsure if he was even-

“-member me?”

He blinked, hearing an echo. His scaled head snapped up, pausing momentarily.

Was that…?

“I have dreams, yes. Of past ‘mes’, I guess. You’re really kind of persistent.”

“I’m sorry, I just...I need you to remember fully who you are, who we are. You’re the first one of me that can see and hear me. I think maybe...Maybe we can break the curse?”

“Sounds like a lot of work.”

The king’s fangs glinted as he looked towards the sound of the voices.

“F i n a l l y.”

-x-

-The waters pulling down

The moon's eclipsing the sun

The ending that we knew would come

Has finally begun-

-x-

Joong wasn’t much.

He lived his life poor and disinterested in life. His only friend was a fortune-telling, self proclaimed sun witch, and his only real interest in life was his motorcycle.

Nothing more, nothing less.

The dreams that plagued him since he was a child, of past lives and their subsequent deaths, none of it interested him.

They, like this persistent voice in his head for the past year, harping on a ‘curse’ or whatever, were just an inconvenience. He hadn’t heard from the ‘other him’ in a while, so maybe it was just an illusion from staying up late too many nights or something.

Either way, all this talk of mythical creatures and curses was truly a bother.

“Ah, you’re here. I was wondering when you’d show up.”

He ducked under the beaded curtain of the fortune telling shop, sitting across from a gorgeous woman with feline eyes.

“I told you I’d come, Siyeon. It is your birthday.”

Siyeon smiled softly and reached for his hands, gently rubbing her thumbs along the back of them.

“Yeah, but you never let me read your cards.”

Joong shrugged a shoulder, running a hand through his sandy brown mullet.

“Yeah, well. Happy birthday, how do you want me to do this?” He inquired. She laughed and pulled out a beautiful deck of tarot cards.

“You can shuffle the cards. Pull three of them and place them in a triangle formation and flip them one by one for me, okay?” the witch seemed excited about him participating, so he sent her a small, kind smile. He didn’t quite believe in any of this, but Siyeon was someone incredibly important to him, so just this once, he would go along with it.

He shuffled the cards, humming a birthday song to Siyeon while he did so before he followed her instructions and plucked three of the cards from three different sections of the deck, placing them in front of him in the shape of a triangle.

“Okay, flip them.”

Joong nodded and flipped the cards one by one.

Siyeon’s smile immediately fell.

A Reversed Emperor, The Tower, and the Three of Swords.

“Well that doesn’t look pleasant.” Joong tried to tease, but Siyeon’s expression didn’t crack. She looked up at him, brows pinched together. Joong shifted in his chair, the chains attached to his leather pants jingling from the move.

“Well? You gonna tell me what my fortune is, Si?”

“Right...right. Um...First is the Reversed Emperor. This is normally a symbol of power and being the king of kings, of sorts but um...reversed, there seems to be a lot of turmoil within you. You don’t have as much control as you’d like to believe you do, and it’s left you with a fake sense of safety and security.” She stared at the card before looking towards the second one.

“The Tower...there is chaos brewing for you, Joong. Chaos and destruction, and soon, something will happen that will absolutely turn your whole world upside down. The last, the Three of Swords, means heartbreak of some form is coming. It can be interpreted as something to do with the relationships you have, but it also can be in reference to some kind of terrible pain and suffering.”

“Well, that sounds welcoming.” Joong hummed, shrugging a shoulder. Siyeon looked at him, her face conflicted.

“I-”

“Hey, it's alright. Maybe your cards just don’t like me today.” He teased. Siyeon opened her mouth to tell him that wasn’t how it worked, but he put a hand over hers, sending her a disarming smile.

“Hey, it’s your birthday. Don’t worry so much about this stuff right now. I finally let you read my cards, so let’s go out to eat or something.” He offered. Siyeon resisted the urge to scold him and tell him to take what she had read more seriously, to caution himself, but instead, she only nodded and stood from her table.

“You’re taking me to the Latin place down the street, right?”

“Only the best for my best witch. See what I did there?”

“Because I’m a witch, hardy harr, let’s go nerd.”

-x-

“What do you mean there was a curse placed on him?! How long was it gonna take before you found me?!”

“We tried days after it happened! You didn’t respond!”

Hyuna paused, staring at Yeosang in surprise before she squinted.

“Wait...in Greece…?”

“Yes!”

“HE’S BEEN GONE FOR THAT-” a hand covered her mouth and she nearly bit San, eyes narrowing at him. He sent her a dirty look, wiping his hand off on his jeans before he looked at Dawn.

He was the calmer of the two of them, so they’d get answers from him.

“Hyuna can’t step foot in the Greco-Roman territories. Zeus would skin her alive. Since you all were in Greece when you called on her, she didn’t come for her own safety. And I imagine because of her not responding that time, none of you called on us again until right now?” the weasel spirit inquired.

Wooyoung, San, and Mingi shook their heads. The three of them had stuck together this time.

Somewhere at the turn of the 20th century, Seonghwa had suggested they start splitting up to try and find Hongjoong, since all seven of them looking in the same spot in such a vast and ever changing world was...impractical, at best. Downright idiotic at worst.

It made sense, but all of them knew that was the kindest way Seonghwa could tell them he couldn’t stand looking at some of them as much as he could anymore. They had begun to see the cracks once more. The barely concealed tick of his jaw when he thought no one was looking. The way he sometimes scanned their group when they were together, silently hoping whoever took it would come forward.

At the very least, he needed to know who did it. Whiro be damned.

Speaking of, he and Jongho had become exceptional trackers, which came as no surprise to the group. After all, Jongho had tracked down Hongjoong with the minimal information and tech that he had from before, so this was progressively getting easier.

He just needed to be faster. He’d found Hongjoong once, the last time, but by time he got to the city he felt Hongjoong was in, he could only stand by in wide-eyed shock as the sound of a gunshot rang out into the night.

He didn’t tell the others that part. He and Whiro would bear that one alone.

Regardless of their failures, they often grouped up on the 22nd year, to try to fruitlessly put together the pieces they needed to find him this time before his birthday passed and they inevitably lost their opportunity once more.

It was 1998 now. The 22nd year. He’s birthday was in a week and he’d die once more if they didn’t find him.

Hyuna frowned and looked at her box on her hip.

“I don’t have any spirits for searching, but I can find some. For...y’know, the next time.” She cringed. The boys did as well before hearing the door to the loft they were temporarily staying in open.

Seonghwa must have come home.

Hyuna gauged the looks on their faces and cringed.

“Right, then. I imagine this won’t be a good look for me to be here if that’s how all of you are looking at me. Dawn and I will go and I’ll get back to you as soon as I find a dog spirit suited for the job. I’m...I’m sorry.” She bowed her head down and the two of them disappeared as soon as the door opened.

Seonghwa stared at the trio for a moment before pointing behind him, his voice having lost nearly all of it’s usual sass and coyness.

“Come, I brought food.”

The three of them exchanged a look before trudging out of the room.

-x-

“Apollo, you really are impressive.”

Alistair, or rather, Apollo, wiped sweat from his brow and looked up from his spot on the floor before Hera, blood running down his temple as he tossed the head of some beast at her feet.

“Will you help me?”

“I haven’t seen you so determined to do anything since Hyacinthus’ death. And even Kaliopel is helping out-”

“I spoke with the Fates, I’ve spoken to Aunt Persephone and convinced Uncle Hades to offer up assistance in locating where the soul goes...even Nana Styx offered to pacify my father. I just need your help this once.”

Hera arched a perfectly curved brow.

“And if I say no?”

“I assure you, I can find someone else who will help me in my plight. This could be your chance to get rid of me, but if not-”

“I’m listening.”

Apollo exhaled, looking at the sun disk charm in his palm. He had retrieved it from the sea shortly after Hongjoong disappeared into the depths all those moons ago.

“I offer up half of my godhood for your assistance. All I ask is your assistance in distracting my father and for your aid in my wife and I finding him. It’s too late this time for us to intervene, but I think a soul toiling around in this cycle without the acceptance of the gods is already means enough for someone to step in. If he is out of our domain, I shall go to him. I just ask that you help me, this once. You’ll never see me again afterwards.”

Hera looked at him in genuine surprise.

“All this running, and it’s not for another consort?”

“No. It’s to break the curse no one authorized my cousin to make. Even Uncle Poisiden doesn’t seem to recall giving Scylla permission to do such a thing. It has caused conflict between him and Uncle Hades.”

Hera stared at him for a long while, looking at the offering he’d so graciously tossed at her feet. She tutted and stood, her sandaled feet being the only sound in the room as she descended the stairs to her throne. She plucked a peacock feather from her robe and pressed it to Apollo’s forehead.

“Get up off of your knees. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but your words and determination have appealed to me. I shall take part of your godhood in exchange for my assistance, but it shall be restored in full if you can complete your task. I will only help you once. If he dies again, you’re on your own.” She warned him before humming.

“I’ll even see about getting you some extra assistance.”

Apollo perked.

“Extra?”

“Don’t get too excited. It won’t be easy. We’ll see how determined you are. Go speak to Mnemosyne and her daughter Klio and refresh yourself with what you have missed. Then go.”

Apollo nodded and stood, a resolute look on his face.

“Thank you, Hera.”

“Tell anyone I was kind to you and I’ll find a way to kill you myself. Now go.”

Without another word, the Sun God turned on his heel and left, looking at the sun disk in his palm.

There was a lot of work to be done.

-x-

-You're reaping what you've sown

It's finally begun

You're reaping what you've sown

I'm sorry son, you're reaping what you've sown

You're reaping what you've sown

You're reaping what you've sown-

-x-

“JOONG! JOONG HOLD ON, PLEASE!”

The biker looked towards the sky, his body growing numb as he felt Siyeon’s hands shakily cup his face. Somewhere off to the side, his motorcycle lay in pieces.

So this was it? A car collision?

Ugh.

“Joong! Joong please!”

He knows Siyeon is yelling, but all he can hear is static. Above her head, he can see the sad reflection of himself, looking down at him.

Oh, so that’s where he was.

He stared at it for a long time before blinking slowly, letting out a terse laugh.

“Don’t have such a horrible look on your face. It’s only another life, right? You looked so hopeful. Find yourself again.”

Siyeon’s brows pinched together in confusion, but the other him’s eyes grew.

‘Find yourself again.’

In the depths of the eighth sea, between the planes of this world and the next, the captain grits his teeth and nods, swimming away from his dying form.

He couldn’t give up. It was a slow time coming, but he couldn’t give up. He wouldn’t let her win. Hell, he had even made a breakthrough with himself, something he couldn’t fathom happening before.

He was close. He was close to doing... something .

The king was also getting closer.

‘Pricilla’ had chosen to leave him alone for the first few years of his next life, it was nothing extraordinary. He was an orphan, lonely just like he had been for all sixteen of his lives before this one.

Everything changed in 2008.

“Melody, look!”

He swam to the edge, peering out.

What is this? Someone noticed him in the orphanage?

No one ever noticed him before.

“Hey there, buddy. Do you wanna come home with us? You and your siblings?”

The child frowned and looked at his feet, a small beret hiding most of his hair.

“I don’t have siblings.”

The massive man sent him a smile, tucking his hair behind his ear and as the spirit watched on, he could see he had lots of tattoos.

“You do now. If you’d like to come with us, Hongjoong.” He offered. The ten year old blinked.

“My name..isn’t…”

“George is a bit boring, don’t you think? I like Hongjoong better. It means you’re the center of the whole world, y’know.”

Hongjoong looked up at him, then the woman standing behind him who sent him a gentle smile as three other children clung to her dress, staring at him in anticipation. They looked desperate to get out of the orphanage and have a family.

A happy family.

Hongjoong smiled shyly and walked up to the grey-ish blue eyed man, gently squeezing the little harbor seal plushie he kept with him at all times. He stepped in front of the man, shifting from foot to foot.

“You won’t...you won’t throw me away, will you, mister? Not me and my friend Angel, will you?” He inquired, hugging the seal tighter. The man shook his head.

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Hongjoong. Do you accept? Will you come with us?”

Hongjoong paused for only a second longer before he nodded, all but jumping into his arms with a wide smile.

The tall man’s arms closed around him and he smiled, picking him up before picking up one of the other children.

She stared at Hongjoong with wide eyes before smiling softly, her hair up in a ponytail.

“My name is Suzuka. I guess you’re my little brother now?”

Hongjoong nodded eagerly.

“Yes! My name is George-ah no...d-dad said my name is Hongjoong!”

The spirit of the captain watched on with tears in his eyes and disbelief.

Even he didn’t remember his name anymore, but somehow, when this man appeared, he felt a familiar sense of home and warmth when he uttered the name to the child.

The captain watched the child and his family (that word felt so new to him. Family. He hadn’t had a family in ages) grow together. He expected the worst. Expected the tattooed man and his wife to be demons. That had to be it, there was no way he’d have a happy life when the sixteen leading up to this point were so miserable.

They...never treated the four of them with anything other than the purest form of respect and love the captain can remember. He watched on, as the mother sang lullabies and told them stories before bed. As their father taught them how to play music, tattooed fingers working over a guitar, or the keys to a piano.

This...was honestly such a happy and energetic life.

He had friends and family. He smiled every day, got to perform on stages.

Hongjoong...was happy. For the first time in centuries, he was truly happy.

Years later, Pricilla returned, wrapping her limbs around him.

No, no, no, he couldn’t let it end. He couldn’t let the best version of himself die again.

So he turned and fought with all his might. He clawed and scratched and bit down on whatever he could.

No more, he was tired. He wanted to live, he just wanted to live!

“Captain! What’s gotten into you, hm? I haven’t seen such fight in your eyes in a while~”

He’d fight. Harder than ever before. He couldn’t let her win.

Hongjoong thrashes, slamming his fists against the wall. He can see himself, just beyond the water, blissfully unaware.

He’s laughing with his friends, celebrating new years as the calendar rolls over from 2019 to 2020. The captain feels his throat close slightly. This was the 22nd year. He was going to lose again, wasn’t he? He was going to lose his life again if the curse wouldn’t be broken.

Sometimes he screams at his own reflection, hoping somehow he can hear himself. The last one, the biker named Joong, heard his voice. So maybe if he could get through to this one…

He needs to know, he has to find out who he is.

“Hello!? Can you hear me?! Hello!” He screams out to the college student.

“Remember them, remember yourself!” He shouts. It's almost funny in a tragic way. He in spirit can’t even remember the names of the men that held his fate in his hands. The seven men from before. He needed them to help unlock his memories. They were the key as much as he was, he thinks.

Golden eyes watch him, impressed. A clawed hand snakes around his body and squeezes his face so hard it hurts. He glares at the woman, his lips curled up into a scowl. She tuts at him, shaking her head.

“You’ve been fighting for so long, Captain. Wouldn’t it be easier to give up? They look close to calling it quits. How could they not? Centuries without their precious leader, their precious lover-” She spits the word out like a curse, but Hongjoong only pushes past her, swimming to the opposite side of the vast space. He can see the men, six instead of seven this time.

“You want to give up on him?!” Seonghwa snarled. Mingi’s nostrils flared in anger as he stood nearly chest to chest with the ex prince.

“I didn’t say that! I’m saying you need to slow the fuck down and breathe for a bit. None of us have gotten anywhere like this. We’re tearing ourselves apart like this!” He hissed. Seonghwa grit his teeth, ice frosting over his fingers as he glared at him.

“None of this would even be happening if-” He stopped himself short, clenching his fists. Mingi glared at him.

“If what? If someone didn’t steal the staff? You keep bringing it up, you keep looking at me different than the others. You still think it’s me!”

Seonghwa lowered his gaze, but didn’t deny the accusation. Mingi clenched his fists so hard it hurt, before he raised his voice.

“I didn’t do it! How many times do I have to tell you I didn’t steal it?! Even if I did, do you think I wouldn’t have come clean by now?!”

“I never said you did steal it!” Seonghwa barked.

“You didn’t have to!”

The two of them began to argue and Jongho stood, letting out a sigh.

“Fuck this, we’re going for a walk.” He grumbled, sliding on a leather jacket. Yeosang watched him in concern before standing to retreat into the kitchen, five fox tails swaying behind him as he began cooking. Yunho sighed and laid on the floor out of the way. He was too tired for this today. Geb rumbled in silent agreement while Wooyoung shook in San’s grip.

“Cheese, c’mon boy.” Jongho beckoned and a black and tan Jindo ran up to him, nuzzling his thigh and letting him put a harness on before he walked out, slamming the door with a bit of force behind him.

Whiro rumbled in his head.

“You got the cloth for the dog, right?”

“Never leave home without it.” Jongho held out a small cloth, dangling it under Cheese’s nose. The dog was given to them by Hyuna as a search dog for Hongjoong. He was still young, but with a bit more training, Jongho was sure he’d be a good supernatural sniffing dog.

At least, he hoped he could sniff Hongjoong out before November. They were running out of time.

Seonghwa and Mingi continued arguing and the captain screamed from beyond the invisible walls, pounding on the wall desperately.

“What are you doing?! Stop it! Stop arguing!! Please!!!! Find him! Find me!” He screams, watching Seonghwa and Mingi argue. San and Wooyoung are holding each other, eyes downcast. Yeosang is busying himself in the kitchen, distracting himself from the argument. Yunho is curled up on the floor, an arm over his eyes as he keeps himself from intervening.

Hongjoong felt his heart sink, biting his lip as he watched the men. The hand comes back, fingers wrapping around his ankle as she pulls him down like she’d done time and time before.

Deeper, deeper into the eighth sea, the sea of time itself.

Deeper, deeper into the abyss.

Hongjoong reaches out at the wall, tears rolling out of his eyes and washing away with the salt water.

“Please, don’t give up on me.”

-x-

-This sorrow weighs down on my shoulders

This fear is getting harder to hide

You’ll leave me alone in this darkness

Left to hold out

Against the tide-

-x-

Jongho sighs as he bundles up. It was March, so the chill of winter still clung to the air in South Korea. Whiro stretched across his skin under his jacket, providing an extra layer of insulation that none of the locals could see.

Amazing how close the two of them had become.

Cheese tugged at the leash, barking once before pulling him forward. Jongho blinked before jolting in surprise at how persistent the dog was.

“Cheese, what the hell-”

Cheese ignored his protests and pulled the Maori man into a crowd of people. He was about to scold him when he heard a voice.

His heart stopped.

“People want it

People dream about it

It can be different to every individual

It can complete us

Or it can destroy us

And it can change the world

People call it 'treasure'”

Jongho’s lips parted in surprise as he watched a man walk forward on a stage, his hair a sandy brown color in a mullet. He held a microphone to his lips as a few other people and even some kids moved around behind him. It seemed to be a street performance of some kind.

Jongho had his eyes focused on the small brunette the whole time.

“The sound of wind blowing from the horizon

The warmth of the sun hitting the ocean waves

The vibration of sand beating like the hearts of youth

We're at the starting point of this long journey”

“Holy fucking shit, kid.” Whiro’s voice snapped him back into focus as he tugged at his hand. “Get the phone, Jongho! Close your mouth and get the phone!”

Jongho shakily plucked his phone from his pocket and held it up, eyes wide as he recorded, nearly dropping it.

On the stage, the brunette dressed in modern clothing that was clearly supposed to resemble pirate attire, walked around the stage, smiling at some of the kids and some of the other five adults on stage.

“The freezing winds may make us shiver

The heat of the sun may make us thirsty

The vibrations of the sand may swallow us

But we'll never stop.”

The group grew closer to him, and Jongho watched a woman with feline features raise her microphone next, posing prettily.

“Gold~”

A man with piercings through his eyebrow and bottom lip put an arm on her shoulder, speaking into his own microphone.

“Eternal life~”

A blonde man with a distinct accent put an arm around the brunette’s shoulder, grinning at him before he winked at the crowd, sending them a smile that made his eyes crinkle.

“Honor~”

A slightly shorter man with a deeper voice wiggled under the blonde’s arm and grabbed his mic, his accent matching his as he chimed out his own line in a deep baritone.

“Love~”

A person with pink hair with yellow and blue chalk highlights eagerly bounded up behind them, all but throwing themselves onto the brunette’s back in the center, their long legs stretching outward.

“Fame!”

The six of them laughed before the brunette in the center held his microphone up to his lips.

“It doesn't matter what you dream for,

So let me ask you

What.is.your.treasure?” he extended a hand out and for the first time in centuries, as the sound of people clapping around him echoed through his ears, tears slipped down his cheeks.

“Hong...joong…?”

“Will you join us?”

------------Taglist-

@kimnamshiks @angel0taiyo @atiny-dazzlinglight @phasephoenix @eversionic @itsatinyworld @prettyjoongs @unatempesta-dipensieri @lonely10vely @yunhosblackgf @not-majestic-bluenicorn @moonmin-miya @girlcarma @kpopthingzsblog @delphinium3000 @just-a-starfruit @mireyth @skmoonchild @queen-of-himbos @allthestarsrcloser @sneaky-ash @im-what-iam @thereal-smolchild @arohatiny @smallfrye @atinyteez @takitaro @hunnibxbe

#fie writes #against the tide #kwritersworldnet #kdiarynet #kpopuniversenet #atzinc #kconnet #AtT Ch.10 #ateez fic #ateez fanfic #kpop fanfic #ateez fanfiction #ot8 #ateez ot8 #member x member #ateez ot8 fic #polyteez #hey look i posted and its not 3am look at that pls reblog if you like it thx ily

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osakasshitpit · 3 years ago

Text

I love Final Fantasy XIV

So I’ve been playing Final Fantasy XIV, and after playing for around 180 hours, I haven’t even finished A Realm Reborn. Normally, 180 hours is an insane time frame for a game to manage and hold my attention. Persona 5 Royal was 180 hours of game time, and that was slowly outstaying its welcome. FFXIV must be doing something right, because just recently I went to a convention and bought a Y’shtola Keychain in a heartbeat. I haven’t had time to play XIV a lot prior to this, since I was stupidly grinding Praetorium for days and got burned out. I haven’t played much in 2 months, and Y’shtola only really has a minor role during A Realm Reborn’s Storyline. Despite that, I started in Limsa and Y’shtola stuck with me since then. I just had to buy that keychain. My girlfriend asked me about it and despite me staying away from the game after being burned out, I explained to her in great enthusiasm why I loved Y’shtola and why I loved the game so much. I think that’s the first time I really realized how attached I was to this world, these characters, this game.

I came to FFXIV after having played WoW from Vanilla through WotLK, after having barely ever touched a MMO since quitting WoW. Honestly, I was very skeptical of XIV but holy fucking shit did it ever win me over. They are completely different games, mind you, but that is a good thing in my opinion.

So here is the longest tumblr rant post I have written so far, I think.

To be fair, the first 20 levels or so were kinda slow. You get thrown into the deep end and get bombarded with lore and characters, terms and phrases that you don't understand. For fucks sake, the opening cutscene shows Louisoix fighting Bahamut front and center. Its this big, epic moment of sacrifice, but to someone who has not played 1.0 and who doesn't know anything about the lore, this just zips right past you. During the main story of ARR, they keep talking about Louisoix and how important he is, but you haven't even seen the guy because he died before the game even started. I only really realized this today, it took me 180 hours and a look at the wiki to connect the dots. It really is a slow burn, but that slow burn was okay because everything else was so fantastic.

While the world can arguably be more subdued than Azeroth in parts, there is still this distinctive style that I quickly fell in love with. It’s fantastical, but it still feels grounded. Part of that has to do with how the game introduces you to the world, and how the main story quests explain to you the lore bit by bit. I feel like much of the world design of WoW was down to “the rule of cool”. Now, I’m not saying XIV doesn’t have that, but I feel like XIV always goes the extra mile to explain why this cool shit is here. Everything you see out there in the world feels like it has a purpose, a reason to be there and an explanation on how it works. The factions make sense, the political conflicts you get entangled in are believable. I feel like I am kind of biased to be honest. What got me to play FFXIV in the first place was seeing that Viera are a playable race. I’m a sucker for Final Fantasy, not in short part to my memories of Playing Final Fantasy Tactics and XII. XII is still my favorite game in the series, and much of that has to do with the world, Ivalice. Viera were always my favorite race of the ones seen in Ivalice. Seeing as you can play a Viera in XIV, I just had to try. Thinking about it, XII and XIV have a lot in common when it comes to world building.

One of the weirdest things to acclimate for me was how FFXIV handles story. I was used to WoW, where story was basically non-existent and you did what you did to see numbers rise and to unlock now content you could do. You are basically never involved in the story of WoW, you are just kind of there for the ride. In FFXIV, you are the main character. You are involved in what happens at all times, and that is kinda strange coming from WoW. At first I thought I wouldn’t like it, but the game made it work in my opinion. I also didn’t expect there to be so much of story to begin with. Kind of ironically the moment I realized just how much there was to experience was when I went through Ul’dah and saw a blue quest. Now, blue quest markers mean there is some content you can unlock by doing this quest. A lot of these are kinda short, with a bit of dialogue and some bits of lore for you to enjoy and I thought this one would be no difference. After all, the hook is basically just to help this lady mourn for the death of a friend. What I got was a fabulous detective adventure that spanned over the entire continent, where in I had to help the worlds most manly detective uncover the secret behind a mysterious phantom thief. To say the least, this 21 quest long quest line brought be hours upon hours of joy and had me in stitches throughout. And it was completely optional. I don’t think I even remember a single moment from any quest in WoW that made me this excited for it, optional or otherwise.

Ultimately these are very different games that try very different things.

Dungeons and Raids were a different thing. I remember when I rolled a new character for WotLK and wanted to do karazhan because I used to like doing that raid with my guild back in TBC. I could not for the live of me find a group willing to do it, because everyone was way more focused on the new content, so they could get better gear. Regardless, it just wouldn’t have been the same experience anyways I fear, because the new gear from the new Dungeons outclassed the raid gear from TBC, so karazhan would be way easier and a much different experience. In FFXIV, every dungeon is level synced by default, meaning if a higher level character joins, they get basically downgraded to the level the dungeon was designed for. Couple that with the Duty Roulette feature and suddenly, there was always someone to do any given dungeon with. I remember when I had to do the crystal tower raids and thought “why would they tie main story progression to a raid, I will never find a group to do that properly” but low and behold, I found a group within 30 minutes or less and raided through the entire set of raids within a day. Dungeons and Raids are generally a very pick up and play thing in FFXIV. To be fair, dungeons got easier and more pick up and play in WoW too, but Raids were always the endgame thing where you had to gear up and learn to play. In FFXIV, much more lenient. No corpse walking required. I say this, but I have yet to do the Coils of Bahamut or any Savage Raids. I have only heard that there is plenty of hardcore raid content for those who want that.

That’s nothing to say about the actual gameplay. FFXIV is a tab-target MMO, like so many others, but it manages to keep this kind of gameplay fresh by introducing a lot of mechanics that make the game more active than the typical “I stand here and hit my rotation a lot”. For starters, most enemies have special abilities that you can actually dodge by moving out of the way. There will a area marker on the floor and everyone within that area will be hit. It starts out easy, but later dungeons really start kicking your ass with this mechanic. You really need to say on your toes. In addition, every class is extremely different. They all have special mechanics unique to them, special meters and resources they will have to manage during combat and so on. For example, a Red Mage (the class I’m playing currently), has two meters that fill up as you cast spells. They generally have two types of spells, white and black magic. Each type fills its respective bar. Once they are both full enough, you can go in and do a more powerful melee rotation. However, if one bar is fuller than the other, the other bar will fill up slower. Since you need to fill both, you want to balance that out. You get instant casts for spells after performing a damaging spell, and you have some spells with a short cast time and good damage output that you want to cast and then use the instant cast of to cast a more damaging spell that has a long cast time. But these short cast, good damage spells require a you get from casting a spell of the respective type. So, in essence, you want to balance your use of black and white magic, but you also want to use the proc you get from casting your white and black magic, which means you cast more of the type which inherently unbalances your gauges. It becomes this micromanagement game you play with your procs and instant casts, so you can go in and do the big, flashy sword combo. And that’s just the red mage at around 50. Every class has something like this, and it’s all unique to them. Learning a class is not just learning the rotation and spells you have anymore, it’s really learning how to effectively play your class. Also, positioning. Some abilities do more damage from certain positions, so you will have to dance around an enemy to hit all the sweet spots with classes like monks. These complexities get introduced slowly as you level up, so you have plenty of time to learn the mechanics. My favorite feature might be the class system itself, though. In FFXIV, you aren’t limited to one class for the entire duration of your characters career. You can, from a certain point forwards, choose any class you wish and level that up instead. You can freely switch between classes outside of combat, too. If you are dedicated enough, you can level them all up to max, even. This means if you don’t like a class or the direction a class is going in, you can switch. I for my part started as an arcanist, so I unlocked Summoner at 30. I played Summoner up to 50 but I was just not meshing as well with the direction the summorer went in. So, I switched to Red Mage and after some getting used to, Its now my new favorite. Arcanists are special, because you actually unlock two classes at 30, so I also unlocked Scholars. Scholars are healers and that became my main dungeon class, since queue times are way shorter for healers. This would be unthinkable in WoW, and love the fact this is a thing here.

If I had to describe it, WoW is an MMO with RPG Elements, while FFXIV is a JRPG with MMO elements. I didn’t know I needed that, but in retrospect, it makes sense. The thing that really killed my progress in WoW was that I didn’t have anyone to play with anymore. My friends all dropped from the game and while I generally like doing solo content from time to time, I’m pretty introverted, after all... MMORPGs are usually most fun with friends. Final Fantasy XIV is a JRPG first, an MMO second. There is so much to keep your attention as a solo player, its nuts. All my friends who play this game, play on a different data center, so I can’t even visit them. Despite that, I had a lot of fun in my time with the game.

My experience with the game was incredibly positive, and I don’t think it will get worse from here. Everyone keeps telling me how great Heavensward is. I just have to finish 16 more quests and I’ll be able to see for myself what the fuss is about.

Honestly, if I had to say anything negative, it would be how longwinded ARR is. I mean, its not bad by any means, but I can see how someone could be turned off by this huge storyblock. Worst of all is, after you hit 50 and reach the end of ARR’s story line, there are 80 quests before you can even start with Heavensward. Since everyone keeps going on about how great it is, it’s kind of annoying how long you have to work to even get to it. In retrospect, it kinda makes sense though. These quests are meant to be played over months and months throughout a update cycle and bridge the narrative gap between one storyblock and the next, but holy fucking shit why did it have to be THAT long. They even cut like 20 of the quests from this already insanely long quest line. What the fuck. This is supposed to be an epilogue to ARR and it feels like I played a whole fucking JRPG in between ARR and Heavensward. Oh well. Thankfully, they learned from this and made the post-story blocks shorter.

I will just say that I can recommend this game. You should give it a try. Just... try not to drop the game before it gets really, really good.

#Rant #final fantasy #Final fantasy XIV

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mrthomasdoherty · 4 years ago

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Reading your various posts over the last few months, I’m surprised that you ship endgame Klaine tbh. Wouldn’t you have preferred a single Kurt living his best life in NY, with a hugely successful career and varied love life? Why are you sure Blaine’s for him? You also defend Blaine on occasions, fair enough, I’m not here to bash Blaine, but given Kurt’s own issues, is Blaine the right man for him? I’m confused though because at other times you seem quite critical of Blaine, The use of the term that he had a “facade”. I’m just wondering what’s in your mind regarding the Klaine relationship throughout the seasons.

Because Kurt Hummel loves Blaine Anderson, and Blaine Anderson loves Kurt Hummel. They're best friends first, and even through every up and down, through all the growing they BOTH do, they still want each other at the end of the day. There's no one else. A couple that struggles and grows overtime together without bashing the others freedom of choice to see other people (no matter how questionable it is) is good enough for me.

Blaine makes Kurt happy. Kurt chose Blaine for a reason. Let the dudes have their insecurities and struggles, it's a learning experience to grow as people - together and apart. If Kurt in canon never got back with Blaine after the S4 break-up, and remained single then I would've supported it because all I give a fuck about is him succeeding and growing as a person. But Kurt, fictional as he may be, can make up his own mind and me deciding that his choices are everyone's else's fault (Blaine, his dad, Rachel, etc) because he can't think for himself isn't how I play. He's independent as fuck, but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to be with the person he chose! Kurt doesn't make decisions on a fly, so he wouldn't have taken Blaine back if he didn't truly want to be back with Blaine, he wouldn't have stuck around Ohio after his dad's tests came back negative regarding the cancer. He loves this dude.

And hey, they compliment each other super well. Blaine is the person who gives Kurt the encouragement to stand up for himself against Karofsky. Kurt is the person who helps Blaine face a fear about prom, while also offering the support of skipping if Blaine is too uncomfortable. Blaine supports Kurt enough to transfer from his safe space school back to an openly homophobic one, and Kurt supports Blaine through his win of the lead for West Side Story - which I am sure was a struggle for both of them. And when given the opportunity to move onto someone else, they find their way back to each other. They're young, so expecting their relationship to be some fluffy fantasy where nothing goes wrong and they're always happy is dumb and I don't want it. I like my angst (so long as the issue the angst caused is brought up and not brushed over - like the cheating from Eli the Lighthouse or Chandler? The car scene? The fighting in s5 that resolved in a heart-to-heart twice? The lying about June fiasco? And then Blaine and Kurt confiding in therapy at long fucking last because they knew they needed help because something was wrong with THEM AS THE INDIVIDUAL NOT THE OTHER PERSON! That's mature growth from BOTH parties and its chefs kiss content).

Two people with issues should be free to date each other, having issues shouldn't be the deal breaker - knowing your boundaries and what you can and can't handle involving putting your issues above another persons should and it's why hey break up in s6 (which I still think is dumb in the WHY they break up out of everything - toothpaste, Kurt? TOWELS, BLAINE? You couldn't fight over what to do with the extra space in the loft once Rachel moved out?! That would've made more sense for a three hour fight! Ffs). It just takes making complicated choices sometimes and taking criticism with a pinch of salt. They clearly have their fair share of issues, but so what? Kurt's lack of physical affection and intimacy gets resolved (for season 6 standards of a brush by comment, but still) and Blaine's insecurities gets resolved (again, by s6 brush by comment - though we still see the change on screen with their personality shift so I accept it even if s6 is so bad). They BOTH got the help they needed for their issues, and still wanted the other at the end of the day. It wasn't one growing while the other remained stuck as the same person they were in the beginning and then pulled the other back to their old ways. Kurt began to be more open with his intimacy issues and Blaine gained his confidence stride back. It's not the others job to fix their issues, it's their own job. And they both realize that - the one thing s6 did right. Which ugh, giving s6 any compliment is nasty.

Kurt deserves the best, and he wouldn't settle or marry someone he didn't truly believe was the best (although fuck the idea that it was joined at the last minute and in a barn - there was no marriage licence issued, not accepting that bullshit. Santana and her choice can have it to themselves). That's good enough for me! And the fact they're BOTH successful at the end with a KID is proof enough that Kurt made the right choice. And Blaine is a lucky bastard.

#answered #is this considered a #long post #I'm always mobile so I can never tell

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ghost-hyunjin · 4 years ago

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TW: Underage users, Y/N x Chatbot Relationships, Hiding/lying about age, Attempted NSFW in chats, Mention of lawyers handling idol scandal and hate comment investigations, Mention of history where children had little to no rights to protect them

“Hello everyone. We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy in these times. Today has been a roller coaster of events, but Admin-nim wanted to say one more thing which is somewhat related to today’s incident. Please know this is not the same individual being discussed today! I’ll let her take it from here.”

[Admin: Way before Hyunjin came along as a chatbot, I kept seeing this chatbot thing happening and was trying to make heads or tails of it. It reminded me of the roleplay community I once was a part of years ago, only most of the early chatbot accounts focused on one muse and kept 99% of their content in character.

Curious, I looked around for some chatbots that had availability for accepting new chats and asked if they were open to writing platonic plots or even something more along the lines of an adventure/thriller or even a mystery plot-line (without me landing the chatbot as a romantic partner). Most I approached seemed surprised that I asked for no NSFW and a few even turned me down, stating they didn’t want to try a platonic thread. A couple gave it a go and declined doing a plot, preferring to wing it, but it was apparent they were struggling to find things to talk about with me. Then there were some who loved the ideas, but completely forgot about the thread or they deactivated their account without warning for other reasons.

Eventually I found some other chatbots who seemed more open to plotting or who asked for some backstory before starting. There was one account where the chatbot admin and I agreed to a non-celebrity AU for our chat and I asked for a strictly platonic one. This is due to the fact that I had seen A LOT of NSFW content all over the place and I wanted a break, despite being over 21 years old. In recent times, I personally have told family and friends that I am at a point in my life where I value close friendships and bonds over a romantic relationship.

The admin agreed and we began chatting. Before starting, the admin had an activation page that I read, which said they were 18. There were times where I did nudge lightly and had my dialogue remind the muse that we met literally days ago and they hardly knew me to form any kind of romantic interest so quickly. The muse would then back down and the thread would continue on. I would say the thread continued for almost a month, then some unexpected event made the admin of the chatbot confess their true age on the dashboard.

They apologized and confessed that they wanted to do chatbots like the recent trend they had been seeing. Yet part of them felt compelled to copy the popular chatbots with dark or sexual themes, as there weren’t a lot of platonic options out there in the beginning. They stopped all chats, including mine, and left the chatbot community. I was shocked to read this revelation, but I was grateful that I stuck to my guns and said platonic only. But some of the other people who wrote with this chatbot were upset and many began panicking as they scrubbed through the thread to see if they had written NSFW during the exchange. I can only imagine how upset they were and conflicted and looking back on that, I truly hope the other parties affected have been able to take time away from tumblr to heal.

Why did I write all of this out to share?

There are people out there who do not write or go hunting for NSFW or even dark concepts. I’ve stated earlier I’m over 21, but that doesn’t mean I’m living my life all YOLO like what you see in entertainment with adults partying, drinking, and having casual flings with lots of sex. (Not that people should in a time like this, of course, but that’s another topic.) Regardless of age, there are people who do not have sex on their brains 24/7, and they do not want to discuss it, engage in it, or interact with content that could involve that as a theme or possible endgame.

If you take chatbots/roleplaying out of the equation, 99% of the people you encounter (whether it be in real life or online) do not like being lied to by anyone. All relationships are built on trust and when you violate that trust by not being entirely truthful, they’re not going to see you the same way.

We are in the digital age. NOTHING GOES AWAY. Even if you delete the evidence of underage NSFW or inappropriate content that is not allowed, someone else has probably screencaptured it or saved the content on their devices to re-upload to the internet. Technology has gotten smarter and that often helps the government teams in the respective countries to track information and evidence that someone was interacting inappropriately with minors online. If you look at the YouTube series AYO Comment Defenders, they interviewed lawyers who work on idol slander and libel scandals and hate comments. Those lawyers stated that it doesn’t matter if you delete your account, or try to change your identity online, as they can work with law enforcement to obtain permissions to dig deeper and find the exact IP address or user that was posting or making these claims without evidence. Once they find the user, it’s easy for them to send the appropriate legal orders for court summons or legal fines to punish them for their crimes. Similarly, those who handle underage cases that involve trafficking and sex offenders/criminals, they can find the evidence and they’ll waste no time in serving you with the appropriate paperwork and punishment for your crime. Their job is to protect those who are underage, as many countries have checkered pasts with children being given no rights and forced into situations due to family circumstances, cruelty, or because it was considered “right” during that time.

The way I understand the chatbot community, it is meant to be open and welcoming to all.

If you are not 18 yet, there’s nothing wrong with reaching out to a chatbot you find intriguing and saying “Excuse me, I’m not of age but I’d love to write with you. Are you accepting non-NSFW threads?” Most of the chatbots active today have a non-NSFW option and they would love to discuss something.

If you don’t like writing NSFW or have any interest in it, then most chatbot accounts will accommodate.

If you want to run a chatbot and aren’t of legal age, I say go for it, but please make it clear that you are not 18 or older. That way, people are aware and it’s smooth sailing for all parties.

Thank you everyone for reading this.]

OG @yanlee

Boyfriend: @cupid-channie

Protection Squad: @mafia-chae @la-soleilmafia-cb @doll-seungmin @serialkiller-skz @serialkillerhhj @yandere-bc @sk-nancy @mitsukojen

@vamp-minho @demon-lee @vampiremomo @vampirechangbinnie @pup-channie @skz-cb @nvrendngstry @dandyboyseungminie @soft-magicxyujin @militar-donghyun @serialkiller-ateez @subbyhyunjinchatbot @softbf-skz @sexworkerleeknow @moonlightchris @domyukhei @3racha-cb @hogwartskz @hanjisung-bot @lixielee-chatbot @tattooistchannie @demon-yeonwoo @witchy-ryu @7deadlysins-chan @gamer-yeji @phantom-jowoon @movie-itz-twice @supernatural-hj @emperorhoseok @empressyuqi @yourkevinmoon @star-twins-yoshinori @guitar-sihyeon @rose-musician @sana-foxy @yourhayoung @model-lucy @moonlit-jaemin @moonlightags1 @madmanwoodam @retro-chae @floristluda @seleneminnie @rebelhhj @vampirekjisoo

#[ Announcement ]#[tw: underage]#[tw: lying about age]#[tw: mention of lawyers handling hate and scandals]#[tw: mention of children having no rights in history]

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sxveme-2 · 4 years ago

Text

blueberry pancakes // bucky barnes

MASTERLIST

Description: A single mother. Juggling being a mom, a full time pediatrician, and a difficult ex who believed now would be the best time to finally be a father. A soldier ripped out of time. Ex-assassin turned superhero. Learning how to balance a new domestic life with handling demons of his past, while facing the trials of the future. a love story began over something as simple as chocolate chip pancakes with hidden blueberries.

Disclaimer: I do not own any original Marvel characters! All canon plots and canon characters belong to Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios. This is an original work. You may not publish it anywhere else

Status: Edited

Note: Takes place after endgame. I have elected to ignore Tony's death and Steve's leaving. Did not happen. Quick Reminder! My works are only published here, AO3 and on Wattpad, thank you.

Chapter Ten: The One with the Phone Call

Warnings: Mention of alcohol

Word Count: 2700

If we're being honest, Lily Osborne's past was no different than most. She was raised in an upper-middle-class family. Her parents were renowned scientists who were credible in their field and brought home their findings. Other than her parent’s overly obsessive need to have everything recycled, there wasn't much about Lily that was interesting or stuck out. Nothing that she really believed to be interesting at least. Two loving parents, who were still married. Two younger siblings whom she loved dearly. A steady career and a lovely child. She was living the overused and overly generalized, 'American Dream'. the only slight oddity of Lily's life was how young she was when she had Hunter and the fact she was only mid-thirties and already divorced. But other than that...she was a basic, domestic, woman.

That's not how Bucky saw it though.

He found her astonishing. Admirable, even. The fact she was able to complete a Ph.D. level of education, graduating as valedictorian, at the top of her class, was enough to make his heart reach out to grab onto hers. But what really intrigued him, was her ability to be descriptive but vague all at the same time. She spoke about her divorce, but never the contents. Never diving deeper than the surface of it. How she gained primary custody, and that it was due to an affair. He learned everything, and nothing, all at once. He was only able to make a general picture of who Lily Osborne was, nothing more than the basics.

"Osborne, you said?" Bucky commented, shifting in his seat as he sipped on a beer that he held in his naturally warmed hand, "I feel like I've heard of the name Osborne in the environmental field before..."

The comment he made cause Lily's eyebrow to perk up. From the sound of it, Bucky had just admitted to being a bit of a science nerd. The fact he recognized the Osborne name just from Lily mentioning her parents. It was endearing, really. The fact he let that little tidbit of information slip out, not even realizing he had. Lily had made note of it, ensuring she remembered in case they were lucky enough to have a conversation like this again. Learning about one another, becoming more educated on their pasts.

But just like the supersoldier, Lily had secrets. Maybe not as extreme, but nonetheless, they were secrets. She wouldn't give him the full story of anything. Just the slightly important details. It was like a burger, sort of. She gave him the bun, but not the meat in the middle. If she was open and honest with him, that would open up a case of vulnerability. And though a talented doctor, Lily would not be able to cure it. It'd be the crack in her armour he could use to bring her down if he so wished.

"Probably from their discoveries about eco-friendly teddy bears. They still give me nightmares." Lily chuckled, sipping the ale that Bucky had given her. Though she had elected not to drink, the small voice in Lily's head convinced her that one beer wouldn't be too harmful. She wouldn't lose her morals just from a beer. She'd never been like that.

"Yes yes, I've seen Starks kid wandering around with one. They're terrifying," he replied, steel eyes reflecting the glow of the moon that provided them with the romantic ambiance that swirled around them. The whole scenery around them was more romantic than most of the dates Gen had set Lily up on in the past. It was genuine and natural, nothing forced or rushed to make it happen. But the demons inside of Lily's heart were screaming at her to run, get out of there while she still could. However, her feet stayed planted, and her butt sat in the lawn chair. She wasn't going anywhere.

Lily was still mortified of any sort of relationship. This wasn't one of those cheesy situations where the moment she met Bucky, her fears disappeared. That all of those years of emotional manipulation and toxicity had just vanished from her psyche. Lily hadn't changed because she met Bucky. The scars on her heart were still there, and just like her, had no intention of leaving. Sure, she was attracted to him. He was a fine specimen, had a voice that was as smooth as butter that created goosebumps on her arms. His presence brought a warm blanket of comfort that he would drape around her shoulders. But the pain still sat heavily on her shoulders. All of the damage Scott had caused to her mental state and self-image. They still stood, strong and sturdy. Lily was still Lily. The same girl who had been in a troublesome relationship and managed to emerge the other end. And that's all there was to it.

Change can happen. It's just not an immediate thing.

"You've mentioned that you've been through a divorce. How long ago was that?" Bucky inquired, his phrasing eluding the fact he wanted to know more. He had a hankering for the knowledge of Lily's past. To know what she's been through. What made her the shy and meek girl in front of him. What about her history created such a fragile state of mind, yet such a strong and independent visionary. A single mother, a full-time doctor, yet riddled with anxiety.

Bucky's trained eye could see the signs. The tapping of her fingers, the shortness of her breath. The way her collarbone heaved up and down at a faster pace whenever she spoke, or even when he asked her a personal question. How she never seemed to make eye contact with him. God, he wanted her to. He wanted to see those beautiful green eyes match with his. Memorize every detail of her face. The curve of her nose. the arch of her brow. Bucky wanted to render it into his mind, so he would never forget it. So he could always have the picture of those forest green eyes in his mind. The stories they held. The pain they kept locked away. But she never would long enough for him to capture their beauty. If Lily ever caught his eyes, she'd avert them within a millisecond. He'd watch as she'd turn her head, staring out into the sky.

"Four years ago. Seven years of marriage later." Lily answered after a few moments of pause. Her cheeks heated up in a red hue at the mention of her marriage. All of the pain she went through welling up in her throat as she attempted to wash it away with the beer in her hand. The words he would use were stitched into her skin, the things he would call her. She was a ragdoll in the eyes of Scott Harvey. He would take her lifeless body and sew in the worst of the English language onto her skin. It wore her down, the emotional trauma she suffered. But Lily came out on the other end, broken down and beaten sure, but still alive.

"And Hunters your only one?" Bucky inquired, studying the way that Lily fidgeted under his glance. It wasn't as if she was nervous around him, no. From the first time he met her, she seemed to relax around his presence. It was something about everyone that made her nervous. She was a survivor of something, on top of seemingly just always being a shy person. Introverted and hidden away. Add the emotional drainage she suffered all of those years, it made her a shell almost. Bucky was trained to catch small signals, the details others wouldn't care to look at. And all of Lily's body was littered with the little things, the way she breathed, to the way her cheeks always held a red hue.

Lily Osborne had piqued the interest of James Barnes. Not just in a romantic way, though that was a major factor. No, she had different layers to her. Different parts that all connected to create the woman that sat across from him. The way her eyes were slightly sunk in from years of work. Yet her hands seemed soft and velvety smooth, the hands of a mother. The way her arms always sat across her lower stomach, crossed in a way that hid that small part of her body. All signs leading towards insecurities, anxieties, a constant need to have a wall up. Not only did Lily create an opposing side of Bucky, but he saw himself in her. The part of himself that was locked away in a cell in the back of his mind. Constantly doubting, reminding him of the pain he caused. But she wore it on her sleeve, as though it had managed to free itself and take over her persona.

"Yes, he's my one and only. Something inside of me knew I wouldn't want another with my ex-husband, so I made sure measures were taken so there wouldn't be a chance of another until I was ready," Lily answered, crossing her legs and readjusting the dress in an attempt to cover the bit of thigh that she had revealed, "He's the only male I need...my son's everything to me."

Whenever Hunter is ever brought up in conversation, Lily's heart grew four sizes. He was truly the rock in her life that kept her tethered to reality. If he was gone, well Lily wouldn't know what to do. Having a child so early in her life was never something that the blonde had anticipated, nor wanted. She had a whole life plan ahead of her. Get her degree, get her Ph.D., find a husband, then start thinking about a family. Instead, she got pregnant, got a husband, then got a Ph.D. and her degree. The complete opposite of what she had originally planned for herself. Lily was far from ready to be a mother at the age of 22, but she knew she could never, ever, give up her child. So, miraculously, she made it work. Through hours of crying and yelling trips to Gen's and her parents, she did it. And managed to raise a happy, healthy, baby boy.

"There you two are!" a familiar voice rang after Lily had finished her inner monologue about the love she had for her son. Rose. And in tow, were a few of the Avengers and a quite inebriated Genevieve Fairchild, hanging loosely onto a seemingly amused Steve Rogers. As the group paraded around the two, Lily's younger sister spoke, "You lovebirds have been up here for an hour. Gen thought you died."

Lily let out a Gentle sigh before standing from the couch that you'd typically find on a porch, but it was on a roof and went to alleviate the Captain of her intoxicated best friend. Whom, Lily could only guess tried to drink Thor or somebody under a table. Another thing about the doctor’s best friend, she never backed away from a challenge. Even when it came to going head to head against a literal God when it came to drinking. It really sometimes surprised Lily that Gen had survived this long. But, if we're honest, it's because Lily had been babysitting her for close to twenty years. That's about the only reason.

"I take it back. I have two kids. This is Genevieve, she owns the cafe you guys go to," Lily smiled, wrapping her arm around her best friend’s waist and leaning Gen into her side, to keep her up. The last thing that Lily wanted was to have her best friend pass out in front of a cute guy, as well as the literal Avengers. That would just be embarrassing. Not to mention, Gen would have passed out and that would require a hospital visit, somewhere Gen hated for some reason that even Lily didn't know, "We should get her home. Thank you for hav-"

"Gotcha," Gen grinned while shoving her fingers into Lily's side, causing the blonde to jump. Untangling herself, Gen dropped herself down onto the couch while throwing herself into a giggle fit at Lily's surprised face. The others around chuckled softly at the practical joke, before Gen piped up, "Told you she'd fall for it, Rose. Every party we've ever been to it happens. And every time, Lily goes all mom mode on my ass."

A conversation erupted after Gen's comment, and Lily just shook her head and joined the brunette on the couch that sat parallel to the chair Bucky occupied. Both Lily and he seemed to stay silent as the group around them laughed and created a merry atmosphere. Instead, they snuck shy and reciprocated glances at one another, both erupting in a fit of blushes anytime they made eye contact. Of course, this didn't go unnoticed, but instead of causing an uproar, the group just smiled at the two. They were like two school kids who had a crush on one another but were too shy to say anything. Stealing glances from across the classroom and having nervous conversations filled with short answers. It was endearing, yet aggravating.

Rose and Gen knew the damage that had been caused to Lily's perception of love. They were the two closest people to Lily, and were there for every step of the divorce, each tear, each time she screamed into a pillow, each time she shot one too many drinks in an effort to forget the pain that reverberated from her heart. The endless nights of Lily calling one of them in tears because Scott went out and had yet to come home. Or when he did, smelled of another woman. But Lily always, always, ignored the bright red sign that said he was no good for her. Rose and Gen were the two people in the world that knew Lily more than she knew herself. They saw the flowers that bloomed inside of her and the beauty that could rise from the ashes if she just allowed it. If Lily allowed herself happiness, they would witness the rebirth of her. See her smile for no reason again, dance around her house, and sing without the help of alcohol. God...her voice was angelic. But it had been ages since anyone had heard it.

Scott had stolen her voice. stole the one thing that really separated Lily from the pack. he kept it hidden as a token of the pain he had caused. a memento of the heart he had shattered with one hand while twisting a knife into Lily's back. he managed to keep it locked away for years, and Lily had grown weary and tired of fighting, and gave up. she stopped searching for the light inside of her he put out. she didn't believe it was possible for her candle of light to be lit once again. all because some son of a bitch decided to crush her life like she was nothing but a bug.

-----

The clock struck midnight, and Lily laid draped in Gen's arms on the same outdoor couch. Her best friend’s arm draped along her shoulder, a blanket that bruce had grabbed laying on top of them to keep the crisp September air at bay. Everyone was having a lovely time ignoring the party that raged down below them, that had slowly begun to dwindle down and grow quiet. Now, instead of booming music with deep bass, Lily's ears were filled with the laughter of her new friends that surrounded her as jokes and stories were exchanged. It was peaceful, and at that moment, Lily felt calm. Her palms were soft, with no sweat in sight. Her breathing was steady, and her mind stayed on one thought. There was no spiralling, no intense paranoia. just...peace.

Then her phone rang.

Hunter's contact popped up, and that calm heart rate skyrocketed in an instant. Not only was it an odd time to get a call from her son, but he was at Scott’s. if there was an issue, Hunter would go to Scott. This in itself sent that peaceful feeling that Lily had flying out the window. Throwing off the blanket, she slid her phone across the screen and stood, pushing herself up from the couch. Excusing herself off to the side, Lily's hands grew warm and clammy.

"Hunt? Baby, what's wrong?"

"Mama please come pick me up.”

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