#and i was supposed to go on a trip with my friend but that’s been postponed (not her fault or mine)

[heavy-swing]

(Hope you don't mind I wrote a little in character reply to this along with my own thoughts at the bottom!)

---

“My memory for this thing has always been a bit shite, but I think I've got at least one answer for ya.”

“It was in the middle of the campaign in Doma. We hadn't found Hien yet, but we'd just managed to disrupt some of the local Imperials who'd had the nearby farmers under their boot. Yugiri and I’d been talking a lot back and forth by this point: about our homes, our lives, our purposes. I hadn't exactly sorted out my feelings yet, but I did know she was a friend who I always liked seein’ around.”

“Anyroad. She'd spotted an Imperial airship that appeared to be the Crown Prince’s, and despite pretty much everyone making a fuss about it, she insisted on trying to kill him, then and there.” Aelita lets out a sigh. “I tagged along when I realized she was going no matter what, but needless to say, things didn't go great. Just seeing her lying there, having given absolutely everything for a world she might not see, it was the most heroic thing I'd ever seen.”

She laughs, the kind of laugh that only ever comes with hindsight. “It was also the dumbest thing I'd ever seen. And the saddest. I remember holding her as we ran away, just prayin’ and prayin’ to anyone that was listening for her to wake up. After all the rage had worn off and I had time to think I… I realized I didn't want to live in a world without her. And I was so gods-damned scared I'd missed the chance to tell her that.”

“Thank the Navigator she did pull through and I got to say my piece.” Aelita scratches the back of her neck and breaks into a guilty smile. “I was lucky then, and I continue to be lucky now.”

“Y'know, I suppose luck was always part of our relationship. I just happened to be in Horizon on some other business when she arrived with the first contingent of refugees. I'll always remember that first time I saw her: a gorgeous violet gemstone against the barren sands of Thanalan.” She focuses hard for a moment, trying to recall the name of the mineral she's visualizing. “Chrys would absolutely know… it's not quartz, it's the purple kind… Amethyst! That's the one.” She smiles, proud of herself for remembering. “I think she was the only thing I remembered about that trip. Absolutely zero memory of what it was I was there to do. But there was just this aura she had. Didn't matter that I couldn't see what she looked like, I just knew that I wanted to meet that person again someday. And someone somewhere must've overheard me, cause I not only got to meet her again, I got to know her and help her and her people, too.”

---

(As for why me, the person behind Aelita, found Yugiri so interesting: I knew I wanted to make a hrothgal and have her be a refugee, and I was idly thinking about possible characters she might click with as someone with a bigger, louder personality and a background as a tank that gets into the fray, and the more I thought on it, the more I saw them as a couple! They've got a good mix of shared experiences and goals alongside some differences in personal philosophy and battle strategy that makes them fun to write. If you're interested in more, check out A Star Hidden In The Clouds for a bit of pining, Horizon for that chance first meeting, and What Goes Unsaid and Hackneyed for the big pre- and post-Zenos-confrontation moments :3)

fellow wol x npc shippers- If applicable, what was the "oh" moment for you and your oc falling for their love interest? Was yours seperate from your WoL's?

[dragon-susceptible]

Different Path Taken: Ch.2

I think I'm actually going to lengthen this chapter, there's two more scenes I want to put into it, but tumblr gets the preview because I do not have the brain I wanted to work on them.

Rating: T

Characters: Callum, Rayla, Ezran, Runaan, Callisto

Callum still insists on going to talk to Harrow one more time. because the author needed a reason for him to confront Viren and realize he's shady later.

“Wait,” Prince Callum sidestepped Callisto’s herding motion and looked up at Runaan with determination. “I need to go talk to - I need to see my stepfather before we leave.”

Those alarm bells went off again.  Runaan narrowed his eyes at the boy. “Why would we let you do that?”

“Because the fight with Claudia earlier means they already know we didn’t leave by sundown.  If you guys disappear without doing anything and then we’re gone in the morning, everyone will assume you kidnapped us.”

Callisto grunted. “We’re countin’ on that, a bit.”

“But we weren’t supposed to be here.  We were going to go on a trip to the Banther Lodge before you got here, so Ezran would be safe.” Callum pressed on. “So if I just go tell the king that we got a late start but we’re leaving now, it’s okay, they’ll think we made it out.  It’ll be at least a day before they come looking for us and anyone notices we’re actually missing.”

Runaan’s lip curled. “Why should we trust you not to betray us?”

“Callum wouldn’t do that.” Ezran frowned at him. 

“Why should we trust you not to just kill us as soon as we leave the castle?” Callum countered, glowering at him with his hands shaking. “Rayla already tried like a couple of hours ago.”

Reflexively Runaan glanced at the girl, who was scowling at Callum’s back.  She had disobeyed him to come and try to complete the mission all by herself.  He should have known. “We will be having words about that later,” He growled at her.

Callisto cleared their throat. “I hate to say it, Runaan, but . . . it might not be a bad idea.  If the boy can buy us an extra day, that’s precious time we could use tae put distance between us and this place.”

“I’ll stay to guide him to camp afterwards.  I’ll be careful, keep an eye on him, stay hidden.” Rayla volunteered.

Runaan frowned at both of them. “And if he betrays us?  No one of us could hold back all the guards of Katolis.”

Callisto shrugged. “If he doesn’t, we gain time.  If he does, what do we lose?  He won’t be able to tell them anythin’ they won’t guess on their own.  We’ll still have the other prince.”

“Rayla.” Runaan pointed out, feeling a tad brittle at the coldness in his friend’s eyes. “We lose Rayla.”

Callisto held his gaze without flinching. “Or she’s not stupid, because she’s your student and ward,” They pointed out bluntly. “And she stays hidden, and escapes to warn us ahead of time.  She’s always been good at information gathering, Runaan, you know that, and she’s volunteering.” They tilted their head and raised one inky black eyebrow at him. “Would ye hesitate if it was me?”

Runaan showed his teeth and huffed. “Would I hesitate to risk your life on the word of a human child?  Yes, Callisto, I would.”

“I can do this,” Rayla insisted. 

“It’s a risk, yes, but it’s a worthy one.” Callisto said, folding their arms. “It could buy us an extra day, and that’s precious time to travel, and we will need every second.  You more than most, Master of Blades.”

The reminder that his oaths sat further up his limbs than theirs, could easily kill him if they tightened too much, was unwelcome.  His life was of no consequence if giving it completed their mission.  But then, that was the very point, wasn’t it?  Neither was Rayla’s.

Runaan grit his teeth and glowered down at the boy. “Go.” He said shortly, and looked at Rayla. “Stay hidden.  Stay alive.  If you’re not back by sunrise, we leave without you.”

She nodded firmly. “I know.  I’ll be there.”

He hoped she would be, but he couldn’t afford to spare more words for her with Callisto’s sharp eyes boring into his shoulder.  He turned instead to the younger prince and the large dragon egg he carried. “Let’s go.”

The princes paused to exchange a hug before splitting up, and he and Callisto ushered the younger one towards the gates on high alert.  There were still no guards.  Even the citizens of the castle town were abed and no one was present to catch them slipping through the streets and over the bridge.  They made it to the woods without a single incident.

Runaan sent a private wish up to the moon that he hadn’t just sent his daughter into a trap.

They had been in the woods for almost an hour when Prince Ezran began to fall behind.  He had refused Callisto’s offer to carry the egg for him, wisely pointing out that they could just take it and leave him if he permitted that, and they had exchanged glances and let him keep it.  On the slim chance that this was right - the whole reason Skor had agreed to this plan was the potentiality for proving the children’s honor, and they would need working hands to carry the egg anyway by the end of the journey. 

“Slow down,” Prince Ezran fussed from their heels. “I have little legs!”

Both assassins paused for a moment to let him catch up and Callisto shot Runaan a look, quirking a brow at him. “I know I agreed, too, but this does sort of prove my point about them slowing us down.” They said quietly.

Runaan flicked his eyes over the boy and then quirked a brow back at his second. “When was the last time you took a rotation with the Mooncubs?”

Callisto blinked, clearly caught out, and cleared their throat, looking away. “I’m an assassin, and not also a parent.  It’s . . . been a while.”

“You should stop dodging it when we get home.  It will do you good.” Runaan replied as Prince Ezran managed to catch up, the boy panting a bit but bravely pushing on.  He crouched in front of the young human instead of turning to leave. “We will cover more ground if I carry you.” He said bluntly. “I understand you do not trust us with the egg alone, but we need to move faster than this.  Would you rather be held in front or on my shoulders?”

Prince Ezran blinked at him, mouth opening in surprise, but then nodded. “O-okay.  Um.  I like the shoulders better, but the egg is really heavy, and I don’t want to fall backwards.”

“You can hang onto the horns.  Most children do.” Runaan assured him, reminded harshly that children were children regardless of their origin.  The boy was so much like the cubs back home. 

“That won’t hurt?” Prince Ezran asked, curiously, even as he raised his arms to allow himself to be picked up.

Runaan scoffed, finding himself unwillingly amused as he picked the boy up and hoisted him to his shoulders. “No.  I can’t feel the tips.  Just be careful of the hair.” He swept it aside as he settled the child on his shoulders, habit making the movement easy.   Moon above, the egg truly was heavy - that or human children were heavier than he’d anticipated.  He was impressed the boy had made it this far. “Ready?”

He felt a faint tug at the base of his horns as the boy gripped them. “I’m ready.  Um, thank you.”

Runaan settled his hands on the boy’s ankles to strap him in further and set off towards camp again.  Callisto scoffed lightly as they resumed their journey. “Shame you’re not a father, Runaan.” They said. “You’d be good at it.”

Damn them.  What was it with them and Skor, always after him to claim Rayla even though her parents were very much alive?  Things were awkward.  And what business was it of his - yes, very well-meaning - friends anyways? “We’re not talking about that now.” He said flatly. “You know why that is.”

Callisto just hummed skeptically and let it go as Runaan picked up the pace to avoid the conversation.

[thegarageafterdark]

Washed out(TrailbreakerxReader)

Getting essentially rained out while camping wasn't entirely the plan for obvious reasons. But the situation could have been worse, you could have been alone. Trailbreaker wasn't too concerned, he just wanted to wait for the weather to subside before going back on the trail as the winds were buffeting hard enough being on the mountain road could be sketchy with the water to contend with as well.

Your tent however was definitely not going to survive this, it wasn't rated for gusts this strong even with the upgraded ground stakes to help hold it down, let alone the amount of rain that decided to appear a day early. "I have an idea." The voice from the big SUV was almost shy, headlights dim to illuminate the campsite enough you could see him through the tent fabric. "Yeah? What's up Breaker?" knowing he could hear you where you were huddling in your sleeping bag, grimacing as the tent walls flexed and billowed inwards. Desperately trying to keep dry but if it tore open... It was going to be a long night. "I'll rearrange my seats, you can sleep in my cab? At least you'd be dry and warm until morning." The tent would likely be trashed but he'd get a new one.

Deep down the mech hoped you'd agree. The protective urge was nearly overwhelming, especially as your teeth chattered and it got colder as time drew on. This was supposed to be a fun trip, he'd promised to take you to see the mountain lake you'd heard about hidden in the mountains that Hound had shown him. The thoughtful silence wasn't unnoticeable even with the wind howling around the both of you.

"Please? The forecast says this is just the start, its going to get worse. I really don't want you getting injured or sick." He didn't trust that tent not to shred itself with how it was bowing and twisting. "…Okay." It was weird to think of sleeping in him, it'd taken you a bit of time to be comfortable with just riding with them. Having to think of it like carrying a small pet in a pocket verses…'inside' inside.  But he'd pulled up to just in front of your tent, and you scooted out of your bag and did a quick roll of it with your pillow. Soon as you unzippered the door, the real extent of the nasty weather really hit you. Trailbreaker had gotten as close as he could, door opening quickly so his interior lights could guide as you bolted the scant feet to get to him. His whole backseat was folded into a platform with his cargo area, making plenty of room to stretch out. It took some wiggling but you got your sleeping bag and pillow situated, though with how he'd set himself up it was comfortable even without.

The silence wasn't entirely awkward, as you stared up at his ceiling a moment, you listened but you couldn't really hear the outside so well now. But you heard other things. For a moment you thought it was your own heart in your ears, but it wasn't. It was a deep hum with a low pulse that was like a rapid heartbeat for what you could hear of it. The strange feeling of being safe, held. Like lounging with a friend on the couch to watch movies on a rainy day cozy.  You realized you could feel and hear him. The protectiveness, the odd calm now that you were settled. Hear his systems winding down as you relaxed steadily as well. "I can hear your spark." You whispered in awe, realizing exactly what the multilayered pulse sound was. There was a chuckle, the deep voice sounding almost sleepy. "I can feel yours."

[primus-why]

I Feel TFOne Could've Handled This Better...

Hot take but I feel like folks have been really generous with the take that OP was unable to find ~the perfect words~ in the heat of the moment (and thus should be given some grace) when he told D to stand down and "not be like Sentinel"... namely cuz I don't feel that the narrative supports this?

Like-- after all is said and done, OP doesn't reflect on that part of their split. He doesn't have a moment where he seeks validation or voices his regrets over the choice of his words, it's actually cut-and-dry. The narrative (as it stands) supports that OP saw D-16 acting up, so he called him out and stood on business, down to the last scenes where he's basically like "yeah it's a shame but y'all knew I had to do it to 'em."

It didn't have to be much! I'm not saying to absolve Megs, just show OP looking at things from a different perspective/contemplating a bit on that tough choice and the morality of the moment. Some examples of what I wish we had:

B-127 straight up blurting the obvious by later chatting with Orion like, "Wait so you told your best friend that he was acting just as bad as the guy who enslaved us for our entire lives and was torturing him like an hour ago? Oof. Seems kinda harsh." Then have some of OP's regret show on his face.

OP asking Elita-1 after Megs is banished if he did the right thing. Have Elita back his choice up, saying, "You should have seen what he did after you were... gone. It was terrifying. I know it was tough, but you made the right call." OP is grateful for the support, but a conflicted look still flashes across his face before he steels himself to look out towards the horizon... and the future.

Have OP walk past other mechs/former miners who didn't go with the High Guard saying stuff like, "Wish I could've given Sentinel a piece of my mind!" "Yeah, but I'm glad he's gone for good." "Ugh I miss everything." "Oh, it was crazy! Megatron picked him up and then he rrrrriiipped-- oops, hey there, Mr. Optimus... Prime... sir?" And have OP wave hello, looking a bit sick when they leave.

Post-credits scene with Starscream going on and on, asking Megs when they'll be back to teach the upstart Prime a lesson. Megs grabs his face to shut him up. "Patience, Starscream. The Prime thinks I'm no better than Sentinel... but I'll show him. He wants Iacon? He can have it. In the meantime we'll take the rest of the planet! Then I'll come back, crush Prime under my heel, and we'll take Iacon too. Sentinel's reign will barely be a footnote, because I'm about to become Optimus Prime's worst nightmare." The vocal performance would really need to sell this-- like picture Megs saying something like that from a place of anger and hurt, not so much a place of genuine evil or malice.

Basically instead of Orion's assertion being backed up as black and white/good vs bad, I wish we had some different opinions/reactions from the characters sprinkled in there. Like you can't tell me out of allllll the miners who weren't strong enough/willing to go with the High Guard and ended up sticking around that NONE of them were like "eyyo honestly?? Kiiiiinda glad Sentinel is dead. Wish I could have helped, tbh." like come onnnnn...

And you can't even argue that he's not an active threat-- I don't think everyone would see things that way! It's not just about the threat he physically has, but the threat he represents and is very likely to act upon if given the opportunity! He has a proven track record of not only being sneaky and conniving, but also capable of dealing some serious damage/killing people bigger and stronger than him, plus he has the backing of the Quints. All he'd need to do is wriggle his way out of jail and run off to his sponsors, then he'd probably be back to hurt more people! (If the Quints didn't just kill him out of incompetence lmao). There's a lot of "ifs" here, but I think it's a valid argument that not everyone would agree on what is the right or wrong way to handle Sentinel once he was down long enough to, like, do something about him.

I feel the situation needed a bit of nuance. In some way I wish they had kicked the can and had D and Orion bicker while Sentinel escaped, then have D get frustrated enough by the loss of Sentinel to point fingers (and his fusion canon) at Orion, who then falls and becomes OP. (Megs could still show some of thar emotion/remorse right after he does it too.) Not only would this open the door for a sequel, but tbh the Quint might have just killed Sentinel anyways and sought to deal with the miners uprising themselves lol. (Maybe that could have been an after credits scenes too instead of the B-127 bit??)

Would love to see a moment in a sequel where they have a calmer moment after arguing for a bit. Have OP mention how Megs was out of line, that it hurt and even scared him to see him act that way, and Megs can quietly point out "you said I was as bad as Sentinel... is that really how you see me? After everything we went through?"

Then OP can fumble the bag again lmao like "D, I... I'm sorry, that didn't come out right... but you still took things way too far..."

"Why am I not surprised-- your opinion is what matters the most! Maybe that's why you became a Prime, since you're so good at acting like the world revolves around you--!"

*gets interrupted by someone else before another yelling match ensues*

[cosmogyros]

Literally can't pay my rent until I get paid for September, which hasn't happened yet. Today is Friday, and Monday is the last day of the month. I'm so tired of being poor.

[dyinggoosenoises]

im so fucking mad

[2-kamikou-1]

ok but no guys seriously how do you ask for reassurance in a way that doesn't make you look like a stupid yandere stereotype

[alpinelogy]

.

[casualhedonists]

DATING IS SO HARD WTF

[taylor]

still reeling over the fact that almost 2 months ago the guy i was talking to (not dating, but definitely 'seeing') took another girl TO MY AND MY ROOMMATE'S APARTMENT to FUCK HER ON OUR AIR MATTRESS while i was ON VACATION THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY

honestly. how do i get myself into these situations

[starfiyah]

do you ever feel yourself on the edge of a depressive crying session and you’re trying so hard not to give in

[anotherpapercut]

personal vent post/diary entry incoming:

I've struggled on and off over the years with varying degrees of agoraphobia and in the past like year or so I've made massive strides and got to the point where I was able to regularly attend social or otherwise crowded events. since breaking my foot I've gone backwards so much. I'm like terrified to leave my apartment even for work and have missed a lot of it. I've only tried hanging out in public places a handful of times and haven't gone to a single show since I got hurt over a month ago. it's extremely fucking frustrating having so much progress completely lost in a fucking instant

[durindaina]

the fact that overbooking flights is legal and airlines don’t have to go above and beyond to find you either the earliest flight possible or the most convenient stay possible is going to make me a t3rr0r1st. what the fuck do you mean you can only give me a flight three days from now and i have to find my own accommodation, unless i pay for an earlier flight and also have to find my own accommodation. how the fact is it legal to sell something you don’t have

[goatsandgangsters]

the good news is that I finished a book and it got me out of my reading slump where I would start things, not finish, switch to something else, not finish

the bad news is that "yes daddy" by jonathan parks-ramage is one of the worst written books I've read in a whiiiile. bland expositiony prose, flat characters, a bunch of weird plot detours. Written like a 200-page Wikipedia summary instead of an actual book

the worst news is that it has such intensely favorable gushing reviews on goodreads, and the people who hated it mostly hated it for a different reason, and so I'm left alone like oKAY BUT THE PROSE WAS SHIT, HOW DO YOU NOT SEE THIS

[wherela]

Look I love my friends dearly and I love listening and supporting, and I will be there for them and I will be the person they can turn to, and I try so hard to be considerate, but I have nothing in me to give right now. Most of my relationships involve me just giving giving giving, and as much as I love doing that (I truly do, being someone my friends can turn to is the most wonderful thing in the world), but I have so few relationships where I receive, and it's especially hard for me right now. Maybe it's cause I'm so busy with my exams and thesis and organising a camp, but at this point I just need someone who will give me a hug and just Be There. Not try telling me what to do, or how to deal with my stress to try "help".

[whatqueen-wildcats]

!!